Illinois District 13 Little League

The Tee Ball program is for boys and girls league ages 4-5 years old (with a local option for league age 6- and/or 7-year-olds) who want to learn the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. In Tee Ball players hit a ball off a batting tee. Rules of the game may be varied to accommodate the need for teaching.

The primary goals of Tee Ball are to instruct children in the fundamentals of the game and to allow them to experience the value of teamwork. There is no minimum or maximum composition for Tee Ball rosters, but some leagues have found more success with smaller roster sizes to help keep all players engaged. No live pitching is permitted in this division. Generally, the diamond used is a 60-foot diamond, but the league has the option to use a 50-foot diamond.

In 2013, Little League created a new program for Tee Ball players that is specifically designed to provide a foundation and introduction to baseball and softball that is grounded in fun, fitness and fundamentals.

Minor League Softball is for participants 7-11 years old and can be operated with multiple divisions that are based on age and/or ability. Divisions may include "coach pitch" and "player pitch." By local option, a player who is league age 5 or 6 for the current season and has played a year in Tee Ball is eligible for the coach pitch or machine pitch minor divisions.

A local league might organize its 7-8-year-olds in the Coach Pitch Division and its 9-10-year-olds in the Player Pitch division; however, by local option, some of the 9-year-olds could "play down" in the coach pitch division, and some of the 8-year-olds could "play up." This is entirely the choice of the local league board of directors. (League age 12-year-olds may participate in the Minor Division under certain circumstances.) There is no minimum or maximum composition for rosters, but most leagues have rosters in the 8-12 range.

Competitive divisions of Minor League Softball may only use nine players on defense. The diamond has 60-foot base paths and a 35 foot pitching distance.

The Little League Softball division (sometimes known as the Major Division) is for players league ages 10-12. The field uses a 60-foot diamond and a 40 foot pitching distance. A local league may dual-roster 12-year-olds, assessed capable, to a Major and a Junior division softball teams. 

The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or "All Stars") of league age 11-12-year-olds from within this division, and the team may enter the International Tournament. The culmination of the International Tournament is the Girls Little League Softball World Series, featuring teams from around the globe. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.

The Junior League Softball division is a program for players league ages 12-15, and uses a conventional 60-foot diamond with a 43 foot pitching distance. A local league may dual-roster 12-year-olds, assessed capable, to a Major and a Junior division softball teams. 

The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or "All Stars") of league age 12-14-year-olds from within this division (and/or from within the Girls Senior League Softball Division), and the team may enter the International Tournament. The culmination of the International Tournament is the Junior League Softball World Series, featuring teams from around the globe. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.

The Senior League Softball division is a program for players league ages 12-16, and uses a conventional 60-foot diamond with a 43 foot pitching distance. A local league may dual-roster 12-year-olds, assessed capable, to a Major, Junior and a Senior division softball teams. 

The local league has an option to choose a Tournament Team (or "All Stars") of league age 14-16-year-olds from within this division (and/or from within the Girls Senior League Softball Division), and the team may enter the International Tournament. The culmination of the International Tournament is the Senior League Softball World Series, featuring teams from around the globe. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.