The Moreland Little League Board of Directors is excited to share that we are opening Registration for the Spring 2021 Baseball Season.  We have been hard at work over the last few months creating plans (and back-up plans) to bring baseball back to the youth of our community in a safe and responsible manner.  We will first share some of the details of the modified registration process.  Below that you will find an outline of the Resumption of Baseball Plans and links to important information about the season.

Registration Information

**Registration is open with a $50 non-refundable fee at time of registration. Once players are assigned to a team and we are ready to start cohort-style practices, remaining fees will be due and payable through our Online Registration process. The balance of these fees will be non-refundable

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE 2021 MLL SEASON on the Moreland Little League Website

• Registration Open:  February 17th, 2021
• Registration Deadline (Minors, Majors, Juniors):  March 10th 2021
• Registration Deadline (T-Ball, A, AA):  March 10th 2021  

**Please register as soon as possible so we can gauge numbers for planning and field reservation purposes

Cost:  We are very happy to announce that, even with increasing costs for field use and player safety supplies, the Moreland Little League Board of Directors were able to finalize and extend a reduced price for registration for all divisions in 2021. Understanding the past year has been challenging on all fronts, Moreland Little League is focused on creating and providing a great experience for all children and families!

Expected and High Level Timeline: What Happens after I register? 

Step 1: Complete Registration 

• OPTIONAL Step 2: Back to Baseball Clinic which is a pay-for clinic - March 7th. 2021
  • This B2B clinic will be co-delivered with California Club Baseball; We will be conducting the clinic March 7th; This is a Sunday and the League will be very respectful of our neighbors therefore NO METAL BATS will be used during this clinic. Please see the Back to Baseball Section on this webpage (top middle) and PLEASE REGISTER TODAY!

Step 3: Player Evaluation for Minors and Majors Divisions: March 13th, 2021 (WEATHER PERMITTING) - this step is critical to the Player Draft Process  

• **Please note**: If your children cannot attend the player evaluations please contact player-agent@morelandlittleleague.org to discuss options
• **Please Note** Player Evaluations are not necessary and will not be completed for T-Ball, A Ball and AA Ball**
• **Player Evaluations** These will be conducted in accordance to the SCC GOV best practices that can be reviewed here: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/mandatory-directives-programs-serving-children-or-youth.aspx 

Step 4: Player Draft - Sunday, March 14th (Tentative based on weather and players completing the evaluation process)

Step 5: Managers and coaches will connect with all players on their teams to discuss COHORT POD practices and trainings 

Step 6: Target is for games to begin Saturday, March 27th 2021 provided the County has entered and remains in Red Tier or below

• **If this Tier Has Not Been Reached then teams will continue with COHORT POD practices and skills based training**

Boundaries / Geography / Age - for All Stars and Tournament of Champions this will be subject to verification and validation in order for children to participate  

Resumption of Baseball Plan

Our goal for 2021 is to form teams, conduct safe cohort-style practices, and be ready to play games if and when it is safe to do so. (We are hopeful that this will be sometime in March or early April)

Anticipated Cohort Style Practice Start Date:  Week of March 15th, 2021

Anticipated Season End:  *Late June/Early July (*subject to change; MLL will be as communicative and transparent as possible based on changes or instances out of our control)

• Phase 1: In March, players will be assigned to a stable Team COHORT and will begin the season in Spring Training mode.  We will focus on skills building through Spring Training-style practices.  

• *Subject to Change* Phase 2: In April, assuming that Santa Clara County has moved into Red Tier status by the end of March or early April we will then transition to competitive game play.  Should we not be able to move into Red Tier status, we will continue to focus on skills-building during practices and run team scrimmages only.

• *Note: Depending on when game play can be resumed, the season may be extended to allow for more game play prior to any District Level (and beyond) postseason play in Minors & above.

Coaching: The return to Baseball in 2021 will require more coaches (while some may have to socially distance off the field at the start of the season). As a reminder, we are a 100% volunteer-run organization and will need at least 2 coaches per team to run our season. Our goal is to field as many teams as children are registered, but in order to field a team we will need coaches. We will be hosting a Coaches Clinic for Managers and Coaches that are highly suggested for all levels and divisions. These clinics will be completely separate from player clinics, tryouts, etc. We are planning to host at least one IN-PERSON clinic and potentially a virtual. Please see below for Coaching Clinic Details. And please consider volunteering when you register your child.  Questions about coaching?  Email registrar@morelandlittleleague.org or president@morelandlittleleague.org

Coaching Clinics: it will be mandatory that Coaches and Assistant Coaches participate in League sponsored clinics as well as team formation(s), player tryouts, practices and games with an onus on the Safety and Covid-19 preparedness. One of our goals as a league is to ensure we have the right number of Team Parents and Volunteers so that coaches can focus on their primary objectives: Our Children and Managing/Coaching

If you have thought about being a coach of your son or daughters baseball team, but didn't think you knew enough to coach a team, think again. Moreland LL is offering two complimentary Coaching Clinics to help you prepare for the season. The clinics will not only provide you the framework of a great practice, but you will learn drills which can be done in a safe and healthy environment. Below you will find  TWO (2) opportunities to join us, one is virtual and the other is an in-person clinic.  Secure your spot today.

