- WORK PARTIES EVERY SATURDAY MORNING 8AM
- ALL COACHES MUST VOLUNTEER FOR WORK PARTIES
- NO ALCOHOL/TOBACCO/FOUL LANGUAGE ON COMPLEX
- ALL COACHES MUST COMPLETE BACKGROUND CHECKS
- SPONSORS NEEDED
Welcome
Subscribe to our Newsletter2026 SPRING SEASON REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
12/21/25 - We are now accepting sign-ups for the 2026 Baseball & Softball Season! Programs begin at Age 4 (see age eligibility below).
Please use the appropriate registration form(s) to sign up your child and submit payment to secure your child's spot for the 2026 season. Please be sure to read the important information below and on the registration form.
SPRING RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
| Program | Age Eligibility | Registration Form |
| Baseball | Born between May 1, 2010 - April 30, 2019 | Baseball Registration Form |
| T-Ball & Coach Pitch | Born between May 1, 2019 - April 30, 2022 | T-Ball & Coach Pitch Registration Form |
| Softball | Born between Sept 1, 2012 - August 31, 2021 | Softball Registration Form |
*For girls softball, Babe Ruth League has implemented a rule change that has gone into effect for the 2026 season that adjusts the age cut dates. Refer to the age eligibility charts below for more information.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Baseball & Softball - Last day to sign up is February 22, 2026
T-Ball & Coach Pitch - Last day to sign up is March 1, 2026
Players must be signed up and paid by the deadlines noted above. We cannot accept late sign-ups. Why so soon? From the time of closing sign-ups, we need to finalize team counts, assign coaches, draft teams, order uniforms, and distribute equipment for practices. The season begins in early April. That leaves us just about a month to accomplish all of that and to meet our uniform ordering deadlines.
Player drafts (Baseball & Softball) will take place on Saturday Feb 28, 2026
Roster assignments for I-Ball, Coach Pitch, T-Ball, and Little Rebels softball will be completed by March 21, 2026.
AGE ELIGIBILITY
Please review the age determination charts for ages 4 and up , which are in accordance with Babe Ruth League 2026 season guidelines. The charts below also provide some insight into what level your child will be assigned to for the upcoming season.
Baseball Age Determination & Program Alignment
Softball Age Determination & Program Alignment
What is league age? League age is your child's age for the 2026 season based on their birth date and the Babe Ruth age guidelines. This determines the level they are placed in within their respective program.
Softball players - Babe Ruth League has changed their age eligibility cut off dates effective for the 2026 season, in alignment with USA Softball. This is a positive change for all Babe Ruth leagues. In some cases, this may help your daughter have another year of eligibility to play. Please refer to the age determination chart above.
REGISTRATION FEES
2026 season fees are noted on the registration form for each program.
Some programs do offer multi-player discounts for players in the same household. All other program fees are noted as "per player"
Your registration is not considered complete until payment is submitted.
If you have a hardship and would like to inquire about a payment plan, please sign up your child(ren) and then email 21stwardregistrar@gmail.com and provide your child's name/date of birth to inquire about a payment plan. Payment plans must be approved by our Executive Board.
Forms of Payment - We accept Venmo @Rox-21stwardjl , credit/debit cards at paypal.me/21stwardjl and check/money order payable to 21st Ward Jr. League (see registration form for details)
Sorry we cannot accept cash payments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Equipment does my child need? What does the league provide? When are the games played? When do practices start? When do games begin? Where are games played? Please refer to this helpful FAQ doc that summarizes all you need to know about joining our league and how to prepare for the upcoming season.
- Spring 2026 Season Player Registration is live.
- Baseball & Softball Sign-ups close on Feb 22nd. T-Ball & Coach Pitch closes March 1st.
- Our first general membership meeting of 2026 will be on Weds, Jan 28, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Al Pearlman Complex
- This is your opportunity to get involved. Join a committee. Meet other coaches and parents. Come hear the latest league news. Share your ideas and help us make 2026 our best season yet.
- If you are interested in being considered as a HEAD Coach for the 2026 rec season, please complete the Manager Interest Form.
- Only complete the form if you wish to be a head coach.
