travel softball gear

11 Essential Tips for Flying with Your Softball Gear

Last updated on July 25, 2023

If you’re an avid softball player, traveling with your gear can be a hassle, especially if you’re flying. From bats to gloves to protective gear, it can be challenging to pack everything you need while ensuring that your equipment stays safe and secure during transit. However, with a little bit of planning and preparation, you can make the process much more manageable.

In this article, we’ve put together several essential tips to help you fly with your softball gear stress-free. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a beginner, these tips will help you pack your equipment efficiently, protect it during transit, and ensure that you arrive at your destination ready to play.

So, whether you’re traveling for a tournament or just a weekend game, read on to discover our top tips for flying with softball gear.

• 1.1 Check Airline Regulations
• 1.2 Choose the Right Bag
• 1.3 Pack Wisely
• 2.1 Wrap Delicate Items
• 2.2 Label Your Bag
• 2.3 Secure Your Bag
• 2.4 Consider Insurance
• 3.1 Arrive Early
• 4.1 Stow Your Bag Properly
• 4.2 Keep Important Items with You
• 4.3 Ask for Assistance if Needed
• 5 Can You Bring Softball Equipment on a Plane?
• 6 How Do You Pack a Softball Bat for Flying?
• 7 Conclusion

Packing Softball Gear

If you’re planning to fly with your softball gear, there are a few things you need to know to make the process as smooth as possible. Here’s how you can make sure to be ready while you’re still at home.

Check Airline Regulations

Before you start packing, make sure you check the airline regulations. Each airline has its own rules and restrictions when it comes to sports equipment, so it’s important to know what you can and cannot bring. Some airlines allow you to bring your softball gear as part of your checked baggage, while others require you to pay an extra fee for oversized or overweight items . Make sure you know the weight and size limits for your gear and pack accordingly.

Choose the Right Bag

Choosing the right bag is crucial when it comes to packing your softball gear for a flight. You want to make sure your gear is protected and secure during transport. A good option is a rolling duffel bag with wheels, as it’s easy to maneuver and has plenty of space for your gear. Make sure the bag is sturdy and durable, with reinforced seams and zippers. You can also consider using a hard-sided case for extra protection.

Pack Wisely

When it comes to packing your softball gear, it’s important to be organized and strategic. Start by packing your heaviest items at the bottom of the bag, such as your bat and cleats . Then, layer your softer items on top, such as your gloves, balls, and batting helmet. Use packing cubes or compression bags to maximize space and keep everything organized. Don’t forget to label your bag with your name and contact information in case it gets lost or misplaced.

Another tip is to pack a small carry-on bag with your essentials, such as your uniform, toiletries, and snacks. This way, if your checked bag gets lost or delayed, you’ll still have everything you need for your game.

Protecting Softball Gear

If you’re flying with your softball gear, it’s important to take steps to ensure that your equipment arrives at your destination safely. Here are some tips to help you protect your gear:

Wrap Delicate Items

Softball gear can be delicate, so it’s important to take extra care when packing it. Use bubble wrap or foam padding to wrap your helmet, shin guards, and other fragile items. This will help protect them from damage during transport. You can also use towels or clothing to provide extra padding.

Label Your Bag

Make sure to label your bag with your name, address, and phone number. This will help ensure that your bag is returned to you if it gets lost. You can also add a luggage tag with your contact information for extra protection.

Secure Your Bag

Softball bags can be heavy and awkward to carry, so it’s important to make sure that your bag is secure. Use a luggage strap or bungee cord to keep your bag from opening during transport. This will also help prevent your gear from falling out of your bag.

Consider Insurance

If you’re traveling with expensive softball gear, it may be worth considering insurance. Many airlines offer baggage insurance for an additional fee. This can provide peace of mind in case your gear is lost, stolen, or damaged during transport.

At the Airport

When you’re traveling with softball gear, getting through the airport can be a bit of a hassle. Here are a few tips to make the process as smooth as possible:

Arrive Early

It’s always a good idea to arrive at the airport early, but when you’re traveling with sports equipment, it’s especially important. You’ll need to check in your gear and get it through security, which can take some time. Give yourself plenty of time to get everything done without feeling rushed.

On the Plane

Once you are on the plane, you want to make sure your softball gear is properly stowed and you have all your important items with you. Here are a few tips:

Stow Your Bag Properly

Make sure your softball bag is properly stowed in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. If you have a soft-sided bag, consider packing a “stiff arm” to absorb some of the impact from the bag being thrown around during the flight. If you have a hard-sided bag, make sure it is securely closed and locked.

Keep Important Items with You

Always keep your important items such as your glove, uniform, cleats, and any other necessary equipment with you in your carry-on bag. You can always borrow or buy a new bat if the airline loses your checked luggage.

Ask for Assistance if Needed

If you need assistance with stowing your bag or getting your gear on the plane, don’t hesitate to ask the flight attendants for help. They are there to assist you and make your flight as comfortable as possible.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your softball gear arrives safely and securely at your destination.

Can You Bring Softball Equipment on a Plane?

Some, but definitely not your bat! The TSA says , “sports equipment that can be used as a bludgeon (such as bats and clubs) is prohibited in the cabin of the plane and must be transported in your checked baggage.”

How Do You Pack a Softball Bat for Flying?

You need to ensure it’s protected and securely packed to prevent damage and adhere to airline baggage policies. So put it in either your gear bag or diagonally inside a suitcase, if it fits. Wrap or pad the bat to make sure it doesn’t get damaged during transportation.

Yeah, it’s annoying to travel with extra equipment and gear. With many components to consider, such as bats, gloves, and protective equipment, it is crucial to pack efficiently and securely to ensure your gear remains safe during transit. By being prepared and following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can make the process much more manageable and stress-free.

Softball Ace is THE online hub for all things softball. Since 2017, we’ve created insightful reviews on softball equipment like gloves and bats, but also provide fun and comprehensive education on softball culture, training tips, and softball-related advice.

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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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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 to Gear Up for Travel Softball

Gear up for travel softball without breaking the bank.

28 Sep 2020

It’s time for travel softball! Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the travel ball scene or you just made the team (congrats!), you’ll need to dust off your cleats and get geared up for the season ahead. It’s well known that travel ball can be expensive; from player fees to gate fees, travel costs, training, lessons, camps, and clinics…the costs add up quickly and you’ll want to look for ways to save money wherever you can.

Despite the expense, there’s no disputing that travel ball is beneficial and valuable. For players wanting to reach a certain degree of success, being on a travel ball team can be crucial. Being on a travel team gives athletes a chance to play against better competition and pushes them to improve each and every game. Players become part of a team family and they learn the true meaning of teamwork. They work hard for their successes and they learn that they can be pulled in the middle of a game if they’re not performing well. There are difficult and valuable lessons to be learned in travel ball that won’t be learned elsewhere; the rigorous schedule and tightly bonded comradery can’t be replaced in a rec league. For those wanting college scholarships or to compete at the highest levels, travel ball is a must for the exposure it provides.

For all these reasons and more, travel ball is worth every penny. But after you pay your dues and other expenses you’ll still need to buy apparel and equipment, so saving money while still getting the best gear is a surefire home run. 3N2 has everything to get you geared up for travel softball at prices that will make you feel like you’ve just stolen a base. Here’s what you’ll need to be ready to hit the road without breaking the bank:

Team Uniforms

Most travel teams include uniforms in their player fees. To help keep player fees down have your coach or team manager check out 3N2’s Team Packages . With 3N2, your entire team can get head-to-toe custom packages that will have you winning in style at prices that will make everyone feel like a champion. From hats and jerseys to socks and cleats, your whole look can be customized with limitless colors and materials. You’ll be sporting a one of a kind uniform that will turn heads as you round the bases. We’ll even set you up with an online team locker where players and fans can buy uniforms, gear, and spirit wear so everyone will know when your team has arrived.

Softball Pants 

Even if your team provides uniform pants, you’ll still want to buy some pants to wear during practices and scrimmages. 3N2’s NuFit Knickers are the best softball pants on the market, hands-down. With an innovative design that marries form and function, the NuFit Knicker features 4-way stretch fabric in the places that need it most so you can move freely and comfortably every time you take the field. Added double-ply poly in high abrasion areas protect your pants – and your skin – from scratches and cuts when you’re sliding into bases, while the yoga pant-inspired fit will make you wonder how you ever wore anything else. Available as a stock item and also in our Team Packages, the NuFit Knicker will be your new favorite piece of softball apparel.

Your cleats may be the most important component of your softball gear. Performing at your best means having comfortable, dry feet in shoes that can handle running, stopping, and changing direction quickly. The latest in 3N2’s arsenal of fastpitch cleats, the DOM-N-8 Fastpitch Cleat features a revolutionary ankle stabilization system with cushioned ankle collar, rugged TPU bumper at the toe for added protection, and a ShimmerStep iridescent logo mark that shimmers like a diamond as you outshine the competition. At $89.99, you’ll dominate the game AND your budget.

Comfortable Slides or Sneakers

You’ll need some comfy shoes to change into after a long day on the field. Wearing your cleats off the diamond is not only dangerous and uncomfortable, it also causes damage to surfaces, floors, and your cleats themselves. Slides and sneakers are great for going to and from games and for the always popular post-game dinners.

