FALLS CHURCH KIWANIS LITTLE LEAGUE

WHICH DIVISION IS BEST FOR MY PLAYER?

There are several factors to consider when registering your player for a division. Click the image below to view the FCKLL Division Guide for Parents. All players League Age 8+ will be assessed to ensure they're placed in the appropriate division. Please contact the Player Agent if you have any questions or need more guidance.

Please note the following stipulations:
There will be VERY FEW League Age 10s in Majors.
There will be VERY FEW League Age 8s in AAA.
There will be VERY FEW League Age 7s in AA.
There will be NO League Age 7s in AAA.
There will be NO League Age 9s in Majors.
There will be NO League Age 12s in AAA, unless there is good cause for a waiver (i.e., player safety)

Determine your player’s League Age here

League At-A-Glance

	Tee Ball Rookies	Tee Ball Sluggers	A Level	AA Level	AAA Level	Majors	Intermediate
League Age	4-6	6-7	7-9	7*-10	8*-11	10*-12	13
Games per/week	1	1	1-2	1-2	1-2	1-2	1-2
Practice per/week	1	1	1-2	1-2	1-2	2-3	1-2
Team Formation	Neighbor	Neighbor	Neighbor	Draft	Draft	Draft	Draft
Spring Assessment	No	No	League Age 8+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Outs	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pitching	Tee	Coach/Tee	Coach	Player	Player	Player	Player
Standings	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scores	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Umpires	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Baseball	Tee	Tee	Tee	Tee	Hard	Hard	Hard
Field Size	N/A /60	N/A /60	42/60	42/60	46/60	46/60	50/70
Co-Ed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scholarships	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

* Indicates that there are VERY FEW of these League Age players in this division.

League Structure

League Structure and Levels of Play
The league is divided into levels of play commensurate with player age, maturity, and ability. Player development is focal to all levels. To ensure a safe and positive experience, all league age 8 players and older (except returning Majors players) are required to participate in a skills assessment/tryout session. This session guides appropriate team formation.

Click here for guidance on Little League Age determination.

Tee-Ball Rookies
Age Range: League age 4; any new League Age 5 and 6.
Schedule: One game/week (Saturdays), one practice/week (weekday evenings).
Team Formation: Teams are formed by neighborhood/school. Requests for coaches or teammates are accommodated, if possible.
Intent: Learning fundamental skills in a nurturing environment. Batter hits the ball from a batting tee. Fielders try to register outs, though base runners are not removed from the bases.

Tee-Ball Sluggers
Age Range: Mostly League Age 6, some new 7.
Schedule: One game/week (Saturdays), one 60 min. practice/week (weekday evenings).
Team Formation: Formed by neighborhood/school. Requests for coaches or teammates are accommodated, if possible.
Intent: Geared toward older/returning players. Hybrid coach pitch and batting tee use. No strikeouts. Outs are recorded, with emphasis on developing fielding and throwing skills.

A Level
Age Range: Mostly League Age 7 and 8, some 9.
Schedule: Two games/week (weekday evening, Saturday), one 90 min. practice/week (weekday evening).
Team Formation: Formed by neighborhood/school. Requests for coaches or teammates are accommodated, if possible, though age and experience are considered in assigning teams.
Intent: Spirit of competition is introduced. Wins and losses are recorded, outs are registered, and batters can strike out. Coaches pitch to batters and are positioned on the field during play. Continuous batting order and time at all positions ensures positive experience for all.

AA Level
Age Range: Mostly League Age 8 and 9; very few advanced age 7; some age 10 determined to not be ready for AAA.
Team Formation: League age 8 and older must participate in a skills assessment to determine eligibility for AA. Teams formed by a player draft. Not all eligible players may be drafted, and will then play Single A (with a call-up option).
Intent: Increased team competitiveness introduced. Players pitch, base stealing is allowed. Continuous batting order, playing time distributed evenly, all will play infield positions in every game. Increased playing time at key positions may occur.

AAA Level
Age Range: Mostly League Age 9, 10 , and 11, with a very few advanced League Age 8.
Team Formation: League age 8 and older must participate in a skills assessment to determine eligibility for AAA. Teams formed by player draft. Not all eligible players may be drafted, and will then play AA (with a call-up option).
Intent: AAA is a completely competitive level. Continuous batting order, no player may sit out for 2+ consecutive innings. Position specialization begins to take place.

Majors Level
Age Range: Mostly league age 11 and 12, with a very few advanced age 10.
Team Formation: All newly-eligible Majors players (previously unassigned to a spring season Majors team) are required to attend the skills assessment. All returning Majors players (previously assigned to a spring season Majors team) are NOT required to attend the skills assessment. Teams formed by player draft.
Intent: Majors is highly competitive, and follows Little League rules and regulations. Majors level teams play “real” baseball at a competitive, yet supportive level.

