Parents of first-time players
Some Information for Parents of First-time Players
Q: How long is the Little League season?
A: Typically, the Little League season starts at the beginning of February for practices, with games actually starting in March going through late May (one-week break for Easter). Upper divisions continue with post-season tournaments and all-star games into late June and early July. (Please, refer to the calendar on the website for more information.)
Q: How many games / practices can we expect?
A: A 20-game regular season with at LEAST one practice per week. Sometimes two games per week, sometimes one, depending on the division.
Q: What kind of equipment do I need?
A: At the very least, a good glove. Rubber-molded spikes / cleats would also be a sound investment. Before spending a lot of money on a bat, please visit the Little League link of approved equipment.
Little League Approved Equipment
Q: Where are the games and practices?
A: Please visit the "Info/Forms" link on the website.
More things to consider...
1) Be sure your player is at practice and games ON TIME. Baseball is a team sport and the team depends on everybody to be working together within the scheduled times.
2) If you're dropping your player off for a practice or a game, please be sure to pick up your player ON TIME (coaches are not babysitters).
3) Let the coaches do the coaching. If you want to coach, please, volunteer.
4) Be supportive at games. If you have nothing positive to say about the team, players, coaches, or umpires, keep it to yourself.
5) Offer to help out. Help set up the fields, help with the equipment, help keeping score, help cleaning up the field. The coaches put in more time at one game than most parents do during the whole season.
6) Again this year, all local Little Leagues are required to conduct background checks on Managers, Coaches, Board of Directors members and any other persons, volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players or teams. More information on this phase in the Little League Child Protection Program can be found here.