Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the questions we have received over the years. Before calling us, please check the Q & A below. You may find the answer to your question.

Q. Can my five year old child participate in the Little League?
Q . Why can't my child be placed in a division comprised exclusively of children from his or her grade?
Q.  I requested that my child be placed on the same team as his or  her friend, but they were placed on separate teams. Why can't my child play  on the same team as his or her friend?
Q.  Why are children rated in the Little League?
Q .  My  child's team seems to lose more games than any of the other teams. How can I  be assured that teams are not "stacked"
Q.  My child is a below average player. How can I be assured that he or she will  be treated fairly by the Manager and/or Coach?
Q. My child is really not oriented toward athletics and generally is very shy and timid. How can I be  sure that Little League baseball will be a good experience for him or her?
Q.  My child  would like to pitch and play short-stop. Why does he or she spend most of his or her time playing outfield?
Q.  As a parent,  I know a little bit about the rules of baseball. Some of the calls that I hear the umpires make are clearly erroneous. How can you remedy this situation?
Q.  When are Little League games played?
Q.  We are religious and our child is unable to play on Saturday's. Are games played on Saturday, and if so, what are the alternatives?

Q. Can my five year old child participate in the Little League?
A.  Yes. In order to participate in our Little League programs a child must be at least six years old by
July 31st of the season he/she is to play.

Q. Why can't my child be placed in a division comprised exclusively of children from his or her grade?
A. According to our charter from Williamsport Baseball, each child is placed in an age category  based upon a Little League year which runs from August 1st to July 31st. As an example, all boys born between
August 1, 1997 and July 31, 1998, are  classified as Little League age 8 and would automatically placed in our I-8  division. As a result of this Little League age classification, children are  generally placed into divisions that include children from different school grades.

Q.  I requested that my child be placed on the same team as his or her friend, but they were placed on separate teams. Why can't my child play on the same team as his or her friend?
A.  Little League divisions are classified as either competitive or non-competitive. In the non-competitive divisions, i.e. Tee-Ball, Boys Clinic and Girls Softball Clinic, requests to place children on the same team as a friend are generally honored. In the competitive divisions, i.e. I-8, Minor B, Minor A, Boys Majors, Girls  Softball Minors and Girls Softball Majors, all players are rated and selected  for teams by means of a draft system. Consequently, requests to play on the  same team as a friend will not be honored for children playing in competitive divisions.

Q.  Why are children rated in the Little League? 
A.  The sole and only reason for rating children is to insure a fair and equitable draft when teams in our competitive divisions are selected. All  children who are eligible to play on one of our competitive teams are given a  rating by their manager and/or coach at the end of each season. All of the ratings are then reviewed on a division by division basis for accuracy and  then fed into our computer. When the drafts take place for our competitive  teams (usually in February and/or March) each manager and coach is supplied with a list of eligible players together with the child's rating. The ratings determine each Manager and/or Coaches position during the draft and insure that all of our competitive teams are equally balanced.

Q.  My  child's team seems to lose more games than any of the other teams. How can I be assured that teams are not "stacked".
A.  As explained above, all teams in competitive divisions are selected by a lottery draft system. Furthermore, the ratings of each child are reviewed for accuracy prior to the draft taking  place. Finally, the lottery draft system is administered under an extensive set of draft rules and under the auspices of the Board of Directors to insure uniformity and fairness. Despite our best efforts the ratings can not measure a child's development from one ability level to another from one year to the next. Nevertheless, the "stacking" of teams is strictly prohibited.

Q.  My child is a below average player. How can I be assured that he or she
will be treated fairly by the Manager and/or Coach?
A.  Although there is no mathematical formula imposed upon Managers and Coaches with regard to a child's playing time, each of our Managers and Coaches are encouraged to maximize the amount of field playing time for each child taking into consideration the state Little League goals of fostering a winning team spirit tempered by individual growth and sportsmanship. In addition, the following local rules prevent children in our Little League from being treated unfairly: (a) Each child must bat at his or her designated line-up position. No player may be passed over in the batting order. (b) Every player must play in the field at least every other complete inning. Finally, all Managers and Coaches are reviewed for their ability to instruct each child on the team's roster in the fundamentals of baseball while maintaining a competitive spirit.
Those Managers and Coaches that are either unable or unwilling to reach out to all team players will not be allowed to continue such roles in the future. If you believe that your child is not being treated  fairly by a Manager or Coach, you should share your concerns with Director of  your child's division as soon as possible.

Q. My child is really not oriented toward athletics and generally is very shy and timid. How can I be sure that Little League baseball will be a good experience for him or her?
A.  Little League divisions are composed of children of similar age groups. Thus, regardless of your child's skill level, he or she will be playing with children of similar ages and physical development. Furthermore, because  of our lottery draft system, each team will have players who are either above average, average and below average. In our experience, we have found that all players, regardless of their ability at the beginning of the season,  generally develop and improve these abilities as the season progresses. Moreover, many children who start a season with low ratings surprise their Managers, Coaches and parents by over-taking fellow players who have higher  ratings. We believe that regardless of the ability level of a child, the Little League experience is worthwhile for all children.

Q.  My child  would like to pitch and play shortstop. Why does he or she spend most of his or her time playing outfield?
A.  During the preseason practice sessions, each Manager and Coach is able to obtain a perspective on your child's skill level at various field positions. Generally speaking, a Manager or Coach is free to place a child in the particular field position that he or she feels will match the child's skill level and be helpful to the team. The Little League encourages all Managers and Coaches to maximize the number of field positions played by all team players. Any Manager or Coach who in the opinion of the Board of Directors abuses the assignment of field positions may be barred from any future managing and/or coaching assignments.

Q.  As a parent,  I know a little bit about the rules of baseball. Some of the calls that I hear the umpires make are clearly erroneous. How can you remedy  this situation?
A.  In the first place your baseball knowledge may or may not coincide with the Williamsport Little League Baseball rules or our local  rules which govern all of our baseball games. Secondly, parents are strictly  forbidden from arguing or discussing any disputed calls with the umpire. Only the team Manager or Coach
may approach the umpire in order to discuss any disputed call. Judgment calls by the umpire such as ball or strike, safe or out, may not be challenged regardless of the number of parents and spectators who disagree with such call. Non-judgment calls of the umpire may be disputed by the filing of a formal written protest by the team Manager and/or Coach. If you believe that an umpire has made an erroneous call, you should report  your observations directly to the team Manager or Coach. Under no circumstances may a parent or spectator approach, argue with or scream at an umpire.

Q.  When are Little League games played?
A.  The Little League season runs from the first week of April through the second week of June, with two games each week; one game on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday at 6:00  P.M. and one game on Saturday (times may vary).

Q.  We are religious and our child is unable to play on Saturday's. Are games played on Saturday, and if so, what are the alternatives?
A.  Most divisions play at least half their games on Saturday's. As an alternative, the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC) has a baseball league which may work out better for your child.