Baseball Division Overview

T-Ball Division - Ages 4-6: No Evaluations - No Draft

• Beginning level for boys and girls
• Basic fundamentals (bases, throwing, catching, hitting from tee, field positioning)
• All players bat each inning
• No strikeouts or recorded scoring
• No stealing, no sliding, no leading off
• Defense teams shall play with all players in the field
• 9” safety “T” ball is used
• Players may make buddy or coach requests
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Coach Pitch - Ages 6-7: No Evaluations - No Draft

• Initial concepts of baseball with some progression to more complex concepts
• Emphasis on throwing, catching, hitting and sportsmanship. 
• Live hitting from Coach pitcher
• All players bat in lineup
• Defense positions 10 players in field and all players receive playing time
• Scoring is recorded
• No stealing or leading off, sliding is permitted
• Players may make buddy or coach requests
• 9" Star-5 safety baseball is used
• 5-year olds with previous T-Ball experience and currently enrolled in Kindergarten may request a waiver into Coach Pitch Division 

• Fundamentals of baseball are reinforced and the game is played with standard baseball rules
• Emphasis on throwing, catching, hitting and sportsmanship. 
• Live hitting from pitching machine
• All players bat in lineup
• Defense positions 10 players in field and all players receive playing time
• Scoring is recorded
• Excellent starting division for those new to the sport
• Players may make buddy or coach requests
• 9" regulation baseball is used
• Players in this division are NOT eligible for postseason All-Star Team selection
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AA Baseball Division - Ages 8-9: No Evaluations - No Draft

• Fundamentals of baseball are reinforced and the game is played with standard baseball rules
• First year of player pitching
• Increased player skill sets, including base stealing without lead-offs
• Play becomes more competitive and scores and player statistics are recorded
• All players bat in lineup
• Defense positions 10 players in field and all players receive playing time
• Excellent starting division for those new to the sport
• Players may make buddy or coach requests
• 9" regulation baseball is used
• Player pitching is from 46' and base paths are 60'
• 7-year olds with previous Coach Pitch experience may request a waiver into AA Baseball Division
• Players in this division are NOT eligible for postseason All-Star Team selection
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AAA Baseball Division - Ages 9-11: Evaluations & Draft

• All 10-year olds and all 9-year olds with extensive baseball experience should initially register for this division
• AAA Baseball is a competitive division and is best suited for players with previous baseball experience
• Player skill sets are increased and secondary baseball skills are introduced such as field positioning, relays, cut-offs, and pitchers begin to learn different pitches
• Players begin to receive positional assignments and playing time, while guaranteed, is not always equal
• Scores are recorded along with player statistics and division standings are published
• All players bat in lineup and rosters are restricted to 12 players
• Defense positions 9 players in field and all players receive playing time
• Stealing and sliding are permitted, but lead-offs are not
• Batters may NOT advance on a dropped third strike
• Players may NOT make buddy or coach requests and all registrants must attend a AAA Division try-out and will then subsequently be drafted onto teams. Any player age 10 or younger who is not selected to a AAA team will be given a roster spot on a AA Division team.
• Players, once drafted, remain with their team for the length of their time in the AAA Division
• 9" regulation baseball is used
• Player pitching is from 46' and base paths are 60'
• 11-year olds playing their first year of baseball or with very little previous baseball experience may register for AAA Division upon registration
• Players in this division are eligible for postseason All-Star Team selection
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Majors Division - Ages 11-12: Evaluations & Draft

• All 12-year olds and 11-year olds with any previous baseball experience should initially register for this division
• Majors is the top division of Little League Baseball and is highly competitive and aggressive
• Player skills sets are highly developed and players have moderate to advanced baseball IQ
• Players receive positional assignments and playing time, while guaranteed, is not always equal
• Scores, statistics, and division standings are recorded and published
• Managers may bat the entire lineup or have 10-man batting orders. All players must bat at least once in each game.
• Defense positions 9 players in field all players receive playing time
• Stealing and sliding are permitted, but lead-offs are not
• Batters may advance on a dropped third strike
• Players may NOT make buddy or coach requests and all registrants initially enrolling in division must attend a Majors Division try-out and will then subsequently be drafted onto teams. Any player age 11 or younger who is not selected to a Majors team will be given a roster spot on a AAA Division team.
• Players, once drafted, remain with their team for the length of their time in the Majors Division.
• 9" tournament grade baseball is used
• Player pitching is from 46' and base paths are 60'
• All 12-year olds must be drafted onto a Majors division team unless the players parents believe it will be a safety risk for the player. In this case, and only in this case, they may request a waiver from the Board of Directors to play down to AAA Division.
• 10-year olds with extensive baseball experience and an exceptional level of talent may request a waiver into the Majors Division
• Players in this division are eligible for postseason All-Star Team selection
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Juniors Division - Ages 13-14: Evaluations & Draft 

• All 13-year olds and 14-year olds must register for this division. 12-year olds may request a waiver into the Juniors Division. and 14 year olds register here.
• Play at this level is in line with Junior High baseball skill and competitiveness
• Players have generally played previous seasons of baseball, but first time players may be registered into this division
• Stealing, sliding, lead-offs, and on-deck circles are permitted
• Batters may advance on a dropped third strike
• Players may NOT make buddy or coach requests and all registrants initially enrolling in division must attend a Juniors Division try-out and then subsequently be drafted onto teams. Any player age 12 not drafted onto a Juniors team may re-register for Majors Division.
• Players, once drafted, remain with their team for the length of their time in the Juniors Division
• Teams are allowed to play double-headers
• 9" regulation baseball is used
• Player pitching is from 60'6" and base paths are 90'
• Players in this division are eligible for postseason All-Star Team selection

All players in any division requesting to play up from their regulation age group must request a waiver from SHLL and then pass a safety and skills evaluation before being permitted to advance. Players may never play up more than one year beyond their current age.