Serra Mesa Little League

What Happens Next?

Wondering what happens after you register? This page walks you through the typical timeline for our Spring baseball season at Serra Mesa Little League (SMLL), from registration to Opening Day and beyond.

For specific dates, please visit our Tentative League Calendar.

1. Registration Period

During the registration period, families:

Create or update their family account
Register players for the appropriate division based on league age
Submit payment or scholarship requests if needed
Complete required forms (medical release, waivers, etc.)

If you are not sure which division your player should be in, please see our Playing Divisions page or contact the Player Agent, Michelle Ivers, at [email protected].

2. Player Assessments (Minors, Majors, Juniors)

Players in our player-pitch divisions (typically Minors, Majors, and Juniors) will be invited to attend a player assessment day. This is not a “tryout” and no one is cut from the league. Assessments help us:

Place players in the appropriate division based on skills and safety
Create balanced teams for a fun and competitive season

At assessments, players usually:

Run the bases
Field ground balls and fly balls
Throw to a target
Hit from a coach or machine pitch

What to bring:

Glove (required)
Helmet and bat (if you have them – the league will have shared equipment)
Water and athletic shoes or cleats

3. Draft & Team Formation

After assessments, SMLL holds a player draft (for Minors, Majors, and Juniors) and forms rosters in our younger divisions (Tee Ball, Rookies, Caps). Managers, the Player Agent, and League leadership work together to:

Balance teams based on skill, experience, and safety
Keep siblings on the same team if requested
Honor coach/teammate requests when possible (younger divisions)

While we try to accommodate requests, we cannot guarantee specific teammates, coaches, or practice nights.

4. When Will I Hear From My Coach?

Once teams are formed and approved by the Board:

Managers receive their rosters
Managers contact families by email or phone to introduce themselves
You’ll be invited to join your team on GameChanger (our scoring/communication app)

Our volunteers work carefully to finalize team assignments. We appreciate your patience while we confirm rosters and ensure the correct coach contacts each family as soon as possible. You will hear from coaches before practices start.

5. Practices Begin

After teams are announced, practices usually begin shortly thereafter. Practice schedules are set by each manager based on field availability.

In general:

Tee Ball & Rookies: 1–2 activities per week (practices and/or games)
Caps, Minors, Majors, Juniors: 1–2 practices per week before games start, then a combination of practices and games during the season

Practices are typically held at Cabrillo Heights Park or other nearby fields listed on our Fields & Locations page.

6. Game Schedule & Opening Day

Once District 33 finalizes interleague schedules and our field permits are confirmed, we publish official game schedules. You can expect:

Spring: Most teams play one weekday evening game and one Saturday game
Fall: Most teams play one game on Sundays

Opening Day is a special event that usually includes:

Team introductions and a brief ceremony
First games of the season
Snack bar, league information, and league picture opportunities (when scheduled)

The exact Opening Day date is listed on our Tentative League Calendar.

7. Uniforms & Equipment

Your Spring registration fee includes:

Jersey
Hat
Socks
Belt
Team photo package and trophy (Spring only)

Families are responsible for:

Baseball pants (color chosen by the team/manager)
Glove
Cleats (rubber/plastic only; no metal except Juniors)

Optional but common:

Batting helmet
Personal bat that meets Little League bat standards

The league provides shared bats, helmets, and catcher’s gear for any player who needs them.

8. How Will We Get Updates?

SMLL mainly uses:

Email: League-wide updates and important announcements
GameChanger: Team schedules, reminders, scoring, and live game updates
Website: Calendar, rules, registration info, and league news

Once your player is assigned to a team, you’ll receive an invitation to join that team on GameChanger. Please accept the invite and enable notifications so you don’t miss schedule changes or weather updates.

9. Volunteering & How You Can Help

Serra Mesa Little League is 100% volunteer-run, including our Board of Directors. We rely on families to keep the league running and to keep registration fees as low as possible.

Common volunteer roles include:

Team parent
Scorekeeper or pitch counter
Snack bar shifts
Field prep and cleanup
Umpiring (training provided)
Helping at league events (Opening Day, Closing Day, Hit-a-Thon, etc.)

Volunteer expectations and opportunities will be shared by your team’s manager and through league emails. If you’re interested in coaching, umpiring, or joining the Board, please email [email protected].