When registering for the 2018 season, some of you will notice that your baseball player’s Little League age has skipped an age level from what you might have been anticipating based on their Little League age from the 2017 season.
Why did this happen?
Little League, Inc. changed their official age determination cut-off date for baseball – moving it from April 30 to August 31, thereby making all baseball leagues younger by 4 months. This change takes full affect with the 2018 and 2019 summer seasons. WMLL had no direct say in this decision by Little League, Inc. & does not understand why grandfather clauses were not applied.
What players does this change affect?
This change only affects baseball players whose birthdates fall in May, June, July or August of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005. It doesn’t affect softball players and it doesn’t affect baseball players born in the months of January, February, March, April, October, November & December.
How are these players affected?
Affected players essentially lose one year of Little League eligibility. The year “lost” varies as follows:
- Players born May thru Aug of 2001: These players, who were Little League Age 15 for the 2017 season, will be Little League age 17 for the 2018 season & thus too old for Little League play.
- WMLL applied for a waiver to allow these players to play in 2018, but received a response which was not conclusive. After further inquiries, WMLL was told that problems brought about by the age change will likely be addressed at the Little League International Congress which convenes on January 19. The implication being that the Congress may take actions which solve the problem. WMLL will monitor the actions of the Congress closely & will renew the waiver request if the Congress does not solve the problem to WMLL’s satisfaction.
- If your son was born May thru Aug of 2001, WMLL urges you to register him for the 2018 season. Even if Little League, Inc. does not allow you sons to be fully eligible for Little League play in 2018, WMLL will try to provide these players with a meaningful baseball experience at WMLL in 2018. WMLL will also offer a full refund of registration fees if the outcome is anything other than full eligibility.
- Players born May thru Aug of 2002: These players, who were Little League Age 14 for the 2017 season, will be Little League age 16 for the 2018 season which means that 2018 will be their last year of Little League baseball.
- Players born May thru Aug of 2003: These players, who were Little League Age 13 for the 2017 season, will be Little League age 15 for the 2018 season which means that they will be in the Senior League having had only one season in the Badger League.
- Players born May thru Aug of 2004: These players, who were Little League age 12 for the 2017 season, will be Little League age 14 for the 2018 season which means that they will have only one season in the Badger League before moving to the Senior League.
- Players born May thru Aug of 2005: These players, who were Little League age 11 for the 2017 season, will as expected be Little League Age 12 for the the 2018 season. For the 2019 season, however, they will jump to Little League age 14, thus having only one season in the WMLL Badger League.