Kirkland American Little League provides parent volunteers with coaching practice plans, team gear, and coaches will receive training prior to the start of the season. Players will need to purchase a glove, bat, and batting helmet.
All softball players age 9 and older, are required to participate in player evaluations. If an 8 year old would like to try out for Coast, they must also attend the player evaluations and have one year of prior softball experience. Evaluations are held to assist us in putting together balanced teams and placing players in the most appropriate division for them to learn and succeed.
Select a level to learn more:
QUICKBALL
Starting in 2023, we replaced our traditional T-Ball with a new program called Quickball. Quickball is a fast pace game where kids learn the basic fundamentals of baseball and softball. At this level, we introduce 5 and 6 year olds to hitting, throwing, catching, fielding and base running in a safe and fun environment. Quickball is a structured system which introduces concepts on a weekly escalation. It keeps kids more engaged and limits the time they stand in the field waiting for a ball or their turn to hit. The game itself is similar to whiffle ball using a soft, squeezable ball.
Teams meet twice a week with each event being about an hour. The meetings are a combined practice and game format for about nine weeks. The season runs from late-March through early-June.
We provide parent volunteers with coaching practice plans, team baseball gear and team uniforms. The volunteer coaches receive training prior to the start of the season. Cleats (rubber) are recommended, but running shoes will suffice. The League provides all players and three coaches with a team hat and jersey.
Team parents are expected to help the coaches with other important team volunteer duties like snack coordinator, bench coach, field prep, photo coordinator, and more.
Teams are generally organized by school, neighborhood and coach or buddy requests, all of which is indicated during online registration process. Coach and Buddy requests are based on a first come first serve basis. Make sure to register early to get on the team you want!
[Return to top]
RAPID SOFTBALL: AA
AA continues the skill building that starts in Quickball. Players continue to develop hitting, throwing and catching mechanics in a safe and fun environment. In addition, they start to learn more rules of the game, and base running and team fielding mechanics.
RapidSoftball utilizes a pitching machine and a set of rules to promote a faster pace of play, with an emphasis on player development and fun! RapidSoftball games feature the following:
- Time Based Innings: Innings are ~20 minutes in length. Each team bats for 10-minutes.
- 3 Outs: Bases are cleared when 3 outs are recorded. Teams continue to bat until time runs out.
- 5 Pitches: Each player will receive 5 pitches max.
- AlwaysPlay™: At Level 1, a ball is always put in play to promote player engagement and development.
- In the event a batter doesn’t successfully put a ball into play after 5 pitches, a coach near home plate puts a ball into play. Batter will run out the play.
Pitching Development: Players will be introduced to the fundamentals of pitching at this level in the “RapidBullpen”. With the guidance of a coach, 2 players, every half-inning, will pitch a 25-pitch bullpen.
Teams will meet twice per week, either for two practices, or one practice and one game on Saturday. The season runs from late-March through early-June.
Teams will be formed by schools and players can request to be placed on a team with a "buddy".
Practice times and locations will be determined by team coaches and communicated after teams are formed.
No score is kept during games, and coaches pitch a reduced impact force softball to the players.
[Return to top]
MINORS: AAA
AAA is the first level of Minors Softball and is appropriate for most 9 year olds and some 10 year olds and 8 year olds depending on experience. Players do the pitching, with a modified "coach pitch" rule that allows coaches to step in and pitch in lieu of batters reaching base via a "base on balls" (walk). For many players, AAA is a very fun playing environment, with lots of offense and action in the field! Pitchers, hitters, and fielders develop at different rates, but the goal of AAA is to prepare players to play in the more competitive Minor division of Coast, and eventually for the Majors Division by the time they are 11 or 12. AAA schedule includes games with 2 or 3 other softball leagues.
[Return to top]
MINORS: COAST
Coast division is the more advanced Minors division, the last stop before Majors. Most 10 year olds and roughly half of registered 11 year olds are assigned to Coast division, and occasionally some 9 year olds who have significant playing experience and have played AAA in a prior spring season. Coast teams participate in the District 9 mid-season tournament. The Coast schedule includes games with 2 or 3 other softball leagues.
[Return to top]
MAJORS
Majors Softball is where all 12 year olds and roughly half the 11 year olds play. Occasionally a 10 year old will be assigned to Majors, but this is very much the exception - in some years, no 10 year olds are assigned to Majors, while in others, one or two are assigned there. Majors is the pinnacle of Little League Softball, with increased pitching distance, more competitive rules, and a faster game than the Minors divisions. Majors teams participate in the District 9 mid-season tournament. The Majors schedule includes inter-league play.
Divisional alignment may change from year to year based on number and strength of players at each age, and taking into account our competition in other leagues, against whom we play "Interlock" (interleague) schedules.
[Return to top]
JUNIORS
Juniors softball teams typically have 12-14 players, and may include players from other area Little Leagues. Juniors Softball is for 13 and 14-year-olds. Teams meet two to four times per week (a meeting is a practice or a game).
Games are played against team from all over District 9. There are approximately 18 games in a season. Practice starts in early March and games start in late March or early April. Games are 6 innings in length.
This is players first opportunity to play on full size fields with more traditional baseball rules. Scores are kept and players have the opportunity to possibly continue playing as all stars in post season tournaments.
Juniors Softball schedule includes teams from across District 9. Juniors World Series is held in Kirkland, Washington.
[Return to top]
SENIORS
Seniors, for 15 and 16-year-olds, typically have 13-15 players. Teams meet two to four times per week (a meeting is a practice or a game).
There are around 16-20 games in a season. Practice starts in early March and games start in late March or early April. Games are 6 innings in length. Scores are kept and players have the opportunity to possibly continue playing as all stars in post season tournaments.
[Return to top]