Age: |
| 5-6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11-12 |
League: |
| T-Ball | Instructional League | Junior League | Pinto League | Mustang League | Little League |
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PHILOSOPHY |
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| Beginner program. First opportunity for organized sports. Introduction to basic skills and team concepts. | Supplemental program. Efforts continue to enhance and refine basic skills and concepts. | Transitional program. Several more advanced skills are introduced and phased in. | Transitional program. Existing skills are refined while new skills and more complex strategies are introduced. | Real baseball. Full array of skills and strategies come together and are used and taught in detail. | Real baseball. All skills and strategies further developed and practiced in greater detail with much repetition. |
SUMMARY |
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| Hitting, running, fielding and throwing are taught. Emphasis is on teamwork and fun. League is non-competitive, winning is downplayed. There are specially developed "Little Childrens' Rules", which allow for maximum playing time and experience for all. | Catcher is introduced and rover eliminated to encourage more strategy and field awareness. Teamwork and fun continue to be emphasized. The competitive level is a little bit higher, but winning is still downplayed. "Little Childrens' Rules" are still in effect. | Child pitching is introduced and phased in. Fielding skills become more detailed and strategic as realistic game situations are taught and experienced. Competition again increases a little. "Little Childrens' Rules" not in effect, but extensive playing time is guaranteed. | Fielding techniques for specific positions are stressed and taught, real game situations are practiced. Stealing and bunting are phased in. Much playing time is guaranteed. Games are more competitive - winning is somewhat more emphasized and standings are kept. | Complete package of baseball skills are utilized for the first time. Greater practice time is needed as consistency and experience is stressed. A fairly high amount of playing time is still guaranteed. Level of competition is high. | Youth baseball at its highest level. Much practice time is needed, detailed game situations and finer points of positioning and anticipation are emphasized. Experience and awareness are stressed and reinforced. A fairly high amount of playing time is still intended. Level of competition is very high. |
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Bases |
| 50 feet | 50 feet | 55 feet | 60 feet | 60 feet | 60 feet |
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Pitcher Area |
| Line | Circle | Circle | Rubber with 15' circle | Mound/Rubber | Mound/Rubber |
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Distance to Plate |
| 40 feet | 45 feet | 45 feet | 46 feet | 46 feet | 46 feet |
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Halfway Lines |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
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Batter's Box |
| No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Foul Arc |
| 15 feet | 15 feet | No | No | No | No |
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Overthrow Lines |
| 10 feet past foul | 10 feet past foul | 10 feet past foul | Field ground rules | Field ground rules | Field ground rules |
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Outfield Line |
| 30 feet past bases | 30 feet past bases | 30 feet past bases | None | None | None |
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Outfield Fence |
| None | Fence/hillside - 110 feet | None | None | Fence - 180 feet | Fence - 200 feet |
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EQUIPMENT |
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Ball |
| 1S T-Ball (Soft) | 1S T-Ball (Soft) | 5S RIF Ball(Intermediate) | LL Baseball (Hard) | LL Baseball (Hard) | LL Baseball (Hard) |
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Bats |
| Any | Any | Any | 33" x 2 1/4" maximum | 33" x 2 1/4" maximum | 33" x 2 1/4" maximum |
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Tee |
| Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
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Bases |
| Flat, throw-down | Pop-up | Pop-up | Pop-up | Pop-up | Pop-up |
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Shoes |
| No Metal Cleats | No Metal Cleats | No Metal Cleats | No Metal Cleats | No Metal Cleats | No Metal Cleats |
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Hat |
| Provided | Provided | Provided | Provided | Provided | Provided |
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Shirt |
| Provided - must be returned | Provided - must be returned | Provided - must be returned | Provided - must be returned | Provided - must be returned | Provided - must be returned |
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Pants |
| Must be purchased separately | Must be purchased separately | Must be purchased separately | Must be purchased separately | Must be purchased separately | Must be purchased separately |
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ROSTER |
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Team Makeup |
| Neighborhood | Neighborhood | Neighborhood | Draft | Draft | Draft |
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Roster Size |
| 11-13 | 11-12 | 11-12 | 10-11 | 9-11 | 9-11 |
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# Batters |
| Full roster | Full roster | Full roster | Full roster | Full roster | Full roster |
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# Fielders |
| Full roster | Full roster | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
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# Infielders |
| 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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# Outfielders |
| 4-7 | 4-6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
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Catcher |
| No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Rover |
| Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
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Required Field Play |
| All kids play at all times, playing time is equal. | All kids play at all times, playing time is equal. | 5 innings minimum, but playing time is equal. | 5 innings minimum, but playing time is equal. | 4 innings minimum, but playing time is nearly equal. | 2 innings is LL minimum, but nearly equal time is intended. |
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Infield/Outfield Rotation |
| Infield - 2 innings minimum Outfield - 1 inning minimum | Infield - 2 innings minimum Outfield - 1 inning minimum | Infield - 2 innings minimum Outfield - 2 innings minimum | Infield - 1 inning minimum Outfield - 1 inning minimum | Infield - 1 inning minimum Outfield - 1 inning minimum | None required |
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Position Limits |
| 2 innings at any position, except Pitcher and First Base, which are 1 inning each. | 1 inning at any position, except2 innings at Catcher. | 2 innings at any position, except as constrained by pitching limits. | 3 innings maximum | 4 innings maximum, except pitcher. | None, except pitcher |
