West Texas Fast Pitch

Recreational

Spring 2026

League Communications

May 6, 2026
From: Angela Greeson

It was a beautiful opening night for our 6U and 8U teams! There were a few questions and items I want to address.

We will typically have a concession truck at games; unfortunately, she was unable to attend last night.

Please make sure your daughter has a facemask on her batting helmet. This is a USSSA Fastpitch requirement. If needed, we do have batting helmets available that your coach can check out.

For safety, any player playing in the infield must wear an infielder’s mask.

Please help us keep the fields clean by picking up trash in the dugouts and stands so we can continue using these facilities.

All schedules, scores, and standings are available on the Kids, Inc. website.

An end-of-season tournament is scheduled for June 9–11, weather permitting.

Each night, the umpires will select a GAME MVP from each team for great plays, sportsmanship, leadership, effort, or attitude. These MVPs will be added to our All-Star nomination list. At the end of the season, coaches in each age division will select an All-Star team from this list to represent Amarillo at the USSSA All-Star Games on June 27–28 in Roswell, NM.

Opening Day 2026

Join us for a fun evening at the ballpark to kick off a great season!

Wednesday, May 6, 2026
6:00 PM
Amarillo High School Sandie Softball Field
5300 Winkler Drive
Amarillo, TX 79109

Details:

5:00–5:45 PM: Coaches pick up jerseys & have players change
(restrooms available)
5:45 PM: Teams meet behind the 1st base dugout
6:00 PM: Team introductions & pictures begin

Food trucks on-site—come early & enjoy!

Skills & Evaluation Day Details

Saturday, April 25th 
D-Bat Amarillo
11817 I-27, Amarillo, TX 79119

TIMES:

6U 10am-11am

8U 11am-12pm

10U 12pm-1pm

12U/14U 1pm-2pm

The skills clinic is a group clinic/camp with professional instructors for all players registered and paid for by the West Texas Fastpitch Recreational League to get the season started, learn, and have fun!

6U will attend the clinic only. 8U and up will be evaluated at the skills clinic by independent evaluators to help make teams equal.

ALL PLAYERS ATTEND THE SKILLS CLINIC, BUT ONLY 8U AND UP WILL BE EVALUATED. 6U AND PROTECTED PLAYERS WILL NOT BE EVALUATED.

*If a player is unable to attend the evaluations, they will still be drafted to a team, alphabetically by their age.

DETAILS: 

1. What to wear: T-shirt, shorts, softball pants, and/or sweats. Tennis shoes that can be worn indoors and outdoors. Please dress appropriately according to the weather.

2. What to bring: Water bottle, glove, bat, helmet, infielder’s facemask (required to play infield in the league, recommended for all players for safety, but especially if your daughter is new to the sport and/or scared of the ball). We will have extra helmets and bats available for your daughter to use at the clinic. *If you decide to purchase a bat, the bat must have the USSSA Fastpitch stamp on it.

What to Expect + Season Details

You’re in! Once you’ve registered and paid, the hardest part is done.

Skills & Evaluation Day

Your next step is attending Skills & Evaluation Day. This is a fun and important part of the season where players:

  • Get introduced to softball
  • Meet other players
  • Practice and learn new skills

*For players 8U and up, this day also helps us evaluate skill levels.

Q: Why do we do evaluations?
A: Evaluations help us build balanced teams. This is not a tryout—it’s simply a process used in baseball and softball leagues to make sure teams are as even as possible. Balanced teams mean better games, more learning, and more fun for every player.

Q: How Teams Are Formed
A: Players are placed on teams in one of three ways:

  • Protected Players
    Coaches may select up to 6 players to be on their team, including their own child.
  • Evaluated Players
    Players who attend Skills & Evaluation Day will receive a score and be selected by coaches during the draft.
  • Non-Evaluated Players
    Players who are not protected and do not attend evaluations will still be placed on a team. These players are assigned after the draft in alphabetical order.

Q: What Happens Next?
A: After evaluations, coaches participate in a coach draft to build their teams.

Once teams are finalized:

  • Your coach will contact you
  • You’ll receive practice details, game information, and uniform guidelines

Q: When Will Schedules Be Released?
A: Once teams are set, our staff begins building schedules.

We work to get these out as quickly as possible, but scheduling takes time. We consider:

  • Number of teams in each division
  • Field availability
  • Coaches working with multiple teams

We appreciate your patience—we’ll share schedules as soon as they’re ready! They will be linked on the SCHEDULES page of the website.

At the end of the day, everything we do is designed to give your child a great experience—one where they can learn the game, build confidence, and have fun.

