HOUSE LEAGUE
The House League program is designed for girls of all skill levels to play softball in a fun, safe, environment. The BGSA is on one of the largest minor softball associations in Ontario with a House League of more than 40 teams competing in 7 age divisions.
The House League season begins in early May and continues until mid-end of August. Many of the girls are new each year and are welcome to participate in indoor skills clinics through the winter.
BGSA_Rule_Guide_2023.pdf
BGSA HOUSE LEAGUE U7 TBALL
Night of Play: Thursdays
Age: 4 to 6 (2017 - 2020)
Objective: To have fun while being physically active on a daily basis.
Development: Introduce fundamental movement skills (running, jumping, twisting, throwing, and catching) through structured games. Encourage physical activity and provide positive reinforcement of effort to encourage fun and help build self-esteem and confidence.
TBall Convenor: Joe Lamorte
BGSA HOUSE LEAGUE U9 MINOR MITE
Night of Play: Mon/Wed
Age: 7 to 8 (2015-2016)
Description: Minor-Mite builds on the T-ball program and is also a great place for new players to start their softball experience. The summer is a mix of games and practices to develop skills and introduce players to the rules of the game and the game experience. All team members play an in-field or outfield position each inning (no-one sits) and 8 batters bat, no matter how many outs are made. Coaches pitch to the players to optimize the chance of getting a hit (4 pitches). To get a feel for player pitching, players pitch in the 2nd inning only.
The overall goal is to give every player a chance to try all the positions, field the ball, and hit the ball. The emphasis is on FUN!
U9 Convenor: Rhonda Eward
BGSA HOUSE LEAGUE U11 MITE
Nights of Play: Tues/Thurs
Age: 9 to 10 (2013 - 2014)
Description: The game played in Mite follows more traditional rules while allowing players to experience a variety of positions. Mite is a great age/division to start playing softball or build on experience from previous years. All team members play an in-field or outfield position each inning (no-one sits). Players pitch all innings but if there are 4 walks in an inning the coach will take over pitching to ensure players have a chance to get hits and run the bases.
The overall goal is to give players a chance to try a variety of positions, field the ball, and hit the ball. The emphasis is on FUN!
U11 Convenor: Kyle Smith
BGSA HOUSE LEAGUE U13 SQUIRT
Nights of Play: Mondays & Thursdays
Age: 11 to 12 (2011-2012)
Objective: To consolidate fundamental softball skills and introduce more advanced softball skills. Focus on transferring the performance of skills developed in training into the competitive environment. To develop team performance, physical fitness, general mental skills and introduce softball-specific mental skills.
Development: Introduce general physical conditioning, and develop strength, power, speed, agility, quickness, aerobic capacity and aerobic power. Consolidate all fundamental softball skills and introduce advanced softball skills in practice using game simulations. Position-specific skills are developed but with players still learning at least 2 to 3 positions. Play to win during competitions, but the major focus is on learning softball skills and tactics and successfully applying them in competitions rather than on wins and losses. Introduce and develop visualization skills, autonomous decision making during games, goal setting, emotional control, game plans, pre-game and game routines, stress management and coping strategies, and attentional control that are specific to softball.
U13 Convenor: Spencer Larkin
BGSA HOUSE LEAGUE U15 NOVICE
Nights of Play: Tuesdays
Age: 13 to 14 (2009-2010)
Objective: To consolidate fundamental softball skills and introduce more advanced softball skills. Focus on transferring the performance of skills developed in training into the competitive environment. To develop team performance, physical fitness, general mental skills and introduce softball-specific mental skills.
Development: Introduce general physical conditioning, and develop strength, power, speed, agility, quickness, aerobic capacity and aerobic power. Consolidate all fundamental softball skills and introduce advanced softball skills in practice using game simulations. Position-specific skills are developed but with players still learning at least 2 to 3 positions. Play to win during competitions, but the major focus is on learning softball skills and tactics and successfully applying them in competitions rather than on wins and losses. Introduce and develop visualization skills, autonomous decision making during games, goal setting, emotional control, game plans, pre-game and game routines, stress management and coping strategies, and attentional control that are specific to softball.
U15 Convenor: Charlotte Ballantyne
BGSA HOUSE LEAGUE U17 BANTAM
Nights of Play: Tuesday Double Headers
Age: 15 to 17 (2007-2008)
Objective: To refine fundamental softball skills, further develop advanced softball skills, develop softball-specific mental skills, and physical fitness. Focus on the preparation for optimal performance in competition.
Development: Introduce softball-specific physical conditioning, maintain flexibility and practice injury prevention. Begin to individualize instruction and preparation to address each player’s individual needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Teach players, who are now proficient at performing fundamental and advanced softball-specific skills, to perform those skills under a variety of conditions during training and competitions. Position-specific skills are developed but with players still learning at least 2 to 4 positions. Increasing opportunities to develop player’s autonomy in terms of decision-making regarding individual and team preparation and play. Develop and refine visualization skills, autonomous decision making during games, goal setting, emotional control, game plans, pre-game and game routines, stress management and coping strategies, and attentional control.
U18 Convenor: Charlotte Ballantyne
BGSA HOUSE LEAGUE U23 MIDGET
Age: 18 to 23
Nights of Play: Mondays Double Headers
Objective: To refine fundamental softball skills, further develop advanced softball skills, develop softball-specific mental skills, and physical fitness. Focus on the preparation for optimal performance in competition.
Development: Introduce softball-specific physical conditioning, maintain flexibility and practice injury prevention. Begin to individualize instruction and preparation to address each player’s individual needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Teach players, who are now proficient at performing fundamental and advanced softball-specific skills, to perform those skills under a variety of conditions during training and competitions. Specialize in 1 position but play 1 to 2 other positions. Increasing opportunities to develop player’s autonomy in terms of decision-making regarding individual and team preparation and play. Develop and refine visualization skills, autonomous decision making during games, goal setting, emotional control, game plans, pre-game and game routines, stress management and coping strategies, and attentional control.
U23 Convenor: Jason Chohan