Windham Little League-Divisions

 Tee-Ball- Tee-Ball is for player’s age 5 and 6 as of Girls December 31st 2006 and Boys April 30th 2007.

 The Little League Tee Ball program is a training process by which youngsters can learn, develop and practice fundamental baseball skills at an early age and receive maximum enjoyment from the experience (have fun!!!). Conventional baseball and softball requires that a pitcher throw accurately across home plate within each batter's defined strike zone. Most youngsters have not developed skills to pitch accurately nor to hit a pitched ball. Consequently, neither the batter nor fielders are given ample opportunity to develop fundamental hitting and defensive skills outside an organized Tee Ball program. The young player benefits in several ways hitting the ball from a prescribed tee. The youngster has the opportunity to develop hand-eye coordination and swing technique without fear of being hit by a pitched ball, and the defensive team is allowed more opportunities to develop fundamental fielding skills. Youngsters will learn to play and enjoy baseball and softball through good instruction and participation experience in Tee Ball. The playing rules will be in accordance with the National Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules Handbook. Some noted exceptions to the rules, amended by the Windham Little League Board of Directors are as follows:

·       The batting order will be the entire roster (all players bat).
·       Six year olds that have had one year of tee ball experience may elect to go to Coach Pitch.
·       There are no game results to determine winner/loser of scheduled games so everyone wins.
·        There are no practices. Games may be on week days and Saturdays preceded by a period of instruction.
·        Each player is given a hat and shirt that they keep after the season is complete.
·        The field locations for T-Ball are directly behind the Manchester School in North Windham.
·        The season goes from the beginning of May to the last week of June.

Machine (Coach) Pitch- Coach Pitch baseball and softball are for players age 6*, 7 and 8 as of Girls December 31st 2006 and Boys April 30th 2007.  It is strongly recommended that players move to the Minor League after one year of Coach Pitch and definitely after two years.

Machine (Coach) Pitch is the next step in instructional softball/baseball and is designed to enhance the basic training of fundamentals. The playing rules will be in accordance with the National Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules Handbook. Noted exceptions to the rules, amended by the Windham Little League Board of Directors are as follows:

·        Softball and Baseball are separate divisions starting in Machine (Coach) Pitch
·       Adults (offensive team manager or coach) will use pitching machine to pitch.
·       Six year olds that have had one year of tee ball experience may elect to go to Coach Pitch
·       The batting order will be the entire roster (all players bat).
·       There are no game results to determine winner/loser of scheduled games so everyone wins.
·       There are no practices just skills dates. Games (1) are played one on a weeknight or one each Saturday with a skills date on the opposite date.
·       The Machine (Coach) Pitch baseball and softball division will not have a post-season tournament.

Minor League Baseball & Softball- The Minor League program is for players who are age 7 through 12 as of Girls December 31st 2006 and Boys April 30th 2007. It is required that 8-12 year olds be assessed for Minors/AAA/Little League, even if you have some hesitation on the child’s readiness. Being  is good experience for them and may show that they are more ready than you think.

Youngsters coming into Little League each year are eager to learn, develop skills and look forward to the opportunity to be selected on "Major" League teams in baseball. The Minor program is an important addition to the league operation to continue providing the basic training in fundamentals, improving skills and gaining a better understanding of baseball. This is the first level of live pitching and although scores are kept, the emphasis is still on the players playing equally. Even though there may be a simple post-season tournament, this league places less emphasis on the competitive and heavy instructional aspects of the game.

The playing rules will be in accordance with the National Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules Handbook. Exceptions to the rules, amended by the Windham Little League Board of Directors are as follows:

·       Players are distributed evenly to all teams in the league to balance age, experience and skill level.
·       There will typically be two games per week (one weekday, one Saturday) plus a practice if field space allows.
·       The batting order will be the entire roster.
·        Every player on a team roster will participate in at least half of every game. If this does not occur the penalty is: The player involved shall START the next scheduled game, play any previous requirement not completed for section (I) and the requirement for this game before being removed.

