MCLEAN LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL PROGRAM
The MLL Softball Program offers six levels of play:
Tee Ball is offered for both boys and girls and is the earliest level of play for both Softball and Baseball.
Each level increases in competitiveness as the players get older and develop higher-level skills. Throughout all the levels, the league focuses on building skills, knowledge of the game, and having fun. There is no tryout or draft until AA level.
Please read each level to review appropriateness for your child, as well as scheduled days of play to avoid conflicts.
Transition Softball
Focus: Instructional with a focus on building and learning skills, introducing the game, and fun.
Ages: 7-8 (Some six-year-olds will play at this level)
Ball: 10-inch soft softball
Pitching: All pitching machine
Pitching Plate Distance: 35’
Positions: Players change positions throughout the game.
Batting: All players are in the batting order throughout the game.
Player Evaluations/Team Formation: Teams are organized by McLean Little League. Schools and player/coach requests are taken into consideration. There are no evaluations held at this age.
Games in Spring Season: 8-10
Games Per Week: Average of 1 per week
Game Days: Majority of games are on Saturdays with some games during the week
Practices Per Week: 1 field practice per week. Coaches may schedule a weekly batting practice at the MLL batting cages.
Standings Kept: No
Tournament: No
Post Season Play: No
Trophies/Awards: All players receive a medal at the end of the season for participation
Minor League Softball
MLL has three minor league levels - AAA, AA and A . The goal for all three levels is to develop softball players by building skills, increasing game acumen, and having a lot of fun. As the players grow older, competitiveness increases - but always with a focus on sportsmanship, fun, and development.
All 9-12-year-old players not drafted onto a Majors Softball Team will be assigned to a AAA or AA team. Based upon skills shown at tryouts and the number of players available to form teams at various levels of play, some 8 year olds (and, in special circumstances, occasionally a 7 year old ) may be assigned to AA teams. Eight year olds may request eligibility for AAA but will only be made eligible for AAA in exceptional circumstances.
A Softball
Focus: Skills development and fun
Typical Ages: 7-8
Ball: 10 inch soft softball
Pitching Plate Distance: 30’
Pitching: Pitching machine for the first several innings followed by kid pitch for the remainder of the game. When the kids pitch, the batter starts with 1 strike and there are no walks. If the batter gets 4 balls, the coach pitches and the at-bat continues until the batter either hits or strikes out.
Positions: Players change positions throughout the game.
Batting: All players are in the batting order throughout the game
Player Evaluations/Team Formation: Teams are organized by the Little League. Schools and player/coach requests are taken into consideration.
Games in Spring Season: 8-10
Games Per Week: Average of 1 per week
Game Days: Majority of games are on Saturdays with some games held during the week on various days.
# of Practices Per Week: One field practice per week. Coaches may schedule a weekly batting practice at the MLL batting cages.
Standings Kept: No
City Series Tournament at the End of the Regular Season: No
Post Season Play: No
Trophies/Awards: All players receive a medal at the end of the season
AA Softball
Focus: Skills development and fun with some competition at the end of the season.
Ages: 8-10
Ball: 11 inch softball
Pitching Plate Distance: 30’
Pitching: Pitching machine for the first several innings followed by kid pitch for the remainder of the game. When players pitch, the batter starts with 1 strike and there are no walks. If the batter gets 4 balls, the coach pitches and the at-bat continues until the batter either hits or strikes out.
Positions: Players are placed in different positions throughout the game.
Batting: All players are in the batting order throughout the game
Player Evaluations/Team Formation: Player evaluations, which occur during a 30 minute gym session in February, are required. Teams are formed via a draft.
Games in Spring Season: 10-12
Games Per Week: Average of 1-2 per week
Game Days: Majority of games are on Saturdays with some games during the week, typically on Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays.
Practices Per Week: 1 field practice per week. Coaches may schedule a weekly batting practice at the MLL batting cages
Standings Kept: No
Tournament: Single elimination tournament with tournament draw established when the regular season schedule is published in March.
Post Season Play: There is no post-season All-Star team at this level.
Trophies/Awards: The 1st and 2nd place teams in the City Series tournament receive a trophy.
AAA Softball
Focus: Competitive with coaches focusing on age-appropriate skills development and fun.
Typical Ages: 9-11
Ball Size: 11- inch softball
Pitching Plate Distance: 35’
Pitching: All kid pitch
Positions: Everyone required to play 1 inning of defense in the infield. There is less player movement than AA and A. Coaches focus on ensuring players have the opportunity to play different positions.
Batting: All players are in the batting order.
Player Evaluations/Team Formation: Player evaluations, which occur during a 30 minute gym session in February, are required. Teams are formed via a draft.
