Tryouts for the 2024 - 2025 season
Details
Thank you for your interest in the Western Mass Heat. We are a Fastpitch Softball Travel Program focused on developing the skills, softball IQ and confidence of our players. We play in USA Softball, USSSA and Fastpitch Nation tournaments mainly in New England and New York.
2024-2025 Season eligibility based on year of birth:
10U - Must be born in 2014 or 2015
12U - Must be born in 2012 or 2013
14U - Must be born in 2010 or 2011
16U - Must be born in 2008 or 2009
***NO residency restrictions. Our teams consistent of players from dozens of cities and towns throughout western/central Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. We encourage girls from across the region to tryout for the Heat softball team.***
What to bring to tryouts:
Great attitude
Cleats (sneakers for indoor tryouts)
Glove
Helmet
Bat
Face Mask (required for 10U and 12U and encouraged for 14U+)
Softball pants
Water
Catchers Only: catcher gear
Tryout Dates/Times:
7/10/24 6:00 pm - 7:45pm | 7/25/24 6:00pm - 7:45pm | 8/5/24 6:00-7:45pm
Pitchers and catchers will be asked to stay to 8pm or a little later.
Players only required to attend one tryout. Players may attend additional tryouts if they would like to workout or showcase additional skills.
Location:
Tryouts on July 10, 2024 will be held at Blunt Park, Springfield, MA and tryouts on July 25, 2024 and August 3, 2024 will be held at Marshall Roy Park in Springfield, Massachusetts . PRE-Registration is REQUIRED required to attend any tryout.
Our teams normally practice in Springfield, Chicopee, Agawam or Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Most of our tournaments are within 1 hour drive of Springfield, MA.
Cost:
We are a non-profit organization and seek to limit the fees to cover the cost of the program.
Heat team fee typically range from $900 - $1,600 for the year. Cost mainly driven by number and types of tournaments your team will play in. Limited need-based scholarship funding available. In addition, we run fundraisers to help all players defray some of the cost.
You will be provided with the team fee in your offer letter and well before you‘re required to make a commitment.
The fee includes 2 full uniforms, helmet, bat bag, tournament fees, team insurance, and indoor winter training. Payment installment plan available.
All team fees are the responsibility of the player/parent(s). Team fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
2024-25 Season Information:
Play in 1-2 fall tournaments and scrimmages
Indoor training consisting of intensive position specific training, team training
2025 Spring tournaments (10U - 12U)
2025 Summer tournaments (all ages)
Playing Up an Age Group:
While we discourage younger players from playing up an age group, we encourage older players (14+) to play at the age group that offers the best development and allows them to achieve their goals. Players trying out for an age group will be evaluated to the standards of the applicable age group.
USA Softball and Fastpitch Nation have adopted a September 1 cutoff date for players born later in the year. However, this age cut-off was not adopted by USSSA so we continue to use Jan 1 cut-off date for all age groups. We reserve the right to change the cut-off dates for our teams if appropriate.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO TRYOUT.
Time Commitment
During our season, we practice 2-3 times per week. We play in tournaments in the summer, which consists of 3 games on Saturday and single elimination bracket play on Sunday. Tournament season starts in late April for 10U, 12U and 13U. Tournament season starts in mid-June for 14U, 16U and 18U. The season ends the first week of August for all age groups, but 10U and 12U usually end before the last week of July.
In the fall, we practice 1x per week, but permit excused absences for other sport commitments. During our tournament season (see above), we do not permit abscenses for other sports.
More Information or questions e-mail:
