Spring 2024 registration is now open!

Registration is now open for our Spring 2024 season for Tball (ages 5-6), Farm A & B (ages 6-9), Competitive (ages 8-14), Seniors (ages 15-16) and Challenger divisions!

Our $25 early bird discount runs through November 1, 2023, and registration closes December 25, 2023.

Registration FAQ

Which division do I register for?
There’s some age overlap between the various divisions, so here’s a quick guide to help you decide where to register:

Tball – For players who are in kindergarten or first grade and Little League-age 5-6
Farm A – For players who played Tball the previous Spring and are typically LL-age 7-8. Farm A is coach-pitch with a tee if necessary
Farm B – For players who played Farm A the previous Spring and are typically LL-age 8-9. Farm B is coach-pitch with kid-pitch towards the end of the season
Competitive – All players interested in AA, AAA, Majors, Intermediates or Juniors should register for “Competitive.” You’ll be placed into the appropriate division after the tryout and draft.
– AA – Tryout required. For players LL-age 9-10 and below
– AAA – Tryout required. For players LL-age 10-11 and below
– Majors – Tryout required. For players LL-age 11-12 and below
– Intermediates – Tryout required. For players LL-age 12-13
– Juniors – Tryout required. For players LL-age 13-14
Seniors – For players LL-age 15-16 (or 14 if they are playing on a high school team). Season starts after Memorial Day.
Challenger – For players age 6-22 with mental or physical challenges. Find more information on our Challenger program here

For more information about our various divisions see https://www.nollsoll.com/divisions/

What does “Little League age” (or “LL-age”) mean?
For Little League purposes, a player’s age is their actual age on August 31 of the current year – it’s complicated, but there’s a calculator and a chart here. If you’re outside the age range we have set for a division, it won’t let you register and will ask you to select a different division.

How do I register to coach?
We’re so glad you asked! If you’re interested in coaching, please fill out a separate coach registration in the appropriate age group at https://secure.sportability.com/nollsoll and we’ll be in touch.

Do coaches get a discount?
If you coached in Spring 2023, you should have received a separate email with your coach discount code. If you didn’t see it, please email info@nollsoll.com to confirm.

I requested a scholarship – what’s the status?
We’ll be sending out scholarship information after November 1 – please look for an email from us then. If you need to request a scholarship, use this form.

When does the season start?
Tryouts usually take place in late January, Opening Day is in late February, and games start in late February or early March. Look for emails from us after the start of the new year with more info, or check our calendar, which we’ll update as we have more information about field availability, weather and other factors.

What team is that in the photo above??
That’s a flashback to our 2013 NOLL All Stars – if you recognize anybody you know give us a shout!

More questions? There’s a lot more information on our website:
Registration details: https://www.nollsoll.com/registration-information/
FAQ: https://www.nollsoll.com/faq/
Info for new families: https://www.nollsoll.com/new-to-noll-soll/
If you have questions not covered here, please contact us at info@nollsoll.com.

Come root for NOLL/SOLL Seniors All-Stars

Not only is NOLL/SOLL hosting the Seniors Western Regional All-Star Tournament at Laney College, but our own Seniors team (ages 15-16) is representing California District 4 in the tournament starting tomorrow, Thursday July 20 at 2pm, and they’d love to have your fan support! (The photo above shows the team after winning the District 4 tournament last month.)

This is the last leg of the tournament where it will be determined who will represent the Western Region in the Senior Little League World Series in Easley, South Carolina (July 29 – August 5th), so you’re sure to see some high-quality baseball.

Come out and support our NOLL/SOLL Seniors (our game is shown as “CA D4” in the bracket below or you can also find the schedule and results here) – last year we played into the championship game!

We still need more volunteers to help the tournament run smoothly – if you can lend a hand with admissions, snack shack, setup or cleanup, contact Paul Rosky, email volunteers@nollsoll.com or just show up at Laney and ask for a task!

Update 7/20/23: The Seniors won their first game over Oregon, and will face Idaho at 4pm on Friday, July 21. See you there!

More info:
District 4 website
District 4 Facebook
Tournament website

Go Seniors!

Back Caldecott Glow-up

Huge thanks to the Ball Park Buns & Rolls’ Ball Park of Dreams Initiative for donating funds to fix up a very tired-looking Back Caldecott this spring, and to the NOLL/SOLL volunteer field crew who put in countless hours and put those dollars to work to turn a field that wasn’t even playable last year into one that is now fully scheduled.

