MOULTRIE — The Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Department will begin registration for its youth baseball and softball programs on Monday, January 30.

Registration will be from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays through Friday, February 10, at the recreation office at 1020 Fourth Street SW in the Jim Buck Goff Recreation Complex.

Registration fees will be $20 for tee ball, for 5- and 6-year-olds; $20, for 7- and 8-year-olds; and $30 for those 9- through 14-years old.

Those registering after Feb. 10 will be charged a $5 late fee with no guarantee of a roster opening.

Low-income waivers are available for those verified by the Department of Family and Children Services as having a family income below the national poverty level.

The age control date for tee ball and baseball has been changed statewide this year from Aug. 1 to May 1.

For tee ball, the change requires a child to be 5 and not older than 6 prior to May 1, 2006, to be eligible.

For baseball, a child must turn 7 and not be older than 14, prior to May 1, 2006, to be eligible.

To be eligible for girls softball, a child must be 7 before Jan. 1, 2006, and cannot turn 18 before Jan. 1, 2006.

Because of the statewide age control date change, players with birth dates between May 1 and Aug. 1 might be forced to play three years in one league. Because of the age-control date change, those players will be given an option of whether to remain in their current league for three years or move up to the next league for three years.

For this year only, tee ball and baseball players whose birthdays fall between May 1 and July 31 of this year can either move up or remain in their same league.

However, those players who move up must remain in that division for three years before advancing.

For more information on the age control date change or on registration for tee ball, baseball or softball, contact the recreation department at 890-5429.