Contact / FAQ

FAQ

For any questions not covered below, email brattleborolittleleague(at)gmail.com

What are the rules of Little League Baseball?

All Little League rules, regulations, and policies can be found here.

Who is eligible to play in Brattleboro Little League?

Players need to be 9 to 12 years old in order to play Little League Baseball. Little League’s 2025 Age Determination can be found here. Players must live in the following towns in Vermont: Brattleboro, Dummerston, Putney, Newfane, Vernon, Guilford, Halifax, or Marlboro. Additionally, players residing in Chesterfield, NH and Hinsdale, NH are eligible to join the league. Other neighboring towns may be included in the future. Students attending school in Brattleboro, but residing beyond the league boundaries, can also play but must submit the form found here to document their enrollment. All Little League forms can be found here.

How do I register my child?

Register online here. In-person registration happens at the Brattleboro American Legion, March 11-13, 2025 from 4-6 pm . A parent or guardian must fill out a form and provide proof of birth date. Previously registered players need to re-register, but they do not have to tryout if they have been drafted onto a team in previous years (players remain on the same teams.) There is a $80 fee each year to participate in the league.

All new players for the league are required to come to our player evaluations, scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 9 am at the Vernon Elementary School Gym (381 Governor Hunt Rd in Vernon). Please be there by 8:45 to sign in. All players who try out are accepted. The Brattleboro Little League Facebook group page and various forms of local media will also have information about registration and tryouts before the season starts.

What if my player doesn't have the necessary equipment?

The league has a collection of equipment for players who may not have what they need to play. Equipment includes gloves, pants, and cleats. Helmets and catcher's equipment are provided by the team. Contact your team or the League. Donations of equipment are always welcome. Please don't throw out old gloves or cleats when your player outgrows them, we can use them!

How do I become a coach?

Teams are always in need of more coaching help, even if you know nothing about baseball! Starting as an assistant when your kid is younger will train you to be a coach or even a manager when they get older. Let your team's manager that you would like to help, and they'll let you know how. If you would like to manage a team, reach out to the League President. You can also send an email to brattleborolittleleague(at)gmail.com.

There are other ways to help the League in areas such as field maintenance, concessions, the press box, and/or with team management / sanitation. Community service credit is available to local high school students who volunteer with the League. Contact your team’s manager or any member of the League to find out more.

How do I become an umpire?

Brattleboro Little League relies on volunteer adult and youth umpires. Volunteer umpiring is a huge help to our league, and an essential part of the game. If you can help, please head to our Umpires page or speak to the league Umpire-in-Chief.

Who works the concession stand?

It is up to the home team for each game to find two parents to run the snack shack for each game. Each parent should volunteer at least once or twice, not having the same parent do it every time unless they prefer. On the Concessions page, you’ll find more information and a link to sign up for a shift.

How can I make a donation to Brattleboro Little League?

Brattleboro Little League is constantly striving to upgrade player and fan safety. If you or your business would like to support the league, checks can be made payable to “Brattleboro Little League” and sent to:

PO BOX 8323, Brattleboro, VT 05304

Are there other ways I can help the league?

Brattleboro Little League is often looking for help with special projects and clean-up days. We will post these events publicly.

Additionally, the league is looking for volunteers who have experience with the GameChanger live scoring app or any type of Video Production. With many folks unable to attend games, we are looking for volunteers willing to assist with filming and potential live streaming of games in the near future.

What are the pitch count limits?

Little League has a set of rules that govern pitching amounts. A player, ages 11 -12, may pitch 85 pitches per day, ages 9-10, 75 pitches per day.

Major League Baseball's has a set of rules for how much players can pitch from 9 to 12 at their PitchSmart page.

Remember that pitches thrown outside of games COUNT TOWARDS THE LIMITS OF WHAT IS HEALTHY FOR YOUR KIDS! It is the responsibility of the parents, players and coaches to work together to determine if a player has gone past their limits, wherever the pitches were made.

Are background checks required for volunteers?

Yes - To ensure player safety, Little League Baseball requires each volunteer to undergo a background check. The process is simple and completed entirely online. Little League University has an article with more information on these required checks.

How can I sing the National Anthem?

If you’ve got a knack for singing and want to wow our crowd with your rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, we’d love to hear from you. Send an email to brattleborolittleleague(at)gmail.com and we’ll find a date that works for you. You’ll have the choice to sing the national anthem from our Press Box with a wired microphone or from field-level with our wireless microphone.

