Quick Question: How many youth leagues?

The list is pretty long:

AAU
AABC
Babe Ruth
CABA
Dixie Youth
Dizzy Dean
Hap Dumont (National Baseball Congress)
Little League Baseball
NABF
National PAL
Pony Baseball
USABA
USSSA

These are the organizations that I know of that play at the age of 12. I figured that 12U would be the typical age where the proliferation of organizations is just so large that cooperation isn't either practical or probable.

You will never get a single umbrella organization for all of the leagues because the differences in philosophy. Field sizes, leading off, pickoffs, basepath lengths, differences in the distance for the pitcher to home ... there are a lot of differences.

Most of the leagues (with the exception of AAU) require a regular season and then a summer playoff schedule. AAU is organized around tournaments so that dual participation is possible. AAU (in some regions) has regular league play.

Just ... If you wanna tackle that political grenade, you are braver than I am.

Add to THAT....

AAYBA
Triple Crown

OK, thanks I know the names of the leagues...just wondering how many city leagues there might be.

Maybe a better question...has anyone ever heard how many 12-year old players participate in youth baseball each year?

Thanks.

One survey (dated) ...

9.5 million 18 and under baseball players, 1996
7.9 million boys
1.6 million girls

3.0 million in Little League Baseball, 1997

850,000 in Khoury Baseball

435,708 in Dixie baseball, 1997

282,320 boys in AABC

225,000 in NABF, 1997
220,000 boys = 97.8%
5,000 girls = 2.2%

90,000 boys in Amer Legion baseball, 1997

500,000 players in PONY baseball, 1997
450,000 boys = 90% ???
45,000 girls = 9%

19 million in amateur baseball, 1998

My best guess is there are 5.4 million 12 year olds in the country. Assume 50% boys (I think the split is actually a little below 50%) = 2.7 million 12 yo boys. Now put your best guess % of boys playing baseball. I say 10% - 15%.

So my guess is 270,000 - 405,000 12 yo boys are playing baseball. Probably closer to 10%.

quote:

9.5 million 18 and under baseball players, 1996
7.9 million boys
1.6 million girls

Does that include softball?

quote:

19 million in amateur baseball, 1998

Does that include school gym classes and softball?

Plenty of kids are counted in several leagues, btw.

quote:

850,000 in Khoury Baseball

Maybe in 1960. I researched Khoury League and determined it exists in only a few places nowadays.

Yes, there are many local unaffiliated leagues.

The softball numbers were separate..

10.1 million softball players, 1996
4.2 million boys = 41.58%
5.9 million girls = 58.42%
1,194,910 youth in ASA Softball, 1997
22,065 boys = 1.85%
1,172,845 girls = 98.15%
75,120 girls in Dixie softball, 1997
40,000 in Bobby Sox softball, ND

Source: NAYSI Youth, Sport, Facts & Demographics, North American Youth Sport Institute

Didn't Cal Ripken have a organization as well?

Whoever actually tried to come up with a real number has WAY TO MUCH TIME on their hands.

I was a little high. US census says 2.1 million 12 year old boys.

Revised estimate is 200,000 - 300,000 little league 12 year olds. That's my guess and I'm sticking to it.

.

I took a pretty accurate count in our community...roughly 60% of our youth played either softball or baseball at one time or another before they were 14....