The mission of the League is to provide a supervised, educational, and recreational program of competitive softball for all interested youth residing within the league boundaries which include, but are not limited to, the Lucia Mar Unified School District., and to firmly implant in the youth of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship and teamwork. The primary importance of the League is to provide a safe, organized, and quality softball program for all youth ages 4 1/2-18 years.
The following schools are considered to belong to Five Cities Softball League: HighSchools: Arroyo Grande, Lopez. Middle Schools: Judkins and Paulding. ElementarySchools: Branch, Fairgrove, Grover Beach, Grover Heights, Margaret Harloe, Oceano,Ocean View, and Shell Beach.
T-BALL: 6 years old and younger
Locate and name the bases: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, home plate and the names of different positions – pitcher, catcher, outfield, infield, shortstop, etc.
Understand the difference between offense and defense
Demonstrate basic catching and throwing techniques
Be taught how to catch simple pop flies
Possess basic batting skills, locate the batters box and understand the batting order
Know how to hit from a tee, level swing, drive the ball to the ground (Discourage hitting up on the ball to get it airborne) NO throwing the bat!
Demonstrate basic fielding of grounders and throwing to first, always be in a “ready position” at the pitch
Demonstrate knowledge of base running (run through 1st base, NO sliding into 1st)
Attempt to hit a coach pitched ball
Introduced knowledge of how to pitch
Try to begin and end each practice with an exercise or drill that teaches teamwork! (All the girls working together) Be Positive at all times!
PONYTAIL: 8 years old and younger (8U) **
Know how to count balls and strikes
Possess good base running mechanics
Demonstrate how to take a proper lead after the pitch
Understand when to steal (take a lead and watch for a passed ball)
Be able to watch the base coaches for signals and act accordingly
Possess the basics of bunting
Demonstrate the basics of infield defense (throwing ahead of the runner/getting the easy out)
Be able to back up throws from infield/outfield
Demonstrate how to relay the ball into the infield from outfield
Understand who covers on the throw to 2nd, who backs up the play
Possess basic sliding techniques
Demonstrate running hard to 1st base and trying to turn and advance to 2nd
Know basic signs (swing away, stealing and bunting)
10 years old and younger (10U)**
Be capable of fielding and throwing to the appropriate base, back up responsibilities
Demonstrate the basics in bunting and hitting placements (hitting behind the runner, bunting down 3rd base line to advance a runner.)
Understand delayed stealing, Dropped 3rd strike, and stealing home
Demonstrate the basics of drag bunting— Develop pitching basics
Introduction to slap hitting— Learn more advanced hitting fundamentals
Use hitting and base running signs regularly
Understand how to recognize offensive or defensive interference/obstruction rules and how to avoid
12 years old and younger (12U)**
Learn advanced signs (take sign, hit and run, double steal, squeeze play)
Batters can take practice off live pitches
Working on double plays; good footwork
Execute sacrifice bunts
Demonstrate more advanced sliding techniques (introduce the hook slide)
Learn how to tag up to advance to next base/home
Learn cutoff strategies
Improve pitching mechanics; working on control, velocity and changing the speed and location of the pitch
Understanding the “look-back” rule
14 & UP**
Developing additional pitches
Demonstrate knowledge of how to tag up at third on fly balls
Hitting behind the runners
Learning to make adjustments based on the game situations, batter and field conditions
Recognizing and hitting different types of pitches