New Players will realize that there are no gladiator girls that play Fastpitch softball. Kids that play fastpitch softball are regular girls that are playing softball becuse it's fun and a great game.

It's easy to compare fastpitch softball to little league baseball. Fastpitch is a quick game that is fun to learn and watch. Fastpich will have many rules similar to baseball along with specific Fastpitch rules. Girls can steal bases; Girls lead off as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand; Catchers will attempt to throw out girls on the bases. Coaches will give signs and signals to batters and runners. Softball is a game of speed and running. Girls that are fast on the bases will advance easier than others. Hitting and bunting is a large part of the game and can be worked on at practice and the batting cages. Fastpitch softball is also a small ball game with slap hitting, drag bunts and speed.

Injuries can happen in any sport. Fastpitch girls will wear a batter's helmet with a face mask. Girls will also wear sliding shorts that have a small side pads and a knee slider pad. The knee slider pad will protect the knee when sliding into bases. We also recommend that girls wear a mouthguard when they are batting and in the field.

NEW - FIRST TIME FURY PLAYERS The uniform fee will cover a jersey top, Short, Socks, Slider Shorts and Visor. Our In House uniform will stay the same through the 2010 season.

SWS In House B League - New fastpitch players will most likely participate in the SWS In House B League. This is a league to help girls get acclimated to fastpitch. It is a beginner league for beginner girls. Girls are at a beginning level of fastpitch. The pitchers and other players are summer players and typically do not train year round. Please look at our links section and click on SWS Fastpitch League for more details.

U??? - 8U, 10U, 12U what does it mean? Your age on Jan 1 will determine what age group you are to play. If you are 7 on Jan 1, you will play 8U (8&Under); If you are 13 years old on Jan 1, you should play 14U. Players can play up one year with an age exception request.

Misconceptions about Fastpitch:

**You should play slowpitch to prepare for fastpitch. - The anwer is NO. Slowpitch softball is a totally different game than fastpitch. The best way to progress as a fastpitch player is to play fastpitch softball right away. Skills needed for slowpitch are not the same as the skills needed for Fastpitch. Some slowpitch skills will cross over, but most will not. Slowpitch is a different game than fastpitch. Girls that play slowpitch don't learn the basic concepts of fastpitch like: Hitting, Leading off, stealing, bunting, etc. Two of the most important positions in fastpitch are lost in slowpitch (Pitcher and Catcher). Girls that elect to play fastpitch ASAP, will start learning the game right away and will be that much ahead of the curve. Slowpitch is a good social and recreational activity. If your daughter would like to have anytype of future in middle school or High School playing softball, playing fastpitch as soon as possible is the key.

**You need to be a very good softball player to play fastpitch. - This comment is false. New girls to fastpitch softball learn the game. We have teams and divisions for recreational, and new players. The girls in fastpitch are constantly learning at all levels. So, if you want to play, do it - it's a fun game. Girls have the opportunity to progress to play travel softball if they wish.

**Fastpitch is too dangerous. - Girls are well protected. Injuries can happen, like in any sport, and are rare.

**The pitcher's throw too fast. - A 10 year old does not through like a High School player. Girls will find that pitchers are very hittable. Fastpitch teams will focus on hitting at practice. Girls that work on timing and a good fundamently correct swing will be good fastpitch hitters. As girls get older into high school and college the pitchers will throw a variety of Fastballs, changeups, curveballs, dropballs and riseballs. At the younger levels, the goal is to get the pitch over the plate.

**Fastpitch Girls are super athletes. - Not really, they are regular girls that like to play softball.

**Fastpitch girls are Gladiator girls. - Not at all; fastpitch players are regualar 8 year olds, 10 year olds, etc. There are no super bionic girls playing fastpitch; Just regular kids playing a fun game.


Fastpitch softball is THE game for girls. With growing fastpitch programs, college teams, pro teams, olympic and world cup softball teams, fastpitch softball is growing into one of the top participated girls sports. Our goal is to prepare girls to play softball in Middle School, High School and College. Our program will have a summer recreational side and a year round competitive side. Below are quotes from local Bolingbrook School/Rage Coaches.


"Fastpitch is very exciting to both watch and play.
I hope all young ladies give fastpitch a try. Who knows, you may find out how much fun it really is and come to love the excitement of the game. I’m excited to see that fastpitch is becoming popular in Bolingbrook."

Jean Ryan-Moak
Varsity Head Coach
Bolingbrook High School


"Learning the specific skills early related directly to fastpitch softball will make girls more competitive when they tryout for middle, high school, and collegiate level teams. The sooner girls are exposed to the fundamentals of fastpitch, the more time they have to develop and reach the competitive edge desired at higher level teams. Fastpitch also offers more excitement when you add in the different styles of offensive and defensive strategies."

Colleen Porritt/Kellie Soliday
Jane Addams Middle School Coaches


"I started playing faspitch softball when I was 7 years old, and the best way to learn is to start as early as possible. We focus on teaching fundamentals and make learning the game fun. The 8U kids are having a great time learning the basics of fastpitch softball and what it means to be part of a team. Fastpitch softball is the latest "Rage", and these 8U girls will be well prepared to play at the 10U level."

Sally Loesch
8U coach
Former D1 Collegiate Fastpitch Player
Purdue University