By Sama Marwan,
Youth sports leagues are expanding their offerings to meet the growing interest among young athletes. For example, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) in the Philippines introduced the Junior MPBL in 2023, featuring divisions for ages 14-under, 16-under, and 18-under, with plans to add a 21-under division in 2024.
In the United States, organizations like Little League International have restructured their age divisions to better serve young players. Starting in 2025, players aged 4 to 7 can choose to play in any league their family prefers, while those aged 8 to 16 will continue to follow existing boundary requirements based on residency or school enrollment.
Similarly, Pop Warner football has adopted an age-only structure for its tackle football divisions, aligning with the national trend where approximately 75-80% of youth football follows this format. The organization offers six divisions of play, all determined by age.
These expansions and restructurings aim to provide more inclusive and accessible opportunities for children to engage in sports, fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy habits from a young age.
