Rio Linda Little League Baseball and Softball Division Explained
(This page was created to help parents and players understand the different divisions and to guide you in choosing the right division for your player.)
It is incredibly important for the safety and development of the players that they are kept in their appropriate age division. Also, note that your player can try out for the higher division, and if drafted can play "up" for the season. We want to be sure that all parents understand that when younger players play in the higher division, they may experience reduced playing time. We know this can be frustrating for both the players and their parents. Please remember, we cannot move your player down a division once he/she has played in the higher division.
Everything on this page is based on league age. To determine your players league age click on the following link.
Little League Age Calculator
Baseball Divisions
TeeBall - Ages 4 - 6
This Division is geared toward first-year players, and it is an instructional program where children are taught the fundamentals of hitting, running, fielding, and throwing in a fun environment. Games are shorter, the score is not kept, and everyone hits! We will try and keep teams at 10 players to keep the game moving a little faster for our youngest players with short attention spans.
Rookie A - Ages 5 - 7
This Division is geared towards our second & third-year players who may not be quite ready for the "big leagues!" This is an instructional division focused on baseball fundamentals, rules, strategy, sportsmanship, and the mechanics of throwing, fielding, defense, hitting, and base running. This Division is coach pitch all season long. Outs are recorded, but scores and standings are not recorded.
AA Minors - Ages 7 - 8
This Division is the first step in getting players ready for the upper divisions! This Division is kid-pitch all season long. There are no walks. When a player reaches 4 balls, the coaches come in to finish the count. This Division is still instructional, just like Rookie A; however, both outs and scores are recorded, and standings are still not recorded.
AAA Minors - Ages 9 - 11
This Division is instructional and competitive. Outs, scores, and standings are all recorded. Players who are league age 11 and want to remain in Triple AAA to get another year of experience before moving up to the Majors will be allowed to do so. Players who have been in AAA Minors for two years are encouraged to move to Majors.
Majors - Ages 11 - 12
This Division is competitive. Players from the Major Division may qualify for the league's 11-12-year-old tournament team that has an opportunity to advance to the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport.
Intermediate 50/70- Ages 13
The Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division is a program for 12- and 13-year-olds that utilizes a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths. The Division 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).
Juniors - Ages 14
Like the Majors, the Juniors Division is competitive. A full range of tournament play is offered, including a World Series.
Softball Divisions
TeeBall - Ages 4 - 6
This Division is geared toward first-year players, and it is an instructional program where children are taught the fundamentals of hitting, running, fielding, and throwing in a fun environment. Games are shorter, the score is not kept, and everyone hits! We will try to keep teams at 10 players to keep the game moving a little faster for our youngest players with short attention spans.
6U - Ages 4-6
This Division is geared towards our players with at least one year of experience in the tee ball division. This is an instructional division focused on softball fundamentals, rules, strategy, sportsmanship, and the mechanics of throwing, fielding, defense, hitting, and base running. This Division is coach pitch all season long. Outs are recorded, but scores and standings are not recorded.
8U - Ages 7 - 8
This Division is geared towards our second & third-year players who may not be quite ready for the "big leagues!" This is an instructional division focused on baseball fundamentals, rules, strategy, sportsmanship, and the mechanics of throwing, fielding, defense, hitting, and base running. This division is coach pitch all season long. Outs are recorded, but scores and standings are not recorded.
10U - Ages 8 - 10
This Division is the first step in getting players ready for the upper divisions! This Division is kid-pitch all season long. This Division is still instructional, just like 8U; however, both outs and scores are recorded, and standings are still not recorded.
12U - Ages 10 - 12
This Division is competitive. Players from the 12U division may qualify for the league's 11-12-year-old tournament team that has an opportunity to advance to the Little League Softball World Series.
Juniors 14U - Ages 13 - 14
The Juniors Division is competitive. A full range of tournament play is offered including a World Series.
The chart below is designed to help you understand what division to sign your player up for during registration.
| 4 | None | Tee Ball | Tee Ball | |
| 5 | None | Tee Ball | Tee Ball | |
| 5 | 1 Year of Tee Ball | Tee Ball or Rookie A | Tee Ball | |
| 6 | None | Tee Ball | Tee Ball | |
| 6 | 1 or 2 years of Tee Ball | Rookie A | 8U | |
| 7 | None | Rookie A | 8U | |
| 7 | 1 or 2 years | AA Minors | 8U | |
| 8 | 1 year or less experience | AA Minors | 8U | |
| 8 | 2 years or more experience | AA Minors | 10U | |
| 9 | | AAA Minors | 10U | |
| 10 | 4 years or less | AAA Minors | 10U | Players abilities will be reviewed during assessments, final division will be decided at that time. |
| 10 | 5 Years or more | AAA Minors | 12U | Players abilities will be reviewed during assessments, final division will be decided at that time. |
| 11 | | Majors | 12U | |
| 12 | | Majors | 12U | |
| 13 | | 50/70 | Juniors | |
| 14 | | Juniors | Juniors | |