San Rafael Little League: Division Information

T-BALL

T-ball is the first step in playing organized baseball and is for 5-6 year olds.  Coaches are on the field with the players.  The season begins in mid-March and ends by mid-June.  T-Ball teams may practice on a group basis, and in any event, there will not be more than one formal team practice per week. If field space is available, additional skills clinics may be held. Games are typically played on Saturdays. 

ROOKIE

Rookie is an instructional division generally for LL6s and LL7s and the coaches pitch. Players age LL5 or younger are not eligible to play in the Rookie division per SRLL policy, and players age LL8 can only play in Rookie with a waiver from the President or Player Agent.  Players age LL9 or older cannot play Rookie per SRLL policy. There are no scores or standings kept in the Rookie division.  The season begins in mid to late March and ends by early to mid June.  

UPPER ROOKIE

Upper Rookie is an instructional division for players between the age of LL7 and LL9. Players age LL6 or younger or LL10 or older are not eligible to play Upper Rookie per SRLL policy.  Pitching may be a combination of coach and machine pitch.  There are no scores or standings kept.  In the past, some UR players have participated in a Golden Gloves tournament.  Players who are LL8 or LL9 that do not qualify for Minors, based on assessments of their skill level and/or maturity, will be placed in Upper Rookie.  The season begins in mid-March and ends by mid-June.  Upper Rookie players typically practice once a week and have one game per weekend.  

MINORS

Minors is an instructional division for players with solid fundamentals (catching, throwing, batting, base-running, fielding, etc.) and age appropriate maturity. Minors is generally limited to players between the age of LL9 and LL11. Players age LL7 or younger are not eligible to play Minors per SRLL policy.  Players LL8 will only be considered for play in minors under special circumstances with the approval of the President and Player Agent. Players age LL12 or older are not eligible to play Minors except that a player age LL12 can play Minors if a child safety waiver has been obtained. The number of LL8s and LL11s in Minors will be limited by the Player Agent based on various considerations, including the number of teams, the number of players on each team, and the player’s skill level and maturity.  Parental input is not a major consideration in this decision.  LL11s not drafted onto Majors teams will play on Minors teams.  LL10s will play in Minors unless they are eligible for Majors draft (and drafted onto a team) by being in 5th grade and having already played Minors for two years or being in 4th grade, having played Minors for two years and were selected as a regular or alternate on the SRLL 9-10 All Star Team.

Players pitch in Minors and scores and standings are kept.  Teams are established based on a random allocation (with the exception of coaches’ kids as previously mentioned).  The season begins in mid-March and ends by mid-June.  Minors begin practicing twice per week and once games begin have one weeknight game, one weekend game and one weekend practice. 

In the past playoffs have consisted of a seeded double elimination tournament at the end of the season beginning at the end of May.  The winner of the Minors playoffs goes on to represent SRLL by competing in the Tournament of Champions against other area league champions usually in mid-June (check the Important Date section of the web site for exact dates).  Players who are selected for the 9/10 All Star team should expect to practice daily beginning in mid-June and be available for games through the All Star season (typically ending in mid to late July). 

Please see the Downloads & Handouts section for the Minors Local Rules.

MAJORS

Majors is for 10-12 year olds and is considered competitive play.  In the past players have attended a skills assessment/try outs and are evaluated and ultimately drafted by the Team Managers.  Players who are under LL12 and not drafted will be released to the Minors division.  Players age LL11 will only play Majors if drafted, and otherwise, they will play in Minors.  Players age LL10, please see above eligibility for Majors draft in Minors section.

Players age LL9 or younger are not eligible for Majors per SRLL and/or Little League policy. There are no exceptions to this rule. 

Majors players typically begin practicing at the end of February beginning with two practices per week.  Once games begin in mid-March, Majors players typically will have one weeknight game and one weekend game per week along with two team and/or batting practices per week.  

In the past Majors teams play inter-league games against other little leagues including West Marin and Dixie/Terra Linda.  Standings and scores are kept throughout the season which, in the past, has culminated in a seeded single or double elimination playoff championship just in the SRLL.  The winning team of that championship moves on to compete in the Tournament of Champions, representing SRLL, against other area league champions at the end of the season, typically in mid-June (check the Important Date section of the web site for exact dates). 

Players who are selected for the LL All Star team should expect to practice daily beginning in mid-June and be available for games through the All Star season (typically ending in mid to late July).

Please see the Downloads & Handouts section for the Majors Local Rules.

JUNIORS

Juniors is an advanced, competitive division for players aged 13, 14 and now 15. Unlike other SRLL divisions, Juniors play on a full-sized, MLB regulation baseball field (90’ baselines, 60’ from pitching rubber to plate) against teams from other local Little Leagues.

Players are selected by a draft conducted by the Juniors Team Managers. All players age LL13, LL14 and LL15 must be drafted by a Juniors team and must play in the Juniors division, subject to a child safety waiver that must be formally requested by the Player Agent or President and obtained from Little League.  Please contact the Player Agent if your child is LL13 and you believe that a safety waiver may be appropriate. 

Eligible players who play on a high school baseball team (Freshman, JV or Varsity) may join a Juniors team after the completion of their high school season.

Players age LL12 or younger are not eligible for Majors per SRLL and/or Little League policy. There are no exceptions to this rule.