Oregon Coast · Oregon
Youth Sports in Gearhart: Leagues, Facilities & What Families Need (2026)
Youth sports in Gearhart, Oregon are shaped by something most newcomers don't expect: the town itself doesn't have its own league infrastructure. With a population of just under 1,900, Gearhart relies almost entirely on neighboring Seaside for organized athletics — and once you understand that, the picture becomes much clearer. Your kids will play on Seaside fields, register through Seaside organizations, and eventually wear Seaside Seagulls uniforms. That's not a limitation — it's simply how the coastal sports ecosystem works here.
What shapes the landscape is a combination of the Seaside School District 10, the nonprofit Seaside Kids Inc., the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District, and a handful of community-run clubs. Baseball and softball have the deepest roots, with a no-pay-to-play philosophy that makes the barrier to entry genuinely low. Basketball, soccer, and high school athletics round out the options, with Seaside High School providing competitive outlets across a full calendar of OSAA 4A sports.
This guide is for families relocating to Gearhart who want a realistic picture of what youth athletics looks like here — registration windows, where the fields are, what the competitive pathway looks like, and what's worth planning around. Whether you're raising a recreational player or a kid with genuine competitive ambitions, the Oregon coast has a route for both.
| Organization | Sport | Age Range | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaside Kids Inc. | Baseball (T-Ball–Majors) | Ages 3–12 | Recreational / Competitive |
| Seaside Kids Inc. | Softball | Ages U8–U14 | Recreational |
| Seaside PONY Baseball & Softball | Baseball & Softball | Ages 5–14 | Recreational / Tournament |
| Seaside Youth Basketball | Basketball | Youth ages | Recreational |
| Seaside High School Athletics | Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, Swimming, Wrestling, Golf, Tennis, Track | Grades 9–12 | Competitive (OSAA 4A) |
| Seaside Middle School Athletics | Multi-sport | Grades 6–8 | Interscholastic |
| Infinity Gymnastics XCEL Team | Gymnastics | Youth–Teen | Competitive Club |
| Sunset Empire Park and Recreation | Multi-sport programming | Youth | Recreational |
Seaside Kids Inc. runs the most comprehensive baseball pathway in the region, structured into five age tiers: Pee-Wee T-Ball for ages 3–4, T-Ball for ages 5–6, Rookies for 1st and 2nd grade (coach-pitch), Minors for 3rd and 4th grade (player-pitch with post-season tournament competition), and a JBO tryout division for 5th and 6th graders. Every program operates on a recommended donation of $25 — but participation is never withheld for inability to pay, which is a meaningful distinction for a coastal community with variable seasonal incomes.
The primary facility for skills assessments and JBO tryouts is Broadway Field, 1400 Broadway Street, Seaside, which now includes a dedicated indoor training facility that opened in 2026. Gearhart players also have access to a practice and game field listed by Seaside Kids Inc. at Sons of Norway Road, Gearhart, OR 97138 — a local option that reduces the drive for casual weeknight practices.
Registration flows through the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District at sunsetempire.com. The Minors division and JBO track fill earliest — if you have a 4th or 5th grader and you're moving to Gearhart mid-year, check availability before your move closes.
Competitive track: JBO-level players can pursue travel and tournament play through Seaside PONY Baseball & Softball (seasidepony.com), a 501(c)(3) organization that runs tournament-style competition and bridges into regional PONY affiliates.
Softball runs through Seaside Kids Inc. in age-tiered divisions from U8 through U14, covering batting mechanics, fielding, pitching, and base running in each age group. The program mirrors the baseball structure in philosophy — skill progression and sportsmanship over pure competition at the younger ages, with more structured play introduced in the U12 and U14 brackets.
Games and practices are held at Broadway Field in Seaside, with Seaside Kids Inc. coordinating field schedules in partnership with Sunset Empire Park and Recreation. Seaside PONY also offers a softball track for families seeking tournament competition beyond recreational league play.
Registration typically opens in late winter for the spring season. The U8 and U10 divisions tend to draw the most first-year players, so those brackets open and close faster than the older age groups.
Competitive track: PONY Softball provides the tournament and travel pathway for players who outgrow recreational league play.
