See below for level-by-level guidance.

• Junior Teeball and Teeball
  • ALL provides jerseys and hats. Each team will have sufficient helmets and bats for everyone.
  • Every kid should have their own glove. “Teeball” gloves are generally 8 - 9” in size. Spending money on a glove at this age isn’t really worthwhile; kids aren’t doing any real catching until Rookies.
  • Kids should wear comfortable shorts or pants. Cleats are not necessary. Some kids will have their own helmet and bat, but having your own really isn’t necessary. 
• Rookies
  • ALL provides jerseys and hats. Each team will have sufficient helmets and bats for everyone.
  • Every kid should have their own glove. Buying a non-Teeball glove starts to become worthwhile, as kids will start making progress towards catching a thrown ball. The Mizuno Powerclose is noted for being very soft and broken-in upon purchase and will serve them well for at least 2 years.
  • Most kids will have their own bat and helmet at this point. Per above, buying one isn’t necessary.
  • Kids should be wearing pants to all practices. To help look unified teams, players should wear either white or gray “baseball pants” for games. Your coach might have a preference.
  • Some players will start wearing cleats.
• A
  • ALL provides jerseys and hats. 
  • Every kid should have their own glove.
  • Almost all kids will have their own bat and helmet.
  • Most kids will be wearing baseball pants to most practices, and everyone should have baseball pants for games.
  • Most players will wear cleats to both practice and games.
  • Players usually will have some form of “baseball bag” to hold gear. Make sure you buy a bag large enough to hold a helmet, cleats, gloves, and a water bottle. 
  • Boys will need cups in order to catch (required, no exceptions!)
• AA, AAA, Majors, & 50/70
  • Akin to what’s above, kids will have more personal gear.

An important note regarding bats: When purchasing a bat, make sure it has the USA Baseball stamp on it. This stamp will likely be between the grip and the barrel (the wide part). These are the only bats legal in Little League, as they meet a specific safety standard. Here's an example of what to look for:

Some recommended vendors and options:

• Casual Adventure (https://casualadventure.com/): A long-time ALL sponsor with great service! Located at 3451 Washington Blvd.
• Dick’s Sporting Goods (https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/)
• Just Bats (https://www.justbats.com/) & Just Gloves (https://www.justballgloves.com/): Carries just about every bat and glove on the market. If your player borrows someone else’s bat and likes it, this is probably the easiest place to get it.
• Sideline Swap (https://sidelineswap.com/): Good for used gear, particularly the more expensive pieces (such as helmets) that are worthwhile to ship.
• Mothers of North Arlington (https://www.monamoms.org/): Maintains an active marketplace of parents looking to sell used kid stuff.
• Facebook Marketplace & Craigslist
• Amazon.com

We are a community youth recreational sports organization serving Arlington County. We provide Arlington's youth with the opportunity to learn and play baseball in a safe and supporting environment. Because we are a recreational league, our programs must be able to encompass youth players of all ability and skill levels. A recreational league is an all-comers league. We make every effort to structure our league and teams so that the completion is fair and balanced. Our goal is to provide the best baseball experience possible for all of the youth in Arlington, VA.

Since 2013, Arlington Little League has offered a transitional 50/70 program. 50/70 baseball provides players the opportunity to play on a diamond where the pitching mound is 50 feet from home plate and the bases are 70 feet apart. The regulation field for Little League play is 46/60. 50/70 baseball permits players to take leads and run on the pitch. Pitchers must pitch from the stretch with runners on first and second base, and the balk rule is in effect.

The Little League Junior Umpire Program accepts boys and girls age 13 and older. Contact umpire@arlingtonlittleleague.org for more information.

At the Junior T-Ball, T-Ball, and Rookie levels we use the Incrediball. The ball is the same size and shape as a standard baseball, but is soft to squeeze. At the Minors level the RIF 4 ball is used. RIF is Reduced Injury Factor. The RIF is harder than the Incrediball, but not as hard as the baseballs used at the AAA and Majors levels. AAA and Majors use the standard baseball that meets National standards for Little League play.

Arlington Little League is affiliated with Little League International which requires a draft system to assign players to teams. The draft applies to players AAA level and up. The purpose of the draft is to equitably distribute players throughout the league. This is an important factor in creating balanced and fair competition. At Arlington Little League, we are aware that drafts may be manipulated. Our policy is that the Arlington Little League draft reflects the integrity of our league and that we will take all reasonable efforts to ensure the quality of our draft. Our players deserve nothing less.

More information about the AAA draft is available here.

In our junior leagues, from Junior T-ball through AA, we assign players by school and neighborhood. We will honor requests to be assigned to teams with friends and neighbors unless we face extenuating circumstances. In the senior leagues, AAA and above, we are required to assign players through a draft system. For players in the AAA division, we will make reasonable efforts to honor such request, however, we must balance requests with ensuring fair distribution of players throughout the league. If you want to make a request, please note the request at the time of registration and contact our player agent.

The distribution of players through the league helps us to minimize one-sided games. Although concentrating teams may seem to create better baseball, Little League's team assignment requirements places emphasis on balance. Our experience as players, coaches, and parents, is that this leads to exciting baseball. Teams composed of players that hold a range of ability and skill levels force the coaches and teams to work together to play the game well. That effort, under the stewardship of a capable coach, is success in youth sports.