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The Ultimate Parent’s Guide to Travel Softball Teams | Everything You Need to Know

March 14, 2023

48 min read

If your young daughter plays fastpitch, at some point you’ll hear the debate around travel softball. 

Certain parents will tell you that your child should start playing travel ball as soon as possible. Others will tell you to avoid it completely. 

The decision to join a club softball team is a big one for your daughter and for the rest of your family, with many factors to consider. 

If you have questions about travel ball, you’ll find answers in this comprehensive guide, which covers:

•  How travel ball differs from recreational softball
• How travel ball works
• The pros and cons of both travel and recreational softball
• What to consider when making the switch
• How to find and tryout for a fastpitch travel team
• How much does travel softball really cost?

# How Does Rec Ball Differ from Travel Softball?

Fastpitch softball competition is split between recreational leagues and travel ball. 

Recreational, commonly referred to as “rec ball” is usually run by Little League Softball or other local organizations. 

The focus of rec ball is on having fun and teaching players the fundamentals of the game. 

The tryouts in rec ball are to ensure that talent is as evenly distributed amongst the league’s teams as possible in the name of fairness – and everyone makes a team if they register for the league. 

The rec season runs in the spring, from March to May, and games take place locally at a predetermined set of fields during the regular season.  

As a parent, you can usually expect a commitment of two games per week and maybe one or two practices. 

Typically, the cost is around $100, and teams are organized around age-based divisions for players ranging from 4 to 16 years old. 

# Travel Softball

Travel softball differs from rec ball in a few important ways. 

A big one is that club teams hold pass-fail tryouts, selecting and organizing players based on skill. Players without the requisite skills will not be offered a spot on the team. 

Such teams usually also travel to other cities or out of state to compete, hence the name “travel ball.” 

Organizations like the USSSA, the American Softball Association (ASA), Triple Crown, and the North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) host tournaments all across the country for travel ball teams year-round. 

While not every team plays all year long, travel ball still lets your child play a lot more softball than they would in rec ball. 

Club softball costs significantly more than rec ball as well, ranging from $500 to $5000 for yearly player fees. 

# How Travel Softball Teams Work

The structure of a travel softball season differs quite a bit from rec ball. 

In rec ball, you play against the same teams throughout the season, at the same local parks, often practice 1-2 days per week, and play a single game on the weekend. 

In addition to being year-round, travel softball includes tournaments, more weekly practices, possible expectations that they’ll procure weekly 1:1 training sessions, along with attending weekend friendlies, scrimmages, or league play. 

Let’s break a few of these things down individually.

# Fastpitch Travel Tournaments

Fastpitch travel teams usually play in tournaments, as many as every weekend in the summer. Some teams play in fall and spring tournaments as well. 

Weekend tournaments guarantee between 5-10 games total, depending on how well your team performs. 

They start either Friday night or Saturday morning with “seed” play or pool play. After 3-4 games of seed play to determine your rank, bracket play starts. 

Most tournaments are double-elimination in bracket play. 

And winners of the tournament usually get a prize like small trophies or medals – but they can also earn teams so-called “berths” to compete in larger national championship tournaments. 

Berths are like special invitation tickets that grant travel softball teams admission to the biggest and most competitive stages in the game. 

That said, instead of weekend affairs, some tournaments are weeklong onslaughts with 1-5 games per day. 

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# Practices and Training Sessions for Travel Softball

Travel softball requires more time both on and off the field. 

Your daughter will play in more games, but she’ll also spend more time at practices and might even be expected to have individual private lessons, group clinics, or training sessions. 

If she’s playing at an elite level, then putting in extra work will feel essential to keep up with her teammates and competition. 

Practices can become fewer during tournament season, but training ramps up in the winter season. 

To be a high-level competitor in travel ball, most parents and coaches these days would lament the reality that there's no real break from the game. 

# Travel ball League Play

Finally, your travel team might sign up for a league. 

Essentially, some large cities host weeknight games or double-headers for club teams in the area to compete in. 

These leagues differ from rec softball because the teams are more competitive. They’re also more common in large urban centers where more teams are likely to be based. 

If your club team is from a small town, then you may not play in one of these leagues. Or you might travel further to play in one. 

To be clear, these league games are usually in addition to the weekend tournaments previously explained. 

# What Are You Committing To with Travel Softball?

One of the biggest differences between rec ball and travel ball is the time commitment. 

You and your daughter should be ready to spend a great deal of your time on softball once you sign up for a travel team. 

As you can see by now, travel ball encompasses more than just some tournaments. When people say it’s a lifestyle, you should take them at their word. 

Not condoning or condemning here – these are just the current realities on the ground. 

And if she’s serious about playing softball and dreams of competing in college ball, these are sacrifices she’ll almost inevitably be expected to make. 

Travel softball teams also bring a financial burden. 

If you’re spending more money on fees, equipment, uniforms, travel, or other softball-related expenses, that’s less you can spend on your daughter’s other activities. 

It might also mean less material things like video games, new smartphones, or new street clothes. 

So unless you are very well-off, both you and your daughter must be willing to accept some trade-offs to play club softball at an elite level. 

Of course, these realities can affect the financial decisions of your entire family. 

Let’s detail the pros and cons of both rec and travel softball, so you can more easily make an informed decision about signing your daughter up for club ball or not.

# The Pros and Cons of Rec Softball

• Emphasis on learning – With Little League/recreational leagues, everyone who signs up gets to play on a team. The focus is on learning the game and developing values like sportsmanship and leadership. Coaches will also let girls play at different positions so they can figure out what they’re good at and what they like best. 
• Stay local – If your daughter plays on a rec team, you won’t have to travel more than 30 miles from your town. Even in small cities, they try to organize leagues so that travel is minimal.  If you’d rather allocate your budget to family vacations than to transportation and hotels for softball, then rec ball may be more suited to your family.
• Less expensive – Rec ball is significantly less expensive than club softball. Although fees vary by region, the average is around $100 for a season, which includes a uniform.  Sometimes, coaches will even provide all the necessary equipment for their players.  In most cases, though, you might have to buy your child the right softball gear, which will increase the yearly spend to between $100-500 – depending on exactly what you decide to buy and how well her equipment held up the year before.
• Lower competition – Since anyone that wants to is allowed to play, there’s no filter for competition. Coaches and umpires are usually volunteers, who may have little experience within the game. Many players who want to improve and hone their softball skills to an elite level won’t be able to do so if they continue playing rec ball into high school.
• Less organization – Although not the case for all recreational leagues, some tend to be poorly organized. The entire league might be run by volunteers or city employees with no background administering youth sports. Poor organization can lead to fewer opportunities for your daughter to play, like if games get double-booked or canceled unexpectedly.
• Fewer games – You play fewer games in a season of rec softball than with a club team. The total is about 20 games, not counting weather cancellations. Fewer games mean less exposure and slower rates of skill development. If your kid loves softball and wants to play as much as possible, it might be time to move up to the more involved club teams. 

# The Pros and Cons of Travel Softball

• Better competition – For players who want to improve to an elite level, challenge themselves, and be part of a hard-working team, travel ball may be the way to go. With travel ball, kids learn the importance of bettering oneself for the sake of greater team success. They also face other elite players, making them more prepared to play at the collegiate level.
• More games – If your child can’t get enough of softball, then travel ball might be perfect for her. Travel softball affords many more opportunities to play and develop, even if you have to sit on the bench sometimes. And for the amount of money you invest in club softball, you can expect a decent number of games.
• Opportunity to travel – Some might view the travel aspect as a hindrance, but it can also be an opportunity. For some kids, the chance to venture outside their city or state could be a great way for them to become inspired. 
• Costly – We’ll get into the details of these costs below, but after reading this.  Suffice it to say, you will want to make sure that both you and your daughter clearly understand the commitment you’re making to playing travel softball.
• Missing out – In addition to costing money, travel will cost you valuable time. Your kid could miss out on social or school events. You, too, could miss out on work or extended family events by spending all your free time driving your daughter to tournaments and practices.  Many of the parents who can cover the financial curveballs that travel softball hurls at them, will be tempted to breeze past this warning. But it is worth serious consideration. 
• Difficulty level – Although your child might want to play travel ball, you should be realistic about her current skill level.  Travel softball teams are full of elite, competitive players who are often targeting college softball and its scholarships.  If your kid doesn’t have the same abilities but ends up on a highly competitive team, she may quickly fall behind, see less playing time, and become discouraged with the sport.  But the good news is that within travel ball, there is an entire spectrum of teams with varying levels of skill and expectations.  So part of the team or organizational selection on your end is being realistic as to where your daughter is now, while creating a plan and setting goals to help get her where she wants to be in a year, 2 years, or 5 years from now.  

# A Middle Ground Between Rec Ball and Elite Travel Ball

It’s worth mentioning that travel softball teams are split up into categories based on both age and skill level. 

For age brackets, there’s 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U. 

Additionally, there are often “A,” “B,” and “C” levels for each age group. The “A” teams are the most competitive, the “C” teams are playing more for fun, and “B” teams fall somewhere in the middle.

So it’s possible for your daughter to play travel ball without facing steep levels of competition. Many “B” and “C” teams form to give kids a chance to play more softball than they would with a rec league. 

These teams focus less on college recruiting outreach and chasing softball scholarships and more on building character. 

Teams like these might play only in summer tournaments instead of year-round. And since they play fewer games, they require less time commitment, and there are fewer associated fees. 

Although these lower-tier teams are still considered “travel” softball teams, they might only or mostly play in local tournaments. 

Less serious club teams are a great middle-ground for girls who want more competition and playing time than rec ball offers, but who don’t want to commit to continuing to play in college softball. 

They’re also ideal for parents who’d rather invest less time and money in their child’s softball – so your daughter and your family can focus on other meaningful endeavors – but want more organized structure than rec ball.

# Should You Switch from Rec Ball to Travel Ball?

Whether or not you switch from rec ball to travel ball is up to you and your daughter. 

It’s truly an entire family decision. No blanket solution exists to suit everyone. And there’s also no particular best age for switching. 

The smartest thing you can do is continue on the path of research that led you to this article. 

Reading other parents’ experiences with travel ball versus rec ball on message boards and forums can be particularly enlightening. Their impressions might give you an insight into the sport you hadn’t thought of. 

Another great way to research travel softball is by word-of-mouth. 

Are there teams in your area? Can you get in contact with that team’s parents and ask them for advice? 

Sometimes the decision to try out for a club team is based on availability. 

If there are no travel teams in your area, you could join one out of town. This practice is actually much more common than you might think. 

For example, many elite, Hawaii-residing softball players will fly in and play for travel teams in places like California or Texas during tournament season. But, for most, doing so means driving or flying long distances for both practices and tournaments. 

Indeed, many softball parents will tell you that their decision about travel ball is based on circumstances. The location, budget, and presence of teams will all be factors in this decision-calculus. 

The most important factor, however, is your daughter’s interest in playing travel ball. 

If she’s willing to set aside other parts of her life for softball and wants a challenging environment to improve her game, then she should play some form of travel ball. 

Make sure both you and your daughter understand the time and effort that go into travel softball. Go over the pros and cons of club ball together, so you’re both informed. 

Once you and your child are clear about what you want, then you can make an informed decision.

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# how to find a fastpitch softball travel team.

Say you’ve weighed your options and discussed it with your child. You’ve both decided she should play travel ball. 

Now how do you go about finding a team? 

And what things should you look for in a travel softball team?

# Where to Look for Travel Softball Organizations

As mentioned, word-of-mouth is a great way to start your search for teams. Ask parents you know about travel teams in your area. 

If you live somewhere with a high concentration of softball clubs, like southern California, personal recommendations can come especially in handy. 

If you don’t know anyone involved in travel softball, then you can look online. Big organizations in your area will likely come up in a search engine, and this is a great way to find teams. 

But not every team has a website – or one that’s really optimized for search – so many won’t show up in search results. 

However, all teams that play in USSSA, ASA, Triple Crown, and NAFA must register with the organization. As a result, these websites might have directories of teams in your area. 

USSSA is a particularly great resource for this. You can use these online searches as a jumping-off point for finding a team, especially if there are a lot of them in your area. 

For cities and towns less inundated with travel teams, joining Facebook groups dedicated to travel softball is a great way to find recommendations. 

You could also search for a given team or travel organization’s Facebook page or Instagram profile, as nearly all will have these updated regularly even if they don’t have an official website. 

And social media posts from such accounts will often have the most accurate and real-time information about tryouts and team openings – such as, “Looking for a 2025 catcher”.

A final resource worth checking out is HeyBucket . There you will find tryout postings for most of the travel softball organizations around the country, along with a robust forum filled with parents and coaches discussing all things travel ball.

# Travel Softball Team Tryouts

If you want to join a travel softball team, you can expect to go through tryouts first. For teams that want to play in summer tournaments, tryouts can be held as early as the preceding August. 

