Purpose of SFPA

SFPA is a non-profit fast pitch softball association serving the youth of our community and their families. The objective and purpose of SFPA is to promote, foster, develop, and maintain recreational and competitive youth softball for girls between the ages of 4 to 16. SFPA provides girls with an opportunity to participate in team sports, to develop athletic skills, to learn the meaning of sportsmanship, to make friends, to develop positive self-esteem and self-confidence and, above all, to have fun.

2025 Evaluations

We look forward to hosting our Rookies and Majors for 2025 evaluations this March. Final date remains TBD.

Please contact us if there are questions, thank you!

Hello Sherwood Softballers, thank you for your interest in our recreational softball program.  

Mission for Recreational Softball
To provide a safe, fun environment where the girls can learn the fundamentals of softball while competing with girls of the same age and skill level in a competitive environment.

Uniform Information 

The SFPA provides each registered player with a Fireballs jersey and a pair of socks. Families will be responsible for softball equipment and one pair of gray softball pants.

Youth:  http://www.apparelvideos.com/cs/CatalogBrowser?todo=mm&productId=YST350
Adult:  https://www.apparelvideos.com/cs/CatalogBrowser?todo=mm&productId=ST350

2025 Season Info:

T-ball Players $75/season 
Practices begin week of March 30th
Games: April 14th through May 30th

Rookies and Majors Players $150/season
Practices begin week of March 30th
Games: April 21st through June 22nd

Middle School Players $150/season
Practices begin week of April 14th
Games: May 5th through July 20th

Rec Program Descriptions:
T-Ball: PreK - K 
T-Ball is a fun way for first timers to get introduced to the game of softball. Kids will play all positions in the field. A small softball is used to make it easier to catch and throw. During games, players will usually get three pitches in the 3rd inning from a coach at a short distance, before the ball is placed on a Tee.  The games usually last 3-4 innings. No score is kept.

T-Ball requires registration only. There are no evaluations. The T-Ball practices start in April with games beginning in April to end of May. There will be two (2) practices held during the week until the season starts. Once games start there will be one to two games per week and practice will be up to the coach.  However, if there are two games during a week, there is usually no practice. Most practices & games are at Middleton.

You should provide your kids their own glove and helmet. Kids are provided a jersey, and socks through the Fireballs. Coaches will have bats for kids who do not have their own. See below for complete list of rules.

Rookies: 1st and 2nd grade
Rookies Rec is a step up from T-Ball. Players must be in 1st - 2nd grade. Players will learn the fundamentals of fielding and hitting. They will also learn the very basics of the pitching (fastpitch). During games, pitchers will pitch (4) pitches to each batter and then a coach will pitch the remainder of the at-bat.  Games usually last 3-4 innings. No score is kept.

Games go from May through June. Practices typically begin in early April. There will be two (2) practices held during the week until the season starts. Once games start there will be one to two games per week and practice will be up to the coach. Practice and games will use Sherwood School District facilities. Kids are provided a jersey and socks through the Fireballs. You should provide their glove, bat, pants, helmet and cleats.  See below for complete list of rules.

Majors: 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
Majors Rec is a step up from Rookies. Players must be in 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th grade. Majors Rec has many more aspects of competitive softball. Pitchers will pitch up to four balls, then the coach will pitch the remainder of the at-bat. There are no walks, so the kids are encouraged to swing the bat. Stealing bases is not allowed. Games usually last 4-5 innings and score is kept.

Games go from May through June. Practices typically begin in early April. There will be two (2) practices held during the week until the season starts. Once games start there will be one to two games per week and practices will be up to the coach.  Practices and home games will use Sherwood School District facilities. Majors league partners with surrounding community leagues, team may have an away game in surrounding community field.
Kids are provided a jersey and socks through the Fireballs. You should provide their glove, bat, pants, helmet and cleats. See below for complete list of rules.

Middle School: 6th, 7th and 8th grade
Middle School Rec is a step up from Major. Players must be in 6^th, 7^th, 8^th grade. Middle School Rec has many more aspects of competitive softball. Stealing bases is allowed. Games usually last 4-5 innings and score is kept. 

Games go from May through July. Practices typically begin in April. There will be two (2) practices held during the week until the season starts. Once games start there will be one to two games per week and practices will be up to the coach. Practices and home games will use Sherwood School District facilities. The Middle School program usually partners with surrounding communities, away games can be with games in McMinnville or Gaston. Occasionally our volunteer coaches can reside in Newberg and opt to practice in Newberg vs Sherwood. Kids are provided a jersey and socks through the Fireballs. You should provide their glove, bat, pants, helmet and cleats. See below for complete list of rules.

For questions regarding our Recreational program, please contact us @  [email protected]

T-Ball Rules:
1. An inning ends when a team has batted their roster.  Last batter is out when batted ball is returned to the batter’s T or home plate.  Any player making an out on the bases or at their time at bat will return to their bench.

2. Defensively, teams will align with one (1) pitcher position player, one (1) catcher, and no more than six (6) infielders.  The pitcher’s position will be clearly marked and coaches are expected to rotate players in that position.

3. Games are either 3 innings in length, or NO LONGER THAN ONE AND ONE HALF HOURS.

4. No strikeouts.  A batted ball must clear the designated home area lines or is declared a foul ball. All batters, base runners, bat-persons must wear a batting helmet at all times while on the field.

