What to expect in Majors.
Majors is the most competitive level in Little League, for players aged 11 and 12. These are the kids you watch in the Little League World Series each August - in fact, each Amesbury Little League season ends with a team of our best 12-year-old players competing for a chance to reach that tournament. Objectives for Majors.
By the time they reach Majors, most players will have a sound understanding of basic baseball rules and concepts, as well as the ability to hit, throw, and play defense at an intermediate or high level. Still, the emphasis on teaching, development, and education remains, albeit with more advanced expectations. Concepts such as defensive situational awareness, command of the strike zone and pitch counts, pitching strategy, and base running are crucial at this level as players grow more knowledgeable, competitive, and experienced.
Majors and AAA are similar in most ways, with the rules (there are some small differences) and an identical structure to the season, with playoffs and an eventual champion. As always, the primary goal is to help our players - now almost teenagers - develop and deepen their understanding of sportsmanship, effort, and teamwork while creating a positive and inclusive team environment.
Majors is the end of Amesbury's Little League program.
For more details, check out the Rules for Majors.
Family time commitment for Majors.
The time commitment for Majors is similar to AAA. Teams play two games per week with at least one weeknight game. Notably, Majors games have no time limit and end only after six innings are completed, unless a team is ahead by 12 runs or more after 3-1/2 innings are completed. Teams will also practice at least once a week for 90 minutes.
Coaching commitment for Majors.
Similarly, coaching at the Majors level requires the same level of commitment as coaching at AAA. Coaches should be expect at least three on-field sessions per week plus additional practice and game prep, coaching staff coordination, and parent communication, for a total of 8-10 hours per week of coaching-related activities.
The level of practice and in-game management is also higher at this level in order to be competitive with other teams. At this point, players should have a strong understanding of the game, so practices can focus on finer details such as double-plays in addition to fundamentals. Coaches should continue to focus on player development and fostering a positive team culture where having fun is not tied to winning or losing.
For more information, check out our page on Coaching Majors.