3N2’s K-NIT Trainer will have you walking on clouds as you leave the diamond. Ultra-lightweight, super cushiony, and made of breathable fabric, the K-NIT Trainer is everything you’ll want at the end of game day. Made of supportive woven yarn and featuring BOUNCEBACK technology in the midsole, this shoe provides plenty of structure while also cushioning your foot. Our KZONE sockliner is moisture-wicking to keep your tootsies cool and dry. The proprietary HYPER-LIFT insole sports memory foam to pamper your feet with every step. In addition to being your go-to feel-good shoe, the K-NIT trainer is perfect for jogging or running for the conditioning portion of your training. Offered at a stellar price point, the K-NIT trainer ensures you’ll have money left over for all the tournament t-shirts you know you’ll want.

Practice Shorts

Practice shorts are a staple in every player’s travel ball wardrobe. They’re perfect for practice, for lounging, and for changing into when you’re ready to take off your sweaty uniform. 3N2’s practice shorts are designed with the female figure in mind, with mesh venting to keep you cool and Polyzone fabric to keep you dry and comfortable. At such a low price, you can get enough of these for every day you’ll be on the road plus an extra pair just in case.

Slider Shorts

Designed to give you added protection when sliding into bases, slider shorts are an excellent addition to your softball apparel. Wear these under your practice shorts or pants or under your uniform. Made of moisture wicking poly-spandex, 3N2’s Slider Shorts help you stay comfortable and protected at practice and during games at a price that will make you feel like you just slid into home.

A Bag For all Your Stuff

Once you get all your gear and apparel, where should you put everything? There’s a lot of travel in travel ball (imagine that!) so you’ll want a big bag or two help hold everything you’re taking along. It’s smart to get more than one bag so you have one to take to and from the field with you and one for all of your other clothes, toiletries, and other items. 3N2’s NuFit Infinity Bat Pack is fantastic for all your gear while being easy on your wallet. Its straightforward, yoga-inspired design makes it easy to stash your stuff inside, with a large main compartment that’s big enough for your helmet, glove, and other essentials. Two handy exterior bat holsters keep your hands free while a fleece lined pocket gives you a place to safely tuck valuables. Thoughtfully designed padded straps are interchangeable so you can comfortably carry your bag on either shoulder. A built-in swivel hook up top allows you to hang your bag on the dugout fence, while the bottom hook makes a great place to hang your glove or helmet.  Rugged fabric and space for screen printing or embroidery rounds this one out, making it a great bag for holding a lot of stuff.

3N2 Is Ready to Get You Geared Up

When you’re ready to get on the road, stop first at 3N2 Sports to get all you’ll need for a stellar season. Our prices are already in a league of their own, but our Sale Page offers items at even lower prices to get you hooked up while staying in your budget.

Here’s to a great season of travel softball!

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How to Start a Travel Softball Team

*Note: products listed on Bases Loaded Softball are selected by our softball players, coaches, and team of enthusiast writers and editors. Buying softball products through our links may earn us a commission with no additional cost to you.

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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Is Travel Softball Worth it? Here are the Pros and Cons

If you are thinking of considering enrolling your child in the unique and exciting experience of travel softball, or wondering if travel softball is worth it, you have landed in the right place because we want to help you make this huge decision.

Travel softball is one of the best ways for your child to improve her gameplay– but that’s not all that comes along with it. There are countless advantages softball players can reap from being a part of such an experience.

However, before you hastily sign up, you need to know what to expect for you, your family, and your child. We have created an extensive list of pros and cons of joining travel softball, including purchasing the expensive yet important gear, like youth softball bats , to the unequivocal camaraderie and emotional growth.

What is Travel Softball? Travel softball (often referred to as “club softball” as well) is a competitive softball league where teams from different areas compete against each other. This is considered the next “step up” from recreational softball. It is more intensive in skill level, amount of commitment, and amount of playtime.

There are varying distances teams travel along with age groups depending on the program. Some teams only travel to compete with nearby communities or across the country. The Pros and Cons

In order to best help you make this decision, we advise you to first not only rely on the words of parents who chose to or chose not to have their child join travel softball. Every child is different, as is every family, so you will need to base your decision on your own unique family and child.

Alongside this consideration, you should also be aware of the many pros and cons of your daughter joining club softball.

Pros of Travel Softball

● Camaraderie and Friendship The level of team-building and camaraderie in travel softball is unmatchable. This is because your daughter will spend a ton of time with her teammates during practices, games, traveling, and even hotel stays. Your daughter will learn some key social skills as well as potentially make life-long friends!

● Improved Emotional Intelligence Travel softball not only improves social skills but also emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Playing any sport is a means of balancing humility and confidence. Players experience moments of beaming self-pride along with more embarrassing moments.

During this experience, they will learn a lot about themselves, learn how to handle stress, make sacrifices for the good of their team, and overall gain some serious life experience.

●Learn Time Management Skills Travel ball requires a lot of free time but also teaches players how to properly balance it along with school, other extracurricular activities, family, and social life. Because of this, they learn valuable time management skills they can utilize throughout their lives.

● Physical Exercise Proper physical exercise is key for all people, including children and teenagers. When your child is involved in travel softball, they will be getting a lot of physical exercise, which will make their bodies significantly stronger and healthier.

● Improve Softball Skills Since travel ball players play the sport more often than they would in rec ball, they will vastly improve their gameplay!

● Experience New Places and Meet New People Traveling to new and exciting places can lead to a more well-rounded understanding of the world around us and to a more generally open mind.

The Cons of Travel Softball ●Quite Expensive One of the biggest drawbacks of travel softball is the hefty price tag. The price of paying for a year of travel softball could be anywhere from $500 to $5,000.

This price includes dues, uniform(s), and some pieces of equipment (if they are provided, which happens most times). However, this price may not include some pretty expensive items, like other important gear (like youth softball bats , which can cost about $300 roughly), hotel stays, gas, restaurant bills, sports drinks, and other miscellaneous purchases.

● Extremely Time-Demanding Playing in travel softball requires major sacrifices, including your time. There are varying amounts of practices per week, tournaments and games almost every weekend, a lot of traveling to both practices and games, and even time needed for private lessons.

● Added Stress to the Player and Player’s Family With any large change in a person’s life, tacking on travel softball could lead to a lot of stress– for both the player and the entire family. There is also the likelihood of not getting the experience you wanted, like not getting along with the players or coach, not as much game time and more bench time, etc.

● The “Travel” in “Travel Softball” Is No Joke There is a reason it is referred to as “travel” softball. There is indeed a lot of travel involved with playing and that can take a toll on a lot of people who don’t like traveling or already have a very busy schedule.

One of the biggest steps you need to take when joining a travel softball team is to get the right equipment if it isn’t supplied to you by the organization you choose. Be sure to browse our youth softball bats , helmets, apparel, and various other pieces of equipment to make the travel softball experience the best imaginable!

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• Tags: Resource Guides
• Apr 04, 2022

Teacher, 40 yrs., Sports official, 58 yrs. FB,BB, SB, VB., USA ump. I have always been aware of the youth who’s parents cannot afford the luxury of travel ball. Too expensive, l’ve encouraged students and youth to play Rec. ball for experience, team work, following directions, practicing skills to Improve, and try out for high school sports. These students need confidence and encourgement to try something new. I have umpired trailball. Yes better skills but coaches bark at players and demand performance. I rather work rec. ball where l can be more lenient with players and coaches. ,

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6 Best Wagons for Travel Softball

6 best wagons (carts or buggies) for travel softball.

If you have been to any travel softball tournament, you know that almost every seasoned softball family is pulling around a buggy or wagon full of chairs, canopies, hidden coolers, snack bags, and maybe even a sleeping toddler.  If you don’t own one, then what are you waiting for?  Yes, they take up more space, and sometimes it is a pain to pull one around without running people over in a crowd, but the upside is well worth it.  You’re back will thank you.

In the past, there weren’t a ton of wagon styles.  You had a basic wagon with nothing special about it.  Just enough to get the job done.  Now you can find buggies with oversized tires for better stability and that will pull better in sandy areas.  You’ve got wagons with tailgates that drop, which come in handy when carrying larger objects like canopies and sleeping toddlers.  Some have cupholders and pockets.  There are even double-decker wagons!  With so many to choose from, it can be hard to figure out which ones are worth the price and which ones should be avoided.  We have decided to help you shorten that list a little and find which wagons or buggies best fit your needs.

Best Buggy For Those Bringing A Canopy TIMBER RIDGE Folding Double Decker Wagon

Have you ever seen a double-decker wagon?  These things are amazing.  When you’re lugging a canopy in a wagon it never fits (unless you have a fold-down tailgate like this Timber Ridge Wagon ).  With the lower shelf opened, it extends to 54 inches!  With thicker tires and a sturdy frame, this is a great option for the families spending the day at a sunny weekend softball tournament. *Make sure the dimensions of the wagon will allow the dimensions of your folded canopy.

Best Buggy For Stability (Wide Tires) Ozark Trail All-Terrain Folding Wagon with Oversized Wheels

This is our family’s go-to wagon for ball tournaments (along with an older Academy Sports wagon that still kinda gets the job done).  You don’t have to worry about uneven sidewalks, roots, and many other obstacles with this wagon as you would with many other wagons with thinner tires.  Having an entire side of pockets and mesh holders makes this a must-have for a travel softball family.

