SEASON STARTS APRIL 11th (the season ends May 30th)
K/1/2 DIVISION
Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade
In this league, emphasis is on teaching fundamentals specific to softball. We attempt to match players with classmates and friends. Though instruction is the top priority, games are competitive. Score is kept and each team gets three outs per inning. Rosters are kept as small as possible to give every player a chance to have an impact on the game.
WHERE & WHEN: Games are played in Evanston on Saturdays on James Park 9. Practices are once a week and arranged by coaches based on their schedule.
* Game schedule and frequency will be impacted by whether there is an even or odd number of teams.
3/4 DIVISION
3rd & 4th Grade
Basic skills are emphasized and player pitching is introduced. Players use an 11" softball and pitch from 35 feet. A no-walk rule speeds up the game as coaches step in once the count reaches four balls. Players will be assigned to teams with classmates and during enrollment they may request friend(s) they want to play with. We do our best to honor such requests, please try to keep them reasonable, 1 or 2 friends at most.
WHERE & WHEN: Games are played on Monday, Wednesday or Saturday. Most weeks there will be 2 games but 3 are possible sometimes if rainouts need to be rescheduled. Games are played in Evanston, Lincolnwood, Skokie, or Morton Grove in our Lakeside Softball League (LSL). The season ending playoffs schedule will occur in the last two weeks of the season and may be on random days depending on field availability. Practices are once a week and arranged by coaches based on their schedule.
* Game schedule and frequency will be impacted by whether there is an even or odd number of teams.
* We will do our best to reschedule games cancelled for weather on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday but there will be times when that is not possible, and a game may be played on a different day of the week then set above.
5/6 DIVISION
5th & 6th Grade
Players in this division typically have some softball experience but a few do start at this age. Skills grow as players learn to steal bases and pitch consistently. A regulation 12" softball is used and pitching is from 40 feet. Players may sign up with friends, however we will work to try and balance skill level on teams at this level. Teams should have one practice a week scheduled by coaches and there are usually 2 games per week.
WHERE & WHEN: Games are played on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Most weeks there will be 2 games but 3 are possible sometimes if rainouts need to be rescheduled. Games are played in Evanston, Lincolnwood, Skokie, or Morton Grove in our Lakeside Softball League (LSL). The season ending playoffs schedule will occur in the last two weeks of the season and may be on random days depending on field availability. Practices are once a week and arranged by coaches based on their schedule.
* Game schedule and frequency will be impacted by whether there is an even or odd number of teams.
* We will do our best to reschedule games cancelled for weather on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday but there will be times when that is not possible, and a game may be played on a different day of the week then set above.
7/8 DIVISION
7th & 8th Grade
Players learn finer points of the game as stricter rules are introduced. Players may start to specialize in positions at this level, but all players will have an opportunity to play many places in this division. We will still consider teammate requests if possible, but teams are formed with the objective of balancing skill level. Teams should have one practice a week scheduled by coaches.
WHERE & WHEN: Teams in this division compete in the Lakeside Softball League, games are 2-3 times a week. Games are Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays and games can be played in Evanston or away in Wilmette, Winnetka, Lincolnwood, Skokie, or Morton Grove in our Lakeside Softball League (LSL). Practices are once a week and arranged by coaches based on their schedule. The season ending playoffs schedule will occur in the last two weeks of the season and may be on random days depending on field availability. Practices are once a week and arranged by coaches based on their schedule.
* We will do our best to reschedule games cancelled for weather on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday but there will be times when that is not possible, and a game may be played on a different day of the week then set above.