DIVISIONS OF PLAY 

Each WUSA player is slotted into a division of play according to her birth date. Division cutoffs are established to comply with area softball sanctioning bodies (e.g. USA Softball, Fastpitch America Softball Association, USSSA, etc.).  WUSA recognizes a players softball age as her age on September 1st.   **This age cutoff is a change starting with the 2024-2025 WUSA Season and moving forward**  The change for WUSA's recreational softball offerings will be phased-in for players born September 1, 2018 and earlier (e.g. August 1, 2017; August 1, 2016, etc.). **Players with birth dates falling within the accommodation windows (9/1/xx to 12/31/xx) have the option to select from two divisions during registration. Families should enroll in the division that best meets their player's goals for the season.**

The WUSA Divisions of Play and the associated age ranges for the Spring 2025 Season are as follows:

 DIVISION
Default
Birth Date
 (Phase-in accommodation)		DESCRIPTION
6U
 9/1/2017 - 8/31/2019
(Girls born 9/1/'17-12/31/'17 may play 7U)		In this division, players hit from a batting tee using an 11-inch safety ball. (DX1 ball)
7U9/1/2016 - 8/31/2017
(Girls born 9/1/'16-12/31/'16 may play 8U)		In this division, a coach will pitch to the players from a distance of approximately 27 feet using an 11-inch safety ball (DX1 ball).
8U9/1/2015 - 8/31/2016
(Girls born 9/1/'15-12/31/'15 may play 9U)		In this division, a coach will pitch to the players from a distance of approximately 27 feet using an 11-inch safety ball (DX5 ball).
9U9/1/2014 - 8/31/2015
(Girls born 9/1/'14-12/31/'14 may play 10U)		This division will include a combination of girl pitch for one inning and machine pitch for the remaining innings, both from a distance of 35 feet using an 11-inch standard ball.
10U9/1/2013 - 8/31/2014
(Girls born 9/1/'13-12/31/'13 may play 11U)		The first half of the season will include a combination of girl pitch for two innings and machine pitch for the remaining innings, both from a distance of 35 feet using an 11-inch standard ball.
The second half of the season may be exclusively be girl pitch from 35 feet as assessed by the division coordinators and the league based on overall pitching proficiency in the division.
11U9/1/2012 - 8/31/2013
(Girls born 9/1/'12-12/31/'12 may play 12U)		This division is exclusively girl pitch at 40 feet from the pitching plate to home plate; there is no machine pitch component. Players use a 12-inch standard ball.
12U9/1/2011 - 8/31/2012
(Girls born 9/1/'11-12/31/'11 may play 14U)		This division is exclusively girl pitch at 40 feet from the pitching plate to home plate; there is no machine pitch component.  Players use a 12-inch standard ball.
14U 9/1/'10 - 8/31/'11This is the graduate year for WUSA players! The division is exclusively girl pitch from 43 feet.
WUSA teams compete against each other but also area middle school teams and other recreation league teams in a WUSA-led Co-Op program that schedules about 14 games per WUSA team.
Starting in Spring 2025, players completing 8 fall or spring seasons with WUSA and a 14U Spring Recreation Season will be recognized as "WUSA Graduates"
Spring 2025 WUSA Graduates meet initial criteria for the WUSA College Scholarship Program upon HS graduation starting in 2029 

IMPORTANT DATES

DATE EVENT
November 7, 2024 Early Bird Registration Opens
November 12, 2024Last Day for Early Bird Registration
December 25, 2024Regular Registration Closes
TBDWUSA Day at DICK'S (20% Coupon Valid Date Range TBD)
January 8, 2025Late Registration Closes & Manager's Meeting
January 9 - 11, 2025Player Evaluations
(7U - 12U Divisions)
January 11 - 12, 2025Drafts
January 15, 2025Division/Team Meetings at West University Elementary School
(Families will be informed a few days before of their team assignment. Your team's practice days and other information will be shared at the division/team meeting)
January 18, 2025Coaches Clinic
January 20, 2025Practices Begin
February 8, 2025Parade/Carnival
February 10, 2025Games Begin
February 22, 2025Photo Day
February 17 - 22, 2025Hit-a-thon Fundraiser Week & Little Sluggers Day at South Campus
TBDFather/Daughter Movie Night
TBDAdult Social and Auction
April 28, 2025 - May 4, 2025End of Season Tournament
May 5, 2025
2025 Spring Recreation Season All-Stars Games (7U - 12U Divisions) & WUSA Graduates Recognition

SPRING FUNDRAISING 

This year we are planning to open the season with our annual Parade/Carnival at West University Elementary School.  This opening weekend is one of our largest fundraisers and an exciting way to kick off the new season. We will also host other events like Father/Daughter Movie Night at WUES Fields and Scout House and the Adult Social/Auction Night.  More details to come and we look forward to your support.