Sturdiest (used to be Big Kat Buggy) Gorilla Carts GOR400-COM Steel Garden Cart with Removable Sides

If you never saw the Big Kat Buggy when they were popular a few years back, then you missed out.  They were a beast of a wagon, but now you can hardly find one.  They also were quite expensive.  If you can’t find a Big Kat, then you’re next best bet is this Gorilla Cart.  For those carrying heavy-duty items like generators, fans, buckets, and other dirty, heavy equipment, this wagon is a must-have.  The fabric wagons aren’t quite made as strong as these.  With a 400 lb capacity and 10″ pneumatic tires, it should handle almost anything you decide to cart around in it.  Side panels are removable to accommodate larger loads.

Big carrying capacity Hikenture Collapsible Wagon with 200L Large Capacity

This wagon is for the softball family that likes to bring everything but the kitchen sink to a tournament.  Bigger than most folding wagons, you’ll have plenty of room for all the snacks, drinks, chairs, and blankets you’ll ever need.

Budget option B0079P1KH6 Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Utility Wagon

Sometimes all you need is a basic wagon to carry a few things in and out of the ballpark.  You don’t really want to pay over $100 for a wagon and I completely get it.  Our Academy Sports wagon was well under that and did an ok job for what we needed it to.  This Mac Sports wagon is a very popular option for your basic wagon under $100 (at least at the time of writing).  If you don’t think it’s a good one, check out the reviews.  There are a ton of great reviews for this wagon so don’t just take our word for it!

Most Unique Wagon The Lounge Wagon

Ok.  Get a load of this.  How cool would it be to have a wagon that would hold 500 lbs of gear and then convert into a double chair with umbrella as well?  Maybe this isn’t the most practical wagon to be bringing along to a ballpark, but we did want to share it with you just because it is extremely unique.  Even if you aren’t willing to spend the big bucks on it, it’s still worth heading over to Amazon and checking out this neat little Kickstarter/Indiegogo funded wagon.

So, did you see a wagon that caught your eye?  Trust us when we say that using a wagon/buggy will make your trip to the ballpark so much more enjoyable.  Hauling everything in one trip is well worth the cost of picking up one of these helpful little carts.

– SoftballGalaxy

Need ideas on what to fill that new cart with?  Check out the Best Things To Bring To Travel Softball Tournaments here!

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What Equipment do you need for Softball? (Complete List)

When your daughter is ready to play softball, one of the first things you might be wondering is what equipment will you need to be safe and ready for the playing field.

Some thoughts you might have could be around cost, what equipment is shared by the team, and which gear you need to purchase individually. Like all sports, there might be subtle differences between teams, leagues and age groups, but for the most part it is a standard list.

What Equipment do you need for softball? For softball, you will need the following for equipment: a glove, a bat, cleats or sneakers, a face mask, and lately a batting helmet. At younger ages, many teams will supply bats, and helmets but each player is normally responsible for their own glove, and cleats/shoes.

In this article we look at other things you may not be thinking of along with equipment geared more towards players as they age and gain more experience.

Gear for Younger Players and Beginners

Other than the main items outlined in the beginning, young softball players can wear comfortable athletic clothes like tee shirts, joggers, and athletic socks. Children who play on Little League or other community teams usually get a team shirt with a hat or visor. Most community teams provide batting helmets and bats, too. However, some players prefer their own gear (especially with COVID concerns). For younger players, we just wrote an article on the best fastpitch bats for 10u that you could check out.

Associated Costs

Young softball players do not need the most expensive bats or gloves. As young players learn the game, they should have a bat and glove that they enjoy using, even if the equipment is pink, neon yellow, or blue. Small bats and gloves can be purchased for under $30 each. In the earliest years of the game, softball players can get away with using baseball gloves , especially since most young players are just learning to catch.

More on Footwear

Unless your community softball organization has turf fields, your young player will need cleats.

Since softball seasons are relatively short for young players, many community softball leagues have collections of used cleats. Otherwise, cleats are readily available at big box stores and sporting goods stores and kids’ sizes are much less expensive that women’s sizes. Girls’ cleats can be purchased for under $20. Some girls like to wear long socks with their cleats and while those aren’t required for softball, they are easy to find and low in price – usually under $5 for a pair.

If you buy any used equipment for young players, cleats are the best choice . Ball players like to have their own gloves, especially since the inside starts to fit to the hand that uses it the most. Used bats might have cracks or problems that new bats won’t have.

If you feel overwhelmed with all of the footwear choices available – we wrote a post outlining our top cleats for fastpitch players .

Face Protection

Softball players often wear protective face masks. Since the softball field is so much smaller than a baseball field, girls are more likely to be hit in the face by a flying softball than boys are with baseballs.

It is becoming commonplace for softball organizations to require certain position players to wear masks , so it is wise to get young players used to wearing them as soon as possible. These cost around $25 and they can save a softball player’s life if she is hit in the face with a ball.

Travel Ball Softball Equipment

Once your daughter decides that she enjoys softball and wants to keep playing, then it’s time to start investing in higher quality equipment. It isn’t unheard of for children between 8 and 10 years of age to begin playing travel softball . If your daughter is ready to play at a more competitive level, then you will need to buy more equipment.

Even at the young ages of 8 to 10, teams have matching equipment – from the helmets to the cleats and everything in between. Most girls choose their favorite gloves and bats. Some get to choose their cleats, too. It is more important than ever before that your daughter also become comfortable wearing a face mask, especially if she play an infield position or she pitches.

Equipment for Games and Practice

When you get to travel-ball levels of play, your daughter will need to have gear to wear to practice and games .

Practice gear usually includes softball pants, socks in the team colors, and a team shirt. Some teams are too picky about what top, but most coaches like their teams to wear softball pants and socks. If practice is in an indoor facility, your daughter will need turf shoes. If she pitches, you will want to buy her turf shoes with pitching toes. For a more detailed overview, please see this guide where we outline what to wear to softball practice in much greater detail.

Every girl on a travel team will need her own gear bag, helmet, uniform, cleats, bat, and glove. Most teams require each player to pay a fee that covers the cost of the uniform, gear bag, and helmet.

Uniforms usually include one or two pairs of softball pants, one to three jerseys, a belt, and a few pairs of socks. Sometimes the fee includes shirts and cleats, too. At this young age, girls will only need molded cleats. They don’t get to wear metal cleats until they get closer to high school age.

More Expensive Costs

At this point in your daughter’s softball career, she’s probably not quite ready for bats that cost $300 and up, but she’s not too far away from it either . No matter what bat you buy, keep the receipt and items like stickers or packaging material that came with it because if anything happens to it within a year of purchase, you should be able to use the warranty to get a replacement.

At the earliest ages of travel ball, you can expect to pay under $50 for cleats (unless your daughter wears adult sizes in shoes). You can expect to pay at least $75 for a bat and $40 for a glove. Since most girls at this age are not yet specializing (unless they are pitchers or catchers), any type of glove will do. The uniforms will vary based on the team’s expectations.

Middle School and High School Ball

At this point, if your daughter is still playing, she will need specific gear for her position . During middle school and high school, all levels of playing become more competitive and gear becomes more specialized. Pitchers need special cleats with protective pitching toes, catchers need the full set of gear, and position players need specialized gloves . Most girls at this point will also need a pair of metal cleats.

Bats with more “Pop”

Players in upper levels of softball want the bat with the most “pop” and these cost around $300. However, there are usually sales on the bats, especially at the end of the season when the new models are released.

While it can be tempting to buy the lower priced, sale models, there are times when it is not recommended. Unfortunately, some leagues change their lists of allowed bats and older models might not have the newest technology. Before you spend hundreds on new bats, be sure that it is labeled for your daughter’s league and tournaments in which she will be playing.

When you buy bats for your daughter, keep all of the packaging material and your receipt. Even though softball bats are expensive, they do break. And, if the break happens while the bat is under warranty, you should be able to get a replacement, but only if you have your receipt and the packaging material.

Most bat manufacturers will only replace bats if they have been purchased from a legitimate store, like a local sporting goods store, or from an official online retailer.

Specialty Gloves

When it comes to gloves, players need special ones, too.

First basemen need larger gloves, while outfielders and middle infielders need smaller ones. Softball players cannot play with baseball gloves because the pockets on baseball gloves are significantly smaller. Gloves are not as expensive as bats and they last much longer. Softball players will not share their gloves with other players.

When girls reach middle school and high school, gone are the days when they will play with a glove in a pretty color. They will want gloves that look like what their favorite players wear, so check out collegiate softball players and the gear they use. Most softball gloves look just like baseball gloves in typical leather colors like black and brown. White gloves are popular and there are companies that will customize colors, so you can get glove leather that matches your daughter’s travel team colors or school colors. You can also have laces in custom colors, too.

Gloves start around $50, but the customized and mitts can have $300 price tags, too.

Related: If you are looking for our recommendations – check out out best softball gloves page to see a large list.

Batting Gloves and Sliding Mitts

Most teens who play softball also want batting gloves.

These are usually around $20 to $30 and will last at least one season. Girls tend to find a brand that they like. These come in several sizes so they fit all hands. Batting gloves come in white and black, but they often have accent colors that coordinate with team colors. Some girls will wear both batting gloves when they are at the plate and they will keep one on to wear under their gloves for an added layer of comfort.

