Southwest Portland Little League

What Happens After I Register

Welcome to Southwest Portland Little League. Little League is a leadership program that utilizes baseball/softball as a way for players (and coaches) to learn this valuable skill. Our program is designed to be both instructional and fun. The objective is to teach fundamental skills and promote good sportsmanship and fair play.

We encourage all the parents to get involved if they are able. It is our volunteers that make the season successful for your kids. The league has several opportunities for parents to get involved, both on and off the field. If you have any interest in helping out this season, contact one of our Board Members. You can always help your respective coaches once teams are assigned as well.

Here are some frequently asked questions, along with their corresponding responses that might help prior to the beginning of the season.

Q. When does the season start?
A. The Spring season begins the first week-end of April for all levels above T-Ball. T-Ball usually starts one to two weeks later.

Q. When will we be contacted by the coach?
A. Major and AAA rosters are drafted by the coaches within one week of the final safety evaluation. All other rosters are created 7 to 10 days after the registration deadline. This can be extremely complicated and time consuming. Every effort is made to honor the special needs of our registered participants. You may be contacted to clarify your requests. Coaches will contact all players immediately upon receiving their roster.

Q. How often and where do the teams practice?
A. Practice length and frequency increases as participants move to higher levels of play. The details of practice time, location, and duration are issues to each team to work out individually. The availability of the coaches volunteer time weighs heavily in this decision. In general, T-Ball practices zero to once per week. Major are typically active four to five times per week.

Q. When are the games?
A. T-ball through Double A traditionally play their games on Saturday. Games start in the morning and last until late afternoon. Triple A and above have games scheduled throughout the week and no more than three games in any one week. It is possible for the upper levels to play in the early evening when lighted fields are available. Scheduling is based on the total number of teams at each level. This can't be done until all teams are formed.

Q. How long do games last?
A. Each level is different. T-ball games usually last about an hour. Single A and Double A usually last about 2 hours with a lot of freedom granted to the coaches for adjusting this time down based on the attention span of their players. Triple A games last from two to two and a half hours. Majors play a full 6 inning game unless forced to cut the game short because of scheduling.

Q. What equipment do I need to provide for my player?
A. All players need gloves in order to be on the field. If you are unable to purchase a glove for your child, let the coach know. There are often limited supplies of lost gloves from prior seasons that are available for loan.

Cleats are optional and some players wear tennis shoes through Single A. Uniform hats and shirts are provided by the league. Uniform pants are often provided above T-Ball. T-Ball players should be comfortable wearing their favorite pair of jeans.

Bats, balls, and catching equipment are provided to each team by the league. These items should not be purchased until your player is old enough to really express an interest in the sport. Check with a knowledgeable Little League person before spending a great deal of money on any equipment as there are requirements levied by the rule book.

Q. Can I request my child to play with a specific team, coach or teammate?
A. Yes you can!! You should have been prompted to fill in this request during registration. If you have a preference that was not noted, send an email requesting your preference the VP for the level you requested and to the Registrar/Player Agent.

Thanks for joining the league. Have a great season!