At this time of the year, players are still fresh from their summer season, so ideally, they’ll perform their best at tryouts. Fall tryouts also give teams a chance to work out over the winter and coordinate fundraising efforts. 

# What Can You Expect at Travel Softball Tryouts

At tryouts, you can expect a 2-4 hour session similar to a practice. The coaches will introduce themselves and ask your daughter to do so as well. 

Travel coaches do this partly because they want to gauge your daughter’s confidence and maturity levels. 

This is especially important for teams focused on college recruiting, because these experienced coaches know that these same traits can make a player more or less attractive to college scouts. 

And their job as competitive travel coaches, aside from guiding her performance development, is convincing such scouts – who will eventually interact with your daughter – that she’s a great fit for their program.  

After introductions, the athletes will go through static stretches, movement-prep drills, and throw. 

Next, they’ll either start with offensive or defensive drills or live situations. 

Coaches will also want to assess your daughter’s baserunning. If she’s a pitcher or catcher, she will be asked to showcase these skills. 

Typically, tryouts are structured as stations, with girls moving from one station to the another. 

Encourage your daughter to always do her best at tryouts and hustle continuously without pause. 

Coaches at these tryouts are evaluating her attitude and work ethic as much as her softball abilities. If she makes a mistake, tell her – beforehand, not during – to just shrug it off and move on to the next rep.

# Warning to Parents During Fastpitch Travel Tryouts

You might have caught that less-than-subtle recommendation not to call out to your daughter in any way during a travel ball tryout. 

That’s because the truth is that for competitive travel ball teams, you as parents are also trying out in a way. Again, this is most true for college recruitment-age teams.

Coaches are always on the lookout for red flags from parents. 

Professional coaches also notice if your daughter looks to you in the stands directly after making a mistake during a tryout.

To them, this bad habit hints at both a lack of confidence on her part and a potentially toxic sports parent relationship, where she’s only doing this to please you and not because she herself loves the sport. 

For many travel ball coaches, such observed behaviors can lead to your daughter not making the team. 

In the interest of blunt honesty, if your daughter truly has top-percentile talent, such parent red flags may be willfully ignored at the younger levels of travel ball play. 

However, no matter how much potential your daughter possesses, these issues will become more of a problem at the older, recruitable 14U-18U ages, for reasons alluded to earlier. 

After asking about your daughter’s Rapsodo analytics metrics, GPA, SAT, and attitude tendencies, the very next question that all college coaches will ask your travel coach is “How are the parents?”

The travel ball coach has to tell the whole truth at this moment or risk losing their trusted reputation earned by years of hard work and relationship-building. 

Travel coaches know the truth will come out eventually – college coaches are often even more conscious, observant, and disqualifying in response to the red flags we listed – and not many travel coaches are going to be willing to lose face by lying.  

If your daughter is still within that 8U to 12U age range, this section is still worth heeding early. Stop bad habits on both your parts before they start. 

# How to Choose the Right Travel Softball Team for Your Daughter

There are eight major things you should keep in mind during your travel ball team selection:

# 1. Coaching style

How does the coach relate to the players and parents? Does the coach have experience playing or coaching softball, and at what level?

Do the coaches emphasize instruction, winning, or a combination of both?

The coaching style will have a big impact on your daughter’s experience with a travel ball team, so choose wisely.

As we’ve already discussed, cost is an unignorable factor in travel softball. Ask about a breakdown of fees up front.

Coaches should know how much everything on their side will cost before the season starts, so you’ll have a good idea of what you’re paying.

Look at what you get for your money – are uniforms and equipment or additional training opportunities included? Are tournament fees extra?

Keep in mind also that you’ll have to pay your own travel expenses in addition to whatever fees the team requires.

# 3. Structure

How is their season structured? Does the team play tournaments year-round or only in the summer? Which tournaments will the team play in?

At younger ages, staying closer to home for tournaments is ideal – your daughter can still learn and compete and you can save your money for when she’s more serious about softball, closer to college-age.

Traveling long distances to the most elite travel ball tournaments in the country will eventually be necessary if she’s interested in playing D1, though.

When thinking about the organization of the team you should also look into their practice schedule and winter workouts.

Off-season training sessions are when your daughter will build upon her skills the most, so these practices are vital for her improvement.

# 4. Skill level

How good is the team? Do they finish each tournament by losing their first two bracket games in a row?

Competing, improving, and having fun can be more important than winning. But losing badly every weekend also isn’t much fun and it doesn’t facilitate skill improvement or confidence.

# 5. Playing time

When it comes to younger teams, players should be moving around positions and getting as much experience on the field as possible.

During tournament pool play, everyone should have about equal playing time. Once bracket play starts, though, the emphasis is often on competing at the highest level possible.

As players get older, their positions will become more fixed, and playing time should be based on performance.

Most elite travel ball coaches won’t give you a straight guarantee on your daughter’s playing time. Their priority will be putting together the best team that can compete at the level they’re playing at.

# 6. College

You shouldn’t worry too much about college recruiting until your daughter’s freshman year of high school.

But second-year 14U team coaches and up should know the rules around recruiting and work to educate you and your player on those rules.

They should also have contacts in college programs and be a proponent for your daughter in these programs.

# 7. Personal development

You should look for teams that foster character building in your kid. Improvement in the sport and college ball preparation is important, but you and their coaches should keep an eye on the bigger picture.

What kinds of values does this team instill in its players? Do they encourage a strong work ethic, respect for teammates, and good sportsmanship?

These are the types of skills players should learn in youth sports because they translate to adult and professional life.

Above all, the experience should be fun. Your daughter should enjoy playing on this club team and everything it involves. If it’s clear the other girls on the team aren’t having any fun, that’s a bad sign.

Travel ball players and coaches are a serious bunch, but they shouldn’t be so tightly wound that they make the experience miserable for everyone else.

# Wrapping Up on What You Need to Know

Deciding to join a travel softball team is, as you can see, a big decision. 

You and your daughter have many factors to consider which will significantly impact her experience playing softball. 

You want your child to do activities she finds rewarding and enjoyable, which promote her personal development. 

Travel softball can achieve all of these things for her. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. 

We did our best to not make this about how things should, could, or used to be in our game. This wasn’t an opinion piece. 

Instead, we sought to make a super practical and unfiltered guide for moms, dads, and up-and-coming athletes trying to make a major life choice today – in the current year.

Hopefully, after reading this guide, you have the information you need about travel softball to make the right decision for you and your daughter.

# Bonus Material: How Much Does Travel Softball Really Cost?

Below are some rough approximations of expenses. 

We do not recommend focusing too hard on the numbers listed.

And not just because we don’t want you to have a heart attack.

It’s mainly because this is mostly an exercise to inform you more about the different types of costs incurred in a given year of travel softball. 

This is by no means exhaustive, but it does give you a good place to start when considering this decision from a financial perspective. 

So, without further ado. 

# Gate Fees and Concessions for Travelball

Most complexes that host travel tournaments charge parents and other adult supporters, like your relatives or friends, who want to attend the games a gate fee. 

This gate fee is usually between $5-10 per person per day though some charge by the weekend or week. 

Also, you and your family will get hungry and thirsty, and most athletic complexes do not allow outside food on the premises. 

Gate Cost: $300-800 yearly

# Travel Expenses for Club Softball

At the younger ages of 8U-12U, there is less distance traveled, as teams mostly compete within their local state or even county. 

However, they usually play more tournaments in total, as there is no so-called “dark period” for these younger athletes. 

The dark period is the time that high school-aged softball players cannot play travel ball because it is high school season, and the regulations do not allow them to play both at the same time. This period is enforced in almost every US state. 

Besides the travel to actual games, you must consider the travel to practices, which occur 2-4 times per week – depending on the team and organization. 

And for all this travel you and your family will need to get some food and drinks, at least some of the time. 

Moreover, there is the wear and tear on your vehicle and its maintenance to consider. 

Lastly, you or your significant other may need unpaid time off in order to attend various games and tournaments throughout the year.

Travel Cost for younger ages: $700-3,000 yearly

At the older ages, 14U to 18U, the travel cost varies greatly. 

It depends on the competitiveness of the team and whether they are focused at the regional level or if they are chasing D1 scholarships at the national level. 

Travel Cost for older ages: $2,000-10,000

# Gear and Travel Team Events

You’ll also need to at least consider purchasing your daughter’s bats, cleats, batting gloves, extra uniforms, extra socks, athletic tape, eye-black, hair accessories, and sliding shorts. 

Some of these items may be included in your monthly or yearly dues to the travel organization or team that your daughter plays under. 

And you will be expected to contribute financially – usually in the form of bringing snacks or drinks or buying tickets – and time-wise to various team fundraisers and bonding events throughout the year. 

Gear and Special Event Costs: $500-1,500 yearly

# Additional Expenses for Elite Softball

Most travel softball players get private lessons or participate in group clinics for hitting, pitching, catching, or fielding. 

Some travel softball athletes also get additional training or help keep them optimized physically from strength and conditioning coaches, PT’s, and/or chiropractors. 

Additional Training Cost: $500-4,000

Once athletes are recruiting age – technically 8th grade to 12th grade, but here we mean high school – they may want to attend college softball clinics and camps to get additional exposure to particular college coaches, and help their chances of getting recruited. 

College Camps/Clinics Cost: $500-2,000 yearly

# Travelball Expense Totals

So, the approximate price range, depending on a ton of different variables – which is why the price gap is so massive – for participating in travel softball each year is between:

 $2,000* and $23,300.

To be honest, both of these numbers represent extremes on the low and the high sides of the spectrum. 

But we included this expense exercise to help parents like yourself begin to think about how serious a financial investment travel softball is. 

The only way to make decisions that are best for your daughter and for the rest of your family is to be informed about what such decisions might entail. 

Finally, it should be mentioned that the majority of softball athletes begin travel ball at the 10U or 12U level – between 9 and 12 years old. 

If your daughter competes in travel all the way until the 18U level at 17 to 18 years old, you can now get a rough idea, from these yearly approximations above, toward what an entire competitive career in travel softball might cost.

We’ll let you do that career-length extrapolation on your own though – this no-nonsense guide has likely stressed you out enough by this point. 

That said, hopefully this guide was a tiny brick on you and your daughter’s long road through this wonderful game that we call softball.  

*On the lower number, we did not include the “Additional Expenses” categories, because they might not be needed depending on the age and competitiveness-level.

About the Author

Courtney Withrow

Professional Writer

Originally from the U.S., Courtney is a Brussels-based freelance writer with a Master’s degree in International Relations. She grew up playing softball and still loves the game.

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You turned on the television earlier this year and saw the action of the Women’s College World Series, or maybe you caught a softball game going on at a local park. 

You or your child may be hooked on what you’re seeing – a fast-paced game with long-distance home runs, wicked pitches and teams (such as WCWS national champion Oklahoma) beyond belief.

♥️♥️♥️ pic.twitter.com/uO6HI6LBEB — Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 13, 2023

But in choosing what type of softball team is right for you or a loved one – recreational or travel (also called club) – it can be a head-scratching decision, especially for those new to the sport.

The demands and competition levels are different, but regardless of whether or not you want you or your child to be the next Jocelyn Alo or someone getting cheered for on the softball diamond across town by friends and family, there’s an opportunity out there for every type of player. 

The trick is finding what works and rolling with it, including by being adaptable, if it changes over time.

Stuck wondering what type of softball is best for you or your child? Here’s a guide that breaks down some of the main differences and may help you in making your decision.

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What Are Recreational And Travel Softball?

The major differences between recreational and travel softball teams are in the ways players are placed on rosters, the type of player they’re meant for, who they play and where they play. 

Many communities across the country have locally run recreational leagues (often tied to Little League Softball) featuring teams full of players from the area/region playing against each other with the intent to give all children who sign up – especially those younger in age – a fun, competitive environment to learn and play softball. There, talent is less emphasized. 

These types of leagues often are more loose, though major competitions between rec teams (even on an international scale, such as the Little League Softball World Series) do exist. 

Many coaches are volunteers, such as parents who are trying to help ensure players are having fun and enjoying themselves. 

In travel ball, talent level is much more important, as the competition levels are amped up, with teams often holding tryouts to decide their rosters, rather than allowing everyone who is interested to join. 

Coaches may include those who have more of a refined, professional background in the sport with high-level knowledge, and as the “travel ball” name implies, teams frequently will trek far away from their home bases (with trips several states away) to play in tournaments and various other events. 

Additionally, whereas rec softball may be limited to just a few months out of the year (mainly in summer), travel softball, with the various organizations across the country that are involved in setting up events, tournaments, etc., is a year-round affair with no true offseason, giving those who are looking for more game time more opportunities to find it.

What Are The Requirements To Join Each Team?

In rec softball, there is no requirement (other than any age limits set by the team/organization you’re joining) to possess a certain level of skills or talent. Simply put, if you want to play, you will by joining rec ball. 

