BIG LEAGUE UPDATES! Fall Ball, a new registration system, a major grant, and MORE!

We hope you are enjoying your summer! We have so many exciting updates to share with you, so let’s get at it!

1. New website!

The board has been working hard over the summer updating National’s website to make it more modern and user friendly. It’s a new look but the same old URL (in fact, you're on it right now!). You can still find us at www.nllalbany.org. Which brings us to the next point…

2. New registration system

We’ve also been busy moving to a new registration system, known as Sports Connect. Sports Connect is Little League’s preferred vendor and will make some aspects of league management simpler.

Ok, but what does that mean for me?

It means you need to log into Sports Connect and create a new account with National. Beginning with Fall Ball registration, which opens this week, your old SportsEngine account will no longer work. You can read more about the transition and how to create a Sports Connect account on our website.

You can access National’s Sports Connect page directly at this link.

Please create your Sports Connect account ASAP so we can troubleshoot any issues before Fall Ball registration opens. 

3. Fall Ball is coming!

Registration for Fall Ball will open Thursday, Aug. 1. For those unfamiliar with Fall Ball, it’s an abbreviated season (Sept.7 to Oct. 5) heavily focused on skill development to prepare players for their next division of play. Fall Ball is open to players who will be Little League ages 7-12 next spring (that is, players who were ages 6-11 in the spring season that recently concluded). 

If you’re not sure about your player’s Little League age, consult this handy age chart for the 2025 season.

Please note: While you will have the option of registering your player in one of three divisions (Farm, AAA or Majors), it will ultimately be up to National’s Baseball Operations Committee where players are assigned based on the number of players we have, their ages and skill levels.

Fall Ball is supposed to be fun; it’s supposed to be about learning; and it’s supposed to be about challenging yourself as you prepare to move up!

Rookie parents: We do not currently plan to run Fall Ball at the Rookie level; however, if there are parents interested in running a program over the same five Saturdays (we’re looking for folks to be in charge!), the Board is willing to assist in helping that happen. Please email jcarleo-evangelist@nllalbany.org if you are interested in helping run that program.

We will have more details to share about how the Fall Ball season will operate as we get a better sense of registration toward the middle of next month.

4. An amazing, incredible, astounding opportunity

National Little League has been fortunate to receive a once-in-a-generation, potentially league-altering grant from Albany County that we plan to use to make much-needed improvements to our beloved ballpark.

We will have more to say about this soon, and many thank-yous to spread around, but for now suffice it to say that we need your help more than ever!

The Board is organizing to dive into some large projects as rapidly as we can, but we cannot do it alone. And we are ever mindful of the fact that many of the current board members’ players have more seasons behind them than ahead of them. We are always in need of new members and ideas, and if you are interested in having a major impact on the future of this league, there has never been a better time to get involved.

If you’re interested in learning more, email jcarleo-evangelist@nllalbany.org or join us for our next board meeting, Thursday, Aug. 15 at the National clubhouse.

5. Summer sandlot ball is still rolling!

Our partners at PAL/American Little League have been gracious hosts all summer, and we’re proud that a solid contingent of National players have been regulars at the Monday and Wednesday sandlot/skills program at American’s ballpark on Krank Street.

Coach Stallings at American/PAL has asked us to let you know that both Monday and Wednesday night sessions are now open to players of all ages! That means the 7-12-year-olds who have been attending on Wednesday are now welcome to attend on Mondays as well.

The sessions run from 6-7:30 p.m. at American Little League.

OK, that's everything for now! Get yourselves registered on Sports Connect, and watch your inboxes for Fall Ball registration on Thursday!

See you soon,

the NLL Board