Fastpitch Softball - A Mom's View
My view of fastpitch softball comes from my years of experience with my daughters ages 12 and 15 who have played softball since the age of six. Then they played t-ball, and boy was it fun. Now they both play select softball and the quality of play is a little better. Select ball is played at a higher level of competition than you will find in recreational sports, like Little League, for instance. Both my daughters have played Little League as well and some of my best memories of their games come from there. I hope you enjoy this lens as much as I know I'll enjoy writing it. I hope you'll learn something too.
Now the one thing I plan on making sure you know is what to pack to survive what can be a very long day. We've spent up to 12 hours at the field. You really gotta love it to spend that much time there.
New Table of Contents
- Packing For a Day at the Field
- Umbrellas
- Get a Seat
- Bleacher chairs
- Keep Warm
- Blankets
- Heaters
- Siblings Need a Place to Sit
- Little Tents for Little Ones
- A Cooler Full of Food
- Coolers
- The Top 10 Foods to Pack for a Day at the Field
- A cart for all your stuff!
- Keep Softball in the Olympics
- Fastpitch Softball
- Great Stuff on CafePress
- Put Your Game Face On
- Protect Your Daughter's Face
- Softball Pics
- Customized Softball Shirts
- Everything Softball
- Fastpitch Softball Home
- Softball at My Zimbio
- Visit My Blog on Girls Fastpitch Softball
- Protect Your Skin From the Elements
- Sunglasses
- New Guestbook
Packing For a Day at the Field
You play come rain or come shine.
Umbrellas
GustBuster Metro 43-Inch Automatic Umbrella
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009) 
GustBuster Doorman 62" Umbrella (Black)
Amazon Price: $39.95 (as of 01/07/2009)
Golf Gifts & Gallery 62" Windbuster Umbrella
Amazon Price: $19.56 (as of 01/07/2009)
Totes Golf Size Auto-Open/Close Umbrella
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Get a Seat
Get Comfortable
Bleacher chairs
Skwoosh Stadium Gel Seat (Navy)
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 01/07/2009)
M & J Bottomline - TBW-1NLB - Bench Warmer Heated Bleacher Seat Cushion - Black - 18 L x 15 W in.
Amazon Price: $82.11 (as of 01/07/2009)
Crazy Creek - 1021-050 - Original Chair Outdoor Portable Chair - Forest Green - 15.5 in. Wide
Amazon Price: $47.24 (as of 01/07/2009)
Picnic Time Stadium Seat 17X11in. Padded Stadium Seat (Black/Silver)
Amazon Price: $24.89 (as of 01/07/2009)
Keep Warm
You'll need a blanket or two.
Blankets
Tuffo Water-Resistant Outdoor Blanket with Carrying Case
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Coleman All Outdoors 3-In-1 Blanket Roadtrip (Colors May Vary)
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 01/07/2009)
Cocoon CoolMax Travel Blanket
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Fleece Picnic Blanket (Plaid)
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Grabber Outdoors Hooded All Weather Blanket
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Heaters
There's nothing better on a cold day
Portable Outdoor Propane Heater with Piezo Igniter Md: 194-100
Amazon Price: $41.69 (as of 01/07/2009)
Texsport Propane Double Heater
Amazon Price: $69.99 (as of 01/07/2009)
Texsport Dbl Propane Heater
Amazon Price: $45.05 (as of 01/07/2009)
Coleman SportCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater
Amazon Price: $49.15 (as of 01/07/2009)
Coleman 5053A751 ProCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with Instastart Technology
Amazon Price: $99.98 (as of 01/07/2009)
Siblings Need a Place to Sit
Little Tents for Little Ones
Give younger siblings a place of their own
Pacific Play Tents Under the Sea Cabana w/ Zippered Mesh Front
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 01/07/2009)
Starburst Nursery Tent
Amazon Price: $45.85 (as of 01/07/2009)
Sports Cabana
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
A Cooler Full of Food
Coolers
Ensign Peak Large Insulated Cooler Bag
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Igloo PolarMax Travel Cooler
Amazon Price: $12.34 (as of 01/07/2009)
Coleman 36-Quart Xtreme Cooler (Blue)
Amazon Price: $41.99 (as of 01/07/2009)
Insulated 36 pack Cooler with Wheels
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Coleman 8-Quart Cooler (Red)
Amazon Price: $19.66 (as of 01/07/2009)
The Top 10 Foods to Pack for a Day at the Field
In no certain order...
- Water - of course; not Gatorade or a Sports or soft drink; your daughter needs water. Pack whatever you'd like for yourself.
- Bagels - these are so simple to bring along, they don't need to be kept cold, you can eat them plain or bring a tub of cream cheese and a plastic knife for spreading.
- Granola bars - perfect! Easy and nutritional.
- Fruit - it can be any kind; bananas are easy, so are grapes and apples. But any kind will do.
- Cheese and crackers - I love the trays that you buy at the grocery store that come pre-packed. Some even have pepperoni slices. Yummy.