Girls who play in middle and high school will see faster pitching. It is commonplace for girls to be hit by pitches and elbows tend to be commonly hit spots. So, you might want to buy your daughter an elbow guard. These come in a variety of prices, starting around $30 and up to $80. The best elbow guards are designed to be custom fit from the convenience of your home.

If your daughter likes to steal bases and does belly slides, you might also consider buying her a sliding mitt. These are not readily available in sporting goods stores and have to be ordered online and can cost over $100 each. But, ballplayers have been known to break fingers and wrists sliding into the bases, so these gloves are helpful.

The Importance of Face Masks

This is the age when girls start to think they don’t need to wear face masks, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth !

Middle school and high school players see the fastest pitching yet, which means they also see balls with high exit velocity, too. Girls can also throw the ball at high rates of speed, too.

Getting hit in the face with a softball can result in broken eye sockets and jaws and even brain damage. Every pitcher and girls in the infield should wear a face mask. If she argues and says that college coaches don’t want girls to wear masks, she is wrong. Women playing in the NCAA College Softball World Series wear masks !

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Equip your team for success

A note to our coaches.

As a dedicated coach of travel softball, you know that having the right gear is essential to your team's success on the field. At RIP-IT, we understand the unique needs of travel softball teams, and we have developed a range of gear packages specifically designed to support your players and help them succeed. With our high-quality gear, exclusive discounts, and personalized service, we are here to help you equip your team for success.

The Benefits

It's time to put your mind at ease.

High-quality gear: Our gear is designed to withstand the rigors of travel softball, so you can trust that it will last and support your players' performance on the field.

Exclusive discounts: As a coach of travel softball, you are eligible for exclusive discounts on our gear packages, so you can get the best gear at the best prices.

Personalized service: Our team of experts is here to help you choose the right gear for your team and answer any questions you may have. We are dedicated to providing you with the best possible experience.

The Packages

Select a tab below to read more.

DOUBLE PACKAGE

$110 Per Player, a savings up to $78 **

• One RIP-IT Vision Pro Helmet
• One 4-Way Stretch Pro Softball Pant
• One pair of RIP-IT Socks
• One Perfect Softball Belt

** This package includes an option to add RIP-IT Diamond Cleats or Spikes for 50% off **

TRIPLE PACKAGE

$170 Per Player, a savings up to $99 **

• Two 4-Way Stretch Pro Softball Pants
• Two pairs of RIP-IT or Ringor Socks
• Two RIP-IT or Ringor Softball Belts

HOMERUN PACKAGE

$245 Per Player, a savings up to $150

• One Tournament 2 Fashion Bag
• One pair of RIP-IT Diamond Cleats or Spikes ***

*** Teams can upgrade to Ringor footwear for a minimal fee ***

GRAND SLAM PACKAGE

$355 Per Player, a savings up to $220

• Two Jerseys (One Home, One Away) (V-Neck or 2-Button)
• One pair of Blister Control Batting Gloves - White

Testimonials

Read what other coaches are saying.

"As a coach of travel softball, I know how important it is to have high-quality gear that can withstand the demands of the game. RIP-IT has exceeded my expectations with their gear packages, and I have been blown away by the quality and durability of their products. Not only that, but the personalized service and exclusive discounts have made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. I would highly recommend RIP-IT to any coach of travel softball who wants to equip their team for success."

"I have been coaching travel softball for several years, and I have tried a lot of different gear brands. None of them have come close to the quality and value offered by RIP-IT. Their gear packages have everything my team needs, and the exclusive discounts for coaches make it even more affordable. I am so impressed with the level of service and support provided by RIP-IT, and I know that my players are in good hands when they are out on the field wearing their gear. Thank you RIP-IT for helping my team succeed!"

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10 Best Softball Bags Reviewed: Keep Things Organized

Last Updated on November 15, 2023

Let your kid say goodbye to cluttered and disorganized equipment and hello to a world of possibilities with the best softball bags available. 

If you’re looking for one to gift your kid, you should take some more time before reaching any decision. Because in this article, I’m gonna help you find the right one.

But to choose the right bag, you should consider all specs, from features like spacious compartments and wheels to style and durability.

Having the right gear can make a big difference in your kid’s sports career. So, why should you take the risk with your loved one? Read this guide to find which one is a worthy investment.

Table of Contents

Best Softball Bags – At a Glance 

Rawlings | r800 backpack equipment bag – ultimate organization.

• Spacious Main Compartment: Perfect for all your gear.

• Compartment Convertible to Shelf: Easy access during games.

• Customizable External Side Pocket: Extra storage, just how you want it.

• External Shoe Compartment: Keeps cleats separate for hygiene reasons.

• Durable Tarpaulin Bottom: Easy to clean, lasts longer.

Product Description

Rawlings . King of baseball products.

The Rawlings | R800 Backpack Equipment Bag is the best fastpitch softball pack for any age group. This bag looks good and has a lot of room for what you need to carry.

This product offers a separate compartment to store your shoes so that they don’t get mixed up with other items in your bag, the main section for storing your gloves and helmets, three bats slots, a removable, customizable top valet tray, and a fence hook that can be used for easy hanging purposes. 

It’s functional, too. The bag’s tarpaulin bottom also makes it super easy to clean.

I was once a softball coach, and I can guarantee the usefulness of the Rawlings | R800 Backpack Equipment Bag. The backpack has locker-style storage with a main compartment that doubles as a shelf when hung up, allowing easy access during games. 

The bag also boasts padded back straps and panels, making it comfortable while carrying gear from and into the diamond. 

However, its external shoe storage with expanding bungee cord pockets allows your shoes or cleats to be kept separate from other items in the bag, hence maintaining cleanliness.

• Versatility: With its locker-style organization and multiple compartments, this bag caters to all your softball needs.

• Durability: The bag’s durable tarpaulin bottom ensures it can withstand even the toughest environments.

• Comfort: Padded back straps and panels make carrying your gear a comfortable experience.

• Hygienic: The bag’s external shoe storage keeps your footwear separate, ensuring cleanliness.

• Convenience: The main compartment doubles as a shelf when hung up, enabling quick and easy access to your gear during games.

•Size: While the bag offers ample storage, its larger size might make it challenging for younger or smaller players to carry

Comment on Price

Rawlings | R800 Backpack Equipment Bag is an important investment for any softball player who needs complete, long-lasting, and user-friendly gear storage. Its cost is definitely reasonable due to its multipurpose design with more convenience that it offers; therefore, anyone wishing to play softball seriously can buy this.

Athletico Baseball Bat Bag – Backpack for Baseball, T-ball & Softball Equipment & Gear for Youth and Adults

• Ample Storage: It is designed to accommodate all your baseball gear.
• Comfortable and Breathable: Have padded shoulder straps and lumbar protection, along with built-in ventilation.
• Improved Storage: More pockets to hold keys, smartphones, wallets, and more.
• Convenient Accessibility: It features an integrated fence hook, a front bungee cord for hats or gloves, and a vented shoe compartment.
• Rugged Durability: This bag has been made of high-density Oxford fabric and polyester that can withstand harsh environments.

The Athletico Baseball Bat Bag is a complete package to cater to every player in any age group who may require space to fit the necessary baseball gear. 

This bag has room for two bats, a helmet, batting gloves, cleats, a baseball cap, and a catching glove so that you have everything at your fingertips. 

Apart from being breathable with padded shoulder straps as well as lumbar protection for easy carrying comfort and built-in ventilation to keep away bad odors, the bag also goes beyond with extra pockets meant for personal effects, an integrated fence hook the front bungee cord where gloves or hats can be stored without wasting much time as well as a vented shoe compartment. 

A bag that is made out of high-density 600 Denier Oxford fabric as well as polyester, it won’t suffer during the trials of practice tournaments and night games. 

• Versatility: This bag can hold all the necessary baseball gear, making it suitable for players of all ages.
• Durability: The bag is made from high-density Oxford fabric and polyester; hence, it can endure wear and tear.
• Comfortable and Breathable: The adjustable bag features padded shoulder straps and lumbar protection for maximum comfort, along with built-in ventilation to keep unpleasant odors at bay.
• Convenient Storage: Whenever you want to organize your things very fast, this bag will allow you to have them well arranged because it has multiple storage compartments and extra pockets.
• Accessibility: The bag features an integrated fence hook, a front bungee cord, and a vented shoe compartment for easy accessibility.
• Size: The spacious design of the bag may be unsuitable for small or young players.

The Athletico Baseball Bat Bag is a wonderful buy for its cost. Its functional design, durable material, and thoughtful features like comfortable straps, built-in ventilation, and various pockets make it a fantastic investment for any serious player.

DeMarini Voodoo XL Backpack

• Big Main Compartment: Where you can fit your helmet, glove, and other gear comfortably.
• Perforated Neoprene Bat Sleeves: They have the capacity to hold 2 bats.
• Mesh Water Bottle Slot: It could be used as another bat holder.
• Equipment Strap: You can fix it onto the outside of your bag, helmet, glove, or protective equipment.
• Fleece-Lined Cell Phone Pocket: It helps to keep your phone well-secured.
• Water Resistant Bottom: This keeps your kit dry in case it gets wet.
• Removable Decoration Panel: Make it personal with this feature
• Durable J-Style Hook: Hangs easy on the dugout fence
• Padded Shoulder Straps and Back Paneling – So carrying is comfortable
• Large Size 10 Zippers – For easy access through the main opening

A versatile bag, the DeMarini Voodoo XL Backpack is made for players who like to have choices. The expanded main compartment fits helmets, gloves, and other gear comfortably.

