Your player’s league age is determined by the Little League Baseball® and Little League Softball® Age Charts. The dates for baseball and softball are different, but each determines the division in which your Little Leaguer will play this season. The Age Determination Date for a Little League Baseball player is the actual age of a child on August 31 of the current year. The Age Determination Date for a Little League Softball player is the actual age of a child on December 31 of the previous year. You can use the League Age Calculator, or refer to League Age Charts.
Little League Baseball
Age refers to the baseball age, which is the player's age on 8/31 of that season.
Tee Ball (Ages 4-6)
Kids first learning to play. Hit off the tee the first half of the season, then try some coach pitch the second half of the season. We bat all the way through the line up and change sides. We don't keep score or count outs. Game is played with squishy training ball. If they can throw and catch, may be time to move up to machine pitch. Although the new little league age rules allow players that have not yet turned 4 to play tee ball, as a league we do not encourage it. 3 is just too young! For younger players we highly encourage parents to volunteer as assistant coaches or team managers. Young kids require more attention!
Machine Pitch (Ages 6-9)
Players over aged 7 and up not drafted up into prep or minors will play machine pitch. A great place to develop baseball skills. Balls are pitched at the batters by a pitching machine from a distance of approximately 42' at a speed of approximately 30 mph. Players leave machine pitch able to throw catch and hit, ready to move on to kid pitch. Machine pitch is instructional/developmental, we don't keep score and we don't keep standings. There may be a competitive end of season tournament for MP teams. Similar to the "Shetland" division in Pony Baseball. Game is played using "Level 5" Baseballs. This are just a little softer than regular hard balls.
Prep (Ages 7-10)
This is the first division where kids pitch to batters. Players must tryout to be selected to play prep based on a draft. Typically each prep team will have between two to three 10 year old players. Pitchers are typically throwing between 25 to 40 mph in prep, from a distance of 46'. Game is played with regulation little league baseballs. Players typically play one or two seasons in the prep division depending on their skill level and age. Managers are encouraged to rotate players among various positions to foster development so long as this can be done safely. Prep games will have an umpire to call ball strikes, and outs, however score is not kept. Since Prep is developmental, we don't keep score or standings. There may be a competitive end of season tournament for prep teams. Players age 11 or 12 must move up to Minors or Majors. Similar to the "Pinto" division in Pony Baseball. Other leagues sometimes refer to this division as "Farm" or "AA"
Minors (Ages 8-11)
Players are selected to play minors based on a draft. All players must tryout to play minors. The bulk of the minors players are 10 and 11 year olds. A few more skilled 8's and 9's who have graduated from prep will be drafted into minors. About half of the minors players will already have a year of minors under their belts. Players typically play minors one or two seasons depending on their skill level. Minors pitchers will typically throw in the 40 to 50 mph range, however a few exceptional minors pitchers might be throwing close to 60 mph. Pitchers throw from a distance of 46'. Minors is competitive. Score is kept, team standings are tracked and a champion team is declared at the end of the season. Players will typically play in the defensive position where they best benefit the teams chances of winning, positions on the field are earned based on player's skill at the position. Players may sit on the bench for some innings, and some players will get more infield time than others based on skill level. The minors season is divided into two halves, first half and second half. Typically there 10 to 12 games in each half. A first place team will be determined for each half of the season. If necessary a one game playoff between the first half winner and second half winner will be played to determine the overall first and second place teams for the season. First and second place teams move on to tournament play against other leagues. See tournament FAQ's below for details on tournaments. Similar to the "Pony" division in Pony Baseball. Other leagues may call this division "AAA"
Majors (Ages 10-12)
This is the highest level of play in Little League Baseball. These are the kids you see on TV in the Little League World Series (LLWS). 12 year olds automatically play in majors. All players must try out to play majors. Majors teams are always 12 man rosters unless a special waiver is granted by the District Administrator to go lower or higher. The number of teams are determined by how many register for the division. Players that do not make majors are drafted in the minors pool. As a result there will be some very good 10 and 11 year old players that although probably skilled enough to play up with the 12 year olds may remain in minors due to a lack of open slots. Pitchers may be throwing up to 65 mph in majors. Pitchers throw from a distance of 46'. The majors season is split into two halves, as described above for minors. There will be a first half winner and a second half winner. If necessary a single game playoff may be played to determine the overall first and second place teams for the season. Similar to the "Bronco" division in Pony Baseball.
Juniors (Ages 12-14)
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. Preparation for high school level baseball, intended for kids not yet playing high school baseball. We will see Juniors pitchers throw in the 80 mph range.
Seniors (Ages 14-16)
The Senior League Baseball Division is a program for boys and girls ages 14-17, using a conventional 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. SALL has not run a seniors division for several years due to a lack of interest/players to fill teams. At this age group most players have moved on to High School baseball.
Fall Baseball Divisions
Typically kids will play fall in the division they will likely play the next season. As a result the level of play drops a bit in all divisions. Fall minors will be a few returning younger minors kids and a bunch from prep. Majors will be a mix of 11 year olds from majors and new kids coming up from minors, etc.
Little League Softball
The Age Determination Date for a Little League Softball player is the actual age of a child on December 31 of the previous year.
Farm Softball (Ages 6-8)
This division is for girls playing softball ages 6-8. This is the first division where players can pitch to batters. Tryouts and a draft is possible, and depends on registration numbers. Farm softball is developmental, and there are rule modifications to allow for mistakes without significant penalty. Managers are encouraged to rotate players among various positions to foster development so long as this can be done safely. Nine year olds who are new to softball or need an extra year of development may be assigned to Farm.
Minors Softball (8-11)
Tryouts and a draft is possible, and depends on registration numbers. Most players will have played for some time, but there will still be beginners at this level. Little League rules are used, and there are some local modifications to the rules for this division. Eleven year olds may be assigned to Minors depending upon space and safety considerations.
Majors Softball (11-12)
Tryouts and a draft is possible, and depends on registration numbers. This is a competitive division using Little League rules with some local modifications.
Little League Challenger Division
The Challenger Division was established by Little League Baseball in 1989 to enable any boy or girl with a physical or intellectual challenge ages 4-18 (or up to 22 if still in school) to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in the sport world wide. See our Challenger Division page on our website for more details.