Additionally, the costs associated with rec ball are almost always far lower than travel, helped by the obvious fact that the commitment is less strict and therefore requires less non-local travel, expenses for equipment and other various potential financial demands. 

For travel, you probably don’t just have to be good, you also know that you’re good and have the means and time to continue to grow your game, often with the idea that you can possibly use travel ball performances (especially at the high school level) to attract recruiting attention from college programs. 

Get ready to shell out much more money if you choose to go the travel ball route, too. 

While rec ball costs likely won’t burn a hole in your pocket, travel ball costs, all things considered, can quickly rack up into the thousands or even tens of thousands for those who opt for additional training, college camps and clinics, etc.

What Environment Can You Expect On Each Team?

Rec softball often features plenty of familiar faces around each league, and with a more laid-back atmosphere – friends from school, or elsewhere, often will play with, or against, each other in local organizations. 

They’re also frequently tight-knit, as the people associated in running or coaching the rec ball game aren’t in it for monetary reasons or personal gain, but often are rather good-standing members of the community who are just trying to make a difference and positive impact. 

Travel ball, meanwhile, often will siphon the best players from a given city, area or region, where names on the roster may or may not have played previously. 

Travel teams still can have great chemistry with plenty of fun, along with devoted leaders who are eager to help players get better, of course, but a faster tempo and more cutthroat climate than rec ball. Playing travel ball requires a serious, constant commitment to succeed and win.

What Types Of Games/Practices Will You Participate In For Each Team?

As mentioned previously, rec softball is more of a seasonal commitment than travel ball’s potentially year-long demands, meaning that naturally, rec ball will have less game time and opportunities for live game scenarios to help players get better at the sport. 

Practices and games may be infrequent, with only a few meeting times a week, which for those with busy schedules or those trying to figure out if they like the sport and want to continue it, may be a good thing. 

This is completely different from travel softball, which likely will require multiple practice sessions per week on top of games, which at tournaments can see a team play six, seven, eight or more games in a matter of days, depending on how far it advances. 

Plus, those on rosters for travel ball who are looking for even more practice time may schedule personalized training with instructors and/or private sessions in places such as batting cages to further improve their games on the side, making the potential time needed to hone the craft and that much more demanding – but perfect for those who can’t get enough of the sport and have the ability.

Which Team Should You Or Your Child Pursue?

If you or your child is trying to find out whether or not they like softball and/or have a knack for the sport, rec ball – especially at younger ages – probably is right for you. 

In a low-risk, low-cost environment with ample opportunities to see potential in the sport come out and to gauge enjoyment levels, there’s little harm in checking out if what you see in rec softball is perhaps an indicator of future success in the sport. 

At worst, you or your child broke a sweat and competed in a fun, engaging physical activity. 

If you already know that you or your child has talent above their peers and/or has a passion for the game, travel ball might be the call. 

It’s much more of a commitment, yes, but for those who are serious about getting noticed by next-level programs and receiving guidance from some of the top instructors and teachers in their area, there’s nothing better – and the rewards may be worth it down the line with a college scholarship or more. 

Ultimately, however, there is no wrong answer to which type of environment is right for you or your child. It comes down to preferences, time, financial capabilities and other personal factors, with great fun able to be had in each type of softball environment.

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What to Look For in Travel Softball Teams

Table of Contents

Getting started with travel softball, the difference between travel softball and little league, which is better for my daughter: rec ball or travel ball, competitive travel softball: key considerations when picking a team, top 7 things to look for in a travel softball team, frequently asked questions, picking a travel softball team – final thoughts.

Travel softball can be one of the most stressful aspects of the sport, especially when it comes to choosing the right team. That’s particularly true for parents and players who are just beginning their travel softball journey, because it can be difficult to know how to evaluate a team and coach.

This guide will help you understand what to look for in a traveling softball team, and will answer some of the most common questions parents have about the process, including:

• What are the differences between rec ball and travel ball?
• How do I know which is best for my daughter?
• What is the true cost of travel softball?
• How should we choose which travel team to play for?
• Other frequently asked questions

Joining a traveling softball team can be a great experience, both in terms of enjoyment and player development. But it’s also a major commitment, so it’s important to think carefully about what kind of program is best in your specific situation.

My name is Alexa Peterson. I played four years at the University of Oregon, where I was First Team All-American, played in two Women’s College World Series, and went on to play six years professionally. I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t have made it to the level I did without travel softball.

I made the switch from Little League/rec ball to travel ball when I was ten years old, and from then on I consistently played at the highest levels possible. By the age of thirteen, I knew I wanted to play NCAA softball, and playing against the best competition was crucial in helping me achieve that dream.

Travel softball is expensive and time consuming. But the reality is that if your goal is to play at the college level — and especially if your goal is to play for a Division 1 program — it’s an important part of the process.

During my travel softball career, I played for some amazing coaches that pushed me to be a better person and athlete, as well as some that didn’t believe in me. And while it’s obviously better to find a coaching staff that believes in you and is committed to nurturing your talent, I was able to learn important lessons and grow in both types of environments.

Before diving into the specific specifics of what to look for, it’s important to understand why you should consider playing travel softball (and why it’s not the right choice for every player in every situation).

Related Reading: Alexa Peterson’s College Softball Recruiting Journey

Recreational softball and competitive travel softball teach many of the same life skills, like teamwork and sportsmanship. But when it comes to things like time commitment and competitiveness, they can be as different as night and day.

Rec Softball/Little League: A Low-Key, Low-Cost and Less-Competitive Environment

“Rec ball” is shorthand for Little League Softball and/or your local city league. The regular season typically runs from March to May, with single games twice per week, and one or two practices per week. You’ll usually stay within a 30 minute radius for games and practices.

Little League, which is the most common rec ball organization, is open to girls ages four through sixteen, and everybody makes a team regardless of their skill level. Coaches are typically parents or grandparents, and the umpires are often volunteers.

This is a great place to learn the rules of the game, to see if your daughter enjoys softball, and to just have fun while learning sportsmanship and the very basics of fundamentals. The cost is typically around $100, which includes a uniform top.

Travel Softball: More Games and Better Competition

Back in the day, if you played travel softball, you were a serious player striving to become an elite athlete, and you had the full intention of playing in college.

Today, softball has grown so much that while there are still teams dedicated to providing elite players the absolute best competition to facilitate skill development, there are actually more and more girls playing travel softball primarily for the fun of it — often because they want to play more than the standard 20-game schedule offered by rec ball.

In general, there is no “regular season” with travel softball — it runs all year long, with club practices once or twice per week during the spring and fall season, and a full slate of weekend tournaments during the later spring and summer season.

Travel softball tourneys are typically Friday through Sunday, with teams playing anywhere from 5-10 games each. Fridays and Saturdays are pool play games, meaning you play a small number of the teams in the tournament, and then get “seeded.” On Sunday, you participate in double-elimination bracket play, with winners always taking home something cool like a trophy, medal, plaque or ring.

The cost for a year of travel softball can range from $500 to $5,000 and up, which includes a full uniform, and sometimes includes equipment. We’ll break the costs down in more detail later.

The answer to that question depends on two main things: her love for the game and your wallet!

If she can’t get enough of softball, wants to travel around for more games, and is excited to play throughout the summer, then travel ball is the way to go.

With that, the cost to play increases. Exactly how much depends on the level of competition your daughter is looking for. The most elite tournament teams (especially at the high school level) travel the farthest and play the most. Less competitive teams tend not to travel quite as far or as often.

When It Comes to Choosing the Right Level, Let Your Daughter Lead the Way

You as a parent cannot choose the level your daughter wants to play at. I’ve seen many parents try, and it never ends well.

If you’re a parent who never played a sport competitively, you might not understand her desire to spend every waking hour at the ballpark. But don’t hold her back if she wants to push herself.

On the other hand, don’t force her to join a competitive travel ball team if she just wants to have fun. Speaking from experience, the game, the desire to compete, and the love of always being challenged… those things are either there or they’re not.

It’s also important that you don’t make your child feel guilty if she tries a competitive team for a year and decides it’s not what she wants. She might have all the natural talent in the world, but if she wants to spend her summers going to birthday parties, having sleepovers and just living life, then let her!

And if she has a hard time deciding what she wants? Well, what a great life skills and bonding opportunity. Talk through the process and help her see the pros and cons of each option. Most importantly, let it be her decision, and make sure she knows you’ll support that decision (even if it’s not what you think is best).

With all of that said, here are some things you need to know about competitive travel softball.

Here are a few of the factors you should consider when evaluating your options and picking a team.

With the top-tier of competitive travelling softball teams, the coaches are generally not related to the players. (Sometimes you’ll find an assistant coach who is a parent, but rarely a head coach.) These coaches have years of experience, and often played many years themselves. They understand the intangibles of the game, and can teach a higher level of mechanics that go beyond the fundamentals.

Competitive travel softball players come to the field every day with the intent to compete, push past their limits, and get themselves to the next level. The fundamentals will already be in place, and there’s no question as to whether they will dive head first to catch a ball.

Many programs are run as a tight ship, with the goal of teaching and preparing their athletes for what college ball will be like: fast paced practices and a strong emphasis on execution.

These teams expect you to take the game seriously: 15 minutes early is on time; you walk into a tournament in an orderly fashion; and you recognize that while there’s a time and place to be goofy, you’re there to get better at softball.

Playing Time

Because the goal of this type of program is to prepare the athlete for college athletics, the teams want to win. At the same time, they also want to focus on player development.

So, during pool play, playing time tends to be more evenly distributed in order to give everyone game experience (as well as the opportunity to be noticed by college coaches, when the time comes for that). But come bracket play on Championship Sunday, the goal is to win and the best players will be on the field with the expectation of dominating the competition.

What You Get

Many high-level programs are fully-sponsored by product manufacturers, or at least get discounted rates on things like uniforms and equipment. In those cases, your club fees might include two or three uniforms, matching bat bags, visors and bats (some teams exclusively swing one brand).

A majority of programs at this level also have their own indoor facility for winter workouts and bad-weather training.

See also: How to Pick the Right Softball Bat

Time Commitment (spoiler alert… HUGE)

When I was playing travel softball as a teenager in Oregon, I had a teammate from Montana who flew in once a month for our team practices. While that’s not very common, driving three hours one way for a practice is totally commonplace. If you live in a big city, chances are that a good program is nearby. But if you live in a smaller area, you may end up putting a lot of miles on your car.

I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I accidentally conditioned myself to fall asleep every time I was in a car for more than 45 minutes. My weekend routine typically looked something like this for travel ball:

• Wake up at 5 a.m., get in the car and fall asleep for the whole drive there.
• Play five games
• Get in the car, and sleep for the whole drive home.

In other words, it’s a lot of time on the road. You, as the parent, are going to be doing the driving. Your daughter, as the player, is going to be pooped. It’s “quality time” in a certain way, but probably not in the way you’re envisioning right now.

Also, since most teams only have one practice per week, there’s an expectation that additional work is being done outside of practice. Hitting, pitching and defensive skills should be worked on roughly four days a week.

The majority of players at this level hire an experienced outside hitting or pitching coach. If you don’t put in this extra work, you will quickly fall behind your teammates and ride the pine (plus risk being cut at the end of season).

Games/Tournaments

There are typically four or five tournaments during October and November. Then, another tournament every weekend from late spring through July or August.

Depending on where you live, you could be spending a ton of time in the car, or even on a plane. The biggest softball hubs are Southern California, Texas and Florida. If you’re not in one of those states, expect to be travelling far and often.

Living in Oregon and playing competitively, I traveled multiple times every summer and fall to play in college exposure tournaments in Southern California.

The True Cost of Travel Softball

Some of you may have fainted after mentally calculating the cost of everything in that last section. But let’s recap…

• Driving to and from practice
• Driving or flying to and from games
• 15 to 20 tournaments per year (with tournament fees)
• Facility fees to practice on your own
• Private lessons
• Top-of-the-line equipment
• Rental cars

All of that easily runs anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000 a year, making elite travel softball one of the costlier youth sports. Plus, that’s in addition to fees and travel for camps, which many top-tier players also participate in.

Like I said earlier, if you’re in Southern California you might end up paying on the lower end of that range, because your cost for travel will be much lower than someone flying into California every weekend.

Also, keep in mind that many tournament teams have monthly dues of around $200 to play on the team and have access to their training facility. The cost of travel is not included in the monthly dues.

Travel Softball Sometimes Requires Sacrifices

Growing up, I was more on the lower end of the middle class. We always had food on the table, but the effort put in by my parents to facilitate my amateur softball career was exorbitant.

Looking back, I’m so thankful they gave all they did so that I could be successful — it’s something I can never repay them for. I imagine that we could have lived a little more comfortably had I not been playing softball.

For them, it was a matter of priorities. I wanted to play at the highest level I could, and they were willing to sacrifice to make that happen.

If money is a potential concern, you need to consider both your priorities and your daughter’s. Are you prepared and willing to skip “regular” family vacations because your weekends and your travel budget are going into softball?