Molded neoprene bat sleeves will hold two of my favorite bats, and there’s room for a third if I need it.

The bag has a durable J-style hook that makes it easy to hang on the dugout fence, a fleece-lined pocket where valuables can be kept safe from scratches, and a water-resistant bottom to keep my gear dry.

Use the thermal pocket for your drink or snack during game day. Padded shoulder straps and back paneling, along with large size 10 zippers on the main opening, make this bag both comfortable and easy to use.

The DeMarini Voodoo XL Backpack truly embodies Ray DeMarini’s insane dedication and drive for the sport.

• Versatility: It can hold up to 3 bats, among other baseball gear needed for playing.
• Durability – Water-resistant bottom and strong zippers that can handle tough conditions.
• Comfort – It is equipped with padded shoulder straps as well as back paneling to make it comfortable when carrying your gear.
• Convenient Storage: With multiple compartments and a removable decoration panel, this bag ensures the efficient organization of your items.
• Accessibility: The bag features a durable J-style hook and an equipment strap for easy accessibility.
• Size – It might be too large for young or small players because of its ample storage space.

There is great value in the DeMarini Voodoo XL Backpack. Its thoughtful design, durable material, expanded main compartment, neoprene bat sleeves, and water-resistant bottom make it one of the best investments you could make as a serious player. This justifies its price because it can stand hostile environments while ensuring that all my important stuff is well-organized and within reach.

Easton Walk-Off IV Baseball & Fastpitch Softball Backpack Bag Series

• Functional: This bag is practical both on and off the field with its dual zipper design and fence hook.
• Storage: There is a unique external helmet holder that allows you to optimize space for your gear through this vented shoe compartment only.
• Comfort: These are easy to transport because of the padded back and shoulder straps.
• Specialized Compartments: Two side bat sleeves have zippered pockets, while the top pocket can be used for personal items such as phones or wallets.
• Durable: The bag is built to last, with a long-term service guarantee.

The Walk-Off IV, Easton’s highest-ranking baseball/softball backpack, offers a solution for carrying gear practically. 

Additionally, this external helmet holder leaves space inside the bag for other equipment while at the same time providing a place where team insignias can be displayed.

Dual zippers on bags with fence hooks make them ideal for use in dugouts because they are easy to access and store. 

Besides, there is a vented shoe compartment in this bag, which keeps shoes separate from other equipment, ensuring they stay dry.

Plus, it also comes with other features like a top pocket for personal items, two side bat sleeves with a zippered pocket on each one of them, and padded back and shoulder straps for comfort during travel. 

The dimensions of 20″ H x 14″ W x 9.5″ D are enough to house all your baseball or softball essentials.

• Practical: This bag’s dual zipper design makes accessing it easier, hence the dugout functionality.
• Efficient Storage: A unique external helmet holder and vented shoe compartment.
• Comfortable: It has got padded back and shoulder straps; hence, it is easy to carry it along.
• Organized: There are specialized compartments allocated for bats, personal items, and shoes, respectively.
• Durable: The material is reliable enough to guarantee its long life.
• Size: It may be too compact for players with extensive gear.

For the features and quality that it has, the Easton Walk-Off IV Baseball & Fastpitch Softball Backpack Bag Series is priced well. Not only does the bag have a smart design, which allows for efficient space use through specialized compartments for different types of gear, but it also offers comfort and durability at a reasonable price, making it a good buy for any baseball or softball player.

Wilson Team Gear Bag

Product Features

• The extra-large main compartment can fit helmets, gloves, cleats, and full catcher gear.
• Separate ventilated compartment for shoes, wet clothes, or catcher’s helmet.
• Both sides have handles to enable easy loading.
• This bag has a removable decoration panel that fits an 18-inch hoop minimum hoop.
• Size of the Product: The bag measures 40″L x 14.5″W x 13″H.

The Wilson Team Gear Bag is truly a masterpiece by Wilson Sporting Goods Company that is suitable for any age athlete or team of athletes because of its quality.

The design of this bag is thought through with an extra-large main compartment that can hold helmets, gloves, cleats, and even a full catcher’s kit. 

It has a separate vented compartment for shoes, wet stuff, or a catcher’s helmet, thus ensuring your equipment stays fresh and dry. There are handles on both sides of the bag to ease loading it well. 

This bag also features a removable decoration panel that fits on an 18” minimum hoop, giving it a personalized look. 

For one bag to have all these features and still have dimensions like those given above leaves enough room for other items in it; thus, serving all storage purposes, you may want it to serve as required by its intended use irrespective of how diverse such needs may be within your team. 

The design of this bag embodies the high quality and originality synonymous with Wilson Sporting Goods; therefore making it among the best softball bags in the market.

• Extra-Large Main Compartment: It offers ample space in its larger main compartment as well as separate ventilated compartments.
• Varying Compartments: It is designed with an adjustable compartment system, which makes this product ideal for different types of players who might need different compartments for their gears but still accommodate other types, too.
• Easy Loading: Both handles on the sides make it easy to load.
• Decoration Panel: The removable decoration panel provides a personal touch to the bag, which makes it distinct.
• Quality Assurance: Wilson Sporting Goods Company has been manufacturing quality products for many years.
• Dimensions: The bag might be too big for a young or small player, given its dimensions.

Well, these are all advantages that come with this bag, such as a lot of space in the main compartment, separate compartments, and the possibility of personalization. It is one of the best softball bags on the market today that can promise you durability, organized storage, and ease of use. Thus, based on how well it keeps everything in place for easier loading and good quality from the company, this price justifies itself in every aspect.  

Rawlings Impulse Backpack Equipment Bag

• Colorful and Sporty: Different colors and styles can be chosen to match your team.
• Deliberate Design: It is designed with a smooth yet sturdy look that gives the maximum amount of space for storage.
• Game Time Shelf: It has a large central compartment that can be converted into a shelf.
• All Your Gear in One Place: Additionally, it has two locations for neoprene bat storage, a pocket where you can keep your valuables, and a glove storage pocket as well.
• Easy Access: It also has an easy access front pocket, an external clip for extra gear, and a design that ensures all your gear is easily accessible.
• Product Dimensions: The bag measures 19.75 tall, 13.2 wide, and 9.8 deep.

The Rawlings Impulse Backpack Equipment Bag is an example of what happens when aesthetics meets functionality head-on. This bag comes in many colors and styles, so you will always arrive at the pitch in style. 

Its design may be sleek, but it is also very tough, hence providing the right storage area for all of your possessions. 

The main compartment can be changed into a game-time shelf, thereby allowing easy reach of equipment. For your precious glove’s safekeeping, it contains two neoprene bat storage locations, a valuables compartment, plus a dedicated glove storage pocket, among other things.

Therefore, its front pocket allows you easy access to the rest of your gear; this is a feature that most other bags do not possess or have been constructed without such convenience being their main concern.

The Rawlings Impulse Backpack Equipment Bag has dimensions of 19.75” high by 13.2” wide by 9.8” deep; one reason why it is an ideal rucksack for softball players who appreciate fashion sense, orderliness and ease of use.

• Style: it is available in different colors and designs to match with the team or individual player’s style.
• Storage: Big enough to accommodate your main compartment, two bat storage locations, valuable compartment, and glove storage pocket.
• Accessibility: It has a front pocket, an external clip that you can use for any other gear, and a game time shelf where you stack all your equipment.
• Design: It has a slick yet tough design that is best suited for the stylistic demands of the sport.
• Versatility: This bag also recognizes that players have their own preferences by offering compartments designed for various equipment.
• Size: This could be too big of a bag for smaller or younger players.

The Rawlings Impulse Backpack Equipment Bag is worth its price. The Rawlings Impulse Backpack Equipment Bag is worth its price as it provides so many options in terms of style, ample storage space, and convenience.

Even though it may be slightly larger than some other alternatives, it remains one of the finest softball bags because of its huge carrying capacity as well as its sleek shape.

Discounting the cost factor, this bag does an excellent job of keeping your things organized, within reach, and contemporary.

Boombah Superpack Bat Pack – Rolling Baseball Backpack or Softball Backpack

• The All-In-One Baseball Bag: It has nine storage units, a shelving system, an expandable shin guard pocket, and a heavy-duty cleat pocket, which can hold everything you need.
• Professional Grade: It also includes three ventilated storage units for wet towels or sweaty equipment and enough space to store three baseball bats and all of a catcher’s essential gear.
• Easy Access: The bag is designed to be easily accessed with four hideaway hooks for hanging and reinforced straps for long-lasting use.
• FatBoy Wheel Technology: Additionally, the bag has wheels that make it easy to maneuver over grass, dirt, or concrete.
• Ideal Gift for Baseball Players: The bag’s high-quality build, heavy-duty materials, spacious storage, and reinforced stitching make it a perfect gift for pro baseball players.
• Product Dimensions: The specific dimensions of the bag are not provided.

