Last updated March 16, 2010
About the Greely Softball Association
Hundreds of families have made playing community ball in Greely a Spring tradition for decades. By its nature, softball is a competitive sport, but our coaches understand that actually scoring the most runs in a game is less important than trying hard, and playing safely and well. If you're new to the community, it's an excellent way to meet other families outside of school and enjoy Spring evenings together.
Community Softball
We play an adapted form of fastball according to the rules of Softball Ontario. Our adaptations are designed to ensure fun for inexperienced players and safety for all players.
There are 3 distinct levels of play:
- Blastball - a fun game for boys and girls aged 4 as of January 1st.
- 5-Pitch - a game much like softball for boys and girls ages 5 to 7 as of January 1. The coaches pitch (to their own teams) and the rules of play and player positions are quite relaxed.
- Softball - a competitive game with paid umpires for boys or girls ages 8 to 21 as of January 1st. The rules become more strict as ages progress, and, although competition is encouraged, this is community ball: you pay you play, mercy rules inhibit runaway scores, and skill-based strategies and procedures such as stealing home and infield flies are limited to older levels.
Equipment
The cost of T-shirts is included in the registration fee. Older players (ages 8 and up) also receive ball pants for which a deposit ($20) is collected at registration time. Players provide their own shoes (sport shoes or molded soft-stud ball shoes) and ball gloves. Younger players (ages 4 to 7) must where long pants. Our insurance underwriter does not allow shorts except in older levels where they must be accompanied by sliding protection.
Community Softball in Greely
The Greely Softball Association was formed around 1985. After having been run for years under the auspices of the Greely Community Centre, softball became an autonomous organization with its own fundraising and budget.
Softball was played in the old Carleton Russell Softball League up until the early 1990's. At that time the league decided to convert to baseball and become "competitive". So Greely decided to continue with the community ball format and join with the Rideau Osgoode Minor Softball Association (ROMSA). ROMSA draws its own players from Rideau Township and the west side of Osgoode Township, and encourages the participation of teams from many areas besides Greely, including Kemptville, Richmond and Gloucester South.