National Organization Rule Changes for 2026

By Marty Maciaszek 
NSGA Team Dealer Director 

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (December 22, 2025) – The National Sporting Goods Association conducted its annual check of rules changes by national and regional sports organizations. Organizations that did not have any changes impacting uniforms or equipment or did not respond to multiple requests as of December 19, 2025 are also listed. 

Organizations with changes/updates for 2026

Baseball/Softball

Babe Ruth Softball

• Eligible players must be at least 4 years old and no older than 18 as of August 31, 2025. 

Dixie Youth Baseball

• Bats stamped for Tee Ball play cannot be used in AAA, Majors or “O” Zone play. It is recommended that bats stamped for Tee Ball play be used only with low compression baseballs in 8U or 6U play. 
• A bat which does not meet the specifications in Rule 1.10 (a) and Rule 1.10 (b) shall be deemed an illegal bat. A batter who uses an illegal bat shall be called out and all runners shall return to the bases occupied by them at the time such batter took his position in the batter’s box if protested by the opposing team manager, or discovered by an umpire, prior to the first pitch to the next batter. The bat becomes illegal when the batter receives the first pitch during his turn at bat. He does not have to hit the ball. The batter shall be called out and any runners must return to the base they occupied prior to the first pitch to the batter. 2nd Penalty: After the first occurrence that a batter is called out for using an illegal bat, if a second batter is called out for using an illegal bat in the same game by the same team the team manager shall be ejected from the game. 3rd Penalty: If a bat previously removed from the game by the umpires is used again during that game, the batter shall be declared out, all runners shall return to the bases they occupied at the time such batter took his position in the batter’s box with the bat, and the manager shall be ejected from the game. 
• After one warning per team for slinging the bat, the next incident of a batter slinging the bat and every subsequent batter, after the warning, who slings the bat will be called out, a dead ball called, and no runners shall advance. 

Dixie Softball

• The 6-and-under girls age level is no longer hitting off a batting tee. 

Little League Baseball/Softball

• Rule changes have not been publicly announced as of December 17, 2025. 

National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF)

• College and Unlimited Age Divisions will be allowed to swing a wood composite bat. 

PONY Baseball/Softball 

• Single-piece wooden, metal, graphite or ceramic bats manufactured for baseball play, which are round and not more than 2-5/8ths inches in diameter at the thickest part, not more than 42 inches in length, are acceptable. No bat shall be used if dented, cracked, modified, or misshaped. The bat’s knob may be solid or hollowed to house an embedded metric sensor. If a sensor is used, it shall not affect performance, be secured by a locking mechanism and a back-up mechanism to keep it in place and have a distinguishing “off-line” mode to prevent data from being accessed during a game. 
• Bats manufactured specifically for use in tee ball, shall not be used when the ball is pitched by a pitcher, coach or pitching machine, unless a Level 5 or less safety ball is used. 
• Coach-pitch bats with the USA Baseball mark will only be used in coach-pitch using a safety ball. The penalty is removal of the bat only. 
• With the exception of the minus-3 bat (BBCOR certified), all bats must be certified with the USA Baseball mark on the bat in order to be used for league and tournament play. 
• 2-¾ inch barrel bats are prohibited in all divisions of PONY Baseball. 
• COLT 16U and PALOMINO 19U are only allowed to use 2-5/8, minus-3 BBCOR certified bats. 
• THOROBRED 23U League must use wooden bats only as specified by Major League Baseball. 
• The rule prohibiting jewelry was eliminated. 
• Players may not use cell phones, pagers or any other types of communications devices wearable or handheld cannot be used on the field of play with the exception of medical devices. The field of play includes bullpens, dugouts, coaches’ boxes and other such areas where the coaches, players and umpires have access. 

USA Softball

• Clarifying that the knob of the bat shall have a diameter of at least 1.6 inches with no sharp edges. The knob will be permanently attached to the bat and may be covered with grip tape. The use of an internal or external bat sensor is allowed provided that the sensor is properly attached. 

Rules Regarding the Use of a Double/Safety First Base 

• American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) said it will implement the rule if Major League Baseball does. 
• Babe Ruth discussed it at the board level but there will be no movement on it for 2026. 
• CABA – Double first base is permissible but not required. 
• Dixie Youth Baseball’s Safety Committee discussed the double first base at its last national board meeting but did not take any action. 
• Little League Baseball and Softball has no plans to require use of a double/safety first base at the local level during the regular season. The double/safety first base was utilized at World Series and Regional tournaments. 
• NABF doesn’t require a double/safety first base. 
• PONY Baseball/Softball approves use of a double/safety first base but it isn’t required.  

Football

USA Football

• Following a comprehensive research initiative conducted by USA Football and Oakley, the Official Eyewear Partner of USA Football and Team USA Football®, USA Football’s Flag Football Competition Committee (FFCC) has unanimously approved the use of protective eyewear during the organization’s sanctioned 5-on-5 flag football competitions.  
• The research showed clear benefits to high-performance eyewear that meets a rigorous ASTM F803 safety standard — the industry’s most demanding benchmark for protective eyewear — including measurable performance advantages in vision and comfort. Under this new rule, athletes may choose to wear any protective eyewear with a visible marketing that indicates standard compliance.    
• As a result of the rule change, approved eyewear — including Oakley’s products — are now eligible to be used in USA Football tentpole events such as Summer Series, a series of competitions showcasing top junior and men’s and women’s athletes from across the globe. Players involved in testing at the 2025 Summer Series showed a strong preference for eyewear that merges elite optics with protection. 
• Oakley spearheaded testing and validation efforts, presenting extensive data and product evaluations to USA Football’s Medical Advisory Panel and the FFCC. The Medical Advisory Panel and its national leaders in medicine, child development and athlete development supported the rule change after reviewing the research findings. The panel is charged with delivering leading athlete health and safety standards to athletes at every level, from grassroots to Team USA Football. 
• Surveys and on-field feedback from athletes who tested Oakley eyewear at USA Football’s Summer Series in June 2025, including the Junior International Cup, International Bowl and Select Bowl events, reinforced research findings and results. 

Gymnastics

USA Gymnastics/AAU Gymnastics

• Allow (if available on an event) an alternate skill cushion made of softer foam (minimum of 4 ft. x 6 ft. x 8 in.) to be used in warm-ups at all sanctioned competitions. (already permitted in Rules Modifications 6.1.n). 
• The placement of a springboard on the vaulting table is strictly prohibited at all times, including during open stretch and warm-up periods. The Meet Director is responsible for enforcing this rule. 
• For competitions held in outside facilities, the area to the right and left of the Balance Beam dismount area MUST be padded with a minimum of 4 feet by 4 feet of padding. Acceptable padding options include (but are not limited to) unfolded panel mats, carpet bonded foam, or other such matting. 
• The matting MUST extend a minimum of four (4) feet out from the side edge of the Beam dismount area and extend a minimum of four (4) feet from the end of the under-Beam matting. 
• Every attempt should be made to match the height of the CLM’s to this additional padding to remove the possibility of athlete injury from uneven surfaces. 
• The padding should be attached (with Velcro or something similar) to the floor (concrete, foam, carpet, etc.) to avoid separating or slipping.  

Lacrosse

USA Lacrosse 

• Rule changes have not been publicly announced as of December 17, 2025. 

Swimming

USA Swimming

• For swimwear design, no Technical Suits shall be worn by any 12 & Under athlete in competition at any sanctioned, approved or observed meet. Exceptions to the foregoing restriction are only for Junior Nationals, U.S. Open, National Championships, and Olympic Trials.
• A Technical Suit is one that has the following components: 
  • a. Any suit with any bonded or taped seams regardless of its fabric or silhouette; or
  • b. Any suit with woven fabric extending past the hips. Any suit which includes any woven fabric and which extends past the hips. (Note: A suit with woven fabric and sewn seams that does not extend below the hips is permitted.) (Note: — A suit with knit fabric and sewn seams not extending below the knees is permitted.) 
• A swimmer in the 500/1,000/1,650-yard or 800/1,500 400/800/1,500 Short Course Meter or 800/1,500 Long Course Meter freestyle, or other long distance pool event, may appoint one counter to call lengths or indicate lengths by visual sign. 

Track and Field

USA Track and Field

• World Athletics has a new spec on the 700g (grams) Javelin. Effective April 1, 2025, the following will be in force for the 700g implement: Overall length minimum is 2400mm; Overall length maximum is 2500mm; Distance from tip to CG minimum 850mm; Distance from tip to CG maximum 990mm. 
• Amended in September 2025 for the hammer, a small section of clear vinyl tubing, up to 50mm long with an internal diameter of 5mm, may be placed over the twisted end of the hammer wire to reduce the chance of the implement becoming caught in the cage netting.  Clear plastic is required. 

Volleyball

AAU Volleyball

• Boys volleyball realigned its rules with the rest of the sports at AAU. Boys are no longer able to compete where they choose as they must now compete with a club within their respective district or adjacent district to the respective district they currently live in. 

Wrestling

USA Wrestling

• USA Wrestling modified its singlet color requirements at its regional and national championships. Previously, United World Wrestling (UWW), the international federation for wrestling, allowed for six base colors on red singlets (red, pink, orange, yellow, white and brown) and six colors on blue singlets (blue, green, purple, black, silver and grey) with the prescribed color bands on the legs and back. UWW updated its language to make it a suggestion to use those base colors, so USA Wrestling singlet requirements now state this: 
  • Predominantly red or predominantly blue singlets are allowed, as well as singlets mimicking the UWW color scheme. All singlets utilizing the UWW color scheme shall have a total of three (3) markings consisting of: 
    • Two 7 cm bands, one on each leg, shall be positioned across the bottom edge of the leg. For clear distinction, the marking shall cover the circumference of the leg.  
    • One 7 cm band positioned on the backside of the upper torso. The band shall be exclusively placed on the back half of the singlet (not visible on the front half). 
    • The three markings must remain untouched from any graphic, logo or third-party identification. 
    • The red markings shall be Pantone 2347C and blue markings shall be Pantone 299C. 

Organizations with no changes for 2026

• American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) 

• AAU Baseball 

• AAU Football 

• AAU Hockey 

• AAU Soccer 

• AAU Track and Field 

• American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) 

• Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) 

• National High School Baseball Coaches Association (NHSBCA) 

• US Youth Soccer 

• USA Baseball 

• USA Gymnastics 

• USSSA Soccer 

• USSSA Volleyball 

Organizations that did not respond

• AAU Basketball 

• AAU Golf 

• AAU Swimming 

• AAU Wrestling 

• American Legion Baseball 

• American Youth Football and Cheer 

• American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) 

• Dixie Boys/Majors Baseball 

• Dizzy Dean Baseball 

• National Youth Football 7-on-7 (NYF) 

• Pop Warner Football 

• USA Basketball 

• USA Hockey 

• US Soccer 

• USSSA Baseball 

• USSSA Basketball 

• USSSA Softball 

NSGA will provide updates as more information becomes available.