Policy & Administration Questions
Q1. How many teams can a league have? What is the structure of Little League?
A. A league must have a minimum of 4 major level teams and not more than 10.
Each team must have not less than 12 and no more than 15 players. No more than 8 players
on each team may be of league age 12. Only three 12 year olds may pitch during a calendar
week.
If a league has a minor league division, it may not have a ratio of minor to major
teams greater than 2 to 1. Example: A league could have 6 major teams and 12 minors. When
the number of players in the league increases, the league must expand to 7 or 8 major
level teams. If a league already has 10 major and 20 minor teams and the number of players
increases, the league must divide into two divisions, making 6 major and 10 minor in each.
This now leaves room to add 2 minor teams in each division before having to expand the
majors again.
Leagues are grouped into Districts that are administered by a District Administrator
("DA") who is elected by the presidents of the leagues within the
district. The DA is the liaison between the leagues and headquarters. There are usually 10
to 20 leagues within a district. Cherry Hill American is in District 13.
Q2. What is the responsibility of the league President when it comes to appointing
managers?
A. The book makes it clear that only the President, with the approval of the
board, can appoint managers, coaches and umpires.
It is recommended that a committee be formed to review applications from managers,
coaches and umpires, but only the President can make the actual appointments.
If the board disapproves of any of the President's choices, then the President is free
to make another appointment.
It is important to realize that the President and the Board are not
required to give any unsuccessful applicant a reason why he was not appointed. In fact
it's better not to give a reason, as it helps avoid the chance for any slander suits.
Q3. Why isn't it mandatory for all 12-year-olds to play in the majors?
A. Leagues have the flexibility to require all 12-year-olds to be placed
in the majors, although it is not mandatory.
A team may not have more than 8 12-year-olds on a team and only 3 players age 12 may
pitch during a calendar week. These two regulations may not be changed.
Q4. What is the penalty if a league continues to break the rules?
A. When a league breaks the rules, it is the responsibility of the District
Administrator to notify the league of the infraction. If they don't respond, the Regional
Director should be notified. If the league continues to break the rules, their charter may
be revoked.
Q5. Is there a recommended procedure for selecting the league's All-Star team?
A. Yes. The 1965 International Congress established the following recommendation.
Five groups should be involved in selecting the tournament team;
- Major level players
- Managers
- Coaches
- Volunteer umpires (if you have them)
- League Officers (i.e. President, VP's, secretary, treasurer, player agents)
Each group meets separately. Within each group, each member lists the 14 players he/she
thinks should be on the team. Each individual group then counts the votes for each player
and determines its team. At this point there are 5 lists with 14 names on each.
At a meeting of the Board of Directors, each of the 5 lists are read and the votes for
each player counted. (A player can have a maximum of 5 votes at this point.) The 14 top
vote getters are the team. Ties for the last position or positions are broken by a
majority vote of the Board members.
Q6. How is a player's "League age" determined and what are the ages for
each division?
A. May 01 is the cut-off date. The age a player becomes on any date prior
to May 01 of the current season is that player's "league age".
Example: A player turns 12 on April 30, 2006. His "league age" is 12.
Players born from May 01, 1993 through April 30, 1994 are "league age" 12 for
the 2006 season. The following list contains the "league age" breakdown for all
divisions of Little League Baseball, Inc.
 | 5 - 8 Tee Ball
(May be divided into 2 groups 5-6 / 7-8) |
| 7 - 12 Little
League Minors (May be divided into groups) |
| 9 - 12 Little
League Majors (May be restricted to 11-12 or 10-12) |
| 13 - 15 Senior
League Minors (May be restricted to 14 -15) |
| 13 - 15 Senior
League Majors (May be restricted to 14 -15) |
| 16 - 18 Big
League Minors |
| 16 - 18 Big
League Majors |
Depending on the number of players in a local league, the league can arrange the Tee
Ball and Minor divisions to fit their local needs. A large league with many players at
each age could have Tee Ball for 5 -6's only, a Minor "A" division for 7 - 8's
only, a Minor "AA" for 9 -10's only and a Minor "AAA" for 11 - 12's.
There is an overlap for 7 -8's. Talented 7 - 8's may play in the minors, other 7 - 8's may
be kept in Tee Ball.
Q7. What publications are available from Headquarters, and how do I get them?
A. Little League has many publications. A complete list is provided to the
league president with an order form. Orders are sent to regional headquarters.
Anyone who is a member of the league's Board of Directors should have a copy of the
"Operating Manual". This book details everything you need to know regarding how
to run a league and includes the rules pertaining to the draft and much more.
Separate rule books are published for each division of baseball and softball.
A book titled "The Right Call" is a casebook supplement to the rule book that
all umpires should have.
| 
