Contact
Erin MacNeill
President, YYC Softball Little League
Email: contact@girlssoftball.ca
YYC Fastpitch Development Society was founded in January 2019 to create an environment where girls can develop a love for the game of softball. In March 2019, we partnered with Little League, aligning with their grassroots programs, fair play philosophy, and international competitive opportunities. Our league offers inclusive programs for female youth athletes in Calgary and surrounding areas, focusing on skill development, teamwork, and a passion for the sport.
Since 2022, we have expanded our offerings to include Spring Travel Teams, competing in multiple tournaments alongside house league games. Our summer season emphasizes competitive tournament play, where our teams have achieved significant success, including back-to-back appearances at the Little League World Series. As our league continues to grow, we now offer three levels of play: House League, Hybrid, and Competitive Spring Travel Teams.
Traditional Softball works for some….but not all. Too many girls leave the sport way too young. There are many factors involved, too competitive, too boring, limited opportunities, or too high of expectations.
Softball is unique as it is a team sport that is highly based on individual performance. This makes it very easy for players to feel more valued or less valued on a team, especially at a young age. As players mature, they understand their role on the team. And the value of every player becomes understood. Softball is a late specialization sport that involves a lot of thinking and game strategy. It can truly take a lifetime to develop an appreciation for the game. Getting kids to stick around long enough to appreciate the game is the challenge.
Our program will focus on skill development by implementing modified season structure and game play rules that will improve the pace of the game, increase ball touches, improve player engagement, and provide a fun and social environment. All players will be provided opportunities to develop skills in all areas of softball in a unique way using a combination of volunteer coaches and instruction with paid instructors or junior coaches.