Steps to become a league player

1) Contact Your Club Rep.  They will help guide you through the process.  (Click Here for the Club Rep Page)

2) Sign a Liability Waiver form before practicing or playing on the field.  At Palm Creek there are blank forms in the tower.  These forms are available to be signed online during the season signup process.

3) Obtain a Player Assessment Rating.  Your Club Rep will arrange an assessment and to assign a Player Rating.  The Club Rep will ensure that you have sufficient skills to participate in the league.  The Rating will be used during the draft process.

4) Create a SportsEngine Account.  The account is needed to include you in the player communication process.   

               Click here to Create a Sports Engine Account

Once you have an account, you will tie your account to our website.  Becoming a member of a SportsEngine website connects your profile with Palm Creek Softball. Once you are a member, we will be able to easily communicate with you and you can access our website. 

5) Season Signup/substitute signup.  Prior to the Season, everyone who has created a SportsEngine Account will receive a communication from the League to signup to play for the upcoming season.  Those who do not complete the process prior to the signup cutoff will be placed on a substitute roster.  Coaches will use the substitute roster to fill teams on a game day basis and to maintain team roster minimums.

Information about the League

Clubs in the League – The League draws players from five communities in the Casa Grande area to build teams.  The communities are Palm Creek, Robson Ranch, Mission Royale, Sundance and Fiesta Grande.  Each of the Clubs have representatives that will help the new player enter the League and answer returning players on-going questions.  The names of the Club Reps can be found on the League website at (Click Here for the Club Rep Page)

Free Agent vs Club Play - Depending on the season, the communities (or Clubs) will form their own teams (Club Play) or teams may be created through a league wide draft (Free Agent).  Players will be contacted by coaches prior to the beginning of the season.  Click here to read more about the league-wide player draft.

Player requirement age -The League teams are co-ed with women and men playing on the same team.  Women players must be at least 45 years old and men must be at least 55 years old in the year in which they are playing.

Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Action - Amongst the League's guiding principles are sportsmanship and comradery.  All players will commit to abide by the League's Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Action policy.  Follow this LINK to the policy.

Player Assessment Rating and Divisions – All players will go through an assessment process when entering the league in order to match players with other players of similar skill when possible.  The assessment will use standard criteria to evaluate the player's skill level in hitting, fielding, throwing and running.  Each Club is responsible for completing the assessment and assigning a rating.  Use this link to view the Player Rating Assessment Guidelines (will be available October 2023).

Players are placed in either the National Division (the upper division) or the American Division (lower division)

Seasons, Fields, Game days, Number of Games in a Season - The League plays three seasons a year – Winter, Spring and Fall.  Winter games are played January into late February, Spring in March and Fall in November and December.  Ten to Fifteen League games are played weekdays during a typical season.  League games are played on softball fields at Palm Creek and Robson Ranch.  An annual calendar containing the season beginning and ending dates is posted on the League website.  

Annual Membership Fee – All players who sign up to play in the Palm Creek Softball League pay an annual membership fee to cover the costs associated with running the league.  The payment is made when signing up online for the Winter season.  The payment covers the Winter, Spring and Fall seasons.  The annual membership fee for the 2022-2023 seasons will be $60 per player.  A club may decide to charge players an additional amount to cover club expenses such as equipment, uniforms, parties, etc.

Season Signup, Substitute Player, Waiver – Prior to each season, players will be contacted by email to signup for the upcoming season.  Players who miss the signup period will be considered Substitute players and will be assigned to play on teams as needed.  Coaches follow a specified process for acquiring substitute players for a single game or for the remaining games in the season.  All players must sign Liability Waivers prior to playing League games on softball fields at Palm Creek and Robson Ranch.

Website - The League maintains a website (Palm Creek Softball (sportngin.com)) to communicate information to players and the communities.  The website provides information for new players, schedule of games, game results and season standings, volunteering and photos.    

Facebook page - Keep up with the latest news and photos on the Palm Creek Softball League Facebook Page.

Mobile App - There is a mobile app that can be downloaded so that players and fans can quickly and easily find team information, game schedules, game results and season standings on their smart phones (Link to mobile app).

Equipment – bats, balls, cleats - ASA or USSSA approved 1.20 BPF bats will be used.   Balls used shall be a 44 COR, 375 compression softballs, 12” balls for male hitters and 11” balls for female hitters. Senior bats, 1.21 BPF  will be allowed for National (B) Division games played at Robson Ranch and may be used at either Palm Creek or Robson Ranch fields by American Division (C) players who are 80+ years old.   If you are new to the league and considering buying a bat and have any questions, please contact your coach or the League Director. 

Metal cleats are prohibited.

Volunteering – It takes many volunteers to run the League.  There are opportunities to volunteer on the field as Coaches/Managers, Umpires, Scorekeepers and Announcers; or as Groundskeepers, Photographers and Reporters; and more positions to help out your specific club.  To find out about these opportunities go to the website (Volunteer link) or Contact your Club Rep (Club Rep Link)

Rules

The League uses the Official SSUSA Senior Rulebook.  There are certain rules that have been created or modified for play in the Palm Creek Softball League. Rules differ between Free Agent and Club play formats. Click here to go to the rules.

Watch Palm Creek Softball Rules video, by clicking on the link below:

https://youtu.be/rHtW5ufXn8E

Information About the Palm Creek Club (or Association)

Executive Committee – The Palm Creek Softball League is managed by an Executive Committee comprised of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Information Technology Director, League Director and Member-At-Large.  The Executive Committee manages the league based on a set of bylaws.  Use this Link to find out more information and current Executive Committee members.

Tournament Teams – In addition to League play, the Palm Creek Club sponsors tournament teams for players in certain demographics.  

- The Desert Dawgs are a team composed of players 70 years of age and older. If you want to know more about the Desert Dawgs, please contact Irwin Olfert at irwinolfert@gmail.com or Len Nichol at len_nichol@yahoo.com.

- The Silver Sliders is a team composed of women.  If you want to know more about the Silver Sliders, please contact Di Wilson at dpsydney9@gmail.com

- The Vipers draw players from the National League players.  If you want to know more about the Vipers, please contact Ray Lee at  raylee.stl@gmail.com

- The Coyotes draw players from the American League.  If you want to know more about the Coyotes, please contact Tom Carl at thomascarl1958@gmail.com.

Player Development will focus on hitting, throwing, fielding, running, fitness and softball acumen (situational awareness)

Traditional batting practice will be conducted Wednesdays at 9:00 am followed by infield and outfield practice designed to prepare players for the week’s games.

Practice time on Wednesday’s at 9:00 am will be devoted to skills improvement utilizing the batting cage, infield practice and situations, outfield practice and situations.  A special area of emphasis will be developing pitchers.  The batting cage is available for your use during the daytime to develop your batting skills

Safety - Safety is a priority for the Association.  Too often, when a player has not played softball for years, they feel they can jump right back into playing without preparing their body for the sport.  The player gets hurt, and then begins an exercise routine to recuperate.  Our suggestion is to start the conditioning program before stepping onto the field.  If you do not have a regular conditioning program, this link may be helpful to get started.  Also, talk with experienced players about how they protect themselves and perform their conditioning.  Your goal should be to experience a complete ball season with limited pain and injuries.  You should know your limits and be there for your team for the entire season.

In addition, there are senior softball and Palm Creek Softball League rules designed to reduce injuries.  Your coach will go over these rules with you.

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