And does she understand that playing this sport at this level most likely requires trade-offs when it comes to things like friends, clothes, phones, and many of the other things that teens often spend time and money on in high school?

1. Coaching: Are the coaches experienced? How knowledgeable are they, and will they be able to facilitate the proper degree of skill development for their athletes?

Ideally, you don’t want to have parents serving as coaches. If you stumble across a high level program that does, most likely the coach has been around for a long time and is trusted to look after the best interests of the whole roster (not just their own child).

Other important considerations are coaching style, character and overall attitude. Ask former or current players and parents to describe the coaching staff, and see if they would be a good fit for your daughter.

2. Cost : Figure out what your family can afford before you even start looking at options. If team dues seem ridiculously high, make sure you’re getting your money’s worth in terms of equipment, facility use, uniforms, etc. Also, some teams have fundraising opportunities that can bring down the cost to participate. If money is a concern, ask about this ahead of time.

3. Communication : It’s important to have all your questions answered. Feel free to ask about financials (what’s included in team fees, fundraising, etc.), playing time and how it’s divided up, and the coaching staff’s goals and priorities. If the coaches seem wishy-washy about these topics, don’t offer straightforward answers, or seem like they just don’t want to be bothered with the questions, that’s a red flag.

4. Competitiveness : Make sure you understand what level of competition you daughter wants. Does she want to be challenged? Does she want to be on a team that beats everyone 10-0? Is playing time important, or would she prefer to surround herself with the best possible teammates (even if that means less time on the field)? And keep in mind, the level of competitiveness usually coincides with how much work is expected outside of practice.

It’s also important for everyone involved to be honest about the player’s skill level. Joining a team where you’re not among the absolute best players can motivate you and build your work ethic, but joining a team where you get virtually no playing time or attention can hinder your development. This is a delicate balance to strike, but it’s something to keep in mind.

5. Chemistry : Consider the overall chemistry of the program, not just the chemistry among the players. Go to a couple of games and see how the team plays together, and ask to watch the team practice before committing. Overall, you want your daughter to have a good experience — on the field and off — with her teammates and coaches.

Watch and listen to how players respond to the coaches. Do they walk away, rolling their eyes? How do players interact with their parents? Your daughter will be around these girls for months at a time, and they say “you become who you surround yourself with.” So, what’s the vibe of the players? Do they look like they’re having fun, while still getting the job done?

6. College Recruiting : This is for those a little older (freshmen and up). If your daughter is interested in playing college softball, you’ll want to be part of an organization that:

• Knows the rules surrounding college recruiting
• Will help educate players and parents about those rules
• Will be advocates for them during the recruiting process
• Has connections with college programs

When I was coaching at a Division II school, there were a handful of travel ball coaches I knew well and could really trust to give me honest feedback on a kid as an athlete and a person. Those were the programs I kept going back to.

7. Character Development : Arguably the most important aspect of a program is the character and personal development that will take place. Yes, we want players to get better at softball. But players should walk away from their travel ball experience not only prepared for college athletics, but also for life in general.

Things like being on time, sportsmanship, work ethic, speaking respectfully, putting the team first, uplifting those around you, and attention to detail; those are all crucial life skills that youth sports can help build. Ask the coaching staff their thoughts on this, and what they do to help foster this type of development.

Here are a few questions that many travel softball players and parents ask when joining or switching teams.

Between $500 and $5,000 per year (with an average of about $2,000), depending on where you live, the level of competition, and the time commitment. On the low end, a $500 budget may be enough to cover your team fees and play in local tournaments with lesser competition. But if you need to travel far to get to competitive or college exposure tournaments (nearly every weekend during the summer plus multiple tournaments in the fall), it’s not unheard of to spend $5,000 per season.

Highly-competitive programs need to have high-level coaches. The majority of those programs cover their coaches’ travel expenses as an incentive. A few coaches who work for franchised organizations will get paid and actually make a small profit for their time.

Levels are separated by age and skill level. Age brackets are 8U (8-years-old and under), 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. Within each age level there are three letters that designate the skill level: “A” is the highest level in a particular age group, followed by “B” (average) and “C” (kids who are playing mostly for fun). It’s also increasingly common for elite travel softball organizations to have two 18U teams, with the highest level designated as “18 Gold.” There are no tournaments for which classification as an “18 Gold” team is mandatory for entry — these teams participate in the same high-level tournaments as A-level teams.

There are multiple organizations that host tournaments around the United States. The main ones are USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association — pronounced U-Triple-S-A), PGF (Premier Girls’s Fastpitch, USA (Formerly ASA), Triple Crown, and NSA (National Softball Association). A majority of these tournaments are qualifiers for the organization’s national tournament, where the top teams from different regions compete in one location.

At tryouts, you should expect to be tested on your home-to-first sprint time, your home-to-home sprint time, and your overhand throwing speed. There’s usually a brief hitting session (front toss), as well as defensive reps and throws based on your position. Catchers usually have 2-3 reps to throw to each base, while pitchers are usually given the opportunity to throw all their pitches and have their speeds checked by radar. Every year, most teams host an open tryout, where anyone interested in joining has an opportunity to be evaluated by the coaching staff. Some teams charge a small fee for this tryout. Often, good organizations will reach out to a player that caught their eye and invite them to come to the open tryout. Travel softball teams will also sometimes have two different dates options for tryouts, so that athletes can attend the one that best fits their schedule.

I enjoyed my time as a travel softball player, but it wasn’t always easy — for me or my family. Still, I wouldn’t trade those times for anything… and I wouldn’t be where I am today without those experiences.

There’s a lot that goes into deciding what travel softball team to play for. I hope that this guide was informative and helped you understand what to look for, so that you can make the best choice for your family and have as rewarding of an experience as I did.

Alexa Peterson

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How Do I Find A Fastpitch Softball Travel Ball Team Near Me?

Are you a parent of a young softball player who loves the game and wants to take it to the next level? Joining a fastpitch softball travel ball team might be just the opportunity you’re looking for! These teams are a stepping stone to more competitive and challenging softball experiences. But the big question is, how do you find one near you? Let’s dive into it step by step.

1. Start with Online Research

The internet is your first and most powerful tool in the search for a travel ball team. You can begin by:

Search Engines: Use search engines like Google to look for fastpitch softball travel teams in your area. Try keywords like “fastpitch softball travel teams near me” or include your city or state in the search.

Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter often have pages or groups dedicated to local sports. Joining these groups can help you find information about travel teams and connect with coaches or other players. We really feel like Facebook groups shine in this area. A great example is if you live in Eastern Kentucky, then search Facebook for “Fastpitch Softball East Kentucky” or replace East Kentucky with any large city or county near your area. You may be surprised how many groups there are!

2. Reach Out to Local Softball Organizations

Your local softball organizations, such as leagues, clubs, or associations, can be a valuable resource:

Ask Your Coach: If you’re currently playing for a school or community league, your coach might know about nearby travel ball teams or have connections in the softball community.

Visit Softball Fields: Local softball fields or complexes often have bulletin boards or flyers with information about travel teams. Check them out when you’re at the fields for games or practices.

3. Attend Softball Tournaments and Showcases

Many travel ball teams participate in tournaments and showcases. Attending these events can help you:

Network: You can meet coaches, players, and parents from various travel teams, making it easier to find the right fit.

Watch Games: Watching games helps you see how certain teams play, figure out how good they are, and decide if they may make a good fit not only for your player but your family as well.

4. Online Softball Forums and Websites

There are several websites and forums dedicated to softball discussions. These can be excellent places to gather information:

Softball-Specific Websites: Websites like Field Level or Softball America often have directories or listings of travel ball teams.

Forums: Participate in softball forums where you can ask for recommendations or guidance from experienced players or parents.  Discuss Fastpitch is an amazing forum that is still pretty active.

Organization Websites: Many organizations (for example: USSSA ) have lists of tournaments and what teams will be attending as well as their home location.

5. Contact Local Softball Coaches

Local high school or college softball coaches can be great resources.  Reach out to these coaches, explain your interest in joining a travel team, and ask if they have any recommendations or contacts.  Many times coaches are tight knit in a geographical area and will know when teams are needing extra players.

6. Attend Tryouts and Open Practices

Once you’ve identified potential travel ball teams, find out when they’re holding tryouts or open practices.  Sign up and be early to the tryouts and open practices.  Don’t forget to pay good attention to the team’s coaching styles and the atmosphere of the players and parents.

7. Talk to Current Players and Parents

If possible, try to connect with current or former players and their parents from the travel teams you’re interested in:

Get Insights: They can provide valuable insights into the team’s culture, expectations, and experiences.

8. Consider Travel Distance and Commitment

When looking for a travel ball team, it’s essential to consider how far you’re willing to travel for practices and games. Travel teams often require much more time and commitment than recreational leagues, so ensure it aligns with your schedule and goals.  Most likely your child will have more practices and the possibilty of required lessons on the side.  You will also need to realize that some teams travel a lot more than others.  Look at the teams past schedules to see what kind of travelling they do which will help you decide if it will be a proper fit for your family.

If you and your child really feel that you have what it takes to go to the next level, then a travel ball team offers so much more than rec ball. I would highly suggest that if you feel comfortable in her current skill levels after watching other travel ball teams to go ahead and use the above information to help you start your search for a travel ball team. Our world completely changed when our daughters went from rec ball to all-stars and then on to travel ball. I don’t think we would change a thing because it has been such an enjoyment for our kids and also for us as parents as well.  Also, check out our article on the Top 5 Reasons Your Daughter SHOULDN’T Play Travel Softball and make sure you are making the right step for her.

-SoftballGalaxy

Related Posts:

Travel Teams

USA Softball of Sacramento oversees many travel teams and organizations in the Sacramento area that offer a more competitive play environment for girls between 8 and 18 years old. These teams are independent and require girls to try-out for the team and the level of commitment varies by team. 

How do I Sign-Up to Play?

Travel teams are independently operated and have open boundaries. Meaning you are not restricted to which team you wish to play with. To inquire about specific teams, please visit the organization website for try-out information. Before signing up to play with any team, please read the parent/player agreement for the team and review the financial commitments.

Travel Team Search Facebook Group

This facebook group is used for teams and athletes to connect. Teams can post try-out information and upcoming team events.

USA Fastpitch Forum

This website is used by Travel teams to post try-out information and upcoming team events.

Travel Team Organizations

All-american mizuno, california yardsharks, elk grove thunder, foothill gold, norcal bandits, usa premier, all-american sports academy, california grapettes, firecrackers - leles, lincoln loaded, rocklin rebels, nor cal pride, california breeze, dream seam legacy, folsom freedom, hype fastpitch, surge sports academy, west coast wolverines.

To have your organization listed on this page, please contact us

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How to Start a Travel Softball Team

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In the world of softball, building a successful travel team requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. One crucial aspect of this process is understanding the age groupings in softball and how they impact team dynamics. By comprehending the age divisions, determining player eligibility, exploring sponsorship opportunities, and implementing effective strategies for finding interested players, coaches can lay a solid foundation for their team’s success.

Understanding Age Groupings in Softball

Determining the player’s age for softball, exploring sponsorship opportunities for softball tournaments, setting limits: maximum travel distance for tournaments, strategies for finding interested players for your softball team, building a strong coaching team: tips for finding coaches and volunteers, compensation considerations for softball coaches, navigating player fees in travel softball, managing travel expenses for your softball team, fundraising and sponsorship ideas for travel softball teams, handling substitute players and dealing with injuries, ensuring uniformity: obtaining uniforms for your softball team, establishing an online presence: website and social media for your softball team, expectations and qualities of a head coach in travel softball, putting it all together: a checklist for starting a travel softball team, conclusion: key considerations for starting a travel softball team.

Age groupings in softball are essential for ensuring fair competition and providing appropriate developmental opportunities for players. From T-Ball to Senior League, each age division has specific guidelines in terms of player eligibility, skill development, and competition level.

Softball, a beloved sport played by millions of people around the world, offers a range of age divisions to cater to players of different skill levels and ages. These divisions not only provide a structured framework for organizing competitions but also allow players to grow and develop their skills in a supportive environment.

Age Divisions Explained: From T-Ball to Senior League

T-Ball, typically for children aged 4 to 6, serves as an introductory level to softball. This division focuses on teaching the basic fundamentals of the game, such as how to hold a bat , swing, and catch. Coaches and parents work together to create a fun and engaging atmosphere, encouraging young players to develop a love for the sport.

As players progress, they move into divisions such as 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, and eventually, Senior League (16U and 18U). Each division builds upon the skills learned in the previous age group and introduces new challenges to help players refine their techniques and strategic thinking.

At the 8U level, players begin to understand the importance of teamwork and communication. They learn how to work together with their teammates to execute plays and make split-second decisions on the field. Coaches focus on teaching proper techniques for fielding, throwing, and base running, ensuring that players have a solid foundation to build upon.

