The appropriate level for your child is determined by our bylaws based upon league age and prior experience.
Please consult the table below for a summary of the requirements at each level.
Not sure what league age your child is? Please Click Here
Not sure what league age your child is? Please consult https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/determine-league-age/
EARLY REGISTRATION IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED as we do reach capacity in most levels each year. FAILURE TO REGISTER IN A TIMELY FASHION MAY RESULT IN WAIT-LISTING IF THOSE CAPACITY LIMITS HAVE BEEN REACHED.
After registration closes, there is normally late registration available for a limited time based on SPACE AVAILABLE and most levels are assessed a late fee. After registration closes, if teams are at capacity, a waiting list will be maintained until practices begin. There are no refunds for Minors and Majors after January 12th. No exceptions. Refunds are given on a discretionary basis - and when approved are subject to deduction of processing fees.
Event | Date |
Tryouts | January 25th |
Minors , Majors, and Juniors Practice | Mid February |
Tee Ball, Farm & Rookies Practice | March 1st |
Opening Day | March 7th |
Closing Day | TBD |
| |
PLEASE NOTE: Ross Valley Little League is for the residents of Ross, Kentfield and Greenbrae. Our area is determined by the Little League District 3 and Little League International. If you live outside of these areas, it is best to contact the league in your area for registration. Please note that different leagues have different registration periods and deadlines. Not all leagues follow the same schedules as RVLL.
Characteristics | Tee Ball | Farm | Rookies | Minors | Majors | Juniors |
Goal/Style | Introduction to Baseball | Fun and Instructional | Fun and Instructional | Moderately Competitive | Competitive | Competitive |
Team Formation | By Commissioner | By Commissioner | By Commissioner | Tryouts/Draft | Tryouts/Draft | Tryouts/Draft |
Practices | 1 midweek practice | 1 midweek practice | 1 midweek practice, Weekend Practice through March | 1 weekend practice, 1 midweek cage practice | 1 weekend practice, 1 midweek cage practice | 1 weekend practice, 1 midweek cage practice |
Games | 1 weekend game, Ross Commons | 1 weekend game, Ross Commons | 1 weekend game, 1 mid week game starting in April, Ross Commons | 1 weekend games, Up to 2 midweek games, Bacich | 1 weekend games, up to 2 midweek games , Bacich | 1 weekend games, up to 2 midweek games, TBD Field |
Game Length | 3 Inn | 3 Inn | 1.5 Hrs | 6 Inn or 2 Hrs | 6 Inn or 2 Hrs | 7 Inn or 2 Hrs |
Inning Length | Everybody Scores | Everybody Scores | 3 outs or 5 runs | 3 outs or 5 runs | 3 outs | 3 outs |
Pitches | Off a Tee | Coach Pitch | Machine Pitch | Kid Pitch | Kid Pitch | Kid Pitch |
Mound/Bases (ft) | 42/50 | 42/60 | 42/60 | 46/60 | 46/60 | 60/90 |
Umpires | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Defenders | All Players Play in Field | All Players Play in Field | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
PostSeason | None | None | Playoffs | Playoffs, TOC, District AllStars | Playoffs, TOC, District AllStars | Playoffs, TOC, District |
TEE BALL
Tee Ball is a child's first introduction to organized baseball. It is intended for players League Age 4 and 5.
The emphasis is on familiarizing children with the most fundamental elements of the game: how to swing a bat, field an easy grounder, run on the basepaths, and throw a ball. We want it to be a fun experience, and help them learn about teamwork and basic sportsmanship. No score is kept, no outs are recorded, and everyone bats every inning. We also use a super-cushioned safety baseball in all practices and games.
Team assignments are finalized at the end of February and parents are notified via email of their child's assignment - this includes the day/time of the week that the teams will practice. Tee Ball in Little League is not organized like a Rec Department sport. Parents do not choose the day/time of practice. Children are assigned to teams and the teams are balanced for numbers and ages. Please do not request any changes to team assignment, it is disruptive to the other teams as it requires reshuffling. Please embrace meeting new friends and families as much of Little League baseball is about creating a community in our busy lives. Playdates are fun - but you can do that outside of baseball!
