Checkout our team photos below. These 7 teams of Solon players are working hard on the diamond and having fun learning about the game of softball from their coaches. Keep reading for details about Player Placement for next year.
*Check-In & Warm Up: 5:30, Player Evaluations 6:00-7:30 (pitchers & catchers stay later)
When & Where:
8U & 9U: Wednesday, June 25th - Lakeview Softball Fields
10U & 11U: Friday, June 27th - SRNA Fields 3 & 4
12U & 13U: Monday, June 30th - Lakeview Softball Fields
Why: Every player interested in playing on an SBC softball team must complete a player evaluation to inform team placement. Parents of players interested in joining a team for next season should sign up using the form below, which includes questions about our needs for coaching and parent support. Information you share about your daughter's age, interest level, and experience will be combined with her player evaluation data to help our club leaders and existing coaches place her on a team. Then, you will have the opportunity to either accept or decline a roster invitation. Only players within the Solon School District are eligible for player placement. USSSA State team classification (A, B, C) will occur after a roster is set and is based on the experience level of the team as a whole.
We can not guarantee that every single player who signs up will be placed on a team, but we will do our very best. Any players who are not offered a roster spot will be placed on our reserve list, where the potential for placement may be revisited in the offseason.
*One important change about age divisions for 2026 is outlined immediately below the sign up button.
**Any player not able to make the tryout dates listed above, please email the club to set up a private tryout prior to these dates: Info@Spartanballclub.com
Please also review the SBC Code of Conduct, which all players and their families are asked to agree to when joining a team.
Roster invitations to be shared via email between July 1 - July 7, begining with oldest teams and ending with youngest teams. Non-refundable deposit of $100 required within 48 hrs of accepted offer - applied to SBC dues.
Remaining ½ Dues (or full) - due August 15
Remaining ½ Dues - due January 15
Families also cover costs associationed with:
Player Uniform - 1 kit for 8U, 2 kits 9U & up (pants, jersey, belt, socks)
Personal gear (face mask, bat, helmet, bag, glove)
Beginning with the 2026 playing season (which starts August 12, 2025), USSSA will shift its age eligibility determination date for youth fastpitch softball to September 1st. This means, your daughter's youngest playing division eligibility aligns with her age on September 1. A player who is 10 on September 1 will have 10U eligibility. That player can "play up" to 11U, but can not play down to any age division below 10U. We realize this update has a wide range of consequences. Some may come into play and some may not. One consistent philosophy that will continue: SBC players will never be forced to "play up." Forgoing remaining eligibility within an age division is always a parent's choice. This preference can be indicated on your sign up form and will be honored during player placement. It becomes more difficult to honor this preference if you change your mind later in the process.
To help you prepare for this decision or discuss with your daughter's coach, here is a preview of the options you'll be asked to consider:
Please select the statement below that best aligns with your options as a parent around age division eligibility, which will help the Competition Committee place your daughter. If we identify a team need or a recommendation different from what you've indicated below, we will call you to discuss further.
My daughter would prefer to maximize eligibility within her age division.
My daughter would consider an offer to "play up" to a higher age division if needed, or if her ability indicated a team fit.
To read more about USSSA rules, team classifications, and more visit https://iafastpitch.usssa.com/. The number of players who sign up for placement, their age division eligibility, and the number of players who ultimately accept team invitations will determine the teams fielded for the season.
The Spartan Ball Club fields its softball teams using birth year age divisions, in alignment with USSSA age division guidelines.
Due to USSSA's birth year eligibility (more in next section below), it's common for softball teams to include players from multiple grade levels. This flexibility introduces many different placement scenarios, which change from year to year. Example: Fielding two 10U teams rather than a 9U and a 10U team. Please attend the player evaluation session that best fits both your age division eligibility and interest level for play for next year's season. Please be aware that a player who attends one evaluation session may end up with an invitation to join a roster from a different session.
It takes a strong group of committed parents and coaches to support a team from the off season through to the last game. Parents with an interest in coaching should indicate this on their daughter's player placement form. Additionally, parents with an interest in a support role for their team should also indicate this on the player placement form. There's plenty of work to go around for parents of varying levels of experience and availability.
A team's coaching staff is assembled at the time of player placement based on conversations with volunteers regarding their interest and commitment level, and prior coaching experience. A head coach will be identified prior to any family being asked to finalize their roster acceptance. In the absence of a head coach from a parent volunteer, this topic will be revisited with parents prior to finalizing the roster.
Following player placement, a parent coaching staff (with team support) may choose to pursue a paid coach to supplement the team's coaching needs. Compensation, vetting, and all organization needs associated with a paid head coach will be the responsibility of the team. The club will maintain recognition of the original parent head coach for all SBC communication purposes as the team's point of contact for all coaching matters.
Please reference the Season Definitions and Team Play Guidelines table below to understand the level of commitment and the amount of play expected within each age division. These guidelines, established by the Softball Competition Committee, are designed to:
Support multi-sport athletes and well rounded kids, with deference to in season activities during the off season practice phase.
Establish a shared commitment for players and teams within the same two-year age division.
Lessen the decision-making burden for coaches by providing a shared framework to build their schedule around.
Coaches may provide additional guidance at the team level, but should be consistent with the following:
All SBC club players are encouraged to prioritize in-season sports when managing scheduling conflicts. Coaches will schedule around conflicts if possible (including religious obligations) and manage each scenario on a case by case basis, following the outline below.
Pre Season Practices: Team practices will be scheduled from January through Spring Break (regular player attendance is highly encouraged to develop skills, but not required)
In Season Practices: Team practices will be scheduled following Spring Break though end of the season (regular player attendance is required to prepare for upcoming games, with coaches handling attendance scenarios with discretion)
In Season Competition: Team games and tournaments may be schedule mid-April through the final weekend of USSSA State competition in mid-end of June. (regular player attendance is required, with coaches handling attendance scenarios with discretion)
Fall Season: A 6-week season beginning the first week that school is in session, designed for newly formed teams to experience play together (time-bound per SBC guidelines).
*A team's fall schedule may be influenced by the opportunity for league play, where coaches may adapt to the league's schedule. Additionally, an 8U team's fall schedule may be limited or opted-out of based on coach/parents choice.
While each team's schedule is a result of players'/coaches' availability and the unique competitive culture of each individual team, the guidelines below are established to create a standard within age divisions and maintain a club-level season for all SBC teams. A typical softball season is about 8-10 weeks long, from April to mid June. Coaches of teams who want to play/practice more or less than the outlined standards below will be asked to have a conversation with the club's Competition Chair.
*Player fees noted below are established in conjunction with the amount of Team Play expected, as shown below, and do not include a player's uniform(s) or apparel.
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