FALL SEASON INFORMATION
The WUSA Fall Ball Program emphasizes player development. Players will participate in the 2026 fall age division they will play in the upcoming 2027 competitive spring season. As such, the league focuses on developing the player's softball skills (throwing, catching, hitting, baserunning), knowledge of the game, and corresponding rules unique to that division. The 7U-12U Fall Ball Program includes a mix of clinic-style practices supported by area college and high school coaches and players, individual team practices, and games. Our 14U division alternates between a clinic-based practices led by college coaches and players and games on Sunday evenings. There is no 6U program offered in the fall. All divisions except the 14U division participate in an end-of-season tournament the last week of the season.
GENERAL SCHEDULE
Our 7U-12U teams have one game or one clinic-based practice scheduled per week Monday-Thursday. Voluntary weekend practices are offered at the team managers' discretion. The 7U-12U division will play approximately 10 regular-season games, and participate in an end-of-fall season tournament. Rained-out games are NOT rescheduled. 14U families can skip down to information about your season below as it is different than our other divisions.
7U-12U Divisions season overview
Week 1 - week of August 31
Team practices begin during the week of August 31. Your team manager will provide your individual team's schedule which may include a weeknight practice and one weekend practice. Pitcher and catcher clinics, along with hitting clinics begin Sunday, September 6, information below.
Week 2 - week of september 7
7U / 8U / 9U: Team practices continue, one weeknight and one weekend practice.
10U / 12U: Team-based instructional clinics on a weeknight and one weekend practice.
Week 3 - WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14
7U / 8U / 9U: Team-based weeknight instructional clinics and one weekend practice.
10U / 12U: Weeknight games begin, weekend practices continue.
Weeks 4–10 - BEGINNING WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21
All divisions move into their regular weeknight fall game schedules. Games are generally scheduled one night per week between Monday and Thursday.
Optional player-development sessions continue throughout the season. Player position skills clinics begin on Wednesday, September 23; additional details below.
Week 11 - WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9
The end of season tournament will begin Monday, November 9 for each division and is scheduled to conclude Saturday, November 14. The Skills Competition will take place on Sunday, November 15. More details below.
| DIVISION | CLINIC-BASED PRACTICE or GAMES | VOLUNTARY PRACTICE |
|---|---|---|
| 7U | Weeknights | Weekends |
| 8U | Weeknights | Weekends |
| 9U | Weeknights | Weekends |
| 10U | Weeknights | Weekends |
| 11U | Weeknights | Weekends |
| 12U | Weeknights | Weekends |
| 14U | Sundays 6 - 8 PM | None |
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
WUSA offers several optional instructional opportunities throughout the fall in addition to regular team practices and games. These are offered at no additional cost, however signups are required to participate in some of the offerings.
University of St. Thomas Team Clinics
University of St. Thomas softball coaches and players will support weeknight team clinic sessions during the early weeks of the season. These clinics give WUSA players and coaches an opportunity to work with college-level players and coaches while learning fundamental skills, drills and practice techniques. Each team will receive additional information from its manager regarding its scheduled clinic.
Pitcher & Catcher Clinics
WUSA is partnering with professional softball pitching coach Christina Biggerstaff and former Louisiana Tech softball player and professional coach Valerie Quiroga to provide specialized pitcher and catcher instruction.
Sundays | 5:00–7:00 PM beginning Sunday, September 6
5:00–6:00 PM: Developing / less-experienced pitchers and catchers
6:00–7:00 PM: More experienced / advanced pitchers and catchers
Important: A parent or other adult should be available to catch for your pitcher during the clinic. Catchers participating in the clinic will be working separately from the pitchers.
Regular attendance is encouraged for players who want to make significant progress at these specialized positions. Please register for the dates you plan to attend, and if your plans change, please remove your name from the signup list so another player has the opportunity to participate. Sign-up links will be posted soon.
HITTING CLINICS
WUSA will offer focused hitting instruction in partnership with University of St. Thomas softball coaches. Sessions will be held on Sundays in the WUSA Hitting and Fielding Pavilion at South Campus beginning Sunday, September 6.
