2008 Spring DLL Structure 
DLL has seven divisions for players based on their age, experience and ability. "Playing Age" for the 2008 Spring season refers to a player's age as of April 30, 2008.
Division |
Description |
Playing Age Requirements and Guidelines** |
|
Basic knowledge/interest in baseball |
All Playing Age 5 year olds will be placed in our T-Ball division as per Little League rules. Playing Age 6 year olds who have no prior baseball experience will also be placed in T-Ball. |
|
Hitting and fielding development |
Playing Age 7 year olds with no prior experience and Playing Age 6 year olds who have played one season of T-Ball. |
|
Hitting and fielding development |
Primarily Playing Ages 7 - 8. |
|
Pitcher and catcher development |
Primarily Playing Ages 8 - 9. First DLL division that uses a draft by team managers to form teams. |
|
Intro to the full Little League game |
Primarily Playing Ages 9 - 11. |
|
Preparation for the Majors division |
Primarily Playing Ages 10 - 12. |
|
Competitive Little League play |
Primarily Playing Ages 11 - 12. |
** Players in the T-Ball, Instructional Rookie, and Rookie divisions are assigned to teams by DLL Player Agents based on player age, experience and ability. Teams in the Majors, AAA, AA, and Single A divisions are determined by a draft of eligible players by DLL managers.
T-Ball (Playing Ages 5-6) This is a basic introduction to baseball. The players learn the fundamentals through practice and games. Players hit the ball off of a stationary tee and play in the field with coaches nearby to help with instruction. The T-Ball Division is required for all league age five year old players with placement in this division done by league age and teams organized by the DLL’s Player Agents. It is an instructional division where players hit off a tee rather than hit a pitched ball using Reduced Impact Force (RIF) or “safety” balls, no scores are kept, every offensive player bats each inning regardless of outs, and no player sits on defense. Players are taught the fundamentals of baseball such that they are exposed to playing positions and are taught throwing, catching, batting, defensive ready position and running the bases. All players in the T-Ball Division receive participation trophies.
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Instructional Rookie (Playing Ages 6-7) This Division provides a transition from t-ball to coach pitch. The games will be played on a t-ball field using a soft t-ball ball, with a 3 inning/1.5 hour time limit. The first inning will feature traditional t-ball play, with each player getting a turn to hit off the tee. The second and third innings will utilize a coach pitcher, standing no closer than 30' from the plate, who will pitch 3 balls to each batter. If the batter does not put one of those 3 balls into play, the batter will be given an opportunity to hit from the tee. Players are not obligated to receive 3 pitched balls – players or parents may request that they skip the live pitch opportunity and proceed directly to hitting off the tee.
A catcher will be utilized, but will stand by the backstop, and will only come into play once the ball has been put in play. Players are taught the fundamentals of baseball such that they are exposed to playing positions and are taught throwing, catching, batting, defensive ready position and running the bases. All players in the Instructional Rookie division receive participation trophies.
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Rookie / Coach Pitch (Primarily Playing Age 7) At this level, players improve their fundamental skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Adult coaches from each team are used to pitch regulation baseballs to their own team. The Rookie/Coach Pitch Division is primarily for playing age seven year old players. Teams are organized by the Player Agents. It is an instructional division where players hit balls pitched by a coach pitcher. Players are taught the fundamentals of baseball such that they are exposed to playing positions and are taught throwing, catching, batting, defensive ready position and running the bases. The Rookie/Coach Pitch Division is intended to be a logical transition from T-Ball and Instructional Rookie to Player Pitch play. Per Little League requirements, a playing age 6 child can only be considered to play in coach pitch if they played one full year (Spring Season) of T-ball in an approved Little League program. DLL’s Player Agents build the rosters for all teams. Scores are kept to determine when to end an inning (4 runs or 3 outs, whichever comes first), and standings are kept. All players in the Rookie/Coach Pitch division receive participation trophies.
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Single A (Playing Ages 8-9) The skills that the players have been accumulating finally come together as they now work as a team pitching, hitting and fielding the ball. Fundamentals and sportsmanship are still stressed along with the strategies required for competitive play. The Single A Division is the first “draft” level division and is primarily for playing age eight year old players. It is an instructional division where players hit regulation little league balls pitched by coaches for ½ of the game and by players for ½ of the game. Protective cups are required, outs are recorded with three ending each half inning, and only ten defensive positions are used (meaning extra players rotate sitting each inning). Players are taught the fundamentals of baseball such that they are exposed to playing positions and are taught throwing, catching, batting, defensive ready position and running the bases. Umpires are used, scores are kept, and standings are recorded. Only those teams winning their division will receive a trophy. A post-season tournament will determine a World Series champion for the league. Each team in the World Series will receive a trophy.
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Double AA (Playing Ages 9-11) The skills that the players have been accumulating finally come together as they now work as a team pitching, hitting and fielding the ball. Fundamentals and sportsmanship are still stresses along with the strategies required for competitive play. The AA Division is primarily for playing age nine and ten year old players with eight year old players being allowed to try-out (but with usually less than a dozen allowed by the Player Agent to be drafted into AA). All players are required to try-out and teams are formed through a formal manager draft process supervised by the Player Agent. Players pitch, protective cups are required, all players bat in the line-up, ten defensive positions are used (meaning four outfielders), and scores and standings are kept. Trained volunteer umpires enforce Little League Baseball and Local Board Adopted Rules. Players are taught advanced fundamentals of baseball such that they are exposed to pitching techniques, playing positions, defensive pre-pitch preparedness, live batting, and aggressive base running. Only those teams winning their division will receive a trophy. A post-season tournament will determine a World Series champion for the league. Each team in the World Series will receive a trophy.
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Triple AAA (Playing Ages 10-12) The skills that the players have been accumulating come together as they now work as a team pitching, hitting and fielding the ball. Fundamentals and sportsmanship are still stresses along with the strategies required for competitive play. The AAA division is primarily for playing age ten and eleven year old players with some nine year old players traditionally drafted onto AAA Division teams as well. All players are required to try-out and teams are formed through a formal manager draft process supervised by the Player Agent. Players pitch, protective cups are required, all players bat in the line-up, the standard nine baseball defensive positions are used, players are now allowed to steal bases and bunt, and scores and standings are kept. Only those teams winning their division will receive a trophy. A post-season tournament will determine a world series champion for the league. Each team in the World Series will receive a trophy.
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Majors (Ages 11-12) Players continue to refine their skills and compete at a higher level. Little League Baseball, known as the Majors division, is generally oriented for experienced players who are eleven and twelve years old. Occasionally some ten year olds are drafted into the Major Division. All Majors players are required to try-out, and teams are formed through a formal manager draft process supervised by the Player Agent. Players who make it to the Little League World Series on TV come from the Majors division of Little League Baseball.
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