Rookie Softball is a beginner's division for participants who want to learn the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. Coaches pitch in rookie ball. Rules of the game are modified to accommodate the need for teaching. The primary goals of Rookie Softball are to instruct children in the fundamentals of softball and to allow them to experience the value of teamwork.
Ages: SEPLL offers Rookie Softball to participants who are League Age 6 or 7. Please use the League Age Calculator to determinate your child's League Age. Please note that although Little League International allows players League Age 6 and 7 to play Tee Ball, it grants leagues discretion to create separate divisions.
SEPLL has created Rookie Softball for the safety of our younger players, and is the first organized softball experience for many of our players.
Team Formation: Rookie Softball teams have approximately 10 to 12 players. SEPLL does its best to create teams by grouping children according to their neighborhoods and schools, while also ensuring a relative balance of ages among the teams. We will do our best to honor requests to play with friends or a specific coach, but we cannot make any guarantees.
Practices: Teams may begin practicing in about mid-March. Where and how often a team practices is up to the manager. Rookie teams generally practice about 2 times per week until the regular season begins in early April. After the regular season begins, team coaches determine the frequency of practices.
Games: Rookie Softball teams play 2 games per week - one at 6:00 pm during the week and one on Saturday. Games are scheduled from early April through the end of the school year. Games are limited to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Games are usually played at Woodstock Elementary School, but may take place at other parks within our league boundaries. In late March the official schedule will be published at www.sepll.org.
Rules: Rookie Softball follows the Little League Softball Official Regulations and Playing Rules. Games may be played on a 50 or 60-foot diamond.