The No Errors NO E2 Wheeled Catchers Gear Bag is an all-in-one solution for your softball equipment needs.

This sizable baseball and softball bag can handle bats, helmets, shoes, gloves, and more due to its nine storage units, shelving system, expandable shin guard pocket, and heavy-duty cleat pocket.

To this effect, it has three ventilated compartments that will ensure your wet towel or sweaty equipment airs out and dries up in no time.

Besides these features, the design of this bag even accommodates three baseball bats as well as all the protective gear required by catchers, therefore eliminating the need to have other bags meant for such purposes.

Through these four hideaway hooks, you can hang this bag anywhere, thereby making it easier for you to get anything you want from inside it.

Also, the reinforced straps plus durable zippers assure that both the life span of your kit and the safety of them are secured.

What’s more about it is that the FatBoy wheel technology on this bag allows for easy transportation over various terrains such as grass, dirt, and concrete.

It is worth noting that the No Errors NO E2 Wheeled Catchers Gear Bag is a perfect gift to give to baseball players as it has been made with high-quality materials and craftsmanship that outstands other softball bags across the market.

• Space: Nine storage units, a shelving system, an expandable shin guard pocket, and a heavy-duty cleat pocket provide ample storage.
• Quality: Heavy-duty materials and reinforced stitching make sure your gear is safe.
• Access: The bag also comes with four hideaway hooks that can be used for hanging it up in any place, as well as reinforced straps for long-lasting use.
• Portability: In addition, this bag is equipped with FatBoy wheels for easier movement in different places.
• Gift Option: Therefore, one can purchase it as a gift for pro-baseball players because of its high-quality build and features.
• Size: Younger or smaller children may find this bag too large to handle comfortably.
• Dimension Information: However, no specific dimensions are stated, then you cannot know whether you can fit in your belongings or not.Comment on Price

Comment of Price

The No Errors NO E2 Wheeled Catchers Gear Bag offers great value for its price. Despite being slightly large, the bag provides plenty of storage space, easy accessibility, and excellent portability, justifying its price tag. Its high-quality build and materials, along with its ample storage and FatBoy wheel technology, make it one of the best softball equipment bags available. 

MATEIN Baseball Backpack, Softball Bat Bag with Shoes Compartment

• All Batting Gears Can Be Kept There: It has different pockets to keep your gears with dimensions of about 18\13\7.5. It contains two bat side pockets, two mesh pockets for water bottles, and a large main compartment for helmets, batting gloves, shoes, softball tees, and all other essentials.
• Shoe Compartment: The gear is kept clean by the exterior shoe pocket while the cleats remain dry as there are also two vents on it.
• Comfortable & Lightweight: The bag only weighs about 1.2 lbs, which is made to be comfortable with a soft back design and thick pads that have ventilation.
• Helmet Holder: The front of the bag has an adjustable elastic bungee cord holder for your helmet, gloves, cap, etc.
• High Quality: This bag is constructed from high-quality 600D Oxford fabric and polyester with strong zippers, ensuring its durability over time.

Description of Product

The MATEIN Baseball Backpack serves as an all-in-one solution for your baseball and softball gear needs. It includes several compartments, including a main one for larger items and various functional pockets for smaller ones. 

An external shoe compartment prevents dirt and mud from spreading to other gear while keeping your shoes separate. This backpack is lightweight and comfortable, with adjustable straps enabling easier transportability. 

In addition, it has a front elastic bungee cord that can be adjusted to accommodate more storage space if needed. Additionally, it is suitable for older children/men as well as younger girls/women involved in fastpitch/baseball activities.

• Space: Several compartments accommodate every baseball item you may require.
• Quality: The product will last long due to its quality materials used alongside tear-resistant zippers.
• Comfort: They are lightweight with adjustable straps for comfort purposes.
• Shoe Compartment: This section will facilitate clean equipment.
• Gift Option: Ideal present for both male and female baseball enthusiasts of all ages.
• Size: The dimensions might be too big for young players.
• Color Limitations: Currently only available in black.

The MATEIN Baseball Backpack is not overpriced since it is reasonably priced based on its quality, features, and capacity for storage. For the players who need to carry their gear comfortably, this bag serves as a practical and long-lasting product.

The bag’s large compartments, dedicated shoe storage, and comfortable design make it a useful purchase. It’s durable enough to be used more than once; hence, it’s good value for money.

Athletico Advantage Baseball Bag: Spacious and Durable for All Your Baseball Gear

• The bag’s main compartment is spacious enough to accommodate all necessary baseball gear and can hold four bats or water bottles, batting gloves, a helmet, cleats, a baseball cap, and catching gloves.
• External Helmet Storage: There is added space for internal use due to this design feature.
• The bag is comfortable with padded shoulder straps and lumbar protection, as well as an air-mesh back for cooling comfort.
• Durable: It is built with high-density 600 Denier Oxford fabric and polyester that should last through years of use.
• Accessible: You can access your gear using the bag’s integrated fence hook, vented shoe compartment, and external pockets.

Athletico Baseball Bag can cater to everyone from young kids to adults as it has ample room that can take up to four bats or water bottles, a baseball helmet, batting gloves, cleats, a baseball cap, and a catching glove. 

The excellent design also allows for more gear by keeping the helmets outside. This bag is made of strong 600 Denier Oxford Fabric plus Polyester; hence, it will stay intact during practice sessions, matches at night, and tournaments. 

It also includes an integrated fence hook, vented shoe compartment, external velcro batting glove zone, and an external pocket for keys, phones, wallets, etc.

•  Innovative: This is due to the unique external helmet design storage.
• Comfortable: Lumbar protection and padded shoulder straps make carrying easier.
• Lasting: Durability is promised by high-quality materials used in its production.
• . Convenient: Integrated fence hook plus vented shoe compartments provide easy approaches to the user’s belongings.
• Size: Younger players may find the large size of this bag inappropriate for them.

Considering its huge size, durability, and unique features, the Athletico Advantage Baseball Bag offers excellent value at its price. 

It is made out of high-quality materials that make it long-lasting, hence a good purchase for serious players. 

Although it may cost more than some other options, the comfort, convenience, and extra storage space that the bag comes with make it worth every dime spent on it. In the end, buying quality equipment like this is really like making an investment in your game.

Boombah Rolling Superpack Baseball/Softball Gear Bag: Heavy-duty and Versatile

• Durable – Built with high-quality polyester to ensure longevity.
• Easy Transportation – Comes with heavy-duty wheels and a telescopic handle for easy portability.
• Storage – Separate compartments for bats and shoes keep your gear organized and clean.
• Convenience – Reinforced J-hooks make it easy to hang the bag on the fence.
• Spacious – Measuring 23″ x 13″x 9″, the bag has enough space for all your baseball or softball gear.
• Long-lasting: High-quality materials ensure a durable product.
• Portable: Easy to move around with heavy-duty wheels and a telescopic handle.
• Organized Storage: Separate compartments for bats and shoes.
• Easy to Use: Reinforced J-hooks for easy hanging.
• Space-Saving: Capacious enough to store all your gear yet compact in design.

The Boombah gear bag is ideal for baseball, fastpitch, and slowpitch players, as it is made of heavy-duty polyester, which ensures its durability. 

This is not your regular backpack but a rolling bag that can easily be maneuvered around using the telescopic handle and with wheels that are made to bear heavy loads. 

A separate compartment that fits four bats separates your equipment while making it as easy as possible to reach anything at any time. By all standards, one of the most notable features of this bag is its reinforced J-hooks, which allow hanging the bag on a fence conveniently.

Additionally, there is an independent shoe compartment to keep dirt off your equipment. The dimensions of the bag are 23.5″x 13.5″x 9.5″, which provides adequate space for fitting baseballs and softballs.

• Size: It might be too large for young players or those with less gear.

With its functional design, high-quality materials, and great storage abilities, the Boombah Rolling Superpack Baseball/Softball Gear Bag is an affordable product. 

It is a good investment in the long run due to its durability and convenience. Among the things this bag has accomplished is making it easy for you to carry your baseball or softball gear, hence an important sporting item to own.

For those who are quality-conscious, this bag offers more than just benefits—it offers a perfect experience.

Which Softball Bag Should I Buy 

Choosing an ideal softball bag can be quite tedious, especially because of the multiple factors that come into play. Here, however, is a good place to start.

For the Frequent Player

Boombah Rolling Superpack Baseball/Softball Gear Bag appears to be the best fit for you as it is long-lasting and roomy. This will help you find your gear easily because it has separate compartments for bats and shoes.

For the Casual Player

If you are among the occasional players, the Easton Walk-Off IV Baseball & Fastpitch Softball Backpack Bag Series might be good for you. The bag is small but very neat structurally. Double zipper style plus external helmet holder make access possible and provide organization.

For the Player on a Budget

Weigh how much each bag gives you in terms of value when money is limited. Boombah bag costs more, but it’s a long-term investment. The Easton bag, on the other hand, is cheaper though very efficient; this implies that it gives more value for what it’s worth.

For the Player Prioritizing Comfort

Easton wins here with its bag. The back of this carrier has padding as well as shoulder straps, thus making it easier to move equipment from one point to another. In case there are many occasions where you have to walk some distance carrying your bag along with you, then this could really be the one.

