Sign Up for the 2008 Season

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time to start thinking Southern Little League baseball.

Here's what you need to know. Please take the time to read this information thoroughly.

• Deadline: You must sign up online or in person no later than March 15.
  
• Cost: $110 per player before the deadline. $125 after the deadline based on availability. (No player will be denied based on inability to pay. Please see our sign-up staff for details.)
  
• How to sign up: Online (click here) or at one of our sign-up sessions at Southern Little League (click here). The cost is the same either way. You cannot sign up by mail.
  
• Age eligibility and divisions: Read more here.
  
• Geographical boundary eligibility: See our official boundaries here. You must reside within these boundaries or have played in Southern last year to be eligible.
  
• Tryouts: After signing up, players in certain situations MUST attend the player evaluation (aka "tryout") day. Click here for details.
  
• Umpiring: Anyone 13 years old or older who is reliable and passionate about baseball can earn some extra cash umpiring at Southern. Sign-ups for umpiring will be held after tryouts at 2:30 on Saturday, March 22 in the East Grand Rapids gym.
  
• Volunteering: Southern depends on volunteers for a wide variety of roles. Make sure to fill out a volunteer form when you sign-up. Learn more here.
  
• Important dates:
• In-person sign-up sessions: February 6, 9, 13 and 16
  
• Sign-up deadline: Saturday, March 15
• Player evaluation/tryout day: Saturday, March 22
• Clean-up day: Saturday, March 29, 9am (we need lots of volunteers)
• Practices begin: Week of April 2 (depends on coach)
• Games begin: Saturday, April 19
• Family day: Saturday, June 7 (volunteers needed)
• Our website: We make all our weather and schedule announcements and we keep all our schedules, results, standings and other information here on our website. So bookmark us! Better yet, make sure to stay on top of all the latest news by signing up for automatic email updates here.
  
• Questions? Call Mark Norton at 954-0504. Make your message only your name and clearly state your phone number twice.
  

Pitching Forms and Rule Changes

Coaches, you can download the forms you need to track pitchers here:

• Pitching Eligibility Form (pdf)
  
• Pitching Log (pdf)

There were also some rule changes in both baseball and softball for this season:

• Baseball Rule Changes for 2009 (pdf)
• Softball Rule Changes for 2009 (pdf)
  

Gearing Up for 2008

In spite of the snow and cold, the hardworking volunteers at Southern Little League have turned their attention to the 2008 season. We're getting ready to send out information about sign-up times. Stay tuned to this website for the very latest information about the upcoming season.

The easiest way to do stay informed is to sign up for email updates. Once you sign up, any time we post new information, you'll get an email. Click here to sign up for email updates now.

If you received this post via email, you're already signed up for email updates. If you no longer want to receive updates from Southern Little League, there is a link to unsubscribe right inside the email you received.

2008 Online Sign-up

• DEADLINE IS MARCH 15! Online sign-up will close after the deadline.
• The cost is $110. After the deadline, the cost increases to $125.
  
• You can sign up and pay online by clicking HERE. Please note: The online signup is hosted by a third party (active.com). There have been reports of high volume on their site. Please keep trying. There is nothing the Southern webmaster can do about this.
  
• There is no additional fee for online signup this year.
  
• New players will need to bring their birth certificate to their tryout. We just need to see it. We won't keep it.
  

Reservations for Southern Little League South Batting Cage

• This batting cage is the one nearest the concession stand and farthest from the cemetery.
• This batting cage has a pitching machine that works for baseball only, not softball.
• Please limit your team to one reservation per week.
• Click here to refresh this page.

• To make a reservation, fill out the form below. Do not try to edit the spreadsheet above.
• You WILL need a password. Please DO NOT attempt to make a reservation without a password. Email webmaster@southernll.org to get your password.
• After you submit your reservation request, click here to refresh this page to see your name on the schedule in the requested slot.
• You may need to wait up to 5 minutes before your reservation appears. Keep clicking here to refresh. BE PATIENT! PLEASE DO NOT KEEP SUBMITTING MORE REQUESTS!
• If you decide you will not need a slot you have reserved, please remove your reservation so other coaches can reserve that spot.
• If you have questions or problems, email webmaster@southernll.org

Click here to refresh this page.

Reservations for Southern Little League North Batting Cage

• This batting cage is the one nearest the cemetery and farthest from the concession stand.
• This batting cage has a pitching machine that works for both baseball and softball. But it requires significant reconfiguration to change from one to the other. The Southern grounds crew will set up the machine for you. All you need to do is indicate in the form below whether you want baseball or softball.
• Please limit your team to one reservation per week.
• Click here to refresh this page.

