AJAA offers recreational and instructional leagues in girls' t-ball and slow/fast pitch softball intended to:
- Involving everyone in a positive team experience
- Developing fundamental softball skills
- Building player confidence
- Emphasizing player effort to play well
- Practicing good sportsmanship
- Considering all players as WINNERS regardless of score!
**Playing age for Spring 2020 Recreational Softball is based on age of player as of 1.1.2020 (The age of your daughter as of January 1, 2020 will determine what division she will play in during the Spring league)
AGE DIVISIONS
6U/T-BALL League:
Equipment:
-Ball Size Needed – 11”
-TBall or Softball Bat
- Batting Helmet with FACE MASK
-Fielders Mask is MANDATORY for ALL POSITIONS! NO EXCEPTIONS! Your child’s safety is our #1 priority and will not be allowed on the field without a Fielder’s Mask. (AJAA does not provide a fielder’s mask, player is expected to provide). Player will not be allowed on the field without a fielder’s mask, this includes both practice and games.
This league is for 1st year players, typically 5 and 6 year old girls. This league provides heavy coach and parent involvement. Team size is kept to a minimum to provide the girls with additional batting and fielding opportunities. Coaches pitch to each batter. After the maximum number of pitches are made by the coach, the player will then hit off the tee. The player will swing at as many balls off the tee until a fair ball is hit. Catcher position for this league typically is an assistant coach or team volunteer. Players will be rotated between the infield and outfield to provide a maximum learning experience. This league focuses on teaching players the fundamentals of the softball sport. Games will be limited to a one (1) hour time limit. ALL PLAYERS ARE CONSIDERED WINNERS.
8U League:
-Glove
-Equipment Needed:
-Ball Size – 11”
-Softball Bat (Bat must be marked with an official T-Ball or ASA Softball stamp)
-Batting Helmet with FACE MASK – NO EXCEPTIONS! Umpires are instructed at all partnering community fields to not allow any player up to bat without a face mask on the helmet.
-Fielder’ Mask is MANDATORY for ALL POSITIONS! NO EXCEPTIONS! Your child’s safety -is our #1 priority and will not be allowed on the field without a Fielder’s Mask. (AJAA does not provide a fielder’s mask, player is expected to provide). Player will not be allowed on the field without a fielder’s mask, this includes both practice and games.
-Heart Guard is MANDATORY for Pitcher’s Helper Position NO EXCEPTIONS!
-Catcher’s Gear – Each team is provided with a set of Catcher’s Equipment by AJAA
This league consists of 7 and 8-year-old girls with the possibility of 6-year olds playing up into 8u. This league provides heavy coach and parent involvement. Coaches pitch to each batter from 35 feet and a player will serve as the catcher. Teaching fundamentals and rules is still the focus in this league. Although this is still considered an instructional league, players are taught the rules of the game, so they are prepared to move up to the next level. Players will be rotated between the infield and outfield positions to provide a maximum learning experience. Two (2) coaches are permitted to be in the outfield with their team during defensive play to continue teaching and guiding game plays and strategies. Games will be limited to a one (1) hour and 15-minute time limit, however, the championship game(s) is scheduled for a one (1) hour and 30-minute time limit.
10U League:
Equipment Needed:
-Glove
-Ball Size Needed – 11”
-ASA Approved FASTPITCH Softball Bat
-Batting Helmet with FACE MASK – NO EXCEPTIONS! Umpires are instructed at all partnering community fields to not allow any player up to bat without a face mask on the helmet.
-Fielder’s Mask is MANDATORY for ALL POSITIONS! NO EXCEPTIONS! Your child’s safety is our #1 priority and will not be allowed on the field without a Fielder’s Mask. (AJAA does not provide a fielder’s mask, player is expected to provide). Player will not be allowed on the field without a fielder’s mask, this includes both practice and games.
-Heart Guard is MANDATORY for the Pitcher Position. NO EXCEPTIONS!