Clinics are designed to provide focused instruction in areas such as:
- Swing mechanics
- Bat path
- Timing
- Approach
- Tee and drill work
- Game-ready hitting fundamentals
Please register for the dates you plan to attend, and if your plans change, please remove your name from the signup list so another player has the opportunity to participate. Sign-up links will be posted soon.
Position Player Skills Sessions
WUSA is partnering with former Episcopal High School coach Kim Randolph and University of St. Thomas softball players to provide additional individual skills instruction during the fall. These Wednesday evening sessions focus on foundational softball skills that complement regular team practices and games and begin Wednesday, September 23.
Instruction may include:
- Throwing mechanics
- Catching
- Infield play
- Outfield play
- Baserunning
- Sliding
- Hitting
- Bunting
Important: A parent or other adult should be available to throw or catch with the player when requested so instructors can concentrate on coaching and technique.
Please register for the dates you plan to attend, and if your plans change, please remove your name from the signup list so another player has the opportunity to participate. Sign-up links will be posted soon.
END OF SEASON SKILLS SHOWCASE
In alignment with our Skills Development Focus for Fall Ball, WUSA will host a Fall Ball Softball Skills Showcase event at the conclusion of the season on Sunday, November 15. Fall Ball players and teams will have the opportunity to compete at different softball skills stations for fun prizes and WUSA discounts.
Players will have an opportunity to participate in age-appropriate softball challenges involving areas such as:
- Fielding
- Throwing
- Pitching
- Hitting
- Baserunning
- Softball strategy
- Team spirit and cheering
Additional information about this event will be shared as the season progresses.
The 14U program follows a different format than the younger divisions. All activities will take place Sunday evenings from 6-8 PM and begin on September 6. The ten week season includes a mix of clinic sessions and scrimmage games. WUSA Board Member Dennis Stasio will be the team manager and coordinator for the fall 14U recreational program and will seek on-field support from parents of the participating players. Tentative dates are listed below, and are subject to change.
The four clinics are led by University of St. Thomas coaches and your daughter will have the opportunity to interact with current college players.
- September 6
- September 20
- October 18
- November 1
The six scrimmages will combine players from this 14U recreation program and our WUSA Fall Tournament teams for fun, competitive 90 minute games.
- September 13
- September 27
- October 4
- October 11
- October 25
- November 8
In addition, 14U players may participate in any of the skill clinics offered above.
Each week, we ask families to respond to a team Sign Up Genius to indicate their participation from week to week. Additional information regarding the 14U schedule, format and instructional program will be communicated directly to 14U families.
PLAYER EVALUATIONS AND TEAM FORMATION
WUSA DOES NOT have player evaluations for the fall recreational program. Teams are organized by the division coordinators who assign players based on player requests, schools, but also and importantly, to achieve relative parity in overall team skill.
SPECIAL TEAM/PLAYER REQUESTS & CONFLICTS
Please note that WUSA is not able to honor all team placement requests for carpools, best friends, classmates, assistant coaches, etc.
In the fall season, while there are attempts to honor friend, or coach requests,
we are unable to guarantee and we cannot honor every request.
FALL FUNDRAISING
Donations to WUSA are appreciated in the fall but no team-based fundraising is conducted. Please reach out to wusahelp@wusa.org to get information about how to get your sponsorship and signage confirmed for 2027.
UNIFORMS
The league provides a fall ball jersey to all enrolled players. A mix of age-appropriate sizes are provided to the team manager to distribute to the players. No individualized sizes are ordered for the fall season. Teams are left to their own discretion to source pants, socks, and belts.
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION
Each player will need the following equipment: Fielding glove, batting helmet, softball bat, and an infield face mask*
Other equipment is also recommended in some divisions including cleats, batting gloves, and sliding pants.
*In the 7U/8U/9U/10U/11U/12U Divisions, infield face masks are required for all infielders, including pitchers during all girl pitch innings. Defensive pitchers in 7U/8U/9U/10U (pitchers playing the position while a coach or machine is pitching) must wear a batting helmet. In the 14U division, infield face masks are required for the pitcher and 3rd base positions and are recommended for all other infield positions as well.