5. Coaches may pitch to their players in the 3rd inning, but players have the option to hit from the TEE if they choose.  After 3 swings, ball is placed on TEE. The opposing pitcher/fielder will stand behind coach-pitcher and field the position.

6. Players must sit on their bench when their team is at bat.

7. After final out ball must be returned to home base.

8. All players will play defensively in the field.  Coaches are encouraged to play players at as many different defensive positions as possible during the course of the season.

9. All players will run on and off the playing field.  Hustling is much admired.

10. Catchers will stand off the field next to the backstop until the ball is put into play by the batter.  Catchers will then assume their position at home plate. Catchers must wear a batting helmet. Catchers will replace the ball on the tee prior to each new batter.

11. There is no ‘infield fly rule.’

12. Players may not advance an extra base when either pitcher’s position player or catcher has the ball.

13. Players may only advance bases on a batted ball or an errant throw from a fielder.

14. Coaches are umpires and their calls are final.

15. There are no protests of games.

16. No standings or scores are recorded.

17. Coaches are not empowered to change rules or cancel games.

18. Rainout information will be communicated by your coach.

Rookie Rules:
1. Any player leaving a game for any reason will NOT be considered an out, but have their place in the batting order skipped over.  Please notify the opposing team’s scorekeeper or manager.

2. ROOKIE TEAMS will field 10 position players.  For each league only 6 players will be considered infielders (P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS).  For ROOKIE teams the remaining players must be behind the imaginary baseline until the ball is put into play.

3. Teams must have eight legal rostered players to begin a game but may finish with seven.  Teams may not add players from other rosters or non-rostered players.

4. Innings end with three outs or FOUR RUNS.  This includes the final inning of the game.  Games may end after 4 complete innings if the home team is 10 runs ahead.  This is the 10-Run mercy rule.

5. ROOKIE SOFTBALL PITCHING DISTANCE IS 30 FT.   10” SAFT-SOFT ball will be used in all games.  Once the pitcher is replaced that person cannot pitch in that game again. Prior to the pitch, the pitcher will take a position with both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate. Pitchers cannot step backward with either foot as part of the pitching motion.  3 INNINGS PER GAME, 6 INNINGS PER WEEK PER PITCHER.

6. ROOKIE batter can strike out, no walks.  PITCHING: 4 PLAYER PITCHES PER BATTER ONLY.  After the 4th pitch a coach will pitch from just in front of the pitcher’s plate so that the batter may put the ball in play.  The batter assumes the number of strikes with the coach pitch. Batters cannot bunt a pitch from the coach.  No advance to first base on a passed third strike.  No infield fly rule. A hit-by-pitch batter is always awarded first base.  This is not a coach’s option.

7. Rookie base runners cannot steal bases.  They advance only by a ball put in play by the batter or a hit batsman.  Base runners cannot leave their base until the pitched ball reaches the plate.

8. Games are 1 hour and 45 minutes.  No new inning can begin after 7:45 pm on weeknights. Games will be 5 innings maximum for a complete game.  It is important that games start on time and that catchers hustle after each errant pitch or throw.

9. There are no umpire appeal plays at any level of play.  Umpire’s call stands.

10. Bunting and slap-hitting are legal except on coach’s pitch.  A foul bunt on a third strike is a strike-out.

11. Rainout information will be communicated by your coach.

Middles School Rules:
1. Any player leaving a game for any reason will NOT be considered an out, but have their place in the batting order skipped over.  Please notify the opposing team’s scorekeeper or manager.

2. MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS will field nine players on the field.  For each league only 6 players will be considered infielders (P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS).  The remaining players must be positioned at the outfield grass line or farther until the ball is put into play.

3. Teams must have eight legal rostered players to begin a game but may finish with seven.  Teams may not add players from other rosters or non-rostered players for tournament play.

4. Innings end with three outs or SIX RUNS.  This includes the final inning of the game.  Games may end after 4 complete innings if the home team is 10 runs ahead.  This is the 10-Run mercy rule.

5. MIDDLE SCHOOL PITCHING distance is 40 feet.  12” OPTIC YELLOW BALL is the legal game ball and will be used.  A pitcher may be replaced and return to pitch again in that same game.  Prior to the pitch, the pitcher will take a position with both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate. Pitchers cannot step backward with either foot as part of the pitching motion.

6. PITCHERS CAN THROW 3 INNINGS PER GAME, 6 INNINGS PER WEEK.

7. Batter cannot advance to first base on a dropped third strike.  A hit-by-pitch batter is awarded first base. This is not a coach option.

8. MIDDLE SCHOOL BASERUNNERS may leave or lead-off the base when the pitched ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.  Baserunners can steal or advance on any pitch or pass ball. This also includes advancing to home. No head-first slides—the first infraction is a team warning, subsequent infractions will be called as outs. No player will be ejected as a result of a head first slide, unless they are considered to be intentionally creating contact with a defensive player.

9. Games are 1 hour and 45 minutes.  No new inning can begin after 7:45 pm on weeknights.  Games will be 6 innings maximum for a complete game.

10. There are no umpire appeal plays at any level of play.  Umpire’s call stands.

11. Bunting and slap-hitting are legal.  A foul bunt on a third strike is a strike-out.

12. Depending on location of your game, rainout/game cancellation information will usually be communicated by 4:00 pm.