Division

League Age

Division Objective

Requirements

Assessments

Team Formation

T-Ball

(Coed)

5-6

At this level of play, the focus is exclusively on learning the very basic fundamentals of the game and having tons of fun, so the kids will come back next year. Coaches place balls on the tee for hitting. Emphasis is on basic skills, teamwork, and fun. Teams are formed by neighborhood where possible and may vary depending on enrollment for a given neighborhood.

Hitting: Ball placed on tee

Field Size: 60-foot base path (or shorter)

Ball Type: Tee ball or RIF Safety 5

Practice/Games: 1 practice and 1 game per week typically 1 hour

End of Season Tournament: None

Team Formation: Placement and by request

• Open to all league age 5 and 6 year olds

N/A

• By neighborhood and request

A

6-7

At this level of play, we continue to focus on learning the basics and use a pitching machine or coach pitch with RIF (Reduced Injury Factor) 5 ball. Emphasis is on basic skills, teamwork, and fun. Teams are formed by neighborhood where possible and may vary depending on enrollment for a given neighborhood.

Players may petition to play up or down, depending on previous experience.

Hitting: Machine/Coach pitch - ball placed on tee after 3 strikes until Memorial Day

Field Size: 60-foot base path

Ball Type: RIF Safety 5

Practice/Games: 1 practice and 2 games per week typically 90 minutes

End of Season Tournament: None

Team Formation: Placement and by request

• Open to all league age 6 and 7 year olds

• Recommended that 6 year olds have at least 1 year of T-Ball or prior playing experience

N/A

• By neighborhood and request

AA

7-8

AA Division is for 7 and 8-year-olds, and is a transitional level to upper level baseball. Players further develop their baseball skills, baseball IQ, and sportsmanship in a safe and fun environment.

Utilizes a pitching machine or coach pitch, with a set of rules to promote a faster pace of play, with an emphasis on player development and more frequent reps. Games feature the following:

- Time-Based Innings: Each inning will be 20 minutes, divided evenly with each team stepping up to bat for 10 minutes.

- Continuous Play: Designed to maximize player development. After three outs, bases will clear, but the batting team keeps batting until the clock runs down.

- Pitch Count: Batters will have 3 swinging strikes or receive a maximum of 5 pitches.

Enhanced Pitching Development: In each half-inning, guided by a coach, players not in the field will take on a 25-pitch “bullpen” session. This approach is tailored to afford more players pitching opportunities, thereby enhancing their skills and deepening their understanding of pitching fundamentals.

Hitting: Coach or machine pitch - timed 10 minute half innings

Field Size: 60-foot base path

Ball Type: Hardball

Practice/Games: 1 practice and 2 games per week typically 1 hour 45 minutes

End of Season Tournament: None

Team Formation: Placement and by request

• Open to all league age 8 year olds

• League age 7 year olds with a minimum of 1 year of A-Ball or equivalent out of district experience AND player agent approval

• League age 9 year olds that are not placed in Coast based on evaluation scores or did not assess

• Exceptions for playing up may vary year to year dependent on registration data and division enrollment

N/A

• By neighborhood and request

Coast

9-10

At this level of play, there is increased focus on skills, teamwork, respect for coaches, and the rules of the game while still retaining a fun atmosphere. Introduces player pitching with coach pitch after 4 balls, outs and runs are recorded, each half-inning ends on 3 outs or 5 runs scored, whichever comes first. Scorekeeping, pitch counts, game scores, standings are all introduced. End of season Tournament, and Championship. Player Pitch; standard balls and strikes including walks, hit-by-pitch, and strikeouts for tournament play.

