WELCOME TO THE 2024 SEASON!

 

Birmingham Girls Softball is a community-based, non-profit organization providing girls ages 6 to 14 the opportunity to play organized recreational softball.  We are dedicated to teaching young ladies the fundamentals of softball in a safe and fun environment with teamwork and good sportsmanship being our top priorities.  BGS is open to all girls interested in playing softball for the first time and those with prior experience looking to build on and develop the skills needed to play the game for years to come.  All that we require is a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.

 

Why softball?  Softball develops hand-eye coordination, sharpens mental focus and provides total body conditioning.  Softball helps improve self-esteem, teaches the skills necessary for handling success and failure and develops leadership traits.  Softball players learn teamwork, good sportsmanship and form lifelong friendships. Most importantly, softball creates memories to be cherished forever.

 

Divisions are typically based on grade with our five grade-specific Major Divisions consisting of players in first through fifth grades and our Senior Division consisting of players in sixth through eighth grade.  Divisions are always subject to change based on our registration numbers.  When experience and skill warrant, players are permitted to play down a division or play up (after an evaluation).  Highlights of each division are as follows:

 

Major Division 1 & 2 (formerly Minor Division K – 2^nd Grade)

 

• Team selection is done by school and, when possible, by specific requests to play with friends from the same school;
• All pitching is by the Coach;
• A hitting tee is used in lieu of strikeouts and there are no walks;
• Outs are recorded;
• Score is not kept;
• Teams play with four outfielders and no catcher; and
• There is no umpire.

 

 

Major Division 3 (3^rd Grade)

 

• Team selection is done by school and, when possible, by specific requests to play with friends from the same school;
• Pitching is by both the player and the coach;
• Score is kept;
• Outs are recorded; and
• There is a home plate umpire.

 

Major Division 4 (4^th Grade)

 

• Team selection is done by school and, when possible, by specific requests to play with friends from the same school;
• Pitching is by both the player and the coach;
• Score is kept;
• Outs are recorded; and
• There are at least two umpires.

 

Major Division 5 (5^th Grade)

 

• Team selection is done by school and, when possible, by specific requests to play with friends from the same school;
• Pitching is by both the player and the coach;
• Score is kept;
• Outs are recorded;
• There are at least two umpires; and
• Stealing is allowed.

 

Senior Division

 

• Players are drafted and, as such, requests to play with friends will not be honored (familial accommodations will be made);
• All pitching is by the player.
• Dropped third strike rule is in effect; and
• Stealing home is allowed.

 

 

 

Registration for the 2024 season opens on Friday, December 15, 2023.  Registration is done online at www.birminghamsoftball.com by clicking on the button at the top of the page labeled “Register Here”.  Registration fees will be posted but typically run between $250 and $325, depending on the Division.  Early registration closes on February 29, 2024, at which time, a late fee will be assessed.  Payment may be made online at the time of registration or, if you prefer, by mailing a check made payable to Birmingham Girls Softball, c/o Jeff Weber, 689 Suffield Ave, Birmingham, MI  48009.  In case of financial hardship, please email our league President, Jeff Weber, at jweb666@me.com.

 

Please note:  Refunds will only be given in the event of a player injury or a player moves out of the area.

 

Uniforms, including a game jersey, practice t-shirt and socks, will be provided to all players.  We recommend girls wear black softball pants and players in the Major and Senior Divisions consider purchasing sliding shorts.  Players will need to wear non-metal cleats.  We strongly encourage all girls wear fielding masks or mouth guards.  Rules regarding fielding masks based on divisions and positions will be provided prior to the start of practices.  BGS no longer provides batting helmets so players are required to provide their own, properly fitting helmet with front cage.  All items mentioned above can be purchased at the Varsity Shop in Birmingham.

 

Game and Practice Schedules will not be made until the spring.  However, our Divisions primarily play and practice on the following days:

 

• Majors 1 – Mondays and Saturdays
• Majors 2 – Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Majors 3 – Thursdays and Thursdays
• Majors 4 – Tuesdays and Fridays
• Majors 5 – Thursdays and Sundays
• Seniors – Mondays and Wednesdays

 

Players can anticipate having two practices per week prior to the start of the season and no more than one practice per week once the season kicks off.  Two games per week is the norm unless rain forces a make-up game to be scheduled.  All games and practices will be held on fields in the City of Birmingham.  Weather permitting, our season kicks off with practices starting on Monday, April 1, 2024, and concludes with our championship games the week of June 3, 2024.

 

 

Our Player’s Softball Clinics are put on by the Seaholm High School Girls Softball Team.  A $10 per player fee will be charged at the door.  Please watch for future e-mails with additional information.

 

Coaches needed!  BGS looks forward to providing another year of instruction on the fundamentals of the game.  We are always looking for coaches who are dedicated to helping our girls develop and improve their skills.  To help prepare our coaches for the new season, we are planning a Coach’s Clinic prior to the start of the season.  If you are interested in coaching, be sure to check the “willing to help” box during online registration.

 

Sponsorship opportunities are available!  BGS is fortunate that many of our local businesses assist our league by defraying some of our operating expenses.  As the cost of operating the league continues to grow, additional sponsorship opportunities will be offered this year.  If your business is interested in sponsoring our program, please email our league President, Jeff Weber, at jweb666@me.com.

 

Umpires are one of the keys to our success and we pride ourselves on having some of the best around.  If you are 14 years or older and are interested in umpiring, please register online at www.birminghamsoftball.com by clicking on the button at the top of the page labeled “Umps”.

 

This year, all umpires will be required to attend an instructional clinic at a date and time to be determined.  More information to follow.

 

Jags Fastpitch, the official travel team of Birmingham Girls Softball, has expanded to 8/9U, 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U teams.  Travel softball, compared to recreational softball, requires individual competitive tryouts, selects participants primarily on their playing ability, bases a player’s playing time on skill, production, attitude, and experience, is generally considered a higher level of competition and can be costly.  Tryouts for the Jags Fastpitch teams are usually held in August.  If you are interested in a mid-season tryout, please email Jeff Weber at jweb666@me.com.  For more information, please visit www.jagsfastpitch.com.