Beginner Level - League age 4

Your Child:
This is a co-ed league that is stronger with both boys and girls participating. Check the league age of your child here. They must be at least 4 (league age) by August 31st. Kids will practice and play all in 1 hour on 6 Saturday mornings.  No kid will pay attention every minute- and that's okay.

The game:
We have added a new Intro to Tee Ball division this year to make baseball accessible to more children and families.  Kids will start with a wiffle ball off a tee and progress to a "real" ball and bat.  Active parent participation will be needed to ensure the kids have a great time.  Have your child try this if they don't feel ready for Tee Ball but would still like to play.  This is an experimental division and we may adjust the structure of the division based on the number of children who are registered to play and the number of parents who volunteer to help.

Timing:
This begins mid-April and ends on May 30th for a total of 6 Saturdays (no baseball Memorial weekend).  

Friends:
We do our best to place kids with schoolmates and/or friends if possible. Families find that this can be a great way for kids to meet some new friends, especially valuable for the 4 and 5yr olds as they move from their old pre-school friends to the big Kindergarten. There is an opportunity in the registration form to make a request to be on the same team as a friend. We do our best to accommodate these requests whenever possible. Sign up early so we can make these considerations before teams are formed.

Our community:
Our league, and specifically the lower divisions, is a reflection of our community. It's run by us parents and we get out of it what we put into it. We try to foster a fun, friendly, and open environment for our kids and families. It's a great place to meet other kids and families during events like pre-season Baseball Fun Day, Opening Day Parade and pictures, Annual Little League Picnic, League Giants (or maybe A's) game, and Closing Day at the San Rafael Pacifics. Our tee-ball division is thriving with our registration numbers more than doubling in the last two years, largely due to the community experience.

Beginner Level - League ages 4, 5 & 6

The game:
Tee Ball is a fun-filled, non-competitive program. Entry level play, focusing on fundamentals and basic rules of baseball. A soft baseball is used, batting off a tee, all players bat and play in the field, no strikes, no outs, no score...just plenty of FUN!!  At this level, skill doesn't necessarily correlate with who has the most fun. So whether you're harboring a future athlete, or not, this is a great way to meet other kids and families in the area.

Timing:
Teams are formed in early February and practices begin at the end of February/beginning of March. Games begin at the end of March and end will end on June 6th. No games are played during spring break (local public school schedule) or Memorial Day weekend. The commitment is 2x per week - either two practices or 1 practice and 1 game per week.  Since we rely on parent volunteers to coach our teams (could be you!), specific practice schedules are set by each team.

Friends: 
We do our best to place kids with schoolmates and/or friends if possible. Families find that this can be a great way for kids to meet some new friends, especially valuable for the 5yr olds as they move from their old pre-school friends to the big Kindergarten. There is an opportunity in the registration form to make a request to be on the same team as a friend. We do our best to accommodate these requests whenever possible. Sign up early so we can make these considerations before teams are formed.

Your child:
This is a co-ed league that is stronger with both boys and girls participating. Check the league age of your child here. They must be at least 4 (league age) by August 31st. Children are ready for organized sports at different ages, having an attention span that enables them to reasonably participate in 1 hour practices and 75 minute games. No kid will pay attention every minute- and that's okay.

Our community:
Our league, and specifically the lower divisions, is a reflection of our community. It's run by us parents and we get out of it what we put into it. We try to foster a fun, friendly, and open environment for our kids and families. It's a great place to meet other kids and families during events like pre-season Baseball Fun Day, Opening Day Parade and pictures, Annual Little League Picnic, League Giants (or maybe A's) game, and Closing Day at the San Rafael Pacifics. Our tee-ball division is thriving with our registration numbers more than doubling in the last two years, largely due to the community experience.

League ages 6, 7 and older.

AA, or "Coach Pitch,"  is a non-competitive level of play with an emphasis on having fun and building skills.  Teams don’t keep score and standings aren’t kept. Children at this level will be learning basic baseball skills and how to make plays. The children continue to improve their throwing, catching and batting. Coaches pitch to the players.  Players are given the opportunity to play all of the different positions. This is the first level where "outs" count and an inning ends when a team bats through the order (common) or 3 outs are made (less common).

Teams are set up with Parent Coach volunteers. We try to place kids with schoolmates and/or friends if possible. The Coaches will create a practice schedule of approximately two weekly practices (about 1 hr. each) that begin in early February.   Then 1 game (75 minutes) per week is played every Saturday (except during school breaks) beginning the end of March and ending one week before public school ends. A second weeknight game may be added to a schedule later in the season. Lots of fun for all!! Everyone participates in the Opening Day Parade to kick off the season.

