Welcome to 10U Slowpitch Softball!

10U Slowpitch softball is for girls ages 9 or 10 as of December 31, 2015 (born in 2005 or 2006). 10 year olds are returning to 10U Slowpitch this year and 9 year olds are moving up from the 8U Coach Pitch age group.  In addition, all players new to IFPAA are welcomed!

10U Slowpitch softball will provide a number of new experiences for the players:  manager drafted teams (instead of the neighborhood-based teams used in the 6U T-Ball and 8U Coach Pitch age groups), paid umpires, and most importantly, the girls will learn/develop as pitchers.  The 10U Slowpitch level builds upon the skills and development that were emphasized in 8U Coach Pitch softball and will continue to stress safety, skill development, and fun.  In addition, the competitiveness of the play increases at the 10U Slowpitch level.

10U Slowpitch Team Organization:

Teams will be formed by the managers by way of a draft system.  There will be an evaluation day scheduled for early March to allow the managers to see the girls in action and assess their individual skills.  The draft will occur shortly thereafter.  Every player will be placed on a team. The purpose of the evaluation and draft system is to help make the teams as even as possible so that games will be competitive.  Each team will have one manager and at least one coach. The number of teams will be determined by the number of players registered.  We will contact registered players by email; you can also check our website, www.ifpaa.org, for more details as March approaches.

10U Slowpitch Games:

Depending on the number of teams, the IFPAA 10U Slowpitch teams will:

• play in-house only against the other IFPAA teams (5 teams or more)

OR

• participate in the Greater Pittsburgh Girls Softball League (GPGSL), which will allow the players to compete against teams from other local softball associations as well as the in-house IFPAA teams (4 teams or less)

Games will be 6 innings, 11 players will play the field every inning and the entire roster will bat. Pitching distance will be from 35’ or 40’.  Strikeouts are allowed, but there will be no walks; after four balls, a coach pitcher will take over until the batter either strikes out or hits the ball into play.  This allows for pitchers to develop their skills in a less stressful environment and for batters and fielders to participate fully.  Game scores will be recorded and tracked, and win/loss records will determine placement for the season ending playoffs in late June.

10U Slowpitch Fields:

Practices and home games for 10U Slowpitch softball will be on Field #4 at Blueberry Park.   It is the 10U Slowpitch age group’s responsibility to maintain this field; we want to keep it in the best possible condition for our players.

10U Slowpitch Tournament Team:

Tryouts will be held to field an IFPAA 10U Slowpitch tournament team to travel to post season tournaments.  We are also planning to host a 10 & Under softball tournament at Blueberry Park in mid-July.

How parents can help:

We need parental involvement to have a successful season.  There are many opportunities to be involved:  we need managers and coaches as well as help with fields, supplies, equipment, Snack Shack coverage, among many others.  Please sign up for a volunteer position during Registration or by visiting the Volunteer page on the IFPAA web site.  Thank you for your commitment, support and involvement in the IFPAA 10U Slowpitch softball program.