• To make a reservation, fill out the form below. Do not try to edit the spreadsheet above.
• You WILL need a password. Please DO NOT attempt to make a reservation without a password. Email webmaster@southernll.org to get your password.
• After you submit your reservation request, click here to refresh this page to see your name on the schedule in the requested slot.
• You may need to wait up to 5 minutes before your reservation appears. Keep clicking here to refresh. BE PATIENT! PLEASE DO NOT KEEP SUBMITTING MORE REQUESTS!
• If you decide you will not need a slot you have reserved, please remove your reservation so other coaches can reserve that spot.
• If you have questions or problems, email webmaster@southernll.org

Click here to refresh this page.

Reservations for Southern Little League West Practice Field

• The field is located here.
  
• This field is for all boys and girls teams up through the Major League level.
• Please limit your team to one reservation per week.
• Click here to refresh this page.

• To make a reservation, fill out the form below. Do not try to edit the spreadsheet above.
• You WILL need a password. Please DO NOT attempt to make a reservation without a password. Email webmaster@southernll.org to get your password.
• After you submit your reservation request, click here to refresh this page to see your name on the schedule in the requested slot.
• You may need to wait up to 5 minutes before your reservation appears. Keep clicking here to refresh. BE PATIENT! PLEASE DO NOT KEEP SUBMITTING MORE REQUESTS!
• If you decide you will not need a slot you have reserved, please remove your reservation so other coaches can reserve that spot.
• If you have questions or problems, email webmaster@southernll.org

Click here to refresh this page.

Reservations for Southern Little League East Practice Field

• This field is located here.
• This field is for all boys and girls teams up through the Major League level.
• Please limit your team to one reservation per week.
• Click here to refresh this page.

• To make a reservation, fill out the form below. Do not try to edit the spreadsheet above.
• You WILL need a password. Please DO NOT attempt to make a reservation without a password. Email webmaster@southernll.org to get your password.
• After you submit your reservation request, click here to refresh this page to see your name on the schedule in the requested slot.
• You may need to wait up to 5 minutes before your reservation appears. Keep clicking here to refresh. BE PATIENT! PLEASE DO NOT KEEP SUBMITTING MORE REQUESTS!
• If you decide you will not need a slot you have reserved, please remove your reservation so other coaches can reserve that spot.
• If you have questions or problems, email webmaster@southernll.org

Click here to refresh this page.

Reservations for Lakeside West Practice Field

• This field is for all boys and girls teams up through the Major League level.
• This field is located here.
  
• Please limit your team to one reservation per week.
• Click here to refresh this page.

• To make a reservation, fill out the form below. Do not try to edit the spreadsheet above.
• You WILL need a password. Please DO NOT attempt to make a reservation without a password. Email webmaster@southernll.org to get your password.
• You may need to wait up to 5 minutes before your reservation appears. BE PATIENT! PLEASE DO NOT KEEP SUBMITTING MORE REQUESTS!
• If you decide you will not need a slot you have reserved, please remove your reservation so other coaches can reserve that spot.
• If you have questions or problems, email webmaster@southernll.org

Click here to refresh this page.

Sign Up for 2008 in Person at Southern Little League

You can sign up in person for the season at Southern little League.

• Where: Southern Little League (address and map) (The Waalkes building is beside the diamond that's closest to Kalamazoo Ave.)
  
• When:
• Wednesday, February 6th, 6-8pm
• Saturday, February 9th, 10am-noon
• Wednesday, February 13th, 6-8pm
• Saturday, February 16th, 10am-1pm
• Saturday, March 8th, 10am-noon *** just added ***
  
• A parent or legal guardian must be present at sign-up.
• The child need not be present.
• Please bring a birth certificate to the sign-up. (We just need to see it; we don't keep it.)
• Cost is $110, payable by check or cash only.
  
• You can fill out the form on-site, or save time and print your own form to fill out before you come. Click here to download the form. Please do not mail forms to us.
• If you plan to coach or volunteer in any way, you will need to fill out a volunteer form. Click here to download the volunteer form.

Reservations for Lakeside East Practice Field

• This field is for all boys and girls teams up through the Major League level.
• This field is located here.
  
• Please limit your team to one reservation per week.
• Click here to refresh this page.

• To make a reservation, fill out the form below. Do not try to edit the spreadsheet above.
• You WILL need a password. Please DO NOT attempt to make a reservation without a password. Email webmaster@southernll.org to get your password.
• After you submit your reservation request, click here to refresh this page to see your name on the schedule in the requested slot.
• You may need to wait up to 5 minutes before your reservation appears. Keep clicking here to refresh. BE PATIENT! PLEASE DO NOT KEEP SUBMITTING MORE REQUESTS!
• If you decide you will not need a slot you have reserved, please remove your reservation so other coaches can reserve that spot.
• If you have questions or problems, email webmaster@southernll.org

Click here to refresh this page.

