CO-ED LEAGUES

T-BALL:  Keystone’s co-ed introductory league.   Players can request specific teams, teammates, and coaches at this level.  Player must reach age 4 (four) by April 30th of the calendar year they are beginning play to participate.  Player ages are typically ages 4 & 5.  Each team has one manager and two coaches.  Will play usually once during the week and once on Saturday, mainly in the morning/early afternoon.  Games last approximately one hour.  Very low-key introduction to organized baseball.  Teams bat six players, then switch to defense.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and white baseball pants (if desired).  All other equipment and uniform provided by league.   Players play with a Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) ball.  Season ends approximately last week in June.  Play 15-20 games.

COACH PITCH:  League is co-ed.  Players can request specific teams, teammates, and coaches at this level.  Player should have played in an organized t-ball league prior to enrollment in this league, but not required. Player ages are typically ages 5 & 6.  Each team has one manager and two coaches.  Will play usually once during the week and once on Saturday.  Games last approximately one hour.   Basic rules of organized baseball are introduced.  Coaches pitch to hitters on one knee, and will bring out a tee if needed.  Teams bat six players, then switch to defense.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and white baseball pants.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Players play with a Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) ball.  Season ends approximately last week in June.  Play 15-20 games.

BASEBALL LEAGUES

FARM 7:  First year of organized baseball with player pitching involved.  Players can request specific teams, teammates, and coaches at this level.  Player ages are primarily age seven (7), but some players age six (6) can petition the league to play up if player talents warrant the move.  If a pitcher walks or hits a batter, coach comes in to pitch to batter. Each team will have one manager and two coaches.  Most rules of baseball utilized.  Players play with a firmer grade of Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) baseball.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to one hour forty-five minutes.  Teams will play once or twice during the week, and once on Saturdays.  Coaches will begin consistent weekly practices.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and white baseball pants.  Players can supply their own bats and other equipment, but they must meet Little League specifications.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, followed by a week-long year end tournament.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments, which will last into mid July.  Tournaments will be played with a regular baseball.  Play 18-25 games.

FARM 8:  Second year of organized baseball with player pitching involved.  Players can request specific teams, teammates, and coaches at this level.  Player ages are primarily age eight (8), but some players age seven (7) can petition the league to play up if player talents warrant the move.  Each team has one manager and two coaches.  If a pitcher walks or hits a batter, coach comes in to pitch to batter (this rule may be suspended during the season based on skill evaluation by managers and league vice president). Most rules of baseball utilized.  Players play with highest grade of Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) baseball.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to one hour forty-five minutes.  Teams will play once or twice during the week, and once on Saturdays.  Coaches will continue consistent weekly practices around games.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and white baseball pants.  Players can supply their own bats and other equipment, but they must meet Little League specifications.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, followed by a week-long year end tournament.  During the tournament, pitchers use regular baseball rules with regards to walked and hit batsmen taking their base.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments, which will last into mid July.  Tournaments will be played with a regular baseball.  Play approximately 18-25 games.

MINORS:  Two-year competition level at Keystone.  Players are disbursed through a player draft to various teams.  All players will attend a pre-season tryout prior to the draft. Player ages are primarily ages nine (9) and ten (10).  Each team has one manager and two coaches.  Little League rules of baseball utilized.  Players play with regular baseballs.  Players may steal bases once pitched ball reaches the batter.  Game times last approximately one hour forty-five minutes.  Teams will play once or twice during the week, and once on Saturdays.  Coaches will continue consistent weekly practices around games.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and white baseball pants.  Players can supply their own bats and other equipment, but they must meet Little League specifications.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately in late June, followed by a year end tournament.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments, which will last into mid July.  Elibible players can participate, based on selection by their coaches, in district baseball play with the opportunity to advance the Nebraska Little League State Tournament.