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Substitution |
| Everyone plays | Everyone plays | Free | Free | Free | Free |
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PARENTS |
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Manager Limit |
| No limit | 2 Co-managers | 2 Co-managers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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# Coaches |
| All help encouraged | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | 3 on the field | 2 on the field |
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Fielder Coaches |
| Yes | 2, for the first half season | Discouraged | No | No | No |
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Batter Coaches |
| Yes | If needed | No | No | No | No |
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Umpires |
| Parents | Parents | Parents | IFPAA paid | IFPAA paid | IFPAA paid |
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GAME |
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Innings |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
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Outs per Inning |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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Run Limit per Inning |
| 5 | 5 - with continuation of play | 6 or lineup | Lineup | Lineup | None |
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Surrender Rule |
| None | None | None | None | None | None |
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Extra Innings |
| No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
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Time Limit |
| 1 1/2 hour target | 2 Hour | 2 Hour | Depends on field schedule | Depends on field schedule | Depends on field schedule |
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BATTER |
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Pitch Limit |
| 3 pitches | 5 pitches or 3 swings | None | None | None | None |
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Called Pitches |
| No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Tee Option |
| After pitch limit reached | After pitch limit reached | No | No | No | No |
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Strikeouts |
| No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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# Strikes for Out |
| N/A | N/A | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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Walks |
| No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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# Balls for Walk |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | 4 | 4 | 4 |
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# Balls (Bases Loaded) |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | 4 consecutive | 4 | 4 |
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Bunting |
| No | No | No | Phased in | Yes | Yes |
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Bat Throw Warning |
| 1 per at bat | 1 per at bat | 1 per batter | 1 per team | 1 per team | None |
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Catcher Interference |
| N/A | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
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RUNNERS |
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Leads |
| No | No | No | No | No | No |
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Stealing |
| No | No | No | Phased in | Yes | Yes |
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Stealing Home |
| No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
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Interference |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Overthrows |
| No extra base | No extra base | 1 base awarded with halfway line, runner can not score | 1 base awarded with halfway line | 2 bases LL Rule 7.05g | 2 bases LL Rule 7.05g |
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Tagging Up |
| No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Avoid Contact Rule |
| None | Yes | None | Yes LL Rule 7.08a3 | Yes LL Rule 7.08a3 | Yes LL Rule 7.08a3 |
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FIELDERS |
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Start Position |
| Infielders at normal positions, outfielders behind outfield line. | Infielders at normal positions, outfielders behind outfield line. | Outfielders 30 feet past bases. | Outfielders 30 feet past bases. | No restriction | No restriction. |
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Play Stoppage |
| Putout, overthrow, or throw toward home or to the umpire stops play. | Infielder must control and hold ball, throw to coach pitcher or overthrow stops play. | Child pitcher controls ball in the circle, runners voluntarily stop, or overthrow stops play. | Pitcher must control ball in the circle to stop play. | Pitcher must control ball on the pitching rubber. | No automatic play stoppage. |
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Infielder Running to Base to Make Play Singlehandedly |
| Players strongly encouraged to throw to base with fielder there to teach proper technique. | Players strongly encouraged to throw to base with fielder there to teach proper technique. | Players encouraged to make throws to proper base. | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
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Outfielder Making a Play at a Base |
| No outfielder can make a play at any base. | Outfielders can make assists at bases, but not putouts. | Outfielders can make assists at bases, but not putouts. | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
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Infield Fly Rule |
| No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
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PITCHING |
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Coach or Child |
| Coach | Coach | Coach to child transition | Child | Child | Child |
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Starting Position |
| Pitcher line (child) | Circle (child) | Circle (child) | Pitching rubber | Pitching rubber | Pitching rubber |
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Pitch Limits per Game |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | None | None | None |
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Inning Limits per Game |
| N/A | N/A | 1-2 | 2-3 | 3 | 6 |
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Hit Batter Limits |
| N/A | N/A | 2 | 2 | 2 per inning, 3 per game | None |
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Inning Limits per Week |
| N/A | N/A | 2-4 | 4-6 | 6 | 6 |
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Coach Relief of Child Pitcher |
| N/A | N/A | After 5 Balls, coach relieves pitcher. Fifth time is automatic removal of pitcher. | N/A | N/A | N/A |
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Balks |
| N/A | N/A | No | No | No | No |
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RECORDS |
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Scorekeeping |
| Yes, but not stressed | Yes, but not stressed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Standings |
| No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Playoffs |
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