Manchester Essex Little League information for families.

Family is at the heart of every Little League program, and Manchester Essex  Little League is no different. Below, you'll find information for first-time players or players moving up to a new level, age eligibility verification, equipment info,  and more.

Who can play in Manchester Essex Little League?

Players league age seven (7) and under may register in any Little League program without respect to any geography-related eligibility or school enrollment eligibility requirements. 

Players who have participated in the league without a break in participation since league age seven (7), OR the sibling of a player who is an active participant league age (7) or younger OR the sibling of an active player in the league who has participated in the league without a break in participation since league age seven (7), are eligible to continue participation in the league provided they maintain continuous and unbroken participation within the league and regular season play.

Players League Age 8-12 as of the 2025 season (born on or before September 1, 2017 for Baseball) will continue to utilize the current boundary requirement based on residency or school enrollment.  Only residents of Manchester  or Essex, or who attend Manchester or Essex Public Schools may register

Can my child join at any age? What if they've never played before?

Yes! Children are encouraged to sign up regardless of age or experience level. They will be placed in the appropriate division for their age group. That said, children joining the  Majors divisions who have never played before may find it challenging given the experience level of the other players. Please email the League at [email protected] if you have questions.

Age determination and division assignment is based on Little League policies. To find out your child's league age determination, use the official Little League age calculator.

What is the difference between divisions?

Little League is a progressive experience that can start as early as 4 years old and ends when children are 12. Beginning with Tee Ball, each division builds upon the one before it to teach kids the basics of baseball, grow their skills and confidence, and help them develop good sportsmanship habits. Even as the divisions become more competitive, our focus is always squarely on creating a positive, inclusive environment for players of all ages and abilities. 

Check back soon to learn more about each division, including objectives, time commitments, and coaching commitments, check out the division overviews below

Age 4-5:  Tee-Ball 

Ages 6-7: Coach Pitch

Ages 8-9: Minors

Ages 10-11-12: Majors

Summer tournament teams

What equipment does my child need to play?

Players only need three main pieces of equipment to play baseball: A bat, a glove, and a batting helmet. So, let's start there.

Bats: Players in the Tee Ball and A-ball divisions should have a Tee Ball bat. For AA and above, players must use bats that meet USA Baseball standards (not to be confused with USSA). These bats will be marked with a USA logo. 

It's important to find a bat that fits your player. It should not be too long or heavy, or too short and light. Dick's Sporting Goods has a helpful bat sizing guide, and you can find other similar guides online.

Helmets: Per Little League rules, all helmets must be approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) and affixed with NOCSAE symbol, be free of cracks or other visible damage, and all of the internal padding must not be missing, tattered, torn or frayed. 

Other equipment and gear:

Footwear: Cleats are required. Please only purchase molded plastic cleats, no metal spikes.

Batting Gloves

Baseball pants: The League provides uniform shirts and hats, but no baseball pants.

While baseball requires less gear than a sport like hockey, it can still be expensive to acquire everything your player needs. Play it Again Sports and SidlineSwap are two excellent options for finding quality, pre-owned equipment.