Frequently Asked Questions

For T-Ball-specific questions, click here.

Section 1: League Questions | Section 2: Registration | Section 3: Teams | Section 4: Games & Practices | Section 5: Rainouts


Section 1: League Questions

1. How do I get in touch with MCLL to ask questions?

If your question is not answered here,  please search our website. If you still have questions, email info@mclittleleague.org and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

2. What ages can play Little League?

Little League baseball: ages 4-15. Softball: ages 6-16. See Divisions of Play for more information.

3. My child is eligible for more than one Division. Which level should I register for?

The registration system will only allow you to register for the divisions for which your child is age-eligible. However, your child’s age may allow you to choose from more than one division. If you are new to baseball/softball, it's probably best to start at the lower division. You can always email us at info@mclittleleague.org and we can give you a recommendation based on age and experience.

4. Can my child play up or down a level?

Players can play up if their skill level allows them. Under certain circumstances, subject to league approval, parents can request a player to play down.

5. What does "League Age" mean?

League age is the age a player will be on a cutoff date determined by Little League International. League ages are used by almost all youth sports leagues to restrict players from being above a certain age during a given season. For Spring, the Little League cutoff date is 8/31 for baseball This means if your child has a birthday in July or August, they could be 10 years old but considered league age 11 for that Spring season. If a division is for ages 10 and under, the idea is that at no time during the season will any players be 11 years old. The cutoff date for softball is 12/31. Click here for a League Age Calculator

6. Will my child be playing with other kids his/her age?

Ages may vary within a division by 1-2 years. As players progress, they will be placed in the proper division based on skill. At the kid-pitch level, they will be playing with other kids in the same age group, within 1-2 years, as much as possible.

7. Can my child play on a team with his/her friend?

After evaluations (Spring season only), we divide the players up based on skill level. We do take requests, but we do not guarantee they will be honored. Above the Tee-Ball level, our main obligation is to ensure the teams are equal in skill level. In the Fall season, no evaluations are required and friend requests are honored when possible.

8. Do you offer machine-pitch divisions?

No. MCLL believes that coach pitch is a better approach to developing young hitters than machine pitch.

9. Can a player participate on more than one team?

At the older levels, the schedules have been designed so kids can play on both a Majors team and an Intermediates team or an Intermediates team and a Juniors team. A discount of 50%, if available, will be given on the lower-priced division when playing two levels.

10. Do you offer a higher level of baseball/softball than recreational?

Little League is designed so ALL children wishing to play have the opportunity to do so. If your child has advanced skills, they can play up to the highest level matching their capabilities and try out for the All-Star tournament teams over the summer.

11. How long is the baseball/softball season?

The Spring season runs from early April to early June, typically opening the first weekend of April and ending the weekend before the last day of school for MCPS. MCLL does not play any games on Easter or Memorial Day weekends. The Fall season runs from the last week of August through the end of October. 

12. Does MCLL have insurance?

Yes, we have excess medical insurance for all participants as well as a general liability policy. Participants should have medical insurance prior to the start of participation. Here is a link to What Parents Should Know About Little League Insurance.

Section 2: Registration Questions

1. How do I register?

Simply click the “Register” button that is on our home page: http://mclittleleague.org. This will walk you through the registration process. This button is only present when registration is open.

2. What does the registration fee cover?

The registration fee helps cover the costs of field permits; team equipment (bases, balls, catcher's gear, etc.); player uniforms*; umpires (Minors and above); field maintenance; end-of-season trophies; and other expenses. Registration fees only cover part of operating costs and are supplemented by corporate team sponsorships. *Starting with the Spring 2024 season, softball players will need to purchase their own black pants.

3. How do your fees compare to other baseball/softball leagues?

As we are a non-profit community organization, we set our fees to cover the actual costs per player. We have kept our rates fairly steady over the past three years. Our fees are comparable to similar baseball/softball organizations in the area. If you compare the number of games we offer compared to other programs, MCLL is a much better value!

4. What is your refund policy?

Our full refund policy is located here:  Refund Policy

5. Is there a sibling discount?

A sibling discount of $25 applies to every registration after the initial registration of subsequent players from the same family, irrespective of age level.

6. What equipment will I need for my player?

Your player’s uniform is provided by the league and the cost is included in your registration fee. At a minimum, your player will need a batting helmet and fielding glove for his/her catching hand. A bat, sized to your player, and baseball/softball cleats are highly recommended. Batting gloves are optional. See the Equipment page for more detailed information.

7. How do we get the uniform?

Your coach will distribute uniforms during practice before the season starts. 

8. Will there be any fundraising activities?

The league relies on corporate sponsorships to supplement registration fees. 

