Offered for kids ages 7-8, the primary goal of the Instructional League is teaching softball fundamentals and developing your child's softball skills. We want this time to be an exciting, rewarding and memorable experience,which will prepare them for softball at a higher, competitive level. Games will be "controlled" games with a balance between learning the game and a slightly increasing the level of competitiveness. There are special playing rules in place to move the game along, while still making it fun and promoting the development of their skills. At this stage, the kids will begin hitting "coach pitching" in both practice and games.

Schedule

• All practice/game schedules will be finalized once registration is closed, quantity of teams is determined, coaches are selected, and rosters finalized.
• All practices/games will be held at Rosecliff Field
• Depending on the weather, you can anticipate (1) practice/game on a weekday and (1) on a weekend.
• You can anticipate each practice/game should last approximately 1-1/2 hours.

• Coach Pitching during practices and games
• Summer Tournament Play (developmental)

Expectations:
The NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued.

These are the Five Goals that we believe and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Instructional League Level: 

• Learn the Basic Rules - force outs; tagging up; baserunning (when you don't have to run; not running into or past teammates on the base paths); balls and strikes.

• Throwing Mechanics - introduce the correct way to hold the ball; point the front shoulder, step, and throw; introduce the concept of generating momentum toward the target and following the throw.

• Catching and fielding- thrown and hit balls; fingers up versus fingers down; see the glove and the ball; use two hands; forehands and backhands; inroduce the underhand flip; first-base fundamentals; crossover and drop steps.

• Hitting - choosing the right bat; proper grip; hitting pitched balls; introduce drill work (tee work, soft toss, short toss)

• Learning Positional Play - learn the positions and the areas each player should cover; cover the base when the ball is not hit to you; basics of cutoffs and relays.