Rules

USSSA Age Chart (2026 & 2027 Seasons)

USSSA baseball determines age groups by a player's age on April 30 of the season year (the "May 1 cutoff"): still 12 on April 30, 2026 means 12U for the whole 2026 season. USSSA fastpitch is different: the 2026 softball season uses a player's age on August 31, 2025. Both full charts are below.

Travel baseball tournament check-in with a coach presenting a roster binder and a season calendar

League Age Calculator

Enter a birthday to see the player's league age or age division for every major governing body in the selected season.

Player's birthdaySeason

Enter a birthday to see league ages for every body.

High school age (14U-18U): graduation year rule

Perfect Game and USSSA accept graduation year as an alternative to birthdate at 14U and up: 18U is the class of the season year, 17U the next class, and so on. A player qualifies if either the birthdate rule or the grad-year rule fits.

High school graduation year

Convenience only. Each body's published age chart is binding, and local leagues and individual tournaments can adopt stricter rules. Softball bodies on the Aug 31 rule use a Sept 1 to Aug 31 season, so the "2026 season" is the one ending Aug 31, 2026. Alliance Fastpitch national events use a Dec 31 rule; confirm on the event listing.

USSSA Baseball Age Chart (2026 Season)

A player's age group is their age on April 30, 2026:

Age group	Born between
8U	May 1, 2017 – Apr 30, 2018
9U	May 1, 2016 – Apr 30, 2017
10U	May 1, 2015 – Apr 30, 2016
11U	May 1, 2014 – Apr 30, 2015
12U	May 1, 2013 – Apr 30, 2014
13U	May 1, 2012 – Apr 30, 2013
14U	May 1, 2011 – Apr 30, 2012
15U	May 1, 2010 – Apr 30, 2011
16U	May 1, 2009 – Apr 30, 2010
17U	May 1, 2008 – Apr 30, 2009
18U	May 1, 2007 – Apr 30, 2008

Born earlier than an age group's window? The player belongs in an older division. Born later? They're eligible for this group and may also play up. Playing down is never allowed. The official calculator at usssa.com is the binding reference for edge cases and grad-year exceptions.

USSSA Baseball Age Chart (2027 Season)

The 2027 season checks age on April 30, 2027, so every window shifts forward one year: 12U becomes born May 1, 2014 – Apr 30, 2015, 13U becomes May 1, 2013 – Apr 30, 2014, and so on. The practical version: whatever group your player is in now, they move up one on August 1, when USSSA rolls to the new season year for fall ball.

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USSSA Fastpitch Age Chart (2026 Season)

Softball works differently. The 2026 USSSA fastpitch season began in August 2025, and age groups key to a player's age on August 31, 2025:

Age group	Born between
8U	Sep 1, 2016 or later
10U	Sep 1, 2014 – Aug 31, 2016
12U	Sep 1, 2012 – Aug 31, 2014
14U	Sep 1, 2010 – Aug 31, 2012
16U	Sep 1, 2008 – Aug 31, 2010
18U	Sep 1, 2006 – Aug 31, 2008

Fastpitch runs even-numbered divisions, each spanning two birth years. USSSA aligned on the August 31 softball standard along with USA Softball, PGF, and PG; the softball age chart page compares all of them, including the Alliance Fastpitch December 31 exception.

The Mistakes That Get Rosters Flagged

The May 1 baseball rule means a spring birthday changes divisions mid-school-year cohort: two seventh-grade teammates born in April and June of the same year land in different USSSA age groups. The August 1 season rollover catches fall-ball parents constantly: a team that was 11U in June is 12U in September with the same roster. And families playing both baseball and softball in one household juggle two different cutoffs on two different calendars; check each child against the right chart, not the sibling's.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the USSSA age cutoff for baseball?

April 30 of the season year. A player's division is their age on April 30, 2026 for the 2026 season; players who turn the next age on or after May 1 stay in the younger group all season.

What is the USSSA age cutoff for softball?

August 31 at the season start. For the 2026 fastpitch season (which began August 2025), a player's division is her age on August 31, 2025.

When do USSSA age groups change over?

August 1, when the new season year begins. Fall ball is played at the age group your player will hold for the following spring and summer.

Is the USSSA cutoff the same as Little League's?

No. Little League baseball uses August 31 of the current year, so a summer birthday can be 12U in USSSA and league age 13 in Little League at the same time. The full comparison covers every organization.

Store each player's birthdate once and get the right age group and pitch limits for every ruleset you play under.