Seaside Youth Basketball (Facebook: @Seasideyouthhoops) runs recreational youth leagues for the Gearhart and Seaside area, giving younger players structured game experience in a gym setting. The program operates primarily through Seaside School District facilities and Sunset Empire Park and Recreation.
Gyms in Seaside serve as the primary venues, keeping the logistics straightforward for Gearhart families who make the short commute north. Scheduling tends to cluster on weekends and weekday evenings.
Winter is the primary registration season. Families new to the area should check the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation calendar in October to catch early enrollment windows before rosters are set.
Competitive track: Seaside Middle School and Seaside High School athletics provide the competitive ladder for players who develop through recreational leagues.
Gearhart has four public tennis courts within city limits, with two courts at the Gearhart Public Courts at 321 1st Ave — the town's most accessible recreational facility, which also includes pickleball courts and a basketball hoop. These courts are free, publicly maintained, and well-used year-round given the mild coastal climate.
Competitive tennis lives at the high school level through Seaside High School, which fields both boys and girls teams in the Cowapa League. For younger players, the public courts are the primary venue for informal instruction and family play.
No dedicated youth tennis league was operating in Gearhart as of 2026, so families seeking structured lessons should look at programs offered through Sunset Empire Park and Recreation in Seaside.
Competitive track: Seaside High School tennis teams, with access through the standard Seaside School District athletics enrollment process.
Golf is woven into Gearhart's identity in a way few Oregon towns can claim. Gearhart Golf Links, opened in 1892, is the oldest golf course in the Pacific Northwest — an 18-hole public course playing 6,501 yards from the back tees, with a full pro shop, instruction programs, and cart rentals. Junior golf instruction is available through the club, making it an accessible starting point for kids interested in the sport.
At the high school level, Seaside's golf program carries real weight — the Seagulls won back-to-back OSAA 4A state championships in 2014 and 2015 and are considered one of the premier 4A golf programs in the state. For a family relocating with a junior golfer, having Gearhart Golf Links as a home course combined with that competitive high school program is a genuine advantage.
Competitive track: Seaside High School golf, competing in the Cowapa League and OSAA 4A state tournament.
Gearhart students attend Seaside High School (1901 N Holladay Dr, Seaside, OR 97138), where they compete as the Seagulls in the OSAA 4A Cowapa League. The Cowapa League for the 2026–30 cycle includes Astoria, Scappoose, Tillamook, St. Helens, Valley Catholic, Warrenton, and Banks — with Banks returning to the 4A level after four seasons at the 3A classification. The restored Banks rivalry gives Seaside a full, competitive conference schedule across every sport.
The Seagulls field teams in football, basketball (boys and girls), baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, wrestling, golf, tennis, and track and field. Football reached the 4A final in 2018, and the golf program's consecutive state titles remain the most decorated chapter in recent Seagulls athletics history. The closest rival with the longest history is Astoria High School — the Fishermen — whose swimming program claimed the 2025 Cowapa League championship. Athletic Director Chad Clouse coordinates the program; families can reach the athletics department at cclouse@seasidek12.org.
The City of Gearhart doesn't operate a standalone parks and recreation department with its own youth leagues, but the infrastructure it maintains gives families genuine options. The Gearhart Public Courts at 321 1st Ave — two tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a basketball hoop — are the most active informal youth sports space in town, and the city's wide, low-traffic streets make the area unusually bikeable for a coastal community.
The city playground, opened in February 2023, was a community-driven project funded through donations and a city match. It serves the younger-kid demographic with border-bench seating and unique equipment, and it's become a natural gathering point near Pacific Way. For structured programming beyond what the city provides, Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District in Seaside is the primary conduit — handling registration for Seaside Kids Inc., the Broadway Field indoor facility, and most recreational leagues serving Gearhart families.
Families relocating to Gearhart for its youth sports access tend to cluster around a handful of areas, and that pattern genuinely influences home values over time. Neighborhoods like West Gearhart and Pinehurst consistently attract families because of their proximity to recreational facilities and the open, walkable character that makes youth activities feel integrated into daily life. The Highlands at Gearhart has also drawn steady interest from buyers prioritizing that same family-oriented environment. Homes in these pockets — many priced under $750,000 — don't sit on the market long once they're listed, and I've watched well-positioned properties receive multiple offers within days. That pace is real, and it matters when you're planning around a family move.