- Yogurt or fruit cups - you'll need a cooler, but these are easy and nutritional. Don't forget a plastic spoon!
- Peanut butter or cheese crackers, or both. Once again, very simple, yet nutritional.
- Muffins - I'd prefer banana or poppy seed, or blue berry - just seems a little more healthy than the chocolate, chocolate chip kind that my daughters love. Of course, so do I!
- Rice cakes - these seem to go over well with the girls and it couldn't get any easier. No need to keep cold: just eat right out of the bag. They are made with whole grain brown rice, and come in several flavors.
- Ok, I hate packing a lunch, but if you're more ambitious than I am, you can pack just about anything - any kind of sandwich, or left overs, or anything else you can fit in a cooler. Packing your own food will save you a lot of money.
A cart for all your stuff!
Gill Athletics Multi-Purpose Track Wagon
Amazon Price: $269.99 (as of 01/07/2009)
Keep Softball in the Olympics
Sign the petition to put softball in the 2012 Olympics
If you're reading this lens, I assume you must be a sports fan, and you may not realize that softball (and baseball) have been voted out of the 2012 Olympics. So as of now, the Beijing Olympics in 2008 will be the last time we'll get to watch women's Olympic softball. This is sad, and unfair. Since the US Women's team joined the Olympics in 1996, they've taken gold. The IOC, (International Olympic Committee) consisting mainly of European countries voted softball out. Please sign the petition requesting softball be reinstated into the 2012 Olympics. Click here to sign the petition. Fastpitch Softball
Spending your weekend at tournaments
Packing for a softball tournament takes practice, several years and a couple daughters' worth. But you can learn how a lot faster by reading my lens.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreat Stuff on CafePress
Put Your Game Face On
A piece of protective equipment you must have
I'm writing to tell you about a scary incident that happened in the last game. My daughter is a pitcher. She throws the ball about 50 to 55 miles an hour. I don't know how fast the ball is going when it comes off the bat, but it comes fast and hard. It came right at her face. Instinctively, she put up her hand to protect her face. The ball hit her hand which hit her mask which sent the mask flying off her face, dropping her to the ground facing the opposite direction. Now that is a scary sight. A mom's biggest nightmare. She was alright. Luckily. We make sure our girls don't play any infield position without what's called a Game Face. It's a protective mask and it's well worth the small price. If your daughter plays fastpitch softball, this is a necessity. You can only imagine what would have happened if the ball hit her in the face with no protection. It's not a pleasant thought. Buy your daughter a Game Face.
Game Face Protective Face Shield
Protect Your Daughter's Face
Game Face Protective Face Mask
Softball Pics
Action Shots
Catching
A Softball is Yellow
Where did that ball go?
She's outta there.
Head first...
Full out sprint
Slide....
Perfect form!
Diamonds are a softball girls best friend.
Customized Softball Shirts
Everything Softball
Fastpitch Softball Equipment, Advice, Training Videos and More
- Amateur Softball Association
- The Amateur Softball Association is the governing body for softball.
- Sue Enquist
- Sue Enquist, like John Wooden and those legends who have come before her, does not define success in the amount of accolades she has received; instead, Enquist's success is defined through the lives of those she coaches. After 27 years at UCLA, Enquist retires as head softball coach.
"I prepare for the game, I honor the game, I love the game." - Bats Bats Bats
- Softball Bats at discount prices; reviews and bat sizing; other gear and accessories. Get your game gear online.
- Softball.com
- Softball Bats, Softball Footwear, Softball Gloves, Softball Apparel, Catcher's Equipment
- The National Softball Association
- The National Softball Association is a full service organization that offers a division of play and a level of competition that YOUTH through ADULT can enjoy.
- Fastpitch Home
- Fastpitch Home - from T-ball to Select, it's all about girls fastpitch softball, the girls who love to play it, the parents who love to watch it, and the coaches who love to coach, and a little on umpires too. plus rules, terminology, equipment, gear, a mom's point of view, a coach's point of view.
Fastpitch Softball Home
My blog
My blog covers everything about fastpitch softball, from t-ball to select; from the rules and terminology, to equipment, gear and more. Visit my blog and learn all about girls fastpitch softball. Softball at My Zimbio
Visit My Blog on Girls Fastpitch Softball
For all the scoop and latest news visit Fastpitch Home. It's all about girls fastpitch softball; learn the rules, the terminology, the equipment and necessary gear, share your point of view with this softball mom who's been watching her daughters play since t-ball and loving every minute of it!
Protect Your Skin From the Elements
Whether the weather be cold and windy or hot and sunny
Coretex Outdoor Skin Protection Kit
Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2009)
Sunglasses
Be prepared to look like a raccoon
Bolle Sport Fang Sunglasses (Shiny Black/TNS)
Amazon Price: $52.50 (as of 01/07/2009)
Ambervision Sunglasses
Amazon Price: $3.50 (as of 01/07/2009)
New Guestbook
Fran Hall wrote
I also have two daughters that play softball. I think you have thought of everything.
Posted April 15, 2008
