The Season runs from mid June through the first week of August. This is an evening program for the players.

Coach Pitch Plays on Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7:15/7:30 (Girls turning 6-10 in 2012)
Summer League games on Monday and Wednesday, optional practice on Friday.
16U games on Monday and Wednesday, practice TBD.


Question: What kind of instruction will my daughter receive?

Answer: We (the eight board members) have all coached our daughters between 6-11 years. We have run winter workout programs for West Hartford High School players and younger players for the past three winters (see WH News page) and received very positive feedback (see NEWS for player evaluations) Last season we had many of the high school players help coach the younger players in bonus Saturday workouts.

The first week of the season we will be doing many of the drills we did this winter. We want to teach the game in a standardized, challenging, and most importantly, fun way. With group practice sessions this will be possible. We want to develop skills prior to playing games so the girls will be successful.

Question: What equipment does my daughter need?

Answer: A glove and cleats are good to start with, and then sliding shorts to protect the player when they slide into a base and a sliding pad for the leg that is tucked during sliding. We will have team equipment such as bats, and batting helmets, etc.

Question: Will I develop as a player?

Answer: That is the goal. Each player will be challenged, but the goal will also be to have fun, be a good teammate, and a good sport as well.

QUESTIONS REGARDING EQUIPMENT

Question: How do I pick out a glove?

Answer: Your best bet is to bring your daughter to a place where the sales staff is knowledgeable. A place like Herbs on LaSalle Street, or Fast Pitch Nation (62 Douglas St., Bloomfield).

****We bought our team equipment from Herbs. Tell them thay you play for the WHASL and they will give you a 10% discount!

Question: How do I "break in a glove?"

Answer: There are lots of theories. Rub shaving cream into the leather. Do the same with glove oil that you can buy in a sporting good store. Then place a softball into the pocket of the glove and tie a shoelace around the glove tightly.

However, there is nothing like using it. Have a catch, pound your fist, or a softball repeatedly in to the glove, open and close it.

WHAT IF MY PLANS CHANGE

Question: What if my summer plans change? Is there a refund?

Answer: We give a full refund up until June 15th.

QUESTION: DO YOU WANT VOLUNTEERS?

Answer: Absolutely. If you have a skill that is listed on the registration sheet, or one that is not there, but you think would be a benefit to the league and the girls....we want you involved. We have gotten a tremendous amount of joy coaching and mentoring over the years. We have also met a number of quality people that we otherwise wouldn't have. We (Brian Booth, Paula Ardel, Bill Hackett, Larry Levere, Sharon Stabile, Eric Lessne, Mark Silbo, and Brian Corey) want you to experience that with our league. If you have a talent that would help the players, please, ...."step up to the plate." Sorry, we love sports analogies.