Our program documentation for Spring, Summer, and Fall baseball explains the divisions of play available in each season. Please see those documents for background information on available programs, age limits, and competitiveness.

Our frequently asked questions document covers topics like player ratings and coach/teammate concerns.

How is my player assigned to a division?

League placement is done primarily according to the Little League age chart. In the Spring, all 5-8 year olds slot into a division based solely on their Little League age. Double A (9s and 10s), Triple A (10s and 11s), and Majors (11s and 12s) have multiple age groups. These leagues are filled from Majors down.

Assuming 60 12 year olds register to play in the Spring and the Board of Directors targets 8 Majors teams of 11 players each (88 total players), then there are 28 spots available in Majors for 11 year olds. Members of the Board of Directors familiar with the 11 year old age group will review player ratings based on coach evaluations from the previous Spring to decide which 28 11 year olds should play majors.

This process repeats similarly for the Triple A and Double A divisions.

How does the board decide how many teams each division will have?

This is driven by the number of registrants at each age level, though it is generally keyed on the number of 12 year olds that are registered. We are unlikely to ever have more than 10 Majors teams due to available field space and the minimum number of games required by Little League to have players eligible to play in summer district tournaments.

How are teams formed in each division?

Single A and Above

Once players are assigned to a division a master list of available players is created with their associated player rankings. Head Coaches are selected from volunteers and a player draft is scheduled.

Draft order is determined by pulling numbers out of a hat and progresses in a snake fashion, meaning the order of the picks reverses each round.

Parent coaches must pick their player in the round that corresponds to their player rating. For example, in an 8 team league if a coach's player is rated as the 5th best player, they will be that coach's first round pick. If the coach's player is rated as the 30th best player, they will be that coach's fourth round pick.

Tee Ball and Rookie Coach Pitch

These teams are formed by their respective league directors, aiming for balance and to keep cohorts of schoolmates together where possible while also providing players the opportunity to meet children from other schools.

How are District, Bay State, and other summer tournament teams selected?

We are pleased to offer a variety of Summer baseball programs, providing an opportunity for everyone to find a league that suits them.

Summer Sandlot

Summer Sandlot is for younger players who want to continue with a beginner-level of baseball similar to Rookie and Single A. The program will run two days per week for five weeks. The goal for registration is to get enough kids to have 4-8 teams each playing one game during the week and one on the weekend. Players 7-9 years old who want to play some fun. in-town baseball and are looking to improve their baseball skills in a coach-pitch league should sign up for Summer Sandlot.

Jimmy Fund Travel Teams

The Jimmy Fund League is a competitive travel league that involves travel to neighboring towns such as North Reading, Wakefield, and Woburn. We generally field multiple teams in each division of play: 8 year olds, 9/10 year olds, 11/12 year olds). The divisions have similar levels of play to our Double A, Triple A, and Majors Spring programs respectively. At the youngest ages, please be sure your child is ready for a higher level of competition.

This program is open to all 8-12 year olds and there are no evaluations. Jimmy Fund League coaches and directors will make teams as balanced as possible.

District Teams

The District Teams are the highest level of competition that Reading Little League offers in any season. We enter a single team in each age group: 10, 11, and 12 year olds. Teams that win the district tournament may go on to compete at sectionals. If the 12 year-old team wins the sectional tournament they will have the opportunity to compete at states and potentially the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

These teams are a big commitment of time and effort. The competition is fierce and the expectation is that the team will have a practice or game every day of the week. 100% participation in practices and games is expected, and vacations are highly discouraged until mid-to-late August depending on how far the team advances.

An invitation is required to be evaluated for these teams. See below for more on the selection process. Registration opens after the teams are announced.

Bay State Teams

Bay State Baseball is a highly competitive travel baseball league which goes from late June through mid August and requires a major commitment from coaches, players, and families. The expectation is that there will be practices or games 4-5 days per week with games against teams from all over the eastern part of the state.

The District team at each age group will also be entered into Bay State. Each year, Reading Little League will determine whether to enter an additional team at each age group depending on skill level at the age group, available field space, and level of interest.

An invitation is required to be evaluated for these teams. See below for more on the selection process. Registration opens after the teams are announced.

The Invitation / Selection Process

Players are nominated or invited to the tryout session for the District and Baystate teams.  These nominations come from the managers of their age group.

Manager Selection Process:

1. Director Selects the Red Team and Black Team managers.  Selection is made after the player nominations are submitted.  Nominations going to Player Agent act as a safeguard over the Directors selection.  After the Red team is selected then the same process happens for Black team.

Player Selection Process:

1. Before season ends coaches submit rankings and recommendations – they are shared with Division Director and Player Agent.
2. At tryouts – evaluators are from different age group (drills can be run by age group coaches).
3. Evaluation scores collected by Player Agent and shared with Coach and Age Group Director (Another BOD member added if Coach is Director or Player Agent).
4. Coach uses the following to select: 1) spring evals, 2) tryout scores, 3) nominations from other coaches, and 4) coaches discretion.
5. Selection Committee – Coach – Division Director – Player Agent.  Coach makes the selections but the committee is there to assist, to answer questions, and to keep the process honest.