The BGSA has been operating a recreational town league for Bellingham, Massachusetts girls for over 15 years. Games and practices are held in Bellingham at High Street or nearby school fields. The league consists of five divisions which are split by girls school grade. The In Town program runs from March/April through the middle of June. Registrations begin in January. The following leagues are planned:
League | Grades (for Spring In-Town) | Typical Age Range |
Instructional | Pre K - K | Ages 4 - 5 |
Intermediate | 1 - 2 | Ages 6 - 7 |
Minors | 3 - 4 | Ages 8 - 9 |
Juniors | 5 - 6 | Ages 10 - 11 |
Seniors | 7 - 12 | Ages 12 + |
Instructional League (Grades PreK - k)
The Instructional League is an introductory league for Pre-K and Kindergarten aged girls. All girls will hit off a tee, teaching them the proper mechanics of their swing, learning to make contact with the ball. Continuous tee work is essential and is seen being used by teams all the way through college and beyond. The goal of this league is to introduce the basic fundamentals of softball, while the girls have fun with their teammates. This league will introduce the proper throwing and fielding habits, teach the girls how to properly swing the bat and hit the ball, and introduce them to proper base running with fun relay races around the bases. The drills used in the Instructional league will combine learning, and fun! All drills will be geared toward keeping the girls moving, and keeping them focused on how to safely participate in a game-like setting. Games will consist of an instructional session and a competition session of approximately 60 minutes in total duration. Required equipment includes a glove, bat, fielding mask and batting helmet.
Intermediate League (Grades 1 -2)
The Intermediate League is a coach pitch, developmental league for 1st and 2nd grade girls. This league is where they will begin to put the basic skills of throwing, hitting, fielding and base running together, to start learning the game. As the girls improve through the season, they will progress to games with an opposing team. At the beginning, it is important for coaches to teach and reinforce the fundamentals. There will be two 1 ½ hour practices per week: the season begins with 2 practices per week with several skill stations set up to continue improving their basic skills. There will also be weekly games added to replace one practice, as the season progresses. The girls will learn by playing, but the practices with the skill drills will really help their game, at this age. Teams will be selected with 1st and 2nd grade girls of all skill levels being on each team. Required equipment includes a glove, bat, fielding mask and batting helmet.
Minor League (Grades 3-4)
The Minors League is a transitional league where we combine the basic skills the players have learned in Instructional and Intermediate and apply them in real game play with actual pitching led by the players and officiating by league-trained umpires. This league will be for players in 3rd and 4th grade as they prepare for the more competitive leagues of Juniors and Seniors. Teams will play games twice a week, once on a weeknight and once on a Saturday. At this age group the girls will really develop by putting together what they have learned in the weekly skills practices into a real game setting. Teams will be selected with 3rd and 4th grade girls of all skill levels being on each team.
Junior League (Grades 5 & 6)
The Junior league keeps pace with the players abilities to make for exciting games. Runners may steal home. Dropped third strike and infield fly rules apply. Six innings are often played in less than the two hour game time limit. Double elimination playoffs are exciting games to play in and watch.
Our intent is to field an In town league. If we have enough players to form the required number of teams, we will have a town league. If not, we will join towns in our area for a travel league.**
Senior League (Grades 7 - 12)
Bellingham has joined up with surrounding towns in order to ensure enough teams for a competitive Senior League division. Some travel to nearby towns may be required for the Senior League. Our intent is to field an In town league. If we have enough players to form the required number of teams, we will have a town league. If not, we will join towns in our area for a travel league.**
*The season will begin sometime between the end of March and beginning of April, depending on the field conditions. In the event of inter-town play, Bellingham teams will adhere to rules set forth by the hosting town. A list of rules can be seen here.