Beginners League Softball
Offered for kids ages 5-6, Beginner's League is a child's first real exposure to playing softball. While everybody is aware that it's a brand new experience for the child, what often gets lost, and something the NHAA never forgets, is that it's also a brand new experience for YOU, the coach and parent.

The goals of our program are to introduce the kids to the fundamentals of softball, provide an encouraging environment, have a ton of fun, and leave the kids with a positive, memorable experience.

Your child will participate in a structured program teaching the fundamentals of hitting, throwing, base running, and fielding, as well as through controlled games to promote the development of their skills. Introducing the children to softball fundamentals is the primary goal of the NHAA Program.

Schedule
-All practice/game schedules will be finalized once registration is closed, quantity of teams is determined, coaches are selected, and rosters finalized 
-All practices/games will be held at Rosecliff Field
-Depending on the weather, you can anticipate (1) practice/game on a weekday and (1) on a weekend
-You can anticipate each practice/game should last approximately 1-1/2 hours. 

Expectations
The NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued.

These are the Five Goals that we hope to and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Beginner's League Level: 
Learn the Basic Rules - the right direction to run when the ball is hit; runners must touch the bases; how to record outs (catch the ball in the air, throw to first, or tag the runners); running past first base; scoring a run; three outs constitutes an inning 
Throwing Mechanics - turn the body so that the front shoulder points toward the target; keep the elbow above the shoulder; step toward the target with the non-throwing foot and release the ball. 
Tracking - follow the ball with the eyes to the glove, whether on the ground or in the air (use softer balls); use two hands to catch and field; try to catch the ball out in front of the body. 
Hitting - how to hold and swing the bat; batting safety (when not to swing bats, wearing batting helmets); hitting off a tee; hitting softly tossed pitches 
Learning Positional Play - if the ball is hit to your buddy, let him or her field it

Overview
Offered for kids ages 7-8, the primary goal of the Instructional League is teaching softball fundamentals and developing your child's softball skills. We want this time to be an exciting, rewarding and memorable experience,which will prepare them for softball at a higher, competitive level. Games will be "controlled" games with a balance between learning the game and a slightly increasing the level of competitiveness. There are special playing rules in place to move the game along, while still making it fun and promoting the development of their skills. At this stage, the kids will begin hitting "coach pitching" in both practice and games.

Schedule
-All practice/game schedules will be finalized once registration is closed, quantity of teams is determined, coaches are selected, and rosters finalized.
-All practices/games will be held at Rosecliff Field
- Depending on the weather, you can anticipate (1) practice/game on a weekday and (1) on a weekend.
- You can anticipate each practice/game should last approximately 1-1/2 hours.

New Experiences at this Level
- Coach Pitching during practices and games
- Summer Tournament Play (developmental)

Expectations:

NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued.

These are the Five Goals that we believe and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Instructional League Level: 

Learn the Basic Rules - force outs; tagging up; baserunning (when you don't have to run; not running into or past teammates on the base paths); balls and strikes. 

Throwing Mechanics - introduce the correct way to hold the ball; point the front shoulder, step, and throw; introduce the concept of generating momentum toward the target and following the throw.

Catching and fielding- thrown and hit balls; fingers up versus fingers down; see the glove and the ball; use two hands; forehands and backhands; introduce the underhand flip; first-base fundamentals; crossover and drop steps.

Hitting - choosing the right bat; proper grip; hitting pitched balls; introduce drill work (tee work, soft toss, short toss)

Learning Positional Play - learn the positions and the areas each player should cover; cover the base when the ball is not hit to you; basics of cutoffs and relays.

NHAA offers girls fast pitch softball for ages 9 through 18.  Teams are formed for the 10U, 12U, 15U, and 18U age divisions. The number of teams in each age division is a function of the number of players who sign up.  There is no limit on the number of teams that NHAA will field in any age division.  If there is more than one team in an age division, the teams are drafted and balanced by skill level.  NHAA also has cooperative agreements with other local athletic associations that sponsor fast pitch teams, where rosters may be combined in the event there is a shortage of players in a particular age division.  This insures that any girl desiring to play fast pitch softball will have a team to play on, regardless of which association she initially registers for.

