Announcement
SPECIAL NOTICE - Little League Age Determination for Girls Playing Softball
Little League International has made a change to the rule for determining a player’s league age. This rule change is applicable to all Little Leagues in the United States. In prior seasons, a player’s league age was determined by her age as of July 31. Effective in 2006, a softball player’s league age will be determined based upon her age as of December 31 of the prior year. [Baseball has a different age determination date which is explained in a separate letter in this package.]
As a result of this rule change, a softball player’s league age during the 2006 season can easily be determined based on this chart:
|
Only For Girl’s Playing Little League Softball* | |
|
Player’s Year of Birth |
Softball League Age in 2006 |
|
1991 |
14 |
|
1992 |
13 |
|
1993 |
12 |
|
1994 |
11 |
|
1995 |
10 |
|
1996 |
9 |
|
1997 |
8 |
|
1998 |
7 |
|
1999 |
6 |
|
2000 |
5** |
|
**Girls interested in T-Ball should refer to the letter regarding both T-Ball and baseball contained in this package. | |
|
*There is a different League Age Determination rule for baseball players. | |
In response to this rule change, Manhattan Little League Softball Division has adapted new rules and policies for this 2006 season of transition. The primary change is to allow for girls of three different age groups with similar skill sets to play in the same league. This will result in giving more girls an opportunity to play in MLL softball leagues traditionally reserved for girls one year older. This new policy does not change MLL’s long standing tradition of guaranteeing every player who timely registers to play softball or baseball an opportunity to play. It simply means that skilled softball players will have more opportunities, if they so choose, to play in a league with more challenging rules and more experienced players.
Here is a description of the MLL 2006 Softball Leagues and the players that will be eligible to play in each league
American League - Coach-pitch softball for girls born in 1997, 1998, and girl’s born in 1999 who have played two years of T-Ball. This League is primarily designed for 7 & 8 year old girls, and some 6 year old girls with T-Ball experience solely as an exception during this 2006 transition season. Girls born in 1997 may also try-out for National League if they are interested in playing first year kid pitch softball.
National League - Fast Pitch Softball (first year kid pitch) for girls drafted to play in the National League. Girls born in 1995, 1996, and some girls born in 1997, will be eligible for the National League draft. Girls born in 1997 who wish to try out for the National League must attend try-outs. This League is designed for 9 & 10 year old girls, and some 8 year old players who played two years of American League softball, solely as an exception during this 2006 transition season.
Pacific League - Fast Pitch Softball for girls drafted to play in the Pacific League. Girls born in 1994, 1995, and some girls born in 1996, will be eligible for the Pacific League draft. Girls born in 1996 who wish to try-out for the Pacific League must attend try-outs. This League is designed for 10 & 11 year old girls, and some 9 year old players who played in the National League last season, solely as an exception during this 2006 transition season.
Major League - Fast Pitch Softball for girls drafted to play in the Major League. Girls born in 1993, 1994, and some girls born in 1995, will be eligible for the Major League draft. Girls born in 1995 who wish to try-out for the Major League must attend try-outs. This League is designed for 11 & 12 year old girls, and some 10 year old players who played in the Pacific League last season, solely as an exception during this 2006 transition season.
Junior League - Fast Pitch Softball for girls born in 1991 and 1992. This League is designed for 13 & 14 year old girls who love the game.
Tryout dates will be in early January and will be posted on the Manhattan Little League web site at mbll.org.
Manhattan Little League Softball Division is excited about these new rule and policy changes and believes it will give more girls an opportunity to challenge themselves on the softball field and fall in love with this great sport. If you have any questions, please direct them to Bill von Behren, MLL’s Vice-President, Softball Division, at: bvbatbeach@aol.com.
Manhattan Little League