- ALL coaches are required to register for the 2026 season through our Babe Ruth League portal and complete the Babe Ruth League background screening process (if new or if your previous has expired).
- When selecting membership, select "Coach" as your role.
- Calling local businesses and donors! Please consider becoming a 2026 LEAGUE SPONSOR!
☑️ Sponsors play a critical role in ensuring our ⚾🥎 players have safe fields to play on, enabling us to purchase new team equipment and offer affordable programs to our community.
🤝 Gain direct exposure for your business, products, and services.
🤝 We are a non-profit; your contributions are tax-deductible.
📝 Become a sponsor today! https://forms.gle/groc7fJ6wd5fXx5A6
💲 Early-bird discounts are available on select tiers if secured by February 22.
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS 2026 COUPONS
We are excited to announce that DICK's Sporting Goods will once again be sponsoring our league.
Check back soon for exclusive coupons and announcement of a 21st Ward shopping event held in March at your local DICK's Sporting Goods.
Thank you DICK's Sporting Goods!
2026 Roxborough Rebels Travel Team Rosters
Thank you to all the players who are trying out for our Spring/Summer 2026 travel Roxborough Rebels teams. As teams are selected, we will post the rosters below:
2025 Rebels Managers
| Baseball | |
| 7U Blue | Alex Spanos |
| 7U Red | TBA |
| 8U | CJ Fink |
| 9U | Joe Brogan |
| 10U | Joe Spinks |
| 11U | Rich Bauer |
| 12U Blue/2025 Cooperstown | Brian Sannicandro |
| 12U Red/2026 Cooperstown | Bill Fahringer |
| 13U | TBA |
| 14U | Jim Brighters |
| 15U | Matt Rizzo |
| Softball | |
| 8U | Katie Rizzo |
| 10U | Zach Torres |
| 12U | Jen Malloy |
| 14U | Allie Conroy |
Become a 2025 Sponsor!
Sponsorship Details & Information available here
Ready to join us as a sponsor? Complete the Sponsorship Registration Form
INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCESS
We will always make every effort possible to play but the safety of the players, coaches, umpires, and spectators is our top priority, as well as providing proper notification to the umpires. In the event we need to cancel games to due to the weather we will do so as soon as possible by notifying managers via email or text, as well as announcing on our website and on our league Facebook page.
ABOUT THE 21st WARD JUNIOR LEAGUE
that serves the children of Northwest Philadelphia (the 21st Ward).
We have no paid employees, and can provide sports activities to resident children only through volunteer efforts and participation. Fees are designed to cover the cost of the baseball and softball programs that we offer. The parents or guardians of each child participating in the League's programs are asked to provide 2 hours of time per season in field maintenance and trash pickup to enable us to keep costs low and to maintain our quality facilities that are enjoyed by all.
INCLEMENT WEATHER NOTIFICATIONS & RAIN OUTS
ALWAYS assume your game is on unless your coach contacts you to tell you otherwise. Inclement weather announcements will be posted on our website and on our Facebook page at the earliest possible time. We always aim to make final decisions at least 90 mins prior to game time, but depending on the situation that is not always possible. The league will contact all coaches via email and/or text to notify them of any cancellations, delays, or postponements. Your coaches will then relay that information to you.
NEW BAT RULES IN 2018
With holiday shopping season fast approaching, we want the 21st Ward community to be up to speed on the new bat regulations that will be going into effect Jan 1, 2018. Cal Ripken & Babe Ruth Baseball will be adopting the new USA Bat standards. The new bats are designed to behave more like traditional wood bats. As discussed at the 11/15 General Body Meeting, as a Cal Ripken & Babe Ruth chartered league, it is our intent to adopt these new standards for our in-house program for the 2018 season for the AAA - Pony levels. If you want to see a list of the individual bats, sorted by bat manufacturer that are approved, visit www.usabat.com The key thing you are looking for is the USA bat stamp on the bat. Below are the new specifications for 2018.
