Minor Softball FAQS
Game Schedules:
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HAJBA Minor Softball Frequently Asked Questions Question 1:
How much is the
Registration Fee for the Minor Softball Division? Question 2: What clothing will my child receive as part of the registration fee?
Answer: A child registered will receive the following: (1) Softball Visor (1) Softball shirt (1) Softball shorts (1) Pair of Softball socks
Question 3: What equipment will be provided by the league for use during games and practices?
Answer: The following equipment will be available for use during games and practices: Batting Helmets Bases Softballs Catcher’s safety equipment
Question 4: Is there any other equipment I should consider purchasing for my child?
Answer: Yes.
Below is a list of items: Softball Bat specific to the size of your child Batting Glove Softball Glove
Question 5: What guidelines should I use when determining what size/type bat to buy?
Answer: If purchasing a bat, it should be aluminum for use in our league. The weight of a bat can vary. The lighter a bat is, the easier it will be for your child to control the bat and swing it effectively. As a test, have your child hold the bat directly out from their side without bending their elbow. If they can hold it for 30 seconds without having it rise higher or lower, than it’s an appropriate weight.
Question 6: What guidelines should I use in determining what size baseball glove to purchase for my child?
Answer: Kids 11-14 years of age should consider gloves in the 11 to 12.5 inch range. Especially search for a flexible glove. Nothing is more frustrating to a young player than having a ball fall out of their glove because they aren’t able to close the glove. Use shaving cream to help soften new gloves and make them easier to close. Once applied put a baseball in the pocket of the glove and tie it shut with string for 24 hours. Your Childs hand should fit comfortably into the glove as well. You can expect to pay between $15 and $45 dollars for a baseball glove, depending on the quality.
Question 7: When does the Softball Season Begin and end? And where are games played?
Answer: Practices for the season normally begin in early April and the regular season runs through the beginning of July. Normally there will be 6-8 practices, and approximately 12 games played during this time period. Minor Softball Games and Practices will normally take place at the Howell High School Softball fields in Howell Michigan .
Question 8 : How important is it that my child attends practices? Answer: It is very important for your child to arrive at practices on time and attend as many as they can. It is during the practices that the skills needed to become a good ball player and enjoy the games are learned. At this age especially, repetition of specific drills helps to build their confidence and understanding of the game.
Question 9: Do we keep score?
Answer: Yes. . Minor game scores and standings are recorded. You can view what place your team is in by going to the howellbaseball.com website. Many of the umpires at this age range only have three or four seasons of experience. They are usually kids and somewhat learning on the job. We ask all parents to be patient and understanding of this. As a spectator, all questions on calls made by umpires should be directed to your team manager. At no time should a spectator directly approach an umpire during the game. The umpires are doing the best they can, and deserve to be left to do their job without harassment from anyone.
Question 10: What is the HAJBA In House Tournament?
Answer: Minor softball players get to participate in the end of the season HAJBA In House tournament. At the end of June, teams are seeded based on regular season standings to play in the tournament held at Northwest Elementary. The winner of the tournament and the runner up team both receive trophies and play the championship game at the HHS Softball fields. It’s important to plan summer vacations around this tournament so your child can participate. A shortage of more than 3 players per team leads to a forfeit and can disappoint other teammates looking forward to the tournament. The final date for this tournament will not be determined until May 1st.
Question 11: How does pitching work in the Minor Softball Division?
Answer: The Minor Softball Division is where kids pitch for the entire game. All kids are taught how to pitch in this league. While instruction is given on how to pitch, it’s important that follow up practice happens at home. This practice will strengthen the players arm and give them confidence to throw pitches around the strike zone. After warming up with stretching and long toss, please limit the amount of pitches thrown to 45. Question 12: Can I assist the managers and coaches during games and practices?
Answer: The Howell Area Junior Baseball Association is an all volunteer organization. The league relies heavily on the involvement of parents during games and practices. At this age group, children tend to have a shorter attention span, and often require encouragement/motivation from their parents to keep their heads in the game. From my experience, managers/coaches at this age level welcome the involvement of parents at many different levels. They may ask you to assist with coaching a base, managing the dugout or keeping score. Don’t hesitate to ask the manager/coach to assist them when you’re available to do so. Also understand that there may be situations where the coach has enough helpers for a specific game or practice. But by offering to assist, you are letting the coach know that for future needs, you would be more than willing to help. If your schedule allows, you should consider managing a team yourself next year. It’s a wonderful experience and allows you to give back to the community in a way that words can’t describe.
Question 13: Will my child’s games and practices be on the same day each week? And will there be weekend games?
Answer: Due to the number of registrants in our programs, your child will not have practices and/or games on the same day each week. At the beginning of the season, you will be provided with a practice/game schedule for your child’s team. We get this posted as soon as we have a good feel for the number of teams we will have for a particular season. Your child may have regularly schedules games or practices on any weekday or Saturday.
Question 14: If I have a problem with the way that my child is being treated by our manager/coach/teammates, what should I do?
Answer: If you have concerns where your child’s role in the team is concerned, your child’s team manager and/or coach should be given the opportunity to hear your concern first. They are the person most likely able to ease your concern and make any changes that may need to be made. Our team managers are all volunteers, and they do their best to make the baseball experience enjoyable and educational as possible for all players. The best time to approach a manager/coach with a concern is after practices and/or prior to games. These two times are likely to be the least « Hectic » for the manager/coach and will allow them to give you the needed time to listen to your concern. Should your concerns not be adequately addressed to your satisfaction by your manager/coach, you do have the option of contacting the Minor Softball Commissioner as well. The commissioner contact info can be found at www.howellbaseball.org. Be aware that the commissioner’s first action will be to contact the manager and discuss the situation with them. That’s why it is important that you give your manager an opportunity to hear your concern prior to contacting the Minor Softball Commissioner.
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