Minors: Rookies - Coach/Machine Pitch (League Ages 6-8)

Rookies Baseball is for players (league age) 6-8, typically with T-Ball experience, though prior experience is not required. This division introduces coach pitch or machine pitch, allowing players to learn to hit a moving ball. The focus is on continuing to build the fundamentals of fielding and baseball skills.

• Field: Played on a 60-foot diamond with a semi-hard ball.

• Innings: Each inning is either 3 outs or 5 runs, whichever comes first.

• Defensive Play: Nine players take the field, including a catcher in full gear and a player in the mound area.

• Base Stealing: Not allowed.

• Game Rules: Designed to accommodate teaching and learning.

• Non-Competitive: Scores and records are not kept. The primary goals are instruction, teamwork, and giving players the chance to play with friends.

Key Concepts:

• Improving Skills: Building on T-Ball fundamentals.

• Comfort with a Hard Ball: Transitioning from a soft T-Ball to a harder baseball.

• Force Outs vs. Tag Outs: Teaching the difference and when to use each method.

• Intermediate Base Running & Decisions: Learning more about base running and making decisions on the field.

• Intermediate Fielder Assignments: More advanced positioning for fielders.

• Defensive Situational Awareness: Understanding when and where to make plays.

Minors: Farm (League Ages 8-10)

The Minors: Farm division is for players (league age) 8-10, who are transitioning from coach-pitched play to facing youth pitchers. The division uses real baseballs, and umpires work the games. Scores, standings, and a post-season tournament are part of the experience.

• Pitching: Players will pitch, but there are no walks. After four balls, coaches will finish the at-bat.

• Draft Process: Players are placed on teams through a tryout and draft. Even if a player stays in the same division, they must go through the draft each season.

• Rules: The rules are modified to keep the game moving at a good pace for this age group.

When to Consider Minors: Farm:

• If your league age 8-year-old can hit a pitched ball and throw and catch consistently, they may be ready for this division.

• If your league age 9-year-old played Rookies the previous year, the Farm division is the next step.

Registration falls under Minors Farm/AAA Division; ultimately, coaches will determine team placement based on the evaluation and draft process.

Key Concepts:

• Introduction of Player Pitching: Players begin pitching to each other.

• Improved Rookies Concepts: Further development of skills learned in the Rookies division.

• More Advanced Base Running & Decisions: More complex decisions around base running.

• Advanced Fielder Assignments: Understanding positions and responsibilities at a higher level.

• Syncing with Live Pitcher: Getting in sync with a live pitcher for batting.

• Defensive Situational Awareness: Understanding game situations and making quick defensive decisions.

Minors/AAA (League Ages 8-11)

Minors: AAA is for players continuing to develop their skills in a competitive baseball environment. It is played on 46'/60' fields and is the highest Minor division before moving up to the Majors.

• Competitive Division: The primary goals are to create fair competition, develop team and individual skills, and prepare players for Majors play.

• Game Features: Scoring and standings are kept, umpires officiate the games, and there is a post-season tournament.

• Player Placement: Players are placed on teams through a tryout and draft process. Even if they stay in the same division, they must go through the draft each season.

When to Consider Minors: AAA:

• If your league age 8-year-old has already played a year in the Farm division, can hit a pitched ball, and throw and catch consistently, they may be ready for AAA.

• 12-year-olds can be waivered down to AAA if it is their first time playing baseball.

Registration falls under Minors Farm/AAA Division; ultimately, coaches will determine team placement based on the evaluation and draft process.

Key Concepts:

• Improved Farm Concepts: Further development of skills learned in the Farm division.

• Catching Fly Balls & Basic Outfield Skills: Learning how to catch fly balls and basic outfield positioning.

• Fielding Ground Balls: Focusing on fielding and reacting to ground balls.

• Extra Base Hits & Base Running/Sliding: Understanding when to take extra bases and the basics of sliding into bases.

• Pitch Selection: Developing the ability to recognize pitches and make better choices at bat.

• Catcher Position & Safety: Learning catcher-specific skills and focusing on safety for this position.

• Cutoffs/Relays: Understanding the importance of cutoffs and relays to efficiently throw the ball to bases.

• Tagging Up: Learning when and how to tag up on fly balls for base advancement.

