How does the draft work?
Teams are assigned one of two ways, via a draft or by random assignment by the Player Agent. Below is the process for each age group.Tee Ball:No drafts, players will be assigned by the Player Agent. Every attempt to honor requests for coaches and friends will be made. Please include your request at the time of registration to assist in this process. Players will not be moved once rosters have been released. Players do not need to attend Player Evaluations.Machine/Coach Pitch, Minors Divisions and Juniors Divisions:Teams will re-drafted each season. Draft order will be selected on Draft Day via a blind draw and will follow a serpentine pattern with the order flipping each round.Majors Divisions:Eligible players will return to their teams from the previous Spring season due to the adoption of the Duration of Title by the BLL Board.Teams will fill remaining roster spots from new division candidates. Players ages 10-12 will be eligible for the Majors Division. All league age 12 year olds will be selected for the Majors Division unless a waiver is requested to play in the minors division.Teams will select in reverse order of the standings from the previous Spring regular season. The draft order remains the same for each round. The process repeats until all rosters are filled at the pre-determined number of players. All divisions will utilize the Little League approved Player Options when drafting. Draft Round Chart For Coach Options:
| Draft Round | Majors Division | Minors Division | Machine/Coach Pitch Division |
| League Age | League Age | League Age |
| 5 | 9-10 | 8-9 | 5-6 |
| 4 | 11 | 10 | 7 |
| 3 | 12 | 11 | 8 |
Option 1-Brother/Sister Option:
When two or more siblings are in the draft and the first brother/sister is drafted, the manager automatically has the option to draft the other brother/sister on the next turn. Failure to exercise this option makes the brother/sister available to be drafted by any team
Option 2-Brother/Sister Option of Player Currently on a Team:
Managers may submit an option on a draftee if the player candidate's brother/sister is a member of the manager's team
If an option is submitted the manager MUST draft the sibling within the first three draft selections
Option 3-Sons/Daughters of Managers:
If a manager has a son/daughter eligible for the draft the manager must exercise the option at or before the specified round (see chart)
Parent/Manager option takes priority over any other option
Option 4-Sons/Daughters of Coaches (this option is for Majors Division only):
New coaches shall not be appointed nor approved until after the draft.
Returning coaches may exercise this option through the manager provided
•Coach has served as a coach or manager (at any level) for the past two years, AND
•Coach is returning to the same major league team as the previous season.
Option X-Sons/Daughters of Coaches-(Minors and Below):
If an approved coach has a son/daughter eligible for the draft the manager must exercise the option at or before the specified round (see chart).
Parent/Manager option takes priority over any other option
**All players will be drafted provided they have completed registration on time. If a player is unable to attend and complete at least one of the skills assessments he or she will placed selected via blind draw during the age appropriate draft. These are what are termed "hat-picks."
**No team will be allowed to “protect” more than 4 players in any given season in the Minors Division, Machine Pitch Division or Coach Pitch Division.
**The Majors Division will allow Option 3 or 4 only for draft protections.
**Any trades for players must be player for player and be completed prior to the release of rosters immediately following the draft. All trades must be submitted in writing to the league's Player Agent.
The Examples below apply only to the Majors Division:
Example #1
A Majors Team returns 6 players. The head coach's kid was on the roster in the previous season.
Round 1-Open pick
Round 2-Open pick
Round 3-Open pick
Round 4-Open pick
Round 5-Open pick
Example #2
A Majors Team returns 6 players. The head coach's kid was on the roster in the previous season but an assistant coach (who was on the staff the previous season) has a 10 year old that the head coach would like to exercise Option 4.
Round 1-Open pick
Round 2-Open pick
Round 3-Open pick
Round 4-Open pick
Round 5-Assistant Coach's Kid
The Examples below apply only to the Minor League/Machine Pitch/Coach Pitch Divisions:
Example #1
A Machine Pitch Manager has an 8 year old son, Coach #1 has a 7 year old and Coach #2 has an 8 year old.
Round 1-Open Pick
Round 2-Coach #2 son
Round 3-Manager son
Round 4-Coach #1 son
Example #2
A Machine Pitch Manager has an 8 year old son, Coach #1 has a 8 year old and Coach #2 has an 8 year old.
Round 1-Coach #1 son
Round 2-Coach #2 son
Round 3-Manager son
Round 4-Open
Example #3
A Minors Manager has an 11 year old daughter, Coach #1 has an 11 year old daughter and Coach #2 has two daughters aged 9 and 10.
Round 1-Open
Round 2-Coach #1 11-year old daughter
Round 3-Manager daughter
Round 4-Coach #2 10-year old daughter
Round 5-Coach #2 9-year old daughter
If you have a question on a specific combination of ages etc. please email [email protected]