ROOKIES DIVISION
The Downtown Little League has two Rookie Ball Divisions – one for five year olds (Rookies 5) and another for six year olds (Rookies 6). In these divisions, five and six year olds are introduced to baseball and develop valuable tools essential to playing with others in a team atmosphere.
For many children this will be their first experience playing baseball or any sport on an organized team. DLL believes that in order to achieve any level of success, either individually or for your team, kids must first learn the value of friendship and being on a team. Proudly wearing the team uniform, cheering for their teammates, and leaving each experience as a “winner” is a strong foundation for playing sports for a lifetime. It also reinforces the community that we live in and appreciate in Downtown Manhattan.
➢ Rookies 5 – teams are formed primarily through social rostering.
Five year olds will use oversized plastic bats, plastic “cheese” balls and a batting tee. They will NOT use baseball gloves in the field, in order to learn to catch with two hands.
The focus of the first year is to introduce organized baseball and to develop the basic skills and eye/hand coordination necessary to progress to the next level of play and to experience the joy and camaraderie of teamwork. To keep the game moving, half the team will bat each inning bat, and all players will play in the field. Outs are not recorded.
➢ Rookies 6 – teams are formed primarily through social rostering
The six year olds will use light-weight aluminum bats, baseball gloves, soft baseballs and will be introduced to coach pitching. Additionally ten fielders will be used in order for them to start learning different positions in the field (with a coach acting as catcher for safety purposes). To keep the game moving, half the team will bat each inning. Outs are not recorded.
JUNIOR MINOR DIVISIONS
Downtown Little League will continue to divide the Juniors Minors Division into two separate divisions. The Junior Minors divisions are made up primarily of seven and eight year old players.
➢ Junior Minors 7 (JM7) – teams are formed primarily through social rostering
This division consists primarily of 7 year olds and is an exciting move for our children from the Rookie ball divisions, as they are now playing on regulation size ball fields. The kids continue using aluminum bats and soft baseballs, with 10 fielders and outs are recorded. The players will now become familiar with the strike zone as pitching is incorporated either through machine, coach or umpire. Umpires will not use “called strikes”, only swinging strikes to encourage kids to swing, while not being afraid to strike out without trying. Catchers will wear full catching gear and all players will use regular baseball gloves.
➢ Junior Minors 8 (JM8) – teams are formed through a combination of social rostering and skills assessment (if applicable)with the objective of creating more balance cross the Division.
This division consists of primarily 8 year olds. Players will now be introduced to a more formal game structure, including possibly a combination of three innings of player pitching and three innings of coach or umpire pitching. There will be 10 fielders and outs are recorded.
MINORS DIVISIONS
➢ AA Minors– teams are formed exclusively through a draft process
This division consists primarily of 9 year olds and represents the first level of player pitching for the entire game. This is the natural point for more advanced instruction and level of competition. There will be 10 fielders and outs are recorded.
➢ AAA Minors - teams are formed exclusively through a draft process
This division consists of primarily 10 and 11 year olds and represents the first division to apply formal baseball protocol of 9 fielders and win-loss records. There is a playoff for this division that occurs during the last week of the season, and players are eligible for selection on a post-season tournament team.
MAJORS DIVISION - teams are formed exclusively through a draft process
This division consists primarily of 11 and 12 year olds and is our most competitive division. This division follows formal baseball protocol of 9 fielders and win-loss records. This Division also has a post-season playoff during the last week of the season, and players are eligible for selection for a post-season tournament team.
JUNIORS AND SENIORS DIVISIONS
Downtown Little League continues its baseball program for 13-16 year olds through Junior and Senior divisions. These programs play on regulation size fields and are designed for players that wish to continue playing baseball beyond the Majors division.
Juniors Division - teams are formed with the objective of creating competitive balance.
This division consists of primarily 13 and 14 year olds. The Juniors play on full sized fields at various locations across Manhattan, representing a step up from the Majors Division and providing an exciting time for our baseball players. The Juniors division is made up of teams from DLL, Greenwich Village Little League, Peter Stuyvesant Little League and other local leagues.
Juniors may practice once per week and games are played on weekends to accommodate those players that compete for their schools and/or other baseball programs.
Senior Division - teams are formed with the objective of creating competitive balance
This division consists of primarily 15 and 16 year olds. The Seniors division is made up of teams from DLL, Greenwich Village Little League, Peter Stuyvesant Little League and other local leagues
Seniors may practice once per week and games are played on weekends to accommodate those players that compete for their schools and/or other baseball programs.