After a couple years of drought and a challenging rainy season, the field was in pretty rough shape, but look at it now: New sod in the outfield, a weed-free infield, new netting on the batting cages and cleaned-up bullpens. This field is heavily used by our AAA program and the fixes make a huge difference in safety and playability. Thanks to these improvements we were able to accommodate more players this year than we would have without this field.

Use the sliders below to check out the improvements or come catch a game!

A’s Night Friday April 14th

A’s Night and Stomping Ground pre-game!

Friday April 14, 2023
Pre-game fun starts at 5:10, A’s/Mets game at 6:40pm

Tickets are on sale now! Early bird tickets are only $25 if you purchase before March 25. After that date, tickets are $30. Ticket sales close Friday March 31, so don’t miss out on joining your friends and teammates for this fun event!

Come join your NOLL/SOLL teammates as the Oakland Athletics battle the Mets. Bonus this year: we’ll have exclusive use of The Stomping Ground until game time!

Bring snacks, play games, and have fun before the game starts. Stomper will even make a special guest appearance.

When registering, please select your NOLL/SOLL team from the drop-down menu. This will ensure you are seated with your team. Note, teams are listed by head coach.

Spring 2023 Registration

Registration is now open for our Spring 2023 season for Tball (ages 5-6), Farm (ages 6-9), Competitive (ages 8-14) and Seniors (ages 15-16) divisions!

Register here: https://secure.sportability.com/nollsoll

Our early bird discount runs through November 5, and registration closes December 19 – but don’t delay as some groups may fill up before then.

If you’re interested in coaching, please fill out a separate coach registration in the appropriate age group and we’ll be in touch.

Questions? There’s a lot more information on our website:
Registration details: https://www.nollsoll.com/registration-information/
Division info: https://www.nollsoll.com/divisions/
FAQ: https://www.nollsoll.com/faq/

Info for new families: https://www.nollsoll.com/new-to-noll-soll/ If you have any additional questions, please contact us at info@nollsoll.com.

See you on the fields!
NOLL/SOLL

Congrats to Adam Crampton!

Congratulations to former NOLL/SOLL player Adam Crampton who was selected in the 9th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Adam played in NOLL/SOLL from 2007-2012, starring for the NOLL A’s. He attended Oakland Tech High School, where he was named The San Francisco Metro player of the Year in 2019. Adam entered Stanford University in the fall of 2019, He was the starting shortstop his Sophomore (2021) and Junior (2022) years, and played in the 2022 College Baseball World Series.

2022 Regular Season Registration

NOLL/SOLL 2022 regular season (spring) registration is open! General registration information is available here, and information for families new to NOLL/SOLL is here. You can reach the registration page directly by going to https://secure.sportability.com/nollsoll

What are the regular season details?

Registration for the regular season is open as of October 21, 2021, with an early bird discount through November 14. Registration is $225 and we plan to hold the season from February 28 through May 26, 2022. (Those dates will, of course, be dependent on current health guidelines and situation.)

When does registration close?

Registration will close on December 20, 2021 – don’t delay!

When will teams be formed?

Drafts for the competitive divisions will be held in late January and teams will be formed in early February.

Will there be tryouts?

Tryouts for competitive divisions (AA, AAA, Majors, Intermediates and Juniors) will be held January 8, 9 and 15, 2022. We’ll send more information, including your tryout day and time, to eligible players closer to those dates.

Will there be All Stars?

As far as we know at this point All Stars will return as normal this year.

Will there be local Playoffs?

Yes.

Are there scholarships available this year?

Please fill out this form if you need financial assistance. If you know of anyone who may need assistance please make sure they know that we offer scholarships.

How can I help?

NOLL/SOLL is a volunteer run league. Please support your coaches and our board wherever we need help. We are also looking for parents who may be interested in helping be a division coordinator (team formation and practice/game schedules).

Can we tell our friends and family?

Please! Forward this link if you have friends or family who may be interested. Share with school newsletters if you would like to let your school community know.

What about our Challenger division?

We hope to bring back the Challenger program for Spring 2022. Find out more at https://www.nollsoll.com/challenger-division/ and email challenger@nollsoll.com if you have any questions and want to make sure to receive updates.

More questions? See our FAQ.

2021 Regular Season registration

NOLL/SOLL 2021 Regular season registration is open. General registration information is available on our website (some details are slightly different for this Covid shortened season).

