NHAA offers girls fast pitch softball for ages 9 through 18. Teams are formed for the 10U, 12U, 15U, and 18U age divisions. The number of teams in each age division is a function of the number of players who sign up. There is no limit on the number of teams that NHAA will field in any age division. If there is more than one team in an age division, the teams are drafted and balanced by skill level. NHAA also has cooperative agreements with other local athletic associations that sponsor fast pitch teams, where rosters may be combined in the event there is a shortage of players in a particular age division. This insures that any girl desiring to play fast pitch softball will have a team to play on, regardless of which association she initially registers for.
The NHAA fast pitch teams participate in the Greater Pittsburgh Girls Softball League (GPGSL). The GPGSL brings together girls softball teams from athletic associations throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. The GPGSL tries to group together teams of similar geographic areas to schedule regular season games.
Fast pitch softball is offered during the Spring and Fall seasons. Typically more players participate in the Spring season than the Fall. The Fall season is shorter in duration and more attention is paid to instruction. The Fall season affords a good opportunity for girls who have traditionally played slow pitch softball to try fast pitch.
The starting and ending dates for Spring fast pitch softball varies per age Division to accommodate girls who also participate on North Hills School District Junior and Senior High Teams. See the fast pitch softball divisions (10U, 12U, 15U, 18U) below for more details. In the Spring, the fast pitch regular season games are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday and only infrequently on weekends (usually make-up games). Qualifying teams participate in the GPGSL playoffs that follow the conclusion of the Spring regular season.
The Fall fast pitch softball games start the first weekend after Labor Day and conclude the final weekend of October. The Fall regular season games are doubleheaders scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays. No playoffs are scheduled at the conclusion of the Fall season.
The team’s practices and home games will be conducted at a NHAA field designated for that age division. The team’s away games will be played at a GPGSL member team’s field. This will require some travel within the northern portion of the Pittsburgh area during the Spring season and possibly further travel throughout southwestern Pa in the Fall.
The NHAA fast pitch softball program is an opportunity for athletic and competitive girls to develop the skills needed to participate on their school district’s fast pitch softball teams. Fast pitch softball is a WPIAL and PIAA sponsored Spring sport that is offered for girls in the North Hills School District in grades 7 through 12.