USA Softball annually conducts National Championships for Girls’ Fast Pitch 10-Under to 18-Under in the Class A division in addition to the GOLD National Championships — the highest level of Championship Play for the 16-Under and 18-Under divisions. USA Softball also holds Boys’ Fast Pitch National Championships in the 10-Under to 18-Under divisions.
In addition to National Championship Finals, USA Softball also conducts Territorial Championship Finals for Class A and Class B JO Girls’ Fast Pitch in all four USA Softball territories. All teams who have not qualified for a Class A National Championship are eligible to qualify for a Territorial Championship through their state/metro association.
USA Softball also conducts Regional National Championship Finals for Class A, Class B and Class C of JO Girls’ Fast Pitch. All teams who have not qualified for a Class A National Championship are eligible for the Regional National Championship Final through their state/metro association.
FAQs
The USA Softball youth program, also known as the Junior Olympic (JO) program, is among the nation's largest youth sports organizations while providing recreational and competitive opportunities for boys and girls in both fast and slow pitch.
How do you qualify for USA Softball Nationals? ›
Road to USA Softball National Tournaments
- Win a state qualifier AND play in the state championship.
- Play in two state qualifiers AND play in the state championship.
- Participate in a state tournament through a district berth.
- Win a state championship.
Team USA has advanced to every Olympic gold medal game in the history of the sport, claiming three consecutive Olympic gold medals at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and two Olympic silver medals at the 2008 and 2020 Olympic Games.
What is USA HPP? ›
Known as The Pipeline to the Women's National Team, the USA Softball High Performance Program (HPP) will identify a pool of athletes to train, compete and represent USA Softball through domestic and international competition.
Can anyone compete in the Junior Olympics? ›
The young athletes must be 15, 16, 17 or 18 years old on 31 December in the year of the Games. The age groups for the events in which they compete are defined in collaboration with the International Sports Federations (IFs) concerned.
What is the point of the Junior Olympics? ›
The AAU Junior Olympic Games are known as the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States. It has become the showcase event of the AAU Sports Program.
How much does USA Softball players make? ›
What Is the Average Professional Softball Player Salary by State
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Pay |
|---|
| California | $42,227 | $812 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,214 | $811 |
| Nebraska | $41,777 | $803 |
| Louisiana | $41,451 | $797 |
46 more rowsQualifying Procedures
| National Championship | Location | Date |
|---|
| Girls' 16-Under GOLD Nationals | Oklahoma City, OK | 7/13/2024 7/19/2024 |
| Girls' 18-Under GOLD Nationals | Oklahoma City, OK | 7/13/2024 7/19/2024 |
| Girls' Class A 12-Under East | Johnson City, TN | 7/22/2024 7/28/2024 |
| Girls' Class A 14-Under East | Salem, VA | 7/16/2024 7/21/2024 |
33 more rowsGet selected to Team USA
Once committee members identify potential national team players, these individuals may be invited to participate in tryout camps. From those camps, they are selected to represent the United States in international competitions.
Who is the highest paid professional softball player? ›
Who is the highest paid softball player? Monica Abbott. Abbott signed a six year $1,000,000 deal in 2016, of which $20,000 was salary that counted under the salary cap, with the rest paid in other ways like bonuses.
On a granular level, the reason behind softball's ebb and flow on the Olympic calendar boils down to its popularity because, per the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) rules, host cities are now allowed to add sports to their program, according to USA Today.
Is softball harder than baseball? ›
However, it is scientifically proven that softball is harder than baseball. The speed of pitches, the reaction time for hitters and fielders, and the distance of the field indicates that softball is indeed harder than baseball.
What is the HPP national selection event? ›
About the HPP National Selection Event
The High Performance Program National Selection Event is an invite-only opportunity for athletes who have advanced through various HPP Identifiers over the last year.
What is the difference between the Olympics and the Junior Olympics? ›
The Summer and Winter YOG last 12 and 10 days respectively, while the OG may last up to 16 days. The sports programme is based on that of the Olympic Games, with 28 sports for the Summer YOG and seven for the Winter YOG. However, the events are different, adapting to the age range and interests of the younger athletes.
How do you qualify for the Junior Olympics in running? ›
The top eight (8) finishers in each event and each age division qualify from the AAU Primary National Championships (combined results), AAU Club Championships, and AAU West Coast National Championship to the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
What is the meaning of Junior Olympian? ›
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are an elite sporting event for young people aged from 15 to 18 from all over the world. The sports programme is mainly based on that of the Olympic Games.
What does JUCO mean in softball? ›
What does JUCO softball stand for? JUCO stands for Junior College, and they play in the NJCAA. JUCO softball is a good brand of softball in which players get the chance to grow physically and academically before hopefully transferring to a four-year university.
