The Executive Board of Guilford Little League would like to welcome all new players, parents and friends

DIVISIONS OF GUILFORD LITTLE LEAGUE 

PLEASE NOTE: The ages posted for baseball correspond to the age of the child on April 30^th, 2008.  Softball follows the calendar year.

T – BALL 5 BASEBALL (5 years old):  This division is available to five year old boys and girls.  This is a basic preface to baseball.  Coaches will teach the importance of teamwork as well as introduce the children to baseball terminology, positions and the field.  Skills worked on include: Proper batting technique using a batting tee, throwing and catching using a glove and running the bases.  Games are usually two or three innings and last 21/2 hours.  Game time is split half practice, half game. No score is kept and all children participate both on the field and at bat.  Coaches are on the field with the players.  These games are played on Saturday morning at Baldwin School.

  T-BALL 6 BASEBALL (6 years old): Boys and girls.  Although a tee is still used, this level introduces coach pitching.  Proper basics are still emphasized, coaches remain on the field and also serve as Catchers. Players rotate on the field and are made aware of the proper technique and duty of every position. Games are three innings long and last approximately 2 hours. Game time is split half practice, half game. No score is kept and all players bat in the inning. These games are usually played on Saturday afternoons and Wednesdays at Baldwin School or Calvin Leete.  

INSTRUCTIONAL BASEBALL (7 years old) – Boys and Girls. This league is an addition to GLL this year and its purpose is to insure a proper transition from T-Ball to standard baseball.  Coaches will have a scripted practice schedule and will provide individual training to players of all skill levels.  Coaches will be on the field with the players and instruct them on proper play during “live” situations.  There will only be 10 players on the field but all players will have a turn at bat every inning. Players rotate on the field and are taught the proper form and technique associated with each position. Children will begin to participate in pitching as well a playing the Catcher position.  The “T” will be available for training purposes and players will be “weaned” off gradually.  No score is kept and games last 2 ½ hours.  Four innings are played. These practice/games will be played at Baldwin or Calvin Leete and take place twice per week on weeknights.

FARM BASEBALL (8 years old) – Boys and Girls. This division is “Part 2” of the instructional process.  Coaches will pitch in the beginning of the season and player pitching will begin during the second half of the season (with coach assistance if necessary).  There will only be 10 players on the field but all players will have a turn at bat every inning.  Coaches remain on the field during play. The children are taught every field position and all are given the opportunity to pitch. The catcher position is played by a child and proper technique is developed.  No score is kept and games are four innings long lasting approximately 2 ½ hours. These games will be played at Baldwin or Calvin Leete and will be twice per week on weeknights.

FARM SOFTBALL (7 and 8 years old) – Girls only. Each team is assigned one game per week and one practice per week. Same concept and procedure as Instructional and Farm Baseball. Games are played at Bittner Park.

ROOKIE BASEBALL and SOFTBALL (9, 10 and 11 years old) – National Little League rules for Minor League play are followed. At this level players start to focus on certain positions and begin to “specialize” on the field.  The coaches are not on the field and games are six innings long.  Although score is kept, there are no league standings recorded.  All players bat.  Scoring is limited to 5 runs per team per half inning.  Players pitch the entire game but each child is limited to a certain number of pitches per game and week. Stealing bases and bunting is taught at this level.  Players have to be evaluated prior to the beginning of the season and have to enter the “draft” in both years.  All Star teams are chosen at the end of the season and compete against other towns.  Games are played on weekends and weeknights and are at Bittner Park and AW Cox.

MAJORS BASEBALL and SOFTBALL (10, 11 and 12 years old) – Aside from Seniors, this is the most competitive level in Guilford Little League.  National Little League rules for Major League play are followed.  Eligible players enter the draft in their first year and normally remain on the same team throughout their involvement in Majors Baseball.  Games are six innings long and include all facets of Baseball and Softball (stealing, bunting, extra innings, etc...).  Games are played at Adams School (BB) and Bittner Park (SB).  All Star teams are chosen at the end of the season and have the opportunity to compete in local, State and National levels.

   MISCELLANENOUS ITEMS 

- There are Snack Shacks and bathrooms at Adams and Bittner Park. 

 All other fields have portable toilets but no water or snack facilities. BYO.

- There are two fields at Adams, A (closest to the school) and B.

- There are three fields at Baldwin, A (closest to the road furthest from the school), B (closest to the school) and C (far corner, closest to the woods)

- The field at Calvin Leete is behind the school next to the soccer field

- Bittner has two baseball fields:  A (on top of the hill next to the adult softball field) and B (bottom of the hill farthest from parking lot) and two softball fields: C (bottom of the hill left of the lot) and the adult field on top of the hill.

- AW Cox fields is behind the school.

-Most of the equipment is provided by the league (Catcher’s gear, batting helmets, bats, balls, uniforms).  Gloves and cleats are purchased by the player.  Some players choose to purchase their own bats and batting helmets. .

- The GLL Board meets the first Monday of every month at the Nathaniel Greene Community Center.  The meeting starts at 7:00 PM and all are welcome.  This is your chance to learn and contribute to the league.