Majors (League Age 10-12)

Majors Baseball is for players who are refining the skills they’ve developed in the Minor divisions and are entering a more competitive stage of baseball.

• Player Placement: 12-year-olds must be placed in this division, with priority given to them.  First time players may be waivered down to Minors AAA based on tryout evaluations for safety.

• Competitive Division: The primary goals are to create fair competition, provide skill development, and prepare players for higher levels of play.

• Game Features: Scoring and standings are kept, and umpires officiate the games.

• Player Placement: Players are placed on teams through a tryout and draft process. Even if they stay in the same division, they must go through the draft each season.

Key Concepts:

• Improved Minors Concepts: Further development of skills learned in the Minor divisions.

• Comfort with Faster Pitching: Developing the ability to hit higher-speed pitches.

• Secondary Leads/Steals: Learning how to take secondary leads and steal bases effectively.

• Reading Passed Balls & Batted Balls: Understanding how to react to passed balls and batted balls to make plays.

• Improved Cuts/Relays: Refining the execution of cutoff throws and relays.

• Intermediate Catcher Skills: Further development of catching techniques and safety.

• Proper Tagging of Runners: Learning how to tag runners efficiently at bases.

• Reading Signs: Understanding and responding to signs from coaches or pitchers.

• Managing At-Bats: Focusing on pitch selection, working counts, and strategic batting.

• Basic Pitching Mechanics & Grips: Learning the mechanics and grips for different pitches (e.g., 2-seam, 4-seam, changeup).

• Basics of Play: Understanding the flow of the game and how to execute different plays.

• Hierarchy of Positions: Recognizing the importance of each position and understanding their responsibilities on the field.

• Handling Winning & Losing: Learning how to deal with both success and setbacks in a positive manner.

Intermediate (50/70) - League Age 11-13

Team creation at this level is dependent on the number of registered players and not guaranteed.

Intermediate (50/70) Baseball is designed for players preparing to transition from 46/60-foot fields to the 60/90-foot sized fields used in higher divisions. This division provides a gradual step up, allowing players to develop their skills on a larger field before moving to the full-size baseball fields.

• Dual Play Option: Players in this division can also play on a SCLL Majors or Juniors team at the same time, or they can choose to play exclusively in the Intermediate (50/70) division.

• Game Features:

  • Players are allowed to take leads, and the game follows rules similar to those used at higher levels of baseball.

  • Umpires officiate the games, and scores and standings are kept.

  • District-wide interleague play is typically expected during the regular season, as there are usually not enough teams in SCLL to have an in-house league for this division.

The Intermediate (50/70) division offers a valuable opportunity for players to adjust to the larger fields and prepare for the next stage in their baseball development.

Juniors (60/90) - League Age 13 & 14

Team creation at this level is dependent on the number of registered players and not guaranteed.

Junior League Baseball is for players who are refining their skills at the highest levels of competition before moving on to more advanced baseball stages, such as Senior Little League and High School.

• Game Setup: Juniors Baseball is played on a 90-foot diamond, with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches, similar to high school and higher-level baseball fields.

• Competitive Division: The main goal is to prepare players for competitive environments, advancing their skills for the most competitive arenas in youth baseball.

• Game Features:

  • Scoring and standings are kept.

  • Umpires officiate the games.

  • As with the Intermediate division, there are typically not enough teams within SCLL to form an in-house league, so district-wide interleague play is expected during the regular season.

  • There is a district-wide post-season tournament.

This division focuses on giving players the experience and skill set they need to compete at the Senior Little League level or even move on to High School baseball.

Seniors Division (60/90) - League Ages 14-16

Team creation at this level is dependent on the number of registered players and not guaranteed.

Senior League Baseball is for players honing their skills at the highest levels of competition before transitioning to high school baseball. This division is played on a 90-foot diamond, with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches.

• Competitive Division: The primary goal is to prepare players for the next level, with a focus on skill refinement and understanding of advanced baseball concepts. The rules closely mimic those used in higher levels of the game.

• Game Features:

  • Scoring and standings are kept, and umpires officiate the games.

  • A district-wide post-season tournament is held.

  • Players can take leads and steal bases, as the game follows rules similar to high school baseball.