East County Little League: 2010 Season Divisions
Tee Ball is our entry-level baseball program for youth 5 & 6 years old. Tee Ball is an instructional, non-competitive league that uses the soft Incrediball. There are no tryouts and no score is kept during the games. The season consists of approximately 15 games depending on number of teams and the League will assign players to each of the teams. Parents may request team assignment preferences at this level but they must do so at registration.
A Division (Farm)
The "A" Division Baseball, which is also known as the Farm Division, is the next step up the ladder from Tee Ball. It is for kids ages 7 & 8, but it is also open upon parental request at registration to a 9 year old who has never played baseball before. "A" division uses the soft Incrediball. Players are pitched to by their own coach. The season consists of around 15 games, the exact number depending on how many teams are in the division. The League assigns players to teams and there are no tryouts. As with Tee Ball, parents may request assignment preferences but MUST do so on the registration form.
AA Division
"AA" Division Baseball is the first level of baseball with umpires and players pitching. It is open to kids 8, 9, and 10 years of age. All players must attend a tryout and the teams are chosen by a draft. 8 year olds are welcome to tryout for this division but parents should understand that space may be limited in this division. 8 year olds who do not attend tryouts or who are not selected in the draft, are automatically assigned to an "A" Division team. 9 or 10 year olds who fail to attend tryouts will be placed on a waiting list. Parental assignment preferences are no longer available from this level upward. The number of games played is based on the number of teams in the division but is not less than 16 games.
AAA Division
Section 1. Limited to league ages 9,10,11, & 12. Teams are selected by draft and rosters are normally but not necessarily limited to 12 players.
Section 2. The offensive team is retired when either the defensive team completes 3 outs or the offensive team has scored 5 runs; except in the following cases:
a) If a home run (over the fence) is hit, all runs will score even if that is more than 5 runs in that inning. If the runs scoring by the home run make the total for the inning 5 or more, the inning ends when the final runner (the batter) crosses the plate except in the 6th inning or beyond.
b) There is no run limit in the 6th inning or beyond.
Section 3. The entire roster shall constitute the batting lineup. Defensively, only 9 players may take the field but minimum play rules are in effect.
Section 4. Headfirst sliding is prohibited except when returning to a base.
Section 5. Twelve-year-olds may not pitch in AAA.
Section 6. Refer to “Pitch Count” rules put forth by Little League and/or the district.
Majors
Major Division Baseball is for 11 and 12-year olds(10 year olds may be allowed to play up upon parental request to player agent and approval of the executive board). Players must tryout unless, they are a returning property player. Players not drafted to Majors are automatically considered in the 'AAA' division draft. The number of games played is based on the number of teams in the division, but not less than 16 games.
Juniors
JUNIOR Division Baseball is for 13 and 14 year olds only. At this level, play moves up to a larger 90-foot diamond. Players must tryout unless; they are a returning property player. We expect to have at least the same 6 teams as last year, and hope to expand to 8 teams if the numbers allow. Play will commence on or about Opening Day and the exact number of games in the season will depend on the final number of teams. We do plan on delaying the tryouts and draft for Juniors until after Freedom holds its baseball tryouts so that our 14-year olds who are freshman can try out for high school ball but still have time to sign up and play Juniors if they don't make the High School team. ONLY those 14-year olds, who make the high school team, will be allowed to move up to Seniors if they still wish to play in ECLL.
Seniors
SENIOR Division Baseball is for 15 and 16 year olds, and for those 14-year olds who are high school ball players. To allow the maximum opportunity for kids to play, sign-ups will start at the usual time but will remain open until the Opening Day for all the younger divisions. This should allow those players who are on a high school team plenty of time to assess their post high-school prospects. Senior tryouts will be held the end of March and early April. The draft will be held in early April, with regular season play starting in mid-May as soon as the high school season is done.
Big League
BIG LEAGUE Baseball is for 17 and 18 year olds, and for those 16 year olds that play High School Varsity and wishes to play on the Big League Team, depending on openings on the big league team. Generally, we are able to form only one team at this level. Big League will involve inter-league play with some travel. The manager or coordinator for our Big League team will contact any applicants in this age group regarding tryouts, etc. To allow the maximum opportunity for kids to play, sign-ups will start at the usual time but will remain open to a date TBD.
AA Softball (Mini-Minor)
Instructional softball division for girls ages 7 to 9. This division is for beginning players and offers coach-pitch, no stealing and a focus on developing fundamentals of the game.
AAA Softball (Minor)
Minor "AAA" Softball is a competitive instructional division for girls ages 9 thru 11 years of age. An 8 year old with previous experience in "A" level softball can try out for the "AAA" division. All players must tryout and teams are chosen by a draft. "AAA" softball may inter-league with other area Little League's and may involve some local travel. Girls playing "AAA" softball will pitch, steal bases and can bunt. An 11" inch ball is used and the pitching distance is 35' feet. Teams from this division are eligible for the Tournament of Champions and 9 - 11 year olds are eligible to be picked as All-Stars.
Major Softball
Major Softball is a competitive division for 11 and 12 year old girls. A 10 year old may be allowed to play in the Major division if drafted and with parental permission and approval by the Player Agent. All player candidates, except returning property players from last year's teams, must attend tryouts and teams are chosen by draft. Those players not selected for the Majors division will automatically go into the "AAA" Softball draft. 12 year old girls must play in Majors. Major softball is likely to involve inter-league play and does involve some local travel. Major softball is played with a 12" ball and the pitching distance is 40' feet.
Senior Softball
SENIOR SOFTBALL is for ages 13 thru 16 year olds and DO NOT play high school softball. Player candidates that played Senior Softball last year and DO NOT play high school softball this year are considered Property Players in the Senior Softball Division and are not required to tryout. Unless we have enough players to form 4 teams, play at this level is likely to involve inter-league play and does involve some local travel. The exact number of games in the season will depend on the number of teams formed and the number of teams with whom we must inter-league.
Big League Softball
BIG LEAGUE SOFTBALL is for ages of 14-18 that either played high school softball or fall in the 17-18 year old range. Player candidates who are not returning property players must attend tryouts and teams are chosen by draft. Even by accommodating the high school players, there is a chance that we will not be able to form the minimum 4 teams for Big League in order to play our own schedule. If not, play at this level will be inter-league play with travel throughout the County. Big League will wait until high school softball is complete. The exact number of games will depend on our start, the number of teams we are able to form, and if inter-league play is necessary, the number of inter-league teams against whom we must play. To allow the maximum opportunity for kids to play, sign-ups will start at the usual time but will remain open to a date TBD.
Challenger
CHALLENGER is the division of which we are most proud. It is for children of all ages who have any type of disability, which precludes them from competing in any of the other divisions. The rules are very flexible with the focus not so much on winning as it is on providing these special children with a positive and rewarding recreational experience. Registration is open all season.