We'd love to let your children play with their buddies and make every effort to satisfy parents requests for specific team assignments. Buddy requests can be made during the registration process. Parents can request up to TWO specific buddy names, and there is a specific field in registration for you to do this. There are NO GUARANTEES that we can satisfy your requests, but we do our best.
During registration, you may enter up to 2 specific names here (no more than 2). These names MUST be specific. Do NOT enter, for example, other Ross 1st graders. We will ONLY look at up to TWO specific children's names. Otherwise, we will be unable to assist you.
Questions? Contact League Commissioner at [email protected]
FARM
Farm League is for League Age 5 and 6 who have previously played Tee Ball.
It provides players the first opportunity to hit a pitched ball, thrown gently by coaches. As with Tee Ball, the emphasis is strictly on instruction, skill development and fun. Scores are not kept and the entire team bats every inning, regardless of outs made. We also use a super-cushioned safety baseball in all practices and games.
Team assignments are finalized at the end of February and parents are notified via email of their child's assignment: this includes the day/time of the week that the teams will practice. Farm League in Little League is not organized like a Rec Department sport. Parents do not choose the day/time of practice. Children are assigned to teams and the teams are balanced for numbers and ages. Please do not request any changes to team assignment, it is disruptive to the other teams as it requires reshuffling. Please embrace meeting new friends and families as much of Little League baseball is about creating a community in our busy lives. Playdates are fun - but you can do that outside of baseball!
We'd love to let your children play with their buddies and make every effort to satisfy parents requests for specific team assignments. Buddy requests can be made during the registration process. Parents can request up to TWO specific buddy names, and there is a specific field in registration for you to do this. There are NO GUARANTEES that we can satisfy your requests, but we do our best.
During registration, you may enter up to 2 specific names here (no more than 2). These names MUST be specific. Do NOT enter, for example, other Ross 1st graders. We will ONLY look at up to TWO specific children's names. Otherwise, we will be unable to assist you.
Questions? Contact League Commissioner at [email protected]
ROOKIES
Rookie Ball is for players who are League Age 7 and 8. Players at this level graduate to a machine-pitched baseball. A skills tryout is required (Player Evaluation).
Rookies registrants participate in mandatory Player Evaluations in January. Following the evaluations, players are drafted by managers and coaches to teams based on player evaluations. Team assignments are finalized at the end of February and parents are notified via email of their child's assignment. All evaluation and draft-related information is strictly non-public.
Rookie league continues the prior emphasis on instruction over competition. During the regular season, no scores are kept and outs may be recorded. There is an end-of-season playoff tournament at which scores are kept and a standard 3-out inning is introduced for the first time.
The time commitment typically includes one game during the week and one game on the weekend along with one or two practices during the week and weekend. Practices begin at the end of February.
Questions? Contact League Commissioner at [email protected]
MINORS
Minors is for players who are League Age 9 and 10. League Age 11 players who were not selected in the Majors division draft will also play in the Minors Division. A skills tryout is required (Player Evaluation).
Minors registrants participate in mandatory Player Evaluations in January. Following the evaluations, players are drafted by managers and coaches to teams based on player evaluations. Team assignments are finalized at the end of February and parents are notified via email of their child's assignment. All evaluation and draft-related information is strictly non-public.
Players at this level graduate to player pitch and competition is part of the game. The kids play a standard 6-inning game, with three outs per side. Scores and standings are both kept throughout the regular season, and a seeded playoff tournament is used to determine a champion.
Instruction and participation, however, remain paramount in Minors play. Every player is in the batting order at all times. No child may sit out more than 2 innings in a game. The goal is to continue to hone their abilities, learn new skills, and have fun.
Teams are eligible for post-season tournaments. Players may be selected for All-Stars based on their ages.
Questions? Contact League Commissioner at [email protected]
MAJORS
Majors is for players who are League Age 11 and 12. All League Age 12 players play Majors and are assured a place on a Majors team. League Age 11 players who were not selected in the Majors division draft will also play in the Minors Division. A skills tryout is required (Player Evaluation).
Majors registrants participate in mandatory Player Evaluations in January. Following the evaluations, players are drafted by managers and coaches to teams based on player evaluations. Team assignments are finalized at the end of February and parents are notified via email of their child's assignment. League Age 11 players that are not drafted are released to the Minors where they are drafted as part of the Minors team assignment process. All evaluation and draft-related information is strictly non-public.
