Beginning each winter, the youth that reside, or go to a school, within Steel Lake Little League's boundary (see League boundary info above) are invited to register for one of the various baseball or softball divisions, designated by age and ability. For BASEBALL, a player's "Little League age" is based upon their age as of either April 30th or August 31st in the year of the baseball season (please refer to the age section above or Little League's Age Calculator). For SOFTBALL, a player's "Little League age" is based upon their age as of December 31 in the year prior to the current season.
MAJORS & AAA: The deadline to register for the drafted divisions of Steel Lake Little League (Majors & AAA) is immediately preceding the tryouts which are typically held on the first Saturday in February. Any player, league age 9-12, who wants to be drafted into the Majors division MUST try out. Any player who is League Age 12, must try out and will automatically play in the Majors division or sign a waiver (available here) to play down in the AAA (Minors) division. Players League Age 10-11 yrs old, who are not drafted by a Majors division team after the tryout, will be placed on a AAA (Minors) division team. For AAA, since every player is placed on a team, the tryout is really an "evaluation" to split the AAA teams evenly. Players have the option of making themselves eligible for the AAA (Minors) draft only and not be considered for a Majors division team if they choose.
The Majors Division will utilize a conventional batting order of 9 with substitutions from a 12 player roster and follow Little League's mandatory minimum playing requirement of one at-bat and 6 defensive outs in the field for the majority of the games. In certain Majors games both teams might bat the entire roster for the entire game if both coaches agree. Majors teams will always bat the entire roster for the whole game when two Steel Lake Little League Majors teams play each other, however, Majors teams will bat 9 with substitutions in most of our interleague contests.
The AAA (Minors) Division and below, teams will use a "continuous batting order" with all players on the roster placed in the batting lineup throughout the game and open substitutions in the field.
All eligible players who register before the deadline will play on a team. Practices for the Majors and AAA divisions typically start in mid to late February with games beginning in the middle of March. Typically, the season ends for everyone ages 4-12 by the first week of June.
Players who are League Age 9 or 10, have an option of either attending the tryout for the draft (Majors or AAA) or simply choose to play in the AA division where they are automatically assigned to a neighborhood team if possible.
For players League Ages 4-10, the deadline for registering for the non-drafted divisions of Steel Lake Little League (T-Ball, 1A and 2A) is typically the end of February with those games starting immediately following spring break in early April (or possibly before spring break depending on the calendar). The season typically ends by the first week of June.
Players who are League Age 13 play 50/70 (Intermediate Division) - or possible Juniors depending on how many players are participating. The 50/70 season runs from April to mid-June. Players who are League Age 14 play Juniors or Seniors. Players who are League Age 14-16 can play the Seniors division. That season runs from April until late June.
The league will supply each player with a baseball hat and either a shirt or jersey. Players will have to supply their own baseball glove, pants, cleats, athletic cup, socks and belt. While the league provides a limited set of batting and catching gear to each team, most players will want to purchase their own bat and batting helmet. Approved baseball bat information can be found HERE.