We were in Spring Training do we have to sign up separately for the regular season?

Yes!

What are the regular season details?

Registration for the regular season is open now. Registration is $150 and we plan to hold the season from May 1st through July 31st (with a request to be flexible with us as we work on later than usual commitments from coaches and field space).

We will have a game schedule during the regular season which we hope will be similar to past seasons, but with the later start date of May 1st instead of (roughly) March 15. We understand that District 4 All-Stars might start in mid-June but do not know if health guidelines will allow play beyond the District 4 level. The NOLL SOLL Board is discussing strategies to optimize our season so that, if there is a District 4 All Star program, NOLL SOLL players will be able to participate. We are also hoping to have playoffs for our AA through Juniors divisions although it is uncertain what these will look like or if it will be possible given the later start date.

When does registration close?

Registration will close on March 31st – just go register when you read this email if you are planning to register.

Our child missed a year of baseball – what division should we sign them up for?

If your child was supposed to play TBall last year, if they are still 5 or 6 you may sign them up for TBall, if they are 6 or 7 you should consider Farm. If your child was registered to play Farm A last year, sign up for Farm. If your child was registered to play Farm and is 8 years old, you can choose to register for Farm or Competitive – players who are not drafted in AA will be assigned to a Farm team. If your player is league age 9 or older (they will be 9 by August 31 2021) sign them up for Competitive. Most of the players in our league are in the same boat and have not played for a whole year, our coaches will work with kids to make sure they are comfortable and work on building skills this coming year.

When will teams be formed?

Likely not until the end of April.

Will there be tryouts?

We plan to have tryouts for players who are eligible for AA and AAA or who are new to NOLL/SOLL. Players who are Juniors age may also try out. All other players we will be using try out information from the prior two years for coaches to draft their teams. Try outs will be scheduled in the first half of April.

Will there be All Stars?

We believe that there may be All Stars available for the local District 4, but we don’t know beyond that.

Will there be local Playoffs?

We don’t know.

Are there scholarships available this year?

Please fill out this form if you need financial assistance. If you know of anyone who may need assistance please make sure they know that we offer scholarships.

What if we don’t know our schedule for July?

If you may be out of town in July – please let us know in your registration notes. We will let coaches know if a kid may miss the latter part of the season. If you aren’t sure if you’ll be around in July – sign up anyway, we know that things are up in the air this year and we’ll make things work for families that are here, or aren’t able to stay that long.

What about the single sport cohort rule?

For our Spring Training session we interpreted the state guidelines as not allowing players to be on two sports teams at the same time. The state and the county continue to update guidance on a roughly monthly basis as conditions change. We expect that the guidance regarding the cohort rule could change and you should register for the May through July session if you are interested in playing baseball. We will offer refunds in the event that the health guidelines do not allow your player to play. We will work on keeping up to date with health guidelines and continue working on how to keep all of our kids safe.

How can I help?

NOLL/SOLL is a volunteer run league. Please support your coaches and our board wherever we need help. In particular for the 2021 year, we are continuing to search for a Treasurer, Secretary, Uniforms coordinator and help with WordPress website updates at the Board level. We will also be looking for parents who may be interested in helping be a division coordinator (team formation and practice/game schedules).

Can we tell our friends and family?

Please! Forward this email if you have friends or family who may be interested. Share with school newsletters if you would like to let your school community know.

What about our Challenger division?

Due to the Covid restrictions and the increased risk for some families and players on our Challenger teams, we will not be forming Challenger teams this year. We hope to be back in Spring 2022 as Challenger is one of the best parts of NOLL/SOLL. Email challenger@nollsoll.com if you have any questions and want to make sure to receive updates.

You can reach the registration page directly at Sportability by going to http://www.sportability.com/spx/leagues/Client.asp?ClientID=2

Baseball in 2021

The NOLL/SOLL board is excited to announce our current plans for baseball in 2021! We want to get the players back on the field safely, while providing a fun experience. Here are current FAQ’s about NOLL/SOLL 2021.

What will baseball look like in 2021?

In order to provide NOLL/SOLL players with a safe and much-needed opportunity for recreation and social interaction, NOLL/SOLL is preparing to offer a Spring Training baseball program in Spring 2021.

To facilitate this year’s programs, NOLL/SOLL has adopted a phased Return to Play Framework. The framework allows NOLL/SOLL to develop safety protocols consistent with health department guidance and shift program offerings as new guidance is published. NOLL/SOLL anticipates the Spring Training program to open in Phase 1 and follow COVID safety practices as published in the NOLL/SOLL Phase 1 Modified Baseball Program, and if conditions allow it to, follow up the Spring Training session with a regular season baseball program for 2021.

