FAQs

Spring Registration for 2019 opened November 1 and will remain open until we reach capacity (some divisions fill up sooner than others), or March 2, whichever comes first. At that time, late registrants will be placed on a wait list. Players on the wait list are NOT guaranteed a playing spot and will be contacted if an opening becomes available. The best way to ensure a spot for your child(ren) is to REGISTER EARLY

What are your registration fees?

Spring 2019 registration fees are determined by the players' (participants') league age [CLICK HERE to determine your child's league age for the Spring, 2019 season].

T-Ball (4-6): $85
Machine Pitch (6-8): $125
Minor League (7-11): $170
Major League (9-12): $175
Junior League (13-14): $200
Senior League (15-16): $175

OTHER FEES:

Fundraising Opt Out: $100

How old do you have to be to play?

We offer softball and baseball for boys and girls ages 4-16.

Where are practices and games held?

Our games and practices are held at Newell Park, 9130 Newell Baptist Church Road, Charlotte, NC 28213.

Can girls play or is it just for boys?

We offer baseball and softball. All of our baseball divisions are coed with boys and girls playing on the same team. Our softball divisions are for girls only.

What days are practices on?

Practices are held on various days of the week. Practices are 90 mins long and each team receives a practice schedule on Draft Day.

How much does it cost?

Registration fees vary by division. Families are expected to participate in league fundraising activities but may opt out by paying

T-Ball - $85
Machine Pitch - $125
Minor - $175
Major - $175
Junior League - $200
Softball - $175

How do tryouts work?

Player evaluations, aka "tryouts" are held to assess the skill level of each player to determine the best fit for placement on teams. Every player "makes the team". Coaches use their assessments to select players for their teams on Draft Day.

Can I choose which team my child plays on?

No. Players are selected by coaches on Draft Day. Siblings have the option of playing on the same team. Children of coaches can play on their parents team by default.

How do I register?

All registrations are completed online via the UELL website. To register to participate at UELL you will use the "Play Ball!" link found on the UELL website.

What happens after I complete my child's registration?

Registration for spring baseball and softball is generally from early December through late February. Your child's registration is not complete until registration fees are paid and your child has attended a tryout session, if required. A credit card payment automatically confirms a spot for the upcoming season.

Parents of children league ages 4-6 (T-Ball) will receive an e-mail with information about our Parent Information Meeting. This is a most informative meeting for new parents and is also the best time to address any roster issues.

For parents of children league age 7 and up, you will receive an e-mail notifying you of your child's tryout in late January or early February. In February, UELL conducts tryouts over two weekends (typically the 3rd and 4th weekends of the month) for all players league ages 7-12. Each player will be assigned a specific day and time for their tryout. When you arrive, players of similar ages will be placed into groups and they will take the field. Tryouts may include outfield, infield, batting and base running. Players should attend in cleats, a baseball cap and baseball glove. Players may be requested to pitch and play catcher as well if appropriate for that age group.

Any player that has not paid MAY NOT tryout. Any player that has not attended a tryout WILL NOT BE DRAFTED.

While we will do our best to hold a make-up session for those that can't attend the scheduled date and time of your tryout, due to weather or other factors, we cannot guarantee a make-up tryout will be held. Bottom line: please do whatever you can to make your child's scheduled tryout time.

Can I request for my child a specific division, team, manager or practice/game schedule?

For children league age 4, 5 and 6 (T-Ball), we will do our best to accommodate requests, however, placement cannot be guaranteed. T-Ball is a non-draft division.

NOTE: We cannot accept player or coach requests for the division above T-Ball (league age 7 and up). These divisions are based solely on a draft. No child is guaranteed to be drafted in any particular division. Among other factors, subject to the collective decision of the player agent and the executive board, the number of players registered for the League by age group and the number of teams in each division will determine how many players may be drafted into a particular division.

My child was placed on a team whose practice or game schedule conflicts with another activity he/she has during the week. Can you move he/she to a team with a different schedule?