ABOUT

The West Texas Fastpitch Recreational League is a developmental, fun draft league for kids ages 4-14. This league is perfect for kids who are new to the sport or looking for more playing time to improve their game.

Players will register individually and be placed/drafted to a team. This league will focus on skills, fundamentals, and development in a recreational setting.



2026 Spring League Information

IMPORTANT DATES

Registration Opens

02/20

Registration Ends

04/17

Payment Due*

04/18

Schedules Released

05/04

Games Begin

05/11

Games End

06/12

PARENTS

OVERVIEW
  1. Register & Pay
  2. Attend Skills Clinic Evaluations
  3. Play ball!
Register a PlayerEvaluation Details

COMBINED SKILLS CLINIC & EVALUATIONS

Date: April 25th
6U: 10 AM- 11 AM
8U: 11 AM -12 PM
10U: 12 PM- 1 PM
12U & 14U: 1 PM- 2PM
Location: D-BAT | 11817 I-27, Amarillo, TX 79119

6U and protected players will not be evaluated, but do attend the skills clinic. 

Skills Clinic:
A group clinic for all divisions and players 6U and up with professional instructors paid by the league to get the season started, learning and having fun!

Evaluations:
Independent evaluators will evaluate, rank, and assign scores to players.

All unprotected players, 8U and up, must attend evaluations to be drafted to a team. If a player is unable to attend the evaluations, a coach cannot draft them to a team. They will still be placed on a team at the end of the draft alphabetically, by draft order.

Coaches

OVERVIEW
  1. Complete Coach Registration Form
  2. Background Authorization
  3. Attend Draft Day
  4. Play ball!
COACH'S CORNERBACKGROUND CHECK

Draft Day Details

Date: April 26, 2026
Location: Kids, Inc. Warehouse
Time: 6:00 pm
Coaches Only- no players or parents
Protect 6Draft Day Details

Age Division Information

Players participate in divisions listed by age as of 08/31/2025, per USSSA Guidelines.

Overview of Age Division/Leagues

4U T-Ball

Kids, Inc. is excited to see baseball, softball, and T-Ball continue to grow in our community. With this growth, families now have more options than ever to help young athletes get started.

There are three options for 3- and 4-year-olds. Each option provides a fun, age-appropriate introduction to the game while helping players build confidence, coordination, and a love for baseball and softball.

Choose the league that’s best for your family based on game days, season dates, and game locations.

T-Ball Info.

6U Hybrid

A transition from t-ball to coach pitch for 4-6 year olds. The batter has a maximum of six combinations of pitches or swings, no matter how many strikes she has taken. (All six from the pitching coach, all six off the tee, 5/1, 4/2, 3/3, etc) All players will play in the field each inning. One umpire provided.

Cost: $100 for eight games, 60 minutes, weather permitting.

Game Days: 6 pm Tuesdays & Thursdays

Teams: Coaches can protect 6. All other players will be drafted by coaches into teams. NO EVALUATIONS. 

Ball Size: 11”

Equipment needed: Your child must have a glove to participate and an infielder’s mask to play in the infield.

What’s Included: Each player will receive a game t-shirt (that must be worn to participate) and a medal. 

Teams will be provided 2 bats, four batting helmets, 2 game balls, and a tee. Catcher gear will be at the games.

6U Hybrid Rules

8U Coach Pitch

7-8-year-old players will be allowed five (5) pitches or three (3) strikes, whichever comes first. Teams will bat the entire lineup and will have 10 defensive position players. One umpire provided.

Cost: $120 for eight games, 75 minutes, weather permitting.

All-Stars: An All-Star team will be selected to represent Amarillo in an All-Star tournament. 

Game Days: 7:00 pm Tuesdays & Thursdays

Teams: All registered and paid by the deadline players will be evaluated and drafted by coaches to a team.

Ball Size: 11”

Equipment needed: Your child must have a glove to participate and an infielder’s mask to play in the infield.

What’s Included: Each player will receive a game t-shirt (that must be worn to participate) and a medal. 

Teams will be provided two bats, four batting helmets, two game balls, and catcher’s gear.

8U Coach Pitch Rules

10U- 14U Kid Pitch

USSSA rules with league rule modifications to allow player development. Teams will bat the entire lineup and will have 9 defensive position players. 2 umpires will be provided.

Cost: $120 for 10 games, 75 minutes, weather permitting.

All-Stars: An All-Star team will be selected to represent Amarillo in an All-Star tournament. 

Game Days: Double header at 6 pm and 7:15 pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays

Teams: All registered and paid by the deadline players will be evaluated and drafted by coaches to a team.

