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About LITTLE LEAGUE Baseball

Little League has three structural components, each dependent upon the other and each vital to the success of the program.

The administrative and service core of the movement is Little League Baseball, Incorporated, a non-profit membership organization that maintains the international program, with Little League International in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Part of the Little League International structure includes various Regional Centers in the U.S. and throughout the world.

The next component is the District. All the leagues within a District (a geographical area usually encompassing 10-20 leagues) elect a District Administrator (DA). The DA and his/her staff of Assistant District Administrators serve as liaisons between the various Regional Headquarters and the local Little Leagues. They are usually the most experienced Little League volunteers in the area and are charged with helping to ensure that all the volunteers in their districts are well trained, and all the leagues are operating within the guidelines set by Little League. The District Administrator does not have the authority to suspend, limit or revoke any rules, regulations or privileges of charter by a local Little League, but may recommend such action to the Charter Committee in Williamsport.

The final, most important component is the local Little League. The league provides its services in the community. It furnishes physical facilities, volunteer services and resources to provide a program for children. Through effective leadership and strong administrative policy at the top level, together with training extensions and adherence to rule and policy at District and local league level, Little League is able to provide liberal benefits to children who participate. (Source: Little League® - ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION)

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL (OR THE MAJOR DIVISION)

The Little League Baseball Division (also known as the Major Division) is for boys and girls ages 9 -12.

A local league may choose to limit its Major Division to 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds, or 11-12-year-olds. The diamond used is a 60-foot diamond and the pitching distance is 46 feet.

The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or "All Stars") of 10-12-year-olds from within this division, and the team may enter the International Tournament.

The culmination of the International Tournament is the Little League Baseball World Series, featuring teams from around the world. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.

A local league must only have ONE Major Division. For instance, if the local league has all 11-12 year olds in the Majors, and all 9-10s in another division, then the 9-10s MUST be considered a Minor Division. (Source: Little League)

Tee-Ball and Minor Divisions

Little League includes divisions for boys and girls ages 5-16 in baseball and softball. In many cases, the local Little League board of directors has the option to determine the "cutoff" age between divisions.

Minor League Baseball programs for boys and girls may be operated within each division for younger players with less experience. The minor league may be players ages 5-11.

Divisions may be established within the Minor League for "machine pitch," "coach-pitch" or "player-pitch." By local option, a player who is league-age 5 (use the Little League Age Calculator to determine your child's League Age for the current year) for the current season and has played a year in Tee Ball  Tee Ball may be "moved up" to a coach-pitch division.

A local league might have its 5-8-year-olds in the Minor League Coach Pitch Division, while its 9-10-year-olds are in the Minor League Player-Pitch Division. However, by local option, some of the 9-year-olds could "play down" in the coach-pitch division, and some of the 8-year-olds could "play up." This is entirely the choice of the local league Board of Directors.

Rosters may be composed of between 12 and 20 players, but most leagues have rosters in the 12-15 range. The diamond used is a 60-foot diamond and the pitching distance is 46 feet.

Info for parents

As the parent of a Little Leaguer, you are committed to making your child's sports experience as rewarding as possible.  Little League Baseball and Softball offers some tips on participating as a volunteer in your local league, as well as ways you can help develop the concepts of character, courage and loyalty in your Little Leaguer.

Please click on the menu items on the left of this page to review Little League's suggestions.


Source: Little League Parents

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