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HYAA offers recreational, developmental, in-town Spring Softball program for players in K-8th grade.
The program is organized into four age groups/divisions: K - 1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade and 6th - 8th grade.The season concludes with a "Pizza & Awards Night" where each player receives a participation trophy. The cost is picked up by the parents, the amount of which is determined before the season's opening games. Money is collected by each team coach by the second week of the season. The season includes 2 games a week for 6 weeks. Games are played Monday through Friday. Practice is up to the individual coach, typically once a week before the season starts
Pre-Season Clinic
HYAA will run an Indoor Clinic for all players during the winter months and prior to the start of the season. Participation is optional and an additional fee.
We kick off each season with an Opening Day Event. Details about this will be distributed each spring.
Equipment and Schedules
Gloves are a must for each player and provided by parents. Balls & bats will be provided by HYAA for game time use only and remain in HYAA equipment boxes during non games. Equipment Box codes are given to Head Coaches only. Equipment and Schedules will be available to all Division Directors for distribution (e-mails will be sent out with more info) Schedules will be handed out on or before April 15th. Softball begins after April vacation. Kids are typically contacted prior to April vacation and fields permitting, practices start near April vacation. Practices are held at the discretion of the coaches. Coaches assign their own practice schedules and assigned practice times in mid April. The season for in town softball extends from mid-late April to mid June. Players and parents will be notified which team they are on and given their team schedule by the coach about one week prior to the start of the season. Please do not contact commissioners/HYAA prior to that time for this information, as the information will not be available. Teams and schedules will not have been put in place until all registrations are finalized in Mid April. It will not be known when your practice or games are until coaches contact the kids in mid April.
Uniforms
HYAA Will provide a T-shirt and visor for each registered player.
Commissioners:
Joel Barrett: joeldbarrett@gmail.com
Dan Condon: dcelectrical@gmail.com
Directors:
Grade K-1 - Karen Godfrey kcurran76@yahoo.com
Grade 2-3 - Joe Gray - joegray41@yahoo.com
Grade 4-5 - Dennis Toner dennistoner@hotmail.com
Grade 6-8 Aaron Foley - afoles@gmail.com
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K - Grade 1
This division is usually the girls' first exposure to softball. We try to keep it fun for the girls by having a clinic-like approach for the first 2 weeks to teach them the fundamentals of softball before getting into a real game. On game nights, the players are divided into two groups - one group will practice infield fundamentals example : hitting, base running ,fielding while the other group plays a game. One coach will pitch to his/her team, while the other coach catches for the batter , the other coaches work on fundamentals with the other players in the outfield. Batting tees are available if needed. An 11 inch soft softball is used to reduce injuries. Parents are always encouraged to assist in the outfield with their child in the first 2 weeks of skills.
Games are 1 hour.
2nd-3rd Division
This age group is where the girls will get into real games with umpires, score keeping and following the 3 out rule. We will attempt to have girls pitch to one another, but coaches should use their own discretion on when they should jump in and pitch to the batter. A general rule of thumb is to let the pitcher find her groove, but we want the girls to be hitting, not taking walks. We will work with High School coaches to come up with specific pitching clinics for this age group.
A soft 11-inch ball is used, but it is highly encouraged for girls to use the face masks that are supplied in all the field boxes. The season includes 2 games a week for 6 weeks. Games are played Monday through Friday.
Games start at 6:00 pm and an inning can not be started after 7:15 pm. Games will be played at Forge Pond Park.
4th-5th Grade Division
Games are six innings long (or 7:30 pm time limit) with Hanover High School players officiating as umpires. An 11-inch softball is used and pitchers pitch from 35 feet. Stealing and bunting is allowed, though modified. At this level, pitching and catching is always encouraged as girls will be given exposure to pitching and catching during the season. Girls showing they are capable of throwing strikes or ball over the plate from the circle are encouraged to try pitching in almost every game but for safety reasons coaches will dictate who may or may not be ready to pitch.
Games begin at 6:00 pm and no inning can start after 7:30 pm. Games will be played at Forge Pond Park, Monday-Friday.
Occasional Saturday games are at the discretion of the director.
Grade 6th-8th Division
All softball rules are used with some minor modifications. We try to have a 14 game season schedule, however this is dependent on enrollment and number of teams. A typical schedule includes 2 games per week for 6 weeks with no games played on the weekend. However, weekend games are up to the coaches discretion and may be necessary during playoffs. Parents will be notified ahead of time in these cases.
Games are 7 innings long or timed out by 7:30 pm or from the last inning started prior to 7:30 pm. Games will be played at Forge Pond Park.
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- Opens online for 2019 on February 11th-March 3rd
- Late registration runs online March 4th-10th
- $35 late fee applies to all late registrations
- Registration Fee is $100 per player.
- Go to online registration
Travel Softball
HYAA overs a Travel Softball program over the summer for players in grades 4 and up. All girls interested in participating must participate in the Spring In Town program to be eligible to tryout. Depending on interest there may be 1 or 2 teams at each age level. More information about this program will be distributed to registered softball players during the Spring Season. This league has a more competitive level of play, tryouts are required and a high level of commitment over the summer is expected for all players who participate.
South Shore Summer Travel Program
Overview: The South Shore Summer Softball League is a collection of towns in the greater South Shore area. They are broken up into different brackets based on skill level.
Cost: Varies each year by divsion. Fee includes uniform, league fees and may also include tournament fees.
Season: End of June to early August. Playoffs start the first week of August.
Expectations: The expectation is that girls participating in Summer Travel Softball will be able to make at least 80% of the games. Plan on 2 games a week and once practice a week. Depending on the age group you are in will determine what day you play, but it will be either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, with one practice at the coach's discretion.
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