As players move into the 10U division, the game becomes more competitive. They start to develop a deeper understanding of game strategy and begin to refine their individual skills. Coaches emphasize the importance of situational awareness, teaching players how to read the field and make strategic decisions based on the game situation.

The 12U division marks a significant transition for players as they start to compete at a higher level. The game becomes faster-paced, and players are expected to have a strong grasp of the fundamentals. Coaches focus on advanced techniques, such as bunting, stealing bases, and executing double plays. This division prepares players for the challenges they will face in the older age groups.

As players progress through the 14U division, they continue to refine their skills and develop a deeper understanding of the game. This division often serves as a stepping stone for players who aspire to play at the high school or college level. Coaches provide advanced training in areas such as pitching, hitting, and defensive strategies, preparing players for the increased competition they will face in the Senior League.

The Senior League, consisting of the 16U and 18U age groups, represents the pinnacle of youth softball. Players in these divisions possess advanced skills and have a deep passion for the sport. The competition is fierce, and teams from different regions or even countries come together to compete in tournaments and showcase their talents.

At this level, players have honed their skills through years of practice and dedication. They possess a strong understanding of the game and are capable of executing complex plays with precision. College scouts and recruiters often attend Senior League tournaments to identify talented players and offer scholarships for higher education.

In conclusion, age groupings in softball serve a crucial role in providing players with appropriate competition and developmental opportunities. From the introductory T-Ball division to the highly competitive Senior League, each age group allows players to progress and grow as athletes. Whether young children just starting their softball journey or seasoned players aiming for college scholarships, the age divisions in softball cater to the diverse needs and aspirations of players at every stage of their softball career.

Accurately determining a player’s age is pivotal in placing them in the correct age division. Guidelines vary but are generally determined by the player’s age as of January 1st of the current year. Ensuring accurate age verification is crucial for maintaining fairness and eligibility compliance within a team.

Softball tournaments can be costly endeavors, but with the right sponsorship opportunities, these expenses can be significantly reduced. Building relationships with local businesses and organizations interested in supporting youth sports can result in financial assistance, equipment donations, or discounted services, making tournaments more affordable for both players and their families.

When planning a travel softball team schedule, it’s crucial to consider the maximum travel distance for tournaments. Setting limits on the distance for travel ensures players and their families can balance commitments effectively while minimizing travel-related stress and expenses.

Recruiting interested players is an important step in building a successful travel softball team. Utilize various strategies, such as hosting tryouts, reaching out to local schools and youth leagues, utilizing social media platforms, and networking within the softball community, to attract talented players who are passionate about the sport.

A strong coaching team contributes significantly to the success of a travel softball team. Look for coaches who are experienced, knowledgeable, and have a passion for teaching and mentoring young athletes. Additionally, seeking out reliable volunteers for administrative tasks, fundraising efforts, and team logistics can enable the coaching staff to focus on player development and strategic planning.

While many travel softball coaches volunteer their time, it’s crucial to consider compensation options for coaches. Recognizing the dedication and effort coaches invest in the team can foster long-term commitment and motivation, ensuring the team’s continued success.

Travel softball involves player fees to cover expenses such as uniforms, equipment, tournament entry fees, and travel costs. Establishing transparent communication about player fees, providing payment plan options, and offering fundraising opportunities can alleviate financial burdens and promote a sense of accountability among players and their families.

Managing travel expenses is a critical aspect of building a successful travel softball team. By implementing strategies such as group bookings for accommodations, carpooling, securing sponsorships, and budgeting effectively, teams can minimize costs and ensure players have access to opportunities while staying within their financial means.

Fundraising and seeking sponsorships are essential elements in supporting a travel softball team. Organize events like car washes, bake sales, or community fundraisers, and actively seek sponsorship opportunities from local businesses, community organizations, and even parents. These initiatives not only provide financial support but also foster a sense of community involvement and unity within the team.

Substitute players and injuries are inevitable in sports, including travel softball. Have a clear protocol in place for managing substitute players, ensuring fair play, and maintaining team dynamics. Moreover, implementing injury prevention measures, providing appropriate training and equipment, and having a plan for handling injuries can help keep players safe and minimize disruptions to the team.

Dealing with Injuries: Protocols and Prevention in Softball

Preventing injuries in softball is paramount. Coaches should develop and enforce proper warm-up routines, teach correct techniques, and emphasize the importance of conditioning and strength training. Additionally, having a clear protocol for addressing injuries and a comprehensive plan for rehabilitation and recovery is crucial for promoting player safety and well-being.

Uniforms play a significant role in team identity and unity. Choosing appropriate uniforms that comply with league guidelines and reflect the team’s brand is crucial. Plan ahead, consider options for customization, and explore potential bulk-order discounts to ensure uniformity and professionalism within the team.

The Importance of Player Numbers on Softball Uniforms

Player numbers on softball uniforms are essential for identification, communication, and record-keeping purposes. Encourage players to select numbers that hold personal significance and ensure they are visible and legible on the uniforms. This practical decision can enhance team cohesion and streamline team operations.

Establishing an online presence is an invaluable tool for promoting a travel softball team, attracting potential sponsors, and communicating with players, parents, and fans. Develop a professional website and maintain active social media accounts to share team updates, showcase player achievements, and foster a sense of community within the softball program.

The head coach sets the tone for the entire travel softball team. Clear expectations and a strong leadership presence are fundamental for success. A head coach should possess qualities such as effective communication, strategic thinking, adaptability, integrity, and a genuine passion for the sport and player development.

Starting a travel softball team involves various steps and considerations. Use the following checklist to ensure you have covered all crucial aspects:

• Understand the age groupings in softball.
• Determine player eligibility based on age guidelines.
• Explore sponsorship opportunities and seek financial support.
• Set limits on travel distance for tournaments.
• Implement strategies to attract interested players.
• Build a strong coaching team and recruit volunteers.
• Consider compensation options for coaches.
• Establish transparent communication about player fees.
• Manage travel expenses efficiently.
• Organize fundraising initiatives and seek sponsorships.
• Have protocols in place for substitute players and injuries.
• Prevent injuries through proper training and protocols.
• Obtain uniforms that promote team unity and professionalism.
• Ensure player numbers are visible and legible on uniforms.
• Establish an online presence for the team.
• Define expectations and qualities of the head coach.

Building a successful travel softball team involves understanding the age groupings, determining player eligibility, exploring sponsorship opportunities, implementing effective recruitment strategies, and employing savvy financial management techniques. By following these key considerations, coaches can lay the groundwork for a thriving team that fosters player development, community engagement, and competitive success.

Image Credit: “ SBBL Fastpitch Softball – 16U – Lady Saints v. Diamondbacks ” by Steven Pisano is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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12 Consideration on How to Start a Travel Softball Team

You have made it to the higher level of competition. You have a pool of potential players but are unsure how to organize them into a travel team. You know that the players would get a lot out of it, but you’re afraid to start. This is very typical!

It might seem simple to organize a travel softball team. You recruit some players, purchase some uniforms, and compete in a few events. Nope, it’s not that easy.

My experience coaching a girls’ fastpitch softball travel team has been eye-opening. To be clear, I want to use the word “program” here.

According to Statista, around 8.1 million Americans participated in softball in 2021.  It’s the time of year when parents consider travel teams for the future year, so I thought some guidelines could be helpful. All of these rules have exceptions, so don’t overstate them.

So, without further ado, let’s go into some suggestions for starting a travel ball softball team that will take your coaching experience higher.

Table of Contents

What Is Travel Softball?

Let’s start with the very basics. 

First up, travel softball is a lot more intense than traditional one. Most travel softball teams include between 10 and 12 players chosen by the appointed coaches. Unlike recreational softball, travel teams don’t play a set number of games every season.

Travel teams “travel” to play weekend tournaments like the Ball-of-field our recreation teams just participated in. Travel softball is a lot like the end-of-the-year All-Stars.

This is the “next level” up from softball leagues for fun and exercise. It is more demanding in terms of skill level, dedication, and playtime.

Distances and age groupings vary in each program. Some travel groups hardly go beyond their own backyards or state to compete.

Wait! Do you know all the tricks ad tips of softball? You don’t! Well, don’t panic because here are some of the best softball tips for you.

Figure 1- How to Start a Travel Softball Team

Getting Started With Travel Softball

After spending four years as a First Team All-American at the University of Michigan, I played professionally for another six. Now that I’m a coach, I know that if it weren’t for travel softball, I never would have gotten where I am today.

At age 10, I made the jump from Little League/rec ball to travel ball, and I have played at the highest levels ever since. By the time I was thirteen, I had already decided to play softball at the collegiate level (specifically, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association).

Playing softball at the travel level takes a lot of effort and money. To be an excellent softball player, you must prepare and work hard. Nonetheless, I have to confess that softball is fascinating. Therefore, I will share some softball basics with you if you are just starting out.

I played for some fantastic coaches who encouraged me to be a better person and player, and others who didn’t. And although it’s ideal to have a coach that believes in you and nurtures your skill, I learned and grew in both contexts.

Before getting into the main topic, it’s crucial to know why you should play travel softball (and why it’s not the ideal decision for every player).

How to Start a Travel Softball Team

Are you wondering how to start a select travel softball team to take on other travel teams?

Your path won’t be so smooth. You will be well on your way to starting a successful travel softball team if you follow these steps.

Know the Age Groupings

Typically, different age groups play travel softball.

Softball uses even-numbered age divisions, such as 8U, 10U, 12U, etc. You cannot participate in a younger age group than your chronological age.

It is a different case in Baseball. Teams begin at the youngest age, 6U, and increase in age increments.

Little League revised the age threshold to August 31 because so many 13-year-olds played in the World Series.

Check the Player’s Age

Take a good look at your player’s age when you are building a softball travel team.

The players’ ages may compel you to shuffle them about on different teams or “play up” to compete with more seasoned squads. While playing up is a status badge for some, it may be funny to witness 13-year-old boys play 1st high school students.

In softball, there are several different ball sizes, and grounds are used for games aimed at various age groups.

If you want your team to do well in competitions, you must wear the right gear and train on a field that’s the right size. You will find all the requirements of the field and gear on the sponsor’s webpage.

Tournament organizers in baseball strictly enforce age-based pitch limits, while softball games are played without such restrictions.

Get Fastpitch Softball Travel Team Coaches and Volunteers

Members of the coaching staff, other volunteers, and the board of directors play an essential role in the success of your team. Here are some ways to locate dedicated volunteers to ensure out during your team’s inaugural year:

Parents – Parents are the simplest way to find new program volunteers. Make sure parents understand the time commitment. The level of parental dedication should be high enough.

Current and Former Players-  High school or college players may assist get your new squad started. High school and college students are often excited about volunteering or leadership experience. They have the desire, competitive attitude, and player development recommendations your team needs to thrive. Former players can be role models for your athletes.

Remember, coaches and volunteers must understand the yearlong commitment. Give them a realistic picture of how much time and money they will be committing to practices and trips.

Want to perform at the blogger stage like Major Softball Division? You may wanna know what is baseball/softball tryout . Know it from a real coach’s perspective.

Create a Budget and Financial Plan

Once you’ve assembled your team of coaches and volunteers, it’s time to develop a detailed financial strategy and budget.

To have a successful travel softball program, you must put in the time and effort to create a thorough financial plan and budget.

Check out these suggestions:

Projected Expenses: Consider travel expenses, tournament fees, practice facility/field fees, league play fees, team gear, uniforms, and registering your team when building your financial plan.

Plan Fundraising Campaigns: Player registration fees will likely be your primary source of revenue when it comes to fundraising. You could also approach nearby companies for sponsorships and contributions.

Quite frequently, local companies are more than happy to contribute to the success of youth initiatives. You may generate more money for your program by providing sponsors with logo displays, tax benefits, and goodwill advertising.

A well-thought-out budget can determine the success or failure of your project. Try to keep player registration fees low and account for potential costs.

After settling on a budget that won’t break the bank, you may begin advertising your travel softball team and recruiting new members.

Player Fees

When starting a travel softball team, you’ll also need to settle on a pricing structure.

The most important thing for parents is that the prices to play are clear and reasonable. Therefore, you must have a solid understanding of the tournament and uniform expenses.

If you can’t practice outside year-round, you may also need to pay for inside time. Travel ball expenses are often $1,000 or more per player, not including transportation costs.

Travel Expenses

Travel expenses include hotel rates – which can be close to $150 per night for three-day tournaments- and food, gas, and equipment you need for softball.

Many weekend tournaments begin on Thursdays or Fridays, so parents usually miss working to attend their children’s events. If your team attends three tournaments requiring traveling, your parents could spend over $3000 on travel ball fees and expenses.

Fundraising and Sponsorships

Some clubs will find methods to mitigate the expenditures of travel softball. They will provide gamers with chances to hold fundraisers. Others will solicit sponsorship from local companies. In this situation, businesses often want to be promoted someplace, such on the uniform or a team flag.