VOLUNTEERING
WUSA is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, and we need your help to make our league run. The success of West University Softball Association is rooted in a foundation of parent volunteerism. All families are expected to help out in various roles. While no team jobs are assigned in Fall Ball, one adult for each registered player is required to work at least one shift at WUSA’s South Campus fields concession stand.
WUSA will not approve volunteers (including team managers and coaches) with felony criminal convictions or convictions of crimes of moral turpitude.
DIVISIONS - AGE WINDOWS
| DIVISION | AGE WINDOW (Fall 2026 Season) | FALL BALL PROGRAM DIVISION DESCRIPTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 6U | 9/1/2019 - 8/31/2021 | *****The 6U division is NOT offered in our Fall Ball Program***** |
| 7U | 9/1/2018 – 8/31/2019* *Players born 9/1/2018 – 12/31/2018 may play 8U | A coach will pitch to the players from a distance of approximately 27 feet using an 11-inch safety ball (DX5 ball). All players on a team will play in the field each inning and all players will hit in the batting order. |
| 8U | 9/1/2017 – 8/31/2018* *Players born 9/1/2017 – 12/31/2017 may play 9U | A coach will pitch to the players from a distance of approximately 27 feet using an 11-inch safety ball (DX5 ball). All players on a team will play in the field each inning and all players will hit in the batting order. |
| 9U | 9/1/2016 – 8/31/2017* *Players born 9/1/2016 – 12/31/2016 may play 10U | This division includes a combination of girl-pitch for one inning and machine-pitch for the remaining innings, both from a distance of 35 feet using an 11-inch standard ball. All players on a team will play in the field each inning and all players will hit in the batting order. |
| 10U | 9/1/2015 – 8/31/2016* *Players born 9/1/2015 – 12/31/2015 may play 11U | The first half of the season includes a combination of girl-pitch for two innings and machine-pitch for the remaining innings, both from a distance of 35 feet using an 11-inch standard ball. Pending a league assessment, the second half of the season may be exclusively girl-pitch. All players on a team will play in the field each inning and all players will hit in the batting order. |
| 11U | 9/1/2014 – 8/31/2015* *Players born 9/1/2014 – 12/31/2014 may play 12U | Exclusively girl-pitch from 40 feet with a standard 12-inch ball. There is no machine pitch component. While all players will hit in the batting order, only 9 players play the field at a time. Players will continue to rotate between infield and outfield positions throughout the game. |
| 12U | 9/1/2013 – 8/31/2014* *Players born 9/1/2013 – 12/31/2013 may play 14U | Exclusively girl-pitch from 40 feet with a 12-inch standard ball. 9 players on a team will play in the field each inning while all players will hit in the batting order. Players gain position specialization and are no longer required to rotate between infield and outfield positions. |
| 14U | 9/1/2011 – 8/31/2013 | This division is exclusively girl-pitch from 43 feet with a 12-inch standard ball. Pending the complement of players, the division will divide players into teams for weekend games which may differ from week to week. The clinic-style practices hosted over the fall season emphasize a player's individual skill development and allow fall ball players to interact with college players in drills with a goal of advancing skills and challenging a player at her respective level of play. |
WUSA players are slotted into a respective division of play according to her birth date. Division birth dates are set up according to USA Softball rules which changed in 2023. WUSA has phased-in these changes to our recreational league starting with 2018 birth years. Reference the table below to find the division your daughter will be defaulted. Players are allowed to play one division lower with league approval. If intending to enroll in a lower-age level division, enroll in the defaulted division and indicate your intention in the notes section on the enrollment. The change will be made by our WUSA registrar. You may also email the WUSA Helpline to ensure the change to a lower division is made.
FALL BALL REGISTRATION FEE AND REFUND POLICY
Discounted Early Bird registration fee of $225.
The regular registration fee is $250.
The late registration fee is $500 and contingent on available openings.
WUSA will refund registration fees upon request according to the schedule shown below:
- Refund requests received prior to regular registration close: Full refund minus a $25 processing fee
- Refund requests received after regular registration closes: 50% refund
- No refunds after late registration ends
NOTE: Divisions may close once they are full and no additional late registrations will be allowed.
FINANCIAL AID
If you are in need of financial support, you can submit a scholarship application here.
