Is my player eligible to play at Lakewood Ranch Little League?
All players must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible to play with LWRLL:
1) Live east of Interstate 75, south of the Manatee River, and north of University Parkway. If there are questions about this, please enter your address here.
2) Go to school in the above area. Type the school's address into that same link. Please complete the school form and return it to us.
3) If you used to meeting one of those criteria but you don't any longer, contact us. If you haven't missed a spring season since moving, you might still be eligible.
What are the player age ranges for the various divisions at LWRLL?
To determine League Age (LA), use this calendar from www.littleleague.org.
>Tee Ball: LA4-5. Players hit off of a tee.
>Coach Pitch: LA5-6. The pitch is tossed from a knee about 15-20 feet away. A squishy ball is used. The tee is brought out if the batter can't hit the tossed ball.
>Machine Pitch: LA6-7. The pitch is fired by a machine. A hard ball is used.
>Minors: LA8-10. The kids pitch.
>Majors: LA10-12. Kid pitch. Like the lower divisions, this is played on a 46/60 field, meaning 46 feet from the mound to the plate, and 60 feet between bases.
>Intermediates: LA11-13. This is played on a (50/70) field. Full baseball rules are followed.
>Seniors: LA13-16. This is played on a full-sized (60/90) field.
While some divisions do accept younger or older players, this is on a case-by-case basis, and only after a face-to-face evaluation.
Can my child play in a division above or below their age?
Players should register for the division that aligns with their league age. In some cases, after evaluations, players may be moved up or down a division to ensure the best fit for their skill level and development. If you believe an exception is needed, please contact us at [email protected]
What is the registration fee, and what does it include?
Registration fees include league participation and insurance, official team jersey, official league hat, access to practices and games, and support & coaching.
Fees as of Spring 2026:
>Tee Ball: $150
>Coach Pitch: $175
>Machine Pitch: $215
>Minors: $250
>Majors: $250
>Intermediates: $275
>Juniors: $275
>Seniors: $275
Are there any payment plans or financial assistance options?
Yes. Please contact us at [email protected]
What equipment does my child need to play?
>Baseball bat, glove, and a helmet. Baseball cleats highly recommended for Machine Pitch and above.
>Baseball pants, belt, and socks. Colors are determined once team assignments are finalized. Your coach will share your team’s colors with you.
>A cup is required if your child wants to play Catcher (Minors division and above).
When does the season start and end?
SPRING
>Registration: Mid-December (December 15th for Spring 2026)
>Evaluations: Machine Pitch and above: Early to mid-January (Jan 10th for for Spring 2026)
>Opening Day: Mid- to late February (February 28th for Spring 2026)
>Season Ends: Mid-May
FALL:
>Registration: Opens mid- to end of July
>Evaluations: Machine Pitch and above: Mid- to late August
>Season: Late September to early December
When do you play games?
>Tee Ball games start at 5pm and are twice a week, any combination of Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
>Coach Pitch games start at 5:00pm on Tuesdays & Fridays
>Machine Pitch games start at 6:30pm on Tuesdays & Fridays
>Minors games start at 5:15pm on Mondays & Thursdays
>Majors games start at 7:15pm on Mondays & Thursdays
>Intermediates games start at 7:15pm on Mondays & Thursdays
>Juniors games start at 7:00pm on Tuesdays & Fridays
Practice nights are applicable to Machine Pitch and above and will be communicated by your coach.
Which divisions are draft based? Are evaluations mandatory?
Machine Pitch and above are draft based. Evaluations are mandatory for Machine Pitch and above in order to be eligible to play. Every player will make a team. Evaluations are not applicable to Tee Ball or Coach Pitch.
What is the draft procedure used by the league?
LWRLL uses the Serpentine Draft Method, as outlined in the Little League Handbook.
Where are the games played?
>Tee Ball and Coach Pitch games are at Lakewood Ranch Little League.
>Machine Pitch, Minors, and Majors games are played at either Lakewood Ranch Little League or Braden River Little League.
>Intermediates, Juniors, and Seniors games are played at Lakewood Ranch Little League, Braden River Little League, Buffalo Creek Little League, Palmetto Little League, and Manatee West Little League.
Lakewood Ranch LL: 5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211
Braden River LL: 5201 51st St. E, Bradenton, FL 34203
Buffalo Creek LL: 7550 69th St. E, Palmetto, FL 34221
Palmetto LL: 1100 21st St W, Palmetto, FL 34221
Manatee West LL: 5502 33rd Ave Dr W, FL 34209
Are player fees refundable?
Fees are fully refundable until the player draft and/or teams are formed. After that, 75% of the registration fee is refundable.