How do I find out if a game is rained out?

Game and practice cancellation is the job of the team managers involved in consultation with the grounds crew. Rainouts do happen, and they are usually decided an hour before the event. Occasionally, the weather does not always work in our favor, and games are cancelled close to first pitch. Team managers will notify players’ families as they are able to. Some will use phone, some text messaging, and some email. As best as possible, the schedule on this website will be updated to show a rainout.

When does the season start and end?

Tryouts are generally held on the last weekend in March. Practices usually begin in early April, as soon as fields are available. Games start near the beginning of May, usually the last Monday in April. The regular season goes into the middle of June, near the High School graduation weekend, with approximately 16 total League games per team. Teams will have practices throughout the season as coordinated by the team manager.

Players, Coaches, Umpires, and Board Members all vote in the Tournament Team selection process which happens around June 1. Three tournament teams (ages 9/10, 10/11, and 11/12) are selected and play through July and sometimes in August. Players on the tournament teams need to commit to being available for the whole month of July through early August.

The 9/10 team can advance to a regional tournament in Cranston, Rhode Island. The 10/11 team will have the chance to advance to a regional invitational tournament held in Beverly, Massachusetts. For the 11/12 team, the New England regional tournament takes place in Bristol, Connecticut in early August, with winners advancing to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Are dogs allowed at the field?

Dogs are not permitted at the Brattleboro Little League Field.

Where are the fields located?

The Brattleboro Little League Field is located on Oak Grove Avenue, near the corner of South Main Street in Brattleboro, Vermont. All of the regular season and Fall Ball games are played at the Brattleboro Little League Field.

How many practices and games are there in a typical week?

The exact amount of practices depends on the team's managers. Ask them for their practice schedule. Usually there are one or two games per week, but teams may practice more than that.

Which divisions have tryouts?

Regular season Little League has tryouts for new players prior to the start of the season. Our Fall Ball league does not hold tryouts, and first-time players are encouraged to join. Players aged 9 and younger can play in the Small Fry league run by the Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department.

How do I find out more about BLL's tournament teams?

Tournament Teams are picked through player, coach, and board member voting in the final weeks of the regular season. Three tournament teams are chosen - one team each for the following age groups: 9/10, 10/11, and 11/12. Managers for these teams are chosen from regular season managers and coaches. Managers then choose their assistants from coaches in the league. A team may only field three coaches in total, but others may help at practices and off the field. Team practice schedule is up to the manager of the team. Once the team is picked, they will contact players about the schedule. Since we play Bennington and Rutland in the District round every year, games will be split evenly amongst the three venues. If our teams advance, then games are likely to be much further away in northern regions of the state. If you think that your player will not be available for LL postseason play, please let the League know at the end of the regular season, so we can have the most competitive team available.

Where can I find out about additional playing opportunities such as fall leagues, summer camps and leagues for teenagers?

Brattleboro Little League hosts a Fall Ball league for players aged 8-12. This is a chance for players to get extra reps and improve their skills. The Fall Ball season begins in mid August and runs through September. If you’d like to coach or manage a Fall Ball team, send an email to brattleborolittleleague(at)gmail.com. For more information on this special second season, head to our Fall Ball page.

For players aged 8 and 9, or for those who need basic baseball training, the Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department runs Small Fry Baseball. For players older than 12, they may play for the area's Middle School teams, and/or the local Babe Ruth League.

What bats can players use?

Click here for the latest information on Little League baseball bat rules. Any bat a player uses should say "USA Baseball".

What is the sponsorship policy?

Outfield signs can be arranged via the email below. Outfield signs have an initial cost of $300 and are $150 annually after that. Sponsors can choose to make their own signs or the League can have one designed for an additional fee. Vinyl banners are required for the safety of our players and the ease of storing them in the offseason. For visibility, banners with dark backgrounds are highly encouraged. If interested, please send an email to brattleborolittleleague(at)gmail.com.

How do I get gloves repaired, or sell old equipment?

Some coaches have glove repair expertise - ask around. The league also can supply used gloves (as well as cleats) on a limited basis. Lance Cutler - a former coach in the League - sells, repairs, and refurbishes baseball gloves. He also has wholesalers he works with where he can sell gloves for very good prices. Check out his Facebook page at Glove Handles. Suggestions for other options can be emailed to the website for inclusion here.