Important Things to Know About WMTT Teams & WMLL Tournament Teams for 2022

Please read the information below carefully to make sure that you understand the ways that the new West Madison Travel Team (WMTT) program will change WMLL’s traditional “all-star” tournament teams starting in 2022.

  • In most cases, WMTT teams & tournament play will replace the traditional WMLL “all star” tournament teams & all non-District tournament play.
    • U8, U9 & U13 Baseball (LL ages 8, 9 & 13): If a WMTT team exists at any of these age levels, that team will replace the WMLL “all star” tournament team at the same age level.
    • U10, U11, U12, U14 & U16 Baseball (LL ages 10, 11, 12, 14 & 16): If a WMTT team exists at any of these age levels, that team will replace the WMLL “all star” tournament team at the same age level in all non-District tournament play.
    • U10, U12 & U14 Softball (LL ages 10, 12 & 14): If a WMTT team exists at any of these age levels, that team will replace the WMLL “all star” tournament team at the same age level.
  • WMTT teams are intended as an expansion of WMLL’s traditional “all star” tournament teams – WMTT teams will provide significantly more development/practice time and more tournament play than WMLL’s traditional “all star” tournament teams.
    • WMTT teams will practice for 7-8 months (likely 30-35 sessions) vs. the 8-9 weeks (likely 7-12 sessions) of WMLL’s traditional “all star” tournament teams.
    • WMTT teams will play in 4-6 tournaments vs the 2-3 tournaments of WMLL’s traditional “all star” tournament teams.
  • WMLL will continue to form & field “all-star” baseball district teams for the official Little League (District / State / Regional / World Series) tournament series at the LL age 10, 11, 12, 14 & 16 levels. However, these “all-star” district teams will no longer play in any tournaments besides the official Little League tournament series.
    • WMTT players are strongly encouraged to participate on the WMLL “all-star”district team if one exists at their age level.
    • To support this, WMTT tournaments will be selected to avoid conflicts with WMLL District team formation, practice & play.
  • The WMLL Board may elect to field a traditional “all star” tournament team for baseball or softball at any age level when either a WMTT team does not exist at that age level or there is sufficient non-WMTT player & coach interest to do so.
    • There are, however, no guarantees that a traditional “all star” tournament team will be formed at any age level besides the LL age 10, 11, 12, 14 & 16 levels in baseball for play in the official Little League tournament series.
  • WMTT teams share many things in common with WMLL’s traditional “all star” tournament teams.
    • Participation provides players additional opportunities for fun, skill development & personal growth through baseball / softball beyond WMLL’s current spring/summer & fall seasons of play.
    • Interested players must tryout & be selected.
    • To be eligible, players must participate in the associated WMLL spring/summer season (which for the 2021/2022 WMTT season is the 2022 WMLL spring/summer season)
    • Player age is based on Little League International’s age determination dates (which for the 2021/2022 WMTT season means that a baseball player’s age is their age as of August 31, 2022 and a softball player’s age is their age as of December 31, 2021)
    • Coaches are qualified & experienced volunteers who were selected by league officials after submitting an application & have undergone a background check.
    • Tournaments are scheduled on WMLL “off” weekends to avoid conflicts with WMLL spring/summer season regular season & league tournament games.
    • Teams are better prepared & more competitive than teams that play in the WMLL spring/summer season.
  • While the 2021/2022 WMTT program fees of $475 per player for baseball & $460 per player for softball are more expensive that the 2021 WMLL “all star” tournament team player fee of $65 for teams that played in two tournaments or $100 for teams that played in three tournaments, the WMTT experience is MUCH greater – see bullet #2 above
    • WMTT is pleased to offer scholarship support to qualifying families needing financial assistance to pay program fees. WMLL scholarships cover three-quarters of WMTT program fees – $355 for baseball & $345 for softball. Families pay the remaining quarter of the fees – $120 for baseball & $115 for softball.
    • To qualify for a WMTT scholarship, a family must qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches, SNAP, WIC, Medicaid or a State Health Plan, or have Foster Child Paperwork.
  • WMTT supports players who as students have academic responsibilities & as well-rounded individuals participate in other sports / activities. As such, WMTT understands that players may need to miss practices from time to time. This is not a problem.
    • It is important for players & families to understand, however, that their commitment to practice shows both on & off the field. The best players will see more playing time in tournaments…and these players are most often the players who regularly attend practice.