Frequently Asked Questions
We are excited that you are considering registering your child for St Mary's Little League baseball or softball. 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 Fall 2021 Season?
Registration for the Fall 2021 Season will open on or around June 24, 2021.
Early registration will run through midnight on 23 July and offers a 10% discount.
Registration will continue through 13 August.
Should roster spots remain, late registration (with a late fee of 15%) will be available on a first come-first served basis. 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.
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.
Clinics will start August 16th
Practices will begin August 23td
Games may begin September 7th and run through November 7th.
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/
Practices & Games
For the fall 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).
Games Scheduled
Fall 2021 games may begin the week of September 7th and run through November 7th.
How are Teams Formed?
During the Fall 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.
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.
The players agent will discuss the situation with the VP of the division, and the best interests of the child will be taken into consideration.
Remember, there are no guarantees for personal requests since many factors play a role in forming teams.
Finally, for those players that register during the late registration period for the Minors and lower divisions, teammate and coach requests cannot be honored.
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.
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, Coach Pitch, 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.
Rules.
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.
Personal Medical Information
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.
Concerns, Question and/or Requests
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.
Field Requests
Please understand that St. Mary's is a large county with many geographically diverse practice locations.
In addition, multiple sports (not just SMLL baseball) are in competition for field space. 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.
Cancellations
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 ET 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 13 July 2021: You will be refunded your registration fee less a $10 processing fee.
Before 5PM on 13 August 2021: You will receive a 50% refund
Cancellations received after 5PM on 13 August: no refund.
How can we 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.