Shirley Youth Baseball and Softball

Shirley Youth Baseball and Softball
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Version 1.0 (February 10, 2012)
1. General information:
Our website:
http://www.shirleybaseball.com
Our email address:
shirleybaseball@gmail.com
Correspondence:
Shirley Youth Baseball
PO Box 1372
Shirley, MA 01646
2. What are the various divisions supported by Shirley Youth Baseball and Softball?
The baseball divisions are roughly broken down by age like so:
TBall - ages 5 and 6
Rookie - ages 7 and 8
Minors - ages 9 and 10
Majors-60 - ages 11 and 12
Majors-70 - ages 11 and 12
Babe Ruth - ages 13 through 15
The TBall and Rookie programs are conducted in town only. The other teams are considered “travel teams” that play
both games in Shirley and also in neighboring towns.
The softball levels are grade based and we typically have one team per level:
Girls 3rd and 4th Grade
Girls 5th and 6th Grade
Girls 7th and 8th Grade
The girls will play other surrounding towns.
3. How do I register my son or daughter?
There are two ways to register. One is to do everything online through our website. You’ll find an online form to fill in
and you can pay the registration fee using a credit card. Directions are on our website on how to accomplish this.
The other is to fill in a paper registration form (they are available through the website, under the “Handouts” section),
and mail it along with a check to our PO Box.
4. How long does the season run?
The season runs roughly from mid-to-late April until school ends in June. The travel teams start to workout in mid-
February inside the Ayer/Shirley Middle School gym.
5. Where do the teams play their games?

The girls softball teams play various towns in the area and their home field is situated behind the Dale Prentiss baseball
field.
The TBall and Rookie teams play in town only on Saturdays. TBallers usually play first followed by the Rookie teams.
Their games are played at the Dale Prentiss Field.
The remaining baseball teams are considered “travel teams”. Their home games are played at the Dale Prentiss Field,
and they travel to play other towns in the local area. Most games are weeknights. The one exception is Babe Ruth
which practice and play their games at the Burt Coffman field (the 90-ft diamond next to the Dale Prentiss Field).
NOTE: The Dale Prentiss Field is located adjacent to the LAW School at the junction of School St and Harvard Rd.
6. Where are practices held?
Your son or daughter’s coach will tell you exactly when and where your practices are to be held. We do not practice on
the Dale Prentiss Field. They are typically held at either the Shirley Middle School or Wilde Rd fields (across from the
soccer fields near the prison).
7. When do practices start?
It depends on the level. Tballers and Rookies don’t start practicing until the fields are cleared for usage. This usually
depends on the winter we had and how wet the fields are. As a rule of thumb, we typically get outdoors somewhere
around the 1st or 2nd week of April.
The “travel teams” start practicing in the Ayer/Shirley Middle School Gym sometime in the middle of February. When
the fields are cleared for use, the practices will move outside.
8. When do games start?
Tball and Rookie games start on Opening Day (usually the 3rd or 4th Saturday of April). Your son or daughter’s coach
will provide you with this information and it will also be available on our website.
Travel team games start sometime either slightly before or after our Opening Day.
9. When are teams picked?
Teams are selected sometime in March or early April. As soon as your son or daughter is placed on a team, the coach of
your team will contact you.
10. What’s the difference between Majors-60 and Majors-70?
The rules change from year to year, but in general, the primary differences are the pitching distance (46’ vs. 50’) and
base running restrictions (leading is allowed at Major-70, but not Major-60).
11. Are there playoffs?
The Rookies play a single elimination playoff game followed by a championship game at the end of their season
(assuming there are 4 teams).
The travel teams all play in a single elimination playoff series at the conclusion of the season.
12. How can I help?

Good question! We are an all volunteer league and can always use help. Please contact a member of the board if you
would like to be involved.
One thing to note: each home team is required to provide two parents to staff the concession stand. The “team parent”
will coordinate who is volunteering. The concession stand is a great source of revenue for the program.
13. How is the league funded?
Shirley Youth Baseball and Softball is a private, self-funded league. Registration fees and money from the concession
stand help pay for: equipment, uniforms, umpires, field improvements and maintenance (basically any and everything
that’s needed to run the league).
We also receive funding from sponsors (businesses in our local area). The signs along the outfield fences are those
businesses that donated to the league. Please use them, if possible, and thank them for supporting our league. We are
always looking for new sponsors, if you know of any, please let someone on the Board know.
14. What is the “Board”?
The Shirley Youth Baseball and Softball board is a group of parents who help to organize and run the league. There are
representatives for baseball, softball and Babe Ruth on the board. The board begins meeting in December for the
upcoming season. Meetings are usually once a week at the Bull Run restaurant in Shirley. The board members are
listed on the league’s website.
Memorial Day Parade
Closing Ceremonies
15. What if I have more questions?
Please feel free to reach out to any of the board members or coaches if you have any questions. You can also email the
league:
shirleybaseball@gmail.com
The website is here:
http://www.shirleybaseball.com
The website will contain your team’s game schedule, coach’s contact information, and practice calendar.
If you can think of any additional information that you would like to see included in this FAQ, please let us know!