Intermediate
Age Range: Primarily for recently "aged out" players who are League Age 13.
Intent: A transitional division with adjusted field dimensions to help players move from Little League to the "Big Field." Players pitch from 50' and the bases are 70' apart. Play includes leads and steals. Other Little League teams are played against. Focus is to help prepare players for high school baseball.

Challenger
Age Range: League age 5 to 18, for individuals with physical or intellectual challenges.
Intent: The Challenger program is Little League's adaptive program for those with physical or intellectual challenges, allowing participation in a baseball program with the assistance of Majors teams. The season lasts approximately 6 games, weather depending.

League Regulations

2021-2022 League Constitution
FCKLL Boundary Map
For a detailed map of FCKLL's boundary, please visit the Little League's League Finder page.

League Playing Rules

Special Playing Rules for 2021-2022

Tee Rookies Special Playing Rules
Tee Sluggers Special Playing Rules
Level A Special Playing Rules
Level AA Special Playing Rules
Level AAA Special Playing Rules
Majors Special Playing Rules -- Call up policy is noted below

Other Rules

Fall Ball Special Playing Rules (District 4 Little League)
21 Myths About Baseball Rules
Little League International Rules

FCKLL Special Pitch Count Rules

The eligibility of a player to pitch in a Little League Baseball game is governed by a tiered pitch count that is tied to the number of pitches throw in a game. This is to ensure player health and safety given the stress of throwing overhand on the arm and shoulder. The pitch count determines how many days of rest are required before a player may pitch again in a Little League game.

FCKLL employs the use of special pitching rules in some Divisions, which are amended from Little League Baseball. Please reference your child's specific divisional special rules (above) for the comprehensive rules. Below is a simple summary.

Pitch Count Rules At-A-Glance
(based on League Age, not birth age)

Max Pitches	AA	AAA	Majors	Intermediate
1st Half of Season Pitches/Day	50	85, if 11+ 75, if 9-10 50, if <9	85, if 11+ 75, if 10	95, if 13+ 85, if 11+
2nd Half of Season Pitches/Day	60, if 9+ 50, if <9	85, if 11+ 75, if 9-10 50, if <9	85, if 11+ 75, if 10	95, if 13+
Pitches/Inning	30	30

Pitches	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+
Days Rest	0	1	2	3	4

Pitcher/Catcher Combination Rules

Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day. EXCEPTION: If the pitcher reaches the 20-pitch limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to return to the catcher position, until any one of the following conditions occur: (1) that batter reaches base; (2) that batter is retired; (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at-bat.

NOTE: If a pitcher reaches 40 pitches while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day, until any one of the following conditions occurs:(1) that batter reaches base; (2) that batter is retired; (3) the third out is made to complete the half inning or the game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at-bat. The pitcher would be allowed to play the catcher position provided that pitcher is moved, removed, or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter. If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

Majors (and AAA, as needed) Call Up Policy

Temporary call-up
Used in the event of illness, vacation, and/or other conflict. The impacted Manager is to notify the Player Agent one (1) day or greater prior to game. The Manager is to select a player from the resulting Majors draft “Eligible Call-Up Pool Roster,” so as to not conflict with the call-up players scheduled AAA games. In concurrence with the Majors manager, AAA Manager, Players Parents/Guardian and Player Agent, the AAA player is temporarily assigned - no more than one (1) game - to the Majors roster, until the Majors player returns. The AAA player is required to play in the Majors game, and his/her assigned teams AAA game.

Longer term call-up
Used in the event of injury or other conflict that results in player missing three (3) or more concurrent Majors events (games and practices, i.e. one week). The Manager is required to notify the Player Agent of the issue and potential duration within three (3) days of injury during FCKLL event or within two (2) days of parent notification. The Manager is to select a player from the resulting Majors draft “Eligible Call-Up Pool Roster." In conference with the Majors manager, AAA Manager, Players Parents/Guardian and Player Agent, the AAA player will be assigned to the Majors roster until the injured Majors player returns. The AAA player will attend all practices and games of only the Majors team. In the event of injury, a doctor's note is required for the Major player to return to roster.

Permanent call up
Used in the event of injury that lasts the duration of the season, or player withdraw from league. Notify Player Agent of issue immediately. The manager is to select a player from the resulting Majors draft “Eligible Call-Up Pool Roster." In concurrence with the Majors manager, AAA Manager, Players Parents/Guardian and Player Agent, the AAA player will be assigned to the Majors roster permanently and considered returning Majors player in next season.

AAA follows this approach, but obviously adapting the language for Majors to AAA, and AAA to AA.