AGSL Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to play?
If your daughter (K-12) resides in the Town of Amherst or in the Williamsville Central, Amherst Central or Sweet Home Central School Districts, she is eligible to play.
Anyone outside of the listed above is eligible to play, but with an additional $25 non-resident fee.
When does house league registration begin?
Registration will start in early December. Registration will officially end on March 31, but late sign-ups may be accepted until divisions are full in early April.
How do I register my daughter(s) for the house league?
New and returning players are encouraged to register on-line at https://www.amherstgirlssoftball.com. We welcome new players, including girls that have not played softball before.
What are the registration fees?
Registration fees are based on grade and level, please see registration page for more information. Registration fees will go up $25 on April 10th.
Each family will be required to pay a fund raiser fee of $40 up front. At the beginning of the season each family will receive lottery/raffle tickets which they can choose to sell and recoup their fund raiser fee or may choose to keep the tickets and take their chances with the lottery/raffle. If you choose to sell your tickets it is your responsibility to keep track of who you sold them too. The league will mail a check for the winning ticket to the family the ticket was originally assigned to.
Teams may individually decide to collect contributions for team parties, concession stand treats, etc. These fees are at the discretion of the team. The league asks all house league teams to keep such fees reasonable.
When does the season officially start?
The coaches meeting will be in late March/Early May. Coaches will receive their official rosters and equipment. Parents and players will be contacted shortly there after. Practices will typically begin in the beginning to mid-April, and the games will start the beginning of May.
What days are the practice and games?
Based on feedback from many parents, all AGSL regular season house league games will be on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. The exception to this could be rain make up games. Playoffs will likely be played Monday through Thursday the last week of June, and playoffs can go into the first two weeks of July. The request by parents has been to have more set days for planning with a heavier concentration on weekend days. This helps with homework and exam preparation too. We believe this will reduce family stress and make it easier to plan.
Practices are scheduled individually by the team coaches. Most teams will practice two days a week until the season starts, and a few times during the regular season.
Where are the AGSL diamonds located?
AGSL utilizes a number of town and school district owned diamonds throughout the town of Amherst. Primarily the House league, travel teams and tournaments use the diamonds at the Northtown Center. The house and travel leagues will also use other diamonds as needed. The location of these diamonds is listed below as well as their abbreviation which will be listed on your team schedules as assigned.
We have eight skinned diamonds. They are located behind the Northtown Center at the corner of Millersport Highway and Maple Rd. in Amherst.
Although these are the main diamonds used for games, coaches may practice anywhere they wish. At the lower levels many times “green space” can be utilized for practices.
What equipment is needed?
Team uniforms include jersey and caps are included in the cost of the registration fee. Uniforms are yours to keep after the season ends. A glove is required and can be purchased at any major sporting goods or department store for approximately $20 for beginners 5-7 years to over $100 for higher quality professional gloves at the senior level. Softball/baseball pants are not provided, and need to be purchased. The cost of pants is about $8 to $10 and can be purchased at local sporting goods stores. Rubber baseball shoes/cleats ($10-$25) are strongly recommended. Metal spikes are not allowed. Although bats are provided in the coach’s equipment bag, many players prefer to bring/use their own bat. Players should wear a facemask. All pitchers are required to wear a facemask.
Can we request to play with friends?
Yes, The AGSL house league board encourages friends to play together. An official request may be entered online when registering your daughter(s). We will do our best to honor requests up until March 1st. Once we start to place girls on teams it will be very difficult to honor player requests. So if you are interested in having your daughter(s) with a specific friend(s) make sure you register for the upcoming season at the time of your registration.
How do you structure your divisions at AGSL?
We use grade levels to create our divisions at AGSL. Here is a breakdown:
A: Kindergarten and First Grade
AA: Second and Third Grade
AAA: Fourth and Fifth Grade
Majors: Six, Seventh, and Eighth Grade
Seniors: Ninth to Twelfth Grade
Why play softball with AGSL?
We are the premier recreational softball organization in WNY. We have great volunteer coaches, have a top notch facility, and a proven track record of success. 96% of AGSL parents surveyed would recommend AGSL to a friend. We are also 14% to 42% more cost effective than other regional recreational softball leagues, without sacrificing quality. AGSL will develop softball skills, teach team work, give the opportunity for your daughter to meet new friends, and create a fun environment. For girls that want to take softball to the next competitive level, AGSL has both the Thunder and Lightning travel programs too.