Equipment needed: Your child must have a glove to participate and an infielder’s mask to play in the infield.

What’s Included: Each player will receive a game t-shirt (that must be worn to participate) and a medal. 

Teams will be provided four batting helmets, two game balls, and catcher’s gear.

10U-9-10-year-old players will pitch from 35’ with an 11” ball.

12U-11-12-year-old players will pitch from 40’ with a 12” ball.

14U-13-14-year-old players will pitch from 43’ with a 12” ball.

10U- 14U Kid Pitch Rules

All Stars

Coaches will nominate kids from their own teams.

All division coaches will rank, vote, and select their division All-Star team. All-Star selections will receive an invitation email to participate in the All-Star tournament and purchase their All-Star jersey.

The coach of the winning team in each division will be selected as the coach to represent Amarillo in the USSSA All-Star Tournament.

If there are more than 5 teams in a division, the coach of the first- and second-place winners in each division will represent Amarillo.

All Star Info.

QUICK LINKS + INFORMATION

Evaluation DetailsDraft Day Details

FAQ

When are practices?

Coaches get their practice locations lined up and set their own practice schedules after getting with parents and seeing what works best for the team.

What are the travel requirements?

No teams in this league travel. Games are played Monday-Thursday.

When does the season start?

The spring season is mid-May to mid-June. Specific dates are posted at the top of this page.

Is my child's spot on a team guaranteed?

All paid registrations received prior to registration being closed are guaranteed a spot on a team. If there is room on any teams after that, we will take registrations on a first-come, first-served basis and post details on the website about how to register.

Can siblings be on the same team?

Only siblings living in the same household may be placed on the same team. School records may be requested, verifying addresses if necessary. 

What bats can my child use?

Bats must follow USSSA Fastpitch rules:
Certification Mark: Must display the official USSSA 1.15 BPF

Can my child play up age divsions?

USSSA allows players to play up one division. For example, if you have a 6 year old that hits the ball consistently off the pitching coach and you would like her to move up, you can register her for 8U.

PLAYER ADVANCEMENT REQUEST FORM

Fastpitch sounds scary. What if my kid has never played before?

The recreational league is the perfect place to start! Our recreational league is full of new beginners just learning the sport.

Do I have to be part of a team to play?

No! Register individually and all kids will be drafted to a team!

How do I know what age to register my kid?

What age was your child on August 31, 2025? That is the age you need to register your child.

How does the draft work?

A coach can protect up to 6 players. All other players will be evaluated and ranked. Coaches will draw a number and select players in snake order 1-6, 6-1, etc until their roster is full.

What if I can't make the evaluation date?

No worries! Your name will be highlighted and put at the bottom of the list. After all evaluated players have been drafted, the players who were not evaluated will be selected to a team in the order they are listed on the page.

What night of the week will my daughter play on?

6U and 8U: Tuesdays & Thursdays
10U:  Mondays & Thursdays
12U and 14U:  Wednesdays & Thursdays
This could change depending on the number of teams in each division.

Can my daughter play in more than one division?

Yes! They can only be listed on one All-Star roster, but for the regular league, they can play in multiple divisions.

Can I play in both the recreational and select leagues?

Yes, the dates align for players to play in both leagues! The Select league runs from March to May, and the recreational league runs from May to June.

I would like to coach. Can I bring 7 players with me?

You can protect up to 6 kids, including coaches’ kids. This is a topic that is discussed every year. Originally, a coach could protect 2 players; it was increased to 4, and now 6. There is a good chance you could pick up your 7th or 8th in the draft, but it is not guaranteed.

Does the 6U division participate in the evaluations and draft?

6U players do not participate in the evaluations. The coach can still protect up to 6 players. The coaches will still draft their team, but without evaluations.

How would a player that has several years of experience benefit from a recreational league?

Playing time is playing time! Local games instead of having to travel to get playing time. Practice fields are hard to find; use them as practice! This league grows softball in our community!

I have put a lot of work into my competitive/select league players. Why would I want to separate my kids for a draft league?

For them to grow! Kids get comfortable with their team. Pushing kids out of their comfort zone encourages growth! Playing different positions and different roles allows for growth opportunities.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL SOFTBALL@KIDSINC.ORG

Play Ball! League/Team Sponsorship

Funds raised provide essential equipment, keep participation costs affordable for families, and support the continued growth of baseball and softball opportunities in our community.
$300 Recognition
  • Banner at ballpark
  • Website
  • Appreciation gift
More infoGive now

Quick Links

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