Spring ‘25 Team Registrations
November 20, 2024
Spring sports signups are happening NOW, can you believe it? I wanted to get this post out ahead of December as registration deadlines are quickly approaching end of this month through end of year. This month we’ll talk about spring team sports including:
If your child is just becoming eligible for these sports (age 3.5 - 6 yrs) and it’s your first time enrolling in these sports, this one’s for you!
*Please note I am not affiliated with any of these programs, however, I will be explicit when I do make recommendations if it’s a program my kids have done before.
Tee Ball/Baseball
I’ve been looking forward to enrolling Jack in Tee Ball since he’s taken a likeness to the tee ball set in our backyard and this Sandlot clinic I enrolled him in this fall. Seeing as Jack will turn 4 in spring, I thought this would be the year to sign him up. There’s two main league options for South County kids to participate in outside of traveling/competitive leagues geared towards 8yrs+:
Little League
PONY League
What’s the difference?
Little League is a popular introductory league for kids new to baseball. PONY offers similar programs, but they play by MLB rules teaching lead offs, base stealing and pitching at an earlier age while Little League may not teach those rules until a player is a teenager. Additionally, PONY league uses a two-year age bracket system vs LL ,can have players in the same division up to 3 years apart. Generally, PONY leagues tend to be more competitive as it selects strongest players for their tournaments vs LL is focused more on team competition. Both are co-ed programs and both leagues earliest division is Tee Ball with players progressing to Machine Pitch, Coach Pitch and then Majors when they’re ~8 yrs old.
Little League Info:
Tip #1: Check your local little league to see what their “league age” requirement is. The national LL age chart can be found here. Most LLs accept league age 4 and up (meaning they could be 3 when the season begins), however, I did find that San Clemente LL doesn’t accept players for Tee Ball until league age 5 (turning 5 in ‘25). Up until league age 8 you can move around to other local LLs, thereafter they won’t be able to switch leagues.
Tip #2: Between San Clemente and Irvine, there are 15 Little Leagues available to join. Find your nearest Little League(s) here and visit the regional league site for details and specifics for each league. Local leagues to me include San Clemente LL linked above and San Juan Capistrano LL.
Here’s what to expect:
Registration is open now with some closing as early as 12/2!
San Clemente LL early bird ends 11/30 ($50 off), regular reg. from 12/1 - 12/30 and late reg. ends 1/10 (+$50)
San Juan Cap LL (covers DP, Capo Beach, SJC and RMV) registration closes 12/6. (note: use register link in top right corner)
Cost: ranges from ~$100 - $250 for ages 4 - 7, and ~$250 - $350 for upper drafted divisions.
Season Duration: Most begin the first week of Feb and run until end of May.
Divisions & Commitment:
Lower Divisions: Tee Ball/Coach Pitch/Machine Pitch (ages 4 - 7) expect 1 gameday per weekend and maybe an optional practice during a weekday afternoon.
Upper Divisions (A, AA, AAA and Majors) is usually 8 yrs+ where they still play on a little league field but closer to baseball rules. Team placement is based on prior experience or tryouts. Expect up to 2 games per week and 2 practices per week in the Upper Division.
Challenger division: select Little Leagues offer this program to children with physical and mental challenges, league ages 5 to 13. Check out the League page to learn more.
PONY League Info:
There are two PONY leagues in the South County OC area: Dana Point Youth Baseball and Irvine. DPYB is open to players ages 4 - 14. Ages 4 - 5 start off as Tee Ball and then switch to machine pitch.
DPYB Spring registration is open now through 1/6.
Cost: ranges from $99 (4 & 5 yrs) to $199 (6 yrs) to $250 (7+ yrs).
Season duration: early Feb to late May with all star games that run into early June. Commitment is typically 1 weekday practice plus 1 Saturday game per week.
Girls Softball
Below is a list of South County girls softball leagues with links to register.
San Clemente Girls Softball: Players may enter the league as early as 4 yrs for their under 6 (6U) Tee Ball & Coach Pitch league and divisions go up to age 14. Serves San Clemente, Camp Pendleton, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch and surrounding south Orange County communities.
Early registration ends 12/1, regular reg. ends 1/14.
Cost: 6U = $99 ($49 for early reg.), 8U = $199 ($175 for early reg.), 10U-14U = $299 ($265 for early reg).
Season Duration: end of Jan - April
Capo Girls Softball: Players may enter the league as early as 4.5 yrs old and have separate divisions for 6U Tee Ball and 6U Coach Pitch, divisions go up to 12U. Serves Capo Beach, SJC, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Mission Viejo, Dana Point and surrounding areas.
Early reg. ends 11/30, regular reg. through 1/9
Cost: Tee Ball / 6U = $230 ($199 for early reg., $260 after 1/9), 8U & Older = $285 ($260 for early reg., $310 after 1/9)
Season Duration: mid Jan - April
Laguna Niguel Girls Softball: Accepting players from 6 - 14 yrs old from Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and surrounding areas.
