Wilshire Riverside Little League

Level of Play

Which level of play is right for my child?

Getting your young Little League baseball or softball player into the right division is the most important first step in helping us create a memorable experience for your player, and your family. The appropriate divisional placement will increase confidence, skill development and most importantly, FUN!!

Review the criteria below. If you feel your child has mastered most (if not all) of the criteria listed, they are most likely ready for the next level of Little League Baseball or Softball.

Age requirements: Player MUST reach the assigned age according to Little League Age Chart play the upcoming season in each of the divisions below.

We recommend the level of play based on baseball skill and grade level.

Step 1: Determine your player's Little League Age. This is the child's age on or before August 31 of the spring season.
Step 2: Determine desired Level of Play using the following eligibility guidelines and recommendations by League Age:

Levels of Play by Spring Season League Age

Age	Grade	Eligibility	WRLL Recommends
12	6th	Majors and 50/70	All 12s should play Majors as their primary level. Some may also choose to play 50/70 for additional game experience, exposure to a larger field and more standard baseball rules (e.g., runners leading off, pitching from the stretch, etc.).
11	5th	Minors, Majors and 50/70	Most 11s should play Majors. Some11s playing Majors may also choose to play 50/70 for additional game experience. All 11s should attend the Majors pre-season assessment (tryout) in February. However, following the assessment, the WRLL Board and Majors Coaches may recommend that 11s needing additional development play Minors.
10	4th	Majors and Minors	Most 10s should play Minors. Highly skilled 10s can request to attend the Majors pre-season assessment in February to see if they are ready to play Majors.
9	3rd	Minors and Farm AA	Most 9s should play Minors. All 9s should attend the Minors pre-season assessment (tryout) in February. However, following the assessment, the WRLL Board and Minors Coaches may recommend that 9s needing additional development play Farm AA.
8	2nd	Farm A, Farm AA and Minors	Most 8s should play Farm AA.Highly skilled 8s can request to attend the Minors pre-season assessment in February to see if they are ready to play Minors. 8s new to baseball might fit better in Farm A.
7	1st	Eligible for Farm A and Farm AA	Most 7s should play Farm A. Highly skilled 7s and those with Farm A experience may play Farm AA.
6	Kindergarten	Eligible for T-Ball and Farm A	Most 6s should play T-Ball. Highly skilled 6s and those with T-Ball experience may play Farm A.
5	Pre-K	Eligible for T-Ball and Farm A	Most 5s should play T-Ball.
4	Pre-K	Eligible for T-Ball	Only 4s (pre-K) interested in baseball and comfortable in a group/team setting should register for T-Ball.

T-Ball (ages 4-6) - Typically pre-k to 1st Grade

Wilshire Riverside Little League offers a T-Ball program for players ages 4-7; and their parents or guardians, that is specifically designed to provide a foundation and introduction to basebll and softball that is grounded in fundamentals, fitness, teamwork, and having fun. Your T-Ball player will learn the following basics during their season:

How to properly grip the ball
How to rotate your body and take a rhythm step toward the target
How to catch the ball when thrown
How to set-up for a ground ball
Understand the general idea of getting the out at firstbase
How to properly swing the bat and hit off a tee
How to run through first base, and stop at the others
Understand the idea of a force out and a tag out
How to be a supportive teammate
How to treat coaches and opponents with respect.

Single A Farm (ages 6-7) - Typically 1st - 2nd Grade

Wilshire Riverside Little League offers a Single A Farm ball program for players ages 6-8 that have a good grasp of most, if not all, T-Ball criteria (above), and ready to learn the following basics during their Single A Farm ball season:

How to see the ball out of the pitchers (coaches) hand, and hit the ball on a regular basis
Understand how outs are made; including groundouts, force outs, tag outs and fly outs
Understand that when you are put out you must go sit on th bench with your teammates
Catchers should have a general idea of where to squat and be able to catch the ball and throw it back to the pitcher in a timely manner

Double A Farm (ages 7-8) - Typically 2nd - 3rd Grade

Wilshire Riverside Little League offers a Double A Farm ball program for players ages 7-9 that have a good grasp of most, if not all, T-Ball and Single A criteria (above), and ready to learn the following basics during their Double A Farmb all season:

Hitter will know how to confidently face a player pitcher
Hitter will know the proper way to move out of the way of a pitch, and time their swing to the pitch speed
Catcher will know how to provide a proper target for the pitcher, and throw the ball back to the pitcher accurately and timely
Pitcher will know the basics of pitching (including balance and squaring the shoulders to the target)
Runners must know how/when to run through first base and/or tale a turn towards second base
Fielders will have a fairly good grasp of where to go for the easiest out
Fielders should know how to run a relay on balls hit to the outfield
First baseman should have a good grasp on how to move around the first base bag

Minors (ages 9-11) - Typically 3rd to 5th Grade

Wilshire Riverside Little League offers a Minors Baseball program for players ages 9-11 (with some exceptions for tested 8 year olds) that are ready for a faster paced, team game, and able to grasp the team concept at-bat, and in the field during their Minors Baseball or Softball season. Skills and attributes necessary for Minors play include the following:

Hitters will have an understanding of the game situation, receive signs from the thirdbase coach, and be able to bunt correctly.
Fielders should be able to catch a flyball, and have a good grasp on the angles needed to back-up a teammate.
Catchers should have an idea of how to block a pitch in the dirt, and have proper mechanics of throwing a base stealer out.
Teams should know how to handle a run-down (pickle or hotbox)
Players should be able to make a proper slide into a base.
Pitchers will be able to show proper mechanics on their wind-up, and throw properly out of the stretch.
Pitchers will begin to learn the importance of changing speeds on their pitches.
All players will always treat umpires, opposing players and coaches with the upmost respect.

Majors (ages 10-12) - Typically 5th to 6th Grade

Wilshire Riverside Little League offers a Major Baseball program for players ages 10-12 that have spent at least one productive season at the Minors level. Skills and attributes are evaluated by WRLL coaches at a league-wide try-out session, and players are then drafted accordingly. Ten and eleven year old players that try-out for Majors, but are not drafted, are offered spots in the Minors Division.

50/70 (ages 11-13) - Typically 6th - 7th Grade

Wilshire Riverside Little League may offer a 50/70 Baseball program for players (ages 11-13) that have spent at least one productive season at the Majors level, and are prepared for a transition to a much faster paced game on a larger field of play (50' pitchers mound & 70' bases).

Skills and attributes are evaluated by WRLL coaches at a league-wide try-out session, and players are then drafted accordingly. The 50/70 program should act as a supplement to players already enrolled in WRLL at the Majors level. Opportunities may be limited due to available players and coaches