Running A Youth Softball Fall League

    The games themselves can be played a number of ways. I happen to think that the league should be as non competitive as possible. This is a great opportunity for players to play different positions that they didn’t do during the season. Pitchers innings should be limited. for example, if it is a four game season a player can’t pitch more than four innings the whole fall season. One inning per game per pitcher should be the average. This is forcing the manager to use different pitchers. Also how about having a batting order comprised of the whole team, let’s say one thru twelve. With this we have free fielding substitutions. The point here is to get each player up. You can add other rules to keep the game moving like nine players maximum at bat per inning or seven walks per inning.

     There are a number of other creative rules a league can try. The league has to make sure if they have certain rule changes it is aloud by the League Board of Directors and the League Charter. The main point is some kids prefer playing baseball to soccer or football in the fall. If there is enough interest, it’s a shame to keep these fields empty during the months of September and October and when timed correctly a youth baseball fall league can be run right up to league tryouts for the next Spring season.

Marty Schupak has been involved in Youth Sports for fifteen years. He is the producer of the best selling baseball video "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice" and is the President of the Youth Sports Club. He can be reached at their web site: www.youthsportsclub.com