There are three recommended divisions of play for Jr. RBI (based on league participation numbers): ages 5 to 7, ages 8 to 10 and ages 11 to 12. Each playing level has its own set of age-appropriate rules. In divisions with players ages 5 to 10, the emphasis is on teaching the fundamentals of baseball and making the game fun. Divisions for players ages 11 to 12 may be used as an introduction to competitive baseball and softball.

Player safety is a priority for Jr. RBI. For all baseball programs, the playing rules highlight the importance of protecting pitchers’ arms with a pitch count, which is used to track the stress on young players’ developing bodies. For softball programs, playing rules highlight the introduction to the game at the earliest ages.

RBI is a Major League Baseball initiative whose mission is to increase urban and inner city youth interest and participation in baseball and softball by re-introducing, reviving, and rebuilding America’s pastime in underserved communities.

To support this mission, RBI provides training to Boys & Girls Clubs wishing to start or expand boys baseball and girls fast-pitch softball leagues for ages 13 to 15 and 16 to 18.

RBI teams representing Club leagues are eligible to participate in sports clinics, eight regional tournaments and a national championship tournament (the RBI World Series) conducted every summer by Major League Baseball.

Triple Play, BGCA’s first comprehensive health and wellness program, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, strives to improve the overall health of Club members ages 6-18 by increasing their daily physical activity, teaching them good nutrition and helping them develop healthy relationships.

The Mind component encourages young people to eat smart through the Healthy Habits program, which covers the power of choice, calories, vitamins and minerals, the food pyramid and appropriate portion size. The Body component boosts Clubs’ traditional physical activities to a higher level by providing sports and fitness activities for all youth. Body programs include six Daily Fitness Challenges; teen Sports Clubs focused on leadership development, service and careers in athletics; and Triple Play Games Tournaments, inter-Club sectional tournaments that involve multiple team sports. The Soul component helps build positive relationships and cooperation among young people.

Triple Play Parents Game Plan
Because parents play such a critical role in the development of a child's physical and social well-being, BGCA and Coca-Cola produced a tool, Triple Play Parents Game Plan, that can be used at home – where healthy habits start, are modeled and reinforced. It is available in both English and Spanish.

Triple Play Evaluation Results
To learn more about how Triple Play improved members’ physical activity, food choices, peer relations and self-mastery, review this third-party evaluation data about BGCA's health and wellness program.