Below are Edina Softball Uniform and Accessory Guidelines

Edina Softball Team Jerseys

Edina Softball creates official team jerseys every season for our programs. Minnesota Softball rules require players to wear their jerseys on game day with their number and name visible.  In early season games, players may wear long-sleeve heat gear underneath the jersey to manage colder temperatures or wear a team sweatshirt with their name and player number visible.  A player who does not have their jersey on game day will not be allowed to play. 

Team Jersey - 6U Rec, 8U Rec and 8U Travel
Edina Softball provides a team jersey required for game and tournament play. Team jerseys will be distributed by the coach before the team's first game. 

Team Jersey - 10U Travel, 12U Travel and 14U Travel
Edina Softball requires each player to purchase two team jerseys for each season. The jerseys are customized with the player's name and assigned number. The colors are usually  Edina white and green to signify home and away. Two jerseys are needed by travel teams because they play multiple games per week and several games per day during tournaments.  Coaches will direct teams on what jerseys to wear for each game or tournament. 

Edina Softball Replacement jerseys
We do not order new replacement jerseys mid-season. However, if a player damages or loses a jersey, please have the coach reach out to the association.  

The equipment list below is for 6U and 8U players:
Edina Softball Association provides team equipment for 6U and 8U level teams. Equipment includes a team bat, catcher gear, softballs, and practice equipment.  Some players choose to purchase a bat to ensure the best fit for the player's height.  

• Softball Pants: Solid Black ONLY (see specific guidelines listed below)
• Softball Belt: Solid Black (or color as directed by the coach).
• Socks: Green
• Shoes/Softball Cleats: 6U/8U/10U/12U Rubber ONLY and 14U/16U Steel or Rubber.  
• Batting Helmet with face shield and chin strap: Color optional, but black or green preferred.  
• Fielders Mask - Required for player's safety.  Metal is more durable than plastic masks.
• Glove: Any color allowed.
• Gear bag/backpack - Highly recommended to keep gear all in one place. 

Optional apparel:

• Batting Gloves:  Black or white is preferred, but other colors are fine.
• Shirts: Wicking/Compression: White preferred - Long or short sleeve.  Wicking/compression shirts are optional but it is suggested to have a long sleeve shirt for games played in cold weather.

The equipment list below is for players 10U and up:

• Softball Pants: Solid Black ONLY (see specific guidelines listed below)
• Belt: If needed.  Solid Black (or color as directed by the coach)
• Socks: Green
• Sliding Shorts: Optional
• Shoes/Cleats: 6U/8U/10U/12U Rubber ONLY and 14U/16U Steel or Rubber
• Batting Helmet with face shield and chin strap: Color optional, but black or green preferred.
• Fielders Mask - Required for the players safety.  Metal is more durable than the plastic masks.
• Glove: Black or Brown Preferred.
• Gear bag/backpack - Highly recommended to keep gear all in one place. 

Optional apparel:

• Batting Gloves:  Black or white is preferred, but other colors are fine.
• Shirts: Wicking/Compression: White preferred - Long or short sleeve.  Wicking/compression shirts are optional but it is suggested to have a long sleeve shirt for games played in cold weather.

Softball Pants Specific Guidelines

• SOLID Black – No piping/stripes/colors/etc.
• Belted (preferred) or Non-Belted
• Long Pants (below calf muscle or down to ankle/shoes)

Helmets/Facemask/Batting Gloves/Gloves/Shoes/Cleats etc. –It's best to try these items out at a store to get the best fit and comfort. 

Here are some examples of the different equipment needed for fastpitch softball.  

The information below provides general guidance to help find the right equipment.  There are many brands to choose from and the ones listed are just examples to give you can idea.  The listed price range is just a ballpark of what you can expect to spend.  There are brands and styles that will be higher than the prices listed but in most cases are not necessary for girls playing fastpitch at their level.  

Helmets must have a face mask attached, a chinstrap and has to be NOCSAE Approved.   A few different styles are shown and it’s a matter of what feels the most comfortable for the player.  Prices range from $25-$60. 

To find the helmet size, measure from the forehead around the head (just above the ears) and back to the forehead.  Use the conversion chart below to find the approximate helmet size based.  Actual helmet sizes will vary by manufacturer so this is just a guide. 

The fielder’s masks are required for the players safety.  Masks come in a variety of materials including hard plastic, polycarbonate and steel.  It’s best to try several styles on to see what fits the best and which one provides the best field of vision.  Prices range from $17-$50. 

The chart below is a guide that will give you an idea what size glove to use.  Prices range from $25-$100+.

Fastpitch bats are provided by the association for the girls to use at practice and in games or you can buy your daughter her own bat.   All bats are required to meet ASA standards as found at this link:  https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/certified-equipment.  Regardless, if she uses one of the bats from the association or would like to have her own, the following chart helps determine the approximate length to use.  Finding the appropriate length is just the first part of the equation.  The second part is the weight, which is also referred to as the “drop weight”.  Remember the guides below are only recommendations and the actual size bat may vary based on the players personal preference and strength. 

Prices range from $20-$300+.  If you are going to buy a bat, it’s a good idea to buy a decent one otherwise you may being buying a replacement bat the next season. 

To find the bat length, find your daughters weight range and then her height and find where both intersect.

Now that you have the recommended bat length, it’s time to determine the correct weight of the bat.  Bat weight is measured in ounces but when looking at bats you will notice a negative number printed on the barrel.  This is referred to as the “drop weight” or the bats length to weight ratio.  It is determined by taking the weight of the bat in ounces and subtracting the bat length in inches.  The most common drop weight ranges from -8 to -14.  For example, a 31-inch bat that weighs 19 ounces is a -12 drop weight.  You want to find a bat with a drop weight that is not too heavy for your daughter but also not too light.  The best way to find out if a bat is too light or too heavy is to take a few swings at a few pitches.  Below is the recommended drop weight for different age groups:

• Ages 8 & Under: -12 to -14
• Ages 8 to 14: -12 to -10
• Ages 14 & Up: -11 to -8

The last factor for finding the right bat is the material it’s made from.  There are two types of bats, aluminum alloy and composite.   Which type to use is personal preference but there are a few pros and cons for each.  Composite bats have a bigger “sweet spot” and they tend to help reduce vibration in the hands compared to aluminum alloy.  Aluminum alloy bats tend to have a more balanced swing weight which helps increase swing speeds and further ball flights.  Aluminum alloy bats are usually much less expensive than composite bats.  There are a few quality bats from several manufacturers in the $70-$120 range that are good to use.  Try to avoid “cheaper” bats in the $20-$40 range as they may take a beating from hitting the softball. 

Gear bags are based on preference.  Most girls tend to go with the backpack style bags because they are easier to haul around.  When buying a bag, bigger is better.  It doesn’t take much to fill up a bag with cleats, batting helmet, fielders mask, glove, etc.  Prices range from $20-$90.