Early bird reg through 12/15, regular reg. ends 1/7
Cost: Tee Ball / 6U = $100 ($75 for early reg.), 8U+ = $250 ($215 for early reg.)
Season Duration: Runs mid-Jan to end of April. Games on Saturdays practices during week.
Aliso Viejo Girls Softball: Accepting players 4 -14 yrs old from Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and surrounding communities in South Orange County in Southern California.
Early registration ends 12/1, regular reg. ends 12/31.
Cost: Tee Ball / 6U = $125 ($75 for early reg.), 8U+ = $280 ($225 for early reg.)
Season Duration: end of Feb - April
Mission Viejo Girls Softball: Accepting players 4.5 -14 yrs old from Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, Trabuco Canyon, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Rancho Mission Viejo, Wagon Wheel and the surrounding communities in south Orange County.
Early reg. ends 11/18, regular reg. ends 12/30
Cost: Tee Ball / 6U = $159, 8U - 14U = $299
Season Duration: late Jan - May. 6U (4.5 - 6 yrs old) will have 1 practice day and 1 game per week. 8U+ have 2 practices per week and 2 games per week.
Rancho Trabuco Girls Softball: Accepting players 4.5 -14 yrs old from Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, Trabuco Canyon, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Rancho Mission Viejo, Wagon Wheel and the surrounding communities in south Orange County.
Early reg. ends 11/30, regular reg. ends 12/31
Cost: Tee Ball / 6U = $165 ($125 for early reg.), 8U - 14U = $285 ($235 for early reg.)
Season Duration: mid Jan - April. 6U (4.5 - 6 yrs old) will have 1 practice day and 1 weekend game per week. 8U+ have 2 practices per week and 2 games per week (one on weekend).
Spring Soccer
Fall is actually soccer’s most popular season, though leagues do offer spring programs so sharing below which leagues do!
San Clemente AYSO: Divisions for ages 5+
Early bird registration ends 12/19, regular reg. ends 1/27
Cost: $215 ($165 for early reg.) + $25 national fee one time per year
Season Duration: March - Mid-May
If you’re not in San Clemente you can check your AYSO region to see if your region is running a spring program.
Elite Soccer League: Spring Mini Kickers Program for 3-4 yr olds. Serves Aliso Viejo, San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, RSM, Rancho Mission Viejo, San Juan Cap.
Early bird reg. ends 1/3 ($95), registration deadline is 2/15
Season Duration: 3/8 - 5/7, practices run 20 mins before each game. Games are 3v3 format.
i9 Sports Mission Viejo Soccer: Plays at Mission Viejo Oso Viejo Park. Programs for ages 3 - 14, co-ed.
Registration now through 2/1
Cost: price goes up after 12/7 and 1/4. Early bird starts at $158.
Season Duration: 3/1 - 4/5. Practices held on gamedays. Games held Saturday afternoons.
Spring Flag Football
Flag football is played all year round, so I’m highlighting winter/spring registrations currently open:
NextGen NFL Flag: Divisions from Kinder to High School. Teams are co-ed, however, they offer girls only divisions from 5th grade on.
Register now through 12/15
Cost: $275 for San Clemente, $285 for Dana Point
Winter Season runs: 1st week of Jan to end of Feb. Games played at either San Clemente (Vista Hermosa Park) or Dana Hills High School. Games on Saturdays.
Next Level Sports Flag Football: Divisions from Kinder through 7th grade (girls divisions start 1st grade - 8th grade).
Register now through 1/27 (note season starts 1/12 or 1/19 for girls)
Cost: $250 (or $225 for girls division)
Winter Season runs: mid Jan - mid March. All games on Sundays at San Clemente High School. Practice held an hour before the game.
Matt Leinart Flag Football South County: Divisions for PreK/Kinder up to 8th grade. Separate divisions for boys and girls (Females in Flag).
Register now through 1/6 for PreK/Kinder ($220), price goes up thereafter. For all other divisions registration closes 12/15 ($260), price goes up thereafter.
Games played at Cox Sports Park, Esencia Sports Park, The Pavillion Park, JSerra High School and San Juan Hills High School.
Spring Season runs: March - May. Practices once a week and games are Friday nights.
See Mission Viejo league if you are located in that area.
i9 Sports Flag Football Aliso Viejo: Divisions for ages 5 - 14, co-ed teams.
Register now through 12/7
Cost: $178
Winter & Spring Seasons available to register: first week of Jan - first week of Feb. Games on Saturday mornings, practices on same day before games.
If your child isn’t ready to play this spring, no sweat! Most of these leagues offer summer or fall programs as well. I’ll also be featuring other programs and clinics offered year round so stay tuned. Lastly, if you find any of my content helpful, please give it a share whether on social media or recommend subscribing to my blog. If you want to see more or less of something, let me know by filling out this survey.
Happy Planning, 🙂
Morgan