REGISTRATION FOR 2021 SUMMER FASTPITCH TEAMS 

OPEN NOW

• 8U teams - players with 2012 and 2013 birthdays
• 10U teams - players with 2010 and 2011 birthdays
• 12U teams - players with 2008 and 2009 birthdays

For more information about our fastpitch softball program, check out the 2021 EP Fastpitch tab (above), and be sure to "Like" us on Facebook to keep up to speed with new announcements! 

Player registration ends 11:59:59pm. March 7, 2021. 

2021 PARENT INFORMATION MEETING

• WED, February 24, 2021
• 7:30 - 8:30 pm

Join us online (link) for a quick overview of the 2021 season.  Great time to ask questions about the program and upcoming season.  Jen and Chad look forward to talking to all of you parents.  

EP Fastpitch 2021 Player Evaluations

We don't call this process "tryouts" anymore, because everyone who registers will be placed on a team and no one gets cut (yay!).  Our primary goal will always continue to be: softball skill development. This applies to players of all ages and all levels of skill. 

The purpose of conducting evaluations is to determine team placement. Our goal will be to assemble teams with players of similar level of skill. Players who are able to demonstrate the highest degree of skill will be placed on a team with players of similar high skill, to play a tougher schedule of opponents with similar high skill and will also play in multiple tournaments throughout the season. Everyone else will be placed on teams to continue their skill development. Our webpage on Age Division Structure (link) can explain the differences in teams of each age group, including which types of teams will accept friend requests (after all, we're playing softball for FUN, right?). 

Player Evaluations will be conducted by a panel of coaches outside of the EP Fastpitch Association who will assess each player's skills. EP Fastpitch Board members, including some who may also serve as team coaches during the season, will run the stations (operate the pitching machine, run the timers, hit grounders, etc), but are not involved in the evaluation scoring; any Board member with a daughter being actively evaluated is removed from the EPHS Activity Center interior until their daughter's session is complete. Skill evaluation includes (but is not limited to):

• hitting & bunting,
• infield fielding & throwing,
• outfield fielding & throwing,
• base running.
• pitchers and catchers will be evaluated separately

All players must wear facemasks during evaluations; please ensure they bring plenty of water. The HS water fountains inside the Activity Center have been disabled. 

This is a closed-door evaluation. This process is not unlike the procedures used by other sports clubs- parents must wait outside the Activity Center while evaluations are conducted.

8U

• Arrive by 11:50am to sign in, get a number and finish any uniform details; gear out in the bleachers in the Activity Center and begin warmups until 12:00pm.
• Evaluations run from 12:00pm to 1:30pm; players to exit the side door of the Activity Center

10U

• Arrive no earlier than 12:50pm to sign in, get a number and finish any uniform details; gear out in the bleachers in the Activity Center and begin warmups until 1:30pm.
• Evaluations run 1:30 - 3:30; non-pitcher/non-catchers should be done ~3:30pm; pitchers/catchers will be done around 4:00-4:15
• Pitchers/Catchers: 
  • Catchers will gear up and begin Catcher Evaluations immediately after Player Evaluations.
  • Pitchers will receive up to 20 minutes to warm up with a volunteer catcher we provide (see below). The pitcher will begin their Pitcher Evaluation when they indicate they are ready (if ready prior to 20 min). Pitchers will not receive more than 20 minutes, so be sure to prepare your pitcher ahead of SUN so that they know how to complete their pitching warmup within the alloted 20 minutes. At the end of the 20 minute warmup period, remaining pitchers will wait in turn to be called up for their evaluation.
    • The volunteer catcher will be an adult who is not the pitcher's parent nor an adult with a daughter in the current age group. They will not be allowed to coach (give tips, etc) or decide when a pitcher is ready or not.

12U

• Arrive no earlier than 3:00pm to sign in, get a number and finish any uniform details; gear out in the bleachers in the Activity Center and begin warmups until 3:30pm.
• Evaluations run 330 - 5:30; non-pitcher/non-catchers should be done ~5:15pm; pitchers/catchers will be done around 5:45-6:00pm. 
• Pitchers/Catchers: 
  • Catchers will gear up and begin Catcher Evaluations immediately after Player Evaluations.
  • Pitchers will receive up to 20 minutes to warm up with a volunteer catcher we provide (see below). The pitcher will begin their Pitcher Evaluation when they indicate they are ready (if ready prior to 20 min). Pitchers will not receive more than 20 minutes, so be sure to prepare your pitcher ahead of SUN so that they know how to complete their pitching warmup within the alloted 20 minutes. At the end of the 20 minute warmup period, remaining pitchers will wait in turn to be called up for their evaluation.
    • The volunteer catcher will be an adult who is not the pitcher's parent nor an adult with a daughter in the current age group. They will not be allowed to coach (give tips, etc) or decide when a pitcher is ready or not.

ALL players are encouraged to participate in the Player Evaluations.
If an athlete is unable to attend, they will be placed on teams at the discretion of the EP Fastpitch Commissioners. 