For the Player with Lots of Gear

Boombah bags should be considered by players who have lots of gear. It comes in larger sizes as well as several pockets. This serves as a suitable place where all necessary items needed for softball can fit comfortably.

In conclusion, one needs to consider one’s needs when choosing the perfect softball kit. Among them include playing frequency, budgetary constraints, comfort issues, and the amount of gear available for use during games.

Either Boombah or Easton bags can make up part of these excellent options, depending on the features needed. Choose well, and make your softball more enjoyable!

I was wondering if these softball bags were OK for young players.

The Boombah Superpack and the Easton Walk-Off IV are two examples of bags that are suitable for young players because they have enough room for necessities. The Easton bag is one of the most space-efficient options available, making it ideal for younger players.

The Boombah Superpack bag can store a whopping two bats!

You may store up to four bats safely and conveniently in the Boombah Superpack bag’s many compartments.

Are these tote bags long-lasting?

Absolutely. Extremely durable construction characterizes both the Boombah Superpack and the Easton Walk-Off IV bag. They’re sturdy and well-constructed, so you can count on them for years of use.

Can a helmet fit into one of these bags?

Yes. The Easton Walk-Off IV pack is specially made to hold a helmet externally, allowing more room for other necessities. There’s enough of room in the Boombah Superpack for a helmet, too. 

Is it possible to utilize these bags for other sports? 

These bags may be intended for softball and baseball, but their roomy construction and adaptability make them useful for a variety of other sports as well. They are practical for every athlete because of the ample space they provide for carrying equipment.

Final Words

So, there it is, your best softball bags list. I have tried to cover every type and did not forget the price range. I hope this list will help you to find the best bag to insert your types of equipment while going to hit a home run.

More Softball stuffs

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7 Best Softball Roller Bags 

8 Best Softball Bat Bags 

Hi Athletes, welcome to Honest Baseball. My name is Becky Cahill, and I live in Georgia (USA). I have played or coached softball most of my life and love the game. I attended Auburn University in the Southeastern Conference on a softball scholarship and started coaching right after graduating. I have coached at the college, high school, and little league levels. As a coach, I have worked with beginners all the way up to All-Americans. I can’t wait to share my passion and knowledge of softball with you. Let’s learn more about the game together!

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Travel Softball Cost: How Much Does It Cost?

February 29, 2024

James Arnold

Stepping into the world of travel softball can be an eye-opening experience, not just for the adrenaline-pumping games but also for the investment it entails. When you hear the crack of the bat in travel softball, it’s often accompanied by the quieter, yet significant, sound of dollars being spent. Embarking on this journey introduces families to a vibrant community and competitive play, but it also opens a dialogue about the cost of travel softball—a topic that touches every aspect of the game, from gear to tournaments. Join us as we peel back the layers of this elite sport’s financial demands, providing insights that every aspiring family should know before hitting the field.

Major Cost Factors in Travel Softball

Travel softball can be a rewarding experience for players and families, but it’s important to be aware of the significant financial commitment involved.expand_more Here’s a breakdown of the major cost factors:

A. Team Fees:

• Uniforms (jerseys, pants, hats)
• Equipment rentals (field, batting cages)
• Coaching salaries or stipends
• Tournament entry fees (may or may not be included)expand_more
• Facility usage (indoor training, practice fields)
• Location: Teams in major metropolitan areas often have higher costs due to increased competition and facility rental prices.
• Age group: Younger age groups typically have lower fees, while costs increase for older, more competitive levels.exclamation
• Competition level: Elite travel teams playing in national-level tournaments generally have the highest fees due to increased travel, coaching expertise, and tournament entry fees.exclamation
• League/organization affiliation: Some leagues or organizations may have additional fees or dues.

B. Tournament Costs:

• Entry fees: These can vary significantly depending on the tournament size, location, and level of competition.
• Travel: This can be a major expense, especially for out-of-town tournaments. It includes transportation costs (gas, flights), lodging, and meals.
• Accommodation: Hotels or other lodging arrangements for players and families attending tournaments can add significantly to the cost.

Factors influencing tournament costs:

• Location: Tournaments held further away generally involve higher travel and accommodation costs.
• Duration: Longer tournaments (multiple days) require additional lodging and meal expenses.
• Number of teams: Larger tournaments with more teams often have higher entry fees due to increased competition.

C. Equipment Costs:

• Bat: $100 – $500+ (depending on quality and age group)
• Glove: $50 – $200+ (depending on quality and position)
• Cleats: $50 – $100+exclamation
• Helmet: $30 – $50exclamation Google Search didn’t find relevant content. Consider researching further to assess the statement.thumbs_up_down
• Batting gloves: $20 – $50exclamation
• Compression pants, sliding shorts, visors, elbow pads
• Multiple bats for different hitting situations
• Catching gear (mitt, mask, chest protector) for specific positions

By understanding these major cost factors and their variations, families can make informed decisions about their financial commitment to travel softball.

How Much Does Travel Softball Cost?

Determining the exact cost of travel softball is difficult due to the various factors at play, but here’s a general breakdown to give you an idea:

The cost of travel softball can range anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per year, with an average of around $2,000. This significant range depends mainly on three major factors:

1. Team Fees:

• These typically cover uniforms, equipment rentals, coaching, and sometimes tournament entry fees.
• Costs can vary significantly based on location, age group, and competition level . Expect higher fees in major cities, for older age groups, and for elite teams playing in national tournaments.

2. Tournament Costs:

• Participating in tournaments involves additional expenses like entry fees, travel (gas/flights, lodging, meals), and accommodation .
• These costs again depend on the tournament’s location, duration, and size . Further travel and longer stays naturally increase the cost.

3. Equipment Costs:

• You’ll need basic equipment like a bat, glove, cleats, helmet, and batting gloves , ranging from $300 to $1,000 combined.
• Optional equipment like compression pants, multiple bats, or catching gear (for specific positions) can further increase the cost.

Remember, these are just general estimates. It’s crucial to research specific teams and tournaments you’re interested in to get a more accurate picture of the potential financial commitment. Some resources like team websites or league information might provide cost breakdowns. Additionally, consider potential additional expenses like training camps, private lessons, and fundraising activities .

While travel softball can be expensive, it’s important to weigh the costs against the potential benefits like improved skills, teamwork experience, and college exposure (for older players). Open communication with coaches and other families involved can help you navigate the financial aspects and make informed decisions about your participation.

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How to Pack A Softball Bat for Flight? (Answered!)

Taking your softball equipment with you on the trip is easy when you’re traveling by car.

All you have to do is pack and make sure everything fits in the trunk. However, some issues arise when you have to fly somewhere.

Especially when it comes to taking a bat with you on a flight, as they can be interpreted as weapons.

As we all know, TSA has very strict regulations about those things and many people are not sure whether these rules include bats or not.

The last thing you want is to reach your destination without your trusted bat. So, it’s best to do some research in advance.

Learning how to pack softball bats for flight and whether the bats are even allowed on planes may save you the hassle as you board your plane.

To help you out, I’ll lay out the most important information on this below.

So, let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Are Softball Bats Allowed On Airplanes?

Even though you likely wouldn’t think of using it for those purposes, airplane and airport security can consider your bat to be a weapon.

For that reason, TSA regulations clearly state that any piece of sporting gear, including bats, that can be used as a bludgeon is not allowed in the airplane cabinet.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t take your bat with you on the trip.

However, you won’t be allowed to place it in your carry-on luggage and bring it into the cabin.

You must place the bat in your checked baggage and check it at the airport before departure.

This doesn’t only apply to regulation game bats. You’ll have to check even a smaller bat, manufactured as a novelty or a souvenir.

In addition, some airlines will not allow you to bring into the cabin come other pieces of softball equipment, such as helmets or metal cleats.

How To Pack A Softball Bat For Flight?

The best way to make sure that your bag is protected is to purchase a specialized softball gear bag.

These commonly have dedicated bat compartments that are padded, water-resistant, and feature reinforced bottoms.

This should be enough to keep your bat from getting banged up or even broken.

Softball gear bags also usually have plenty of compartments to fit other pieces of equipment.

However, these are out of the price range for some people, so they use just regular duffel bags.

In this case, make sure to protect the bat the best you can. Roll it in multiple layers of bubble wrap to create a thick layer of protection.

Make sure that it doesn’t fly around the bag during the flight, and cushion it with clothes and other equipment.

You can also use a rifle or spearfishing case. These are commonly well-padded and fit the size of the bat.

3 Best Softball Bags To Fly With

Boombah Rolling Superpack 2.0 Baseball/Softball Gear Bag

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Stylishly designed and practical, Boombah Rolling Superpack 2.0 Gear Bag is a great option for storing your softball equipment during flight, but also for regular practice and game needs.

It comes with plenty of storage capacity and separate compartments for different pieces of softball gear.

This includes a dedicated bat compartment that can hold up to 4 bats.

While you may use it as a backpack, it primarily works as a rolling bag which is great for softball players, as it can be rather heavy when filled with equipment.

Also, heavy-duty wheels and stiff and hard molded plastic chassis ensure the bag’s durability, no matter how much beating it takes as you pull it through airports.

In addition, the bottom of the bag and bat sleeves are made of fabric specifically developed to resist tears and scrapes.

Boombah Beast Rolling Bat Bag 2.0

Another great product from Boombah, Beast Rolling Bat Bag is specifically designed to answer any batter’s needs.

