Rockford Little League’s Baseball and Softball program offers a fun environment to teach hitting, base running, fielding, and throwing, while encouraging teamwork, sportsmanship, and community spirit. Our program is 100% led by volunteers and is part of Little League®
Little League® believes in the power of youth baseball and softball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities
New to Little League? Check out this Guide:
Parents' Guide to Little League
How are ages determined for Little League?
Little League uses a player age based on year for Softball and date of August 31/September 1 for baseball cutoff
For baseball, the Little League age goes from September 1 through August 31 (for example, this year's 12 year olds are born between 9/1/13-8/31/14). Here is a link to the age calculator:
litteleague.org/downloads/2026-baseball-age-chart/
For softball, the Little League age is by year (for example, this year's 12 year olds are born in 2013). Here is a link to the age calculator:
littleleague.org/downloads/2026-softball-age-chart/
Who can play at Rockford Little League?
Players must live or attend a school inside Rockford Little League's boundary to play in Rockford Little League with the exception of Little League Age 4-7 years. Verify if you are eligible here: League Finder - Little League
What is needed to verify school eligibility?
If your player is participating in our league by school residency, you will need the school eligibility form. School attendance will be established and supported by a document indicating enrollment for the current academic year, dated prior to October 1, 2025, and with the physical location of the school, from ONE of the following categories to determine school attendance by such player:
1. Official/Certified School enrollment record dated prior to October 1, 2025
2. A Little League-issued school attendance form completed by the principal, assistant principal, or administrator authorized to sign on behalf of the school
Where is the School Enrollment Form?
It is linked under the Registration tab on our website or you may click here.
What is needed to verify residency inside Rockford Little League’s boundary?
If your player is participating in our league because they reside in our boundary, you will need the three forms of residency documentation. Residence will be established and supported by documents containing the full residence which include parent(s) or guardian(s) name, street address, city, state, and zip code information, dated or in force between February 1, 2025 (previous year) and February 1, 2026(current year).
I am new to a school located within the Rockford Little League’s boundaries or a new resident with Rockford Little League’s boundaries can I still play Rockford Little League?
Yes, if your player moves to our league boundary past the date, we can submit a post documentation request and take that to the Little League charter committee for proper approvals. Please let us know and provide the documentation that you now reside in the league boundary.
I am not eligible to play at Rockford Little League but still want to register.
Please do not register if you are not eligible to play without consulting with a board member first. Opportunities and waivers will continue to be available as an option for players should they be interested in switching leagues that are outside of the residency or school enrollment requirements, based on approval and stipulations from the Little League International Charter Committee. Note that some waivers limit eligibility for All-Stars. All waivers must be approved by Little League International.
Can my athlete play up?
Yes based on skill, experience, approval of the board and capacity in the divisions. Note all players must register for the division their little league age aligns with. Note some little league ages will have two programs available for athletes to choose from (for example coach pitch or kid pitch). Parents can choose what program to register for or determine the program that best fits their athlete at assessments with the assistance of our coaches to allow their athlete the best experience.
Can my athlete play down?
No based on liability for age groups.
What are the little league divisions?
Little League Baseball Division:
- T-ball: Little League ages 4-6
- Coach Pitch: Little League ages 6-8
- Player Pitch: AA Minors: Little League ages 8-10
- Player Pitch: AAA Minors: Little League age 11 (largest percentage of players), roster filled with drafted players age 10
- Majors: Little League age 12 (largest percentage of players), roster filled with drafted players age Little League 11(smallest percentage of players) (RLL Board reserves the right to allow Little League age 10-year-olds to be drafted into Majors based on skill, experience and approval (rarest percentage of players)
- Juniors: Little League age 13-14 (parents can request their 12 yo to play this division)
- Seniors: Little League ages 15-16
Little League Softball Division:
Softball (Coach Pitch/AA use an 11" softball, Majors-Seniors use a 12" softball):
- T-ball: Little League ages 4-6
- Coach Pitch: Little League ages 6-8
- AA Minors: Little League ages 8-10
- Majors: Little League ages 11-12
- Juniors: Little League ages 13-14 *Depending on enrollment, players maybe combined with other district 9 teams.
- Seniors: Little League ages 15-16
What other opportunities are there for my player if they did not get drafted “up” a division
As noted above the largest majority of Majors and AAA baseball players are allocated with specific little league ages. Opportunities arise where we need subs for games in these divisions. Please sign your player up to be a sub if they are interested in these opportunities. In addition some players will be recommended to try-out for All-Stars. Players who are invited to an all-stars team after try-outs will participate in competitive tournament play post season. Players must provide a copy of their birth certificate, proof of school eligibility or proof of residency eligibility. Players also must participate in 8 of 12 regular season games. No exceptions.
Who should attend evaluations (assessments)?
See our baseball and softball FAQ’s here for more information
When does the season start?
Practices for coach pitch and player pitch divisions are scheduled to start the week of March 16, with games starting the week of April 20.
