The leagues

Play ball!

Little League is the programme for baseball and softball players with league age 10 through 16. You register as an individual, train with players in your age category and can be selected for the regional selection: the team your region sends to the Dutch championship over Whitsun weekend. In Little League such a team is called an All-Star team. Note: the league age is the age on a fixed reference date, not always the age during the championship. The reference dates are: baseball on 31 August and softball on 31 December.

Find your child's league

Not sure which league your child belongs in? Check here.

Enter the date of birth and you will see the league age per sport with the leagues that fit. That age counts on the reference date of the sport, not on the birthday — for softball that date falls earlier in the year than for baseball. We store nothing.

Baseball

Four leagues. Intermediates is the only league that exists in baseball alone.

Littles

league age 10–12

The classic Little League. A short field, plenty of action and everyone gets to bat. For most players their first championship.

Stealing: once the ball reaches the plate
Base distance: 18.29 m
Pitching distance: 14 m
Ball: 9 inch
Game: 4 innings, max. 85 min.

Intermediates

league age 11–13

The step up to the big field: leading off and stealing are allowed, the distances grow with the players. Baseball only.

Stealing: leadoff allowed
Base distance: 21.34 m
Pitching distance: 15.24 m
Ball: 9 inch
Game: 4 innings, max. 85 min.

Juniors

league age 12–14

Full-size field, youth rules. The game gets faster here and pitch counts really start to matter.

Stealing: leadoff allowed
Base distance: 27.43 m
Pitching distance: 18.45 m
Ball: 9 inch
Game: 4 innings, max. 85 min.

Seniors

league age 13–16

The oldest league at the championship. Full field, adult pace; for many their last season in Little League.

Stealing: leadoff allowed
Base distance: 27.43 m
Pitching distance: 18.45 m
Ball: 9 inch
Game: 4 innings, max. 85 min.

Softball

Three leagues. Underhand pitching from a flat circle, one base distance for all ages.

Littles

league age 10–12

A shorter pitching distance, the same ball as the older leagues. The game is all about making contact and running fast.

Base distance: 18.29 m
Pitching distance: 12.2 m
Ball: 12 inch
Game: 4 innings, max. 85 min.

Juniors

league age 12–14

Same field and ball as the Littles, more distance for the pitcher. At-bats get shorter and sharper.

Base distance: 18.29 m
Pitching distance: 13.1 m
Ball: 12 inch
Game: 4 innings, max. 85 min.

Seniors

league age 13–16

The top softball league at the championship. High pace, pitching-driven games and grown-up tactics.

Base distance: 18.29 m
Pitching distance: 13.1 m
Ball: 12 inch
Game: 4 innings, max. 85 min.

The differences at a glance

	Baseball	Softball
Leagues	Littles, Intermediates, Juniors, Seniors	Littles, Juniors, Seniors
Pitching	Overhand, from a raised mound	Underhand, from a flat circle
Ball	9 inch, hard	12 inch, larger and softer
Field	Grows with each league, up to 27.43 m	18.29 m in every league
Game	4 innings, no new inning after 85 minutes	4 innings, no new inning after 85 minutes
Teams	Boys and girls together	Girls only

Base distances follow the Little League International rulebook; pitching distances, ball size and game length come from the championship's tournament regulations, set every season.

Ready to register?

You register your child individually. During the tryouts it becomes clear which league and team your child ends up in.