To register for the March 4th, 7-8pm Virtual Coaches Clinic, please go here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqc-usqDgpGddwzUmDW9aQPcpeFV8_nM8E

To register for the March 6th, 9am-11am LIVE Coaches Clinic at Moreland LL Field please click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14Mno2z48AmWlo6SCfGixyFUt-NCBRDTAR64jnLw5R_Q/viewform?edit_requested=true

**Please Note** T-Ball, A Ball and AA Ball Coaches are not required for in-person player tryouts 

We also ask that you please help us communicate our plan to other parents you know (especially classmates or friends of your children) who might be interested in registering their children to play this fun team sport.

In Summary: Your Moreland Little League BoD, Officers, Volunteers and Partners have taken what is a 4-5 month process and condensed it to 4-5 weeks. Will we be perfect? Absolutely not. Will we continue to learn along these uncharted waters? Absolutely. Please also take a look at our FAQ and Safety and Regulatory sections on the site. Those, too, will be updated as we move forward. 

Our mission is to provide a safe and fun experience for our children and families as we move forward. 

To all who are reading this - stay safe, stay healthy and stay positive! 

Sean O'Connor | President Moreland Little League 

• president@morelandlittleleague.org
• 408.472.3956

Soft field opening inflight. Moreland Little League fields will start being used based on the Santa Clara County Health guidelines starting Saturday 2/13/2021

email: president@morelandlandlittleleague.org to help!

Moreland Little League will be holding our 9th annual Back-2-Baseball camp on Sunday, March 7. This is an annual favorite for Moreland players to get ready for the upcoming season. This is a great opportunity for players to get back in the swing of things since the long Covid off-season.
 

Players must first be registered for the 2021 Little League season to sign-up. If you are not yet registered for the 2021 season please go to Moreland’s homepage at www.morelandlittleleague.org.

The 9th Annual Back-2-Baseball Camp is hosted once again by Moreland Little League and run by Cal Club Baseball (www.calclubbaseball.com). This camp provides players with personalized attention and great instruction by some of the Bay Area’s best baseball coaches. To register for B2B click on the link below. The registration will also prompt you for online payment to reduce in-person contact on the day of the event.

All Covid protocols will be strictly adhered to in accordance with Santa Clara County health and safety regulations. Covid protocols will be sent prior to the event to all participants.

B2B Camp $40 -- 3/7/21 @ Moreland LL Fields, 1-4pm

(check-in at 12:30pm at the Majors field)

Space will be limited based on number of coaches and cohort size, so sign up early to get a spot!

Any questions, please email Fundraising@morelandlittleleague.org.

To register and pay for B2B please click the link below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Bxkm4ZZQrVZKvJzw9Mz9Dg7xtauekkxwDdVzCSWHmTU/edit?usp=sharing

How will Uniforms be handled for the 2021 Season? Registration Cost includes MLL Logoed Shirt and Hat and will be distributed by your children’s coaching staff. For 2021, we are not providing the option for children to choose numbers as we’ve done historically. Also - the board has made a conscious decision to not print last names on team shirts. In order to expedite the process of launching a season and time condensing we hope to get back to what we’ve traditionally offered in 2022 and beyond

 Parent Volunteerism: As communicated previously, Volunteerism is the lifeblood that makes a league and season happen. This year we continue to charge upfront a $150 fee for volunteerism. For the parents and guardians who are able to donate their time, and in addition to the traditional needs the League and Season have requested from volunteers, additional measures related to (but not limited to): sanitization, cleanliness, contact distancing while being mindful of the neighbors in the neighborhood will be needed as it relates achieving the TEN (10) hours of time per family. In other words - be it Team Parent, Crossing Guard, etc. we will also ask volunteers to help with crowd control, contact distancing, mounting signs, cleaning facilities and more. Those who choose to donate their time will receive this $150 back. And for those who do not have the time to volunteer - 100% understandable. Again, as a non-profit the way this organization will function is by people donating their time or their funds. 

What are the Registration Fees for 2021?