It’s rather large with 40″ x 14″ x 13″ dimensions and it can hold no less than 8 bats. In addition, the bag features a separate compartment for gloves and shoes.

Plus, there’s a small exterior pocket for your valuables. Each of these compartments is reinforced with wear-resistant fabric and heavy-duty zippers.

Furthermore, the shoe compartment is ventilated and separated from the rest of the gear, so you can freely use it for dirty and game-worn cleats.

To ensure safe and comfortable transportation, Boombah has equipped this bag with heavy-duty plastic wheels with tread for off-road wheeling and a rubberized handle.

Another useful feature when traveling is a detachable flap bag that you can personalize with your name and roster number.

Tanel 360 R.A.G.E. Baseball/Softball Wheel Bag

Extremely versatile and functional, Tanel 360 R.A.G.E. Wheel Bag will answer all your needs no matter what position in softball you play.

Plenty of stage space is always a plus and this bag has an abundance of it.

It fits up to 5 bats and plenty of other equipment while spreading the weight so it remains very balanced.

Besides room for bats, it also has three here zip-off pockets with locks, two cage compartments for cleats, and two large internal storage spaces.

About 80% of the bag is protected with skid guards so you won’t have to worry about damaging it while traveling.

Large wheels and a wide base of the bag are there to ensure the bag doesn’t fall over even when heavily loaded.

People who enjoy playing softball like to keep in touch with the game even when traveling or going on vacation.

For them, every opportunity to get some swings or throws in is golden. Plus, those who play competitively know how important it is to stay sharp and in form.

This means that many softball enthusiasts every time they travel somewhere take their bat with them.

Plus, the competitions themselves often include a fair amount of traveling.

If that travel is done by plane, you should know that bat is only allowed on flights as a part of checked baggage.

However, this comes with some risks. Sometimes, your bat may get damaged or lost which is a nightmare for any softball player.

Airport staff is notoriously careless when it comes to handling baggage, so you’ll have to do everything you can to prevent potential damage to your bat.

Hello, I’m Paul, a 45 year old passionate baseball fan and the owner of this website. I hope my article could help to answer your questions.

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How Best to Protect Softball Equipment During Air Travel

• Thread starter Rocketech1
• Start date Mar 2, 2015

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Your free account is waiting to the best softball community on the web..

• Mar 2, 2015

DD will have some out of state travel in the coming months. What is the best way to pack your softball equipment bag when flying? Do you need to buy a hard case so your composite bats don't get damaged and/or stolen?  

I carry everything on, that I will need - minus the bat. So, cleats, uniforms and glove go in the carry on. I don't carry a good enough bat, that anyone would want it. My other clothes are packed in my bat bag. Sometimes, a coach will drive ahead and he can take the bats.  

An inexpensive rifle case works well and will hold 2 - 3 bats.  

In the same boat, but also carrying catching gear  

• Mar 3, 2015

RubberBiscuit

Rocketech1 said: DD will have some out of state travel in the coming months. What is the best way to pack your softball equipment bag when flying? Do you need to buy a hard case so your composite bats don't get damaged and/or stolen? Click to expand...

I agree with the recommendations to carry on all essential equipment - glove, uniform, cleats. You can always borrow or buy a new bat if the airline loses your checked luggage. I save the cardboard boxes the bats come in and have used those for flights. You can also buy round tubes that are used for blue prints - just make sure you tape up the ends.  

The boxes are free at the post office. I have a case of them. In fact, I ordered it on line.  

fastpitchaddict

Last summer, we bought a hard suitcase for DD that is large enough to fit the bat. We pack carefully around the bat with her clothing. She puts uniforms and glove in her carry-in bag. However, if there is a parent driving the team trailer, we always send the bat with that person.  

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🥎 WCWS picks

DI men's golf regionals

DII softball regionals

🚣‍♀️ DIII rowing selection show | 5 ET

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Michella Chester | NCAA.com | May 13, 2024

2024 women's college world series picks, before regionals.

The 2024 college softball bracket has been released and we have our 64 teams looking for a trip to OKC and a national title.

I somewhat filled out a bracket, but I didn’t go game-by-game because of double eliminations. But, I made some general picks for regional winners, super regional winners, a.k.a. the eight teams headed to OKC, and then my national champ pick.

Starting with the top left port of the bracket, I have the top-seeded Texas Longhorns coming out of their regional and facing Texas A&M.

Then I have LSU and Stanford facing off at Stanford. That's one of my favorite super-regional matchups.

I think Oklahoma State has one of the toughest regionals with Michigan and Kentucky, but I'm still going with the Cowgirls mostly because of Lexi Kilfoyl in the circle. I have them facing Arkansas in the supers.

I went for a slight upset pick with Baylor making it out of Louisiana's regional. This one felt up in the air for me and I liked Baylor's strength of schedule this season. They have a lot more losses than some top teams, but they faced some tough teams this year. Plus, Baylor already took two of three from Louisiana this season, so it’s a fun rematch.

I have Florida making it out of its regional in what I think is one of the easiest paths to OKC. In my opinion, the Gators got that favorable seeding after winning the SEC tournament. They're hot right now at the right time. I mean, Skyler Wallace has been one of the best players in the country for years and she's just now starting to go off at the plate had nine RBIs in the SEC tournament and Jocelyn Erickson was the SEC Player of the Year, and the pitching is there.

I have Oklahoma making it out of their regional, though I am excited to see Kasey Ricard at Boston University facing that Sooner lineup. They will be facing Florida State in the supers in my bracket. What a fun national championship rematch from a few years ago.

And I have Duke getting out of its regional. The Blue Devils got the 10 seed — lower than a lot of people expected — but I do like their path to the Women's College World Series.

I went for another upset for the Columbia Regional. Missouri is incredibly good... Don't get me wrong, I think the Tigers are outstanding and have absolutely deserved a top-eight seed in the tournament and Washington hasn't had the best end to their season, but they could bounce back in the tournament and make an upset here with Ruby Meylan. I'm going with the Huskies.

UCLA has another one of the toughest regionals in the country, but I'm still picking the Bruins to make it out hot to end the season. Sharlize Palacios has turned it on and Kaitlyn Terry and Taylor Tinsley have evolved into a top-notch staff. I have them facing Georgia in the Supers for another one of my favorite potential matchups.

And then finally, I've got one more upset Clemson over Alabama to make it out of that regional. Bama was one that I wasn't totally sold on hosting and though Clemson has struggled a lot this year, they still have Valerie Cagle, so I went for a fun pick there. I have them facing Tennessee and the Supers. I think the pitching gets the Vols out of that regional.

After that, I have my eight picks for OKC to make it out of their super regionals:

• Oklahoma State

For the record, I was most torn between Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas and UCLA vs. Georgia.

And finally my championship pick, I realistically think Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee could all win it. As much as I think a four-peat for OU is possible and very well could happen, I found myself choosing between Texas and Tennessee over and over again.

But I'm going with the Longhorns, who beat the Sooners this season, but just lost to them in the Big 12 Championship game. Texas is going to come into this tournament wanting vengeance. The Longhorns have some of the hottest hitters in the country with Reese Atwood leading the way and strong arms in the circle.

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Duke University Blue Devils

W : Curd, Cassidy (10-3) L : Ashtyn Danley (16-5)

Game Recap: Softball | 5/11/2024 8:42:00 PM

Duke Claims 2024 ACC Softball Championship

• The first three frames were a pitcher's duel between Wright and Florida State's Allison Royalty as the pair combined to allow just one hit and three total base runners during that stretch.
• The Seminoles broke through in the top of the fourth using a two-run home run by Kalei Harding and an RBI-double by Michaela Edenfield to pull ahead, 3-0.
• The Blue Devils quickly answered in the bottom half of the frame when Gold converted on a one-out sacrifice fly to center field to score Davidson from third. Senior Kelly Torres then followed that with an RBI-single during the ensuing at bat to bring in sophomore Aleyah Terrell , who was pinch running for Vega, to cut the Seminoles' lead to 3-2. Davidson and Vega led off the frame with back-to-back singles to begin Duke's rally.
• It remained a one-run game until the bottom of the sixth when Gold again sparked the Blue Devil offense. With runners on first and second with one out, the Ballston Spa, N.Y., native singled to center field to score the game-tying run. Two batters later, freshman Amiah Burgess touched home on a throwing error to give Duke its first lead of the game at 4-3. The Blue Devils weren't done though, as graduate student Gisele Tapia 's two-out, two-RBI single into left field capped the four-run frame and handed Duke a 6-3 edge.
• Sophomore Cassidy Curd , who entered the game for Duke in the top of the fourth, closed the door on the Seminoles, retiring three of the final four batters she faced to secure the Blue Devils second conference crown.
• Duke is now 9-4 all-time in the ACC Tournament and earned its second league title after also winning the tournament in 2021.
• Saturday's game marked the Blue Devils' third appearance in the ACC Championship game, including their second consecutive appearance.
• Curd earned the win inside the circle, working 4.0 scoreless innings of relief and fanning three.
• The Port St. Lucie, Fla., native improves her season ledger to 10-3.
• Wright earned her 28th start in the circle and tossed 3.0 innings, allowing three runs off four hits with two strikeouts.
• Gold tallied her ninth multi-RBI game of the year.

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