Practices for tee ball will start the week of April 13, with games starting April 27.
Seasons go through the second week of June.
What nights are practices?
The practice schedule for most divisions will come out in early March. Tball and juniors schedules typically will come out in late March. Teams will have one weeknight (M-Th) and one Saturday practice. Practices run until games begin; once games begin, there are no further scheduled practices. Games for tball, coach pitch, and player pitch (minors) consist of one weeknight (M-Th) and one Saturday game. The weeknight game could vary from week to week.
What nights are games?
Baseball:
- Tball Games: One game during the week and one game on Saturday. Games are typically Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Coach Pitch Games: One game during the week and one game on Saturday. Games are typically Monday, Wednesday or Thursday.
- AA Games: Wednesday and Saturday. Games are typically scheduled 9:00 am Saturday morning.
- AAA Games: Tuesday and Friday. No weekend games to accommodate travel and little league schedules.
- Majors Games: Monday and Thursday. If we have an odd number of teams we may interleague with surrounding Little Leagues and may have a Wednesday night game. No weekend games to accommodate travel and little league schedules. Note this division will have a team tournament following the regular season that will play other district 9 teams. The tournament is double elimination with the championship game on Saturday (as applicable). Tournament schedule is determined by District 9.
- Juniors Games: Determined by District 9 and can vary any day of the week, historically no weekend games. Note this division will have a team tournament following the regular season that will play other district 9 teams. The tournament is double elimination with the championship game on Saturday (as applicable). Tournament schedule is determined by District 9
- Seniors Games: Determined by District 9 and can vary any day of the week, Saturdays are typically double headers
Softball:
Tball Games: One game during the week and one game on Saturday. Weekday games are typically Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Coach Pitch Games: One game during the week and one game on Saturday. Games are typically Wednesday and Saturday.
- Minor Games: Two games a week; Typically, Monday or Wednesday and Friday.
- Majors Games: Schedule is Determined by District 9. Typical Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
- Juniors Games: Determined by District 9
- Seniors Games: Determined by District 9
Can I request specific days of the week for practices or games?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a specific day for practices or games. Practice days will be consistent each week for your child's team, but game days can vary week to week.
Can I make teammate requests?
We do not accept teammate & coach requests for AA, AAA, Majors and Juniors. These are drafted divisions in order to ensure teams are fair and competitive. Parents that coach together can pair their kids together. We cannot accommodate requests for teammates for tball through coach pitch, however we do consider extenuating circumstances. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Do you need any volunteers?
Yes! Little League is run 100% on volunteers. Whether it is serving on our board, helping at field clean up, picture day, or closing down for the season, our players need you!
Do you have a Facebook page?
Yes! Follow us on Facebook here . It's a great place to find the most up to date RLL information!
What equipment does my child need?
If you cannot secure equipment for your player, please let us know and we will help! We want every child to have a great experience playing ball with the equipment they need to be successful!
Needed:
Baseball Glove
Baseball Pants (traditionally white, black or grey)
Rubber soled cleats (Intermediates and above can wear metal cleats)
**It is acceptable for tball players to wear tennis shoes in lieu of cleats, and athletic pants in lieu of baseball pants.
Encouraged:
Batting Helmets
Provided by RLL (or players may purchase their own):
Team Helmets
Bats
Catcher's Equipment
Rockford Little League will provide jerseys and hats for baseball players, and jerseys for softball players.
What kind of bat should my child buy?
There will be team bats, but some families choose to buy their own bats as well for their kids. For baseball, all bats need to be USA approved bats and we suggest you buy the 2 5/8" barrel (versus a skinnier one). You can also ask your child's coach for more specific help on the proper length and weight. Here is a link with more info on the requirements for baseball and softball. Little League Bat Rules . Pine tar is prohibited.
Where are the home fields?
Games are played at East Rockford Middle School at 8615 9 Mile Rd., Rockford, MI 49341. Some tball games may be played at the River Valley Field, at 350 North Main Street, Rockford, MI 49341. See here for field maps.
Do I really need to submit a birth certificate?
Yes! We are required to verify the age of each player. Birth certificates are removed after verification. You may also show a copy of a birth certificate at Walk Up Sign-ups or make other arrangements by emailing rockfordllbaseballplayeragent.com This only needs to be done ONCE in a player's RLL career.
Is there financial assistance available?
T-Mobile Little League® Call Up Grant Program has been helping cover registration fees for families in need – This program is available until grant funding is distributed. Once funding is gone the grant program will close for the season. Apply early at T-Mobile Little League® Call Up Grant Program - Little League. Please let us know if you have applied for this grant.
What is the refund policy?
Unfortunately due to our very short registration period and that we pre-pay for many things such as our Little League Charter, equipment, insurance, web site work, fields, etc and the extensive work to organize teams, order uniforms and update all the necessary league attributes we do not provide refunds. Our volunteer board kindly asks that you make sure your players are certain that want to play before you register. No exceptions.