PEARL RIVER LITTLE LEAGUE: News: LITTLE LEAGUE, INC. CHANGES AGE CALCULATION
LITTLE LEAGUE, INC. CHANGES AGE CALCULATION
Since the beginning of Little League over 50 years ago, July 31 has been used as the date to calculate the age of a player for Little League eligibility, or for placement into an age-based division. Starting in 2006, that date will change. Moreover, the date will be different for baseball and softball. THIS CHANGE IS MANDATED BY LITTLE LEAGUE, INC. LOCAL LEAGUES, INCLUDING PRLL, MUST COMPLY WITH THESE NEW RULES.
Starting in 2006, the date in all divisions of Little League Baseball will be April 30 of the current year.
The date in all divisions of Little League Softball will be Dec. 31 of the previous year. Does this change mean that some players will receive two years of eligibility at a certain age? Yes. Baseball players with birth dates in May, June or July of 2005 will be the same league age for the 2006 season. Softball players with birth dates from January through July of 2005 will be the same league age for the 2006 season. For example: A player who was born on July 15, 1993, is a league age 12-year-old for the 2005 season. That player will AGAIN be a league-age 12-year-old for the 2006 season. Remember, however, this will only be the case for one year only. What is the reason for the change in baseball? The chief reason is so that most players on a team will spend the majority of the regular season at the same chronological age as their league age. Currently, more than 95 percent of all local Little League programs start their seasons before May 1. Under the old regulation, a baseball player who turns 13 in May, June or July of the current year would have been considered league-age 13 for that entire season. That would be the case, despite the fact that such a player likely would have played most or all of the regular season (which generally ends in June) without having actually reached his or her 13th birthday. Under the new regulation, such a player will have a league age of 12 throughout the 2006 season. What is the reason for the change in softball? The change was made in softball to reflect the fact that most national youth softball organizations use Dec. 31 as the league age determination date.
Who is affected most by this change?
Obviously, some current 12 year-olds who would otherwise be eligible for Senior LL (Junior Division, 13/14 year-olds) next year are greatly affected. Also, some 6 year-old tee-ballers now face another year in tee-ball. Little League, Inc. will permit those players with at least one year tee-ball experience to be moved up to a coach's or machine pitching division. Again, PRLL will discuss this provision for adoption.
Many players will be affected in 2006 by these new rules. Just as an example, one of our Board members, Anthony DiGiovanni, has twins who are now, according to Little League, Inc., different ages.
