FAQ's

 1. My child has never played baseball or softball before. Is that okay? Absolutely! The goal of Hastings Little League (HLL) is to teach all kids the games of baseball & softball as well as the value of teamwork.

2. What are the grade breakdowns per division? 

• T-Ball: Kindergarten 
• Rookie Softball: 1st Grade 
• Softball 8U: 2nd & 3rd Grades 
• Softball 10U: 4th & 5th Grades 
• Softball 12U: 6th & 7th Grades
• Rookie Baseball: 1st & 2nd Grades 
• Baseball Minors: 3rd & 4th Grades 
• Baseball Majors: 5th , 6th & 7th Grades (7th Grade only if born after August 31st)

3. Are birth certificates necessary for registration? Yes. Any new player joining HLL is required to submit a birth certificate.

4. Can my daughter play baseball instead of softball & can my son play softball instead of baseball? Yes, of course!

6. Can my child skip a level or “play up” based on their skill level? No. All players must participate in the division determined by their grade. HLL does not allow "playing up” (Playing up is the practice of allowing children to play with older children in older divisions based on ability). There is one exception to this policy… if your child is a year older than their classmates & born before August 31st. In this instance we want to make sure they get two years of 12U softball or Majors baseball.

7. When is Opening Day? April 6, 2024!

8. When will my child have games? 

• T-Ball: Saturday mornings 
• Rookie Baseball & Softball: Saturdays at varying times 
• All other baseball & softball programs: Games will be scheduled during the week & over the weekend. The game schedules are typically available by late March.

9. What time will my child practice? Practices are scheduled based on discretion of the head coach & field availability. Typically, teams practice once a week on weekday evenings. T-Ball is the only division that does not practice during the week.

10. Will my child get to play in every game? In regard to the Spring season, yes. Every child is guaranteed at least 4 innings of play in every game regardless of ability or number of practices attended. However, this minimum can be negatively impacted on a given day by weather, darkness or length of game restrictions. In regard to the summer & fall seasons, there is no minimum playing time requirement.

11. My children play more than one sport & have after school activities. Is it possible to play Little League & do other things? Many kids play more than one sport & have multiple after school commitments. Practice & game scheduling will not be adjusted based on your child’s availability. It is up to the guardian to decide with your child what the proper balance is for their family.

12. Can my child be placed on a team with a friend by request? Parents may request special placement for T-ball, Baseball Rookies & Softball Rookies only. However, requesting a special placement does not ensure that it will happen, but the board will do its best to accommodate you. All other baseball & softball teams are formed through a draft, which considers player ability without any consideration for carpooling, friends, etc. The draft ensures fairly balanced teams in these more competitive divisions.

13. What equipment & apparel do I need to purchase?  The only required equipment are cleats & a fielding glove (For T-ball and Rookies Softball, sneakers are OK but a pair of inexpensive cleats make for a better experience). You will also be required to provide your child with white pants for baseball & black pants for softball. 

While not mandatory, HLL recommends the following safety equipment

• a heart guard undershirt
• their own batting helmet (each team has at least two helmets that are shared)
• softball players wear a face guard in the infield 
• boys wear a protective cup (mandatory for catchers)

All other equipment such as bats & catching equipment are optional to have one’s own, however it is preferable that each player have their own batting helmet.

NEW FOR 2024: We ask players in all divisions except T-ball and Rookies Softball to wear helmets that have face masks. This rule has already been adopted by GHVSB, the league we join for Summer and Fall travel. We are looking to be proactive in preventing potential face and head injuries. 

If the helmet you currently have is not already equipped with this, there should be the ability to place one as an attachment.  Further, all teams will be given extra helmets with masks. 

14. In regard to uniforms, what is provided? Softball players will receive a cap or visor, jersey, belt & socks. T-Ball & Baseball players will receive a cap, jersey, belt & socks.

15. When does the online store open? When will the purchased items arrive? The HLL online store is open year round. Purchases are generally received within two weeks.

16. How do I volunteer to be a coach or assistant coach? If you would like to volunteer to be a head or assistant coach, simply check the appropriate box & fill out the application while registering your child to play.

17. How are head & assistant coaches selected? The HLL Board decides who will head coach. The head coach will then be responsible for determining the role of the assistant coaches.

18. As a parent, what can I do to help aside from coaching? Support your coaches, as they are volunteering a great deal of time to ensure that your child enjoys the best possible season. Help out whenever you can by:

• Cleaning out dugouts after practices & games
• Picking up litter at fields
• Volunteering to help run investment or fund-raising projects
• Practice as often as possible with your child at home
• Be supportive of your children as they learn this game
• Cheer for both sides during the games & be kind to our umpires.
• Have the kids on the field & ready to go on time for all practices & games.
• Stay off the field of play during games
• If a potential issue arises with a coach please discuss it in person or on the phone.
• Though HLL will attempt to throw an end of year celebration, we encourage the parents to hold an end of year get together for their individual teams to celebrate the children & thank the coaches for their hard work & dedication. Talk to the other guardians about doing something special for the players & coaches as the season winds down.

19. How do I find out if a game is canceled due to weather conditions? Field status will be updated daily on the homepage of this site and Head Coaches will communicate with families.

20. When does the Spring season end? The final day of the spring season is typically the 2nd or 3rd Sunday in June. 

21. Is there a Summer program for baseball & softball? Yes. These programs are open to children entering 2nd Grade & up & run from mid-June to mid-August. The ability to field a team or hold a clinic will be based on interest. 21B. What is the team selection process for the summer program? Unlike the spring program, the head coaches have 100% control in determining the roster. While the spring program is for everyone, these travel teams are focused on above average talent participating in heightened competition. Some age groups struggle to field teams while others require cuts. To be eligible for consideration the player must have played in that age group’s exact division at HLL during our spring season.

22. Is there a Fall program for baseball & softball? Yes. These programs are open to children entering 3rd Grade & up & runs from Mid-September to Early November. The ability to field a team will be based on interest.

23. What is the team selection process for the fall program? Unlike the spring program, the head coaches have 100% control in determining the roster for the fall. While the spring program is for everyone, these travel teams are focused on above-average talent participating in heightened competition. Some age groups struggle to field teams while others require cuts. To be eligible for consideration the player must have played in that age group’s exact division at HLL during our spring season.

24. Is there a winter offering for baseball & softball? No. While there may be softball pitching clinics at some point prior to the Spring season & the HHS Varsity Baseball & Softball Programs will offer their own fundraising clinics, The HLL Board recommends refraining from playing any one sport year round at this age.