-Catcher’s Gear – All Catcher’s must wear the required equipment per ASA Rules. Each team is provided with a set of Catcher’s Equipment by AJAA
NO METAL CLEATS
This league consists of 9 and 10-year-old girls with the possibility of 8-year olds playing up into 10u. Players will begin pitching in this league - fast pitch. Pitching distance is 35 feet. Coaches continue teaching fundaments and game strategies. New Rules such as bunting and base stealing are introduced. Games will be limited to a one (1) hour and 15-minute time limit. however, the championship game(s) is scheduled for a one (1) hour and 30-minute time limit.
12U Fast Pitch & 13-18U Fast Pitch League:
Equipment Needed:
-Glove
-Ball Size – 12”
-ASA Approved FASTPITCH Softball Bat
-Batting Helmet with FACE MASK – NO EXCEPTIONS! Umpires are instructed at all partnering community fields to not allow any player up to bat without a face mask on the helmet.
12U Fielder’s Mask Rule:
-Fielder’s Mask is MANDATORY for ALL INFIELD POSITIONS & IS ENCOURAGED BUT NOT REQUIRED FOR OUTFIELD POSITIONS! NO EXCEPTIONS! Your child’s safety is our #1 priority and will not be allowed on the infield without a Fielder’s Mask. (AJAA does not provide a fielder’s mask, player is expected to provide). Player will not be allowed on the field without a fielder’s mask if playing infield, this includes both practice and games.
13-18U Fielder’s Mask Rule:
-Fielder’s Mask is NOT MANDATORY BUT ENCOURAGED FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD.
-Heart Guard is MANDATORY for the Pitcher Position. NO EXCEPTIONS!
-Catcher’s Gear – All Catcher’s must wear the required equipment per ASA Rules. Each team is provided with a set of Catcher’s Equipment by AJAA
NO METAL CLEATS
12U: This league consists of 11 and 12-year-old girls with the possibility of 10-year olds playing up into 12u
13-18U: This league consists of 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18-year-old girls with the possibility of 12-year olds playing up into 18u.
Girls fast pitch from a distance of 40 feet for 12U and 43 feet for 13-18U. ASA Softball governs most of the rules in this league. New rules introduced in these leagues are infield fly rule and dropped third strike rule. Games will be limited to a one (1) hour and 15-minute time limit. however, the championship game(s) is scheduled for a one (1) hour and 30-minute time limit.
AJAA SPRING REC SOFTBALL SEASON
Games for each division will be played as follows (Please note – the below game schedules for 6U and 8U are preliminary & are subject to change based on team totals in each division and field space. We will do our best to keep to the proposed schedule below but can’t guarantee until registration closes and teams are rostered.)
6U – Games will be played IN-HOUSE at AJAA only and will take place on Saturday’s and one varying weeknight.
8U – NEW FOR 2020, the 8U division will TRAVEL to the different partnering communities each week to play games. Games will be played at AJAA, Speedway, and Ben Davis fields. All Games will be DOUBLE-HEADERS scheduled on Saturday’s. Games will NOT always be back -to- back. (If games are rained out on a Saturday, it’s likely make-up games will be scheduled through the week.)
NEW FOR 2020 – There will be an AFTER SEASON 8U REC ONLY TOURNAMENT! Rec teams from regular season will be eligible to play in this tournament. Tournament will be played at Plainfield and is scheduled for the weekend of June 20th and 21st – Double Elimination.
Player’s can be borrowed from other 8U AJAA Rec teams to fill a roster if needed. THIS IS NOT MANDATORY for players, just a fun opportunity for players to continue playing softball after season and to see how teams match up to the other participating teams. Communities participating so far will be AJAA, Plainfield, Ben Davis, and Speedway. Trophies will be awarded to first and second place.**MORE DETAILS TO COME
**This is STRICTLY for Rec players ONLY. No All-Star or Travel players are allowed to be rostered in this event
10U – The 10U division will TRAVEL to the different partnering communities each week to play games. Games will be played on Monday and Wednesday evenings at locations such as Avon, Plainfield, Danville, Cascade, Ben Davis, South Putnam and possibly Speedway.
