Softball Travel Overview
REQUIREMENT: Players must participate in the Summit Fastpitch Softball Recreational Program (or the equivalent Summit baseball program) in the spring to be eligible for any season of softball travel.
The mission of the Summit Fastpitch Softball Travel program is to provide an environment and a culture that instills the values of hard work, commitment, and sportsmanship while providing a higher level of competition for avid softball players. Players develop softball skills, game IQ, confidence, and leadership abilities while competing against similar teams in the North / Central NJ area. Most away games are 15-30 minutes from Summit, with a handful slightly further.
Leagues
Historically our teams have played in the USA Softball District 2 League for all seasons.
Eligibility
Players must have played at least 1 season of Summit Fastpitch Recreational 1st & 2nd Grade instructional league or higher prior to joining the travel team.
Players reside in the City of Summit, NJ, and meet age requirements as set forth by USA Softball. Generally, players are between the ages of 7-14 years of age.
Travel team tryouts typically occur in June (for the fall travel season) and in November (for spring and Summer travel seasons). This outside assessment performed by a third party is used in conjunction with coach evaluations from prior seasons for travel team formation.
These teams are intended for players enthusiastic about playing a higher and more competitive level of softball. Commitment to a high percentage of games and practices is expected.
Seasons
Spring Softball Travel is a way for experienced Summit softball players to continue games at a higher level of play during the spring season. It is meant as a supplement to the recreational league and, therefore, consists of mostly games.
Games: Double headers on Sundays from April-early June. Expected 10 game regular season followed by playoffs. Games usually range from 15-30 minutes from Summit, with a handful slightly further.
Practices: Mostly occur before recreational league games begin. Players are expected to attend both practices and games for their rec team. Travel practices after the start of rec season are optional.
Age Divisions: 8U (coach pitch), 10U, 12U (team formation requires sufficient number of registered players).
Summer softball travel is where you turn when your daughter just doesn’t want to stop playing at the end of the Spring rec season.
Games: 1-2 games weekly starting in mid-June. Expected 12 game regular season with both home and away games, followed by playoffs. All games occur Monday-Friday to leave your summer weekends free for travel and relaxation and the season including playoffs usually culminates by the end of July or first several days in August. An exception here is the 12U Hershey team, who competes in a weekend tournament during the month of July in Hershey, PA.
Practices: 1-2 practices per week
Age Divisions: 8U (coach pitch), 10U, 12U, 14U (team formation requires sufficient number of registered players).
Games: 1-2 games per week with historically consistent game days based on age bracket (listed below) with a total of 10 regular season games followed by playoffs.
Practices: 1-2 practices per week
Age Divisions:
8U(coach pitch): Mostly Saturdays with some Thursdays/Fridays
10U Fridays and Saturdays
12U: Thursdays and Saturdays
14U: Mostly Sundays with some Thursdays.
Players that have participated in at least one season of softball travel in the preceding year and are committed to at least one season in the upcoming year are also eligible to participate in an optional winter training program run by Summit softball coaches. This winter the session will rotate between age brackets and will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6-7:30 at D-Bat in Mountainside.
For more information, contact: softballtd@summitssbl.org.