Rookie Baseball and Softball is a beginner's division for participants who want to learn the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. Coaches pitch, and the rules of the game are modified to accommodate the need for teaching. One new learning opportunity for players at Rookie is to accept being put out by an opposing team's fielder. The primary goals of Rookie are to instruct children in the fundamentals of baseball or softball, and to allow them to experience the value of teamwork.
Ages: SEPLL offers Rookie to participants who are League Age 6 or 7. Please use the League Age Calculator to determinate your child's League Age. Although some players may have participated in Tee Ball, Rookie is the first organized baseball or softball experience for many of our players.
Volunteers: Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this introductory level of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Team Formation: Rookie teams have approximately 10 players. SEPLL does its best to create teams by grouping children according to their neighborhoods and schools, while also ensuring a relative balance of ages among the teams. We will do our best to honor requests to play with friends or a specific coach, but we cannot make any guarantees.
Uniforms: Each player will receive a team hat and shirt, which they may keep after the season. Players are encouraged to wear comfortable pants (sweatpants or other athletic pants) and sneakers (with good treads). Molded cleats are also OK but not required.
Equipment: Players will bring their own glove to practice and games. The League provides each team with bats, tees, balls and helmets. Players may also bring their own.
Practices: Teams may begin practicing in about mid-March. The league will notify managers about available practice fields and times, and managers may choose available slots for their team. Rookie teams generally practice about 2 times per week until the regular season begins in early April. After the regular season begins, team coaches determine the frequency of practices.
Games: Rookie teams play 1 game per week on Saturday. Games are scheduled from early April through the end of the school year. Games are limited to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Games are usually played at Woodstock School, but may take place at other parks within our league boundaries. In late March the official schedule will be published at SEPLL's website.
Fall Ball: Note that during Fall Ball, all games are played on Sunday (no weekday games).