12U – The 12U division will TRAVEL to the different partnering communities each week to play games. Games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at locations such as Avon, Plainfield, Danville, Cascade, Ben Davis, South Putnam and possibly Speedway.
13 – 18U – The 13-18U division will TRAVEL to the different partnering communities each week to play games. Games will be played on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings at locations such as Avon, Plainfield, Danville, Cascade, Ben Davis, South Putnam and possibly Speedway.
Field Locations for each league will be posted on our website and on our Facebook page.
COST
6U - $80.00
8U - $125.00
10U - $140.00
12U - $140.00
13-18U - $140.00
*ATTENTION: for 2020 AJAA is bringing back the Family Fee. Please click HERE for more details.
** For the 2020 Spring Softball Season, every registered AJAA player will receive an Indians Knot Hole membership included with their registration. Knot Hole membership cards will be distributed with uniforms. For more information on Indians Knot Hole membership, please click HERE. **Available for players 14 years old and under.
Interested in knowing what a registration fee covers? Click HERE for details.
REGISTRATION
Registration for Spring Rec Softball is open January 1, 2020 to March 7th 2020 for 6U, 8U, 10U & 12U.
Registration for Spring Rec Softball is open January 1, 2020 to March 28th 2020 for 13-18U
**There is NO late registration. Once registration is closed, we will not be able to add any players
PRACTICES AND GAMES
Team Practices – will begin Week of April 6th (practice nights will vary by team/division – will be posted at a later date)
AJAA OPENING DAY FOR SOFTBALL – Saturday, April 18th (ALL divisions will have IN-HOUSE games this day)
**AJAA Fields address: 866 S CR 625 E Avon, IN 46123
EVALUATIONS
Spring Softball Evaluations will be held on Sunday, March 8th from 12pm – 3pm for ALL DIVISIONS except 6U. (No evaluations for 6U).
Location is Avon High School Field House - enter through door #31.
All registered players in 8U thru 18U are required to attend evaluations so that we can assess each player & rate them on skill level. This is very important as it will help with the draft process to form fair teams. Any player that does NOT attend evaluations will be placed in a blind draft & placed on teams at random.
Parents: Please make plans to attend a mandatory parent meeting. Date and location TBD. We will send out email communication with confirmed info.
Teams will be rostered by March 20th - parents will be able to see their player's team in the Team Manager app by then.
DRAFTS
All Spring Rec Softball teams will be formed via a snake draft with head coaches shortly after registration closes. The Softball Commissioner will form teams for 6U but all other divisions will go through a draft process with head coaches. AJAA will no longer guarantee coach requests and/or ride share requests. This matches up to the policies of the other communities in our league. Head Coaches will be able to pick no more than 2 assistant coaches prior to the draft. All coaches will have their own daughters and their assistant’s daughters on their team. After those players are set, a snake draft will occur. *Siblings will automatically be placed on the same team.
HEAD COACHES & ASSISTANT COACHES NEEDED
AJAA is always in need of head coaches and assistant coaches to coach our softball teams for the season. If you would like to coach, please be sure to “volunteer” when registering your child in your AJAA account so you appear on our coaches list. YOU MUST REGISTER YOURSELF TO BE A HEAD COACH OR ASSISTANT COACH!
All coaches must pass a background check to be “cleared” by AJAA to coach. Those coaches who coached basketball in the Fall 2019 will not be required to pass a new background check.
Any new coaches that sign up must pass their background check prior to the draft meeting or they will not be able to attend drafts to pick their team.
GEAR REQUIRED
AJAA will provide players with uniform shirts. Players in 8U may wear shorts or softball pants (whatever they are comfortable in). Players in 10U and up leagues are encouraged to wear black softball pants. No metal cleats are allowed in any of our leagues. Please see above informational paragraphs for each league for a more detailed equipment list.