FAQ’s for the 2018 spring/summer season
Eligibility
Who is eligible to play? WMLL has different eligibility requirements for baseball & softball. <more info>
- Baseball: Boys & girls between the ages of 7 and 16 who live or attend school in the Madison West, Madison Memorial or Middleton-Cross Plains high school attendance areas are eligible.
- Softball: Girls between the ages of 7 and 18 are eligible. No residency or school requirements exist for softball.
What does “little league age” mean? WMLL uses “Little League age” to assign players to the appropriate age-based league. In doing this, WMLL adheres to the requirements established by Little League, Inc. which are different for baseball & softball. <more info on WMLL leagues>
- Baseball: For players born between May 1 & August 31, 2005, the player’s age as of April 30, 2018 is that player’s Little League age for the 2018 season. For all other baseball players, their age as of August 31, 2018 is their Little League age.
- Softball: A player’s age as of December 31, 2017 is that player’s Little League age for the 2018 season.
Registration
How do I sign my child up to play? Anyone wanting to play at WMLL must register using WMLL’s Online Registration system by the February 28 deadline to be guaranteed a roster spot on a team. <more info>
Can my child be placed on a team with a friend? For the most part, WMLL is NOT able to honor requests to place friends on the same team – except in the case of Rookie & Minor League softball players who may request to be placed on a team with ONE friend using WMLL’s “buddy system”. <more info>
Can my children be placed on the same team? Siblings playing in the same league will be placed on the same team unless their parents request that they be placed on different teams when registering.
Is it possible to sign a player up after the February 28 deadline? While WMLL will attempt to accommodate everyone, late registrants can be placed on a team only if space is available. To ensure that your child gets on a team, be sure to register by February 28!
How much does it cost to play? WMLL’s standard registration fee for the 2018 spring/summer season is $275 for baseball and $210 for softball. There is a $25 early bird discount for registrations completed by February 4. WMLL also has partial scholarships available for children eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches. <more info>
Are refunds available? Refunds, less a $10 processing fee, will be granted if requested prior to March 18 (April 29 for Senior Baseball). No refunds will be granted after this date except for injuries or families moving away from the area.
Will I get a registration confirmation? You should receive a confirmation email from the online registration system within a day or two of registering. If you do not, or if you have other questions, contact our Registration Coordinator, Bob Collins, at registrar@wmll.org.
Skills session & league draft
What is the “skills session”? The skills session is a critical pre-season event that allows coaches to evaluate the relative skills of all players in a given league (Major & below). As such, it is a critical step in the process of assembling balanced teams via league drafts. At the skills session, players rotate through fielding & throwing, hitting, and pitching drill stations while being observed by coaches.
Who must attend the skills session & when is it? The skills session is mandatory for all players Little League aged 7-12 years old. The 2018 skills session is on Saturday, March 17 inside the Memorial High School Field House. Please arrive on time for the session for your child’s age group (see tentative schedule here). If you are unable to attend, please notify the appropriate league coordinator.
What must players bring to the skills session? All players should bring their glove & wear gym shoes (cleats & hard-soled shoes are not allowed). 7 & 8-year-olds & players new to WMLL must also bring a copy of their official birth certificate for age verification.
What is the league draft? Are players cut after registration? In order to create balanced teams & competitive leagues, WMLL utilizes a player draft to establish teams. The draft creates balance by distributing more skilled & less skilled players evenly across all teams. Everyone registered by February 28 will be drafted – no one is “cut”. <more info>
Questions?
What should I do if I have questions about WMLL? There is much useful information at WMLL’s website (www.wmll.org). If you can’t find an answer there, contact WMLL’s Registrar, Bob Collins, at registrar@wmll.org for registration questions & the league coordinator for the league in which your child will play (see list) for other questions. If you cannot reach that person, contact WMLL Board President, Tom Heneghan at umpires@wmll.org.
How can I keep up to date about WMLL during the season? Visit WMLL’s website (www.wmll.org) for useful information & the latest updates.