Spotswood Borough Recreation Department

The Spotswood Girls travel softball program participates

in an extramural league in conjunction with at least 5 other area towns.

Currently the teams travel to the following surrounding towns:

.. South River .. New Brunswick

.. Milltown .. Highland Park

.. North Brunswick

Registrations for this program are usually held in January.

Beginning with the 2008 season, we have adopted the Babe Ruth eligibility rules

(available at http://www.baberuthleague.org/) for age registration.

We register our children according to their age.

This balances our travel softball league to match what the other towns are doing

and gives the entire travel league a more balanced competitive structure.

Participants are between the ages of 8 years old and 15 years old,

with three divisions by age group (Minor, Major and Senior).

MINOR LEAGUE DIVISION:

The Minor League Division is an introductory softball program for girls.

The age group is limited to 8 and 9 year old players,

but the league may also place first year players

that are 10 years old with the Minor League.

Emphasis is on the fundamentals of the game

as players are shown the basics of hitting, throwing, catching and base running

within a framework of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Balls and strikes are not called, and there are no umpires on the field.

Games are 6 innings long and players are rotated in and out

every inning as well as shifted to different positions in the field

with a mix of coaches and players pitching

during the course of a game.

An inning is over once 6 runs are scored or 3 outs are made.

All players will bat during the course of a game.

The score will be kept, but standings will not be maintained.

Players must provide their own glove and Spotswood Recreation

will provide all other equipment.

A jersey and visor are included in the registration fee.

The season begins in early April and will run through the end of June.

Games are played Monday through Friday starting at 6:00 PM.

Players are asked to arrive by 5:30 PM before every game for warm-ups.

MAJOR LEAGUE DIVISION:

The Major League Division is a recreational fast pitch softball program for girls.

Emphasis will be to continue learning the fundamentals of the game,

where more standard softball rules are introduced.

The age group is limited 12 year old and under players.

Note – Players from the Minor League are allowed to move up

at the discretion of parents and coaches.

Emphasis continues to be on the fundamentals of the game as players extend their developing softball skills in hitting, throwing, catching

and base running within a framework of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Balls and strikes will be called, and there is at least one umpire on the field.

Games are 6 innings long with players pitching the entire course of a game.

An inning is over once 6 runs are scored or 3 outs are made.

All players will bat during the course of a game.

The score will be kept, but standings will not be maintained.

Players must provide their own glove and Spotswood Recreation will provide all other equipment. A jersey and visor are included in the registration fee.

The season begins in early April and will run through the end of June.

Games are played Monday through Friday starting at 6:00 PM.

Players are asked to arrive by 5:30 PM before every game for warm-ups.

SENIOR LEAGUE DIVISION:

The Senior League Division is a recreational fast pitch softball program for girls.

Emphasis will be to continue learning the fundamentals of the game,

utilizing standard softball rules.

The age group is limited 15 year old and under players.

Note – Players from the Major League are allowed to move up at the discretion of parents and coaches.

Emphasis continues to be on the fundamentals of the game as players demonstrate their softball skills in hitting, throwing, catching and base running within a framework of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Balls and strikes will be called, and there is at least one umpire on the field.

Games are 6 innings long with players pitching the entire course of a game.

An inning is over once 6 runs are scored or 3 outs are made.

All players will bat during the course of a game.

The score will be kept, but standings will not be maintained.

Players must provide their own glove and Spotswood Recreation will provide all other equipment. A jersey and visor are included in the registration fee.

The season begins in early April and will run through the end of June.

Games are played Monday through Saturday with midweek games starting at 6:00 PM

and weekend games starting at various times.

Players are asked to arrive ½ hour before every game for warm-ups.

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS:

Players and teams may be asked to participate in softball tournaments throughout the season. There will usually be a fee associated with these tournaments, and participation is optional. Travel may also be required.

HOW CAN I HELP?

PARENTS WHO OFFER TO HELP COACH, OR OTHERWISE VOLUNTEER INSIDE THE FENCES WITH THE KIDS, MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE RUTGERS COACHING PROGRAM AND BE CERTIFIED BY SPOTSWOOD RECREATION.

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!

HOW CAN I BECOME CERTIFIED?

Certification requires attending a simple 3 hour clinic (no tests) http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/

For clinic availability, please visit

http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/youthsports/docs/Clinic%20schedule.doc