South Pasadena Little League Player Placement Guidelines
These guidelines are a reference for parents and league
officials to help determine player placement for the Youth, Baseball, and
Softball Divisions of South Pasadena Little League. They are subject to
approval and modification by our Board of Directors. Please note that there may
be significant variation from these guidelines. Their overall aim is to ensure
that players are assigned to teams appropriate to their age, physical and
emotional maturity and skills, while maintaining balanced teams within each division.
SPLL must also operate within the constraints of our charter from Little League
Baseball.
The
Youth Divisions
The purpose of the youth divisions is to introduce players
to team sports, with emphasis on fun, healthy physical activity, good sportsmanship,
new friendships, and to pass on to our next generation the love of the game.
T-ball
introduces boys and girls to the game of baseball. It is primarily intended for
players of league age 5 and 6 who have never played before. Emphasis is on very
basic introduction to the skills of throwing, catching, and hitting the ball.
Players learn about the field of play, the defensive positions on the field,
and running the bases. All batting is done with a stationary ball placed on a
tee. Safety and proper use of safety equipment is stressed from the very
beginning and continues throughout every level of play. Players learn about
teamwork and have fun in an environment free of any competitive pressure.
Coach
pitch further develops the skills introduced in T-ball and is intended for boys
and girls of league age 6 who have already participated in a season of T-ball,
and 7-year-olds who are new to the game. Coaches pitch to the players so that
they learn to hit a moving ball, but the use of a tee is allowed and
encouraged, especially early in the season. Teamwork is further developed, as
some players are now able to make defensive plays that require catching and
throwing a batted ball. A low level of competition is introduced, as now outs
count – after 3 outs, the defensive team comes to bat.
Machine
pitch baseball is for boys and girls of league age 7 and 8. The coaches operate
a pitching machine in order to assure a high probability of delivering strikes
to the plate at a consistent speed and location. The purpose of machine pitch
is to keep the players engaged in the game, eliminating the persistent walks
usually prevalent with this age group, and reducing the batters anxiety at
being hit by a pitched ball. The fielders get more opportunities to make a play
on a batted ball. Like in T-ball and Coach Pitch, the batting order consists of
the entire team; that is, even if a player is not playing a defensive position,
when his or her turn comes up, he or she bats. Girls of league age 7 and 8 may
elect to play softball.
7-8
Softball
7-8
Softball is for girls of league age 7 and 8. In this division the girls will be
introduced to the game of softball. There will be no standings or runs counted
during games. The girls will be introduced to hitting by utilization of coach
pitching and a batting tee. They will learn how to advance the bases properly
and also start understanding how to slide. Defensive skills will be learned at
this level as well. All players will play in the field during defense. Proper
throwing, fielding, safety, hitting and stretching will be major focuses of
instruction. At a midway point, some rules will be changed in order to advance
the learning experience of softball.
The
Minor League Baseball & Softball Divisions
The purpose of the Minor Leagues is to prepare players and
develop their abilities on the field. As is true in all divisions, but
particularly in the minor leagues, players should be encouraged to play as many
different positions as they wish, with safety and proper training in mind.
Managers and coaches are encouraged not to “specialize” players and to pay
special attention to developing pitchers, catchers, and teaching good
fundamentals to all participants. Winning games should not be the focus of the
minor leagues. Building teamwork, learning fundamental skills, and encouraging
friendly competition and good sportsmanship are the managers’ priorities. The
Minor Leagues in South Pasadena are the American and the National Leagues in
Baseball and the Minor League in Softball.
American
league baseball is for players of league 8 and 9. Occasionally, a player of
league age 10 may be assigned to an American league team if parents, coaches,
or league officials determine that that player would benefit from a year of
play in this division. Typically, by this age, most girls choose to play
softball, although they may continue to participate in the baseball program. American
league introduces player pitching. SPLL has adopted rules aimed at reducing the
number of walks in a typical game. A certain level of competitive play is also
introduced, in that standings are kept and trophies are awarded for first and
second place in a tournament that is played after the regular season. A number
of 9-year-old players from the American league may be nominated for selection
to a 9 & 10 All Star team after the regular season.
National
league baseball is for players of league age 10, 11, and 12, but predominantly
10 and 11. Twelve-year-old players are not allowed to pitch in the Minor
Leagues, as specified by Little League rules. In the National league, most
supplemental rules do not apply: the game is played essentially following the
rulebook published by Little League Baseball. Like in the American league,
standings are kept and a tournament takes place after the regular season.
Ten-year-old players from the National League may be nominated for selection to
a 9 & 10 All Star team after the regular season.
The
Minor League is a girl’s first introduction to Softball. The emphasis is on
fun, friendships, safety, and developing the fundamental skills of the game.
Minor League Softball is for girls of league age 9 and 10. On very rare
occasions, an 8-year-old player may be placed in this league. Softball Minors
play under modified rules allowing ten defensive players, batting the entire
line up, and having a coach pitch to the batter instead of awarding consecutive
walks. Nine and 10 year old players may be selected to a Minor League All Star
team.
The
Major League Baseball and Softball Divisions
SPLL limits participation in the Major Leagues to 10, 11, and
12 year-old players. The League tries to recruit managers and coaches who are
knowledgeable about the rules of the game and exhibit the skills needed to
prepare a team for competitive play. The managers’ ability to teach the game,
in an age-appropriate manner, is a major consideration in their selection by
SPLL.
Major
League Baseball is for players of league age 10, 11, and 12. Major League
Softball is for girls of league age 11 and 12. Players are drafted to a major
league team following the rules laid out by the Little League Operating Manual.
The managers, under the supervision of the Player Agent, select players to the
teams based on their ability, as demonstrated during the annual player tryouts.
Rules of play are governed strictly by Little League’s rulebook. A tournament
concludes the regular season and trophies are awarded. Ten-year-old players
from the Baseball league may be nominated for selection to a 9 & 10 All
Star team. Eleven- and twelve-year-old players from the Baseball and Softball
leagues may be nominated for selection to a Little League All Star team.
The
Junior and Senior Baseball and Softball Divisions
Players
of league age 13 and 14 can participate in the Junior Leagues. The managers
draft teams in the same manner as the Major League. The Junior Baseball League
introduces players to a full-scale field in baseball and the games are played
essentially under the same rules as professional baseball. Junior League
Softball plays on a regulation softball field. Pitching is a particularly
competitive aspect of Junior League Softball. SPLL’s Junior Leagues often
interlock with other cities to provide a wider level of competition and the
opportunity to play on a variety of fields. Fourteen-year-old players who play
on a High School team may not participate in this league (CIF rules), but may
participate in Senior League after the conclusion of the CIF season. Thirteen-
and fourteen-year old players may be nominated to a Junior League All Star team
after the regular season.
Senior
League is for players 15 and 16 years-of-age. In Baseball Seniors,
fourteen-year-old players may choose to play in this league. By this age, many
of the players in this league also play on a High School team. Senior League
(and Big League, when offered) does not commence until after the end of the CIF
season in mid-May, and plays a shorter season, usually in a league comprised of
several neighboring cities. Fourteen-year-old Senior League players may be
nominated for selection to a Junior League All Star team. Fifteen- and
sixteen-year-old players may be nominated for selection to a Senior League All
Star team.