Our very own EPHS Varsity Softball Assistant Coach Jim Bayer (and a few EPHS softball girls) will be on hand to teach girls basic fastpitch fundamentals that will help build their foundation of skills.  This is a camp for girls new to softball (rookies) AND for those wanting to get warmed up and ready for the upcoming season.  If your daughter was born between 2008 - 2013, they are welcome to attend. And we encourage your daughter to bring a friend! 

Coach Bayer will be taking girls through throwing progressions, various fielding drills - both infield and outfield, and potentially hitting drills, if time allows. This camp is an extension of what we are doing on Sunday nights so you will see new drills here than what we are already doing at those clinics.  

EPFA Board Members will be outside the dome to escort your daughter in and out and to answer any questions from parents.   At this time, we can not allow any parent spectators in the dome due to current COVID restrictions.  Girls will need to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth for the entire duration that they are inside the dome.  Breaks will be given for the girls to drink water.  

Basic Equipment Needed for Camp: 

• Fielding mask & glove
• Batting helmet & bat
  • Please email us (link below) if you need any of the above; we have supplies!
• Tennis shoes or turf shoes (no cleats allowed)
• Dress in layers.  Dome temp is around 50 degrees - the colder it is outside, the chillier it will be in the dome. 
• Water bottle 
• Hand sanitizer is on site to use during and after the camp

If you have any additional questions, please contact one of the Co-Directors ( ) and one of us will get back to you as soon as possible!

Player Evaluations will be conducted on March 7th. We use the Player Evaluations similarly to "tryouts", in that players will demonstrate their softball skill so we can build teams of players with similar skill. It is unlike "tryouts", in that everyone will be placed on teams and no one is "cut". To prepare players for the drills they need to execute during Player Evaluations, we will be conducting:

Eval Prep Softball Clinics

• Sunday, February 21 and 28, 2021
• Eden Praririe High School Activity Center
  • Players will enter through the main doors to the EPHS Activity Center; players exit the side door

Sorry parents; the Eden Prairie High School still restricts spectators. For our younger players, you may assist your daughter bringing in gear to the door, but you cannot stay. All players must wear face masks during clinics. Be sure players bring plenty of water; the drinking fountains in the high school are disabled. Players should wear sneakers and bring their softball glove. Contact us ( ) if you daughter needs any softball equipment.

Girls will warm up and stretch together before breaking into different groups. Drills will include infield fielding, outfield fielding, base-running, hitting, pitching and catching.

We are still conducting offseason softball training on Sunday evenings. Please see our other bulletins on our home page
 

SUNDAY Softball Clinics: Pitching, Catching and Hitting

Naturally, EP Fastpitch recognizes that the two most important positions on any fastpitch softball team are the pitchers and catchers; so we are providing offseason instruction for EP Fastpitch girls playing these positions. We believe that fastpitch pitchers and catchers are made in the offseason! 

LOCATION: Eden Prairie High School Activity Center
COST: FREE!

8U = players with birthdays in 2012 and 2013
10U = players with birthdays in 2010 and 2011
12U = players with birthdays in 2008 and 2009

Pitchers Clinic Description:

If you are interested in becoming a fastpitch pitcher, or becoming a better one, then the EPFPA Pitching Clinics will help you achieve your goals. Girls will be organized by age division to allow for more focused instruction. 

These sessions include professional instruction, which leads to proper mechanics, speed and accuracy. More advanced pitchers will learn the mechanics of various pitches when the instructor believes they are ready, ie- change, drop, rise and curve.

Pitcher Clinics: 

Pitcher Clinic Schedule: 

All pitchers must provide someone to catch their pitches. Parent tip: bring a 5-gallon bucket to sit on; your back and knees will thank you!

If you are interested in learning to become a catcher, or becoming a better one, the EPFPA Catching Clinics will help get you there. 

These sessions include instruction on the key fundamentals of receiving, blocking, throwing and will also focus on conditioning drills specifically designed for the catcher. If you are a catcher but have never received any formal training, this clinic is a must. If you are a seasoned catcher, this will reinforce the fundamentals and take your catching skills to next level.

2021 EP Fastpitch 10U/12U Winter Hitting Clinics

with former U of M Gophers standout, Sam Macken

10U players have birthdays in years 2010 and 2011; 10U clinics are conducted 6:00-7:00pm.
12U players have birthdays in years 2008 and 2009; 12U clinics are conducted 7:00-8:00pm.

Cost $60 for 3 sessions. Clinics held within the batting cages inside the EPHS Dome. 

Familes may only register a player for 1 session. Families may register for another session if there are spots available within 5 days of the start of the next session (ie- if you've registered for Session 2, the only way to sign up for Session 3 is if there are spots available after March 9). 

Refunds are not issued if a player is unable to attend any of the nights in the session that they register. There are no make-up session for dates canceled due to inclement weather (sorry, indoor space for training is booked).