INSTRUCTIONAL PLAY – Our instructional teams are for girls in grades Kindergarten to 4.

This level emphasizes instruction rather than competition. Coaches are responsible for teaching the basics of the game. Games are played on Downers Grove fields. An attempt is made to assemble teams by elementary schools. If there are too few (or too many) girls from a school to field a team, they will be blended with another team.

Kindergarten - T-ball - Girls learn the basics of the game.
Grades 1 & 2 - Coach Pitch - Coaches pitch the ball. Games are run- and time-limited.
Grade 3 - Instructional Pitch- Girls begin live pitch with assistance by the coaches. Games at this level are run- and time-limited.
Grade 4 - This is live pitch with umpires.

ASSOCIATION PLAY– This is for 10- to 13-year-old players and is more competitive.

Association play is divided into two levels as players age. In the first level, play is live pitch with umpires calling the game. Win/loss records are kept, and an end-of-season tournament is played. Games are played in Downers Grove. Teams are formed by draft, and all players are drafted.

The age groupings are Grade 5 & 6 - Juniors, and Grades 7 & 8 - Majors.

The second level of play joins with the Southwest Suburban Fast-pitch League based in Romeoville. Half of the scheduled 20 games are played in Downers Grove, the other half in the southwest suburbs such as Romeoville, Lockport, Crest Hill, and elsewhere. Coaches of Majors Level teams may elect to enter tournaments separate from the Southwest Conference. It is not mandatory that girls play in these tournaments, but if they do, an extra charge may be assessed to cover tournament entry fees.

TRAVELING TEAMS

DOLLS also offers several levels of competitive tournament and traveling teams. The age levels are 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U. Teams are formed as tournament traveling teams or as members of the Southwest Suburban Fastpitch League.

Players must tryout and be invited to play on these teams. Tryouts are in August. The costs are higher than association teams but teams travel throughout Illinois and, in some instances, out-of-state. Each coach provides a prospectus during tryouts with information about expenses, participation expectation, and the extent of traveling required.