Frequently Asked Questions

When are the registration dates for Spring 2026?

Registration will open at 8 a.m. on Friday, November 28 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31. Some divisions will fill up and go on wait lists before registration closes. If space is available, any registrations accepted after December 31 will include a $50 late fee. 

A coach said my kid is on his roster. Does that mean his/her spot is secured? 

Not until you register. Coach X may have your kid on his roster, or wish list of players, but that roster spot is not secured until you register before registration closes, pay and receive a confirmation email. If you don't register, pay and receive a confirmation email before registration closes, we will offer that spot to another family who has registered. 

There is a 12-player maximum on each roster. If a coach promises roster spots to more than 12 players and they all register, one or more players will be rostered on a different team.

The Spring 2026 season game schedule* is:

• March 21 - opening weekend
• March 28
• April 4
• April 11
• April 18
• April 25
• May 2
• May 9
• + post-season tournaments for 8U, Minors, Majors and possibly 7U

*Tee Ball, 6U and 7U will play one game on Saturdays only. 8U, Minors and Majors will play weekday and weekend games.

What’s the difference between 6U Coach Pitch, 7U Coach Pitch and 8U Coach Pitch? 

See our Divisions page for a detailed breakdown of each.

How do I choose the right division for my player? 

In general, all players should play at League Age level. When you register, you may see more than one division option. If you’d like your player to enroll in a lower or upper division than his/her League Age, you must email mccabeinfo@gmail.com for approval BEFORE you register. Please read the division descriptions on our website for more details. Still not sure? Ask your coach from last season to recommend the right division or email us.

How do I determine my player's League Age? 

Click here for Little League International's League Age Calculator or here for the League Age chart.

What is the difference between non-draft and draft divisions?

• Tee Ball, 6U Coach Pitch, 7U Coach Pitch and 8U Coach Pitch teams are formed based on (in this order) volunteer coach requests, player requests, school and other factors. We do our best to accommodate requests whenever possible.
• Minors and Majors teams are formed by a draft. You cannot request coaches or teammates in Minors and Majors, or bring in a fully formed team.

How do I know if my child is ready to move up to the next division? 

This is the most common question we get during registration, and it’s an important one: It affects the amount of fun and sense of accomplishment your child will feel throughout the season and helps keep our league balanced. The McCabe Park philosophy is this: If they’re not ready, don’t rush them (no matter how much FOMO you feel).

If you can answer yes to these questions, consider a move up:

· Has your player mastered all skills required in the current division?

· Is your player showing willingness to work harder and focus?

· Does your player meet challenges and take criticism (relatively) well?

If your answer to any of these questions is no, consider another season in your current division:

· Is your player still building skills needed to succeed in the current division?

· Is it physically safe to move your player up — i.e. will he/she be able to handle faster pitches/baseballs coming at them?

There’s no one-size-fits-all right time to move a player up — it comes down to whenever that player (not the team) is developmentally ready. This helps keep baseball fun and appropriately challenging for all.

If you have questions, ask your previous coach for an honest recommendation or email us at mccabeinfo@gmail.com. 

Can my child be on a team that practices on the days that work best with our schedule? 

Practice days are selected by coaches in the weeks and months after registration closes and rosters are constructed. Once you receive your practice day, if you have a serious conflict that would prevent your child from playing baseball at MPLL, email mccabeinfo@gmail.com and we'll do our best to help. A $50 change fee will be assessed for any player who changes teams after rosters are set and practice schedules are announced.

How many players are on each team?

MPLL allows 12 players max on each roster, though we try to have less in our lower divisions.

Do I have to request a teammate or coach to register?

Not at all.  You do not have to request a teammate or coach for your player.  All players who register will be placed on team.

I'm a head coach who wants to have certain players on my team. How does that work?

1. Register your child and sign up as a head coach during the registration process. 

2. Email all parents of players you want on your team and tell them to register for (division here) and to put your name in the "coach request" field during registration. It's very important that parents understand that, just because you're requesting their child be added to your roster, the spot is not secured until they register before the deadline, pay and receive a confirmation email. We've had a lot of issues with confusion on this topic. 

3. After you officially volunteer to head coach in our system, You'll receive a link to a roster spreadsheet, in which you'll add the names of players you want on your team + any assistant coaches if you have them. Those players are not guaranteed to be on your team unless they register before the deadline.

4. Once registration closes, We'll create your roster in the system and email it to you for approval. If you don't have enough to field a full team (12 max), we'll fill in with free agents. 

How does practice scheduling work?

Practice days and times are determined by the head coach of each team in the weeks *after* registration closes. This means we can't tell you now which day your player will practice.

Can I sponsor a team? 

Yes! Check out our sponsorship packages here. 

Does McCabe have any capital campaigns to raise money for improvements? 

The league has worked hard to continually improve both fields at McCabe, and we hope you've noticed (especially the deeper fence on the small field!). We have ambitions to do much more -- if you'd like to help us get there, please reach out to mccabeinfo@gmail.com.

Are scholarships available? 

Yes! If financial circumstances prevent you from being able to afford the registration fee, email mccabeinfo@gmail.com to inquire about a scholarship.


What uniform will we receive? 

All players in all divisions will receive a jersey and hat. Parents will be responsible for pants, belt, socks, cleats, sliding shorts, etc.

Location 

Practices and games take place at either McCabe Park or other nearby fields depending on space and availability.


What happens once we've registered?

Once coaches receive their final rosters, they'll be in touch to introduce themselves and share season details. The league will keep communicating as well via e-newsletter and our social channels. 

What if I need to cancel a registration?  

You can cancel your registration anytime. A $50 fee will be deducted from the refund of all registrations cancelled after rosters have been announced. 

What if I need to switch teams after we receive our roster?

We will do our best to accommodate necessary changes, depending on availability. A $50 change fee will be assessed for any player who changes teams after rosters are emailed. A $50 change fee will be assessed for any player who changes teams after practice schedules are announced. 

What clothing does my player need?

• All players will receive a cap and jersey.
• Parents are responsible for pants, belt, socks, sliding pants (if applicable), cleats and equipment.
• All players must wear closed-toe / athletic shoes at all practices and games. Metal cleats are not allowed. Baseball pants are required for Minors and Majors divisions during practices and games (to be able to slide). Players in lower divisions are encouraged to wear baseball pants to protect their legs, but athletic shorts or pants are also allowed. 

What equipment does my player need?

• Each player will need their own baseball glove and helmet
• Personal bats, cleats and baseball bags/backpacks are recommended but not required
• All bats must be USA Branded bats

Bats must conform to USA BAT standards and have the USA BAT manufacturer stamp on it. The length of a bat cannot exceed 32 inches. Please note, that USSSA BPF 1.15 bats are strictly prohibited. Please consider using a permanent marker to write your player's name on all equipment and water bottles. 

How do I volunteer to help out? 

MPLL is a volunteer-run organization and welcomes new volunteers!  Please email mccabeinfo@gmail.com if you're interested.

Is there a Lost and Found? 

Yes, and it's always full of water bottles and hats with no names on them! During the season, the Lost and Found is just outside the concession stand at Blind Barber (big) field. 

What is your weather policy?

Click here for the MPLL Weather Policy.