T-Ball
2022 Fee: $125
Equipment Provided By League: Jersey & Hat
Equipment to Return At Season End: None
Offered to primarily 5 & 6 year-olds who are entering & completing kindergarten, although several older pre-Ks and 1st graders who are first time participants play. Players should be at least 5 years old by August 31, 2020. Kids are placed on school area teams. Usually starts with hitting from tee, then may move to coach pitching. 2 games per week and weather permitting, typically 14 games per year. (one during the week and one on Saturday). No score is kept and the emphasis is on having fun. Teams bat through the line-up, and we try to get teams off the field after 3 innings. Baseball is a complex and at times slow game, so we encourage the managers to keep it moving. The focus is on introducing kids to the sport, and getting them interested in activities associated with the game so that they want to continue with baseball/softball next year.
At this age especially we ask that all parents plan to participate in on field activities. During registration we ask that all parents agree to register as a head coach or as an assistant coach. This will allow everyone to participate in practices and games and hopefully it will be a fun, rewarding experience between parents and their children.
Baseball - Coast
2022 Fee: $145
Equipment Provided By League: Jersey & Hat
Equipment to Return At Season End: None
Offered to primarily 6 & 7 year-olds who are completing 1st grade, although several older Kindergarteners and 2nd graders who are first time participants also play. Players should be at least 6 years old by December 31. Kids are placed on school area teams. There will be 2 games per week and weather permitting, typically 14 - 16 games per year (one during the week and one on Saturday). The entire season will utilize coaches pitching for games. No score is kept and the emphasis is on having fun. In Coast we further stress the concept of 3 outs per inning, switching between hitting & defense, teaching some of the complexities while trying to keep the game moving. We try to get teams off the field after an hour and a half. The focus is on introducing kids to the rules of the sport, and beginning introducing concepts of fielding, hitting, throwing and catching. The emphasis is to build self confidence.
Baseball - Farm
2022 Fee: $185
Equipment Provided By League: Jersey & Hat
Equipment to Return At Season End: None
Primarily 8 year-olds, with some 7 & 9's mixed in. Placed on school area teams or by request. For the majority of the season, "kid pitch" will be used for the first two innings of each game while machine pitching will be used for the last 4 innings of each game. A regulation hard baseball is used throughout the season. 1-2 practices and 2 games per week. 15-18 games for the season. The focus remains on player skill development and enjoyment. Outs are kept and runs are tracked for the purpose of monitoring the 5-run per inning rule, but winning and losing is not stressed (except perhaps in the heads of some players and coaches).
At this level the work begins to develop basic pitching and catcher skills. FARM is traditionally a level at which there is a range of age levels and some skill differences among teams as we continue to allow teams/ friends to stay together as much as possible, which results in a mix of teams with returning players and some that are mostly comprised of kids coming up from Coast. We encourage the coaches to take this into account as they manage game situations. We also encourage "returning" FARM players with strong baseball skills to try-out for Minors.
Baseball - Minors
2022 Fee: $205
Equipment Provided By League: Jersey & Hat
Equipment to Return At Season End: None
Mostly 9, 10 and 11 year-olds, with the occasional 8 with advanced skills. At this level, players attend a required tryout in February or early March. Fundamental fielding, catching, throwing, and hitting are the key skills being evaluated. Players are placed onto teams using a player draft conducted by the coaches with support from VPs and League officials, with the primary goal being more balanced teams. Teams usually practice 1-2 times per week and play 2-3 games per week. About 18-20 games for the season with an end of year tournament. About 24 games for the season with an end of year tournament.
Minors is the first year in which the scorebook is maintained and the win loss record is recorded. The goal of the coaches should still be to move the boys around to various positions, but by the end of the season those boys showing an aptitude for specific positions will be spending more time in those spots. Development of pitchers and catchers is a coaching focus.
Baseball - Majors
2022 Fee: $245
Equipment Provided By League: Jersey & Hat
Equipment to Return At Season End: None
Mostly 11 and 12 year-olds, with the occasional 10 with advanced skills. At this level, players again attend a required tryout to determine their skill level and for purposes of the draft. The managers and board members involved in tryouts evaluate fielding, catching, throwing, and hitting. All 12 year olds play Majors unless parents feel there is a safety concern or other compelling reason to stay at Minors (for this a waiver must be granted).
Like Minors, players are placed onto teams using a player draft in an effort to achieve a fair balance of talent among all Majors teams. All returning players are re-drafted each year. Teams practice 2 times per week and play 3 games per week. About 24 games for the season. This is the most competitive level of traditional Little League. Managers are encouraged to play all players at least 3 or 4 innings (discipline issues aside). Players tend to play the majority of their time at the positions they are best suited for and there is less shuffling around. Pitchers and catchers are decided upon based on experience.
Baseball - Intermediate (50/70)
2022 Fee: $95
(must also be playing Majors or Juniors)
Equipment Provided By League: None
Equipment to Return At Season End: None
Mostly 12 and 13 year-olds, with the occasional 11 with advanced skills, who are also playing Majors or Juniors. In this program, players compete on a larger field with kids pitching from 50 feet (rather than traditional 46 feet) and bases 70 feet apart (rather than the traditional 60 feet). Along with the different pitching and base-path distances, the Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division includes some Junior League rules to allow for more advanced play. Runners are permitted to lead off bases, attempt to steal at any time, slide head first into bases and an on-deck batter is allowed.