Little League Softball- Windham Little League structures the Little League Softball Division to include players who are 9-12 years old as of Girls December 31st 2006 and Boys April 30th 2007. It is required that all 9-12 year olds be assessed for Little League Softball, even if you have some hesitation on the child’s readiness. Being assessed is good experience for them and may show that they are more ready than you think. 

Little League Softball is a competitive division designed to create a more instructional environment for the players demonstrating some advanced skills, coordination and understanding of the game. While more competitive and with a more aggressive schedule than the Minor League, this is still a highly instructional division. Players improve fundamental fielding, throwing, hitting, running and pitching skills and develop the teamwork to win games. The playing rules will be in accordance with the National Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules Handbook. Exceptions to the rules, amended by the Windham Little League Board of Directors are as follows: 

1. All players are evaluated through an assessment process may be selected to teams.
2. Those optioned players (12 year old players who played for a major league team last year) must still be assessed. If they fail to be assessed, they will be placed on a Minor League team.
3. Players who are not drafted will be placed on a Minor League team.
4. There will typically be three games per week plus one practice.
5. Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of ½ of the game. If this does not occur the penalty is: The player involved shall START the next scheduled game, play any previous requirement not completed for section (I) and the requirement for this game before being removed.
6. Teams will travel to surrounding towns for games during the season.
7. Should not conflict with school teams.

Little League AAA-9/10 Year Old Division (Baseball) - Windham Little League structures the AAA Division to include only players who are 9 and 10 years old as of Girls December 31st 2006 and Boys April 30th 2007. This is to give these players more opportunity for instruction and competition than in a typical 9-12 year old league. It is required that all 9-10 year olds be assessed, even if you have some hesitation on the child’s readiness. Being assessed is good experience for them and may show that they are more ready than you think. 

The AAA Division is a more competitive division designed to create a more instructional environment for the players demonstrating some advanced skills, coordination and understanding of the game. While more competitive and with a more aggressive schedule than the Minor League, this is still a highly instructional division.  Players improve fundamental fielding, throwing, hitting, running and pitching skills and develop the teamwork to win games. The playing rules will be in accordance with the National Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules Handbook. Exceptions to the rules, amended by the Windham Little League Board of Directors are as follows:

1.      All players are evaluated through an assessment process and may be selected to teams.
2.      Players who are not drafted will be placed on a Minor League team.
3.      There will typically be two games per week plus one practice.
4.      The batting order will be the entire roster
5.      Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of ½ of the game. If this does not occur the penalty is: The player involved shall START the next scheduled game, play any previous requirement not completed for section (I) and the requirement for this game before being removed.
6.      Will not conflict with School teams. 

Little League Majors (Baseball) - Windham Little League structures the Major Little League Division to include only players who are 11 and 12 years old as of Girls December 31st 2006 and Boys April 30th 2007. It is required that all 11-12 year olds be assessed, even if you have some hesitation on the child’s readiness. Being assessed is good experience for them and may show that they are more ready than you think. 

Little League Majors is a competitive division designed to create a more instructional environment for the players demonstrating the highest level of skill, coordination and understanding of the game. There is a more aggressive schedule.  Players “fine tune” fielding, throwing, hitting, running and pitching skills and develop the teamwork to win games in competitive play.

The playing rules will be in accordance with the National Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules Handbook. Exceptions to the rules, amended by the Windham Little League Board of Directors are as follows:

1.      All players are evaluated through an assessment process may be selected to teams by a draft.
2.      Players who are not drafted will be placed on a Minor League team.
3.      There will typically be three games per week plus one practice.
4.    The batting order will be the entire roster
5.      Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of ½ of the game. If this does not occur the penalty is: The player involved shall START the next scheduled game, play any previous requirement not completed for section (I) and the requirement for this game before being removed.
6.      Will not conflict with school teams. 

Babe Ruth 13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Challenger Division was established for children ages 5-18 with physical and/or mental disabilities.  It also incorporates other children in the league as “buddies” for the Challenger players.