Player and Parent Information

Nothing is more important to Paine Mountain Little League than the safety of our players, coaches, and community. 

View our current Safety Plan

All players need to have a Little League Medical Release form filled out and handed to their coach to play. 

Download the form to print and return to your coach by the first practice of the season. 

At Paine Mountain Little League, our goal is to provide a safe, positive, and developmentally appropriate experience for every player. We follow Little League International age recommendations and place players in divisions that best support their growth, safety, and long-term success. The structure below explains how each division builds toward the next, and why proper progression matters.

Across all divisions, proper placement benefits everyone. Younger players are protected and supported, older players gain meaningful playing time and development, and teams are more balanced and competitive. By following this progression, Paine Mountain Little League ensures a safer environment, stronger skill development, and a better overall experience for players and families alike.

Tee Ball (typically for players 4-7 years old)

Players are introduced to the game in its simplest form. This level focuses on basic movement, hand-eye coordination, and understanding how baseball works. Players learn how to swing, throw, catch, run the bases, and be part of a team. Establishing these fundamentals early helps players feel comfortable and confident as the game begins to speed up in later divisions. Practices and scrimmages are simplified and intentionally low-pressure, focusing on the fun of the game, not competition.

Coach Pitch Minors (typically for players 5-9 years old)

Introduces more realistic game play while still emphasizing repetition and instruction. Players begin hitting pitched balls, fielding live contact, and learning positional responsibilities. This stage is critical for developing safe reactions to moving balls and building consistency at the plate and in the field. While coaches still assist heavily, the pace of the game increases and attention spans are challenged. Time spent here allows players to gain confidence and develop skills without unnecessary pressure. A player who is not ready to track a thrown or pitched ball or react to a hit ball is more likely to get hurt or discouraged.

Player Pitch Minors (typically for players 8-11 years old)

This level represents a significant step forward and is often the most important developmental stage in Little League. Players get to experience live pitching (from both first time and experienced players). The pace and complexity of the game starts to increase greatly, requiring players to protect themselves, field harder-hit balls, and manage in-game situations. Maturity and readiness become just as important as physical skill. Players who are proficient at this level benefit from increased playing time, more opportunities to develop leadership, and a stronger foundation for future competition. Having multiple seasons in this division for players allows them to gain confidence, maximize playing time, and refine fundamentals that will directly impact their success in Majors.

Majors (typically for players 10-12 years old)

Majors is the most competitive level and includes the highest speeds, most complex rules, and greatest expectations. Players face live pitching (generally from the oldest, most skilled players from the opposing team). Balls are hit with more force, and players will need to make quicker decisions under pressure. The quality of play at this level depends heavily on players arriving with solid fundamentals, sound decision-making skills, and the ability to safely compete alongside older and more experienced teammates.

• Additional Details for Majors vs. Minors Baseball

These additional guidelines are to help you and your player understand the expectations and demands of the Majors division. Player safety is always the top priority. Coaches will always act in the best interest of the player and may recommend a player remain in or return to Minors to allow for further development in a safer, more appropriate environment.

To help you further determine whether the Majors or Minors baseball division is the best fit for your player, factors beyond the player's age needs to be considered, such as physical ability (throwing, hitting, fielding, and baserunning), focus, and overall readiness play an important role when moving from Minors to Majors.

The Majors division typically consists of 11- and 12-year-old players, with a limited number of 10-year-olds who demonstrate advanced skills and readiness. The Majors game is played at a faster, more demanding, and more competitive pace than Minors. Players are expected to remain focused at all times, as the ball is thrown harder, hit harder, and the game moves quickly with little margin for inattention. Pitchers throw in the 50–60 mph range and are still developing command and accuracy, which increases the importance of awareness and reaction time for all players on the field.

Offensively, Majors uses a continuous batting order similar to Minors, meaning all players bat. Defensively, teams rely on their most skilled players to cover primary defensive positions for a majority of the game. Playing time in the field is influenced by skill level, effort in practice, and game situations. There is no requirement for players to rotate through positions, nor is there a guarantee of defensive innings in every game. As a result, positional responsibility and specialization become more prominent at the Majors level.

