2018 League Information
LTP (T-Ball) - 4 to 5 years old
Our Learn to Play program focuses on teaching the basic softball skills to young players in a fun environment. Each week players participate in drills for the first 30 minutes and then play T-ball for the remaining 30 minutes. The last 3 weeks of the season will be full T-ball games.
Teams will be limited to 6-8 players to minimize idle time for the young players. We are aiming for a 2:1 ratio of kids to adults in order to keep the players busy so they do not lose interest. This can be achieved by the parents being actively involved with their child’s softball experience. Teams will require 2 coaches and either a minimum of 2 dedicated parent helpers or a scheduled helper rotation among all the parents. Grandparents or older siblings are more than welcome to get involved too.
Learn to Play will be split into two groups playing one day a week, either on Mondays or on Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Victoria Park in Ayr. The season runs from early May to the end of July.
Equipment Requirements: running shoes, approved baseball/softball batting helmet (face cage NOT required), glove. Helmets are required to be worn when batting or during batting drills. Team shirts will be provided.
Trimite / U8 (Coach Pitch) - 6 to 8 years old
Our Trimite and U8 programs play modified softball games where the coaches pitch to the players. Coaches instruct the players while they are batting and fielding in order to aid their skill development.
This year we will be dividing the players into the two groups (Trimite and U8) during the spring training sessions. During the first three weeks of the season there may be additional movement of players to ensure all players are in the proper division. Trimite will consist of smaller teams, 30 minutes of drills and a 30 minute game. Additional game modifications may be made to keep the players engaged (i.e. 3 pitches then a tee is used). U8 will consist of 30 minutes of warm up drills and a 60 minute coach pitch game.
Teams will be limited to 7-10 players to minimize idle time for the young players. Teams will require 2 coaches and several parent helpers during warm-ups and practices. Grandparents or older siblings are more than welcome to get involved too.
Trimite and U8 play on Thursdays from early May to the end of July at Victoria Park in Ayr. Trimite will play from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. U8 will have warm-up at 6:30 pm, game 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Practices for both groups are on Saturday mornings 9:00-10:15 am at Victoria Park's small diamond.
Equipment Requirements: running shoes, batting helmet (face cage NOT required), glove Helmets are required when batting and may be worn for safety while fielding at the parent’s’ discretion. Team shirts and hats will be provided.
U10
Our Coed U10 Local League program plays modified softball games. Players pitch to their opponents but there are no walks. After 3 balls, the coach of the batting team will finish the strike count to their own players. This enables the pitchers to develop while allowing batters and fielders the maximum experience in those positions.
The U10 Local League plays on Tuesdays from early May to the end of July. Warm-up begins at 6:00 pm, game begins at 6:30 pm. The league consists of teams from Ayr and Paris and may be expanded to include other nearby centres. Games are played in all participating centres. Practices are on Saturday mornings 9:00-10:30 am at Victoria Park's Sage Field.
Travel games may be played in the South Oxford Softball League on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons or the North Waterloo Rural Minor Softball League (days to be determined). Generally, one home game and one away game each week. The length of the season depends on the number of teams in the league. The playoffs for the league are completed in a weekend tournament, sometime between mid July and mid August.
Players trying out for the travel team but are not selected will play in the U10 Local League and a refund for the travel fees will be provided. Depending on interest level and registration numbers.
Equipment Requirements: long pants, running shoes or baseball cleats (cleats not required), batting helmet with cage, glove. For travel teams, ball pants are grey. Helmets with cages are required when batting. Team shirts and hats will be provided.
U12
Our Coed U12 Local League program plays regular softball games.
The U12 Local League plays on Wednesdays from early May to the end of July. Playoff schedule will be announced before the season starts. Warm-up begins at 6:00 pm, game begins at 6:30 pm. The league consists of teams in Ayr and Paris and may be expanded to include other nearby centres. Games are played in all participating centres. Practices are TBD.
Travel games may be played in the South Oxford Softball League on Monday and Thursday evenings or the North Waterloo Rural Minor Softball League (days to be determined). Generally, one home game and one away game each week. The length of the season depends on the number of teams in the league. The playoffs for the league are completed in a weekend tournament, sometime between mid July and mid August.
Players trying out for the travel team but are not selected will play in the U12 Local League and a refund for the travel fees will be provided. Depending on interest level and registration numbers.
Equipment Requirements: long pants, baseball cleats are recommended but not required (no metal cleats), batting helmet with cage, glove. For travel teams, ball pants are grey. Helmets with cages are required when batting. Team shirts and hats will be provided.
U14
Our Coed U14 Local League program plays regular softball games. This league is open to new players who may not have played before or who have not played in many years.
The U14 Local League plays on Mondays from early May to the end of July. Playoff schedule will be announced before the season starts. Warm-up begins at 6:00 pm, game begins at 6:30 pm. Practices are TBD.
Travel games may be played in one of the following leagues: South Oxford Softball League, North Waterloo Rural Minor Softball League, Huron Perth Fastball League or the Flamborough Minor Softball League. Generally, one home game and one away game each week. The length of the season depends on the number of teams in the league. Playoffs will be dependent on the league format. More information will be available by the start of the season.
Players trying out for the travel team but are not selected will play in the U14 Local League and a refund for the travel fees will be provided. Depending on interest level and registration numbers, there may be the opportunity to have an all girls team.
Equipment Requirements: long pants, baseball cleats (no metal cleats), batting helmet with cage, glove. For Travel teams, ball pants are grey for the boys and black for the girls. Helmets with cages are required when batting. Team shirts and hats will be provided.
U16 U19 U21
Our Coed U16-U18 Local League program plays regular softball games. This league is open to new players who may not have played before or who have not played in many years.
The U16-U18 Local League plays on Wednesdays from early May to the end of July. Playoff schedule will be announced before the season starts. Warm-up begins at 8:00 pm, game begins at 8:30 pm. Practices are TBD.
The U16, U19 and U21 Travel Teams may play in one of the following leagues: South Oxford Softball League, North Waterloo Rural Minor Softball League, Huron Perth Fastball League or the Flamborough Minor Softball League. Generally, one home game and one away game each week. The length of the season depends on the number of teams in the league. Playoffs will be dependent on the league format. More information will be available by the start of the season.
Players trying out for the travel team but are not selected will play in the U16-U18 Local League and a refund for the travel fees will be provided. Depending on interest level and registration numbers, there may be the opportunity to have an all girls team for these age groups.
Equipment Requirements: long pants, baseball cleats (no metal cleats for U16), batting helmet with cage, glove. For Travel teams, ball pants are grey for the boys and black for the girls. Helmets with cages are required when batting. Team shirts and hats will be provided.