The PPBA began operation in 1994 as an association. It transitioned to a Not-For-Profit New York corporation in 2007 and is also recognized as a charity by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) corporation that allows the deductibility of donations. (Click here for a copy of our IRS Letter) Our tax id# is 26-1340053.The PPBA is a league for co-ed baseball for boys and girls ages 4-17 and girls’ softball ages 10-17. Games are played on the seven diamonds and fields painted in the grass for 4-8 year olds in the Prospect Park Long Meadow and on other neighboring fields. Games are scheduled every day of the week usually starting the first weekend of April and finishes with a tournament that ends the third weekend of June. Weekday games start at 6pm. Weekend games are all day on most fields.The PPBA sets the rules, obtains the field permits from the NYC Parks Department, creates the team schedules, handles schedule change requests made only by the coaches, hires the umpires (who are trained by a separate umpire organization), and, with the help of parent volunteers, assist in the maintenance of the fields with the Prospect Park Alliance turf crew.The teams are placed in different divisions that may contain two age groups. For example, the Cubs baseball division is for 9 and 10 year-olds.  Some age groups have so many teams, that a division is subdivided into sub-divisions (North, East, etc.)  Placement of teams into sub-divisions is determined upon the agreement of the organizations.  Players must play in their age-appropriate group.   (See the Age Cutoff FAQ below to see in which division your player must play.)

The PPBA is a league only. Its members are the organizations listed in the Contacts section. Parents register their children with either of the members. The organizations set the registration fee, place the players on teams, and, among other things, provide the coaches, uniforms, and some equipment. To sign up, contact one of the organizations listed on the Contact page.

BaseballCubs - no older that 10 on 12/31 of the prior yearBantam - no older that 12 on 12/31 of the prior yearSuper Bantam - no older that 13 on 12/31 of the prior yearGrasshopper - no older that 15 on 12/31 of the prior yearFreshmen - no older that 17 on 12/31 of the prior yearSoftballMustangs - no older that 10 on 12/31 of the prior yearBroncos - no older that 12 on 12/31 of the prior yearColts - no older that 16 on 12/31 of the prior year

Coaches are given defibrillators that, by law, must be brought to every game and practice. No game can start unless one is present at or near the field. Parks Department personnel may come to the fields to enforce this law. Every baseball pitcher is required to wear head protection and every softball pitcher wear a face mask. Every male catcher must also wear a protective cup. A protective batting helmet must be worn by every batter, baserunner, and person under 18 who is coaching a base. Details of all serious injuries must be reported to the PPBA President immediately. That email address is presidentppba@gmail.com.

They are usually not posted until 7-10 days before opening day. Opening day will be posted on this website well in advance. A notice that the schedules are available on this site will posted at the same time as when the schedules are released to the individual organizations.

The only time games are not scheduled is the period from Good Friday through Easter Sunday and Memorial Day weekend starting the Friday immediately before it. Otherwise games are scheduled during school breaks and Mother’s and Father’s Days.

The location of and direction to the fields are found on the “Fields” link on this site.

The PPBA only schedules games as the field permits are used only for games. Practices have to be arranged by the coaches at a location set by them. The PPBA permitted fields are not available for practices.

Games must start on time. Teams should therefore arrive at least a half hour before the scheduled game time so that the players are warmed up, the field has the bases properly placed, and the coaches complete their pre-game meeting with the umpire. On weekdays, daylight can be an issue. On weekends, games are scheduled one after the other. The weekend game times are set so that the last scheduled game can be completed before the sun goes down. It is not fair to that last game if earlier delays cause the last game to be shorten due to lack of sunlight.

Parents and spectators are expected to give positive support to the umpire, many of whom are older teenagers and former PPBA players, and volunteer coaches who are doing the best they can for the children of the community.  We also expect the support of our Code of Conduct which is located in Section E or our rules.  Players, coaches, and spectators shall root FOR their team, NOT against the other team.  Prohibited are verbal actions that confuse or distract any player, such as trash talk, negative chanting, coaches or spectators yelling “I got it” when a fly ball is hit, or distracting sounds or actions of players, coaches or spectators of an opposing team during a pitcher’s motion.  It shall be the responsibility of the head coach to control his/her spectators.Any official, coach, parent, player, spectator or other participant who: (1) engages in verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any official, coach, parent, player, spectator or other participant; or (2) initiates physical contact with any official, coach, parent, player, spectator or other participant during, at, immediately before or following, or otherwise in connection with a PPBA game or event shall be subject to being banned from any future PPBA game or event including coaching for or playing on any team participating in PPBA games or events. Such ban, in the sole discretion of the PPBA Board, may be temporary or permanent and subject to such other and additional conditions as may be imposed by the PPBA Board, including but not limited to, banning family members of the offending person from PPBA games and events. Every season, incidents that occur on the fields that justify remedial action either go unreported, or are reported late, or with insufficient information upon which to act. The net result is the misperception that we condone improper behavior and insufficient information to address correctable situations, particularly with respect to the quality of our umpires.This organization consists of only ten officials who run over a thousand games on more than ten fields every spring. It is impossible for us to be at all the games. The only way we can maintain values appropriate to a youth baseball organization is to get the direct and specific input of everyone involved. It is, therefore, the responsibility of all parents and coaches to communicate problems to us as soon as they occur.  Communicate to us using either a form that is located on this site’s Contact page or via email to presidentppba@gmail.com.

Though it may be very sunny outside, if there has been a lot of rain, the fields may be too wet to play. Games for ages 12 and under may be moved to the grass if it is dry.

The PPBA makes every attempt to make up postponed games. Games are made up if there are available open slots, the coaches of both teams confirm that at least 7 members of their team can make it, and an umpire is available. However, we are here to play baseball. If there are fewer than 7 players, teams should share players and play a game. Umpires are required to officiate all such games.

There is a tournament for every division (except the 4-8 year old Pee Wee and Pony divisions) that usually begins the second week in June and ends the third weekend in June. Seeding for all the tournaments is by random draw of the PPBA board. As such we do not keep a record of wins and losses of regular season games. We purposely do that because we are an instructional-recreational league that values player development over winning. Most tournaments are single elimination. Depending on the number of teams and fields available, there may be double elimination Tournaments with the preference given to the older divisions.

Our goal is always to have teams play. Since we do not keep win/loss records for regular season games, there is no such thing as a forfeit. If a team does not have enough players, players should be exchanged so a game can be played. The umpires are required to officiate in all such situations.

AED Defibrillator How to Use Video Click to see a short video on how to use the AED Defibrillator.

All comments and complaints are welcome and, when appropriate, will be addressed promptly. Please click the following link to register a complaint about umpire conduct or no show.https://www.ppba.info/comments As a recreational league for boys and girls, we are here to help them learn the skills and strategies of baseball, to learn how to be good teammates and good sports, and to have fun. We rely on all parents to adopt & model these goals, and abide by our rules of conduct, as the best way to protect the coaches, players, and umpires from improper behavior by other parents and spectators.Our rules of conduct are that of a zero tolerance organization. They are:All officials, coaches, parents, players, spectators and participants shall respect one another,respect officials' decisions,engage in fair play and abide by all game rules, refrain from engaging in taunting of officials, coaches, parents, players, spectators or other participants by means of baiting or ridiculing, refrain from verbal and/or profane abuse of officials, coaches, parents, players, spectators or other participants,refrain from threatening physical violence or engaging in any form of physical violence,win and lose with good sportsmanship and shall strive to make youth sports programs rewarding for all participants,refrain from heckling and destructive comments,root for their own team not against the opposing team, andreport any incident that would put a player in harm’s way. If there is an issue with an umpire, coach or fan, we need to know as soon as possible. Please be sure to include the day, date, time, field, teams, specific information about the incident, and the name and contact information of any other witnesses to the incident.Too many times we find out at the end of the season about a problem with an umpire or coach that had occurred early. Please understand that many of the umpires were once players in the organization and are young and may be new. We want the approach to be constructive.All comments and complaints are welcome and when appropriate will be address promptly. Please address them to presidentppba@gmail.com.

Too often we find out at the end of the season about a problem with an umpire or coach that had occurred much earlier. Please understand that many of the umpires were once players in the organization and are young and new to umpiring. We want the approach to be constructive. As a recreational league for boys and girls, we are here to help them learn the skills and strategies of baseball, to learn how to be good teammates and good sports, and to have fun. We rely on all parents to adopt & model these goals, and abide by our rules of conduct, as the best way to protect the coaches, players, and umpires from improper behavior by other parents and spectators. Our rules of conduct are that of a zero tolerance organization. Click here to review our Code of Conduct. All comments and complaints are welcome and, when appropriate, will be addressed promptly. Please address them to presidentppba@gmail.com