Junior Softball (12-14 years old as of 12/31/25)

Building off the Majors level, Junior softball progresses to a pitching distance of 43 feet. At this level, balls are hit with more force, and players will need to make quick decisions under pressure.

Uniform & Equipment Guidelines (Minor and Major Divisions)

Paine Mountain Little League will provide each player in the Minor and Major divisions with the following team-issued items:

• One game jersey

• One practice shirt

• Sliding Pants (softball Only)

• One team hat (baseball only)

Players will keep their practice shirt and hat/visor. Game jerseys and sliding pants (softball) must be returned at the conclusion of the season.

Jersey & Pants Return & Care

• If the final game is also the last team event, with no additional practice or end-of-season gathering, jerseys should be returned as-is. The coach will handle laundering.

• If there is a practice or end-of-season event after the final game, jerseys must be laundered and returned clean.

• Any jersey that is lost, damaged beyond normal wear and tear, or not returned will result in a $35 replacement fee, payable to the coach. Checks should be made out to Paine Mountain Little League.

Uniform Use & Replacement Costs

• Practice shirts are intended for practice use, not game jerseys.

• Hats are required to be worn during baseball games.

• A lost or damaged hat will result in a $15 replacement fee.

Major Division Additional Uniform Items

Players in the Major Division are encouraged to wear color-matching socks and belts. These items are to be purchased by the player/family.

Additional Required & Recommended Equipment

Cleats

• Baseball/ Softball-style cleats are preferred, but any style is acceptable.

• No metal cleats allowed.

• Paine Mountain Little League has a limited supply of cleats available for loan or trade if needed.

Protective Cups

• Required for all male players in the Major Division.

• Strongly recommended for Player Pitch divisions.

• Required for all catchers, regardless of division.

• Cups must be worn during both practices and games.

Mitts (Gloves)

• Players are strongly encouraged to have their own mitt.

• Paine Mountain Little League has a limited number of youth-sized mitts available if needed.

• Mitts should be properly sized and broken in. Coaches can assist with recommendations.

Bats

• Each team will provide bats for player use.

• Players may purchase their own bat if desired.

• All bats must meet the Little League International requirements. Please consult your coach regarding appropriate bat sizes, styles, and current Little League bat rules for baseball and softball.

Helmets

• Team helmets will be provided.

• Players may use their own helmet if preferred, but they must comply with Little League International requirements.

Catcher’s Gear

• Catcher’s gear will be provided by the team.

• Players who choose to use personal catcher’s gear must ensure it is in safe, working condition, and must comply with Little League International requirements.

By registering with Paine Mountain Little League, parents agree to review this with player(s) to ensure understanding prior to the start of the Little League season.

From the Little League Pledge: I will play fair and strive to win. But win or lose I will always do my best. Baseball is a team sport and I promise to do my best to support my teammates and my coaches. I will respect the game and its rules and show respect for my opponents and the umpires. I am committing to work hard to improve my skills, to hustle every single practice and game, and to be a great teammate.

Player Code of Conduct

I agree to uphold the following standards at all times:

Effort and Attitude

• I will hustle always — 100% effort is the expectation.

•  I will be on time —I will communicate with the coach if the timing is challenging for my family.

• I will come prepared

  • Games: hat, jersey, baseball pants, socks, belt, proper footwear, and a protective cup.

  • Practices: hat, baseball pants, practice jersey (not game jersey), and a protective cup.

• I will have my equipment ready and take responsibility for my gear.

Respect and Responsibility

• I will respect my coaches, the umpires, teammates, and opponents at all times.

• I will focus on the game and limit my interactions to my parents and outsiders during games or practice.

• I will stay in the dugout during games (except for foul balls or bathroom breaks).

• I will not miss practices or games without communication; absences can affect playing time.

  • Family, School, and Primary Sports during offseason will take priorities over baseball

Team and Sportsmanship

• I will support my teammates — no criticism, only encouragement.

