In-Town Recreation Program

The Girls Softball League of Westfield is committed to providing all girls with an experience that fosters positive self-esteem, team spirit, and individual growth through personal achievement and team play. This is a recreational league, which means the knowledge and ability of the players, managers, and coaches will vary greatly.

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Our Recreational League is open to girls in Kindergarten through Grade 8 who reside in or attend school in Westfield, NJ.

New softball players are welcome in all divisions as this is an instructional and recreational program, yet competitive enough for all players in town. Optional clinics are available year-round.

Leagues are run during the Fall (September - October) and Spring (April - June) seasons.

We aim for each player to have fun while gaining knowledge of the game. We strive to create and maintain an environment of teamwork, honesty, and fair play while helping the girls develop and mature as players and as people. We strive to:

Teach each girl the fundamentals of the game.
Encourage development and good sportsmanship of all players through participation in a team environment
Inspire the players to have fun, make new friends, and grow as a member of a team
Help players become physically fit and to value fitness in their lives
Demonstrate how to win with grace and lose with dignity
Support continued participation by building a passion for the sport of softball

Season(s): Fall & Spring

Timeframes:
Fall: September through end of October - one combined practice/game per week on Sundays

Spring: April through late June – practice days of the week vary by age level, with most games scheduled for Saturdays

Eligibility: Girls from Pre-K through 8th grade

Kindergarten In-Town Recreation Program

To Learn more or sign up - CLICK HERE

Kindergarten Instructional League
K-1Director@westfieldsoftball.org

GAME RULES FOR KINDERGARTEN LEAGUE

The kindergarten league is an instructional league. We do not keep score. We do not count or record outs. There is no pitching. All balls are hit off a Tee. Use 11” Incrediballs for the game.

Everyone plays in the field. Coaches should spread all the players out across the entire infield. The goal for fielding at this level is to either make the out at first base or to make a force play at second or third base.

Coaches should make sure to keep changing the “positions” of the players every inning. Moving the players to different positions on the field increases the likelihood of having a ball hit to her. Also, by playing different positions around the field, the girls knowledge of the game will increase.

All players on the team bat once every inning. The players advance one base at a time. So every hitter stays on the bases, even if the fielders record an out. The last batter hits a “home run” and circles the bases regardless of the outcome of their batted ball.

Coaches should change the batting order every inning. This will give every girl a chance to bat first and last in the order during at least once during the year.

The game lasts three innings.

1st Grade In-Town Recreation Program

1st Grade Instructional League
K-1Director@westfieldsoftball.org

GAME RULES FOR 1ST GRADE LEAGUE

The 1ST grade league is an instructional league with coach pitching and coach catching. We do not keep score. We do not count or record outs. Use 11” Incrediballs for the game.

Everyone plays in the field. Coaches should spread all the players out across the entire infield. Do not place a girl in the position of catcher. The goal for fielding at this level is to either make the out at first base or to make a force play at second or third base.

Coaches should make sure to keep changing the “positions” of the players every inning. Moving the players to different positions on the field increases the likelihood of having a ball hit to her. Also, by playing different positions around the field, the girls’ knowledge of game situations will improve.

All players on the team bat once every inning. The players advance one base at a time. So, every hitter stays on the bases, even if the fielders record an out. The last batter hits a “home run” and circles the bases regardless of the outcome of their batted ball.

Coaches should change the batting order every inning. This will give every girl a chance to bat first and last in the order during at least once during the year. Suggestions for batting order include using their numbers sequentially or their names alphabetically being sure to switch the order often.

The game lasts three innings.

2nd Grade In-Town Recreation Program

2nd Grade Instructional League

2-3Director@westfieldsoftball.org

GAME RULES FOR 2nd GRADE LEAGUE

The 2nd grade league is an instructional league with coach pitching and coach catching. We do not keep score; but, we do record outs. Use 11” Incrediballs for the game.

Everyone plays in the field. Coaches should spread the extra players across the outfield. Do not place a girl in the position of catcher.

Coaches should make sure to keep changing the positions of the players every inning. Moving the players to different positions on the field increases the likelihood of having a ball hit to her. Also, by playing different positions around the field, the girls’ knowledge of game situations will improve.

If the fielding team records an out, the runner being tagged or forced out leaves the field and goes the bench. If three outs are recorded, the bases are cleared; but the rest of the girls from the hitting team continue to get a turn until the entire team has batted in the inning. If three outs are not recorded, the inning ends when everyone on the hitting team has batted.

On a batted ball the players can advance up to two bases at a time. Do not have players advancing bases on overthrows.

Coaches should change the batting order every inning. This will give every girl a chance to bat first and last in the order during at least once during the year. Suggestions for batting order include using their numbers sequentially or their names alphabetically being sure to switch the order often.

The game lasts three innings.

3nd Grade In-Town Recreation Program

3rd Grade Instructional League

2-3Director@westfieldsoftball.org

GAME RULES FOR 3rd GRADE LEAGUE

The 3rd grade league is an instructional league. However, it is the first level where we keep score and have a winning and losing team as well as end innings after “3” outs.

Coaches are encouraged to stand in the field with their team to offer instruction and rule reminders.

Coaches are required to rotate players around positions each inning in order to ensure that each player receives equal opportunity and experience to field the ball and be a part of the play. All coaches must have an even rotation and not “sit” girls to win.

We use the 11” Incrediballs for the game.

Click here for > 3rd Grade Rules