Simplified Explanation of Age Groups for 2026 Baseball Season

Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken uses May 1 as the cutoff date for age groups.
A player’s “league age” is the age they are on May 1, 2026.

Simple Rule for Most Birthdays

If your child was NOT born in May, June, July, or August, their league age is simply:

Age on May 1, 2026 = Their league age

Example: Born February 2016 → 10 years old on May 1 → plays as a 10-year-old.

Special Rule for Kids Born in May, June, July, or August

This is where many parents get confused — but it’s actually simple:

**If your child was born between May 1 and August 31:

You may choose between TWO age groups.**

Why?
Because some kids with summer birthdays fall right on the border of age groups. FYBO honors a “home rule” allowing families to choose what’s best developmentally.

Examples to Make It Crystal Clear

Example 1 — Born June 2017

• Age on May 1, 2026: 8 
• Eligible to play: 7U Rookie or 8U Bantam (family choice)

Example 2 — Born August 2015

• Age on May 1, 2026: 10
• Eligible to play: 9U Single A or 10U Triple A

Why This Matters

The goal is to:

• Keep kids with peers of similar development
• Allow flexibility for younger or smaller summer-birthday players

• Avoid forcing an early “play up” situation

Parents know best — so FYBO gives you the choice.

Quick Summary for Parents

• Not born May–August? Your child’s age on May 1 = league age.
• Born in May, June, July, or August?
  → You choose between the age group below or above.

Players born between 5/1 – 8/31 will have the ability to choose to play with the age below them or the age above them (Cal Ripken age vs. potential grade age).

There are 2 declarations:

• Initial Declaration: players age 7 & 8 can declare their initial age for Rookie & Bantam (will not change during those two years except for the reason below)
• Final Declaration: when players reach 9 years old, they will make their final declaration for the rest of their time playing FYBO (except for the reasons below)
• The declaration applies to Spring & Summer

Declaration exclusions:

• Player safety: the board & parents have the ability to move a player if there are safety concerns for that player
• Playing up: if a player is deemed worthy for consideration to “play up” (based on coach/board feedback), the board will allow that flexibility

Rationale for 2 declarations:

• At the youngest ages, parents may not know the nuances between club ages vs. town ages and the potential implications of being a different age for club vs. town.  Providing a declaration at 9 gives parents now in club baseball a chance to finalize their declaration.