Section 3: Team Questions

1. How are the players placed on a team?

MCLL is committed to being fair and objective in the assignment of players to teams. We make every reasonable effort to place players on the team of their choice, as requested in the comments of the registration record.  We also aim to assign teams based on player geography (residence and school). However, we are committed to balanced team play -- and for that reason -- at the minors level and above we conduct evaluations (Spring only) to help ensure proper level placement and competitive team formation.  Our tee-ball and coach pitch divisions are formed purely on geography and requests.

2. Who will coach my player’s team?

During the registration process, coach applications will be accepted by MCLL. Each applicant for a coach’s position must pass a background check and then be accepted by the Board of Directors. The majority of coaches are parents of players; all coaches are volunteers.

3. When are teams formed?

Once coaches are selected, and after the registration deadline passes, the rosters will be assembled. The coaches will have the rosters before the first practice and will notify families when practices will begin.

4. How much are coaches paid?

All our baseball and softball coaches are volunteers.

5. How do I become a coach?

We are always looking for volunteer coaches. Coaching youth is a rewarding experience and makes a meaningful and positive impact in their lives. No previous experience is required. If you’re interested in learning more about coaching, please contact us at info@mclittleleague.org.

6. How many players are on a team?

We strive to have teams of 12 players but it may vary slightly depending on coach availability.

Section 4: Game and Practice Questions

1. When are practices?

All practices are determined by the individual team coaches.  Practices are typically held on weekday evenings but can be on Sunday as well. Exact practice times will not be available until just before the season starts. 

2. Where are practices?

We secure permits for fields throughout Montgomery County. We make every effort to get fields that are convenient for parents. However, field permits are subject to availability and we can't guarantee location. Practice locations will not be published until just before the season starts -- late March for Spring and late August for Fall.

3. How long are practices?

Practices are typically 60 to 90 minutes in duration, depending on the coach's preference.

4. When are games?

Tee-ball teams will play on Saturday. Coach Pitch, Minors, Majors, and Juniors will play on weekday evenings and on Saturdays. Intermediates will play Wednesday and Sunday. Players are expected to make the majority of the games and are expected to notify the coach if a player cannot make a game or will be late.

5. Where are games played?

We have two regions within MCLL, an Upper County and a Lower County region. Upper County games are played in the Germantown/Gaithersburg area. Lower County games are played in the Bethesda area.

6. How long are games?

Coach Pitch, Minors, and Majors play 6-inning games or 2 hours, 15 minutes maximum. Intermediates and Juniors play 7-inning games or 2 hours, 30 minutes maximum.

7. What is the practice schedule?

Practice schedules - Day, time, and location are set by the individual coaches following team formation and based on permit availability, which the league obtains from Montgomery County.  

8. When will the game schedule be published?

We have to wait for Montgomery County and Park and Planning to issue permits for the fields that we will be using. Once our fields are confirmed, a schedule will be posted. This usually does not happen until late March for Spring and late August for Fall ball.

9. What is TeamLinkt?

TeamLinkt is the registration and communication system used by our league.  Coaches use the system to communicate with players and parents during the season.  Here you will find practice and game schedules, along with your team's player/parent contact information. If a practice or game is canceled or rescheduled, the coach will send out an email and/or text notification using TeamLinkt.

10. Are there playoffs?

Tee-ball will not have playoffs. Coach-Pitch levels and above will have playoffs after the regular season has ended. (Spring only) 

11. What are the Little League tournament team opportunities?

MCLL sponsors tournament baseball teams at the 8-10, 9-11, 10-12, Intermediate and Juniors levels and softball teams at the 8-10, 10-12, Juniors & Seniors levels. Play starts at the District level and proceeds to State, Regional, and International play. The teams are selected by coaches toward the end of the Spring season. The tournament runs from late June through August, culminating in the Little League World Series in Williamsport.

12. What is the benefit of combined Saturday practices and games?

Our Rookie Ball and Tee-ball divisions offer the option of having a practice directly followed by a game -- once weekly. The argument for practice+game Saturdays is that the practice introduces concepts and ideas, which are better remembered with a context-based situation (game) that same day. The idea is to provide the immediate small-scale drill format during practice, and then reinforce that skill in context-based play that a game provides. This format results in better retention of the new skills.

Section 5: Rainouts

1. Will rained-out practices be rescheduled?

The league does not reschedule practices, but coaches are free to add additional practices if they desire.

2. How will I know if a game is rained out?

When there is a rainout, the TeamSnap system will notify parents of the cancellation by email and/or text.

3. Will rained-out games be rescheduled?

Every attempt will be made to reschedule a game based on field availability. The coaches will notify the teams when a rescheduled game will be played. We do our best to reschedule and play the full set of games.

4. I was told there would only be one weeknight game but now there are two. Why?

If games have to be rescheduled because of inclement weather, we must schedule them when we have field availability, which is usually during the week. The county, not MCLL, decides when to close fields due to rain.

5. Why was my game canceled when the weather has been dry?

The county, not MCLL, decides when to close fields due to field conditions.  Fields with poor drainage could take days to become playable again.