TEE BALL
The Tee Ball Division of Alpine Little League is generally for players league age 4 and 5. The intent of the Tee Ball Division is to have the experience be exclusively instructional and that each child have a positive experience during their first year(s) of baseball.
- All competitive aspects of the game should be eliminated and winning and losing will not be recognized. Therefore, scores will not be kept and random positioning of players in the batting order and, within the limits of safety, liberal movement of players to different field positions is encouraged.
- The Tee Ball Commissioner will consider criteria such as coach or teammate requests and the school attended by the player when forming teams, although we cannot guarantee we will be able to honor requests. ALL FRIEND AND SCHOOL REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 5TH TO BE CONSIDERED.
- Tee Ball sessions start with a 30 minute practice followed by a game. The game lasts a maximum of 3 innings or 60 minutes. Each inning, every player bats off a tee, using a semi-cushioned Tee Ball, and plays in the field.
- Teams will have one weekday game (usually Tuesday or Wednesday) and one Saturday game each week. The season, which begins in mid-March, wraps up in mid-May, including about 15 games.
- Coaching Tee Ball is a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity! You don’t need to have a lot of baseball knowledge and we will train you with what you need to know.
COACH PITCH
The Coach Pitch division of Alpine Little League is typically for players league age 6 and 7 who have completed one year of tee ball. Coach Pitch is an instructional division with the emphasis on the continued development of hitting, defensive fielding skills and general game basics.
- The competitive aspects of the game are minimized, winning and losing will not be emphasized and each child shall have a positive experience during their first years of baseball. Therefore, scores will not be kept and random positioning of players in the batting order and, within the limits of safety, liberal movement of players to different field positions is encouraged.
- In Coach Pitch, 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.
- The Coach Pitch Commissioner will consider criteria such as coach or teammate requests and the school attended by the player when forming teams, although we cannot guarantee we will be able to honor requests. ALL FRIEND AND SCHOOL REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 5TH TO BE CONSIDERED.
- Coach Pitch sessions start with a 30 minute practice followed by a game. Teams should try to play 3 complete innings but not more than 60 minutes. Each inning, every player bats and plays in the field.
- Teams will have one weekday game (usually Tuesday or Wednesday) and one Saturday game each week. The season, which begins in mid-March, wraps up in mid-May, including about 15 games.
MACHINE PITCH
The Machine Pitch division of Alpine Little League is typically for players league age 8, and 9. Machine Pitch is an instructional division with the emphasis on the continued development of hitting, defensive fielding skills and situational awareness.
- Machine Pitch is the first division where scores will be kept. However it is important to note that competition is a secondary goal to the primary goals of instruction, skill development, player improvement, enjoyment of the game and sportsmanship. To that end, scores will not be reported and regular season standings will not be kept.
- Players in the Machine Pitch division MUST attend a Player Evaluation as players will be drafted onto teams. Friend and school team requests cannot be accommodated in Machine Pitch as teams are formed by draft to ensure competitive balance. However, we can assure parents that their players will make some great new friendships!
- In Machine Pitch, Managers emphasize the advancement of players’ baseball skills. Players are taught to apply those skills and make their own decisions in live game situations. Machine Pitch is meant to prepare players for their introduction to more competitive, player pitch baseball in Minors.
- Games last a maximum of six innings or 90 minutes. Teams observe continuous batting; the batting order includes all players on the team. Players may be called out on swinging strikes and half-innings end after three outs.
- Players are rotated through infield and outfield positions. Coaches may play ten defensive players in the field during each half-inning.
- Youth and parent umpires are used in Machine Pitch games. Game scores are kept.
- The Machine Pitch division is the first time players participate in a player evaluation and are drafted onto teams.
- Machine Pitch teams will have one practice, one weekday game, and one Saturday game each week during the season which begins the first week of March and ends in early-June. More detailed schedules will be released after team rosters are set.
MINORS
The Minors division of Alpine Little League is typically for players league age 9 and 10. This division promotes a higher level of competition than the Machine Pitch division. Even more importantly, this is the first division where players are pitching and there is a heavy focus on developing the skills for pitchers and catchers.
- The focus remains on teaching baseball fundamentals, player development and teamwork, while encouraging a greater understanding of the game. This division is also the beginning of player pitching, as live pitching is a key component of the game. This division will allow players to advance in their skill development in order to prepare for successful participation at the PCL and Majors levels.
- Players in the Minors division MUST attend a Player Evaluation as players will be drafted onto teams. Minors teams will include those 10 year-olds who either were not drafted onto PCL teams or chose to play in PCL. Parents of 10-year-olds may request that their child ONLY be considered for the Minors draft if (i) they feel the child is not developmentally ready for PCL, and/or (ii) their child would prefer or benefit from the additional playing time, pitching/catching instruction and position rotation in Minors.
- Players entering Minors should have command of the basic skills of baseball (fielding, catching, throwing, batting and base running). Players should also understand appropriate actions in game situations, such as when and where to make put-outs, how to tag-up on fly balls, and how to execute cut-offs.
- Games last a maximum of six innings; ties are allowed. Minors rules-of-play include continuous batting, where the batting order includes all players on the team. Managers are required to rotate players to infield and outfield positions.
