EL SEGUNDO LITTLE LEAGUE DIVISIONS OF PLAY:
Tee ball - Open to league aged 4 year olds. This division is new for the 2024 season. No prior skills are required, the objective of this division is to introduce the game of baseball at an earlier age. The goal is to have fun and learn the basics of the game.
Rookie - Rookie is open to all 5 and 6-year-old first-time players. In Rookie, players begin by hitting off a batting tee but may progress to hitting coach-pitch as the season advances. The primary goals of Rookie are to have fun, to instruct children in the fundamentals of baseball, and to allow them to experience the value of teamwork.
A - Single A is primarily composed of league aged 6 and 7 year olds. In Single A, Managers reinforce the fundamental skills: batting, throwing, catching, and base running, in a game environment. Players improve their understanding of how to play the game of baseball. They learn more about base running, defensive situations, and rules-of-play.
Players who register for Single A have learned basic skills:
• Batting stance and grip
• Throwing motion
• Fielding stance
• Familiar with the rules of play.
• Players should be able to make semi-accurate throws and play catch with each other
AA - AA is for league aged 7-9 year olds who are transitioning from machine/coach pitched play to
batting against opposing youth pitchers. Managers emphasize the advancement of players’ baseball skills. Players are taught to apply those skills and make their own decisions in live game situations. AA introduces live pitching from the players. AA is meant to prepare players
for their introduction to more competitive baseball in AAA.
Players entering AA should be able to demonstrate the following skills:
• The ability to hit a baseball pitched on a flat line (not lobbed).
• The ability to catch and throw a ball on a flat line.
• Knowledge of all field positions and base locations.
• Players should not be afraid to catch a baseball or to have a ball pitched to them.
• Players are beginning to understand the rules of the game and basic strategies.
• Most children play in AA for two years prior to entering AAA.
Parents of 8 or 9-year-olds, with little or no prior experience or who don't meet the developmental guidelines for AA, may request to play Single A.
AAA - AAA is for league aged 9 - 11 year olds. In AAA, players are introduced to more competitive play. AAA is ESLL’s highest Minor division
before moving on to Majors division baseball. As a competitive division, the primary goal of AAA baseball are to create fair and balanced competition throughout the division, provide a suitable vehicle for team and individual skills development and prepare the players for
Majors division play.
Players entering AAA should have command of the basic skills of baseball:
• The ability to consistently field ground balls, make throws to the appropriate bases and have a basic understanding of fielding position.
• The ability to catch a ball on a flat line as well as tracking pop fly’s and line drives.
• Throwing
• Demonstrates fundamental batting skills and is able to handle pitching in the 45-50 MPHrange.
• Demonstrates basic base running fundamentals.
• Players should also understand appropriate actions in game situations:
o when and where to make put-outs,
o how to steal bases
o how to tag-up on fly balls
o how to execute cut-offs.
Any player that doesn't meet the requirements to play in AAA or does not get drafted, will besent back to AA for another season to further develop their skills.
Majors - Majors is for league aged 11 and 12 year olds who are refining all the skills they have been building up in the Minor divisions in this next stage of competitive baseball. Majors baseball is also known as the Little League Baseball Division. As a competitive division, the
primary goals of Majors baseball are to create fair and balanced competition throughout the division, provide a suitable vehicle for team and individual skills development and stage the players for much higher levels of play.
Players entering Majors have demonstrated command of the basic skills of baseball:
• Proficient in fielding ground balls, making accurate throws, and understanding fieldposition.
• Can catch fly balls and line drives with relative ease.
• Throwing
• Demonstrates advanced batting skills, including consistent contact and the ability to handle a variety of pitches. Comfortable facing pitching in the 50-60 MPH range.
• Base running
• They also understand appropriate actions in game situations, such as when and where to make put-outs, how to steal bases, how to tag-up on fly balls, and how to execute cut-offs.
Any player that doesn't meet the requirements to play in Majors or does not get drafted, will be sent back to AAA for another season to further develop their skills.
Parents may request that their 11-year-old child NOT be included in the pool of potential Majorsplayers (and, therefore, ensure the child is NOT drafted into Majors). Parents may make this choice if their child is not developmentally ready for Majors, if their child would prefer or benefit
from the additional playing time and position rotation in AAA, or if their child is not prepared to make the time commitment necessary to play on a Majors team