Majors is the most competitive and advanced level for Little League played on a field with 60-foot base paths. There is a greater focus on skills and strategy. Majors is actually the age group that competes in the Little League World Series. Teams play inter-league games against other little leagues when possible. Standings and scores are kept throughout the season, which culminates in a playoff tournament.
Typically, Majors teams enjoy one game during the week and one game on the weekend, along with two practices (batting cages and team practice) held during the week and/or on the weekend.
Most practices are held at Bacich School on the Majors’ diamond near the batting cages, with games at Bacich and the opposing out of league opponents fields such as Joe Wagner and Strawberry.
Teams are eligible for post-season tournaments. Players may be selected for All-Stars based on their ages.
Questions? Contact League Commissioner at [email protected]
JUNIORS
Juniors League is for players League Age 13, 14, and 15.
League Age 13 - September 2012 - August 2013
League Age 14 - September 2011 - August 2012
League Age 15 - September 2010 - August 2011
RVLL holds a mandatory Juniors tryout, usually in late January. Information gathered during the tryout is used in a player draft after the tryout to help ensure that the competitiveness of RVLL teams is as equal as possible. Tryout results are not used to exclude players from participation in Juniors.
The RVLL Juniors program enables aspiring high school baseball players to further develop fundamental baseball skills and knowledge that will help them to succeed in high school. Juniors is also appropriate for players who do not plan to play high school baseball. RVLL encourages all players who meet the age eligibility requirements to participate, and all players who properly register and attend the mandatory tryout will be assigned to a team.
League composition and schedule. RVLL Juniors teams compete in a league that includes teams from RVLL as well as from four other Little League programs in southern Marin, Twin Cities, Tiburon, Mill Valley, and Sausalito. The number of league teams varies from year to year depending on the number of players registered in each community.
RVLL teams begin practicing in early March. Games begin in late March and continue until the first or second week in June. In recent years, the league has had 10 or 11 teams with an 18-game schedule when 10 teams and a 20-game schedule when 11 teams. The schedule is designed so that each Juniors team plays all other teams twice, once as the home team and once as the away team. Teams typically play games twice a week, with one game on Sunday and one during the week, usually on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. RVLL Juniors teams typically practice every Saturday with a second practice on a weekday if desired by the team.
Games are played at five fields in southern Marin, Endriss Field and Moody Field at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Drake High School in Fairfax, Alto Field in Mill Valley, and Albert Park in San Rafael. Games at Albert Park are played under the lights on Wednesday evenings. RVLL practices occur in four locations, Endriss Field, Moody Field, Drake High School, and Red Hill Field in Fairfax.
Transition to Juniors. Juniors games are played on full-size baseball diamonds similar to those used in high school, college, and professional baseball with 90 feet between bases and 60 feet from the pitcher's mound to home plate. The transition to Juniors may pose physical challenges for former Majors players, at least initially, given the longer distance between bases, the longer pitching distance, and the need to make longer throws and to hit the ball farther than in Majors. New Juniors players may also need to expand their knowledge of baseball strategy to cover a range of new situations and to learn additional fundamental baseball skills that were not relevant in lower Little League divisions, such as the proper technique for leads and stealing for base runners and for holding and picking off runners for pitchers.
Coaching. Juniors coaches are expected to have extensive baseball coaching experience and to be able to teach advanced fundamental baseball skills and strategy. Juniors coaches seek to create a positive atmosphere on their teams, encouraging players to be good teammates who support one another and to respect their coaches and opponents. The primary goal of RVLL Juniors is to ensure that all players have a positive, enjoyable experience, regardless of their future baseball goals and their motivations for participating in Juniors.
Other. Juniors does not maintain formal league standings during the season, and there is no league-wide post-season playoff. Each Little League program with Juniors teams is entitled to enter a team in the Juniors Tournament of Champions (TOC) after the regular season and determines independently whether to have a post-season playoff among its Juniors teams to help select its TOC representative. Toward the end of the regular season, the RVLL Juniors Commissioner and Juniors coaches determine the best method to choose a RVLL TOC representative for that season, including how to incorporate playoff games into the selection process along with other factors such as regular season records.
Questions? Contact League Commissioner at [email protected]