The Rookie Division is Northland's first level of play your child will experience. It is open to players 5-8 years of age. It utilizes a machine to pitch the ball and teams have 10 defensive players in the field. This is will be a player’s first exposure to real pitching so the machine is used for consistency. At this level you will see dramatic improvements in your child as they take a big leap to this style of ball. The focus of this level is fundamentals, development, safety and fun. Coaches are on the field with the players offering instruction before, during and after each play.  This is also an introduction to kid pitch.

Teams will practice from 6-7 either 6-7:30 (time depending on field availability) on Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs. The vast majority of the games will be played on the nights you are registered to play. The season begins in late April and run through the end of June with optional postseason opportunities for an 8U tournament team into July.

We will also offer an opportunity for Rookies interested in playing other programs to join together to form a traveling team that will typically play on nights other than Mon-Thurs. This is an optional opportunity that will be organized by the Rookie Commissioner and Rookie Coaches.

Beginning with the 2018 season, non-wood and laminated bats used in the Little League (Majors) and below, Intermediate (50-70) Division, and Junior League divisions, as well as the Little League Challenger Division, shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat - USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. All BPF – 1.15 bats will be prohibited beginning with the 2018 season. Additionally, starting in 2018, the bat diameter shall not exceed 2-5/8 inches for these divisions of play. Additional information is available at https://usabat.com/.

Minor/Major Divisions: It shall not be more than 33 inches in length; nor more than 2-5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed sixteen (16) inches from the small end. NOTE: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.

Over the course of 30 days, approximately 935 Little Leaguers® ages 10 to 16 from 78 different baseball and softball teams around the world will compete to determine the seven World Series champions for 2018. Learn more about the historical results of previous Little League World Series Tournaments.

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We have expanded our boundaries to include Anoka. New boundary map to come. With our boundaries continually expanding, you can go to littleleague.org to see if we are in your boundary. 

https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/league-finder/

Little League® is an international pastime that has been a fabric of societies throughout the world for 75 years. Since its founding in 1939 by Carl Stotz, Little League has instilled leadership, character, courage and loyalty in all that participate, including the nearly 1.5 million adult volunteers. Little League can be found in more than 80 countries worldwide with more than 2.4 million children participating each year. Little League has celebrated many milestones due to the dedication of its players, parents and volunteers. Below are just a few examples …

• The Legacy Begins: First Little League Game is played on June 6, 1939
• Another First: First Little League Baseball® World Series is played in August 1947
• International Expansion: Canada becomes the first international team to charter in 1951
• Outgrowing Original Field: Howard J. Lamade Stadium was built in 1959 to support the growing popularity of Little League
• Federal Charter: Little League receives its Federal Charter in 1964
• Expansion Outside of Baseball: Little League Softball is founded in 1974
• Dugout: Walt Disney Co. creates Dugout the Mascot in 1985
• Challenger:  The Little League Challenger Division is established in 1989
• Urban Initiative: The Urban Initiative Program is established in 1999
• The World Series Expands Again: Volunteer Stadium is built in 2001 to allow for a 16 team tournament

Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division: The Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division is created in 2012 creating nine divisions of play

The Minnesota Twins would like to invite your Youth Baseball & Softball League or Team out to Target Field this summer.

Participating teams will get to watch the Twins game together AND participate in a pre-game parade on the field prior to the game.

Sign your team up for this special event:

https://www.mlb.com/twins/tickets/group-tickets/youth-baseball-and-softball-days

At its annual fall meeting this November, the Little League® International Board of Directors approved new updates to the Little League Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Policies that will take effect starting in the 2018 season.

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Check your Little league age here

Held every four years, the Little League International Congress is the largest gathering of Little League volunteers, where delegates chart the course for the future of the organization. 
 

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Pride, Identity, Belonging

Little League Binds Neighborhoods Together

For 75 years, Little League® has established a proud, rich history in the hearts and minds of generations of Little Leaguers. Since its founding in 1939, Little League has nurtured the human spirit, and that is why it has been universally successful in cities and towns throughout the world.

Little League promotes a healthy balance of community-based activities through regular-season play among local teams and access to the world’s largest youth baseball and softball tournament for more advanced players – the Little League International Tournament. The organization offers programs and divisions of play that serve boys and girls, ages 4 to 18.

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