• I will learn how to fail — failure is part of growth, and I will handle it with dignity.

• I will never react in a way that embarrasses myself or my team. Poor sportsmanship may result in removal from the field for the day.

• I will treat all equipment (both mine and others) with respect.

• I will control my emotions and speech — no foul or abusive language.

• I will respect the game and the spirit of team play.

• I will place the well-being of others above my desire to win.

• I understand that playing time is earned, not given — I will work hard to earn my role.

• I will win with class and lose with dignity.

• I will bring energy, effort, and a positive attitude every day.

• I will listen, learn, and always look for ways to improve.

• And last but not least — I will have FUN!

Commitment

By signing this contract, I understand that I am representing the Paine Mountain Little League. I accept the responsibilities that come with being part of this team, and I commit to giving my best effort, respecting my coaches and teammates, and playing the game the right way.

How long is the season?

For most teams the season starts at the end of April or beginning of May, and wraps up at the end of the school year. Specific start and end dates will be provided by the coach of your player's team.

For older kids, especially in our player pitch divisions, we will try to schedule some indoor pre-season sessions at Northfield and Williamstown schools, or at Norwich University, and will let parents know.

In which division does my child belong?

We follow Little League's recommendations for age groupings in divisions. They are:

• Tee Ball: 4-7 years old

• Minor League: 5-11 years old

• Major League: 10-12 years old

As you can see, there is some overlap between the divisions. Sometimes a younger player might play in a higher division if he or she has significant experience and skill. For example, a six year old could play in either Teeball or Minor League. If the six year old is ready to move up from Teeball, our coaching staff will talk to parents about that and make a recommendation. Sometimes an older player might need more experience and coaching before "moving up" to a higher division. For example, a six year old who has very little experience with the game should probably start at the Tee Ball division. In that case, too, our coaches will consult with parents about the appropriate time to move the player's division. 

In the Minor League division, we have two different groups: coach pitch and player pitch. See the next question for information about these options.

Determine your player's age for the 2026 season based on Little League rules.

For more information on registration, visit our Registration page.

By age, my child will be in a minor league division. Should I sign her/him up for "coach pitch" or "player pitch"?

At the coach pitch level, players will transition away from the soft, squishy teeball and start using regular hard balls. Therefore, at this level, they need to be ready to keep their eyes on the ball and focus in order to catch and throw. If your child somehow gets signed up for a team that isn't appropriate for her/his skill level, our attentive coaching staff will help find the team that is a better fit.

How can I help Paine Mountain Little League?

We are always looking for volunteers for all different kinds of work, including board members, umpires, concessions workers, etc. Our registration website has links to volunteer as an umpire or at the concession stand. If you are interested in coaching, you must complete Little League's background check and our safety training program. Email info@painemtnll.org with questions!

Volunteering

Paine Mountain Little League is a volunteer-led and operated organization focused on bringing youth baseball and softball to children in our boundaries. With well over 100 players across 7 baseball and softball divisions, volunteer assistance is needed to bring a quality experience to our players. Paine Mountain Little League recognizes that families are busy and large time commitments are not possible in many cases. Accordingly, levels of volunteering commitment can vary from season-wide to single event/occasional assistance, such as: 

• Examples of season-wide volunteering:

  • Assistant coach: Assist head coach during practices and games

  • Team Parent: Assist coaches with administrative tasks such as communications with families, scheduling, etc.

• Examples of single event/occasional assistance:

  • Umpire games

  • Attend/participate in a field clean-up day

  • Assist with field raking/dragging after practices and games

  • Assist in manning the concession stand 

  • Run the scoreboard during games 

Do you play in the rain?

Yes! Your player's coach will inform you of any practice or game changes due to weather.

How do coaches communicate with parents?

Coaches mainly use email to communicate with parents, using the email tied to your player's registration. In addition, our Majors Baseball and Softball teams will be using the GameChanger app to also communicate updates for games and practices. Be sure to download the app from the Google Play or Apple App store. All necessary communication will be available through the free version, so there is no need to purchase a plan.