MAJORS:  Two-year competition level at Keystone.  Players are disbursed through a player draft to various teams.  All players will attend a pre-season tryout prior to the draft. Player ages are primarily ages eleven (11) and twelve (12), but some players age ten (10) can petition the league to play up if player talents warrant the move.  Each team has one manager and one coach.   Little League rules of baseball utilized.  Players may steal bases once pitched ball reaches the batter, and advance on passed balls and wild pitches.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to two hours.  Teams will play once or twice during the week, and once on Saturdays.  Coaches will continue consistent weekly practices around games.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and white baseball pants.  Players can supply their own bats and other specialized equipment such as fielding mitts and catchers equipment, but they must meet Little League specifications.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, followed by a year-end double elimination tournament lasting two weeks.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments, which will last into mid July.  Keystone traditionally hosts a year-end Majors invitational tournament .  Play approximately 25-30 games.  Eligible players can participate in district baseball play with opportunity to advance to state, regional, and sectional championships, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Little League World Series at Williamsport, PA.

PONY LEAGUE:  Two-year competition level at Keystone. Play other Keystone league teams.   Players are disbursed through a player draft to various teams.  All players will attend a pre-season tryout prior to the draft. Player ages are primarily ages thirteen (13) and fourteen (14),  but players age twelve (12) can petition the league to play up if player talents warrant the move.  Each team has one manager and one coach.  Pony League rules of baseball utilized.   Players may steal bases, leadoffs are allowed.  Players use 2.75 inch diameter “big barrel” bats.  Pitchers can be called for balks.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to two hours.  Teams will play once or twice during the week, and once on Saturdays.  Coaches will practice consistently around games.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and baseball pants.  Players can supply their own bats and other specialized equipment such as fielding mitts and catchers equipment.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, followed by a year-end double elimination tournament lasting two weeks.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments which will last into mid July.  Play approximately 25-35 games.

COLT LEAGUE:  Two-year competition level at Keystone. Play Keystone league teams, as well as other teams outside the Keystone organization.  Players are disbursed through a player draft to various teams.  All players will attend a pre-season tryout prior to the draft. Player ages are primarily ages fifteen (15) and sixteen (16).  Each team has one manager and one coach.  Pony League rules of baseball utilized.   Players may steal bases, leadoffs are allowed.  .  Players use 2.75 inch diameter “big barrel” bats.  Pitchers can be called for balks.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to two hours.  Teams will play once or twice during the week, and once on Saturdays.  Coaches will practice consistently around games.  Player needs own glove, and rubber cleats and baseball pants.  Players can supply their own bats and other specialized equipment such as fielding mitts and catchers equipment.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, followed by a year-end tournament lasting two weeks.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in All-Star tournaments, which will last into mid July.  Play approximately 25-35 games.

PALOMINO LEAGUE:  Two-year competition level at Keystone. Play Keystone league teams, as well as other teams outside the Keystone organization.  Players are disbursed through a player draft to various teams if numbers require the teams to be divided as such.  All players will attend a pre-season tryout prior to the draft. Teams usually form after players are released from various high school teams in the area.  A team may or may not form at this level due to the number of available players.  Player ages are primarily ages seventeen (17) and eighteen (18). Each team has one manager and one coach.  Pony League rules of baseball utilized.   Players may steal bases with leadoffs allowed.  Players use 2.75 inch diameter “big barrel” bats .Pitchers can be called for balks.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to two hours.  Teams will play once or twice during the week, and once on Saturdays.  Coaches will practice consistently around games.  Player needs own glove, rubber cleats and baseball pants.  Players can supply their own bats and other specialized equipment such as fielding mitts and catchers equipment.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June.  Play approximately 25-35 games.

