Player Divisions
BlastBall
BlastBall is an introduction to baseball for preschool children. The goals are to teach the children to take turns, to hit the ball from a tee and then run to a base (a pretty significant concept for most preschoolers, who would rather watch the ball), and to get used to being a part of a team.
Player age: 4 years old.
Game length: Games usually last about an hour, the number of innings can vary based on team size.
Game frequency: 1 to 2 games each week held on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. There are no practices.
Teams: Team size is typically 4-6 players per team.
Equipment: No equipment is required, but we do encourage players to wear helmets and use gloves if they have them. Uniforms are provided that the players will keep.
Umpires: An umpire from the Rookies division helps oversee the game.
Season: April to June.
T-Ball
T-Ball is for young children to learn early throwing and catching skills and offensive and defensive play. The ball is hit off a stationary tee and the children swing at the ball until successful contact is made and they get on base. We introduce full rules gradually and ensure games are fun for all players. No score is kept and coaches can assist throughout the game.
Player age: 5-6 years old.
Game length: The games/practices usually last about 1 hour. Every child gets to bat each inning and play defensive positions in the field.
Game frequency: 2 games/practices each week on weekday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Teams: Teams are made up of 7 to 10 players.
Equipment: Players must provide their own glove and batting helmet. Players are welcome to use their own bat and cleats. Uniforms are provided for the season.
Umpires: T-Ball games are umpired by youth umpires or coaches based on availability.
Season: April to June. All-Stars for selected players at the district level following in late June.
Rookies
Rookies introduces young baseball players to competitive play. Batters hit from a pitching machine, to build confidence in hitting while providing a consistent pitch.
Player age: 7-8 years old. Less experienced players may be assigned to a lower division for safety and player development.
Game length: Games are up to 90 minutes.
Game frequency: 2 in-house games each week are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Friday evenings. Team practices are a key at this level, and are typically held twice a week. Tournaments may also be played during the season.
Teams: Team size is up to 12 players.
Equipment: Players are required to wear athletic protection and must provide their own glove, batting helmet, and baseball shoes. Players are welcome to use their own approved bat and batting gloves. Uniforms are provided for the season.
Umpires: Players in Rookies can train to umpire T-Ball and BlastBall games. Rookies games are umpired by youth umpires.
Season: April to June. All-Stars for selected players at the district level in late June.
Minors
Minors focuses on further developing players skills both offensively and defensively. The introduction of player pitching begins at this level as does bunting, base stealing, and sliding. As the players’ first exposure to true baseball, coaches are able to focus on the more in depth nuances of the game.
Player age: 9-10 years old. All players will be evaluated pre-season prior to placement to determine their ability to play at this level. Less experienced players may be assigned to a lower division for safety and player development.
Game length: Games are up to 2 hours. All players will bat in order but players may have to take turns fielding.
Game frequency: 2-3 games per week. Both in-house and interlock home and road games are played on weekends and in-house games Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Tournaments may also be played during the season. One team practice and one batting cage practice are scheduled each week, plus an optional division skills clinic weekly.
Teams: Teams have up to 13 players. All players will bat in order but players may have to take turns fielding.
Equipment: Players are required to wear athletic protection and must provide their own glove, batting helmet, and baseball shoes (no soccer cleats for safety reasons). Players are welcome to use their own approved bat and batting gloves. Uniforms are provided for the season.
Umpires: Players in Minors can train to umpire Rookies or T-Ball games. Minors games are umpired by adult and youth umpires.
Season: April to June. All-Stars for selected players following into July at the district and Provincial level.
Majors
Majors is the level where players will apply the skills learned from previous years of playing baseball. Practice and games are taken a little more seriously at this level so commitment to team from players is a must.
Player age: 11-12 years old. All players will be evaluated pre-season prior to placement to determine their ability to play at this level.
Game length: Games are 6 innings with no run limit. All players will bat in order but players may have to take turns fielding.
Game frequency: 2-3 games per week as well as 2-3 team practices including batting practice at the batting cage. Both in-house and interlock home and road games are played on any evening excluding Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tournaments will also be played during the season.
Teams: Teams have up to 13 players.
Equipment: Players are required to wear athletic protection and must provide their own glove, batting helmet, and baseball shoes (no soccer cleats for safety reasons). Players are welcome to use their own batting gloves and Little League approved bat. Uniforms are provided for the season.
Umpires: Players in Majors can train to umpire Minors or Rookies games. Majors games are umpired by adult and older youth umpires.
Season: April to June. All-Stars for selected players following into July at the district and Provincial level and into August at the national and World Series level.
Intermediates
The Intermediate Division is a 2-tiered program for boys and girls aged 12-13 from across Little League BC District 6, playing as Vancouver Battalion. Games use a 70-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 50 feet. The Intermediate program is players first experience with leadoffs, balks and pickoffs, played on a larger diamond.
Player age: 12-13 years old. All players will be evaluated pre-season to determine in which iier they will play. Depending on assessments, coaches may suggest that some players consider another year of Majors.
Game length: Games are 7 innings, with no time or run limit in Tier 1 (but possibly in Tier 2). All players bat.
Game frequency: Tier 1 can expect at least one double-header per weekend, and sometimes two (3 to 4 games total). There will also be tournaments, including the possibility of out-of-town travel to Kamloops, Seattle and Vancouver Island. Primary opponents will be Coquitlam, Mt. Seymour, Langley, Whalley and Layritz. Tier 2 will play a mix of in-house and interlock games with other Little Leagues, as well as tournaments. Both divisions will have a playoff in mid to late June. Home games will be played at Memorial South Park and possibly some games in Richmond.
Practice: Teams in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 will have one session per week with a professional hitting coach. Each team may have an additional practice or two, depending on coaches’ expectations.
Teams: Teams have up to 14 players.
Equipment: Players are required to wear athletic protection and must provide their own glove, batting helmet, and baseball shoes (no soccer cleats for safety reasons). Metal spikes are allowed in Intermediate. Players are welcome to use their own batting gloves and Little League approved bat (USA, BBCOR or wood). Uniforms are provided for the season.
Umpires: Players in Intermediate can train to umpire Majors or Minors games. Intermediate games are umpired by adult and older youth umpires.
Season: April to June. Players selected for All-Stars will play into July at the provincial and national level and into August at the World Series. 2024 Nationals will be hosted by Coquitlam Little League.
*Note – Twelve year old players who play the regular season in Intermediate must try out for their “home” league Majors All-Stars team first and will only be considered for Intermediate All-Stars team if they are either cut from Majors tryouts, or their Majors All-Stars team is eliminated from tournament play.
Assessments: Players wishing to play Tier 1 will be invited to attend assessments on Sunday, January 21 and/or Sunday, February 4 (both from 6:30-9:30pm) at Travail on 2696 Nootka St. in Vancouver. There will be a $35 assessment fee.