U.S.A./USSSA age chart changes

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Jun 19, 2016
858
63
They are matching it to recruiting years. I think it is a good idea but unless USSSA and other sanctions follow thru it is useless.
 
Jun 19, 2016
858
63
The reason why the year thing was that different states use different dates for school grade age up, but college recruiting is all based on graduation year so this is why USA is making this move....and maybe also as marketing ploy to fill up their tournaments.
 
Jan 12, 2023
9
1
Does anyone know if Triple Crown will be making the change anytime soon? Since Alliance follows USA Softball age determination rules, are they applying the new cut off beginning this Fall 2023?
 
Feb 17, 2016
6
3
For reference, my daughter is born December 2010 (6th grade) and will be eligible to play a 3rd year of 12u next year under the USA age change. Her current travel team is in our 2nd year of 12u. All but 3 are 7th graders and either 12 or 13 already. So most of the team will have to move up after this spring/summer, while 3 could potentially stay down and play one more year of 12u.

Speaking for what is happening in western PA, I heard USSSA was supposed to be voting this week to adopt the same rules.

Also, the rec league in our area has also already adopted this rule who normally plays under ASA rules.

Sounds like what some have already said, that most/all sanctions will be adopting the rule change.

Not to hijack the thread, but what do you think would be more ideal. Playing an additional year of 12u or 14u? My daughter is a pitcher and catcher so I would actually think 12u would be the better year to stay down in. But other seem to think it would be 14u.
 
Last edited:
Aug 5, 2022
361
63
For reference, my daughter is born December 2010 (6th grade) and will be eligible to play a 3rd year of 12u next year under the USA age change. Her current travel team is in our 2nd year of 12u. All but 3 are 7th graders and either 12 or 13 already. So most of the team will have to move up after this spring/summer, while 3 could potentially stay down and play one more year of 12u.

Speaking for what is happening in western PA, I heard USSSA was supposed to be voting this week to adopt the same rules.

Also, the rec league in our area has also already adopted this rule who normally plays under ASA rules.

Sounds like what some have already said, that most/all sanctions will be adopting the rule change.

Not to hijack the thread, but what do you think would be more ideal. Playing an additional year of 12u or 14u? My daughter is a pitcher and catcher so I would actually think 12u would be the better year to stay down in. But other seem to think it would be 14u.

Kids should always play on the best team they can get significant playing time on. For some this means moving up in age early. For others this means driving further for an age appropriate team that plays at a higher level. DD is a junior now. She has always played age appropriate but we’ve been driving for a bandits team since she was 10. If we had stayed in our area she would have had to play 16s starting around 2nd yr 12s to play the same level of player.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Jan 12, 2023
9
1
Great question. I am in a similar situation. Daughter is first year 12U playing rec, Select and All Star in a competitive league. She is currently the best first year 12U pitcher (there are good 2nd year but she’s the only first year starting pitcher). She has been approached by travel teams but I am worried about burnout too young. I am still debating on whether to keep her another year in rec and them go travel, which with the new cutoff date would be 12u for the third year.
 

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