Youth Softball: A Parent and Coach Guide by Age

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The first season of kid pitch is a rite of passage. Lots of walks, a few tears, a coach in the circle saying “breathe,” and then, one Saturday, three strikes in a row and a dugout that goes wild. A few years later it’s travel ball, hotel pools and four games a weekend. This guide to youth softball is for the parents and coaches in the folding chairs: how age groups work, what ball and pitching distance to expect, why face masks matter, how much pitching is too much, and the recruiting basics, with answers to the questions parents ask most.

Youth softball age groups

Most kids start in a local rec league or Little League Softball, often with tee ball, coach pitch or machine pitch, then move to kid pitch. Competitive travel teams play by age group, usually in two-year steps (8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U), though USSSA also offers every age from 6U to 18U. “12U” means 12 and under. Your division depends on the organization’s cutoff date: for USSSA, a player’s age on August 31 sets her division for the season that starts that month. Check the cutoff with your league, because it decides who your daughter plays with.

Ball size and pitching distance by age

Age group	Ball	Pitching distance (girls)	Bases
10U and younger	11 inch	35 ft	60 ft
12U	12 inch	40 ft	60 ft
14U, 16U, 18U	12 inch	43 ft	60 ft
High school (NFHS)	12 inch	43 ft	60 ft

Distances are USA Softball’s; the ball sizes come from the USSSA rulebook, which uses the 11-inch ball for every division 10 and under. USSSA moves girls to 40 feet at 11U and to 43 feet at 13U, so a player can face different distances in different tournaments. Boys’ fastpitch moves to 46 feet from 14U (13U in USSSA). More on our softball rules page.

Face masks and helmets

A softball comes off a bat fast, and infielders in fastpitch stand close. In a study of US emergency room data from 2013 to 2017, about three in four softball head and face injuries came from being hit by a ball, and most of those were fielders hit by a batted or thrown ball. Concussions, cuts and fractures were all common.

• Batting helmets with face masks are required for batters, on-deck batters and runners in high school (since 2006), USA Softball fastpitch and USSSA youth play. USSSA also requires extended ear flaps that cover both ears and temples.
• Catchers wear a helmet and mask with a throat protector, and USSSA requires any youth player warming up a pitcher to wear a mask with a throat protector too.
• Fielder’s masks are optional under national rules, but any fielder may wear one. Some states and local leagues require them for pitchers and corner infielders; Kentucky did so for high school pitchers, first basemen and third basemen in 2018.

If your child pitches or plays first or third, a fielder’s mask is one of the best things you can buy. In lab tests, metal masks that sat far enough from the face lowered facial fracture risk best, and plastic masks bent too much. Our softball gear guide compares masks and helmets.

How much pitching is too much?

Unlike youth baseball, where Little League counts every pitch, softball has no national pitch count rules. A 2025 research review found that, as of 2023, there were no established pitch count limits in the US or Canada, that pitchers report more fatigue and pain as a game and a tournament weekend go on, and that pitch numbers vary a lot from pitcher to pitcher. In a survey of high school pitchers, those who threw more pitches per week and per year reported more shoulder and back pain, and those averaging more than 85 pitches a game were more than twice as likely to see a doctor for pain. Windmill pitching can also cause biceps tendinitis, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), through its STOP Sports Injuries campaign, suggests these limits:

Age	Pitches per game	Pitches per day
8–10	50	80
10–12	65	95
13–14	80	115 (80 on a third day)
15 and older	100	140 (100 on a third day)

• Don’t pitch more than two days in a row until age 13, then no more than three.
• Rest means no live pitching, including batting practice.
• Rotate pitchers to other positions, avoid pitching for teams with overlapping seasons, and don’t play year-round.
• Don’t pitch with pain. If it lasts, see a sports medicine professional.

Some leagues set their own limits. Little League Softball counts innings instead: in its Minors and Majors divisions, a pitcher may pitch up to 12 innings a day, and pitching 7 or more innings in a day requires one calendar day of rest. Remember that bullpens and warm-ups are pitches too. Our softball injuries page covers pitchers’ shoulder, back and arm pain in more detail.

Overuse, specialization and rest

Travel softball can run almost all year. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that early specialization can harm young athletes physically and mentally, and in a clinical study of young athletes, those who were highly specialized, or who spent more hours a week in organized sport than their age in years, had a higher risk of injury. A second sport in the off-season, real time off and enough sleep (the CDC recommends 9–12 hours for ages 6–12 and 8–10 for teens) go a long way.

Other safety basics

• Sliding: AAOS advises that players under 10 shouldn’t slide, and recommends breakaway bases to reduce sliding injuries.
• Cleats: USSSA bans metal cleats at 12U and younger, and USA Softball allows them only in older top-level divisions. Molded rubber cleats are the safe default for kids.
• Concussion: after a ball to the head or a collision, if a player looks dazed, has a headache or dizziness, or isn’t acting like herself, remove her from play and keep her out until a healthcare provider clears her (CDC HEADS UP). Call 911 for danger signs like a seizure or a worsening headache.
• Heat: summer tournaments are hot. AAOS suggests drinking about 8 ounces every 20 minutes during play. Shade and a cooler between games matter (see softball game day).

College recruiting basics

Softball recruiting used to start very early. The NCAA changed that: Division I softball coaches may not have any recruiting communication with a player or her family before September 1 of her junior year of high school. From that date, coaches can call, text, email, make offers and host official visits. Before then, a high school or travel coach can contact college coaches for her.

• Grades come first: players hoping for Division I or II should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Scholarships: Divisions I and II can offer athletic scholarships; Division III can’t, though its players can receive academic and need-based aid. Under the 2025 House settlement, Division I schools that opted in replaced scholarship limits with a roster limit, 25 players in softball.
• Look wide: the NAIA and junior colleges (NJCAA) are real options, too. See our leagues and associations page.

A starter kit for a young player: a Rawlings Sure Catch youth softball glove (12 inches, made for ages 4–11 and ready to use out of the box, about $50 on Amazon in October 2026), a Rawlings Coolflo batting helmet with face mask (NOCSAE certified, sized for about ages 8–14, about $53), a RIP-IT Defense fielder’s mask (about $40) and the Easton Sapphire -10 aluminum bat, which Easton lists as approved by USA Softball and USSSA (about $33).

Back to the softball hub, or see softball rules and softball gear. If your child also plays basketball, our youth basketball guide covers rest and specialization there.

Youth softball FAQs for parents

What size softball does a 10U player use?

An 11-inch ball. USSSA uses the 11-inch ball for every division 10 and under; from 12U up, players use the 12-inch ball. Check your league’s rules.

How far do 12U softball pitchers throw from?

40 feet under USA Softball and USSSA rules. Girls move to 43 feet at 14U in USA Softball (13U in USSSA), the same distance as high school and college.

Should my daughter wear a fielder’s mask?

If she pitches or plays first or third base, it’s a smart choice. Most softball head and face injuries come from fielders being hit by the ball, and lab tests show a well-designed metal mask lowers facial fracture risk.

How many pitches should a 12-year-old throw?

AOSSM suggests up to 65 pitches a game and 95 a day for ages 10–12, no more than two days in a row, and real rest days. Warm-ups and bullpens count too. Pain while pitching is a reason to stop and get checked.

When can college softball coaches contact my child?

Division I coaches can start on September 1 of her junior year of high school. Before then, her high school or travel coach can reach out to college coaches for her.