SPRING SOFTBALL REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Needham has a comprehensive softball program for girls from Kindergarten through 8th grade. In order to guarantee that your daughter will be assigned a team and be able to play this spring please sign up as soon as possible.
Rookie League (Kindergarten and 1st Grade):
Focused on learning to throw, catch, field, and hit. There will be more practice time than game time with fun softball related drills that teach the fundamentals in a fun active environment.
This age group is an in-town league with no out-of-Needham travel, and is designed to start off more like a t-ball program. Over the course of the spring season this age group will transition to coach pitch. Games will be Tuesday and Thursday evenings and they will run from 6PM to 7:15ish.
Season: The season typically runs from April through the beginning of June with clinics in March held inside gym space (if available).
Minor League (2nd & 3rd Grades):
Players will continue to develop basic fundamental skills of throwing, catching, fielding, and hitting. There will be more practices than games to facilitate skill development. This program has been an in-town, non-travel league with all games played in Needham (there is a potential opportunity to partner with Wellesley to enhance the program, we will be considering that again this year, but no decision has been made at this point). We attempt to have games and practices on Monday and Wednesdays mostly, but depending on the number of teams Tuesdays and Thursdays and potentially weekends will be added to the schedule to accommodate all teams playing and practicing an equal amount of time. Players will pitch with coaches coming in to avoid walks and keep the pace of game up. We will hope to have aa playoff bracket and crown a town champion this year once again.
Major League (4th - 5th Grades*):
This program requires our Needham teams to travel to other local towns (mostly Wellesley as well as Wayland and Weston for some games) so that we have the best competition to play against. The games will be held on Tuesday and Thursday nights with practices in the preseason on the same days, but additional practices will be added on other days, including weekends potentially. In this program the girls will be playing real games with ASA umpires. Practices will focus on fundamentals, situational softball and learning the finer points of the game. There playoffs as well in this league with a region Champion crowned.
*(Depending on numbers, our most skilled 3rd graders may be asked to play in the Major League)
Senior League (6th - 8th Grades):
This program requires our Needham teams to travel to other local towns (mostly Wellesley as well as Wayland and Weston for some games) so that we have the best competition to play against. The girls will be playing real games with ASA umpires and the rules will closely resemble middle school rules to help the girls take the next step, however, there are rules in place to make sure girls get an opportunity to play similar amounts and in multiple positions. Games could be on Monday, Wednesday and occasionally on Friday, Saturdays or Sundays with practices added based on coaches and players availability (Sat and Sun are most likely).
There playoffs as well in this league with a region Champion crowned.
Season: The season typically runs from April through June with clinics in March held inside gym space (if available).
