Frequently Asked Questions

Bluffton Youth Sports is affiliated with Diamond Youth Baseball (DYB) for baseball and Diamond Youth Softball (DYS) for softball — both formerly known as Dixie Youth. They are 100% volunteer-run organizations serving eleven southeastern U.S. states. A founding principle is that every player must play a minimum of one inning per game, regardless of skill level.

BYS follows the official age charts published annually by DYB and DYS. For baseball, the age cutoff is May 1st. For softball, the cutoff is January 1st. Your child's age on the cutoff date determines their division. Visit our Divisions page for the full breakdown, or check dybusa.org for the official annual age chart.

Players must establish legal domicile — their true, fixed, and permanent home — within the league's geographic area. Acceptable documentation includes lease or rental agreements, property deeds, bank statements, driver's license, voter registration, school enrollment records as of January 1st of the current season, and similar official documents. All documentation must be dated prior to the league's registration date.

Evaluations are held to ensure teams are drafted as evenly as possible. Every registered child will be placed on a team — evaluations are not tryouts to make the league, but a skill assessment used to balance team levels across the division.

Players need their own glove, batting helmet, and cleats. BYS provides jerseys, hats, and socks. Pants and belt color are left to the discression of the coaches. Bats must meet the USA Baseball Bat Standard for baseball or be on the approved USA Softball list for softball — check usabat.com to verify any bat before purchasing.

Baseball Bats:
• Cannot exceed 2 5/8” in diameter nor 33” in length.
• All non-wood bats must be stamped with the USA Baseball mark (verify at usabat.com).
• Solid wood bats made from a single piece of wood that meet size requirements.
• BBCOR bats are authorized as long as they meet the BBCOR standard and do not weigh more than three ounces less than the length of the bat.
• Tee ball bats are only authorized for Tee ball.

Softball Bats:
• Must have the 2000 Amateur Softball, 2004 ASA Certified, or the USA Softball certified stamps (check ASA decertified list).
• Must not exceed 34 inches in length.

Yes — DYB enforces pitch count rules to protect young arms:

Limits: Ages 11–12 → max 85 pitches/game; Ages 10 & under → max 75 pitches/game.

Rest requirements: 1–40 pitches = no required rest; 41–65 pitches = 36 hours rest; 66+ pitches = 48 hours rest.

Coaches are responsible for tracking their pitcher's count at all times. These rules apply to regular season and tournament play.

Schedules vary by division and coach. Generally, teams practice 1–2 times per week before the season and play 1–2 games per week during the season. The spring season typically opens in March. Check the League Calendar or your coach for specific dates.

DYB awards over $200,000 annually in college scholarships to graduating high school seniors who played at least one DYB season between ages 5–12. DYS offers a similar scholarship for players who participated between ages 5–18. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, ACT/SAT scores, and class rank — not athletic ability. Visit dybusa.org or dysusa.org for application details. The scholarship deadline for notifying DYB/DYS of your college is July 15th.

Absolutely! BYS depends entirely on parent volunteers. To coach, complete a coaching application through Beaufort County Parks and Recreation and pass a background check through Secure Volunteer. Visit our Coaches Corner for full details, or our Volunteer page to apply for umpiring, concessions, or board membership.