What is Twin Cities Little League?
Since 1955, TCLL has taught life lessons through baseball to Larkspur and Corte Madera kids. Our volunteer-run league is proud to be part of the world's largest organized youth sports program.
What each player will gain
We promote citizenship, discipline, teamwork, and physical well-being. By espousing the virtues of character, courage and loyalty, we strive to develop superior citizens who develop a lifetime love of baseball.
Objectives & expected level of play by division
T-Ball: Age 5
Offense
- Safely holding and swinging the bat
- Stance, grip, simple swing, NO THROWING THE BAT
- Basic base-running
- How to score runs
- When are you “out”?
Defense
- How to safely catch the ball
- Very early throwing fundamentals
- Positions names and locations
- Ways to get an “out”: forces vs tags
Farm: Ages 6-7
Offense
- Hitting a Moving Ball
- Seeing and tracking the ball
- Timing: “Loading” to get ready to swing
- Strikes, balls, strikeouts, walks, and foul balls.
- Improve base-running awareness and decision-making i.e. Tagging up
Defense
- Basic Situational awareness - for each pitch, where to throw the ball if it is hit to you, and where to be if it is hit to someone else.
Rookie
Offense
- Building confidence and introducing intermediate gameplay concepts
- Faster pitching (machine pitch) and hard ball
- Sliding into bases
- Tagging Up
Defense
- Introduce “Intermediate” gameplay concepts and skills
- Introduce Catcher position
- Introduce Double Plays
- Introduce Relays
- Defensive hierarchy and communication: pop-up and fly ball communication
Minors: 8-10
Offense
- “Intermediate” Base-running concepts
- “Secondary” leads after ball crosses plate
- Stealing
- Reading passed balls
- Strategy
- 1st & 3rd plays
- Bunt defense
- “Intermediate” Hitting Concepts
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- Pitch selection
- Bunting
- Signs and plays
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Defense
- Situational Awareness and Run-Prevention
- Defending steals and bunts
- Late & close game scenarios i.e. “infield in”
- Introduce pitching fundamentals
- Basic mechanics
- Basic pitch grips: fastball, changeup
- Basic rules of being the pitcher: how to stand on the mound and legally deliver a pitch
- “Intermediate” Catching Skills
- Calling pitches
- Blocking
- Throwing out runners
Majors: 10-12
Offense
- “Advanced” base-running rules
- Infield fly, interference, obstruction
- “Advanced” mechanics to improve bat speed & power
Defense
- “Advanced” Pitching
- Breaking ball mechanics and grips
- Emphasize command and strategic pitch-selection
- Comfort with faster gameplay and higher expectations
Juniors: 13- 15
Offense
- Baserunning
- Live leads and steals
- “Advanced” offensive strategy with new tools available to runners i.e hit & run
Defense
- Managing new base-running situations i.e hit & run
- Adjusting to bigger field
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