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Almaden Baseball and Softball Little League

Almaden Baseball and Softball Little League

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Divisions of Play


Little league places its players into divisions by age.  Your player’s league age is determined by the Little League Baseball and Softball Age Charts. These age charts help determine the division  in which your Little Leaguer will play this season. The Age Determination  for a baseball player is the actual age of a child as of August 31 of the current year.  The age determination for a softball player is the actual age of a child as of Jan 1st of the current year. 

Click here to find your son or daughter's little league age.

Schedule

Kids play on the weekdays and weekends.  The older your child is the more time commitment is required.  The youngest practice or play 2 times a week, while the oldest might practice and play 4 - 5 times a week.  Times and days of the week are not predetermined until the schedule is released and coaches determine their availability..  Please consider this when signing your child up to play little league.

Volunteering

Almaden Little League (A.L.L) is an all-volunteer league and parent volunteers are essential to the success of our league.  Learn more here on volunteering requirements per family.



Baseball


T-Ball

The T-Ball division is an entry-level program for first-time players. Typically league age is 4 - 5.  At this level the player is introduced to the basic fundamentals of hitting, fielding, throwing and running. Players in this division will hit off a tee. The objective of T-ball is organized fun where games and practices are geared towards building teamwork, sportsmanship, hand-eye coordination, and a basic understanding of the game. Practices are typically held one day each week (determined by teh Manager).  There is also 1 Saturday game a week. Game scores and win/loss records are not kept.

The play in this division is fun and exciting and everybody wins.  
There are no evaluations for this division, and players can request to be paired with friends and/or coaches. The Player Agent will do their best to accommodate these requests.

Coach Toss 

Coach Toss is similar to T Ball in nearly every respect except that the coach will gently under hand the ball to the player rather than use a tee.  Tees are used if after 5 or so pitches the player struggles to make contact. At this level the kids are working on their hand-eye coordination for both hitting and throwing. Typically coach toss age is player-age 6 and advanced 5 year olds.  Practices are typically held one day each week (determined by the Manager).  There is also 1 Saturday game a week. Game scores and win/loss records are not kept.

There are no evaluations for this division, and players can request to be paired with friends and/or coaches. The Player Agent will do their best to accommodate these requests.

A Ball - Machine Pitch

The A-Ball division is for players with at least one year of playing experience or an appropriate age. These players are player-age 7.   League age 8 year olds should only play A ball if they have never played before or are a safety risk.  However, player-age 8 year olds will try out for AAA in the following year.

As a natural progression from coach pitch, baseball fundamentals continue to be worked on with more structured drills on hitting, throwing and fielding. Practice sessions are held on non-game days, usually once each week.

In this division, managers and coaches feed a ball through a pitching machine to the players (~33 to 38 mph). This allows for a safe and accurate pitch which builds confidence in the hitter. 

Practices are typically held one day each week (determined by the Manager).  There is also 1 Weekday and 1 Saturday game a week. Game scores and win/loss records are not kept.  It is expected the players focus on the FUNdamentals in a noncompetitive environment.

There are no evaluations for this division, and players can request to be paired with friends and/or coaches. The Player Agent will do their best to accommodate these requests.


AA Ball (Player Pitch)

The AA-Ball division represents the first step towards competitive baseball.  This division is the first time teams are formed based on a pre-season player evaluation and subsequent player draft.  This allows for competitive balance amongst the teams (e.g., all teams have kids who are ready to pitch) and helps support the development and love for the game in all the kids.

This division of play is designed for players who have achieved a level of competence with the very basic fundamentals. These are players of player-age 8 or advanced player-age 7.  League age 9 and 10 year olds play at this level only if they did not get drafted on a AAA team.

Players league age 9 year who are uncertain of their abilities will register & try-out for the AAA division.  If they are not drafted to a AAA team they will be assigned to an AA-Ball team.

As the precursor to the more competitive AAA division, baseball fundamentals are further developed in a slightly more competitive environment, as coaches continue to build on hitting, fielding, and throwing skills, and introduce pitching to the players.

Practices are typically held two days each week (determined by the Manager).  There is also 1 Weekday and 1 Saturday game a week. 

This season is the first when a player is asked to pitch. However, there are no walks.  Once a batter receives 4 balls, the coach or manager enters the game to pitch until an out or a hit is recorded.  Game scores and standings are unofficially kept by the Managers.  At the end of the season, all AA-Ball teams will participate in their first post-season division-only tournament!

After the post-season tournament selected players will be invited to participate in various July all-star tournaments. 

AAA Ball

Welcome to competitive baseball.  All players that participate in AAA ball or higher must try out.  This allows for competitive amongst the teams. 

AAA players are player-age  9 & 10. Every year there are a handful of player age 8 year olds that tryout for AAA.  These players are usually more athletic when compared to their peer group and perform well in AAA.  If not drafted 8 year olds, 9 year olds, and 10 year olds will be moved to AA.  11 year olds will not be moved down.

At this level, the players begin to learn the tactics and strategies of baseball, including reading signs, base stealing and bunting. Teams in this division usually practice at least two times per week on non-game days (stress at least). The AAA division follows Little League pitching rules and games are officiated by qualified umpires. The level of play is competitive and game scores, player statistics and win/loss records are maintained.

All AAA division teams participate in a post-season tournament, the winner of which will be invited to play in the District 12 Minor Division Tournament of Champions! 