SOFTBALL LEAGUES

FARM LEAGUE:  First two years of organized softball with player pitching involved.  Players can request specific teams, teammates, and coaches at this level.  Player ages are primarily age seven (7), and eight (8) but some players age six (6) can petition the league to play up if player talents warrant the move.  Each team has one manager and two coaches.   Depending on number of teams, players may play games versus other organizations off of the Keystone sports complex.  If a pitcher walks or hits a batter, coach comes in to pitch to batter. Most rules of softball utilized.  Players play with a firmer grade of Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) softball.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to one hour forty-five minutes.  Teams will play twice during the week, including Saturdays.  Coaches will begin consistent weekly practices. .  Player needs own glove.  Girls will play primarily in white baseball pants, and switch to shorts depending on weather conditions.  Player may begin to accumulate own bats and other equipment.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, with a year end tournament lasting the following week.  Play approximately 18-25 games.

MINORS:  Next level up of organized softball with player pitching involved.  Players can request specific teams, teammates, and coaches at this level.  Player ages are primarily ages nine (9) and ten (10), but some players age eight (8) can petition the league to play up, or players age eleven (11) may play down with league approval, if player talents warrant the move.  Each team has one manager and two coaches.  Depending on number of teams, players may play games versus other organizations off of the Keystone sports complex.   Little League rules of softball utilized.  Players play with highest grade of Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) softball.  Players may steal bases once pitched ball crosses home plate and advance on passed balls, with the exception of 3^rd base to Home.  Stealing from 3^rd base to home can only be done when a play is made at 3^rd base.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to one hour forty-five minutes.  Teams will play twice during the week, including Saturdays.  Coaches will continue consistent weekly practices around games.  Player needs own glove and rubber cleats.  Player may begin to accumulate own bats and other equipment.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Girls will play primarily in white baseball pants, and may convert to shorts depending on weather conditions.  Regular season ends approximately last week in June, with a year end tournament lasting the following week.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments which will last into mid July.  .  Play 20-25 games, plus tournaments if player is selected.  First year for eligible players to participate in district baseball play, with final goal of winning state championship.

MAJORS:  Two year competition level at Keystone.  Players are disbursed through a player draft to various teams.  All players will attend a pre-season tryout prior to the draft. Player ages are primarily ages eleven (11) and twelve (12), but some players age ten (10) can petition the league to play up, if player talents warrant the move.  Each team has one manager and one coach.  Depending on number of teams, players may play games versus other organizations off of the Keystone sports complex.   Little League rules of softball utilized.  Players may steal bases once pitched ball crosses home plate, and advance on passed balls and wild pitches.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to two hours.  Teams will play twice during the week, including Saturdays.  Coaches will continue consistent weekly practices around games.  Player needs own glove and rubber cleats.  Player may accumulate own bats and other specialized equipment such as fielding mitts and catchers equipment.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, with a year end tournament.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments which will last into mid July.  First year for eligible players to participate in district softball play, with final goal of winning state, district, regional, and sectional championships, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Little League World Series.

JUNIOR/SENIORS:  Two year competition level at Keystone.  Players are disbursed through a player draft to various teams, if player numbers dictate.  If necessary, all players will attend a pre-season tryout prior to the draft. Player ages are primarily ages thirteen (13), fourteen (14), fifteen (15) and sixteen (16), but final registration numbers will determine the make-up/distribution of this team(s).  Junior teams can be split into thirteen (13) and fourteen (14) years old and Senior teams into fifteen (15) and sixteen (16) year old.  Each team has one manager and one coach.   Depending on number of teams, players may play games versus other organizations off of the Keystone sports complex.   Little League rules of softball utilized.  Players may steal bases once pitched ball crosses home plate, and advance on passed balls and wild pitches.  Game times last approximately one hour thirty minutes to two hours.  Teams will play twice during the week, including Saturdays.  Coaches will continue consistent weekly practices around games.  Player needs own glove and rubber cleats.  Player may accumulate own bats and other specialized equipment such as fielding mitts and catchers equipment.  All other equipment and uniform provided by league. Regular season ends approximately last week in June, with a year end tournament.  Higher skilled players may be selected by vote of league coaches to play in various All-Star tournaments which will last into mid July. 

DISCLAIMER:  This information is designed to give a basic outline of each league at Keystone Little League. Further information and additional league rules may apply to each league in addition to what is listed above