My children attend a school in the West Bend School District, but we do not live in West Bend. Can we still play in WBLL?
Yes. There are no additional forms needed
Is there a Parent Information Night?
Yes, but this is done by each individual team. Each coach will hold a parent’s meeting prior to their first practice in April where they will introduce themselves and discuss team expectations.
What does my registration fee cover?
Your registration money is used for:
- Player Jerseys and MLB Caps
- Equipment (equipment bags, balls, catching gear, helmets, safety kits)
- Field maintenance (Grooming, Grass Cutting, Chalk, Bases, General Complex Care)
- Umpires
- Little League International annual fees
- District 1 local fees
- Complex Utilities (Water and Electric)
- Complex Improvements (Fields, Lights, Grounds, etc)
- General Operating Expenses
Where are games played?
Games are played at the WBLL Complex, a 5-diamond facility, located at 600 E. Water Street
- 3 small diamonds (60’ and 70’ basepaths) with dugouts and scorer stands
- 1 “Junior” diamond (90’ diamond with pitching distance at 60’) with dugouts and scorer stands
- 1 smaller diamond for machine pitch and T Ball games
Click here to view the WBLL Complex Map and all it offers including a concession stand and a playground.
All player pitch divisions will also have games played outside of West Bend but within our Little League District 1 boundaries. The communities we may play games against are listed below:
Grafton, Cedarburg, Menomonee Falls, Elmbrook, Wauwatosa, Lake Park, Glendale, West Allis, Whitefish Bay, Port Washington, Kewaskum, Farmington and Beckum (Milwaukee)
When does the season start and end?
Practice starts in April for all player pitch baseball divisions (Midwest, Intermediate and Juniors) and for all softball divisions (machine, Minors and Majors). Each team is responsible for setting its own practice schedule but you can expect 1-2 per week prior to the season start.
Games begin in late April or early May, with the exception of T-Ball, Challengers and Rookie baseball leagues. Once games start, practice is at the discretion of the coach. The entire season is generally completed by the end of the 3rd or 4th weekend of June. T-Ball, Rookies and Challenger games start the first Saturday in June. They don’t have a tournament so are typically done with the season in late July.
We do not play games Memorial Day Weekend or 4th of July Weekend.
How do I know if my practices or games are cancelled?
We will be utilizing the email features in the Sports Connect system to alert parents and players of canceled and rescheduled games. Also, check the website!
Will we receive handouts when the season starts?
You will not receive any paperwork at the beginning of the season due to conservation efforts. All information is either transmitted by the coach at the parent’s meeting or available on the WBLL website.
If I signed up to coach, when will I be contacted?
All those that volunteer to coach will be subjected to a mandatory background check. Upon passing this check, coaches will be assigned to teams based upon need.
What ages play in what divisions?
Little League assigns division of play based upon league age (see below). Ages per division are:
T Ball – league ages 4-6 years old
Rookies (machine pitch baseball and softball) – league ages 6-8 years old
Minors (player pitch softball and Midwest baseball) – league ages 8-10 years old
Majors (softball) – league ages 10-12 years old
Intermediate – league ages 11-13 years old
Juniors – league ages 12-15 years old
What is the age cut off?
For Baseball and T-Ball, this varies from division to division. Please see chart below.
Girls must be the specified age of the division by December 31st of the previous year. Baseball is the player’s age as of 8/31 of the current year. You can use this calculator to determine what league your child is eligible for.
Why age and not grade?
By using grade, we would be in violation of the International Little League age rules. The rules are very specific. Violating these rules could have resulted in WBLL losing its charter. We are pleased to be following these rules to make sure we maintain our charter so all kids can play ball.
How is my child placed on a team?
In late February and early March we hold player evaluations where all players are assigned scores for the base skill sets – running, infield, outfield, pitching and hitting. Using these scores, teams are formed so that they all have a similar average score. We also try to even out pitching and catching. T Ball and Rookies baseball teams are formed based upon the school they attend so that kids can have some level of familiarity when beginning play.
Can we request my child be placed with a certain coach or on the same team as a friend?
Generally, we prefer to not allow these types of requests except under special circumstances. Requests can always be made but we make no guarantee that they will be honored.
If I have multiple children that are in the same division, will they be placed on the same team?
Yes, we will ensure children that are in the same household are on the same team pending they play in the same division.
When will I know what team my child is on?
Upon completion of the coach’s meetings (usually at the end of March), teams will be posted on the website and emails will be sent to each family announcing their team roster and coaching staff.
Can I still register my child after registration has ended?
Once a division is full it will be closed out. If you attempt to register and are shut out, please contact the league for further information. If you are allowed to register, please proceed to do so.
What is the refund policy?
The refund policy is posted to the website. After games start, no refunds are available. If a refund is requested once teams have formed (4/1) please refer to below statement:
Refunds (less administrative fees) are available, upon written request, after April 1st. On or after April 1st, any refund request must be submitted in writing and is subject to Board approval for exceptional cases only: moving out of area or injury. The Board will determine if a refund will be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Do we need to attend Player Evaluation?
All players in Midwest, Intermediate and Juniors baseball need to attend. Softball players attendance is dependent on if we will multiple teams at a level. T-Ball, Rookies and Challengers do not need to attend this. This gives us a rating to ensure our teams are well balanced. If you cannot attend, your child will be given an average score and placed onto a team.
What do I do if I have issues with a coach/manager?
Before or during a game is not the time to approach the coach. If you have an issue we ask that you approach the coach after the post game talk has ended. If you are unable to resolve any issues with them directly, we urge you to contact your Division Director. If you are still experiencing issues, please contact the President. This information can be found on the website.
Do we get to keep our child’s uniform?
Players will receive jerseys and caps that are theirs to keep.
Will there be pictures taken of our teams?
Yes. On Opening Day (usually the first Saturday of May) we have Picture Day where team and individual pictures are taken.
What fundraising does WBLL do?
In lieu of fundraisers, WBLL relies upon area sponsors to help offset our costs.
Does the league sell apparel?
Yes! You can purchase WBLL Spirit Wear from the store on the website. The store will remain open through the end of April.
Does the league use team sponsors?
Each team has a sponsor. This helps keep registration costs low. If you know of a company or business who is interested in sponsoring a team, please contact the league. We are always looking for new relationships with businesses. Email the league at [email protected] to learn more.
Does the league offer financial assistance?
Yes. T-Mobile is again offering their Call-Up Grant administered by Every Kid Sports. If you are requesting financial assistance, please complete the grant registration and fill out the below form and mail this form back to WBLL c/o Confidential PO Box 531 West Bend, WI 53095.