How will we make baseball safe?

NOLL/SOLL has incorporated extensive COVID-safety modifications and protocols into its 2021 baseball programs to meet guidelines set forth by the State of California and Alameda County. Such modifications and protocols include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing, equipment disinfection, and limiting activities to practice groups of 14 youth and 2 adults. See the NOLL/SOLL Phase 1 Modified Baseball Program for full details.

Will there be games?

Youth sports training is currently allowed, but youth sports competition is officially closed, both state-wide and in Alameda County. If state and local authorities permit youth sports competition to resume, NOLL/SOLL will transition from training to open competition as soon as possible, currently this will not be allowed until Alameda county is in the red tier at the earliest. Until then, NOLL/SOLL will provide baseball training activities for each team independently, as described in the NOLL/SOLL Phase 1 Modified Baseball Program.

How will registration Work?

NOLL/SOLL will open registration for Spring Training on January 15^th, we will send out a formal announcement when it opens. A $50/$75 fee, per player, will be due with the registration ($50 for TBall/Farm/Minors and $75 for Majors/Int/Jrs/Srs. This will allow NOLL/SOLL to request field space reservations based on participation levels. As in previous seasons, scholarships will be available for those in financial need. Our next registration announcement will have more details about how the Spring Training program will be organized. This program may be limited due to field and coach availability.

Can I get a refund if we don’t play?

Absolutely. If field closures or COVID restrictions result in cancellation of a Spring 2021 season and/or we cannot hold more than 4 practice sessions for the Spring Training program, registration fees will be eligible for a full refund. In that case, families who want a refund will need to promptly initiate a refund request online.

What are the current unknowns?

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we have less control than we think and that we must focus on the safety of our community. There are several unknowns in NOLL/SOLL’s ability to mount a 2021 baseball program and season.

Fields Availability: As we know from past experience, Oakland Parks and Rec often delays field opening until March even under normal conditions. COVID closures have further complicated that situation. On the other hand, Oakland understands the need for youth recreation, and to that end NOLL/SOLL is working with OPR, Berkeley Parks and other organizations we rent from to obtain fields under our COVID-modified plan.
COVID Restrictions: Though our practice plans are modified to comply with state and county guidance, health departments may issue orders that could affect the start of our 2021 programs or could result in a suspension of play during our programs.

Rev. 2/2/21 – updated links

Celebrating and Honoring Teo Surasky

As we all experience the shock and heartbreak of losing our beloved Teo, several things have become clear over the last few days. One, is that he was profoundly loved and held by his friends, as well as by the vast network of aunties and uncles and cousins who helped raise him. From the moment he was born, Teo knew how much he was loved. And from that same moment on, he generated immense love and laughter for too many of us to count.

In the midst of unspeakable loss, it has been healing to hear his friends share with us what he meant to you, and the ways he changed your lives. Our hearts break for you as much as they break for us.

Teo once offered a prayer at Shabbat at our home. “I’m grateful for my friends,” he said. “They make life worth living.”

We feel nothing but immense gratitude to each of you who loved him. He had an extraordinary childhood, and you all made it so.

The second big thing is that, while we will not know for some time, if ever, exactly what happened, we are confident that this was a terrible and tragic accident… likely a combination of factors that might have been survivable for someone else, but which proved fatal for him.

Teo was happy and upbeat the night before it happened, and he was in the middle of a number projects. But for those of you who know him, you know that the happy jokester kid we knew and loved, sometime during his senior year, started to struggle with anxiety.

He sought help and was receiving professional care and medication. For a while he shut down Instagram. He also had an incredible group of friends who loved and cared for him deeply and were looking out for him. We were all on his team.

It is likely that prescription and nonprescription drug interactions, and possibly a pre-existing health condition, all combined to produce this unthinkable outcome. We do know that he died peacefully and quietly, at home, in the room he loved where he would play PS4 and hang out with so many of you.

We know that all that matters right now is love–receiving the love you are sending our way and appreciating the love generated in the world. Please be healthy and happy and care for each other and find the fun and laughter in your lives, in any ways you can, in honor of Teo. If you are struggling, and so many of us are during this time, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

We are truly all in this together.

—Teo’s parents, Cecilie and Carolyn