GELL Age Categories 2008

2008 Little League Age Chart

League Age Calculator

Major Red Division

The Major Red Division is the highest level of play for boys 10-12 years of age.  Players must attend tryouts and must be drafted to play at this level.  Player skill levels are usually advanced and, while enjoyment is still promoted, the competitive aspect of the sport increases significantly.  Games are played, “to win”; therefore scores and division standings are tracked.

Major Blue Division

The Major Blue Division (10-12 years of age) is a place where boys can play baseball in a more relaxed atmosphere. Players must attend tryouts and must be drafted to play at this level.   Players at this level, while skilled, have the chance to further develop their level of play.  These players are eligible to tryout for the Major Red Division in subsequent years and must be selected to play at that level.

Minor Division

The Minor Division (mainly 9 years of age but also undrafted 10-12 year olds) is a place where boys can play baseball in a more instructional atmosphere. Players must attend tryouts to help ensure that teams are evenly matched.   These players are eligible to tryout for the Major Red and Major Blue Divisions in subsequent years and must be selected to play at those levels.

 Rookie League: 7 & 8-year-olds

This league is for 7 & 8-year-olds with a few 9-year-olds who have little experience. This is a transitional league where the pitching machine is used for the first half of the season. During the second half of the season, players pitch two innings, using the pitching machine for the remainder of the game. All players bat in the rotation, with equal playing time for all. Score is kept, but no stats or standings. A Reduced Injury Factor ball is used in this league. There are no playoffs or post-season play.

T-ball: 5 & 6-year-olds 

This is a tee-ball league for all of our 5 & 6-year-olds. This is strictly an instructional league, with no stats kept, and coaches are on the field during play to instruct. All players bat in the rotation. Playing time is divided equally for all players. A Reduced Injury Factor ball is used in this league. There are no playoffs or post-season play.

Post Season Play

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Major Red, Major Blue and Minor Divisions will each hold playoffs to determine which team is the respective division championship team and runner-up.

At the completion of the post-season intra-division playoffs, a nine year old All Star Team will be selected from players participating in the Minor Division and will represent GELL, ending play in the District 28 Tournament.  A ten and eleven year old All Star Team will be selected from players participating in the Major Red and Major Blue Divisions and will represent GELL, potentially ending play in the Pennsylvania State Tournament.  A Major Red Division twelve year old All Star Team will also be selected and potentially end play in the Little League World Series.

Mandatory Tryouts

Mandatory tryouts and player evaluations will be conducted for all players in the Minor, Major Blue and Major Red Divisions. The date of the tryouts will be announced to all registered players and be published on the GELL web site.  Players must attend tryouts to qualify for the Major Red Division.  Players can expect to hear from Managers regarding their team placement within five days of the last tryout.  Players not chosen for the Major Red Division will be drafted into the Major Blue or Minor Divisions.

Play Down Policy

League age 10, 11, & 12 players may request to play in the Minor or Major Blue Divisions rather than be considered for the draft for the more competitive Major Red Division. If no written request is received regarding a preference to play in the Minor or Major Blue Division, it will be understood that your child is eligible to play in any Division, depending on player evaluation and draft outcome. 

Any request by a parent for a child to “play down” in league age will automatically be approved if it is a request to play down one division level, or for ages 10 – 12 to play in the Major Blue Division.  This request is usually beneficial to the player’s safety and playing enjoyment based on experience and level of ability.  The league may occasionally recommend this as well if it is deemed in the player’s best interest.

Requests to play down should be emailed to the appropriate division commissioner.  No phone requests will be accepted.

 Play Up Policy

There are very few situations that merit a child qualifying to play up out of his assigned league age division.  For the player’s safety, enjoyment of play, and fairness to all in the league, it is not recommended nor routinely endorsed to have a player play up and, as a result, decisions of this type are rare and kept to an absolute minimum based on real need.

The one exception that routinely does occur is with the 9 year old (Minor) division.  Rosters need to be filled with 12 players per team.  As this is the only division exclusive to itself based on age, the 9 year old registration may not yield full teams.  In this situation, the league will select and invite a few qualified 8 year old players to fill available roster slots as needed.

Any request for a player to “play up” in league age must be made by email and sent to the appropriate division commissioner, who will then seek final approval of the GELL Board.  No phone requests will be accepted.