- There is a particular focus on pitching and catching in Minors as this is the first division where these skills are a key part of the game. We require managers to provide the opportunity for ALL players to pitch (unless the player chooses not to). There are more restrictive limits on pitch counts so more players can pitch. We will offer specific pitching and catching instruction. There are no walks and runners may only score on a batted ball. This takes some of the pressure off pitchers as they learn their new skills.
- A combination of youth and adult umpires are used in Minors games. Official game scores are kept and standings are tracked. Each team needs to have an official scorekeeper.
- Minors teams will have one-two practice(s), one weekday game, and one Saturday game each week during the season which begins the first week of March and ends in early-June. More detailed schedules will be released after team rosters are set. There will be playoffs and a Championship will be awarded.
PCL
The PCL division of Alpine Little League is typically for players league age 10 and 11. This division promotes a higher level of competition than the Minors division and emphasizes more of the standard rules of Little League baseball.
- The focus remains on teaching baseball fundamentals, player development and teamwork, while encouraging a greater understanding of the game. This division will allow players to advance in their skill development in order to prepare for successful participation at the Majors level.
- Players in the PCL division MUST attend a Player Evaluation as players will be drafted onto teams. Little League rules mandate that 12-year-olds may only play in PCL with specific District approval and generally when there is a safety concern. PCL teams will include those 11 year-olds who either were not drafted onto Majors teams or chose to play in PCL. Parents of 11-year-olds may request that their child ONLY be considered for the PCL draft if (i) they feel the child is not developmentally ready for Majors, and/or (ii) their child would prefer or benefit from the additional playing time and position rotation in PCL.
- Like Minors, players entering PCL should have command of the basic skills of baseball (fielding, catching, throwing, batting and base running). Players should also have a more advanced understanding of 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.
- Games last a maximum of six innings; ties are allowed. PCL rules-of-play include continuous batting, where the batting order includes all players on the team. Managers are required to rotate players to infield and outfield positions. To continue to develop player pitchers there is no stealing of home in PCL. The runner may only score on a bases loaded walk or a batted ball. This rule may be adjusted at the mid-point of the season depending on player skill development.
- A combination of youth and adult umpires are used in PCL games. Official game scores are kept and standings are tracked. Each team needs to have an official scorekeeper.
- PCL teams will have one-two practice(s), one weekday game, and one Saturday game each week during the season which begins the first week of March and ends in early-June. More detailed schedules will be released after team rosters are set. There will be playoffs and a Championship will be awarded. The PCL Champion will also have the opportunity to play in the City Championship versus the PCL Division Equivalent Champion from Menlo-Atherton Little League.
MAJORS
The Majors division of Alpine Little League is typically for players League Age 11 and 12 with some very rare exceptions for highly-skilled 10-year-old players. The Majors Division promotes competition to a higher degree than the PCL Division.
- At the Majors level, Managers increase the instructional focus on baseball strategies and tactics while continuing to reinforce the fundamental skills.
- Players in the Majors division MUST attend a Player Evaluation as players will be drafted onto teams. Little League rules mandate that 12-year-olds play in Majors unless they receive specific District approval to play in PCL and generally when there is a safety concern. Most players in Majors will be 12 and 11-years-old. 10 year-olds who attend the Player Evaluation Session and evaluate into the top 20% of the Majors players, may also be drafted onto a Majors team.
- Players entering Majors have demonstrated command of the basic skills of baseball (fielding, catching, throwing, batting and 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.
- Games last six innings and extra innings if the score is tied after 6 innings.
- Players compete for positions and playing time, although every child in Majors plays a minimum of three defensive innings. Majors play also employs continuous batting; where the batting order includes all players on the team.
- A combination of older youth and adult umpires are used in Majors games. Official game scores are kept and standings are tracked. Each team needs to have an official scorekeeper.
- Majors teams will have two practice(s), one weekday game, and one Saturday game each week during the season which begins the first week of March and ends in early-June. More detailed schedules will be released after team rosters are set. There will be playoffs and a Championship will be awarded. The Majors Champion will also have the opportunity to play in the City Championship versus the Majors Champion from Menlo-Atherton Little League.
- All games are played at Ford Field. Practices usually also take place at Ford Field.
JUNIORS
The Juniors Division is primarily for players whose League Age is 13 or 14. What is great about these divisions is how much growth occurs. We have room for players of all skill levels, and may find they have grown since Majors and are able to compete at a higher level in these programs. Players can also supplement their other baseball programs and still have fun with friends, and play for their local league.
- This division features a mid-sized field (80’ bases, 54’ pitching, same as USSSA for 13’s) which fits this age group. This size makes for a dynamic game, and is a great stepping stone to the full-sized field.
- Assuming enough players register to have more than one Juniors team, players in the Juniors division MUST attend a Player Evaluation as players will be drafted onto teams.
- Juniors teams play a schedule very similar to Majors running from March to early June with games across the district twice a week, which end with a championship tournament.
- For players selected there are 13u and 14u All-Star tournaments in June both of which culminate in an International Little League World Series just like Majors.