Interest in an I275 10u-14u Softball League?

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Since its formation many years ago, the Central Ohio I270 Fastpitch Softball League has helped improve the game of fastpitch softball and develop competitive players across virtually every central Ohio community.

During this past summer, I was talking to a softball friend from the Cincinnati area. He complained about the lack of comparable community fastpitch league in the Cincinnati area and the negative impact it is having on player development.

Mike Flanagan (I270 league founder) and I believe we have developed a 'league formula' that works and is repeatable. We would be willing to start an I275 League if there is enough interest and support.



A little bit about the League format:

• Teams sign up for either a M/W or T/TH league - 10u, 12u, 14u
• League schedules a total of 20 games (10 nights, double-headers) and assigns umpires. Games follow ASA rules with a few minor exceptions (ex - bat the line-up).
• Each team is responsible for acquiring its own team insurance
• Each team must have access to a home field location (because most teams are community travel - HS/MS programs or youth athletic associations make fields available to promote competitive softball skills development).
• Each team pays its own umpire fees (1 umpire per game).
• League provides website which posts scores and standings
• At end of 20 game schedule - the top four teams in each age group/night division (based on the league scoring system) 'play off' to determine the League Champions. The League provides awards for first and second place and covers the umpire fees for the Playoffs.

Let me know your thoughts.

 

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Is this similar to the SOFSGA (mis?) league that goes down to the 8U?

 

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The Southern Ohio Girls Fastpitch Softball Association is a rec based - community based league. It stretches from Wilmington to Harrison, Ohio and all points inbetween.

There are so many varieties of team in that league actually. Wish they could do an "A" and "B" rec division and that would probally help them.

Mike, as for the travel ball leagues in this area... there are a couple. Harrison has a league and another somewhere else.

The problem with most teams is they can't get the diamonds or don't have the time to get the diamonds ready to play.

A league was discussed last year in a thread and the main problem was diamond space... and finding them. Obviously, the travel part would like to have their ballfields ready to play on... and thus the reasoning they attend Pastime Park's league.

 

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I know when my daughter played in that league 5 years ago, they had an A and B divisions. I would guess that the way select ball has exploded that it may be watered down from 12U up...it was a fun league when they were younger.

Pastime has some issues...JMHO

 

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Just to be clear, very few true club/travel teams play in the I270 league in Central Ohio. Most are community-select teams that want to play against other community-select teams. It is the linkage to the community youth athletic programs that allow them to gain access to fields. True travel/club teams with no affiliation to community youth programs often have difficult times getting field space in Central Ohio as well.

 

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Well, if it isn't for travel.. then they already have a league here and it's called SOFGSA... a USSSA affiliated league. On the Eastside, they have another which Goshen is a part of for the past few years. It takes in non-Greater Cincy area villages.

 

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SOGFSA (Southwest Ohio Girls Fastpitch Softball Association) does have a rec A and B Division. Certainly not equivalent to travel, but there are a handful of teams that could compete.

It is my belief that there is a place for a Rec A "plus" league as some of the teams have certainly outgrown the Rec A...

I run Lebanon's program and I would potentially be interested in details for our girls, especially at the older ages.

 

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Pastime Park and Harrison has a league, Jim. There's another in Tri-County area as well.

I'll put the link here as soon as I find it. Link is:

 

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Couldn't find the link for the Tri-County area one... but someone will chime in here on the OFC and give you the info on it.

 

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Couldn't find the link for the Tri-County area one... but someone will chime in here on the OFC and give you the info on it.

Corpus Christi ran one last year. Link is http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=23166&highlight=corpus+christi

SOGFSA (of which I am a board member) has a A and B rec division. The community travel teams that you mention are the A teams for the smaller locales. The larger (Mason and Lakota for example, feed alot of kids into select).

We used to run a select league out of Pisgah that would have 14-16 teams each year, but the number of teams has declined each year, and the cost to play was raised last year - so we decided last year not to have it anymore.

As Tim mentioned, the lack of field space for teams is the issue. Only a couple of the select organizations have access to a regular field.

 

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Thanks Jabber Jaw.. for the thread link. That league is a double header league if I am correct.

ASA Dayton has a double header league as well, Jim. Maybe Tuesday night.. not sure. But, I think it is.

 

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I've been trying to talk Goshen into a league for two years.

Just can't fit it in ... their rec shcedule is so full anymore.....which is a good thing for the girls and boys of the community.