PRACTICE/GAME INFORMATION 

Teams will practice twice per week before games begin and once per week after games begin.

  • 6U Division: 60-minute practices, play approximately 10 games; no end-of-season tournament and no makeup games due to rain
  • 7U and 8U will have 60-minute practices. 9U, 10U, 11U, and 12U have 90-minute practices. all Divisions play approximately 12 regular season games and all teams participate in an end-of-season tournament after the completion of the regular season. Rained out games are rescheduled.
  • 14U has 90 minute practices on Sundays and play approximately 12 - 14 regular season games on weekdays. Our 14U Spring program teams compete against each other and a consortium of local middle school teams and other non-WUSA league teams.
The  general outline used for game and practice schedules for each division are as follows:

DIVISION GAMEDAYSREGULAR SEASON PRACTICE
6USaturdays, plus a few weeknights
Weeknights
7USaturdays, plus a few weeknights
Weeknights
8USaturdays, plus a few weeknights
Weeknights
9USaturdays, plus a few weeknights
Weeknights
10UWeeknights
Saturday or Sunday afternoons
11UWeeknightsSaturday or Sunday afternoons
12UWeeknights
Saturday or Sunday afternoons
14U Weeknights
Saturday or Sunday afternoons

PLAYER EVALUATIONS AND TEAM FORMATION 

WUSA uses an open draft process to form teams. All divisions, except for 6U and 14U, will hold player evaluations in January. These evaluations give all division managers the opportunity to observe all players for the WUSA Open Draft Process. All players MUST attend player evaluations in order to be eligible for the open draft. There are no make-up evaluations for players that are absent. Players who do not attend the evaluations are generally randomly assigned to teams at the end of the draft process. The 6U does not hold evaluations; players are directly assigned to teams.

UNIFORMS 

WUSA provides uniforms as follows:   

  • 6U and 7U: League provides a jersey and a pair of shorts. Teams will purchase their own socks.
  • All Other Divisions: League provides a jersey. Each player will need to purchase long softball pants according to colors assigned at the team meeting. Teams will purchase their own socks.

EQUIPMENT INFORMATION 

Each player will need the following equipment: Fielding glove, batting helmet, softball bat, and infield face mask* 

Other equipment is also recommended in some divisions including cleats, batting gloves, and sliding pants.   

Through a partnership with DICK'S Sporting Goods, DICK's will host a WUSA day at their Meyerland store where WUSA families can receive 20% off their purchases.  This is a great opportunity for new and returning players to purchase items at a reduced price.

* In the 7U/8U/9U/10U/11U/12U Divisions, infield face masks are required for all infielders, including pitchers during all girl pitch innings.  Defensive pitchers in 7U/8U/9U/10U (pitchers playing the position while a coach or machine is pitching) must wear a batting helmet.  In the 14U division, infield face masks are required for the pitcher and 3rd base positions and are recommended for other infield positions as well. Infield face masks are not required on all infielders in the 6U division, but batting helmets OR face masks are required for pitcher and first base.

REGISTRATION FEE AND REFUND POLICY 

Discounted Early Bird registration fee of $375, November 6-10.   

The regular registration fee is $400, November 11 - December 25.   

The late registration fee is $600, December 26 - January 11, so long as there are available openings.

WUSA will refund registration fees upon request according to the schedule shown below:   

  • Refund requests received prior to regular registration close: Full refund minus a $25 processing fee
  • Refund requests received after regular registration closes: 50% refund   
  • No refunds will be made for requests received after late registration ends.   

NOTE: Divisions will be closed once they are full, no additional late registrations will be allowed.   

VOLUNTEERING 

WUSA is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, and we need your help to make our league run. The success of West University Softball Association is rooted in a foundation of parent volunteerism. All families are expected to help out in various roles. One adult for each registered player is required to work one shift in the concession stand at WUSA’s South Campus fields.  Team jobs will be chosen at the Division Meetings (i.e. team parent, carnival, photos, social, etc.)

WUSA will not approve volunteers (including team managers and coaches) with felony criminal convictions or convictions of crimes of moral turpitude.

SPECIAL REQUESTS 

Please note that WUSA is not able to honor requests for carpools, best friends, classmates, assistant coaches, etc.   

For all divisions except for 6U, WUSA uses an Open Draft process in which managers are free to select any available player when it is their turn to pick a player in each round of the draft. In the 6U division, WUSA does attempt to honor classmate or friend requests. However, we are not able to guarantee that we can honor every request. If your daughter has any potential scheduling conflicts due to other activities, please indicate those conflicts during the registration process. While we cannot promise that we can accommodate all scheduling issues, efforts will be made to avoid as many schedule conflicts as possible, if those conflicts are indicated on the registration form.

FINANCIAL AID

If you are in need of financial support, you can submit a scholarship application here.

ADDITIONA INFORMATION

Link here for League Playing Rules and League Administrative Rules