Car washes, flower sales, and golf tournaments are common team fundraising activities. Some teams can pay nothing out of pocket if they organize successful fundraising campaigns.

Teams who raise a lot of money often utilize it to hire top coaches to conduct clinics. These can help the whole squad build togetherness as players learn about their favorite game together.

Injury Concerns and Substitute Players

There are always players missing from a travel squad for a single event.

Most travel softball team coaches have a few subs on call. Many coaches keep the extra jersey for the substitute to wear.

Most subs want to avoid wearing the extra jersey as they do not have their name on it. So it is up to you to carry the expense of their jersey or have the player in your team. 

Unfortunately, injuries are among the most frequent issues you will have to face in a travel softball team.

They happen often and often enough to change the way your season goes. Injuries are inevitable, which is why many competent trainers keep first aid kits supplied.

Coaches who are responsible also make sure that their teams have insurance. The USSSA offers travel team insurance, among others. This is another charge component that should be accounted for.

Obtaining Jerseys

Who doesn’t like great looking and durable uniform?

Your softball travel team will require at least three pairs of trousers, three jerseys, three sets of socks, a cap, and a helmet for long weekends.

To maintain team unity, you can use the same brand and model of cleats and provide each player with a practice uniform.

Players like selecting their favorite jersey numbers. Some believe the numbers will bring luck.  They also appreciate having their surnames prominently displayed on their shirts.

In addition, trainers will need apparel, including but not limited to jerseys and caps. Finding reasonably priced, high-quality uniforms for a travel baseball team is easy.

Online buying and personalization are available from Boombah, Mizuno, and Nike. You can buy team uniforms from local merchants, too.

Performance Requirements

The P.L.A.Y. Fastpitch Softball program focuses on teaching softball basics to create a fun, competitive atmosphere that inspires girls to return each year. Minimum Standards of Performance (MSP) outline the most significant abilities the players at each age level should have achieved.

To maximize your chances of success, you must devote attention to these areas throughout every practice and during the “off” season. The Softball Board will provide the coaches with materials to teach these abilities.

8U & 10U MINIMUM STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

The 8U and 10U teams’ MSPs should be:

1. Using the correct overhand throw

2. Fundamentals of catching

3. Baserunning fundamentals

4. Know how to hit and bunt properly

5 Sliding fundamentals

6. Softball basics

12U MINIMUM STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

For 12u squads, these should be the MSPs:

1. Correct overhand throwing posture.

2. Correct catching techniques. Using two hands, elbow and hand placements, and catching fly balls

3. Basic foundation running abilities. Concentrating on the posture of hands and body

4. Learn the fundamentals of hitting and bunting. 

5. The Basics of Sliding

14U MINIMUM STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

The following should be the MSPs for the 14U teams:

1. Improve positional throwing. Training the ball’s spin, grip, and snap with a focus on the wrist

2. Develop catching techniques that effectively place the body. Focusing on elbow and hand placements, good stance, utilizing two hands when and why, and catching fly balls

3. Advanced base running abilities. Concentrating on body and hand posture, knowing when to lead off, rounding bases, turning, and stealing

4. Improve batting and bunting techniques. The focus of this drill is on mastering the bunt and developing a more precise swing and bunt placement with the use of drag bunts.

5. Refine sliding skills

Isn’t the fact make you think that softball swing and baseball swing are different? It does make me think. So, how are they different? Here are detailed reasons for Softball Swing VS Baseball Swing .

Make Contact with Other Area Sports Groups

A fantastic way to network with local athletes is to reach out to other local athletic organizations. You can spread the word about your program by enlisting other coaches/volunteers to promote it to their players.

If you want to increase your chances of getting a response, you can contact recreational softball programs. Some of their existing players might be interested in pushing their skills to the next level by joining a travel softball team.

Create Social Media Accounts

You’ll need a site to publicize your new team. Creating a social media account (or two) is a simple and fast option for spreading the word and attracting attention.

Setting up a Facebook page or an Instagram account to share photos, announce tryouts, and keep parents and players updated on the season’s happenings is simple. Try not to spend all your time on Facebook since there is a good chance your parents aren’t checking it.

Travel Expectations

When you build a softball travel team, obviously, you would have some expectations. To participate in league games or tournaments, fastpitch travel teams are required to travel to other cities. League games are usually played in nearby cities.

However, games can often be rescheduled. If parents and players have a problem rescheduling game, they should make arrangements with other parents or players.

Every team needs players to show up to every game and practice.

Travel Softball Vs. Little League

The things I like in recreational softball and travel softball are you will learn many life qualities, such as collaboration and sportsmanship.  But they may vary drastically in terms of time commitment and level of competition.

Recreational Softball/Little League: Low-Stakes, Low-Cost, and Less-Competitive   

By hearing recreational league, you may think the game is not serious. At least, I thought the same. 

Recreational baseball includes the Little League Softball and the leagues played at the city level. Playing once per week and twice weekly for workouts, the regular season typically spans from March through May. Your typical commute to and from games and practices will be around 30 minutes.

Girls of all skill sets are welcome to join Little League, the most popular rec ball organization, which recruits players aged four to sixteen. Parents or grandparents usually take on the role of coach, and unpaid volunteers officiate games. It is so fun to watch!

This is a beautiful way to learn the rules, determine whether your daughter likes softball, and have fun teaching sportsmanship and fundamentals. Typically, the price is approximately $100 and includes a matching top.

Gifts are always special. People remind you every time when they see the gift. Here are some Softball Gifts for your travel softball team to make the players happy and boost their morale.

Travel softball: Better Games, Greater Quality

When I was growing up, travel softball meant you were a dedicated athlete who wanted to make it to the highest levels of the sport.

Today, softball is so popular that teams are devoted to giving top players the finest competition to hone their skills.

More girls are playing trip softball for fun, often participating in more than rec ball’s 20-game schedule.

In contrast to “regular season” sports, travel softball often does not have a set season. It takes place throughout the year, with weekly club practices in the spring and autumn and a packed schedule of weekend competitions in the summer.

Teams play anywhere from five to ten games throughout a typical weekend on a travel softball trip. On Fridays and Saturdays, teams compete in “pool play,” when they meet and play a select group of other teams before being “seeded.”

Double-elimination bracket play begins on Sunday, and the victors take home nifty prizes like trophies, medals, plaques, and rings.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is the highest level of travel softball.

More and more top-tier travel softball teams have two 18U sides, with the top team being called “18 Gold.” These teams compete in the same elite events as A-level teams. Hence there is no need for them to be designated as “18 Gold” to enter.

2. What Is the Best Travel Baseball Organization?

Many of the best and most well-known travel softball teams play for USSSA, AAU, Triple Crown Sports, and Perfect Game. Travel baseball teams often participate in tournaments run by many of these groups.

3. What Age Should You Start Travel Baseball?

Typically, a group will need participants between the ages of 6 and 18. However, this requirement can vary widely. You can search the organization’s website or directly contact or phone them.

Unlike Little League, where games are played every week, travel baseball is dominated by weekend tournaments. But some leagues are only for the best baseball teams.

4. Can High School Baseball Players Play on Travel Teams?

The CIF recently allowed high school athletes to play high school and travel ball or AAU.

5. What are the main differences between travel softball and recreation softball?

At the outset, it’s important to emphasize that the GCAA will NEVER stop prioritizing recreation. The purpose of travel softball is not to replace recreational softball but rather to provide local and regional girls access to a higher level of competition.

Your lesson on How to Start a Travel Softball Team is complete. As you can see, organizing a new travel softball team is no simple task.

It takes a lot of time and effort. Putting up a travel softball team from scratch may seem overwhelming, but it isn’t as difficult as it may appear.

There are a number of factors to think about before a game, including who to choose, where to play, and how to get there. 

What matters most is the happiness you provide to the kids and the memories you establish with them (and with yourself). Please share your success stories and additional advice if you have started a travel softball team.

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Confused about How to Start a Travel Softball Team? Take a few things into consideration like players’ age, budget plan, travel expenses, sponsorship, etc.

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Hello everyone. My name is  Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player.  I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego. 

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12 Considerations On How To Start A Travel Softball Team

Starting a travel softball team requires careful consideration and planning. This article aims to provide an informative guide on the key aspects to consider and how to start a travel softball team.

The intense nature of travel softball necessitates higher skill levels and dedication from players. Understanding the age groupings in softball and placing players on appropriate teams is crucial.

Recruiting dedicated coaches and volunteers is vital for player development. Creating a budget and financial plan, including fundraising campaigns and sponsorships, is necessary to cover expenses such as travel, tournament fees, and equipment costs.

Clear communication of pricing structure is important for parents, as player registration fees serve as the primary source of revenue for fundraising. Advertising and recruiting new members are essential for the team’s success.

Fundraising activities and networking with local athletic organizations can help mitigate expenses and promote the team. Additionally, proper equipment, softball apparel , and insurance are necessary for player safety.

By following these considerations, individuals can successfully establish and maintain a travel softball team.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Travel softball requires higher skill levels, dedication, and playtime.
• Creating a budget and financial plan for the team is crucial for success.
• Fundraising and sponsorships can help mitigate travel softball expenses.
• Equipment and apparel should be prioritized for safety and team unity.

Overview of Travel Softball

Travel softball is a highly competitive form of softball that involves selecting a smaller number of players, participating in weekend tournaments, and requiring higher skill levels and dedication compared to traditional softball.

In travel softball, teams typically consist of 10-12 players who are chosen by coaches based on their skill level and potential. These players are given opportunities to excel and reach higher levels of play.

Travel softball also emphasizes player development, with coaches playing a significant role in honing the skills and abilities of the players.

It is important to note that travel softball may not be the ideal decision for every player, as it requires preparation and hard work. However, for those who are dedicated and passionate about the sport, travel softball can provide a platform for growth and success.

How To Start A Travel Softball Team

Recruiting dedicated coaches and volunteers is an essential step in establishing a travel softball team. These individuals play a crucial role in the development and success of the team.

It is important to find coaches who have a passion for the sport and are willing to dedicate their time and expertise to train and guide the players. Volunteers can also contribute significantly by assisting with various team activities, such as organizing practices, coordinating tournaments, and providing support during games.

Additionally, player registration fees play a vital role in funding the team’s expenses. Clear communication of the pricing structure is important for parents to understand the financial commitment involved. These fees typically serve as the primary source of revenue for fundraising efforts and help cover costs such as travel expenses, tournament fees, and equipment.

By recruiting dedicated coaches and establishing reasonable player registration fees, a travel softball team can set a strong foundation for success.

Fundraising and Sponsorships

Fundraising and sponsorships are essential for covering the expenses of a travel softball team. They can be achieved through various activities and partnerships with local businesses.

Sponsorship campaigns can be initiated to seek support from companies in the community. This involves approaching local businesses and organizations and presenting them with opportunities to contribute financially or provide resources for the team.

Creative fundraising ideas can also be implemented, such as organizing car washes, flower sales, or golf tournaments. These activities not only raise funds but also promote community involvement and engagement.

Successful fundraising campaigns can alleviate the financial burden on individual players and their families. This allows the team to hire top coaches for clinics and provide necessary equipment and apparel.

By actively seeking sponsorships and implementing creative fundraising strategies, travel softball teams can ensure the financial stability and success of their program.

Equipment and Apparel

In order to ensure player safety and proper team representation, travel softball teams must acquire appropriate equipment and apparel. Injury prevention should be a top priority for teams, as injuries are common in the sport.

Competent trainers should be present during games and practices and keep first aid kits supplied. Additionally, teams should have insurance coverage for injuries that may occur.

Uniform customization is another important aspect of equipment and apparel. Players often prefer selecting their favorite jersey numbers and having their surnames displayed on the back of their jerseys.

This not only adds a sense of personalization but also creates a sense of unity within the team. It is also recommended to have the same brand and model of cleats for all players to further enhance team unity.

Trainers should also have proper apparel such as jerseys and caps to maintain a professional appearance. By prioritizing player safety and customizing uniforms, travel softball teams can create a positive and cohesive team environment.

Minimum Standards of Performance (MSP)

Minimum Standards of Performance (MSPs) outline specific skills and techniques that players at different age levels in travel softball should focus on developing. These MSPs serve as a guideline to assess skill development and ensure that players are progressing appropriately.

For 8U and 10U age groups, the MSPs include fundamental skills such as throwing, catching, baserunning, hitting, and sliding.

As players move up to the 12U age group, the focus expands to include more advanced techniques in throwing, catching, running, hitting, and sliding.

By the 14U age group, MSPs involve further improvements in positional throwing, catching, base running, hitting, and sliding.

These MSP evaluations allow coaches to identify areas of improvement and tailor their training programs accordingly, ensuring that players are equipped with the necessary skills to excel in travel softball.

Promotion and Communication

Transitioning from the Minimum Standards of Performance (MSP) to the current subtopic of Promotion and Communication, it is important to consider how to effectively promote a travel softball team.

