OVERVIEW
For players League Age 11 - 13, the Intermediate division adds the elements of leadoffs, pickoffs, and unrestricted base stealing. As well, the game is played on a larger diamond where the pitching rubber is 50 feet from home plate (up from 46 feet) and the bases are 70 feet apart (up from 60 feet). Our Majors Field can be adjusted to these dimensions. Player assessments are required, and any players age 11 or 12 not drafted by an Intermediate team will be entered into the Majors draft. For All-Star purposes, 11- and 12-year olds will still be eligible to play on 9-10-11 and 10-11-12 teams, respectively. 13-year-olds will be eligible for Intermediate All-Star selection. [ASSESSMENTS AND TOURNAMENTS ARE SPRING ONLY]
Note: Any 11- or 12-year-olds not selected in the Intermediate draft will be added to the draft pool for the Majors division.
Q: What equipment do I need to provide for my Intermediate player? A: The league will provide team hats and jerseys. Players will be responsible for having the following items:
Bat (see USA bat requirement info below)
Fielding glove
Batting helmet
Cleats (metal spikes are NOT allowed at The Optimist fields)
Baseball pants, belts, socks
Protective Cup (boys only)
Once your team has been assigned its color scheme, you can purchase pants, socks, and a belt accordingly.
Q: When do Spring practices start?
A: Practices for Intermediate are scheduled to begin the week of February 6 (subject to change).
Q: When do Spring games start?
A: Tentatively, we are planning to have first games on Saturday, March 4, and the season will end on or around May 6. The regular season will be followed by our annual Intermediate tournament to determine the division winner who will go on to represent VLL at the District 70 Tournament of Champions.
Q: What is the age range for Intermediate?A: 11 - 13 years old. It is important to note that 11 and 12 year olds who are not selected in the Intermediate draft will be moved to the Majors draft pool.
Q: Can I make a “buddy” or coach request?A: No. In Intermediate, player assessments and a draft process are used to determine placement to help ensure parity among teams and that kids are playing at appropriate competitive levels. [DURING THE FALL, WE TRY TO HONOR COACH AND BUDDY REQUESTS AS BEST WE CAN]
Q: What is a typical week for Intermediate?
A: There will be one 90-minute field practice and one 60-minute batting practice during the week. There will be one weeknight game and one game on the weekend (Friday night or Saturday). Exact practice days will be determined by our practice scheduler. [ONE GAME PER WEEK DURING THE FALL]
Q: What types of bats are allowed?
A: In Intermediate, all bats must be
USA Baseball certified or meet the BBCOR standard. Anything else is illegal for Little League play.
Q: Are scores and standings kept?A: Yes, scores and standings are kept, though they have no bearing on tournament seeding. This is done on a randomized basis.
Q: I have a friend who has a child who wants to play. Is there still time to register?
A: It depends on if there is room on a team. We try our best to accommodate every child who wants to play at Vista Little League, but sometimes we are unable to do so when people register too late.
Q: Who are the managers and coaches?
A: At this level, though still all parents with kids in the league, almost every manager and coach has years of youth baseball coaching experience.
Q: What is the goal for Intermediate?
A: In Intermediate, kids are finally playing what is referred to as "real" baseball. The field dimensions are bigger than the standard Little League field and now measure 70-feet between bases and 50-feet from the pitching rubber to home plate, as opposed to 60- and 46-feet, respectively. As well, leadoffs and pickoffs are introduced where baserunners are allowed to steal at any time. The focus here is to begin the transition toward high school.
Q: Besides managing, coaching, or being a team parent, how can I help the league?
A: Every board member, manager, coach, etc. is a volunteer donating their time to make the league function. We are always looking for people within our membership to contribute their unique skill sets (professional and otherwise) in keeping our facilities and operation in good working order. The more help we get from within our community, the more we can invest in maintaining the type of environment we want for all of our kids.