Sec. 3 States that all teams playing between August 1 and July 31 must play by the following year's eligibility classes. Meaning that they must be classified under their appropriate age class in the 2009 Season. To find the appropriate class, you refer back to Sec. 1. Here it states that you use a Player's Age on December 31 of the previous year. In this instance (the 2009 season) that exact date is December 31, 2008.
The USSSA Rulebook reads as follows:
Sec 1. THE YOUTH FAST PITCH PROGRAM WILL BE DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING CLASSIFICATIONS. A player’s age on December 31, of the previous calendar year determines the age classification in which the player is eligible to participate. Any player 18, or who reaches their 18th birthday, or who graduates from High School in the calendar year of the current World Series, shall be eligible to participate in the 18 & over World Series Tournament.
Sec 3. The Fast Pitch season and Team registration will run from August 1 until July 31. Tournaments and leagues played after August 1, will qualify teams for the following summer’s State and World Series Tournaments. All teams playing between August 1 and December 31 must play by the following year’s eligibility classifications.