No. Each spring the League offers an organized program for the period of February until the beginning of June, with more than 700 children on up to 60 teams playing in seven baseball divisions. Our draft process follows Little League guidelines to ensure proper placement of players and balanced teams in each division. We understand that children have commitments outside of UELL. Parents may need to adjust their child's schedule accordingly to allow them to participate during our season. This should be carefully considered before registering, and to the extent there are significant scheduling challenges, parents should alert a member of the UELL Executive Board so that may be communicated to all coaches prior to the draft.

What is your refund policy?

4, 5 & 6 year olds:

There is a $30 processing fee for any child who registers to play at UELL and then decides to drop prior to teams being formed. ***No refunds will be issued after teams have been formed***

7 year olds and up:

There is a $30.00 non-refundable processing fee on all applicants who withdraw from UELL prior to the draft. Thereafter, upon withdrawal, all application fees are forfeited.

Why do I have to fill out a volunteer form?

For the protection and safety of our players, Little League requires all board members, managers, coaches, and other volunteers or hired workers who provide regular service to the league or/and who have repetitive access to, or contact with, players or teams annually fill out the Little League Volunteer Application and to provide a government-issued photo ID. Additionally, the league is required to conduct a background check on each of these individuals. UELL is required to sign an agreement on the charter application that it will comply with Regulations I(b) and I(c) 8 & 9. A background check is made on every volunteer.

For the 201 season, UELL has form for returning volunteers that is different than the form to be completed by new volunteers. Both forms may be downloaded from the here or on the Little League International website.

To be considered for the role of Team Manager or Coach, whether new to UELL or returning, you MUST:

1. Be registered on this site as a manager or coach (separate from the registration of your child)

2. Complete the on-line manager/coach volunteer application

3. Complete the appropriate UELL volunteer form, sign the code of conduct, provide a copy of your I.D. and notify the league of your interest in managing or coaching

Is there a volunteer discount?

The short answer is there is no volunteer discount. University East Little League is a volunteer run, community based organization. As such all families are expected to volunteer by default. Families who are unable to commit to volunteer will have an option to opt out by paying $25 non-volunteer fee.

What is the difference between a Team Manager and a Coach?

At UELL, a Team Manager is the Head Coach. He/She is responsible for the entire team, i.e., planning and conducting practices and game lineups/strategies. Team Managers are responsible for knowing the Little League rules as well as any UELL local rules. They must adhere to our code of conduct to ensure all players are treated fairly, provide the opportunity for the kids to learn and play different positions and promote good sportsmanship.

The Coach is the Assistant Coach. He/She helps the manager and works alongside at team practice and games. When the Team Manager is absent, the Coach may assume the manager's role for a practice or game. Teams typically have two volunteer coaches in addition to the Manager.

How do I sign up to manage or coach?

If you are interested in volunteering as a manager or coach you may register on the website's registration page indicating your interest. You should also complete and submit the Little League Volunteer Form.

Managers and coaches in all divisions are selected by the league president with approval of the executive board. Additional volunteers who help coach at practices or games as selected by the assigned manager/coach must also submit volunteer forms and be approved by the executive board. No "non-vetted" volunteer is allowed to participate as a coach or be on the field during practices or games.

What are your divisions/levels of play?

The following divisions will be offered in spring 2017. The ages identified with each division below are general guidelines as explained further below:

T-Ball (league age 4-6)
Machine Pitch (league age 7-8)
Minor (league age 7-11)
Major (league age 9-12)
Junior (league age 13-14)
Senior (league age 15-16)

My child is just too good to be playing in his/her age group. Can he/she "play up"?

There are occasional opportunities for a limited number of players to play up in certain divisions. These opportunities vary from year to year. This is determined largely by the number of players registered in a particular division and whether there remain any roster spots to fill.

