Last checked October 3, 2026
Youth baseball runs on a few dates that decide who plays where, and the governing bodies do not all use the same ones. This page lists them, shows how many days are left until each age cutoff, and notes when each program last published rules we cite. We only list dates a governing body publishes. Local registration, tryout and tournament dates are set by your league, so we don’t guess at them.
A child can be a different league age in each program. Find your child’s league age and division.
How each program counts age
| Program | League age is your age on | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Little League baseball | August 31 of the season year | Little League |
| Little League softball | December 31 of the previous year | Little League |
| PONY baseball | April 30 (moved from August 31 in 2022) | PONY age key |
| Babe Ruth League / Cal Ripken | May 1 is the deciding date | Babe Ruth League |
To turn these into a division and field sizes for a specific child, use the league age and field finder.
What each program last published
| Source | What it is | Date shown on the page |
|---|---|---|
| Little League bat rules | Rule 1.10, with a July 2026 note that USA Baseball’s new USA BBCOR branding does not affect the 2026 tournaments or the 2027 seasons | Last updated July 7, 2026 |
| Little League age charts | 2026 and 2027 baseball age charts | 2027 chart posted |
| PONY league age key | The 2027 age key | Modified September 15, 2026 |
| PONY cleat rule | Quoted from the 2026 PONY rulebook, rule 8-D | Modified January 8, 2026 |
| Babe Ruth League Local League Guide | 2026 divisions and recommended ages | 2026 edition (file dated January 30, 2026) |
| Babe Ruth League age chart | Birth-date windows by division | 2026 season only when we checked; no 2027 chart yet |
| MLB Official Baseball Rules | The 2026 rulebook we cite | 2026 edition |
| MLB: ABS Challenge System | Automated ball-strike challenges in the majors | New for the 2026 season |
Checked October 3, 2026. Programs update rules between seasons, so confirm in the current rulebook.
The Hall of Fame calendar
- The writers’ ballots go out in the latter part of November and must be returned by December 31 (BBWAA rules for election).
- The Hall’s era committees meet on a three-year rotation: the Contemporary Era managers-executives-umpires ballot in December 2026 (Class of 2027), the Classic Era ballot in December 2027 (Class of 2028), and the Contemporary Era players ballot in December 2028 (Class of 2029) (Era Committees). How it works: Hall of Fame induction explained.
A season checklist, tied to the rules
- Before registration: find the child’s league age under each program you might join, since the same child can be a different age in each (finder).
- Tryouts in Little League are evaluations that every candidate must attend, and no child is cut (Little League: tryouts). More in our parents’ guide.
- Before the first game: check bats against the league’s rules (bat rules) and inspect the batting helmet for the NOCSAE mark, cracks and worn padding (Little League: equipment inspection).
- During the season: track pitches and rest days against your league’s limits (Little League: pitch count; our guide).
- In the off-season: MLB’s Pitch Smart guidelines call for at least four months off from throwing each year, with two to three of those months continuous (Pitch Smart; off-season basics).
Compiled with AI assistance from the pages linked above and checked on October 3, 2026. See our editorial policy. Spot an outdated date? Tell us.