RHINELANDER LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL LEVELS OF PLAY
Rhinelander Little League levels of play are broken out by age group below. Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in all levels of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Opening day for every age group will be around the 1st of May depending on weather. The season will run through the end of June.
4-5 YEAR OLD T-BALL
Tee Ball is generally the first introduction to organized baseball for most players. The primary objective by the end of the season is to ensure that each player has a "positive experience" with baseball, desires to play again the following year, and has successfully demonstrated the skills listed below.
· Batting tee will be used
· Warm up techniques
· Names of defensive positions
· How to execute a throw with the proper grip
· Proper field position (down and ready)
· How to hold a bat properly
· What to do after a ball is hit as the batter and a runner
· Know how, why and when to run to the next base
Practices and Games:
· Rosters are composed of at least 10 players and 10 fielders
· Practices/games are played two nights a week
· Games will run for approximately 75 minutes; innings will change once all players have batted
· No score is kept during games
· Coaching staff also assist as umpires
Equipment:
Players will receive a shirt and hat with registration.
Players will require a glove for play. Bats and helmets will be provided by the league but players are welcome to use their own. Player bats must follow the 2018 Little League Bat Regulations which can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/baseballbatinfo/batrules.htm.
6-7 YEAR OLD COACHES PITCH
The 6-7 Division builds upon T-Ball skills, or serves as an introduction for players deciding to play at this age. At this level, coaches will pitch to the kids at a shorter distance to give them an understanding of a ball coming at them in motion. As with T-Ball, the primary objective at this level is to ensure that each player has a "positive experience” with baseball, desires to play again the following year and has learned the skills listed below:
· TEAM concept
· Warm up techniques
· Number of outs per inning
· Uses both hands to catch the ball vs one handed or trapped catches
· Understands when to make the defensive play
· Proper batting position
· Proper base running (on the ground vs in the air)
· Good sportsmanship (end each game with a high-five)
Games and Practices:
· Rosters will be composed of up to 13 players
· Practices/games will be held 2 weeknights per week
· Practices will be held 2 nights a week the first 2 weeks of June
· 1 practice and 1 game will be held the second 2 weeks of June
· 2 games will be held the month of July
· Games run for 1 hour and 30 minutes
· All teams will bat through the order each inning, but in the event 3 outs are not reached no player will bat twice
· The diamond used is a 60-foot diamond
Equipment:
Players will receive a shirt and hat with registration.
Players will require a glove for play. Bats and helmets will be provided by the league but players are welcome to use their own. Player bats must follow the 2018 Little League Bat Regulations which can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/baseballbatinfo/batrules.htm.
8-10 YEAR OLD KID PITCH BASEBALL "MINORS"
The primary objective at the Minors level is to build fundamentals with emphasis on preparing players for advancement to the Majors level. The Minors level is both competitive and instructional with more emphasis on instructional than competitive during the regular season. It is critical that the managers and coaches of this division provide sound training and good balance of playing time and position rotations for all players. In this division, players will pitch, with an umpire calling balls and strikes. Besides building upon the skills taught to them at the preceding levels, players should successfully demonstrate the below skills:
· On time for all practices and games and prepared to play baseball
· Competence in batter box positioning
· Proper grip of the bat
· Acceptable level of determining ball vs strike
· Passing bat through the strike zone
· Proper base running techniques
· Stealing after the ball crosses the plate
· When to tag up
· How and when to slide
· Correct pitching mechanics and baseball grips (fastball, change-up)
· Proper footwork to field and throw quickly
· How to go back on a fly all
· Sacrifice situations
· How to run down a base runner (pickle)
· Covering bases and backup up positions after a hit
· Always show good Sportsmanship on and off the field (no bad-mouthing other players)
Games and Practices:
· Rosters will be composed of up to 13 players
· Practices/games will be held 2 week nights per week
· Practices will be held 2 nights a week for the last week of April or the first week of May
· 2 games will be held the rest of the season through month of June
· Games run for 1 hour and 30 minutes
· All teams will bat through the order until 3 outs are reached OR 5 runs are scored.
· The diamond used is a 60-foot diamond and pitching distance is 46 feet
Equipment:
Players will receive a shirt and hat with registration.
Players will require a glove for play. Bats and helmets will be provided by the league but players are welcome to use their own. Player bats must follow the 2018 Little League Bat Regulations which can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/baseballbatinfo/batrules.htm.
Coaches will inform parents of any other equipment requirements.
10-12 YEAR OLD KID PITCH BASEBALL "MAJORS"
The Majors level is both competitive and instructional with admittedly more emphasis on the competitive aspects of the game than at the Minors level. Managers focus on fielding a competitive team while also providing the players with a fun learning experience. Players should focus on refining their baseball skills with a strong emphasis on consistency. Often the difference between an average player and a good player is the ability to consistently execute the required skills. In this division players will pitch with an umpire calling balls and strikes. Starting in 2020 players will be required to attend an assessment of their skills day sometime in the month of April. In 2020 all players ages 10-12 years old will be required to attend the skills assessment day so that teams can be assigned evenly based on skill level of players. After 2020 only incoming 10-year old’s will be required to attend a skills assessment day. The skills assessment day is not a tryout, all players that register will be placed on a team. Players and coaches will remain on the same team the follow year until they are done playing little league baseball.Players should successfully demonstrate the below skills:
· On time and prepared for practice or games (including safety equipment)
· Show proper batting stance, bat position and swing execution
· Reasonable competence in contacting the ball
· Know the difference between bunting for a base hit and a sacrifice bunt
· Demonstrate proper base running techniques including
o Exploding off the base after the ball crosses the plate
o When to tag up vs going half way
o Proper sliding techniques
· Execute proper pitching motion (can throw 50-70 pitches without experiencing noticeable arm discomfort
· Use catching skills
o Blocking the plate with the ball
o Blocking wild pitches
o Throwing out runners
· Cover bases correctly when receiving a throw or fielding a ball
· Understand how to go back on a fly ball
· Properly execute a double play
· Execute a run down-both as a runner and as a fielder
· Know what can happen after a ball is caught in foul territory
· Use the relay man from outfield to throw home if needed
· Cover all bases and back up other players on the field after a hit
· Always show good Sportsmanship on and off the field (no bad-mouthing other players)
Games and Practices:
· Rosters will be composed of up to 13 players
· Practices/games will be held 2 weeknights per week
· Practices will be held 2 nights a week the last week of April or the first of May
· 2 games will be held the rest of the season through the month of June
· Games run for 1 hour and 30 minutes
· Little League’s 10 and 15 run Mercy Rule will be enforced.
· All teams will bat through the order until 3 outs are reached.
· The diamond used is a 60-foot diamond and pitching distance is 46 feet
Equipment:
Players will receive a shirt and hat with registration.
Players will require a glove for play. Bats and helmets will be provided by the league but players are welcome to use their own. Players bats must follow the 2023 Little League Bat Regulations which can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/baseballbatinfo/batrules.htm.
Coaches will inform parents of any other equipment requirements.
TRAVEL BASEBALL
Traveling baseball teams are separate from Little League. Currently, there are separate travel teams for 9, 10, 11, and 12 year old’s. Travel team players are selected by the travel team coach at each age level and usually involve try outs. All parents will be notified of upcoming tryouts and all boys at that age level are welcome to try out if they'd like to. Travel ball involves tournaments outside of Rhinelander and focuses on a more competitive level of baseball. Questions? Contact Dan Bauer at (715)493-1150.