ALBANY LITTLE LEAGUE was founded in 1956 as a baseball program for 10- to 12-year-old boys. Four teams played that first year. In 2007, 365 boys and girls, ages 7 to 14, played on 30 teams

COMMUNITY. Albany Little League offers a wonderful community setting for kids to learn baseball, make friends and most of all have fun! Albany Little League is recognized as one of the best community baseball programs in the Bay Area, balancing developmental and competitive goals. The league is open to residents of Albany, Kensington and parts of Berkeley (basically North Berkeley).

In 2008, boys and girls ages 7-14 are playing in the Albany Junior League (13s & 14s), Albany Little League's Major League (12s, 11s & 10s) and Albany Little League's Minor Leagues (Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A with players ages 7-12). For the first time, Albany Little League will conduct a T-Ball League (players ages 5-6) and Challenger Division (players with physical and mental disabilities).

Little League (Majors, AAA, AA and A, T-Ball and Challenger) teams for younger children, 12 and under, play their games at Ocean View Park and University Village in Albany. Junior League teams play home games at Memorial Park in Albany.

Teams are formed by age group and skill level in February. In Juniors, Majors and AAA, players participate in tryouts, providing the league and coaches an opportunity to evaluate the level of all the players. Unlike many Little Leagues, Albany Little League is not a "property league," meaning players are redistributed each year via a draft. This system ensures competitive balance and fosters the community spirit that makes Albany Little League so unique.

Teams generally meet two or three times a week after school and on weekends for games and practices. The days and times vary from week to week according to field availability and, or course, weather. Play begins in March and continues through the middle of June when schools recess. Thereafter, select teams play tournament and all-star games in June and July.

EXCELLENCE. In 2007, Albany Little League won District 4 championships in the 10s-11s and 9s-10s divisions, and the 10s-11s finished second in the Section 1 championships. Albany Little League finished second in the District 4 Junior League all-stars, and the Junior League's Beavers were won the District 4 Tournament of Champions for the second year in a row.

In 2006, Albany Little League finished third in the Junior Leagues (13s & 14s) state championship after winning district and section titles. It also finished second in the District 4 Little League 11s-12s and 9s-10s tournaments. Albany Little League championship teams finished first (Junior League Beavers) and second (Little League Athletics) in the District 4 Tournament of Champions.

Albany Little League won District 4 championships in the 2005 10s-11s and 2004 11s-12s.

Albany Little League has produced a number of future professional baseball players. In 2007, area high school varsity teams were stocked with ALL graduates.

VOLUNTEERS. The backbone of the league is its volunteers. In all age groups, teams are organized and supervised by an adult called a MANAGER. He is helped on the field by adults called COACHES. He is helped off the field by an adult call TEAM PARENT, who organizes and coordinates the parents of team members.

Playing rules are the rules of baseball as modified by Little League International to suit the needs of youngsters. Twelve year olds, for example, pitch from 46 feet, rather than 60, and bases are 60 feet apart, rather than 90.

Operating rules are established by a local league Constitution and the Regulations of Little League International. Constitutional league officers are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Player Agent. These five officers sit with other elected volunteers who operate the league as its Board of Directors. They, like all other adult volunteers, are unpaid.

The league is incorporated as a non-profit orgainization. Therefore, gifts to the league are tax deductible.