2008 Fall DLL League Structure 
DLL has seven divisions for players based on their age, experience and ability.
Division |
Description |
Playing Age Requirements and Guidelines** |
|
Basic knowledge/interest in baseball |
All League Age 5 year olds will be placed in our T-Ball division as per Little League rules. League Age 6 year olds who have no prior baseball experience will also be placed in T-Ball. |
|
Hitting and fielding development |
League Age 7 year olds with no prior experience who request T-Ball, and League Age 6 year olds who have played one season of T-ball. |
|
Hitting and fielding development |
Primarily League Age 7 year olds. |
|
Pitcher and catcher development |
Primarily League Ages 8 - 9. |
|
Intro to the full Little League game |
Primarily League Ages 9 - 11 |
|
Preparation for the Majors division |
Primarily League Ages 10 - 12 |
|
Competitive Little League play |
Primarily League Ages 11 - 12 |
** DLL Player Agents assign ALL Fall players to a division based on player age, experience and ability.
T-Ball (League 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 (League 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 6 balls to each batter. If the batter does not put one of those 6 balls into play, the batter is out. Players are not obligated to receive pitched balls – players or parents may request that they skip the live pitch opportunity and instead hit off the tee. A catcher will be utilized. 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 League 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 League Age 7 year old players. Teams are organized by the Player Agents. It is an instructional division where players hit live balls. 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 League Age 6 year old player 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. Scores are kept to determine when to end an inning (4 runs or 3 outs, whichever comes first), but standings are not kept. All players in the Rookie/Coach Pitch Division receive participation trophies.
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Single A (League 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 stresses along with the strategies required for competitive play. The Single A Division is primarily for League Age 8 year old players. Teams are organized by the Player Agents. 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, and scores are kept only for determining when an inning is over. Participants in this division do not receive participation trophies.
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Double AA (League 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. Players pitch, protective cups are required, all players bat in the line-up, and ten defensive positions are used (meaning four outfielders). 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. Scores are kept only for determining when an inning is over. Participants in this division do not receive participation trophies.
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Triple AAA (League 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 League Age 10 and 11 year old players with few if any nine year old players. Players pitch, protective cups are required, all players bat in the line-up, the standard nine baseball defensive positions are used, and players are now allowed to steal bases and bunt. Umpires are used, and scores are kept only for determining when an inning is over. Participants in this division do not receive participation trophies.
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Majors (League Ages 11-12) Players continue to refine their skills and compete at a higher level. Little League Baseball, known as the Major division, is primarily oriented for experienced players who are eleven and twelve years old. Umpires are used, and scores are kept only for determining when an inning is over. Participants in this division do not receive participation trophies.
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