One effective strategy is to utilize social media platforms to create awareness and engage with potential players and parents. By creating accounts on popular platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, teams can showcase their accomplishments, share updates on practices and games, and even recruit new members.

Additionally, networking with local athletic organizations, such as recreational softball programs, can help spread the word about the team and potentially attract interested players. Building relationships with these organizations can also provide a pool of talent for future recruitment.

Overall, a combination of social media promotion and networking with local organizations can greatly contribute to the success and growth of a travel softball team.

• Regularly update social media platforms with team accomplishments and updates
• Engage with followers through comments, messages, and liking posts
• Share photos and videos of practices, games, and team events
• Collaborate with local athletic organizations for cross-promotion and recruitment
• Utilize hashtags and geotags to reach a wider audience.

Game Logistics and Differences

Game logistics and differences in travel softball teams involve several key aspects:

Scheduling league games and tournaments: Travel softball teams must coordinate and schedule league games and tournaments, which often require traveling to different locations. These games and tournaments may need to be rescheduled if necessary.

Prioritizing attendance for practices and games: In travel softball, attendance is crucial for both practices and games. Players are expected to commit to regular practices and show up for every game. This level of dedication and commitment is higher compared to recreational softball or little league.

Recognizing the differences in time commitment and competition level: Travel softball requires a greater time commitment from players and their families. The competition level is also higher, with a focus on skill development and better games. In contrast, recreational softball and little league are typically more low-stakes, low-cost, and less competitive.

Little League Softball : Little League Softball offers a fun learning experience for young players. It provides an opportunity for children to develop their skills in a supportive and less competitive environment.

Travel softball: Travel softball takes place throughout the year, with club practices and weekend competitions. These weekend trips often involve multiple games. Winners are determined through double-elimination bracket play, adding an extra level of competitiveness to the games.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of playing travel softball compared to recreational softball.

Playing travel softball offers benefits such as enhanced skill development and increased competition compared to recreational softball. It provides players with opportunities to excel, reach higher levels, and participate in intense weekend tournaments, fostering growth and improvement in their abilities.

How can former players contribute to starting a new travel softball team?

Former players can contribute to starting a new travel softball team by serving as role models for athletes, assisting in recruiting new members, and sharing their expertise and experiences. Their involvement enhances team development and fosters a sense of camaraderie.

What are some effective fundraising activities for travel softball teams?

Some effective fundraising strategies for travel softball teams include organizing car washes, flower sales, and golf tournaments. Community involvement is crucial for the success of these activities and can help mitigate team expenses.

How can networking with local athletic organizations help promote a travel softball team?

Networking with local athletic organizations can provide advantages in promoting a travel softball team. Local partnerships can help attract interested players, increase visibility through word-of-mouth, and potentially collaborate on events or resources to enhance the team’s exposure in the community.

What are the key differences between travel softball and little league softball in terms of time commitment and competition level?

Travel softball requires a higher time commitment compared to little league softball, as it involves year-round club practices and weekend competitions. Additionally, travel softball offers a higher competition level with more intense games and better quality of play.

In conclusion, starting a travel softball team requires careful planning and consideration.

Firstly, it is important to understand the age groupings in softball and place players accordingly.

Recruiting dedicated coaches and volunteers is crucial for player development.

Creating a budget and financial plan, including fundraising campaigns and sponsorships, is necessary to cover expenses.

Clear communication of pricing structure is important for parents.

Advertising and recruiting new members is essential.

Proper equipment, apparel, and insurance are necessary for player safety.

Networking with local athletic organizations and utilizing social media can help promote the team’s success.

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Local travel softball team wins national title in florida.

Valley Extreme, a travel softball team made of players from northeast Ohio won a national title in the USSSA Space Coast World Series this past week in Melbourne, Florida. Kneeling (left to right): Lauren Fife, Sammy Aey, Jensen Sminchak, Brooke Brodie. Standing (left to right): Alex Dusman, Desi Allen, Hannah Baker, Madison Angelo, Emma Gumont, Brooke Whitt, Aryana Hartman.

With multiple state champions and a long line of collegiate players, the Mahoning Valley has had a long history of success in softball over the years.

The talent pool is deep.

A local travel ball team, Valley Extreme, just added to that list, winning a national title in the USSSA Space Coast World Series, in Melbourne, Florida this past week. As a team, they hit for a .526 batting average, with a slugging percentage of .786, and ran a rotation of four pitchers who all thrived in the heat according to coach Joe Angelo.

“It was certainly all positive,” Angelo, who also coaches at Canfield High School, said. “The girls got to play in a great complex, and they performed exceptionally well. The defense was solid, pitching was solid and our batting and our offense was phenomenal. It was an exciting week, that’s for sure.”

The Valley Extreme 18U team features 12 girls from across northeast Ohio. Seven of the girls, Sammy Aey (Austintown Fitch), Madison Angelo (Canfield), Lauren Fife, Emma Gumont, Brooke Whitt (Champion), Desi Allen, and Aryana Hartman (LaBrae) all represent schools from the area.

Aey, who attended Lakeview this past year, will be attending Fitch this upcoming year.

The roster isn’t limited to Mahoning Valley players however as Andrews Osborne Academy, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Smithville and Uniontown Lake are also represented on the roster.

Despite the players being from all over northeast Ohio, the group couldn’t be closer according to Canfield junior Madison Angelo.

“Playing together is one thing, but then when we’re at the hotels and just not on the field, we’re like sisters, we’re best friends and we just have a bunch of fun,” Angelo said.

“We went to the beaches, we hung out, and we went to dinners. We just explored the town and tried new foods. Experiencing that with them was a really big deal.

“We all love each other on and off the field and that doesn’t change and it won’t change for the years to come.”

Gumont, Fife and Whitt, are no strangers to success in the softball realm. They all won two state titles with Champion and they now have a national title as well.

Travel ball provides plenty of differences from the high school game, but for Gumont, who is continuing her softball career at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, her and her teams just did what they do and it paid off.

“Honestly being in the heat and playing against teams that you’ve never even heard of,” she said about the unique challenges of travel ball. “We’ve played teams from Illinois, there was a team from Canada there, but no matter who the team is, we just go in there and do our thing. We kick butt everywhere we go and just pick each other up.”

The team was originally supposed to go to the tournament last season but they were unable due to COVID. That just lit an extra spark under the team as they stepped onto the field this year.

“We were already looking forward to going this summer,” Gumont said. “Because we’ve come so far, we were obviously like, ‘We have to win it, like we didn’t come all this way for nothing,’ and I really think that everybody came out every single day and gave it their all. I think that’s what really put us through.”

For Madison Angelo, a rising senior at Canfield, this summer has taught her to enjoy the ride because you don’t get to play with the same girls forever.

“I shouldn’t take one moment with them for granted because a lot of them are leaving and I won’t get to play with them ever again once the summer is up,” she said. “Just enjoying the moments we had together, the little victories here and there. It was just a really big moment for all of us. We were just living our lives and having fun with it.”

Thankfully for her, Valley Extreme still has a few more games left with two additional tournaments this month.

Next up, the team goes down to Columbus for the Fastpitch Showdown World Series July 16 through 18.

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Huge N.J. baseball complex where Anthony Volpe starred sold to new sports company

A massive youth baseball and softball complex in Hunterdon County used by private travel teams throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic has been sold, officials announced. Diamond Nation in Raritan Township hosts more than 3,000 teams and 45,000 players annually and lists several major leaguers, including Anthony Volpe and Mike Trout, among those that once played on its fields or trained at the facility. The sports complex has been acquired by Unrivaled Sports, a new company that launched last month and already operates a wide range of youth sports properties across...

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Cotter Dominates Lewiston-Altura in Baseball and Softball Matches

Cotter secured victories in both baseball and softball against Lewiston-Altura , with the baseball team winning 7-2 and the softball team winning 8-4. Ramblers' Dane Guzzo impressed in baseball with eight strikeouts, while Katelyn Ubl stood out in softball with a double, a triple, and four RBI. In other sports news, Rushford-Peterson golf team won against Wabasha-Kellogg, and Winona triumphed over Rochester Century in girls' golf.

• Cotter baseball: 2-2 overall, 2-2 conference
• Lewiston-Altura baseball: 1-2 overall, 1-2 conference
• Cotter softball: 4-0 overall, 4-0 conference
• Lewiston-Altura softball: 0-3 overall, 0-3 conference
• Rushford-Peterson golf: Trojans beat Wabasha-Kellogg with top 4 spots on the leaderboard
• Winona girls' golf: Winona defeated Rochester Century by 15 strokes
• Cotter baseball and softball teams are performing well in both overall and conference standings.
• Rushford-Peterson's golf team showcased a dominant performance, securing top positions in their match.
• Winona girls' golf team continues to excel, securing a comfortable win over Rochester Century.

Next steps involve the teams preparing for upcoming matches to maintain their strong performances and standings in their respective sports.

Cotter shines in baseball and softball victories, while Rushford-Peterson and Winona excel in golf competitions, showcasing strength across multiple sports.

The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI

Winona Daily News • Daily News staff

Local sports roundup: Cotter beats Lewiston-Altura in both baseball and softball

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Local Baseball, Softball, and Soccer Teams in Action

Numerous local and area sports teams are slated for action today (April 9 th ).

Starting with baseball, Manitowoc Lincoln will try to start the season 2-0 as they travel to Plymouth, while Manitowoc Lutheran tries to bounce back from a season-opening loss as they host Random Lake.

Meanwhile, Roncalli opens its season in New Holstein, Two Rivers looks for its first win of the year in Brillion, Kiel hosts Valders, and Chilton is on the road for Sheboygan Falls.

Elsewhere, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah is on the road for Kohler/Sheboygan Christian, Luxemburg Casco hosts Marinette, and Denmark is home for Little Chute.

Also on tap, Wrightstown is in Freedom, Green Bay East/West makes the short trip to Green Bay Southwest, West De Pere is in Menasha, Appleton East is on the road for Kimberly, Appleton North is at Oshkosh West, Appleton West is in Hortonville, and Sevastopol invades Gibraltar.

In girls’ softball, Manitowoc Lincoln will try for their first win of the season at home against De Pere, Two Rivers will try to even their record at 3-3 as they travel to Sheboygan Falls, and Valders is in Kiel.

Elsewhere, Cedar Grove-Belgium is at Living Word Lutheran, Plymouth hosts Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Howards Grove is at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, Bay Port invades Sheboygan North, while Sheboygan South hosts Notre Dame.

Also, Luxemburg-Casco is set to host Seymour, Denmark is at Marinette, West De Pere is home for Xavier, Green Bay Southwest welcomes Pulaski to town, Green Bay West/East defends their home diamond against New London, and Appleton West, East and North are all on the road in Hortonville, Kimberly, and Oshkosh West respectively.

There are also several girls soccer games on the calendar. Manitowoc Lincoln is set to host Denmark while Roncalli invades Sheboygan Falls, and Valders is in New Holstein.

Elsewhere, Cedar Grove-Belgium is invading Howards Grove, Ozaukee/Random Lake is set to host Lomira, Plymouth is home for Kewaskum, and Kohler hosts Mayville.

Also, Wrightstown is set to battle Ashwaubenon at the home of the Jaguars, Green Bay west is invading Shawano, Green Bay East is defending their pitch against New London,  Green Bay Preble is hosting Stevens Point, Menasha is in West De Pere, De Pere is home for Fox Valley Lutheran, Oshkosh North is at Appleton North, while Appleton East and West are on the road for Fond du Lac and Kimberly respectively.

Huge N.J. baseball complex where Anthony Volpe starred sold to new sports company

A massive youth baseball and softball complex in Hunterdon County used by private travel teams throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic has been sold, officials announced.

Diamond Nation in Raritan Township hosts more than 3,000 teams and 45,000 players annually and lists several major leaguers, including Anthony Volpe and Mike Trout, among those that once played on its fields or trained at the facility.

The sports complex has been acquired by Unrivaled Sports, a new company that launched last month and already operates a wide range of youth sports properties across the nation, according to a joint statement from both companies.

Diamond Nation spans 65 acres and features five regular-sized baseball fields, two other fields, and an indoor training facility, and hosts tournaments on most weekends in the spring, summer and fall.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“With the addition of Diamond Nation, we are enhancing our commitment to youth baseball and softball, building on the legacies of the Ripken Experiences and Cooperstown All Star Village,” Wade Martin, CEO of Unrivaled Sports’ baseball division, said in a statement.

“Diamond Nation will play a major role in advancing our vision of shaping young athletes through elite training, operational excellence, and memorable experiences,” Martin said.

Volpe, the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees since 2023, played for the Diamond Jacks, a club team based at Diamond Nation.

Diamond Nation was founded in 2009 by Jack Cust Sr. and his family members, including former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jack Cust III.