Before you start touring homes, have a real budget conversation with a lender — not just a preapproval number, but an honest look at what your full monthly obligation actually looks like once property taxes, homeowners insurance, any HOA dues, and your loan structure are factored in together. Maximum approval and comfortable approval are two very different numbers. Knowing where you genuinely stand means that when the right home in Gearhart appears
| Sport | Organization | Registration Window | Season Dates | Where to Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Ball / Pee-Wee (Ages 3–6) | Seaside Kids Inc. | January–February | March–June | sunsetempire.com |
| Rookies Baseball (Gr. 1–2) | Seaside Kids Inc. | January–February | March–June | sunsetempire.com |
| Minors Baseball (Gr. 3–4) | Seaside Kids Inc. | January–February | March–June | sunsetempire.com |
| JBO Baseball (Gr. 5–6) | Seaside Kids Inc. | December–January | March–June | sunsetempire.com |
| Softball (U8–U14) | Seaside Kids Inc. | January–February | Spring | sunsetempire.com |
| PONY Baseball & Softball | Seaside PONY | January–March | Spring–Summer | seasidepony.com |
| Youth Basketball | Seaside Youth Basketball | October–November | Winter | Facebook: @Seasideyouthhoops |
| Junior Golf Instruction | Gearhart Golf Links | Rolling enrollment | Year-round | gearhartgolflinks.com |
| HS Athletics (Fall) | Seaside School District | August | Sept–Nov | seasidek12.org |
| HS Athletics (Winter) | Seaside School District | Mid-November | Dec–Feb | seasidek12.org |
| HS Athletics (Spring) | Seaside School District | February | March–May | seasidek12.org |
The honest reality of competitive youth sports on the North Oregon Coast is that tournament play requires driving. Portland-area tournaments — the regional hub for select soccer, club basketball, and competitive gymnastics — sit roughly 100 minutes away on US-26 or US-30. That drive is manageable for a Saturday tournament, but a weekend-long travel schedule means hotel stays and real logistics planning. Families coming from the Portland suburbs need to recalibrate their expectations: what was a 20-minute drive to a tournament becomes an overnight trip.
What Gearhart families find is that the Cowapa League fills most of the competitive need at the high school level without requiring regional travel. The league spans from the coast to the Columbia River corridor, meaning road games to Astoria (20 minutes), Warrenton (25 minutes), and Tillamook (about an hour) are manageable. For middle school athletes feeding into the Seaside system, Seaside Middle School's Sharks teams compete interscholastically on the same Cowapa calendar.
The cost structure here is genuinely lower than in major metro areas. Seaside Kids Inc.'s no-pay-to-play model keeps recreational baseball and softball accessible, and Gearhart Golf Links offers junior instruction at a public course rate rather than private club pricing. For families where youth sports budgets have been stretched by club fees, Gearhart is a reset — the competitive ceiling may be lower than what a large city offers, but the financial pressure is significantly reduced.
Local Expert Takeaway: JBO baseball tryouts fill faster than any other program in the Seaside-Gearhart sports calendar — if you have a 5th or 6th grader and you're planning a move to Gearhart before spring, get on the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation waitlist in December. Missing that window means waiting a full season, and it's the one registration mistake families most consistently wish they'd avoided.
When does Gearhart youth baseball registration open?
Registration for Seaside Kids Inc. baseball and softball programs typically opens in January and runs through February for most age divisions. The JBO division (5th and 6th grade) fills earliest — families should register as early as December through the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District at sunsetempire.com.
Does Gearhart have its own youth sports leagues?
Gearhart does not operate standalone youth leagues at the city level. All organized youth sports — baseball, softball, basketball, and competitive athletics — run through Seaside-based organizations, with Gearhart students fully eligible to participate. The city maintains public tennis and pickleball courts at 321 1st Ave for informal play.
What high school do Gearhart kids attend, and what sports are offered?
Gearhart students attend Seaside High School, competing as the Seagulls in the OSAA 4A Cowapa League. Sports offered include football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, wrestling, golf, tennis, and track and field across fall, winter, and spring seasons. The golf program is particularly notable, having won back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015.
Explore the full Gearhart series: Living in Gearhart · Is Gearhart Safe? · Cost of Living · Best Neighborhoods · Schools & Family Life · Youth Sports · Parks & Rec · Retiring in Gearhart