BASEBALL
Tee Ball (COED)
Often, a family’s first introduction to Little League® is in the Tee Ball program. Tee Ball is the entry level division for players, ages 4-7. The experience is grounded in fun, fitness, and fundamentals while also being a key to growing a child’s love for the game.
The Little League Tee Ball program provides volunteer coaches with everything they need to create an environment where players will learn the skills of the game, while having fun and staying active. Parents and legal guardians of Tee Ball players are crucial to the extension of the program, and their satisfaction is equally important to its success. The outreach and inclusion of this division sets the foundation for continued participation in the local Little League program.
Each Little Leaguer is required to play one season of Tee Ball before being eligible to be evaluated by the local league officials for consideration to advance to a higher division of Little League baseball or softball. The Tee Ball Division is co-ed, but may be structured as a baseball or softball program. However, if your player is above the age range for the Tee Ball Division, he/she may register for whatever division is age appropriate.
The use of a robust 10-week Tee Ball program benefits the players and volunteer coaches, who typically are younger parents with little experience as coaches/managers.
Tee Ball players use bats and balls (baseballs and softballs) designated specifically for use in this division. The roster size for a Tee Ball team averages 7-10 players, with a season featuring 1-2 practices per week with a single game played on weekends.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this entry level of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Minor League ( AA / AAA)
Minor League Baseball programs for boys and girls may be operated within each division for younger players with less experience. The minor league may be players ages 5-11.
Divisions may be established within the Minor League for “machine pitch,” “coach-pitch” or “player-pitch.” By local option, a player who is league-age 5 or 6 (use the Little League Age Calculator to determine your child’s League Age for the current year) for the current season and has played a year in Tee Ball is eligible to participate in a coach-pitch division.
A local league might have its 5-8-year-olds in the Minor League Coach Pitch Division, while its 9-10-year-olds are in the Minor League Player-Pitch Division. However, by local option, some of the 9-year-olds could “play down” in the coach-pitch division, and some of the 8-year-olds could “play up.” This is entirely the choice of the local league Board of Directors. League-age 12-year-olds may participate per Regulation V(a).
Rosters may be composed of between 12 and 20 players, but most leagues have rosters in the 12-15 range. The diamond used is a 60-foot diamond and the pitching distance is 46 feet.
Tournament opportunities are available for players league-age 8-10 and 9-11.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this level of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Major Division
The Little League Baseball Division (also known as the Major Division) is for boys and girls ages 9 -12.
A local league may choose to limit its Major Division to 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds, or 11-12-year-olds. The diamond used is a 60-foot diamond and the pitching distance is 46 feet.
The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or “All Stars”) of 10-12-year-olds from within this division, and the team may enter the International Tournament.
Regular season players in the Little League Baseball Major Division have the opportunity to dual roster, meaning he/she can play in the Little League Major Baseball Division and Intermediate 50/70 Division during the same season. Achieving tournament eligibility is possible in either division, but a player must choose one division of play to participate in during the tournament season.
The culmination of the International Tournament is the Little League Baseball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
IMPORTANT: A local league must only have ONE Major Division. For instance, if the local league has all 11-12 year olds in the Majors, and all 9-10s in another division, then the 9-10s MUST be chartered and play in a Minor Division.
The Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division was introduced in January, 2010, as a pilot program for 12- and 13-year-olds which utilizes a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths.
The division, which was new division of Little League Baseball in 2013 for players league-age 11-13 with postseason tournament opportunities, including a World Series, offers a transition for players between the standard Little League field size (46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths) and the Junior/Senior field size (60-foot, 6-inch pitching distance and 90-foot base paths).
Regular season players in the Little League Intermediate 50/70 Baseball Division have the opportunity to dual roster, meaning he/she can play in the Little League Major Baseball Division during the same season. Achieving tournament eligibility is possible in either division, but a player must choose one division of play to participate in during the tournament season.
Many of the Junior League rules are used such as runners being permitted to lead off bases, runners may attempt to steal at any time, and allowing an on-deck batter.
The culmination of the International Tournament is the Intermediate (50/70) Baseball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this division of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Junior Division
The Junior League Baseball Division is a program for boys and girls ages 12-14, using a conventional 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Modified diamond dimensions may be used during the regular season.
The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or “All Stars”) of 12-14-year-olds from within this division (and/or from within the Senior League Division), and the team may enter the International Tournament.
The culmination of the International Tournament is the Junior League Baseball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this teenage division of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Senior Division
The Senior League Baseball Division is for boys and girls 13-16 years old, using a conventional 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches.
The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or “All Stars”) of 13-16-year-olds from within this division (and/or from within the Junior League division), and the team may enter the International Tournament.
The culmination of the International Tournament is the Senior League Baseball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this teenage division of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
SOFTBALL
Minor League (AA/AAA)
Minor League Softball is for participants 5-11 years old and can be operated with multiple divisions that are based on age and/or ability. Divisions may include “machine pitch,” “coach pitch” and “player pitch.” By local option, a player who is league age 5 or 6 for the current season and has played a year in Tee Ball is eligible for the coach pitch or machine pitch minor divisions. A local league might organize its 7-8-year-olds in the Coach Pitch Division and its 9-10-year-olds in the Player Pitch division; however, by local option, some of the 9-year-olds could “play down” in the coach pitch division, and some of the 8-year-olds could “play up.” This is entirely the choice of the local league board of directors. (League age 12-year-olds may participate in the Minor Division under certain circumstances.) There is no minimum or maximum composition for rosters, but most leagues have rosters in the 8-12 range. Competitive divisions of Minor League Softball may only use nine players on defense. The diamond has 60-foot base paths and a 35 foot pitching distance. Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved as managers, coaches, and volunteer in a variety of other capacities.
Little League (Major Division)
The Little League Softball® division (sometimes known as the Major Division) is for players ages 9-12. A local league may choose to limit its Major Division to 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds, or 11-12-year-olds. The field uses a 60-foot diamond and a 40 foot pitching distance. A local league may dual-roster 12-year-olds, assessed capable, to a Major and a Junior division softball teams. The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or “All Stars”) of 10-to-12-year-olds from within this division, and the team may enter the International Tournament. The culmination of the International Tournament is the Girls Little League Softball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals, and housing) are paid by Little League International. Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved as managers, coaches, and volunteer in a variety of other capacities.
IMPORTANT: A local league must only have ONE Major Division. For instance, if the local league has all 11-12 year olds in the Majors, and all 9-10s in another division, then the 9-10s MUST be chartered an play a Minor Division.
Junior Division
The Junior League Softball division is a program for players ages 12-14, and uses a conventional 60-foot diamond with a 43 foot pitching distance. The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or “All Stars”) of 12-14-year-olds from within this division (and/or from within the Girls Senior League Softball Division), and the team may enter the International Tournament. The culmination of the International Tournament is the Junior League Softball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals, and housing) are paid by Little League International.
Senior Division
The Senior League Softball Division is for girls 13-16 years old, using a 60-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 43 feet. The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or “All Stars”) of 13-16-year-olds from within this division (and/or from within the Junior League Softball divisions), and the team may enter the International Tournament. The culmination of the International Tournament is the Senior League Softball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.