Since Little League International does not recognize the Fall Season as an official “season” of baseball, the ULLL’s Fall Season is designed to develop players for participation in the following spring season and teams are organized for the fall developmental season based on baseball ages for the following spring. Levels of play offered during the fall in ULLL are based on enrollment, but are typically comparable to the spring levels with the following differences:

• The AA Minors and AAA Minors divisions do not exist
• The "Fall Minors" division rules are similar to those for the AA Minors for the Spring season
• While the "Fall Majors" division shares a similar name to that of the Spring "Majors" division, the rules (esp. playing time rules) are very different. As such, Fall Majors games and rules are conducted according to the AAA Minors for the Spring season.
• Scores and standings are not recorded at any level
• There are no end of season tournaments

Note:  For the ULLL's Fall Developmental Season Rules, please go to the "Forms, Documents, and Rules" page.

Please read the following carefully:
Because registration numbers for the fall instructional season are much lower than the spring, teams are formed from both American League (Round Hill, Purcellville South) and National League (Hamilton / Purcellville North, Lovettsville) players. TEAMS ARE NOT ASSIGNED SPECIFIC TO LEAGUES OR AREAS, AND PLAYERS MAY BE PRACTICING/PLAYING HOME GAMES ON A TEAM BASED IN AN AREA DIFFERENT FROM WHERE YOU LIVE. Due to distance, ULLL makes every effort to prevent Middleburg and Lovettsville players from being assigned to teams in the opposite areas.

Given the above, the following information is provided to give a general idea of how games are played at each level... in the event of a conflict between these descriptions and the rules for Little League baseball, the rules for Little League baseball apply.

Fall T-Ball — Baseball Ages 5-6 — Designed as an introduction to the game. Players hit the ball which is placed on a tee. All players bat each inning with a maximum of three (3) innings played. Runs and outs are not counted. No records or standings are kept. This level of play is mandatory for any player up through Baseball Age 6 who has not participated in a Spring Season of T-ball.

Fall Coach Pitch Minors — Typically Baseball Ages 6-7 — Designed for skill development and learning the game. Players are given the opportunity to hit pitches that are delivered by a manager/coach from their own team. Defensive players rotate among all positions on the field throughout the season. The volunteer umpire does not call balls and strikes. When a player hits the ball, he/she will run the bases along with any runners that are on the bases. At the same time, the defending team will attempt to get the runners out. Stealing bases is not permitted. Games will end after six (6) innings or one and a half (1.5) hours or darkness, whichever occurs first. Each team's "at bat" ends when they score five (5) runs or when the other team records three (3) outs. Final scores are not recorded, and no standings are maintained.

Fall Rookie Minors — Baseball Ages 8-9 — DDesigned for additional skill development and transition to players pitching. The game is divided between innings where coaches pitch to players on their own team, and players will pitch to the members of the opposing team. An umpire calls balls and strikes during the player pitch innings. Batters can strike out, but soft-toss to batters is used in lieu of walks to keep the games moving, provide more opportunity for the defensive team to be engaged in the game and to allow teams to develop players interested in pitching and catching. To ensure more players have pitching opportunities, no player may pitch in more than one (1) inning in any game, regardless of the number of pitches thrown by that pitcher (where the delivery of a single pitch in an inning constitutes a player having pitched in an inning). If the batter hits the ball, he/she will "run the bases" along with other base runners. Stealing of bases is partially allowed during player pitch innings only. Each team's "at bat" ends when they score five (5) runs or when the other team records three (3) outs. Games will end after six (6) innings or if the game has been played for 1 hour and 45 minutes, any inning which has been started prior to the time limit expiring will be completed. No new inning will begin once the time limit has expired. There is a hard stop for every game at two (2) hours. Note: Games will be conceded when the game reaches regulation and a team is trailing by fifteen (15) or more runs after three (3) innings or ten (10) or more runs after four (4) innings. Final scores are not recorded, and no standings are maintained to prioritize player development over winning games. Important Note: Baseball Age 8 yr old and Baseball Age 9 yr old Players who have not played a season of Kid Pitch baseball must play a season of Rookie Minors in the fall.

Fall Minors — Typically Baseball Ages 9-11 — Designed for transition to a complete game without direct coach involvement with a primary emphasis on player development. Players pitch to the opposing team and an umpire calls balls and strikes where batters can strike out. Each team's "at bat" ends when they score five (5) runs or when the other team records three (3) outs. Games will end after six (6) innings or if the game has been played for 1 hour and 45 minutes, any inning which has been started prior to the time limit expiring will be completed. No new inning will begin once the time limit has expired. There is a hard stop for every game at two (2) hours. Note: Games will be conceded when the game reaches regulation and a team is trailing by fifteen (15) or more runs after three (3) innings or ten (10) or more runs after four (4) innings. To ensure more players have pitching opportunities, no player may pitch in more than two (2) innings in any game, regardless of the number of pitches thrown by that pitcher (where the delivery of a single pitch in an inning constitutes a player having pitched in an inning). Baseball 12 year old players may participate at this level if they OPT OUT from the Fall Majors division, subject to approval -- that said, Baseball 12 year old may not pitch in the Fall Minors division.

Fall Majors — Typically Baseball Ages 10-12 — Designed to provide a higher level of competition in the fall. This division balances playing time and positioning with trying to win games. This being said, to promote the development of more pitchers and ensure more players have pitching opportunities, no player may pitch in more than two (2) inning in any game, regardless of the number of pitches thrown by that pitcher (where the delivery of a single pitch in an inning constitutes a player having pitched in an inning). All players bat throughout the game, and all players must play in the infield and outfield. Games will end after six (6) innings or darkness, whichever occurs first. Final scores are not recorded, and no standings are maintained to prioritize player development over winning games.

 

At the end of the day, ULLL's Fall Developmental Season is about promoting player development. This being said, we (ULLL) recognize that not all Managers choose to manage the same way, but they are required to follow the rules about minimum playing time at both levels.

If you have any questions about the ULLL's divisions and would like to speak to someone about any of the Fall Developmental Season's divisions, please contact:

ULLL Player Agent (playeragent@ulll.org)

ULLL President (president@ulll.org)

ULLL Information Officer (information@ulll.org)