If there are spots available for younger players to play up, the eligibility for these players to be placed in the draft will be decided solely at the discretion of the player agent and the executive board based on their collective assessment of a player's ability. There are also provisions whereby it may be deemed in very rare instances that a player is viewed as a safety risk (usually the result of notable size or strength differential relative to his/her peers) if he or she remained in his/her age appropriate division and should move up.

My child would benefit greatly from playing down. Is that possible?

If a parent requests that a child be considered for placement in a younger division, the player agent and executive board will perform a similar assessment in determining whether the size and/or ability of a player indeed warrants that he/she be placed in a lower division. Decisions to honor parents' requests to move players down will be made in the spirit of placing that child appropriately to provide an environment that allows that child to improve and develop. This will be especially important in light of the 2015 Little League age change where some players "skipped" a year in age due to the new determination date.

It is also possible that the league may recommend to the parent that a child play down for the same reasons described above, though the parent is not required to heed such a recommendation.

What is the role of a Team Parent?

The Team Parent is an integral part of the team as they assist the manager by organizing and communicating information to the parents. Each team MUST have parent volunteers that will assist the team in the following areas throughout the season: They ensure volunteers are assigned and handle any communications to the team.

Team volunteers include Team Parent, Photo Day coordinator, Team Sponsorships, Fundraising. etc.

Why does UELL have fundraising events?

Our registration fees do not cover all expenses needed to operate our League, so in addition to registration, there is additional fundraising at UELL. This includes Team Sponsors ($300 required for each team), a raffle fundraiser paid by all participants during registration, and an annual fundraising event.

Do we need to live in the University City/North Charlotte/East Charlotte area to have our child play here? What are your league boundaries?

Not necessarily.
Spring season only:

Each Little League has geographic boundaries that determine which league your child should play in as governed by Little League International. At ELL we support this Little League policy, however, we understand that you may desire to have your child(ren) play out of the area so that your child(ren) can play with friends.

Any player that prefers to play at UELL and lives outside the designated boundary lines shall be ineligible for any postseason All-Star teams SANCTIONED BY UELL AND MUST CONTACT THE PLAYER AGENT TO OBTAIN A WAIVER TO PLAY - [email protected] - PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SPRING SEASON. Waivers are not automatic and are subject to the League whose boundary you are in, and further subject to District 3 Little League approval and a final approval determined by the Charter Committee of Little League International.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK YOUR ADDRESS TO SEE WHICH LEAGUE'S BOUNDARY IN WHICH YOU LIVE.

What are the documents required by Little League?

Little League requires us to obtain a copy of each player's birth certificate. We are also required to provide documentation that they reside or attend school within the official league boundary.

When and how do I find out what team my child is on?

For players playing in Machine Pitch, Minor League and Major League divisions: Beginning the last week of February, teams will be formed at the draft. You will be notified by the manager of the team on which your child has been placed/drafted. Practices will begin in early April. A game and practice schedule will be released in April and posted on the website. Teams practice typically twice a week prior to opening day.

For players league ages 4-6: Players of this age will be playing in our T-Ball division. For this division we hold a Parent Meeting (this is for parents only, no children). This meeting will be held in late January or early February. Once a date has been set you will receive an e-mail with information about the meeting. The meeting will provide you information about the league and the season. You will also have an opportunity to have any questions that you may have answered. At the conclusion of the meeting you will meet the Manager of your team and other parents in attendance. If you are unable to attend the meeting, the manger will contact you directly over the next few days after the meeting.

When are games played and practices held?

Players in our T-Ball division play once a week on Saturdays and practice on Wednesdays.

Players in our Machine Pitch Division play one game per week on Saturdays and practice two days per week before opening day and one day per week after opening day.

Players in our Minor League and Major League Divisions division play one game per week on Saturdays, with an occasional mid-week game toward the end of the season. Practices are held on Sundays and additional practices are conducted at the manager's discretion.

A complete game and practice schedule for all divisions will be published in April, once teams are formed at the draft.

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