ATTENTION MANAGERS & COACHES FOR 2016:
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COACHING A TOURNAMENT TEAM FOR CAL RIPKEN/BABE RUTH BASEBALL DISTRICTS/STATES/REGIONALS,YOU MUST PASS 1 CERTIFICATION COURSE ON CAL RIPKEN/BABE RUTH BASEBALL WEBSITE. THIS IS MANDATORY. ONCE COMPLETED, EMAIL YOUR CERTIFICATES TO AN ELECTED BOARD MEMBER.
ALL MANAGERS & COACHES MUST HAVE THIS CERTIFICATION. EVEN IF YOU PLAN ON PUTTING YOUR NAME IN FOR A TOURNAMENT TEAM OR POSSIBLY COACHING WITH A MANAGER, YOU MUST BE CERTIFIED.
IT IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED TO TAKE THESE COURSES EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY COACHING IN-HOUSE. YOU WILL LEARN A WHOLE LOT. YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURSE AND MATERIALS AT ALL TIMES VIA CAL RIPKEN/BABE RUTH WEBSITE.
HERE IS THE WEBSITE:
http://www.baberuthcoaching.org/coaches/index.cfm
HERE IS THE COST: (PAID BY MANAGERS/COACHES)
REMEMBER, YOU ONLY NEED 1 CERTIFICATION. YOU CAN TAKE THE COURSE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT TO PASS AND ONLY PAY ONCE. CONSIDER TAKING THE 2 BASEBALL COURSES. IT WILL OPEN YOUR EYES IMMEDIATELY. OUR KIDS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS RIGHT AWAY.
HERE IS WHAT THE DOCUMENT LOOKS LIKE AFTER COMPLETION OF THE COURSE. YOU WILL NEED TO CARRY A WALLET SIZE WITH YOU COACHING AND SEND A COPY OF YOUR CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT BABE RUTH SITE TO NICK.ROSLEY@HOTMAIL.COM. CERTIFICATE ONLY, NOT TRANSCRIPT.
THANK YOU, 21ST WARD JL BASEBALL
COACHES: HERE IS A LINK FOR GREAT INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS:
https://www.ripkenbaseball.com/instructional_videos
NO SMOKING/NO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES!
Contacting The Junior League
TO CONTACT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE:
1)TO KEEP YOUR QUESTION/COMMENTS PRIVATE. SEND US AN E-MAIL: 21stwardregistrar@gmail.com
2) To send email or reach a League Officer or Board Member by phone, go to the League Contacts and select mail for that official, if available. If email is not available, please contact by phone.
3) For RAIN OUTS, the league will communicate directly with team Managers. All inclement weather updates will be posted on our website and on our Facebook page in as timely manner as possible. Always assume the game is on until your manager tells you otherwise.
Code of Conduct
The code of conduct applies to All Coaches, Players, Umpires, Parents, Spectators, and Volunteers.
To stress the characteristics of honesty, respect, caring, and responsibility while upholding the mission of the 21st Ward Junior League. Furthermore, the concepts of sportsmanship, fun, fitness, participation, family, fair play, team work, skill development, and volunteerism will be upheld at all times.
1. I understand I am expected to be a positive example for the children at all times while on the complex.
2. I understand abusive and foul language will not be tolerated.
3. I understand drug and alcohol use and/or possession will not be permitted on or around the complex, parking lots, or practice fields.
4. I will not humiliate or abuse verbally or physically any player, coach, umpire, or spectator. Any type of abuse will not be tolerated and may be cause for disciplinary action, suspension, or immediate dismissal.
5. I will respect and treat all children equally regardless of sex, race, religion, or culture.
6. I fully understand and acknowledge that any form of bullying, whether physical, verbal, or cyber will not be tolerated at any time.
7. I fully understand that the umpire has control of the game, except when superseded by a board member.
8. Applicable to Coaches - I have read and fully understand article VII of the team manager's by-laws. I understand that it applies to all coaches as well as managers.
I understand that violating any of the above could result in termination of the game and possible further disciplinary action by the 21st Ward Junior League, including, but not limited to suspension from activities and/or expulsion from the league.
Last Updated: Jan 10, 2024
to respect my teammates, my opponents, the coaches, and umpires
and to improve myself in spirit, mind, and body.
I will positively support all managers, coaches, and players.
I will respect the decisions of the umpires.
I will praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game.