NHAA fast pitch teams participate in the Greater Pittsburgh Girls Softball League (GPGSL). The GPGSL brings together girls softball teams from athletic associations throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. The GPGSL tries to group together teams of similar geographic areas to schedule regular season games.

Fast pitch softball is offered during the Spring and Fall seasons. Typically more players participate in the Spring season than the Fall. The Fall season is shorter in duration and more attention is paid to instruction. The Fall season affords a good opportunity for girls who have traditionally played slow pitch softball to try fast pitch.

The starting and ending dates for Spring fast pitch softball varies per age Division to accommodate girls who also participate on North Hills School District Junior and Senior High Teams. See the fast pitch softball divisions (10U, 12U, 15U, 18U) below for more details. In the Spring, the fast pitch regular season games are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday and only infrequently on weekends (usually make-up games).  Qualifying teams participate in the GPGSL playoffs that follow the conclusion of the Spring regular season.

The Fall fast pitch softball games start the first weekend after Labor Day and conclude the final weekend of October. The Fall regular season games are doubleheaders scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays. No playoffs are scheduled at the conclusion of the Fall season.

The team’s practices and home games will be conducted at a NHAA field designated for that age division. The team’s away games will be played at a GPGSL member team’s field.  This will require some travel within the northern portion of the Pittsburgh area during the Spring season and possibly further travel throughout southwestern Pa in the Fall.

The NHAA fast pitch softball program is an opportunity for athletic and competitive girls to develop the skills needed to participate on their school district’s fast pitch softball teams. Fast pitch softball is a WPIAL and PIAA sponsored Spring sport that is offered for girls in the North Hills School District in grades 7 through 12.

NHAA offers girls fast pitch softball for ages 9 through 18.  Teams are formed for the 10U, 12U, 15U, and 18U age divisions. The number of teams in each age division is a function of the number of players who sign up.  There is no limit on the number of teams that NHAA will field in any age division.  If there is more than one team in an age division, the teams are drafted and balanced by skill level.  NHAA also has cooperative agreements with other local athletic associations that sponsor fast pitch teams, where rosters may be combined in the event there is a shortage of players in a particular age division.  This insures that any girl desiring to play fast pitch softball will have a team to play on, regardless of which association she initially registers for.

NHAA fast pitch teams participate in the Greater Pittsburgh Girls Softball League (GPGSL). The GPGSL brings together girls softball teams from athletic associations throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. The GPGSL tries to group together teams of similar geographic areas to schedule regular season games.

Fast pitch softball is offered during the Spring and Fall seasons. Typically more players participate in the Spring season than the Fall. The Fall season is shorter in duration and more attention is paid to instruction. The Fall season affords a good opportunity for girls who have traditionally played slow pitch softball to try fast pitch.

The starting and ending dates for Spring fast pitch softball varies per age Division to accommodate girls who also participate on North Hills School District Junior and Senior High Teams. See the fast pitch softball divisions (10U, 12U, 15U, 18U) below for more details. In the Spring, the fast pitch regular season games are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday and only infrequently on weekends (usually make-up games).  Qualifying teams participate in the GPGSL playoffs that follow the conclusion of the Spring regular season.

The Fall fast pitch softball games start the first weekend after Labor Day and conclude the final weekend of October. The Fall regular season games are doubleheaders scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays. No playoffs are scheduled at the conclusion of the Fall season.

The team’s practices and home games will be conducted at a NHAA field designated for that age division. The team’s away games will be played at a GPGSL member team’s field.  This will require some travel within the northern portion of the Pittsburgh area during the Spring season and possibly further travel throughout southwestern Pa in the Fall.

The NHAA fast pitch softball program is an opportunity for athletic and competitive girls to develop the skills needed to participate on their school district’s fast pitch softball teams. Fast pitch softball is a WPIAL and PIAA sponsored Spring sport that is offered for girls in the North Hills School District in grades 7 through 12.