What Level of Baseball/Softball should my child be in?
Quick lookup:
The following table shows a summary for recommended level per player age along with a summary for season
duration and per week time expectations. More details for each level are shown in the sections below.
Player
Age
5-6
7-8
8-9
9-11
11-12
Recommended level
T-Ball
AA(Baseball)/Farm(Softball)
AAA(Baseball)/89ers
(Softball)
Minors (Baseball and
Softball)
Majors (Baseball and Softball)
Season
start
Mid-April
Early April
Season
end
Early June
Early June
Games per
week
1
1-2
Practice hours /
week
1-2
2-4
Late March
Mid-June
2
3-5
Mid-June
2-4
4-6
Mid-June
2-4
4-6
Early
March
Early
March
T-Ball Expectations (typically 5-6 year olds)













Teams finish being formed in late March
one practice per week at roughly 1 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
one game per week almost always on Saturdays – typically will play for 1:15
7-8 players per team
Need lots of involvement from parents to help during practice and games (need at least 3 in the field at all
times) – expect to be involved but don’t feel like you need to understand the fine details of baseball – it’s
more about getting the kids to pay attention and do the basics right (run to the next base, throw to first
base, etc)
Everyone bats every inning. The last batter per inning clears the bases with a ‘home run’
All batters hit off of a Tee
Outs are not recorded – all players run the bases every time they bat
Goal is for kids to understand the basics – how to swing properly including footwork, how to throw
properly, and the very basics of how to field a ground ball plus general knowledge of fielding positions
Score is not kept
Play around 8 games – season (practices) starts in Middle of April and goes into early June.
Managers/Coaches provided with a practice plan – mentorship also available from Minors/Majors
managers
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back next year!
AA Expectations (typically 7-8 year olds)












Teams finish being formed in late March
One to two practices per week at roughly 1.5 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
One to two games per week
8-9 players per team
Play to 3 outs or 5 runs scored per half inning
Coach pitch by the batter’s coach
Goal is for kids to improve upon the basics of baseball – showing a coordinated swing every at bat,
throwing with proper technique, starting to catch a baseball with regularity, understanding when to run
the bases without being told what to do
Teams should be making defensive outs occasionally
Score is not kept except for the 5 runs per inning
Play around 12 games – season (practices) starts in early to mid-April and goes into early June
Managers/Coaches provided with a practice plan – mentorship also available from Minors/Majors
managers
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back next year!
Farm Softball Expectations (typically 7-8 year olds)














Teams finish being formed in late March
One to two practices per week at roughly 1.5 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
One to two games per week
8-9 players per team
Play to 3 outs or 5 runs scored per half inning
Coach Pitch by the batter’s coach. Each batter gets 5 pitches, if there are no fair balls with those 5 pitches
the at bat concludes with the player hitting off the tee. No strikeouts.
Goal is for girls to improve upon the basics of softball – showing a coordinated swing every at bat,
throwing with proper technique, starting to catch a softball with regularity, understanding when to run
the bases without being told what to do
Teams should be making defensive outs occasionally
Score is kept only for tracking the 5 runs and outs. Scores are not reported and standings are not kept
Play around 12 games – season (practices) starts in late March or early April and goes into early June
Games are played against other teams in Woodinville plus teams from North Bothell, Northshore,
Northlake and Shoreline Little Leagues. Half of the games will be home games and half of the games will
be away games. Travel to Shoreline, Bothell and Kenmore should be expected
Managers/Coaches provided with a practice plan – mentorship also available from Minors/Majors
managers
Each game should have an umpire to count pitches during the at-bat and call out and safe on the bases.
Typically, it is a parent volunteer or an assistant coach. Usually only one umpire is used
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back next year!
AAA Baseball Expectations (typically 8-9 year olds, mostly 9 year olds)














Teams finish being formed in mid-March
Two practices per week at roughly 1.5-2 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
2 games per week
9-10 players per team
Play to 3 outs (not everyone necessarily bats every inning) or 5 runs are scored
Coach pitch by the batter’s coach for first 2 innings, Kids pitch innings after that
No walks – coaches step in to pitch after kid pitch goes to ball 4
Advancement of 1 base on a wild pitch/passed ball (kid pitch only)
Play around 15 games – season (practices) starts in mid to late March and goes into early June
Score is not kept except for the 5 runs per inning
Goal is for kids to start to really fine tune their baseball mechanics throughout the season – make contact
with the ball consistently with the bat, able to throw a ball from SS to 1B in the air, fully independent
running the bases, some kids having the ability to pitch and throw strikes 40-50% of the time
Games are umpired by volunteers, usually by a relative of a player, each team is expected to provide one
umpire per game.
Managers/Coaches not provided with a practice plan, but mentorship available from Minors/Majors
managers
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back next year!
89ers Softball Expectations (typically 8-9 year olds)














Teams finish being formed in mid-March
Two practices per week at roughly 1.5-2 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
1-2 games per week
10-11 players per team
Play to 3 outs or 5 runs are scored
Player pitch until 4 balls are thrown at which point the coach comes in to finish the at-bat. No walks
Advancement of 1 base on a wild pitch/passed ball (kid pitch only). No advancement to home on wild
pitch/passed ball
Play around 12 games – season (practices) starts in mid to late March and goes into early June
Games are played against other teams in Woodinville plus teams from North Bothell, Northshore,
Northlake and Shoreline Little Leagues. Half of the games will be home games and half of the games will
be away games. Travel to Shoreline, Bothell and Kenmore should be expected
Score is kept only for tracking the 5 runs and outs. Scores are not reported and standings are not kept
Goal is for kids to start to really fine tune their softball mechanics throughout the season – make contact
with the ball consistently with the bat, able to throw a ball from SS to 1B in the air, fully independent
running the bases, some kids having the ability to pitch and throw strikes 40-50% of the time
Games are umpired by volunteers, usually by a relative of a player, each team is expected to provide one
umpire per game.
Managers/Coaches not provided with a practice plan, but mentorship available from Minors/Majors
managers
Most importantly – for kids to have fun and want to come back next year
Minors Baseball Expectations (typically 9-10 year olds, mostly 10 year olds, plus some 11 year olds)