Games in Spring Season: 12-14
Games Per Week: Average of 2 per week
Game Days: Majority of games are on Mondays and Fridays, with an occasional Thursday or Saturday game. If there is a rare Saturday game, they are typically late afternoon or evening. Make up games (rainouts) are on Sunday evenings.
Practices Per Week: Two field practices per week. Coaches have the option to schedule a weekly batting practice at the MLL batting cages
Standings Kept: Yes
End of Season Tournament: There is a single elimination tournament - the City Series Tournament - at the end of regular season play. The tournament draw is based on regular season standings.
Post Season Play: Players are eligible for the 8-10 and 9-11 all-star teams. Generally, there are only a handful of players from AAA who are selected to participate on these teams.
Trophies/Awards: The 1st and 2nd place teams in the Regular Season and City Series tournament receive a trophy.
Majors Softball
Major League Softball is the highest level of softball competition in Little League. All players who are league age 10-12 are eligible to play at this level. Nine-year-olds may request eligibility. Please note it is rare for nine-years-old to be deemed eligible for Majors.
Focus: Highly competitive - coaches focus on higher-level skills development as well as fun.
Age: 10-12 (Note that 9-year-olds may request eligibility, however it is rare for a 9 year old to play in Majors.)
Ball size: 12-inch softball.
Pitching Plate distance: 40’
Pitching: Players pitch the entire season. No coach or machine pitch.
Positions: Players may not sit out consecutive innings during the game. There is no requirement that players play in the infield or that every player must sit out.
Batting: All players are in the batting order throughout the game.
Player Evaluations/Team Formation: Player evaluations, which occur during a 30 minute gym session in February, are required. Teams are formed via a draft. Once selected to a Major League team, a player is expected to complete their LL eligibility (through 12 years of age) with that team.
Games per Spring Season: 14-19
Games Per Week: Average of 2 per week
Game Days: Majority of games are on Mondays and Fridays, with an occasional Thursday game. Make up games (rainouts) are typically Sunday evenings.
Practices Per Week: Two practices per week. One on a full field plus a weekly batting practice at the MLL batting cages.
Standings Kept: Yes
Tournament: There is a single elimination tournament - the City Series Tournament - at the end of regular season play. The tournament draw is based on regular season standings.
Post-Season Play: Players are eligible for the 8-10, 9-11 and Majors (10-12) All-Stars teams.
Trophies/Awards: The 1st and 2nd place teams in the Regular Season and City Series tournament receive a trophy.
Juniors/Seniors Softball
Seniors Softball is for players 13 through 18 years of age. It is anticipated that the seniors team(s) will play other area teams (e.g.,in Arlington and Great Falls) of similar age levels. It is also possible that the team would play a local travel tournament, such determination would only be made in consultation with the participating families and could be subject to supplemental charges to cover travel tournament fees.
Focus: Competitive, but with a focus on skills development and fun. Typically for players who wish to continue playing after the age of 12 but may not want to play travel softball.
Typical Ages: 13-18
Ball: 12 inch softball
Pitching: All kid pitch
Positions: Players may not sit out consecutive innings during the game but there is no requirement that players play in the infield.
Batting: All players are in the batting order throughout the game
Player Evaluations/Team Formation: No evaluations, teams are typically formed based on age.
Games in Spring Season: 12-16
Games Per Week: 2 games per week (played on one day as a doubleheader)
Game Days: Saturday
Practices Per Week: 1 field practice per week and a weekly batting practice at the MLL batting cages
Standings Kept: No, the teams schedules games against other recreational league teams from Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland.
City Series Tournament at the End of the Regular Season: No, though the team does often play in a Northern Virginia tournament at the end of the season.
Post Season Play: If there is sufficient interest and availability, there can be a Juniors or Seniors all-star team. These teams are not common but do occur on occasion.
Trophies/Awards: None.
FOR ALL LEVELS TRANSITION OR BELOW:
If you want to request a specific manager or teammate here's how:
- Check with the manager or player you wish to play with, to confirm you are registering for the same level of play. This is the PRIORITY in determining teams.
- At registration, request the manager or teammate by name, directly on the form. Unfortunately, the league cannot process requests that say, “same team as last year” or “the Yankees”.
- If you are new to the area or to MLL, please feel free to indicate a school or neighborhood preference for teammates.
Fall Ball has all five of the above levels. The emphasis of Fall ball at all levels is on development. All levels are low key. No standings are kept at any level nor is there a draft. The fall ball program is supplemented with several skills clinics for Majors and Minors players.
Questions regarding the Softball Program should be directed to the Vice Presidents of Softball, Lindsey DeVylder and Deirdre Ramsey.