East Haddam / Moodus Little League

Divisional Structure

Tee Ball-Players primarily league age 5 and some league age 6 (4-year-old players are permitted with League approval).  Tee Ball is one day per week and skill station based.  In town games would still be played amongst other EHMLL teams towards the second half of the season.

Single A (A)-Coach Pitch- Players just out of Tee Ball-likely league age 6 and maybe some league age 7.  Players would have to do at least one year of Single A before they go to Double A (AA).  Single A will be based on our Tee Ball station structure but expanded to include coach pitch, side toss, and perhaps pitching machine when appropriate.  Limited, if any, kid pitch would occur at this level.  In town games would still be played amongst our own teams.  Instructional/Single A will meet one time per week.

Double A (AA)-Kid/Coach Pitch- Players league age 7-8.  Double A would more closely match our old modified Minors baseball rules.  Kids would pitch, however there will be limited walks and steals.  Coaches would pitch when necessary to limit walks.  We fully expect to introduce out of town play in Double A.  Double A will likely meet multiple times per week for practices and/or games.

Minors/Triple A (AAA)-Kid Pitch (no coach pitch)-Players league age 9 to 10.  More traditional Little League baseball rules will be followed with no coach pitch.  Just like past seasons teams will be reset each year.  We will continue to hold the Minors/Triple A Placement Session annually (all players new and returning attend the placements).  Schedule will include many out of town games/teams.

If it is determined that we need additional Minors/Triple A players to get to a desired roster size per team or get to a desired number of teams then a Tryout will be offered to all interested 8-year-old players.  The 8-year-old Tryout would be opened to any and all interested 8-year-old players (this would not be an invite only tryout).  8-year-old tryouts would be held separately from the Minors/Triple A Placement Session for 9-10 year old players.  The 8-year-old Tryout, if necessary, would be a true tryout as some 8-year-old players may not make it to Minors/Triple A. 

Majors Players league age 11 and 12.  Majors will take part in an annual Placement Session (as we do today in Minors).  This would not be a true tryout rather a placement session for team slotting. All players in Majors will need to attend Placement Session and teams will likely stay intact each season drafting only new players.  Schedule will include many out of town games/teams.

If it is determined that we need additional Majors players to get to a desired roster size per team or get to a desired number of teams then a Tryout will be offered to all interested 10-year-old players.  The 10-year-old Tryout would be opened to any and all interested 10-year-old players (this would not be an invite only tryout).  10-year-old Tryouts would be held separately form the Majors Placement Session.  The 10-year-old Tryout, if necessary, would be a true tryout as some 10-year-old players may not make it to Majors. 

Structuring in this fashion helps us effectively develop children at a younger age and prepare them for each next level of play.  By focusing on developing our younger players in the Single A and Double A divisions we prepare them to enter Triple A and subsequently Majors consistent with the skills, experience and age of the out of town teams we play. 

Exceptions at the older end of the division age ranges may be made, with League approval, based on player safety concerns of the League, Coaches or Parents.  For example, a parent of an 9-year-old player can opt to keep their child in Double A with League approval.  Additionally, an 11-year-old new to baseball may be better suited for one year in Minors/AAA before playing Majors.