Teams formed in mid-February
Two practices per week at 2 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
2-4 games per week
Commitment is typically 4-5 days per week between practices & games
11-12 players per team
Play to 3 outs (or) 5 runs are scored (or) bat once through line up per inning; there is no 10 run rule
ending the game early.
All kid pitch
Walks are allowed
Can steal bases
First year of truly competitive baseball where score is kept, pitch counts are tracked and reported,
standings are kept for a portion of the season.
Post-season tournament within the league which is followed up by Tournament of Champions that is run
with 3 other leagues in the District
Post season All-star team is formed and plays in District 8 tournament in June/July.
Play around 16 regular season games + WLL Tourney + Tournament of Champions
Games are umpired by volunteers, usually by a relative of a player, each team is expected to provide one
umpire per game.
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back next year!
Minors Softball Expectations (typically 9-10 year olds)
















Teams formed in mid-February
Two practices per week at 2 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
2-3 games per week
Commitment is typically 4-5 days per week between practices & games
11-12 players per team
Play to 3 outs (or) 5 runs are scored there is no 10 run rule ending the game early.
All kid pitch
Walks are allowed
Can steal bases
First year of truly competitive softball where score is kept and reported but no standings are kept
Post-season Tournament of Champions tournament with teams from District 8 North-end
Post season All-star team can be formed and plays in District 8 tournament in June/July.with the
possibility of advancing to a state tournament
Play around 16 regular season games + Tournament of Champions
Games are played against other teams in Woodinville plus teams from North Bothell, Northshore,
Northlake and Shoreline Little Leagues. Half of the games will be home games and half of the games will
be away games. Travel to Shoreline, Bothell and Kenmore should be expected. There also may be two
games against city little league teams. Expect to play one game at a City field.
Games are umpired by volunteers, usually by a relative of a player, each team is expected to provide one
umpire per game.
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back to Softball next year!
Majors Baseball Expectations (11-12 year olds)

















Teams formed in mid-February
Two practices per week at 2 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
2-4 games per week
Commitment is typically 4-5 days per week between practices and games
11-12 players per team
Play to 3 outs per inning
10 run rule in effect
All kid pitch
Walks are allowed
Can steal bases
Dropped third strike in effect
Competitive baseball where score is kept, pitch counts are tracked and reported, standings are kept for a
portion of the season. Older kid version of Minors with an increase in skill and ability.
Post-season tournament within the league which is followed up by Tournament of Champions that is run
with 3 other leagues in the District
Post season All-star team is formed and has a chance to qualify to play at Little League World series by
participation in District 8 tournament.
Play around 20 regular season games + WLL Tourney + Tournament of Champions
Games are umpired by volunteers, usually by a relative of a player, each team is expected to provide one
umpire per game.
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back to baseball next year!
Majors Softball Expectations (11-12 year olds)



















Teams formed in mid-February
Two practices per week at 2 hour duration (at the discretion of the manager)
2-3 games per week
Commitment is typically 4-5 days per week between practices and games
11-12 players per team
Play to 3 outs per inning
10 run rule in effect
All kid pitch
Walks are allowed
Can steal bases
Dropped third strike in effect
Competitive softball where score is kept and reported. Standings are not kept
Older kid version of Minors with an increase in skill and ability.
Post-season Tournament of Champions tournament with teams from District 8 Northend
Post season All-star team can be formed and has a chance to qualify to play at Little League World series
(12U team only). Other levels only advance as far as state. All levels start with District play.
Play around 16 regular season games + Tournament of Champions
Games are played against other teams in Woodinville plus teams from North Bothell, Northshore,
Northlake and Shoreline Little Leagues. Half of the games will be home games and half of the games will
be away games. Travel to Shoreline, Bothell and Kenmore should be expected. There also may be two
games against city little league teams. Expect to play one game at a City field
Games are umpired by volunteers, usually by a relative of a player, each team is expected to provide one
umpire per game.
Most importantly – for them to have fun and want to come back to softball next year!
Player Evaluations



Why do we have them? To ensure players are placed at the appropriate level. Occasionally we have
parents request a level of play for their son or daughter. Although we understand the many different
reasons for the request, we encourage parents to trust this process and the value of skill evaluation. Over
the years what we have discovered is in using the evaluation data for placement, the player benefits, has
higher success and better overall experience.
This year we will have 2 Player evaluations for baseball. Our first evaluation will be for all 9-12 year olds
and will be held in early February. The focus of this tryout is to understand which players have the ability
to play in Majors (for 11’s and 12’s only), Minors (9’s/10’s/11’s only). The second evaluation will be for all
8’s and will be held the end of February (or beginning of March). The focus for the 8’s player evaluation
is understanding skill level and ability for the AAA level to ensure we put together balanced teams.
Softball evaluations will be held for 9-12 year olds and will be in early February (the same day and location
as the baseball evaluations. The focus of this tryout is understand which players have ability to play in
Majors (for 11’s and 12’s only), Minors (9’s/10’s/11’s only).
Please email [email protected] (for Baseball) or [email protected] (for Softball)
with any questions!
SEE YOU ON THE FIELD!!!
Published 11/7/16