FAQ

GPLR is the feeder softball program for Grants Pass High School. We field competitive teams at the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U levels. 

We are first and foremost the feeder program for GPHS and do not place an emphasis on traveling to tournaments. We do, however, see the value in tournaments and compete in 3-4 tournaments per season. Local games are between Roseburg and Ashland, which provide us the opportunity to face high level competition and maintain a consistent practice schedule, which is paramount to our athletes’ development.

• We are committed to providing high level coaching and development at all levels.

• A majority of our coaches have collegiate level athletic experience.

• All coaches are background checked, take the ACE coaches course, concussion training, and SafeSports lessons every year. 

• We work with USA certified USA Softball umpires.

• We invest in coaching and curriculum.

• We have an Executive Director of Coach and Player Development who oversees all teams, ensuring our program is training the same fundamentals at all levels and that these fundamentals align with the GPHS softball program.

• We offer individualized development for pitchers and catchers.

• We schedule games with teams that provide high level competition.

• We invest in innovative equipment in order to provide our athletes with high quality training.

• As the GPHS feeder program, we have access the GPHS turf field and indoor fieldhouse, allowing us to practice regardless of the weather.

• We offer free workouts from November-February.

• We are fortunate to have a physical therapist, nurse, pediatrician, firefighter with EMT certification, and other healthcare professionals part of our program, ensuring we are meeting the needs of our athletes.

• USA Softball approved bat

• Helmet with face guard*

• Fielding facemask

• Cleats or turf shoes*

• Mitt

*If purchasing new gear, please keep colors to royal blue, black, or white. 

It all depends on your athlete's goals. If they are coachable and ready to work hard, GPLR could be a good fit. Our Open Fields are a great way to check out our program and see what we're all about. 

In the spring, there are teams at the 10U, 12U, and 14U levels. In the summer, there is a 16U/18U team through Grants Pass High School. In the fall, there are teams at the 12U and 14U levels. Follow this link to access the 2025 USA Softball age calculator.

The short answer is no. Playing time is earned and coaches will play the best players in each position based on the situation. That being said, playing time is spread out more evenly at the younger levels and becomes more competitive as the athletes move up age levels.

We’ve heard rumors that this happens, however, this is not something we’ve been exposed to, nor would we push for such a thing pre-high school. We believe that kids should be kids; having fun and developing a deep love for softball is more important at the 10U-14U levels than worrying about getting scouted by colleges.

Yes! We want our athletes to be multi-sport athletes and be coached by a variety of coaches and models. We also value recovery time between seasons and encourage our athletes to participate in non-sport related activities as well. We are so proud of our Battle of the Books champion(s), Rotary Student(s) of the year, musicians, artists, and dancers! We accommodate other sport’s schedules during off season times, but do expect athletes to make softball the priority during the spring season. 

Our goal is to provide a structure for girls to play multiple years together all the way through high school. However, our tryouts are open and we do accept athletes from outside the D7 boundaries under the right circumstances. Accepting non-D7 athletes is dependent on several factors including position and roster size. If necessary, priority will be given to athletes who plan to attend GPHS.

Teams practice 3 days a week (approximately 6 total hours) before games start in April. Once games begin, practices are adjusted to accommodate 1-2 games per week. Generally we have field space reserved Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Sunday. 

Each of our spring teams play 35+ games, including local games and tournaments, between the end of March and the first weekend in July. Our 2024 fall team played in 3 tournaments for a total of 14 games.

We play in tournaments appropriate to age and skill level. Tournaments generally are between the Portland area and Sacramento. Teams will play between 2-4 tournaments a season. 

There is a tryout fee, registration fee, and volunteer fee. The volunteer fee will be returned upon completion of volunteer hours.

Families are required to volunteer during our annual Memorial Day tournament that is held at the All Sports Park. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and takes a lot of work to run smoothly. Failure to complete the required volunteer hours will result in forfeiture of pre-paid volunteer fee. 

Registration fees cover uniforms, ump fees, USA Softball insurance and registration, in-season equipment, and tournament fees. The registration fees charged, however, only cover a portion of the overall cost per athlete and all families are expected to participate in fundraising to cover remaining costs. 

Our program requires a certain level of time and dedication from both parents and athletes. Charging a tryout fee encourages families to research our program and understand what they are committing to before signing up.

Unfortunately, not all athletes who try out will be offered a roster spot. Fortunately, there are other youth softball options in our area for your athlete. Three Rivers Youth Softball registration is open until February 15th, providing the opportunity for your athlete to play this spring if they are not offered a roster spot with GPLR. Open Fields will resume in November and we invite your athlete to attend and continue to work on their softball skills.

We typically staff 4 coaches per team at each level.

All of our coaches are volunteers.

Yes! We are always looking to add coaches to our staff. Please email grantspassfastpitch@gmail.com to let us know you are interested in coaching. Our Executive Director of Coach & Player Development will reach out to you with more information and to see if it is a good fit.

Thank you for your desire to be part of the GPLR program! Please email grantspassfastpitch@gmail.com to let us know you're interested in getting involved. We will follow up with more information.