WELCOME TO THE GREATER ESSEX TRAVEL SOFTBALL LEAGUE (GESL)

The Greater Essex Travel Softball League (GESL) welcomes township-associated girls’ travel teams in 9U, 10U, and 12U age groups. We focus on competitive yet developmental play, positive sportsmanship, and balanced competition throughout the Greater Essex area.

This is a coaches’ league. GESL is designed, run, and continually improved by the coaches themselves. We deeply value your experience and feedback — it directly shapes our rules and policies to maximize player development, fun, and overall experience for the girls. We don’t pretend to have all the answers and are always evolving based on your input to make the league better each season.

Key features include:

• Separate Platinum (top-tier competitive) and Gold (competitive) divisions in 10U and 12U for better matchups.
• A unique and dedicated 9U kid/coach pitch entry-level division with modified rules to emphasize skill-building and fun.
• League-coordinated umpires.

Division Descriptions

12U Platinum Division (Top-Tier Competitive): For the strongest 12U teams, typically with older/more experienced players. Features at least one pitcher who consistently throw strikes with good control, speed, and movement. Fielders display advanced mechanics, quick reactions, and strong defensive execution (e.g., double plays, tagging runners). Offensively, teams show consistent line-drive hitting, power, situational awareness and aggressive base running with full leading, stealing all bases, and smart advances on overthrows/pickoffs.

12U Gold Division (Competitive): Suited for mixed-age or younger 12U teams (younger or developing players). Pitchers are building consistency in strikes and basic control/movement. Fielders exhibit good foundational mechanics, focusing on positioning, teamwork, and reducing errors. Offensively, emphasis on making regular contact, basic bunting/situational hitting, and learning base running fundamentals like leading on release, stealing second/third, and reading overthrows.

10U Platinum Division (Top-Tier Competitive): Designed for stronger 10U teams, often with experienced players ready for higher competition. Includes reliable pitchers who throw consistent strikes with emerging control and variety. Fielders show solid mechanics, good arm strength, and ability to handle faster plays. Offensively, teams demonstrate consistent contact hitting, developing power, and confident base running with leading on release, stealing multiple bases, and advancing on errors.

10U Gold Division (Competitive): Ideal for mixed or younger 10U teams focused on growth. Pitchers work on strike consistency and basic control. Fielders build foundational skills in positioning, catching, and throwing accuracy. Offensively, priority on putting the ball in play, basic contact/swing mechanics, and introductory base running (leading on release, limited stealing, learning pickoffs and overthrows).

9U Division (Entry-Level Developmental): A dedicated skill-building division for younger players (9 and under), using modified GESL rules to prioritize participation, sportsmanship, and fun. Hybrid kid/coach pitching (player starts inning, coach pitches up to 6 pitches after 4 walks/HBP). 10 fielders (with instructional coach in outfield), no infield fly or dropped third strike. Entire roster bats with 10-batter inning limit, focus on basic contact hitting. Restricted base running: steal third only (no home/second, no advance on overthrows), look-back rule enforced. Coaches are encouraged to rotate positions and provide positive feedback.

Balancing Competition While Protecting Positive Experiences

We work hard to create balanced matchups through our Platinum and Gold divisions. However, every coach knows that softball can be unpredictable — even evenly matched teams can have tough innings or off days.

To keep games positive, respectful of everyone’s time, and free from pressure on coaches to make awkward decisions (like intentional outs), our league uses two complementary tools in every division, including 9U:

Inning Batter Limits:

• 9U and 10U: Maximum of 10 batters per inning
• 12U: Maximum of 12 batters per inning
  • (Provides slightly longer innings to mirror high school and advanced play, while still offering a built-in limit.)

Mercy Rules (league-wide):

• 12 runs after 4 complete innings
• 10 runs after 5 complete innings

Together, these rules help prevent runaway scores on tougher days, protect player morale and confidence, and allow leading teams valuable extra at-bats — all while maintaining the competitive, developmental spirit of our league.