How many Players will be on a team during the Purple Tier phase? Minimum team size will be 9. NO MORE THAN 14 PLAYERS PER TEAM; Coincides with SCC Mandatory Directive for Youth and Adult Recreational Athletic Activities Guidance posted Here: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Documents/mandatory-directive-for-youth-and-adult-recreational-athletic-activities.pdf 

How will teams be transitioned for Game Play? Once we reach Red Tier status and maintain for two weeks, we will transition from COHORT style practices / skills-based training to regular team practices and GAMES

Will there be a Snack Shack? At this time the Moreland Little League Board of Directors and Officers are hyper focused on launching a 2021 season in Purple Tier state. The goal is to have an operational Snack Shack as we progress from Spring to Summer. That said, for now we are saying that the Snack Shack will not be in operation in the month of March, 2021 

Will We Have Opening Day Ceremonies?  Currently in Purple Tier status COHORT PODS are limited to (14) people in smaller groups maintaining a safe distance. We are currently targeting a total of ONE HUNDRED people total at the MLL baseball complex and SIXTY people total at the Miller fields. We will monitor additional data when/if Santa Clara County enters into and maintains a RED, ORANGE or YELLOW tier status. We have also discussed a virtual opening day ceremony. Stay tuned for updates 

Will there be signs posted at the fields? Yes, and this was initially completed 2/13/21. The MLL BOD and Volunteers (YOU) will engage and post signs accordingly. Please review the portion related to 2021 Volunteerism for MLL in 2021 

Please see the MLL Safety and COVID-19 Preparedness Document and the CA Interim Guidance: Youth Sports .pdf here: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-youth-sports--en.pdf 

The guidelines regarding the return to youth sports continue to evolve.  Here's what we know at this point:

• Inter-team competitions (i.e., between two teams) will not be allowed in California until County enters and remains in RED TIER for two weeks

• The California Dept. of Public Health continues to reassess the return-to-competition date based on current trends in the state.

• Baseball is a considered "Moderate Sport" and cannot resume until Santa Clara County enters the "Red Tier.".  Outdoor Conditioning and skill building is allowed in any tier with proper social distancing in place.

• Here's a link to the SCC Youth Sports Guidelines:  <insert SCC Youth League Sports Link: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/mandatory-directives-programs-serving-children-or-youth.aspx 

• Here's some additional information from the California Dept. of Public Health Blueprint for a Safer Economy  - https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID19CountyMonitoringOverview.aspx 

The Resumption of Baseball, in addition to coaches, requires the time and talent of many dedicated off-field volunteers.  If you are interested in helping out by becoming a board member or coordinator, please contact president@morelandlittleleague.org.

Not ready to register yet?  Please take our MLL 2021 Survey here: https://forms.gle/vbotGjVi4Rs3VjvY9  so we can better understand your needs prior to a return to baseball. We will review requests for late registration for the lower divisions depending on capacity.  We can not accept late registration for upper divisions after the draft.

Moreland Little League is proud to promote events for and with our partners who share the same core values as we do. Please check back here often for updates! You may also see these promoted events in our Calendar and Events section of the website. 

LEGENDS BASEBALL will be hosting 2021 Summer Baseball Camps in the West San Jose area and offer you a $100 OFF discount code!!!

They are offering 3 sessions in the West San Jose area: (final location either at Prospect HS, Moreland LL or another field in close proximity)

• Session 1: June 28 - July 2 
• Session 2: July 12 - July 23 (Wednesdays OFF)
• Session 3: August 9 - August 13
• Times: 9am-3pm
• Ages: 7-13 (perfect for beginners & all stars) 
• Cost: $395 for 1 week camps | $795 for 2 week double header camp with the $100 OFF MORELAND100 discount AND $100 OFF Early Bird Discount. Save $200! Expires March 1st

CLICK HERE to reserve your summer pod with FREE cancellation and changes

Enter discount code: MORELAND100 

If you’d like to learn more about our 2021 summer camp program, please CLICK HERE to watch a 15 minute webinar where I introduce the history, details and mission of Legends Baseball Camp.

If you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to reach out to David Klein directly by text or mobile at 650-387-4427! 

2/20/2021

What a Day!! One of our select few partners - LEGENDS BASEBALL hosted a clinic at the MLL fields today. There were TWENTY-FOUR baseball future stars out with some of the most amazing coaches and instructors  spread across multiple fields and distanced while being close enough to be right in the mix!! 

Visuals are HERE

Massive THANK YOU to Skipper David Klein, Coach George Peters and the rest of the Legends staff!!! It's beginning to feel  a lot like Baseball Season!!!