Reservations for Southern Little League Juniors Practice Field

• This field is for Junior League teams only.
• Please limit your team to two reservations per week.
• Click here to refresh this page.

• To make a reservation, fill out the form below. Do not try to edit the spreadsheet above.
• You WILL need a password. Please DO NOT attempt to make a reservation without a password. Email webmaster@southernll.org to get your password.
• After you submit your reservation request, click here to refresh this page to see your name on the schedule in the requested slot.
• You may need to wait up to 5 minutes before your reservation appears. Keep clicking here to refresh. BE PATIENT! PLEASE DO NOT KEEP SUBMITTING MORE REQUESTS!
• If you decide you will not need a slot you have reserved, please remove your reservation so other coaches can reserve that spot.
• If you have questions or problems, email webmaster@southernll.org

Click here to refresh this page.

Boundary

This map shows the boundary for Southern Little League. Your child must reside or attend school within these boundaries or have played in Southern last year to be eligible. click the map to view it in full size.

Reserving Practice Fields (Coaches Only)

You can reserve slots for the batting cages and the various practice fields here.

Please read these very important instructions before you sign up:

• Please limit your reservations as indicated on the signup system. Please don't make us get ugly about enforcing this. And don't be clever by using multiple different names to reserve for the same team. Clever abusers of this system will be banned for the entire season. If you see others violating this limit, please contact the webmaster.
• Use your real name for making reservations. Only the head coach may make these reservations, not an assistant coach. Any reservations made with a name that does not match one of our active head coaches will be deleted without warning.
• In the past, coaches have signed up for the same slots for the entire season, which was not fair to latecomers and encouraged coaches to sign up for slots they ended up not using. So we have been forced to open up slots a couple weeks at a time to prevent this. Once everyone has a crack at slots in the current 2-week period, we'll open up the next 2-week period, etc.
• Once the season begins, batting cage reservations are no longer required. Instead, we assume that the teams playing games will be able to share the batting cages during the 90 minutes before their games begin.
• If you are unable to use your reservation, please cancel it so others can sign up for that slot.
• If you have any questions about the reservations system, please contact the webmaster.
• Now that you have read these instructions, click here to make your reservations for the small fields.

Still looking for the link to make your field reservations? You must not have read the instructions very carefully!

Calling in Scores (Coaches Only)

At the end of each game, one of the coaches needs to call in the score of the game. This is the only way we can track standings accurately. It's easy to do, and we suggest you put this number on your cell phone speed dial so you can just call it in right away after each game. Here's the procedure:

• We don't keep standings for 78ers or softball, so there is no need to call in scores for those games.
  
• Call the Southern Coach's Score Reporting Hotline at 827-7882. Don't worry about calling too late, that number goes straight to voice mail.
  
• Clearly state the coach's name, the league, whether you won or lost, and the final score. If you call in on the same date as your game, you don't need to include the date.
  
• Here are some examples.
  "Coach Johnson from the Major League. We won 6-3."
  "Coach Robertson from the Minor League. We lost 5-4."
  
• If either team calls in the score, that's fine. There's no need for both coaches to call in. But please make sure one of you actually does it. Better to have both call than neither.
  
• Please don't use that hotline for anything else other than calling in scores. For all other issues contact the director or the webmaster.
• If you neglect to call in your scores, the online schedule will show missing scores, these games won't appear in the standings, and your players will start complaining to you.
  
• If you'd rather not call the hotline or if you forget, just email the webmaster.
• If you're not sure if your score has been called in, just go over to the schedule page for your league and see if the score appears on the schedule. If not, be on the safe side and phone it or email it in.
• After you phone in the score of your game, it may take a day or so for the webmaster to enter your score into the schedule. As soon as that happens, the game will count and appear in the schedule and in the standings.
• If you're unsure or if you have any questions or problems, please email the webmaster.
  

Softball Standings for 2008

• If you see a discrepancy in the standings, first check the schedule page to see if scores are missing. If scores are missing on the schedule page, contact your coach.
• If you find this view of the standings inconvenient and would prefer to download it, print it, or view it on its own, you can do that here.

Softball Schedule for 2008

Please see our recent announcement about softball schedules here.

Coaches

• Official rosters (upon request only)
• How to call in scores
• Reserve practice fields and batting cages (now live for 2018!)
  
• Downloads
  
• Pitching Log Sheet
• Pitching Tracking Log
• Official Insurance Certificates
• Concussion Awareness Certification