Not sure which division to sign up for? Check out the information below.
Need help figuring out your League Age? Check out the Softball Age Chart
Recreational Softball Divisions
| 6U Modified T-ball | Saturday,
Friday as needed | 10 | No | Yes | Participation | $35 |
| 8U Coach Pitch | Saturday,
Tue/Thur as needed | 12 | Yes | Yes | Achievement | $130 |
| 9U Modified Kid Pitch | Saturday,
Tue/Thur as needed | 12 | Yes | Yes | Achievement | $150 |
| 10U MKP or Kid Pitch (Advanced) | Tue/Thur,
Saturday as needed | 12 | Yes | Yes | Achievement | $150 |
| 12U Kid Pitch * | Monday,
Wed/Sat as needed | 12 | Yes | Yes | Achievement | $150 |
| 14U/16U Kid Pitch * | Monday,
Wed/Sat as needed | 12 | Yes | Yes | Achievement | $150 |
*Division may play in an intercity format, with some games in other towns as needed
PLAYING UP
Players are allowed to play up one year with Board approval. If you would like to request that your child play up a division, please register them in their age-appropriate division first, and then contact your League Director. League Director contact information can be found on the
League Directors page. If your request is approved your child will be moved to the higher division, and you'll need to log back in to pay the difference in registration fee if, applicable.
CREATION OF TEAMS
Recreational teams are created using a dual approach. A head coach is allowed to protect players (as many as they would like) on his/her roster, including his/her child. The remainder of the team is filled through the league's blind draft and is balanced by age within a division if possible.
This includes teams in a Recreational-Advanced division. T-ball players are assigned to teams based on neighborhood or school; however, a T-ball coach can create and protect their entire team. Coaches of teams playing in the Competitive subdivisions are responsible for filling their own rosters. MBSA will NOT place a player on an ‘Competitive’ team without the approval from the coach. MBSA will give out a player’s contact information (upon approval of parent or guardian) to coaches within the division, so that a coach can get in contact with a player for evaluation.
Draft players wishing to be placed on a Recreational - Advanced team MUST attend the Evaluation Day to determine eligibility. You will be notified well in advance as to date and time. If you do not attend, you will be placed on a Recreational (not Advanced) division team instead.
“SELECT” PLAYER AND TEAM DESIGNATIONS
MBSA does allow "Select" teams and players to play within the organization. However, in an attempt to keep competition fair within our divisions, criteria has been set to establish the proper division and subdivision a select team/player must play in.
Definitions
Select Player: A player who has played with a select/tournament team in more than 3 tournaments in the preceding season or more than 6 tournaments in the preceding 12 months as of the closing date of regular registration. Select Player designations will be at the sole discretion of the MBSA Board of Directors.
Select Team: Any team with more than 3 Select Players who are not already playing up a League Age.
Rec Player: A player who is not defined as a Select Player is therefore defined as a “Rec Player”.
Rec Team: A team that is not defined as a Select Team is therefore defined as a “Rec Team”.
Guidelines
- Where multiple sub-divisions are offered, the following should be used to determine which sub-division a player or team should play in:
- Recreational: Players/teams that are both new to softball and those that are not ready for higher-level competitive play. This sub-division is intended to be a more casual level play, and most teams will fit this category.
- Competitive: Designed for Select teams that bring their own rosters and play in tournaments. This sub-division will play on days that avoid weekends and will offer the highest level of competition in MBSA. Advanced recreational teams that are ready for a challenge may also play in this sub-division. This sub-division would also be a good fit for teams that have played together for multiple seasons, are at the upper age range of their ‘Recreational’ sub-division, and/or are consistently easily winning over other Rec teams.
- Select Players should not play in the ‘Recreational’ sub-division. If a ‘Recreational-Advanced’ or ‘Competitive’ sub-division is offered, that would be a much better choice for that player, or that player may play up an age division for a better experience.
- No player playing on a select team may play in a ‘Recreational’ or ‘Recreational-Advanced’ sub-division of a lower age than their select team, even if otherwise eligible. For example, a 10U League Age player that plays on a 12U select team may not play down on a 10U ‘Recreational’ or ‘Recreational-Advanced’ team.
- Select Teams are required to play in the ‘Competitive’ sub-division.
- If an age-specific ‘Competitive’ sub-division does not make, any team deemed a Select Team as defined above, shall play up one age division and in the ‘Recreational-Advanced’ sub-division. If no ‘Recreational-Advanced’ sub-division is offered the team shall still play up one age division and in the 'Recreational' sub-division. For example, a 10U Select Team playing in MBSA may play in the 10U ‘Competitive’ division, or it may play in the 12U ‘Recreational’ subdivision if the 10U ‘Competitive’ division does not make.
- MBSA, in its sole discretion, will move teams to divisions as it deems necessary to ensure fairness of competition.
- Responsibility of the Select status of a team and its players is that of the HEAD COACH! It should be the desire of every Coach to place their team in the appropriate division and sub-division for its level of play, to promote the best development of their players. Players do not benefit from playing in a division or sub-division that is below their ability. Playing up to the next level or age would allow the players to develop their skills much better than playing below their ability.
Notes and Clarifications:
- We want kids and teams to develop and work towards improving their skills, but we want competition as even as possible. Generally speaking, a Select Player may play in his own League Age division, but it may not be on the team he wishes if too many Select Players are on that team.
- Any coach/team challenging the Select status of a player or team should appeal in writing to the MBSA Competition Committee to explain his/her case for the challenge and all supporting evidence. The Competition Committee will look into valid challenges, but ask for your professionalism and honesty during the process.