Improving Travel Softball: New Rules to Enhance the Game

Play your level

I know it sounds fun and challenging to pit your 12u team against an 18u bracket, but you are not doing anyone any favors. Set up a scrimmage if you want that. High school and college-level players facing off against a 12u pitcher will mess up their timing. Yes, I'm aware there are some 12-year-olds that can throw fast, but there is a difference in ball size and distance to the plate; there's no need to get a wild pitch on the dome causing a concussion.

New Divisions

• High School - Varsity level players mostly of the old 16/18u divisions. Junior Varsity for developmental 16 and standard 14u players. If you have a player that is really good at 14u they can be promoted to varsity, but don't bring your whole team.
• Middle School - same as above but for 12u. This is a transitional period where the circle is closer and the ball is smaller. If you have a super talented 12 year old then let them play up and stay there. But don't bring your whole team.
• Rec League - there is no reason to subject your 10 and under to the grind and your pocketbook to the expenses of travel ball. Keep it fun for now. Don't push them into the crazy world of competitive ball
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Follow the same rules

• Git rid of the DP/Flex - its confusing most of the time and it just causes problems and everyone accuses you of cheating.
• Enforce Legal pitching - don’t sacrifice injury and bad mechanics for a few extra miles per hour.
• Pitch counts - this forces you to develop a pitching staff, instead of relying on one dominant, pitcher, risking injury from overuse ?
• Call the strike zone - it’s the same for everyone.
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