After the post-season tournament selected players will be invited to participate in District 12 all-star tournament.  The district participates in a 9 year old all star tournament and a 10 year old all star tournament.  While the 9 year olds conclude with the district, the 10 year olds move on to compete at the state level if they continue to win. 

Majors

The Major division is the most advanced level of the Little League program and is open to players of league age 11 - 12.  Only a handful of player age 10 tryout and make a little league major roster.  11 year olds who are not drafted are eligible for the AAA draft.

Players must attend try-outs and be evaluated on their abilities. Following try-outs, managers will draft players based upon skill assessment. Players not drafted to a Major division team will be automatically placed in the AAA division draft.

Players at this level are taught advanced techniques in hitting, fielding, throwing and pitching. More complex strategies and plays are also introduced and explained. Teams in this division usually practice at least two times per week on non-game days. The Major division follows Little League pitching rules and games are officiated by qualified umpires. The level of play is competitive and game scores, player statistics and win/loss records are maintained.

All Major division teams participate in a post-season tournament, the winner of which will be invited to play in the District 12 Major Division Tournament of Champions!  

11 year old and 12 year old all stars are chosen to participate in their age appropriate tournaments.  If the 12 year olds win the district, sectional, state, and regional tournaments, they are invited to play in the little league world series in Williamsport PA, televised on ESPN.

Juniors

The Junior division is highly-competitive extensions of Little League baseball. Junior division players are league age 13 - 15, as determined by Little League Baseball, Inc.

Players play on a regulation diamond with 90 foot base paths and a 60 foot 6 inch pitching distance. Junior division baseball is designed to further the Little League experience for players over the league age of 12 and to further develop the player’s baseball skills, in anticipation of play at higher levels, such as high school baseball. 


Softball

6u (Coach Pitch/Tee)

An entry-level program for first-time players. Typically league age is 5 - 6, though coordinated 4 year olds can play too.  At this level the player is introduced to the basic fundamentals of hitting, fielding, throwing and running. Players in this division will hit from coach pitch, but a tee is used if need be. The objective of T-ball is organized fun where games and practices are geared towards building teamwork, sportsmanship, hand-eye coordination, and a basic understanding of the game.

Practices are typically held one day each week (determined by the Manager).  There is also 1 Saturday game a week. Game scores and win/loss records are not kept.  It is expected the players focus on the FUNdamentals in a noncompetitive environment.

There are no Try-outs for this division, and players can request to be paired with friends and/or coaches. The Player Agent will do their best to accommodate these requests.

There are no evaluations for this division, and players can request to be paired with friends and/or coaches. The Player Agent will do their best to accommodate these requests.


8u (Player Pitch)

Player-age for our 8u division is 7 and 8 year olds, though advanced 6 year olds will be successful.  Fundamentals continue to be worked on with more structured drills on hitting, throwing and fielding.

This is the first division when kids will pitch.  Upon 4 pitched balls, the coach will pitch until the player hits or strikes out.

Practices are typically held one - two days each week (determined by the Manager).  There is also 1 Weekday and 1 Saturday game a week. 

There are no evaluations for this division, and players can request to be paired with friends and/or coaches. Though there is not an Evaluation/Draft - for competitive balance - the League/Player Agent, in partnership with the Managers, makes its best attempt to balance talent/pitching on each team while honoring buddy requests.

At the end of the season, the most talented kids, as determined by the coaches, will be selected for our Lightning summer competitive program.  This team enters competitive tournaments every other weekend. 

10U

Welcome to competitive softball. All players that participate in 10U ball or higher must try out.  This allows for fair competition amongst the teams.   Player-age 9 and 10 try out for 10U ball, we will place every kid on a team, however, if a child does not get drafted in 10u they will be placed on an 8u team. Advanced 8 year olds are welcome to try out for 10u.  If not selected, they will be placed on an 8U team.  9 year olds who do not get drafted will be placed on an 8u team.


Players are taught and expected to have a good handle on the fundamentals of softball by the end of each season. In this division refinement on specialty skills such as pitching, hitting, base running and fielding is encouraged and taught.

Practices are typically held twice per week (determined by the Manager).  There is also 1 Weekday and 1 Saturday game a week. 10U ball involves playing inter-league games amongst other locally based softball teams with home and away games during the spring season. The level of play becomes more competitive with scorekeeping and win/loss records maintained.

At the end of the season, the most talented kids, as determined by the coaches, will be selected for our Lightning summer competitive program.  This team enters competitive tournaments every other weekend. 

12U

Player-age 11 and 12 try out for 12U ball.  Advanced 10 year olds are welcome to try out as well.  If not selected, they will be drafted on a 10U team.  Some 11 year olds might not get drafted and will be available in the 10u draft.


Girls in 12U will continue to advance their skills such as pitching, hitting, base running and fielding. More advanced tactics and strategies of softball are taught and expected.

Practices are typically held twice per week (determined by the Manager).  There is also 1 Weekday and 1 Saturday game a week. 12U ball involves playing inter-league games amongst other locally based softball teams with home and away games during the spring season. The level of play becomes more competitive with scorekeeping and win/loss records maintained.

At the end of the season, the most talented kids, as determined by the coaches, will be selected for our Lightning summer competitive program.  This team enters competitive tournaments every other weekend. 

Contact

Almaden Baseball and Softball Little League
P.O. Box 20665 
San Jose, California 95160

Email: [email protected]

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