Children who are league age 5 may be permitted to play AA if they have played at least one year of T-Ball.

AAA (Kid/Coach Pitch) – League ages 7, 8 and older. 

Children at this level will be improving their knowledge of the game and their baseball skills. “Outs count” and this is the first division where kids can strikeout, but this is a non-competitive program where scores and standings are not kept.  Everyone plays throughout the game. Players are given the opportunity to play all of the different positions. Our AAA division will primarily be Machine Pitch this year with the first half of the year consisting entirely of hitting off the pitching machine. In the second half of the year, kid pitch we may be introduced based on the readiness of the kids. Teams are set up in early February with Parent Coach volunteers. We try to place kids with schoolmates and/or friends if possible. The Coaches will create a practice schedule of approximately two weekly practices (about 90 minutes each) that begin in early February.   Then 2 games (90 minutes) per week are played. Typical 1 game is on Saturday (except during school breaks) and 1 other game on a weeknight. The expected time commitment is 3x per week. The games begin the end of March and end one week before public school ends. Lots of fun for all!! Everyone is in the Opening Day Parade to kick off the season.

Minor League - League ages 8 to 11.

The 1st level for which the players must attend a skills evaluation session- held in January, mandatory for players 9 and up. (8 yr. olds have the option to try out for Minors if they have previous Jr. Minor experience). Players are then drafted to a team for the season. (Although most players who try out will be drafted to the Minors, those whose basic skills need more development will be placed in AAA)  Minor League is the first level that uses a hard ball and player-pitchers. Strategic skills are taught, including stealing, and force plays. Other local modified baseball rules include full-roster batting order, free substitution and minimum play. Scores and standings are kept throughout the game season, beginning mid-March to the middle of June.  There are 2-3 practices per week in pre-season (mid-Feb to mid-March) then 2 games per week during the regular season (one weekday, one on Saturday) The Minor league playoff winning team goes to the District 3 (County) Tournament of Champions which can extend the season until the 3rd weekend of June.  Excellent players, ages 9 & 10, and 11 may be selected for the ALL STARS tournament, which may last until the end of July. (Subject to DTLLL player availability policies – see last paragraph on registration forms). Everyone is in the Opening Day Parade to kick off the season.

Major League - League ages 10 to 12.  

January tryouts are required for all players each January. Players in this age group without Minors experience are recommended to play at least one year in the Minors before moving up to the Majors. Not all players who try out will be drafted to the Majors.  The Majors division includes a strong emphasis on continuing to improve throwing, catching and batting skills. Local minimum playing time rules are in effect as well as all other rules as determined by the Little League Official Rulebook. The season opens mid-March and goes to the middle of June. It includes 2 practices and 2 games each week. Playoffs and County Tournament of Champions play can extend the season until the end of June. Excellent players, ages 10, 11 and 12, are may be (s)elected to play in the ALL STARS tournament which may last until the end of July.

Intermediate (50/70) League - League age 13

Starting for the Spring 2020 season our district has agreed to make the Intermediate division a 13 year old only division.

The Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division was introduced in January, 2010, as a pilot program for 12- and 13-year-olds which utilizes a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths.

The division, which was new division of Little League Baseball in 2013 for players league-age 11-13 with postseason tournament opportunities, including a World Series, offers a transition for players between the standard Little League field size (46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths) and the Junior/Senior/Big League field size (60-foot, 6-inch pitching distance and 90-foot base paths).

Junior League - League ages 13 & 14.

All players in this age group must try out in January. New teams are drafted each year, and all candidates will be drafted to a team. Players play on the “big” diamond, (60/90) and have expanded rules (lead-offs, etc.). 2 Interleague games per week are played against other teams from Marin County and San Francisco, typically one during the week and one game on each Sunday except during school breaks.  The Junior League season begins in late March and lasts about 12 weeks. It is followed by a Local Playoff and Tournament of Champions.  Excellent Players will be eligible for an extended season into the end of July in the Jr. League ALL STARS.

Players League age 15 may play in Juniors division by signing up here. If not a High School player they will be drafted as part of the regular season team formation process.  GVLL provides that 15 yr old HS School player may join the Juniors division after the HS season is over, but must have registered with GVLL at the beginning of the 2020 season.