Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure of NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE baseball?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE Baseball is comprised of two leagues, Baseball and Softball. Both leagues offer five levels of play: T-Ball, Machine Pitch, Texas, National, Majors, Jr., Sr., and Big Leagues.

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE has established age cutoffs to ensure players develop appropriately in terms of skills, knowledge, and sportsmanship. NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE has established age brackets that players need to participate in, however, there are situations where some players may play down due to safety risks upon approval of the President.

Pitching distances are scaled to the ability of the players in proportion to the size of the diamonds. The scaled down diamonds in the lower divisions allow the players to make the same plays made by the upper division players on larger diamonds.

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE is managed by an elected Board of Directors that administer the league in line with established Constitution. The league is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization.

When does the season begin?

Please check the NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE calendar on the NWLL web page for exact league dates and events. Typically, the season begins on the first or second Saturday in March and extends. An Opening Day event kicks off the first games of the season.

How long will the season last?

The NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE regular game season usually lasts 13-14 weeks from March until the beginning of June, which includes division playoff games. The season is extended for players that are selected to the District 19 All-Star tournament teams. Please consider your vacation plans if you have a child that may be selected to these teams.

Where are NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE games played?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE utilizes the baseball complex off of Poss Road for T-Ball through Majors, and our senior boys program plays at Beck Field off of Grissom Rd.

What days and times are the games played?

All teams in NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE are scheduled for at least one game a week, and in some divisions teams are scheduled for games twice a week. Game days are typically Monday through Saturday. Saturday games will generally start at 9am, 11:30 am, 2:00 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7:00pm. Weekday games generally will begin at 6:00pm and 8:00pm for weekday games. Games may begin earlier prior to Day Light Savings time. It is NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE'S desire to have games be completed by 10pm on weekdays. Based on the league's population, the lack of adequate field space, and possible rainouts, games may be scheduled on Sunday afternoons. It is recommended that players arrive at the field an 45-60 minutes prior to game time so they can properly warm up, and managers can get the line-up cards ready prior to the start of the game.

Who umpires NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE games?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE uses a combination of parent and paid umpires. In the upper divisions (Texas, Nationals, and Majors), the volunteers are both parents, certified umpires, and trained students. All umpires are required to attend training clinics. A plate umpire and a field umpire are used in all games, unless a scheduling issue arises causing a shortage of available umpires. In the T-Ball division, coaches manage the flow of the game.

When will the practices begin?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE targets the middle of February for all teams to start practicing. The goal is for teams to be in a position to begin practices at least 3-4 weeks before Opening Day, which is the first or second week of March. For Texas, Nationals, and Majors, practices typically begin after draft night. Actual first practices will depend upon weather and formation of teams.

How often and long will my child practice?

Practice frequency and duration are up to the team manager and vary based on the division. Please see the local rules page for each division for further information.

Where will my child practice?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE does not schedules field practice times at the Little League complex, however, most teams find a local park , public school, church, or other sports field to conduct practice. You will know where your child will practice once your child is placed on a team and your manager contacts you.

What equipment will my child need before the first practice or game?

Players should arrive at their first practice with a glove, hat, baseball pants, and rubber molded cleats. A baseball bag is recommended to transport bats, batting gloves, water bottles, hats, and other items.

Are there any uniform supplies my child needs?

A uniform consists of a a baseball jersey and a hat. The hats are the player's to keep. Rubber cleats are highly recommended, and steel spikes are not allowed except for the senior boys. A quality leather glove is a must and it is recommended to stay away from vinyl and simulated leather gloves that may be cheaper, but tend to cause the player a great deal of frustration. It is impossible to form a pocket in gloves made of vinyl or simulated leather. Therefore, the ball tends to pop out when the player attempts to catch it. All players should bring a windbreaker, jacket, or sweatshirt to every game and practice, especially early in the season.

When will I find out what team my child will play on?

All teams should be formed by beginning to middle of February. Your child's manager will notify you of the team's first meeting. If you don't hear from a team manager by mid-February, please contact a league official.

Can my child be placed on a team with one of their friends?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE allows friends to request to be placed on the same team together only in the T-ball division. In the machine through Texas divisions, a request may be made, but there is no guarantee that it will be approved. Players are distributed based on ratings in a balanced process to form teams. In the Nationals and Majors divisions, there are absolutely no requests due to the player selection process of the draft. The upper division teams are created using a balanced draft process that helps to promote even and competitive leagues.

If my child is unhappy with the team they are placed on, can they switch teams?

Only in extreme cases does the league allow children to switch teams after the teams have been formed. Such requests must be made in writing to NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE's divisional player represenatives for consideration by the Executive Board. Approval requires extenuating circumstances, so any request is highly unlikely to be approved, and in most cases we will ask the player remains with their team. Team balance is established early on, and changes of this type are difficult if not impossible to implement without upsetting the balance that has been established.

If my child decides to quit, is it possible to get a refund?

