Stamford Little League - American Division
General League Structure by Division
Majors Division
Age Range :
The typical age range for players is LL ages 11-12, and possibly LL age 10-year-olds that played in AAA the prior year. By rule, all 12 year-olds must play in the Majors division. If you feel that your 12 year-old is not ready or prepared to play in the Majors division, you have the option of signing a waiver that will allow him/her to play in the AAA division.
Evaluation:
An evaluation is held for the Majors division. Each player that attends will be evaluated on fielding ground balls, fielding fly balls, throwing, and hitting. Players must attend the evaluation in order to be eligible for the Majors division.
Draft:
A draft is held for the Majors division. Please keep in mind that the Majors division has limited roster spots for “the under 12” age player, since all 12 year olds must play in the Majors unless they elect to play in AAA or do not attend the evaluation. This is a Little League rule, which all leagues must follow. The draft is held by the Majors division managers, who determine their selections based on a number of different sources of information. The draft is typically held the week following the evaluation and players are notified if they are selected for the Majors division soon after the draft.
Practices:
There are typically 1-3 practices per week, held at the discretion of the manager and coaches. Practices will start in March.
Games:
The regular season begins in early-to-mid April. There are typically 2-3 games per week and could be scheduled during any day of the week. Rained-out games are made up as soon as possible. There are playoffs at the end of the regular season. Games are competitive with playing time based on skill level and no requirement for equal playing time among the players. However, no player may sit out defensively more than 3 innings in a game (unless the game goes extra innings) and each player must receive at least 1 at-bat. Younger and/or less-skilled players may end up playing the minimum amount.
AAA Division
Age Range:
The typical age range for players is LL ages 9-11 years old. All 10 and 11 year-olds that aren’t in the Majors Division play in AAA, along with some 9 year-olds and possibly some 8 year-olds.
Evaluation:
An evaluation is held for the AAA division. Players not selected for the Majors division will need to attend the non-Majors evaluation. Each player that attends will be evaluated on fielding ground balls, fielding fly balls, throwing, and hitting.
Draft:
A draft is held for the AAA division. The draft is typically held the week following the evaluation and players are notified if they are selected for the AAA division soon after the draft.
Practices:
There are typically 1-2 practices per week, held at the discretion of the manager and coaches. Practices will typically start in late March.
Games:
The regular season begins in mid-to-late April. There are typically 2-3 games per week and could be scheduled during any day of the week. Rained-out games are made up as soon as possible. There are playoffs at the end of the regular season. All players bat in a continuous batting order and all players must sit out an inning in the field before any player sits out for a 2nd inning. There are a few division-specific rules that are different from the Majors division.
AA+ Division
Age Range:
The typical age range is LL ages 8-9 years old.
Evaluation:
An evaluation is held for the AA division. Players not selected for the AAA division will need to attend the AA evaluation. Each player that attends will be evaluated on fielding ground balls, fielding fly balls, throwing, and hitting.
Draft:
A draft is held for the AA+ division. The draft is typically held the week following the evaluation and players are notified if they are selected for the AA+ division soon after the draft.
Practices:
There are typically 1-2 practices per week, held at the discretion of the manager and coaches. Practices will typically start in late March or early April.
Games:
The regular season begins in mid-to-late April. There are typically 2 games per week and could be scheduled during any day of the week. Rained-out games are made up as soon as possible. There are playoffs at the end of the regular season. All players must bat (continous batting order) and all players must sit out an inning in the field before any player sits out for a 2nd inning. There are a few division-specific rules that are different from the Majors and AAA divisions.
AA Division
Age Range:
The typical age range is LL ages 7-8 years old.
Evaluation:
An evaluation is held for the AA division. Each player that attends will be evaluated on fielding ground balls, fielding fly balls, throwing, and hitting.
Team Placement & Coaches:
Teams and coaching staffs will be determined by the Board of Directors, using player ratings from the Non-Majors evaluations (AAA, AA evaluations), with the intention of formulating balanced and competitive teams. To be considered for AA, a player must have 7 years old or have completed Instructional and Single A in previous years.
Practices:
There are typically 1-2 practices per week, held at the discretion of the manager and coaches. Practices will typically start in late March or early April.
Games:
The regular season begins in mid-to-late April. There are typically 2 games per week and could be scheduled during any day of the week. Rained-out games are made up as soon as possible. There are playoffs at the end of the regular season. All players must bat (continous batting order) and all players must sit out an inning in the field before any player sits out for a 2nd inning. There are a few division-specific rules that are different from the Majors, AAA, and AA+ divisions.
A Division
Age Range:
The typical age range is LL ages 5-6 years old.
Team Placement & Coaches:
Teams and coaching staffs will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Practices:
Practices are held at the discretion of the manager and coaches. Practices will typically start in early April.
Games:
The regular season begins in mid-to-late April. There are typically 1-2 games per week and they are usually on the weekend days. Rained-out games are made up as soon as possible. Scores are not kept and there are no playoffs. The division is primarily instructional. All players bat in a continuous batting order. There are a few division-specific rules that are different from the older divisions.
Instructional Division
Age Range:
The typical age range is LL ages 4-5 years old.
Team Placement & Coaches:
Teams and coaching staff will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Practices:
Practices are held at the discretion of the manager and coaches. Practices will typically start in early-to-mid April.
Games:
The regular season begins in mid-to-late April. There is only 1 game per week and they are on the weekend days. Rained-out games are made up as soon as possible. Scores are not kept and there are no playoffs. The division is primarily instructional. All players bat in a continuous batting order. There are a few division-specific rules that are different from the older divisions.