Frequently Asked Questions about Natick Little League.
Please READ this page.
How do I sign up for the FREE CLINICS at Frozen Ropes?
You must have your child registered for the current season to have them participate in the free clinics. If your child is signed up for the league, then all you have to do is show up at Frozen Ropes the day of the clinic. There will be more information provided as it comes available.
We got rained out, what do we do?
All rainouts, other than those in Leagues where there are umps, are at the discretion of the coaches. The safety of the players is the primary concern. If there is lightning GET OFF THE FIELD. Field times are at a
premium, so PLEASE try to be cooperative when rescheduling! There are no games scheduled for Memorial Day weekend (there will be games Memorial Day evening, 5:45 start time) If you want to try to play games then, coordinate it with the other coaches in your league. At the younger levels, 6, 7, 8 and AA games can be made up during their scheduled practice times on Saturday mornings.
What kind of BATS does my kid's league use?
Babe Ruth, Little League, AAA, AA and 8 year olds use
WOOD BATS. Softball, 6 and 7 year baseball use
ALUMINUM BATS.
My kid tried out, what's next?
You should hear from a coach by the Monday/Tuesdat after tryouts at the latest. If you don't, expect to hear from an AA coach within the next 1-2 weeks.
Does it matter which registration I sign my kid(s) up at?
It doesn't matter. All kids registered by the final registration will be placed on a team. Kids who wish to try out MUST try out on the dates noted or may not be placed on a team or may be placed in a league unsuitable for their level of play
SO PLEASE REGISTER AT ONE OF THE 3 LISTED
REGISTRATION DATES AND TRY OUT
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THOSE WHO REGISTER AFTER THE 3RD SIGNUP MAY BE SUBJECT TO A WAITING LIST
Why do I need a birth certificate to register?
Natick Little League follows the age guidelines set by the international
Little League organization. The same age guidelines would be followed virtually anywhere
in the world your child would be playing youth baseball. Children will be placed according to their age according to the following table, sorry there are no baseball leagues in Natick for children younger than 6:
The age cutoff is
on or before 4/30 of the current year.
Tee Ball- 6 Years old (We do not have Tee Ball for 5 year olds)
Coach Pitch - 7 Years old
Coach/Kid Pitch - 8 Years old
AA League- 9-11 Years old
AAA/ Little League- 10-12 Years old
Babe Ruth- 13-15 Years old
SOFTBALL AGE REQUIREMENTS
Our Softball program follows A.S.A. rules and we use A.S.A. umpires. The Natick Little league has elected to adopt the A.S.A. age guidelines to have uniformity with that organization and to avoid having seperate age guidelines for our "in house" and travel programs. Click here for the
A.S.A. rules
(see page 49-50)
Softball age cutoff is
before 1/1 of the
current
year
7 & 8 year old beginner league is 7 or 8 years before 1/1/2013
9 & 10 year old Junior League is 9 or 10 years
before 1/1/2013
11-14 year old Senior League is 11-14 years
before 1/1/2013
EXAMPLE: a child who turns 8 on 12/31/12 is league age 8. A child who turns 8 on 1/1/13 is league age 7.
Does Natick Little League have Fall Baseball?
Yes, info will be available late in the spring baseball, early summer baseball season.
When do we get our uniforms?
Uniforms for Tee Ball, Coach Pitch and AA will be distributed by the coaches. Uniforms for AAA, Little League, Babe Ruth and Softball will be distributed at the Little League Field House. A deposit of $50 will be required-any uniforms not returned by September 1 will result in a forfiture of the deposit monies. Uniforms will be distributed according to a schedule handed out to the coaches
Can I request a specific team/coach for my child?
While the League makes every effort to honor requests for team and/or coach placement, we make no guarantees other than you will be able to coach your own child. Late sign ups will have limited availability for such requests.
Does my 6 -9 Year old need to try out?
No.
Teams will be assembled by the league and players will be notified a week or two before opening day.
ADDENDUM: As of the 2012 season, 9 year olds are allowed to tryout for TRIPLE A ONLY. If a player doesnt want to tryout that is perfectly fine, and they will be placed on a Double A team just like in past years. If a 9 year old does tryout and doesnt make Triple A, he or she will then be placed on a Double A team. THERE WILL BE A MAX OF 2 9 YEAR OLDS PER AAA TEAM IN THE 2013 SEASON.
Does my 10-12 year old need to try out?
10 and 11 year olds may try out for AAA and Little League. If a 10 or 11 year old does not try out, they will be placed on an AA team. If a 10 or 11 year old tries out, they
could be drafted to Little League or AAA. If a 10 or 11 year old tries out and is not drafted, they will be placed on an AA team. 12 year olds must try out to make Little League. 12 year olds that do not try out or that try out and don't make Little League will be placed on a AAA team. If you played AAA in 2012 and dont try out, you will be automatically placed on a AAA team.
What is the Babe Ruth format for tryouts?
13-15 year olds MUST tryout on
one of the two scheduled tryout days to be selected for a team. There are no special times for specific ages, all ages tryout either day. (League structure TBD) There is currently only one division in Babe Ruth. Every player who registers and tries out for Babe Ruth will be drafted.
When are the games?
The baseball season starts on April 27th 2013 for AAA and LL; April 29th or April 30th for Tee Ball, 7 year coach pitch, 8 year coach/kid pitch and AA. Games are Monday through Friday evenings at 5:45 PM for Little League, AAA and Babe Ruth, and Monday through Thursday at 5:45 for Tee Ball, 7 year old coach pitch, 8 year old coach/kid pitch and AA. Games for LL/AAA are also on Saturdays at 9:30 AM, 11:30 and 1:30 PM at the Hunnewell Fields in South Natick (times subject to change). All AAA/LL and Babe Ruth teams teams will have 1-2 weekday games and at least one game on Saturdays, with Babe Ruth also playing Sundays. Babe Ruth league will be weekdays and weekends. Tee Ball, 7 year old, 8 year old and AA will play 2 games a week, with AA and Tee Ball playing Monday and Wednesday nights, and 7 and 8 year old leagues playing Tuesday and Thursday nights (subject to change). Teams at the 6, 7, 8 and AA level will only play Friday and Saturday in terms of make up games or practices only. Coaches will be contacting kids mid April for the younger levels of play. Practices for any teams will be determined by the coach. For a list of fields click here.