Hitting: Player pitch - Coach pitch after 4 balls

Field Size: 60-foot base path

Ball Type: Hardball

Practice/Games: 1 practice and 2 games per week typically 2 hours

End of Season Tournament: Pool Play, Championship - 100% Player pitch (standard AAA rules)

Team Formation: Placement and by request

• Open to all league age 9 year olds based on placement and evaluation scores

• League age 10 year olds that are not drafted to AAA will be placed on Coast division teams based on evaluation scores

• Exceptions for playing up may vary year to year dependent on registration data and division enrollment

League age 9

• League age 9 based on assessment and 10 year olds that are not drafted into Majors or AAA will be placed into the Coast division based on assessment scores and neighborhood

• 10 year olds that did not play in Coast the year previous and did not attend assessments will be placed on a Coast  team unless granted an approval from the player agent and requisite experience within Shoreline LL or similar program

AAA

10-11

At this level of play, competition increases as players pitch with steals allowed. Emphasis on basic skills, playmaking decisions, teamwork and respect for umpires and coaches. Balanced teams are formed as Managers draft players to be on their team using results from the mandatory Skills Evaluation. Scorekeeping, pitch counts, game scores, standings, end of season Tournament, and Championship.

Hitting: Player Pitch

Field Size: 60-foot base path

Ball Type: Hardball

Practice/Games: 1 practice and 2 games per week typically 2 hours

End of Season Tournament: Pool play random draw, Championship

Team Formation: Draft

• League age 10 year olds that have at least 1 year of AA or Coast are draft eligible

• League age 11 year olds who have 1 or fewer years of AAA-Ball are eligible

• Exceptions for playing up may vary year to year dependent on registration data and division enrollment

League Age 10

• Priority placement for players little league age 10-11.

• Establish minimum number of 11 year olds to ensure that all 11 year olds are placed on Coast teams

• Remaining slots on roster may be any combination of ages from those available in the draft pool

Majors

11-12

Advanced, competitive play. Emphasis on refining of all skills learned at previous levels. Balanced teams are formed as Managers draft players to be on their team using results from the mandatory Skills Evaluation. Those players not assigned to a Majors team are automatically entered into the Coast level. Scorekeeping, pitch counts, game scores, standings, end of season Tournament, and Championship.

Hitting: Player Pitch

Field Size: 60-foot base path

Ball Type: Hardball

Practice/Games: 1 practice and 2 games per week typically 2 hours

End of Season Tournament: Pool play random draw, Championship

Team Formation: Draft

• Players little league age 12 have priority placement in the Major’s division.

• League age 11 year olds have priority placement IF they have played at least 2 years of AAA

• League age 11 year olds that have at least 1 year of AAA are draft eligible

• Exceptions for playing up may vary year to year dependent on registration data and division enrollment

• The player agent may opt to bring up players from younger divisions to fill a roster to ensure balanced teams for competitive play.

League Age 12

League Age 11

• Establish minimum number of league age 12 year olds to ensure that all 12 year old’s are placed on Majors teams

• Remaining slots on roster may be any combination of ages from those available in the draft pool

Intermediate / Juniors / Seniors

13-16

Intermediate 50/70 (League Age 13)

The Intermediate Division of Little League is a program designed for players who are League Age 13 years old and 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 and Big League field size diamond (60-foot, 6-inch pitching distance and 90-foot base paths). At the Intermediate level, Shoreline Little League  is a no cut league and we compete against other District 9 Juniors Little League programs.  Players in the Intermediate Division may use certified BBCOR bats with a maximum 2-5/8" diameter barrel.  Additionally, metal cleats are allowed except when pitching from an artificial turf mound. Intermediate teams are eligible for postseason tournament opportunities, including the Intermediate Little League World Series.

Juniors (League Age 14) & Seniors (League Age 15-16) Baseball

The Junior and Senior Divisions of Little League Baseball is a program designed for players who are League Age 14 and League Age 15 years old, respectively.  These divisions play on a conventional field using a 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches.  As a continuation from the Intermediate program, Shoreline Little League is a no cut league and we compete against other District 9 Juniors  and Seniors Little League programs.  Players may continue to use certified BBCOR bats with a maximum 2-5/8" diameter barrel.  Additionally, metal cleats are allowed except when pitching from an artificial turf mound. Juniors and Senior teams are eligible for postseason tournament opportunities, including the respective Juniors and Seniors Little League World Series tournament.