Youth Fall Ball Leagues

Recreational youth leagues teach fundamental skills, rules, and sportsmanship of youth baseball/softball from beginning through advanced levels. Teams will be formed after the registration closed on July 19, 2020. Limited spots are available for t-ball, 8U, 10U, 12U, and softball. For availability, please email Jeff Myles at jmyles@dekalbparkdistrict.com.

Register Now

Season: September - October

Registration Deadline: July 19, 2020

Baseball & T-Ball:

Girls Softball:

*League assignment is determined by participant's age on August 31st, 2020

Evaluation Dates

Evaluations are an effective and efficient way to create balanced teams. Please bring your glove and other applicable equipment. Be prepared to play and participate in activities and skills. If you are unable to attend, that is ok. Your child will still be drafted. (Please note that evaluations are used for competitive balance and players are never "cut" from a DeKalb Park District league or program. We believe in recreation for all!)

Baseball
15U: Monday, July 20 at 5:30 PM at Prather Park
12U: Tuesday, July 21 at 5:30 PM at Hopkins Park
10U: Wednesday, July 22 at 5:30 PM at Hopkins Park
8U: Thursday, July 23 at 5:30 PM at Deprin Park
T-Ball: No evaluations are held for t-ball

Softball:
8U & 10U: Monday, July 27 at 5:30 PM at McCormickPark
12U: Tuesday, July 28 at 5:30 PM at McCormick Park

Team Draft & Practice Schedules

Team drafts will occur shortly after the evaluation process is complete. Once teams have been drafted, a practice schedule will be created to allow equal access for all teams to the fields. Coaches will then call their players and inform them of the schedule. Practices will start the 1st week of August. If you do not hear from your coach by July 31, please email Jeff Myles at jmyles@dekalbparkdistrict.com or Greg Bruggeman at gbruggeman@dekalbparkdistrict.com.

Game Schedule
With the exception of t-ball, all games are played in conjunction with other organizations and therefore need to be coordinated with other agencies. Staff are currently coordinating those and will release the game schedule as soon as it is created. We appreciate your patience as we work through the scheduling of the games. Check back here for the full list of games!

For the Fall 2020 season, all 8U, 10U, and 12U baseball games will be played at the Sycamore Baseball Fields. In addition, all 8U, 10U, and 12U baseball players will be required to sign an additional waiver. Please click below for the waiver. Please return the waiver to Jeff Myles at jmyles@dekalbparkdistrict.com.

Return to Play - COVID 19 Waiver

COVID-19 Impact on Fall Ball

The DeKalb Park District is excited to offer Fall Ball. We are allowed to offer the league as long as the State of Illinois is in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. Any downgrade into Phase 3 or lower will result in the suspension or cancellation of the season (a full or pro-rated refund will be given, depending on where we are in the season when the downgrade occurs). In Phase 4, there are guidelines that the DeKalb Park District must adhere to. Regardless of your position, these guidelines are not negotiable and in order for this league to be in good standing, we must adhere to the guidelines. Failure to do so by players, coaches, or spectators, may result in the cancellation of the season, which only harms the players. Therefore, the below guidelines are in effect until we achieve Phase 5 status:

1. Participants should wear face coverings over their nose and mouth whenever not exercising (exceptions can be made for people with medical conditions or disabilities that prevent them from safely wearing a face covering).
2. Before allowing participation in the sport, sport organizers or coaches should ask whether participant is currently exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. If participant does have symptoms, they should wait to enter premises for a minimum of 10 days after symptom onset OR until feverless and feeling well (without fever-reducing medication) for at least 72 hours OR confirmed to not have COVID-19 via 2 negative COVID-19 tests in a row, with testing done at least 24 hours apart.
3. Sport organizers or coaches should maintain attendance log of participants.
4. Participants should wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before participating.
5. Participants should bring their own source of water and refrain from using any communal sources of hydration (e.g., team water or sports drink jug).
6. No handshakes at the beginning or end of games and practice.
7. Non-competitive activities (e.g., practices, drills, lessons) should be set up to allow for 6-ft. of distancing between participants whenever possible. If social distancing cannot be maintained during game play, participants should still maintain 6-ft. of distancing while on the sidelines or not directly involved in the game.
8. There are designated spectator seating areas, which may have been altered since your last visit to the fields. There may be some seats marked off or placed out of service so that 6 ft. of distance can be maintained throughout the games. Please be respectful of social distancing and use only the approved areas for spectating.
9. Please bring your own chairs from home. Using bleachers or other permanent seating may jeopardize your health if not properly sanitized.
10. Players are encouraged to bring their own equipment. Sharing of equipment is strongly discouraged. If sharing of equipment is done, proper sanitizing needs to be completed before the equipment is switched.
11. Group sizes should be limited to 50 total participants, coaches, and referees (i.e. excludes spectators)
    1. Any additional team members not participating in game play should sit on the sidelines 6-ft. apart from one another
    2. During practice as well as competitive games, multiple groups of 50 or fewer participants permitted at once as long as:
       1. Venue allows for social distancing of participants, employees and spectators
       2. 30-ft of distancing is maintained between groups/ opposing teams on the sidelines
       3. Areas for each group are clearly marked to discourage interaction between groups outside of competitive game play

COVID-19 and Games

With the first games of the Fall 2020 season beginning soon, we want to remind all players, coaches, parents, and other family members of a few unique things for our games this fall.

1. The dugouts and bleachers will be reserved for coaches and players to ensure that social distancing can be achieved. Athletes shall be dropped off and picked up from designated areas.
2. Coaches will be required to wear a face mask if unable to maintain a 6-foot distance.
3. Coaches are responsible for ensuring physical distancing is maintained between players.
4. Coaches should be the only ones to handle coaching equipment; do not let parents or spectators/fans assist.
5. Each team shall supply 3 game balls that will only be used by their team while on the field. Only coaches or athletes may retrieve their team's foul ball(s).
6. Players shall use their own gloves, helmets, and bats. No sharing of gear. Recommended that all equipment is sanitized before and after each use.
7. All communal athlete equipment, such as catcher's gear, will be required to be sanitized before and after each use. The Park District will provide disinfectant that shall be used to sanitize equipment.
8. Players must bring their own water/beverage to consume during and after practice. No shared drinking coolers.
9. Spectators/Fans must remain in their designated areas. Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs or stand.

Please understand that the DeKalb Park District finds no joy in the enforcement of these policies but without them, the season will be in jeopardy for the players. Our goal is not in enforcement but in playing baseball and softball. Help us by following the Phase 4 guidelines!

Questions: Call (815)758-7756

Interested in Sponsoring a team? Call (779)777-7262

Volunteer to be a Coach! Do it for the kids. Do it for yourself.

The foundation of our youth sports programs is our volunteer coaches. Coaching is an experience that can make a positive
and life changing difference in the lives of our youth as well as your own. Coaches are needed for baseball, softball, t-ball and
basketball. For more information about being a volunteer coach, please contact Jeffrey Myles (779)777-7264 or
jmyles@dekalbparkdistrict.com. Become one of our Safe(T)eam Coordinators!

Weather Alerts and Announcements

Sign up to receive text message weather alerts and announcements for Fall Ball 2020!

Text "DPD2020 FallBall" to 74499 to opt-in. Msg and Data rates may apply. Up to 12 messages/month. Text "STOP DPD2020 FallBall" to cancel. Text "HELP" for more information.