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West Madison Little League

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Age-Based Leagues & Player Assignments

WMLL offers five Little League age (LL age) based leagues for both baseball and softball in accordance with Little League International regulations.

LITTLE LEAGUE AGE - BASEBALL

“Little League Age” is used as the basis for WMLL league assignments. For baseball a player’s Little League Age (LL Age) for the 2026 spring/summer season is their age as of August 31, 2026.

2026 LL Age Chart - BASEBALL

USSSA AGE - SOFTBALL

Effective for Fall 2025 and beyond, the WMLL Board approved the change to adopt the age eligibility criteria of USSSA Softball and USA Softball for all WMLL Softball divisions - shifting the cutoff date from December 31st to September 1st. For clarity on what age your child is classified as for the 2026 Spring/Summer season, please access the USSSA Age Calculator, which can be found immediately below.

2026 USSSA Age Calculator - SOFTBALL

AGE DIVISIONS

Rookie League BB & SB (LL Ages 7-8): An introductory league focused on having fun, learning key skills/rules & trying out different positions. Games are on a Little League sized field using a pitching machine.

Minor League BB & SB (LL Ages 9-10): A developmental league focused on improving overall skills and game knowledge, while having fun. Games are on a Little League sized field with pitching by players.

Major League BB & SB (LL Ages 11-12): This is WMLL’s most advanced league that still plays on a Little League sized field. It is focused on expanding skills at positions of interest during more competitive play.

Junior League BB (LL Ages 13-14): This is a transformative league focused on further developing skills at positions of interest and adapting to playing on a full-sized field.
– Note: LL age 14 baseball players that are in high school will be assigned to the Senior League.

Junior/Senior League SB (LL Ages 13-16): This combined league is WMLL’s highest level of softball play. It is focused on further developing skills at positions of interest and using and refining specialized skills during competitive play. Pitching is from 43’.

Senior League BB (LL Ages 15-16): This is WMLL’s highest level of baseball play. It is focused on using and refining specialized skills during competitive play.

Note on Softball Field Dimensions: The only softball field dimension that changes between age divisions is the pitching distance which is 35’ in the Rookie and Minor Leagues, 40’ in the Major League, and 43’ in the Junior / Senior League.

PLAYER ASSIGNMENT TO LEAGUES

WMLL assigns players into leagues based upon their LL age. WMLL strongly believes that in almost all cases it is best for players to play in the league designated for their LL age in order to:
– Allow skilled players to play key positions & grow as leaders
– Preserve a logical, fair & consistent age-based league structure
– Maintain balanced leagues & teams at all levels of play
– Provide an opportunity for players of all abilities to develop their skills
– Keep age cohorts together that will play on the same WMLL tournament teams

SPECIAL PLACEMENT REQUESTS

WMLL is only able to accommodate requests to place players on the same team as follows:

Siblings: Siblings in the same league will be placed on the same team unless a parent/guardian requests otherwise before March 3rd.

Rookie League “Buddy Pairs”: In Rookie baseball & softball, a pair of friends can request that they be placed on the same team. For this to happen, the two halves of the “buddy pair” must identify one another as their one “buddy” on their individual registration applications before March 3rd. While WMLL will attempt to pair buddies, it is not guaranteed.

PLAYING UP/DOWN FROM A LL-AGE BASED LEAGUE ASSIGNMENT

WMLL’s Play Up/Down Policy: In very limited instances, the WMLL Board of Directors may allow a player to play in a league above (‘play up’) or below (‘play down’) the level designated for the player’s Little League age. The WMLL Board of Directors grants very few of these exceptions and does so only on an individual, year-to-year basis.

Baseball “play up” requests will be considered only for a player to participate in the league matching his/her school grade level, be on the same team with a sibling within one year in age, or address outstanding hardship situations.
Baseball “play down” requests will be considered only in cases of physical or developmental disability or delay.
A players skill level alone is not a valid reason to merit a baseball ‘play up’ or ‘play down’ exception.
Softball “play up” / “play down” requests will be considered for a player to be on the same team with a sibling within one year in age; to address significant physical, developmental or skill discrepancies; or to address other outstanding hardship situations.

If the Board approves a play-up / play-down request for a player in a given year, it does not mean that player will be allowed to play-up / play-down in future years.

Parent / Guardian Petitions: If the parent/guardian of a player who satisfies one of the limited valid play up/down requirements would like to request that WMLL allow their player to play up/down, the parent/guardian must make a formal petition to WMLL’s VP-Baseball or VP-Softball for review by the WMLL Board of Directors. The Board will review & decide on the play-up / play-down petition in as timely a fashion as possible. In some instances, a decision may be delayed by the Board’s need to await registration information for the relevant leagues.

RECURRING PLAY UP OPPORTUNITY

Game Day “Call Ups”
Interested players in all WMLL leagues have the opportunity to be “called up” to play in some games in the league above the level designated for their Little League age. “Call ups” occur when the coach of a team short on players for a game due to schedule conflicts, injuries, etc. seeks replacement players from the league below. Call ups provide players with the opportunity to experience play & test their skills at the next level.

QUESTIONS / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have questions about anything related to the skills session, league draft, player notifications or the upcoming season, please contact the appropriate league coordinator.