SPRING RECREATIONAL (IN-TOWN) SOFTBALL

Spring recreational (in-town) softball is an opportunity for all girls in Glen Ridge to participate in the game of softball, regardless of their skill level.  All players will receive approximately equal playing time, with a trio of goals: increasing softball skills, competing to win, and having fun.

Recreational softball teams are coached by parent volunteers.

Registration fees include a uniform (shirt, pants, socks), plus use of team equipment.  Players should have their own softball glove, batting helmet with face mask, and a fielding mask.  Girls without bats may borrow one from the team or from other players.

New Format and League

For In-Town softball, we have joined a local recreational league that consists of neighboring towns to Glen Ridge - the Passaic Valley Softball League (PVSL). This league has teams broken out by grade - 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, and 7th/8th grade and Glen Ridge will send at least three in-town teams to the PVSL, one in each of these age-groups.

Towns participating are: Glen Ridge, Montclair, Cedar Grove, Verona, Little Falls, Caldwell, East Hanover, West Essex.

We have also encouraged Glen Ridge travel players to participate in our In-Town softball program in order further their softball skills - and have fun with their friends that don't play on travel.

Regarding in-town practices, we are implementing some changes for this upcoming season. This includes carving out certain days for both travel and  in-town softball, to minimize conflicts in schedules.

Schedule:

Grade 1-2 (8U) Rec Softball:
Practice: TBD
Games: TBD, approx 1 per week max

Grade 3-4 Rec Softball: 
Practices: TBD
Games: Mondays 6pm or Saturdays (1 or 2 per week)

Grade 5-6 Rec Softball:
Practice: TBD
Games: Wednesdays 6pm or Saturdays (1 or 2 per week)

Grade 7-8 Rec Softball:
Practice: TBD
Games: Mondays 8pm (or earlier) or Saturdays (1 or 2 per week)

Glen Ridge softball consists of 4 separate age groups:

(Note: PK - K: The Pre-Kindergarten / Kindergarten program (t-ball) for GRAA is co-ed.   Please register your daughter for PK-K t-ball via the Baseball registration page.)

8U (generally grades 1 - 2):

This year we are placing more emphasis on the early stages of development for our softball program. As a result, we are  creating an 8U developmental team for our 1st and 2nd graders (and some eligible 3rd graders) where they will gain experience through both practices and real games (coach pitch), and we are happy to take all girls that are interested in joining and learning the game of softball. This is an upgrade from years past where we only offered "clinic" for our 1st-2nd graders and missed game opportunities that lead to better understanding/learning of the game. The 8U team will be playing in the Verona 8U League and games will all be relatively local to Glen Ridge and surrounding towns. Practices will be 1-2 times per week, with approx. 1 game per week.

In order to be eligible to play 8U, your daughter must be born on or after Jan 1, 2011. If you have a second grader that is born in 2010, then she will be eligible to play up onto the 3rd-4th grade in-town team, but can not play on the 8U team due to age restrictions. If you happen to have a 3rd grader that is born in 2011, then she is also eligible to play on the 8U team and you will be given the option later in this registration process to choose.

Grade 3-4:

The focus on softball at the Grade 3-4 level is on developing a more advanced knowledge of softball.  This includes moving to a player-pitch game, and participation in the Passaic Valley Rec League where our 3-4 grade team will compete against other 3-4 grade local teams. The emphasis on these games will be learning and fun! There will generally be 1-2 practices per week beginning in April, and 1-2 games per week once the season starts in May (played either on Monday evenings or Saturdays).

Grade 5-6:

The focus on softball at the Grade 5-6 level is on continuing to build their knowledge of softball and add a slightly higher level of competition during the games. We will have at least one team in the Passaic Valley league at this level. There will generally be between 1-2 practices per week beginning in April, and 1-2 games per week once the season starts in May (played either on Wednesday evenings or Saturdays).

Grade 7-8:

The focus on softball at the Grade 7-8 level is to teach kids more about softball while getting real game play. Our goal here is to both provide a fun sport for 7th and 8th graders that are not already in Travel, but also give them the chance to see if they want to continue playing softball when they get to High School. We will have at least one team in the Passaic Valley league at this level. There will generally be between 1-2 practices per week beginning in April, and 1-2 games per week once the season starts in May (played either on Monday evenings or Saturdays).

All practice days of the week will be determined in the near future and your coaches will send the details after sign ups are completed.