Little League Age 11
11 is a big year — most players are now in the thick of 12U (Major League), played on a 60ft-base, 46ft-pitching diamond — the same 60ft base paths used in fastpitch softball, if that’s a more familiar comparison. It’s the grade every young Kiwi baseballer dreams about, with a genuine pathway toward the Little League World Series in Williamsport, USA, broadcast live on ESPN to millions of people.
New to the game?
12U is where new players at this age should start — the right level of challenge for anyone stepping up for the first time.
More experienced?
Players ready for a bigger step can also play 13U on the larger 70ft-base, 50ft-pitching diamond. 12U plays in the afternoon and 13U in the morning, so it’s genuinely possible to play both on the same Saturday without a scheduling clash. 12U games run up to 2 hours; 13U games run up to 2.5 hours.
Playing up a year
Female players may also choose to play 10U instead, at their own preference.
The All-Stars pathway
At Little League age 11, players are eligible to trial for the 12U (Majors) All-Stars — Auckland’s flagship representative team. The pathway runs through three stages: win the New Zealand District to become New Zealand Little League, win the Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional to become Asia-Pacific Little League, then head to the Little League World Series itself in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The Regional has mostly been hosted in Hwaseong, South Korea in recent years — including 2026, where Auckland’s 12U All-Stars made history, becoming the first New Zealand team to win three games and reach the semifinals, ending a seven-year winless run at this level. It’s a genuinely achievable dream, not just a distant one — ask any of the players who were there.
Ready to get started?
Find your nearest club and get in touch to register — find your club here.