Frequently Asked Questions
We are excited that you are considering registering your child for St Mary's Little League baseball. Our goal is to provide a great baseball/softball experience for players at every ability and experience level. Across all divisions, SMLL emphasizes safety, teamwork, sportsmanship and, perhaps most importantly, having fun.
What's going on with the Spring 2021 Season?
Registration for the Spring 2021 Season will open no later than 26 December.
Early registration will run through midnight on 31 January and offers a 10% discount.
Registration will continue through 28 February (with the exception of Seniors Baseball).
Should roster spots remain, late registration (with a late fee of 15%) will be available on a first come-first served basis from 1 March to 6 March (with the exception of Seniors Baseball). Please understand that during the late registration period, we cannot accept teammate and coach requests (minors and below divisions) due to the complex nature of forming teams.
For Seniors Baseball, registration will remain open until April 30th to provide flexibility for those players also participating in high school baseball.
St. Mary's Little League is proud to offer the following divisions to our players this fall:
Co-Ed Bitty Ball
Co-Ed Tee Ball
Ponytail Softball
Coach Pitch Baseball
Minors Softball
Minors Baseball
Majors Softball
Majors Baseball
Intermediate Baseball
Junior Baseball
Junior/Senior Softball
Senior Baseball
Specifics on the programs, to include cost are located within the Registration section of this website.
Practices will start no later than March 22nd (with the exception of Seniors Baseball).
Games may begin the week of April 5th and run through June 19th (with the exception of Seniors Baseball).
Opening Day will be held on Saturday April 10th (COVID Dependent).
What is LEAGUE AGE?
These respective dates identify the “league age” as it relates to a player’s eligibility to participate in any of Little League’s divisions of play. When you register your player, he or she is eligible for divisions based on birth dates.
For the 2021 season:
The Age Determination Date for a Little League Baseball player is the actual age of a child as of August 31, 2021.
The Age Determination Date for a Little League Softball player is the actual age of a child as of December 31, 2020.
Additional information regarding Little League "League Age" can be found here:
https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/determine-league-age/
When are Practices & Games?
For the Spring 2021 season, teams will begin with practices and transition into games as the season progresses. Families can anticipate dedicating 2 to 3 days per week to SMLL (with the exception of Bitty Ball, which will be 1 day per week)
When are Games Scheduled?
Spring 2021 games may begin the week of April 5th and run through June 19th (with the exception of Seniors Baseball).
How are Teams Formed?
During the Spring Season, the Tee Ball, Coach Pitch, Ponytail and Minors divisions are formed based on school/residence address, as well as teammate and coach requests. The VPs and players agent match players with teams based on teammate/coach requests, overall team size, and age to make the teams as equally competitive as possible. Just remember, requests are not guaranteed!
For the Majors divisions and up, teams are formed via a skills assessment and draft process per the Little League Rulebook
Does SMLL accept Personal Requests?
There is a section of the registration form that allows you to request and/or note special considerations for the player agent. This section serves as your communication tool with SMLL.
In the Spring, requests are accepted for Tee Ball, Coach Pitch, Ponytail, and Minors only. Requests should be included in that portion of your registration and are not guaranteed.
What does my player need in terms of equipment?
All players will need to bring their own baseball/softball glove.
It is recommended that each player have baseball shoes (cleats), and a protective cup for boys and rip-it for girls.
Many players prefer to use their own baseball/softball bat and helmet, though the league will provide teams with them for the players use. Many players also like to have an equipment bag to carry their belongings, but this is not required.
Baseball players will need to purchase their own baseball pants and belt, while softball players will need to provide their own softball pants/shorts. Baseball players are not allowed to wear shorts.
The league will provide a team jersey and hat (baseball) or socks (softball) for all players. We generally buy the exact amount of game jersey's, hats, and socks needed for the players and coaches so if your child needs a replacement, we can provide you with the vendor information so that you may purchase an extra jersey and/or hat/socks if you wish.
The league provides an equipment bag to each manager that includes bats, helmets, and catcher’s equipment; however, current COVID restrictions mandate that we minimize the sharing of equipment. The League is currently assessing how to handle shared equipment while following necessarily sanitizing procedures in order to keep our players safe.
What is Minimum Playing Time?
Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time.
The Tee Ball, Rookie, and Ponytail divisions are considered an instructional level, and coaches try to give equal playing time to all players.
The Majors Baseball and Softball divisions and above are considered a more competitive level, and playing time may not be equal, but all players will participate for at least the minimum amount required as long as the game is not called early due to the mercy rule.
What are the rules of Little League?
The 2021 Little League Rule Books are provided to all team managers in the Minor League and above. If you would like to obtain a personal copy, you may order one at www.littleleague.org.
What if my child has a medical condition?
We encourage you to confide in the manager/head coach and/or player agent. Let them know that this information is very personal and should not be repeated unless there is a medical necessity. Medical release forms are read by the manager and coaches.
How can I annotate any Concerns, Questions and/or Requests during the registration process?
During registration process, please include any request in our request box. During and after registration, we encourage you to first thoughtfully speak with your manager, coach, and Vice President of the division your child plays in. Additionally, questions and suggestions may be addressed to the players agent, the Division VP and/or the President.
Does SMLL accept Field Requests for games and practices?
Please understand that St. Mary's is a large county with many geographically diverse practice locations.
In addition, given the current COVID-19 situation, we are currently awaiting Recreation and Parks guidance, as well as SMCPS direction regarding field availability.
While the League attempts to coordinate centrally located practice locations based on the addresses of rostered players, field requests cannot be honored due to the complex nature of the field assignment process as managed by St. Mary's County Parks & Rec.
What is the Cancellation Policy?
Please refer to the cancellation policy that you acknowledged upon registration. It is provided below for your convenience.
To receive a refund, cancellation of registration must be received via email no later than 5:00 pm by the dates specified below. Please send us an email with (SMLL Registration Cancellation) in the subject line to [email protected] and include the child's full name, division he or she is registered for, and a reason for cancellation in the text of the email. Please refer to the following timeline for refund deadlines and amounts. If SMLL receives your cancellation:
Before 5PM on 31 January 2021: You will be refunded your registration fee less a $10 processing fee.
Before 5PM on 28 February 2021: You will receive a 50% refund
Cancellations received after 5PM on 28 February 2020: no refund.
How can I get in touch with the league?
Visit our Board of Directors page for contact information for our volunteers.
If you have any further questions, please contact us at [email protected] and will be happy to answer any more questions you may have throughout the season.