MGSA Programs

MGSA provides organized softball opportunities for all girls ages 4-19 living in the Minnetonka School District #276, whether they attend public or private school. We offer a variety of programs based on age, ability, and competitiveness. All of our programs emphasize skill development, teamwork, competition, and fun. Parent volunteers coach all of our teams.

We start practices in April, with games commencing in early May. Most programs end their seasons by the 4th of July, but teams in some programs may extend their seasons depending on qualification for state and national tournament play. Some of our programs also offer a fall season.

We organize our programs into three broad categories: Developmental, High School Slowpitch, and Fastpitch. The number of teams and team sizes is based on the number of girls registered within the various age groups.

Developmental

MGSA has a large developmental softball program.  We form teams based on age, school, and neighborhoods. At the youngest levels, our goal is to teach basic throwing and hitting skills as well as a general knowledge of the game. Emphasis on skill development and competition  increases as the girls become older. At all levels, we emphasize teamwork and fun. The skills learned in the Developmental program can be applied in either the High School Slowpitch or Fastpitch programs should girls continue on to a more advanced stage of competition.

Our Developmental teams usually practice once per week and play games two days per week.  Games are typically played at Bennett Park (eastern end of the MHS school district) and Freeman Park (western end of the MHS school district).

Grades pre-K and K – T-Ball: A basic instructional league in which we teach the fundamentals of softball and expose girls to the concept of team sports.  Players bat off of a tee.

Grades 1 and 2 – Coach Pitch:  Also a basic instructional league, but now players hit against pitching by team coaches.   We continue to teach game fundamentals and begin to focus on rudimentary fielding skills.

Ages 10 and Under (grades 3 – 4) Kid Pitch:  Players now hit against pitching by the girls. We place more emphasis on learning advanced softball hitting, running, catching, and throwing skills. This year we are moving to a modified pitch format. The pitch can be as flat and as fast as the pitcher can throw, without using a windmill motion. We organize a low-key season-end tournament to provide a flavor of competitive play.

Ages 12 and Under (grades 5 – 6) Regular Slowpitch: We emphasize continued improvement in the players’ advanced softball skills and place more attention on learning appropriate reactions to various game situations. We also organize a competitive season-end tournament. 

High School Slowpitch

Our High School Slowpitch program offers in-house leagues at the 14U (middle school) level and the 16U-19U (high school) level.  Girls are encouraged to hone their softball skills at a higher level of competition and intensity than they experienced in the Developmental program. While the games are primarily against other in-house teams in a round-robin schedule, the High School Slowpitch program also plays games against teams from leagues outside of MGSA.

Ages 14 and Under (grades 7 – 8) Players continue their development of advanced softball skills. Competition becomes a greater element of the program with the introduction of inter-league games with neighboring cities. In-house games are played primarily at Bennett and Freeman fields. A season-ending in-house tournament offers the opportunity for additional competition. Top teams from the regular season can advance to the State USSSA tournament.

Ages 16–19 (grades 9 – 12) Teams are formed to disperse talent roughly equally and facilitate a highly competitive in-house round-robin schedule of games as well as an in-house tournament. In-house and SW Suburban League games are played at either Bennett Park or Guilliam Fields. Teams may also choose to continue their season in the State USSSA tournament.

Tournament Tournament teams at the 14U, 16U, and 19U levels will be selected on a try-out basis from the players on the in-house teams. We want to allow our top players to compete in more games and represent MGSA in top-flight tournaments. Players on these teams will play in-house games with their regular teams, but will also come together to play teams at several weekend tournaments, leading up to the State ASA tournament in July.

Fastpitch

MGSA currently sponsors fastpitch teams for the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U age groups.  Fastpitch teaches advanced skills for pitching, throwing and fielding, hitting (including bunting), base running (including base stealing and sliding) and game strategy.  Our coaches emphasize maximum effort, competition, and good sportsmanship.  The number of teams at each level depends on the number of girls participating.

Team selection occurs following try-outs in March.  Our 10U teams are divided into teams based primarily on school and neighborhood.  Beginning with the 12U and older groups, we form teams largely based on ability.  The MGSA Fastpitch Committee determines team compositions that are considered to be best for the entire program.

Fastpitch teams begin practice in April, with games beginning in early May. During the week, our teams compete against other western metro area fastpitch teams in the Suburban League. In addition, our teams enter 3-5 weekend tournaments. Play continues through the State tournament in mid-July and teams may qualify for a national level tournament.  Our 10U teams can expect to play approximately 25-35 games and the 12U and older teams can expect to play 50 games (or more, depending on post-season opportunities).  Home games are played at Bennett Park, Freeman Park, Guilliam Fields and Minnetonka High School.

MGSA also offers a fall Fastpitch program that begins in mid-August and runs through the end of September.