skip navigation
 

WHY SOFTBALL?

Alameda Girls Softball Association is the only youth sports organization in Alameda focused entirely on girls sports! We provide both Fall and Spring recreational softball seasons focused on skill development and fun competition for girls ages 4 to 14. While most girls who play in AGSA live in Alameda, this is not a requirement to register and play.

Youth sports have consistently proven to provide long-lasting benefit to children. Girls who play youth sports benefit from improved confidence, mental health, physical fitness and academic performance. These benefits have been shown to last into adolescence and adulthood.

Whether your child is an experienced ball player or has never touched a softball bat, this is the right place for her -- our core aims are skill development and FUN!

Frequently Asked Questions

 

AGSA Recreational League FAQs

How does AGSA work?
Our recreational program offers Fall and Spring seasons across several different age groups. All age levels focus on age-appropriate skill development with a focus on equal participation and involvement at many different positions. Everyone bats and innings in the field are distributed equally.

  • 6 and under (T-ball/6U): Introduction to softball! Girls learn fundamental softball skills and how to work in a team with new friends. Batters will hit off batting tees and face soft toss coach pitching.
  • 8 and under (8U): Introduction to competition and kid pitching! Girls learn the competitive rules of softball -- What is an out? What is a run? -- while developing more advanced fastpitch softball skills. Batters face pitching from their peers as well as occasional coach pitch. This is a time of tremendous growth!
  • 10 and under (10U): Functional fastpitch softball! Girls develop advanced softball skills and knowledge while rules advance to allow the full suite of competition -- steals, overthrows, dropped third strikes and more! Many girls at this age choose to dive deeper into competitive softball by joining one of our Blaze Fastpitch Travel Teams
  • 12 and under/14 and under (12U/14U) - Middle school softball! Traditionally the 12U and 14U divisions are combined for a "Middle School" division aimed at introducing new players to the game and continuing skill development for those who have played but prefer not to commit to travel softball.

The league is open to any girl - any skill or experience level - who meets the age criteria.

When can i register? The spring recreational season registration is available online from October through early January. Fall registration is open from June through Mid-September.

When is the Spring Recreational season? Teams form in mid-January and start practicing in early February.  Games begin in early March and continue through the end of May. 6U teams practice/play two times per week, while 8U teams practice/play 3 times per week. Practices and games occur on weekday afternoons and weekends. Teams will play at least 10 games plus playoffs.

Practices typically occur in weekday 3:30-5:30 or 5:30-7:30 windows, with some teams also having weekend practices, especially prior to changing our clocks in the Spring. Exact schedules vary by team and are decided after team formation based on coach availability.

Games take place on Saturdays with occasional weekday afternoon/evening games later in the season.

When is the Fall Recreational season? Fall Ball begins in September and runs through the end of October. Girls in 8U levels and above participate in a weekly skills clinic -- typically run by advanced women coaches from local college and high school fastpitch teams -- and a weekend game. Girls in the 6U division participate in a weekday practice and weekend game.

Where will games be played?
The majority of games will be played at Krusi Park.  For the 10U and above divisions, there will be some night games held at Leydecker Field under the lights!  Interleague games against local partner league teams may be played at the host's field.

How are teams determined?
Players in the 6U division will be assigned to teams with an opportunity to designate a friend. Friend requests are fully considered but cannot always be guaranteed.

For the 8U and older divisions, players participate in evaluations in January followed by a player draft. For 8U and above divisions, it is difficult to honor friend requests due to the draft process.  Meeting new friends and families is often part of the fun of playing softball! 
 
What Age Division will my player be assigned to?
Age division of a player is determined by their age as of August 31st (For example: If your player is 7 or 8 years old on August 31 this year, they will play in the 8U Division).

Can my daughter play in an older age group? If your daughter has already completed two seasons at their current age level, they may request to play up into an older division. Requests to play up to 10U and 12U require participation in both the current age group and older age group's evaluations. Players may only play up in 10U and 12U if they are evaluated as being in the top 50% of players in the older age group.
 
What is covered by the registration fee?

Registration fees cover the uniform (jersey/visor), shared softball equipment, a simple picture package, insurance, field permit fees, umpire fees, player clinics, volunteer background checks required by state law and more. League fundraisers and sponsorships help reduce registration fees, while helping to augment the experience for our girls by allowing equipment and field improvements.

Are there opportunities for reduced registration fees?

Yes, for qualifying players. Before registering for a season, fill out and submit a reduced registration fee application to check eligibility.

What are families required to provide for uniforms?
Players are responsible for providing a minimum of their own pants, softball glove, and cleats. No metal spikes are allowed. Girls in the 6U division may play in tennis shoes, and soccer cleats are permitted. In the 10U and above divisions, any optional sliding shorts should be worn under the softball pants.  

Players may purchase equipment such as a helmet or bat for their own use. Clothing, gear and equipment can be found for purchase at sporting good stores such as West Coast Sporting Goods, Big 5 or Dick's Sporting Goods.

Do you need to be a resident of Alameda to register?

No.  AGSA is open to residents of Alameda and surrounding areas.

Can I volunteer?
Yes! AGSA is only made possible by commubnity volunteers. We need coaches, commissioners, event coordinators, umpires, field crews, board members of various skill-sets and backgrounds and more! Please contact us to ask about volunteering in any capacity..