Baseball Age Divisions Explained: What 6U, 8U, 10U, and 12U Mean
What does 8U mean? Well, the U is the top age in the division. So 8 and under. Same for 12U, 10U, and 6U. 6U is tee ball, 8U is usually coach pitch, 10U is where kid pitch gets real, and 12U is the big field. Your league may call them something different, so here is how to translate.
What the U stands for
U means “and under.” A 10U team is for kids who are 10 and under, which in practice means 9 and 10 year olds. The number is the oldest age in the division.
Which age counts? League age, not the age on game day. Each organization picks a cutoff date, and the big ones don’t all pick the same one. Some town leagues go by school grade instead. So the same kid can be 8U in one league and 9U in another. Check your league’s age chart before you register.
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Get the free toolkitWhat each age looks like on the field
This is how the ladder runs in a town league that plays Cal Ripken rules in the summer. Yours may use different names, so look at the pitching column first.
| Division | Pitching | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 6U Tee ball | Off a tee | First bats, first gloves, first base paths. Everyone plays and everyone runs. |
| 8U Farm | Coach pitch, with some kid pitch | Coaches pitch to their own team so the ball gets put in play. Some leagues mix in kid pitch as the season goes on. |
| 10U Minors | Kid pitch | 46 foot mound and 60 foot bases. Walks, wild pitches, and real pitching start to matter. |
| 12U Majors | Kid pitch | 50 foot mound and 70 foot bases. Leads come in, and team defense gets a lot more demanding. |
Field sizes change by organization. Cal Ripken plays its oldest youth division on a 50 foot mound and 70 foot bases, while Little League plays 46 and 60, so a 12U field isn’t the same everywhere. Some leagues also use a pitching machine in place of coach pitch.
Why the practice plans pair the ages
Because the U is the top age, a 10U team has 9 and 10 year olds and a 12U team has 11 and 12 year olds. That’s why the practice plans on this site are built for pairs: 6U to 8U, 9U to 10U, and 11U to 12U. It’s how I group them, not a rule from a rulebook.
6U to 8U
Tee ball and farm
Short drills, lots of reps, and kids who don’t stand still for long. Sixty minutes is plenty.
See the 60 minute plan9U to 10U
Minors
Kid pitch and a bigger field. Ground balls, fly balls, and getting kids to talk to each other.
See the 90 minute plan11U to 12U
Majors
Team defense, cutoffs, and double plays, because the bases and the throws are bigger.
See the 90 minute planCommon questions
What does 6U mean in baseball?
6U means players 6 years old and under. Almost every league runs it as tee ball, where kids hit off a tee, learn the bases, and everyone plays. Leagues set their own cutoff dates, and some go by school grade, so check your league’s age chart.
What does 8U mean in baseball?
8U means players 8 years old and under, so mostly 7 and 8 year olds. It’s usually coach pitch, and leagues call it farm, rookie, or coach pitch. Some add kid pitch later in the season. Cutoff dates vary by league, so check your league’s age chart.
What does 9U mean in baseball?
9U means players 9 years old and under, usually 8 and 9 year olds. Some leagues run 9U as its own division, and it’s common for all star teams. It works like every other U: the number is the oldest age. Check your league’s age chart to see where your 9 year old plays.
What does 10U mean in baseball?
10U means players 10 years old and under, usually 9 and 10 year olds. It’s typically the first division where kid pitch is the norm, with a 46 foot mound and 60 foot bases, and many leagues call it minors. Field sizes vary a little by organization.
What does 11U mean in baseball?
11U means players 11 years old and under, usually 10 and 11 year olds. Some leagues run 11U as its own division, and it’s common for all star teams. It works like every other U: the number is the oldest age. Check your league’s age chart to see where your 11 year old plays.
What does 12U mean in baseball?
12U means players 12 years old and under, usually 11 and 12 year olds. Many leagues call it majors. It’s kid pitch, and the field is the biggest it gets before the 13 and up divisions: a 50 foot mound and 70 foot bases at Cal Ripken, 46 and 60 at Little League.
What does the U mean in 8U baseball?
The U means “and under.” The number is the oldest age in the division, so 8U is kids 8 and under and 12U is kids 12 and under. League age counts, not the age on game day, and cutoff dates differ by organization.
What’s the difference between coach pitch and kid pitch?
In coach pitch, a coach throws from close range to their own team’s hitters so the ball goes in play. In kid pitch, players pitch to each other. Some leagues use a pitching machine as a step in between.
Does my league use the same labels?
Maybe not. Names and cutoff dates change from league to league, so go by your league’s age chart and its pitching format.
Ready to plan a practice? Browse the youth baseball practice plans by age and length.
Drills That Work is not affiliated with Little League, Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth League, or PONY.
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