A refund is available upon request prior to the close of registration. A refund of 50% is available if a request is received prior to Opening Day with a $10 administrator fee. After Opening Day, NO REFUNDS are allowed.

Can I keep my child down in a lower division or bring him/her up a division a year early?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE strongly supports age appropriate competition and development. NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE does not allow players to move up a division early or to play down a division to develop additional skills without approval from the Executive Board. The only time an adjustment may be made is when there is a safety risk to a player playing in their age appropriate division. At that time, a parent request needs to be made to the Executive Board. A decision will be made to allow the player to play down.

What are draft "options"?

Options are picks that each manager has available prior to the upper division Texas, Nationals, and Major drafts. The options pertain to the manager's own child and/or their coach's child. Managers must request an option, and options are granted upon approval from the Executive Board.

Are there any rules around minimum playing time?

Rules will vary per division regarding playing time. In the T-ball division, all players play in the field and all player bat in a continuous batting order. Continuous batting orders are used for the other divisions, however, fielders are limited to 9 players. There are minimums for innings played in all divisions. Refer to the local rules posted on the NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE web site.

Are there Time Limits on games?

T-ball games are limited to 1-hour. Machine and Texas league games are limited to 1 hour 30 minutes. Nationals and Majors division games are limited to 1 hour 45 minutes.

How many managers/coaches can be on a team?

Every team has a manager approved by the Board of Directors. Each team's manager can have as many assistants as they can find for practices, but only two assistant coaches are allowed in the dugout during games. Any manager or coach that comes into contact with players MUST submit a volunteer application for background check.

What are the responsibilities of a manager and a coach?

The team manager oversees the management of the team throughout the season. They are responsible for setting a practice schedule, developing a practice format, creating a lineup card for every game, and ensuring kids get their minimum playing time in each game. Managers are the focal point of the team and must be committed to following through with managing the team from mid-February to start of June. Time commitment is usually around 8-10 hours a week depending upon division. Managers need to be able to commit to be at all practices and games. Managers also must attend a pre-season coaching clinic provided by the league, and a manager's meeting with the division representative. As well, they must schedule and conduct a parent meeting prior to the first practice of the season. Managers are assisted by a volunteer team parent that helps with things like concession stand scheduling, fundraising events, uniform distribution, and picture day.

Two assistant coaches are allowed in the dugout during games. However, a manager may elect to use more than two coaches during practice. Coaches provide support during practice to ensure kids get enough attention while developing their skills. Coaches are under the guidance and direction of the manager. Typically, a manager will design a practice format and have assistants take care of coaching small groups of players, assisting with batting practice, hitting fungos, or other assistant duties. Assistant coaches should commit to be at all practices and games, generally about 6-8 hours a week depending upon division. Coaches need to attend a pre-season clinic provided by the league. All actions of an assistant coach during games are the ultimate responsibility of the manager.

Are there conduct rules that apply during games?

Absolutely. NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE does not tolerate foul language or taunting at any level by the players, parents, managers, or coaches. Any spectator, player, manager or coach that is warned is subject to being ejected from the premises and banned from the complex for additional games.

What is the playoff structure?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE teams play an entire regular season with the final standings establishing the seeding for a post-season elimination tournament. This approach allows all of the teams to work on developing the skills of each and every player on the team. Managers do not have to win every game, and as a result, they can play kids in positions where they can learn without the overriding pressure to "not lose". The end product is a playoff tournament where every game is a good contest, and the lower seeded teams often rise up. This is by far the best approach to overall player development. **Please Note : Tball does NOT have a playoff. **

Who is responsible for staffing the Snack Bar at the NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE complex?

Upon registering a player for participation in NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE, the player's parent(s) agree to serve a shift in the snack bar when asked by the Team Parent. Each team must staff their shift as scheduled by the Concession manager. Each team typically has 1-2 shifts to fulfill at some point during the season. The NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE's Concessions Committee is responsible for stocking, opening, and setting up the concessions stand prior to the first game each day. Please do your part in support of operating the concessions stand.

Do I have to participate in any fundraising?

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE relies on fundraising to help support the operations of the league. Player registration fees only account for 55% of the needed operating capital required for equipment, facilities maintenance and repairs, uniforms, etc. NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE supplements player registration fees with league sponsors and fundraising. Each team is expected to participate in the league's annual fundraising activity.

Who do I contact if I have a problem that needs to be resolved by the league?

If at any time you have a problem or just want information, you can e-mail the league at any time. However, please first discuss any concerns with your child's manager, then with the division's player representative (who is a Board Member assigned to oversee that Division). Contact information is on the NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE web site under the "Board" link. You are also welcome to attend a Board meeting and express your concerns directly to the Board with prior approval from the President. The NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE Board meets every first Sunday of each month throughout the year, with meeting locations varying.

What is available on the website?

The league's web site is at www.Northwestlittleleague.org. The site offers all the information you need to stay informed about events, schedules, rules, board member contacts, sponsorship information, baseball clinics, umpire training, etc. If you have a question that is still unanswered, please contact the league at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .