Little League is a organization that offers youth baseball and softball leagues around the world. According to the Little League website, more than 2.8 million kids participate in Little League-sponsored leagues each year. In the baseball divisions of Little League, pitching mound distances start at 46 feet for younger groups and expand to 60 feet 6 inches in leagues for older children.
Little League Divisions
Little League has seven divisions for baseball, starting with the tee-ball division for four- to five-year-olds. The seven- to eight-year-old division and the nine- to ten-year-old division are both known as minor leagues. Players in these divisions can be divided based on experience and ability, and the younger leagues often feature coaches pitching instead of the players. The 11- and 12-year-old age group is the most famous group. It is officially called the Major Division, but many know it as the Little League Division. Older age groups include the Junior League for 13- and 14-year-olds, the Senior League for 15- and 16-year-olds and the Big League for 17- and 18-year-old players.
46-Foot Age Groups
For ages 12 years and under, the pitching mound distance for all the leagues and divisions of Little League is 46 feet. This means that tee ball, minor divisions and the Little League Division all play with a 46-foot distance from the mound to the plate. The bases are 60 feet apart. According to Little League rules, the mound distance is always measured from the front tip of the mound to the back tip of home plate.
60-Foot 6-Inch Age Groups
All Little Leagues for players over the age of 12 require a 60-foot 6-inch distance between the plate and the pitching mound. These leagues include the Junior League, Senior League and Big League. A 60-foot 6-inch mound and 90-foot bases are also used at all levels of high school, college and professional baseball.
Exceptions
There are only two levels with the option to locally change the field dimensions. Little League notes that local junior leagues have a league option to shorten the mound distance to 54 feet and play with 75-foot bases instead of the standard 60-foot 6-inch mound distance and 90-foot bases. In addition, local leagues have the option to shorten tee-ball distances and use a 50-foot diamond, which brings the pitcher's mound in as well. The pitcher's mound distance in tee-ball is just an estimate (it's a circle where the mound would be) since the ball is hit off of a tee and is not pitched.
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