“This partnership is a continuation of our family’s vision for Diamond Nation,” Cust Sr. said in a statement. “Our players and families will benefit tremendously from the additional resources available through a national effort to enhance the youth sports landscape.”

Unrivaled Sports said that the “the Cust family will continue to play a vital role in its operations moving forward.”

In addition to Trout, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels, others major leaguers who played at Diamond Nation include retired major leaguers Rick Porcello and Anthony Ranaudo.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at [email protected] .

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

This Week in Eddy County Sports: Carlsbad baseball and softball begin district play

The Carlsbad Cavemen baseball team opens district play at home this week and Cavegirl softball is back in action after a long break.

Cavemen head into league play on winning note

At 5 p.m. Thursday at Carlsbad High School, the Cavemen start District 5-4A action against Clovis High School.

The last time the Cavemen played at home was March 14-16 during the Cavemen Classic. Carlsbad is 11-6 heading into league play.

At 4:30 p.m. Friday at Clovis High School, the Cavemen play the Wildcats in a doubleheader.

More: Carlsbad High pitcher Hazen Wright scores win earning Prep Hero of the Week award

Cavegirls start league play on road

At 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Clovis Carlsbad starts District 5-4A action against Clovis.

At 4:30 p.m. Friday in Carlsbad, the Cavegirls host Roswell in a district doubleheader.

Carlsbad’s last action was March 28-30 at a tournament in Rio Rancho.

Carlsbad golf teams return to Roswell this week

At 9 a.m. Tuesday at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, the Cavemen and Cavegirls participate in the Roswell Independent School District Invitational.

Carlsbad track teams host and travel this week

At 3 p.m. Tuesday at Carlsbad High School, the Cavemen and Cavegirls host the Ralph Bowyer Qualifier.

At 3 p.m. Friday in Clovis, the track and field teams participate in the Wildcat Relays.

Loving baseball starts district play on road

At 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Jal, the Falcons tangle with the Jal Panthers in the District 2-4A opener in a doubleheader. Loving is 10-2 overall this season.

Loving softball seeks to remain unbeaten in district action

At 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Eunice, Loving faces the Cardinals in a doubleheader.

Loving is 6-0 in District 2-4A play and dominated Eunice in a March doubleheader winning 11-0 and 13-3.

Loving track and field teams seeing dual action this week

At 3 p.m. Tuesday at Carlsbad High School, the track and field teams participate in the Ralph Bowyer Qualifier.

At 3 p.m. Friday in Eunice, the track and field teams participate in the WA Goodman Relays.

Artesia baseball looks to stop losing streak in league opener

At 4 p.m. Tuesday in Portales, Artesia starts District 4-4A action against the Rams in a doubleheader.

Artesia is on a four-game losing streak going into the league opener against Portales.

At 5 p.m. Thursday in Artesia, the Bulldogs host the Rams in a single game.

Artesia softball team home for district games this week

At 5 p.m. Tuesday in Artesia, Goddard visits for the District 4-4A opener.

At 5 p.m. Friday in Artesia, Lovington comes to town for a district doubleheader. Artesia finished non-league play with an 11-5 record.

More: Artesia softball pitcher Kat Marquez wins Current-Argus Prep Hero of the Week Award

Artesia track and field participates in two meets this week

At 3 p.m. Tuesday in Carlsbad, Artesia competes in the Ralph Bowyer Qualifier.

At 3 p.m. Friday in Clovis, the track and field teams see action in the Wildcat Relays.

Tennis travels to Roswell

At 3 p.m. Tuesday at New Mexico Military Institute, Artesia’s tennis teams face the Colts in dual matches.

Artesia golf teams participate in tournaments this week

At 9 a.m. Tuesday in Roswell, both teams see action in the Roswell Independent School District Invitational. The boys are playing at New Mexico Military Institute and the girls are participating at the Spring River golf course.

At 9 a.m. Thursday in Lovington, the golf teams play in the Lovington Invitational.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at  [email protected]  or  @ArgusMichae  on X, formerly known as Twitter .

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• >> Nevada Preps
• >> Softball

No. 5 Liberty fends off No. 4 Centennial in softball — PHOTOS

Liberty defeated Centennial in a high school softball game Monday. Here are photos from the game.

Liberty, No. 5 in the Review-Journal’s Class 5A rankings , held on for a 3-2 road win over No. 4 Centennial in a high school softball game at Majestic Park Monday.

Liberty (9-5, 1-3 5A Mountain League) next hosts No. 3 Palo Verde at 3:30 p.m. Friday, and Centennial (15-9-1, 0-4) hosts No. 1 Coronado at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Contact Alex Wright at [email protected]. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.

Check out the scores and top performances from Monday’s high school baseball, softball and boys volleyball action.

Basic, which announced last week coach Scott Baker was no longer with the team, is the new No. 1 baseball team in the Review-Journal’s Class 5A rankings.

Check out the scores and top performances from Friday’s high school baseball and softball action.

Check out the scores and top performances from Thursday’s high school baseball, softball and boys volleyball action.

Check out the scores and top performances from Wednesday’s high school baseball, softball and boys volleyball action.

Check out the scores and top performances from Tuesday’s high school baseball, softball and boys volleyball action.

Coronado, No. 1 in the Review-Journal’s Class 5A rankings, claimed a road win over Liberty in a high school softball game Tuesday. Here are photos from the game.

Legacy sophomore Madison Castellon had 10 RBIs in the Longhorns’ two wins last week to earn Nevada Preps Girls Athlete of the Week honors.

There’s a new No. 1 team in the Review-Journal’s Class 5A softball rankings. See who got the top spot and where teams fell in baseball and boys volleyball.

Delaware Valley baseball and softball teams deep into preparations for spring season

MILFORD — Delaware Valley struggled a bit on the high school diamond last year as wins were tough to come by in the always-rugged Lackawanna League.

The Warriors posted a 5-9 record in varsity baseball action, finishing tied for fifth in the Division I standings. The Lady Warriors had an even tougher time on the softball field, going 2-12 and winding up just two games out of the divisional basement.

This year, however, local fans are optimistic as a talented young group of student-athletes has DV fans hoping for a dramatic reversal of fortune.

More: Honesdale varsity baseball team entering a new era this spring

Also by Kevin Edwards: Western Wayne baseball team will look to challenge for a division title this spring

Hope springs eternal

Mike Murray takes over as varsity baseball skipper this season after spending the previous 12 as an assistant. He believes that the Warriors will be genuine contenders in 2024.

Leading the charge on the field for DV this year will be seniors Lawson Hawke, Keaton Phillips and Luke Kraszewski.

“This is a new start for me,” Murray said. “I’ve coached a lot of these kids, but some of them I haven’t really seen since middle school. I’m looking forward to the season. We have a veteran team with a bunch of returning seniors and that’s exciting.”

With veteran coach Frank Jordan calling the shots, the Lady Warriors are looking to climb back up the Division I standings and possibly make some noise when the district tournament rolls around.

DV will be led by senior shortstop Avery Calvario and junior second sacker Dakota Jordan, a pair of seasoned players who are expected to provide leadership on and off the diamond this spring.

“We’ve definitely struggled the past few seasons, but I’m excited about our prospects this year,” Jordan said. “We’re still a young team, but we have a nice mix of kids who get along really well and work hard every day.”

Weather permitting, DV will be back in action on Wednesday, April 3 for Opening Day of the Lackawanna League campaign.

Both teams will hit the road for an away game at Scranton Prep. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m. in the Electric City.

Delaware Valley went 9-11 overall on the varsity baseball diamond last year.

The Warriors earned a four seed in the District 2 Class 6A tournament and were eliminated by top-ranked Hazleton Area in the quarterfinals.

“We’re definitely a senior-heavy team this year,” said the newly-appointed Murray. “But we also have nice chemistry and a good mix of younger players too. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this team can do.”

Murray brought Lawson Hawke, Luke Kraszewski and Keaton Phillips with him to the second annual Bill Howerton Media Day. The event was held March 2 at PNC Field in Moosic and attracted more than 40 teams from both the Lackawanna League and Wyoming Valley Conference.

Hawke is a battle-tested veteran who makes key contributions at shortstop and as a hitter. Last spring he was among the team leaders in batting average (.339), hits (20) and runs scored (12).

“Lawson is a great leader,” Murray said. “He’s a good solid defender and does a lot of damage by getting on-base consistently.”

Kraszewski relies on speed and quickness both in center field and in the bases. Another member of a talented senior class, Kraszewski is coming off a season in which he batted .343 with 24 hits, 21 runs scored and nine RBIs.

“Luke is going to be our lead-off man,” Murray said. “When he gets on base, things really start to happen. Luke is an excellent outfielder. He turns doubles into outs.”

Phillips is also a senior who figures to make a serious impact as a third baseman and pitcher. However, it’s his power at the plate that really stands out. Last year, Phillips hit .292 with 11 runs scored and a team-best 17 RBIs.

“Keaton will probably be batting clean-up for us,” Murray said. “He has a tremendous amount of power to all fields. I’m also expecting Keaton to provide us with some key innings as a relief pitcher.”

Young and exciting

Delaware Valley’s varsity softball team finished up the 2023 season with an overall record of 2-18.

The Lady Warriors ended up fourth in the District 2 power rankings, but were eliminated in the first round of the Class 6A tournament. It’s a performance Murray hopes to improve upon this year.

The current team will rely heavily on the two players who represented DV at Media Day. Calvario and Jordan anchor the infield and should provide a formidable double play combination.

Calvario will be starting at shortstop for the fourth straight year. She boasts a solid glove, good range and a strong arm. She’ll likely bat either second or third in the order and is coming off a season in which she was among the team leaders in runs scored and RBIs.

“Avery is just a good solid all-around ballplayer,” Jordan said. “She’s pretty versatile offensively, so I feel comfortable moving her up and down the order. Avery will do anything she can to help the team.”

Jordan is a three year member of the varsity and in her second season as a starter. She’s known for her speed and heads-up base running. Jordan was tied for second on the team in runs scored as a sophomore.

“One of the things I really like about Dakota is her work ethic,” Jordan said. “She works hard every day to get better, especially as a hitter. Dakota is an excellent defensive second baseman.”

Ayala softball team holds off Bonita to remain…

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Ayala softball team holds off bonita to remain unbeaten in palomares league.

CHINO HILLS — Ayala junior softball pitcher Allie Lukaszewicsz was outstanding in the circle for the Bulldogs on Monday, but she needed the help of her defense.

With runners on first and third and one out in the seventh inning, Ayala first baseman Taelor Walker caught Leah Reynolds’ line drive and tagged first base for a game-ending double play that secured a 2-1 Bulldogs’ win over Bonita in a Palomares League game.

“That was crazy,” Lukaszewicsz said.

“I thought both teams played exceptionally,” Ayala coach John Ameluxen said. “I told my kids I just appreciated being a part of it.”

The victory all but clinched the Palomares League title for Ayala (17-3 overall, 11-0 in league) over Bonita (18-6, 8-3). Each team has four league games remaining. The teams face each other for the final time Friday at Bonita’s home field at Las Flores Park, but the Bulldogs have won the first two meetings.

“These kids are dreaming of an undefeated league season,” Ameluxen said. “Last year, we lost the last game of the year to Glendora, and we were 14-1 in league. That has irked them.”

“This was like a playoff game for us,” Bonita coach Darren Baumunk said. “They’re in our (CIF Southern Section) division. They’re going to be a top-four, top-five team. I think if we can play (in the playoffs) like we did in this game, which could have gone either way, then we’re right there with the top of our division.”

The Pittsburgh-committed Lukaszewicsz allowed five hits, walked one and struck out one. In addition to the game-ender, the Bulldogs also turned double plays to finish the Bearcats in the second and fourth innings.

“I think the defense in this game really helped me out,” Lukaszewicsz said. “I can only do so much for the team, but having that defense to back me up is really helpful.”

Ayala got on the scoreboard first, scoring both of their runs in the third inning. Jasmine Peralez led off with a single, Ryanna Alano reached on a bunt single and Walker walked to load the bases with no outs.

Bonita pitcher Kaitlyn Maaske nearly wriggled out of the jam by striking out McKenzy Becerra and getting Marisa Dominguez to ground into a fielder’s choice that forced Peralez out at home.

But Lilana Acosta followed with a two-run single to center that gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.

“She’s a sophomore and just squared the ball up the middle,” Ameluxen said. “That’s what she does.”

“I told the team and I told Kaitlyn that was on me,” Baumunk said. “I was thinking about throwing another pitch but I changed my mind. I think it would’ve been a different outcome. But you have to give her credit for that base hit.”

Bonita answered in the next half inning when Skyy Hicks hit a one-out single and Koa Kuppe doubled to left to send Hicks to third. Ryan Torres followed with a hard grounder just to Lukaszewicsz’s right. She deflected it, but couldn’t make a play and Bonita’s first run scored. But with the tying and go-ahead runs on base, a grounder to second turned into the second inning-ending double play for Ayala.

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