How do I know what team my athlete is on?
The easiest way to stay updated is to download the SportsEngine App.

I have the SportsEngine App but I am not receiving updates.
Please try deleting the app and then reinstall it. 

What is a Co-op practice?
East Madison Little League has adopted a new format for our practices to better serve the needs of our athletes and our coaches.  Each Division practices together as a large group, instead of as individual teams.  This allows all of our players an opportunity to learn from all of our coaches.  It allows our coaches to learn from each other as well as pass on their knowledge and passion to a larger number of athletes.  It fosters an environment of collaboration and most importantly: nobody gets left behind.

What equipment does my child need to play?

All players need their own baseball/softball glove by the start of games, but we have some to borrow for early practices.  Your registration includes a uniform t-shirt and a matching cap.  Many kids like having baseball pants, cleats, and matching belt and socks.  No metal cleats are permitted below the Juniors division.  Each team has a batting helmet, catcher’s gear and a regulation bat to share, but many players have their own helmet and bat.  In 2018, there was a total revision of bat standards, so all bats must have a “USA baseball” logo for EMLL league play.  

If any family needs help getting equipment, please reach out to anyone on the EMLL board.  We have an account with Play It Again Sports for gear that we issue on a case by case basis and we try to have a gear exchange:

Can my daughter play baseball instead of softball?

Absolutely. In the Tee Ball division, all genders play together on a team. At the next division--Machine Pitch--many girls continue to play baseball but some girls begin to play softball if there are available leagues. Baseball (Machine Pitch, Minors, Majors and Juniors) is for all gender identities, softball is for girls.   

How are the sponsors assigned to teams?
Each year we obtain sponsors for our teams. Sometime they request to be associated with a specific coach or player. For example, if an employee has a child on a team, or is coaching a team. Otherwise, they are randomly assigned to a team.

How will I know who my child's coach is? 
Please download the SportsEngine App.  After teams are assigned, the app should show your athlete rostered on a team. This usually occurs within a day or two after the draft.

What is the draft and why do we have one?
The coaches get together with the Division Coordinator and select their teams. In order, each coach selects a player to be on his or her team. Once everyone has made a selection, then the process is repeated until all of the players have been placed on a team. The draft is important because it ensures that teams are evenly matched by spreading players of all skill levels around. 

Can I request teammates or a coach?  
We certainly entertain these requests.  There are obvious reasons we would say “Yes” such as for siblings and relatives.  There are also obvious reasons we would say “No”  in order to preserve competitive balance between the teams, for example.  Then there are all the other reasons, in the Grey Area.  We make every effort to facilitate your requests and to be transparent about the process.   But we unfortunately cannot accommodate everyone.  It is just not logistically possible while still fulfilling our league’s mission.  We have everyone’s best interest in mind in the Team Selection Process.  

Are there any exceptions to the teammate requests?
Actually, Yes there is!  We allow each team to have 2 assigned coaches and we can guarantee that your child will be assigned to the team you are coaching.  If you volunteer to coach with a parent of your requested teammate, we can absolutely allow this.

We, CANNOT allow any more than 2 assigned coaches per team.  Additional coaches must be “drafted” (with their respective players) for the same reasons as listed in the question above.

What are the age requirements for Little League?
There are two resources for determining what division your child should be playing in. Use the official Little League resource to determine age requirements. Then use our Division guide to determine the proper fit for your child's skill level.

What kind of bat or glove does my child need?
You can find the answers to equipment questions on our Equipment page. As with all youth sports, buying new equipment can become very costly. Bats can cost between $60-$400. If your child is just starting out, then he or she probably doesn't need all of the most expensive equipment to figure out whether they like the game or not. 

How many games are in a season?
On average, each team plays between 14-18 games. Some divisions play a few more (e.g. Juniors), and some will play a few less (e.g. Tee Ball).

What is the end-of-year tournament?
After the regular season, each team plays a divisional tournament to decide the overall division champion. Team seedings are based on their regular season record. The schedule for these tournaments will be determined by the final week of the regular season. 

When will I know our team's game schedule?
The schedule will be available after the teams have been formed.  The easiest way to stay updated is to download the SportsEngine App.

What kind of commitment are we making by joining EMLL?
As a Little League parent, you'll be asked to have your child at practice and games. Prior to Opening Day, your athlete will participate in 2 CO-OP PRACTICES per week. Games are scheduled on Monday through Thursday and Saturdays. Each team will play 2 to 3 games a week. Teams usually play 1 or 2 games on weekdays and one on Saturday (this will depend on the final number of teams in the division, which is based on the number of players that sign up). Weekday games are at 5:00pm and 7:00pm. Saturday games are scheduled from 8:00am to around 1:00pm.  You will only play one game per day.  Also, as a parent you're required to serve in the concession stand at least once during the season. (See the following question)

What are my concession duties?
One adult for each athlete is required to serve in the concession stand once during the season. (You can opt out for a $100 fee) Concession duty runs the length of the game (approximately 1:45 min) . Parents should arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the game and stay for 15 minutes after the game. There are many different things you can choose to do in the concession stand: cashier, grilling, wrap grilled items, restocking, using the fryer, Our concession stand is located in the center of our Minors, Majors, and Skinned fields, so most parents can still find time to watch some of their kid's game.