Which division is my kid in?
League age is calculated from a cutoff date, not from your child's age on game day. For Little League Baseball it is the player's actual age on August 31 of the current year. For Little League Softball it is their actual age on December 31 of the previous year.
The single most common registration question in youth baseball is which division a child belongs in, and the answer is almost never their actual age. Leagues use league age, a number derived from the player's birthdate against a cutoff date the organisation sets.
Little League uses two different dates, and this trips up families with a child in each sport. For Little League Baseball, the age determination date is the child's actual age on August 31 of the current year. For Little League Softball, it is the child's actual age on December 31 of the previous year.
Because the dates differ, a brother and sister born days apart can land in differently numbered divisions, and neither the parents nor the coach has done anything wrong.
Other organisations set their own cutoffs, and travel organisations frequently differ from rec leagues in the same town. The number that matters is the one published by the organisation your child is actually registering with.
Little League publishes an official age chart and an age calculator each year. Those are the authoritative tools - a chart from a previous season, or a general reference page like this one, is not a substitute for the current official one.
| Division | League age |
|---|---|
| Tee Ball | 4-7 |
| Minor League | 5-6 with prior Tee Ball experience, or 7-12 |
| Little League (Major) | 9-12 |
| Intermediate (50/70) | 11-13 |
| Junior League | 12-14 |
| Senior League | 13-16 |
Eligibility ranges overlap on purpose - local leagues place players within these ranges. Age determination date: actual age on August 31 of the current year.
| Division | League age |
|---|---|
| Tee Ball | 4-7 |
| Minor League | 5-6 with prior Tee Ball experience, or 7-12 |
| Little League (Major) | 9-12 |
| Junior League | 12-14 |
| Senior League | 13-16 |
Age determination date: actual age on December 31 of the PREVIOUS year - different from baseball.
Bleacher Notes keeps a player's stats attached to the player across every team and division they move through, so changing divisions does not reset a career.
Common questions
- How is Little League age determined?
- For Little League Baseball, league age is the player's actual age on August 31 of the current year. For Little League Softball, it is the player's actual age on December 31 of the previous year.
- Why is my child's league age different from their real age?
- Because it is fixed against a cutoff date rather than changing on their birthday. Depending on when their birthday falls relative to the cutoff, league age can differ from actual age for part or all of the season.
- Is the age cutoff the same for baseball and softball?
- Not in Little League. Baseball uses August 31 of the current year; softball uses December 31 of the previous year. A brother and sister born days apart can end up in differently numbered divisions.
- What division is a 12-year-old in?
- In Little League, league age 12 is eligible for the Minor League and Major divisions, and also falls within the ranges for Intermediate (50/70) and Junior League. Local leagues place players within those overlapping ranges.
- Do all leagues use the same age cutoff?
- No. Cutoffs vary between organisations, and travel organisations often differ from the rec league in the same town. Use the date published by the organisation your child is registering with.
Sources
Rules change, and local leagues override national ones. When this page and your league’s rulebook disagree, your league wins.