FAQ
Who does the coaching?
U.S. Softball Academy hires and trains high school and/or college coaches from your local area. That’s the biggest advantage of the program. While most local youth and travel team coaches have some knowledge of softball, this is a chance for young players to be get four weeks of instruction by professionally trained and experienced coaches who do this for a living. Along with training the staff, we maintain quality control by providing each location with our weekly program and the necessary equipment to run it.
How many kids will be there at a time?
While our programs can attract around 100 players per location, that is spread over a 4.5 hour period. We take a maximum of about 30 players per session for the hitting camps and between 10 and 15 pitchers per hour, depending on the size of the facility. The important thing to remember is that we provide a low player-coach ratio. If we add players, we add coaches. We will not overbook and compromise our instruction.
The price of $139 and $99 (second skill) seem kind of low compared to lessons at our local indoor facility. Does that mean the instruction isn't as good?
Not at all. Our prices are lower than indoor facilities because we don’t have the overhead. Building an indoor facility is expensive, and the year-round costs have to be recovered during peak usage seasons of winter and spring. Because we’re contracting with the local site director to use a high school or college in your area for only 4 days, we don’t have to support year-round rental and utility costs.
The $139 covers four weeks of sessions, one session per week. How long is each session, and what do they do?
Each session lasts for 90 minutes. Players are in small groups of 6 to 7 kids of similar age. During the session, they work through a concentrated circuit of drills that teach specific skills. Each station they go to has an instructor, and most also have an assistant coach to help get them more repetitions. We don’t have them sit and listen to someone talk for 15 minutes. They’re moving and active the whole time. Sessions are cumulative, so that over the four-week period we cover all aspects of the selected skill.
We want to attend multiple skills. Can we do that?
Yes. Sessions are staggered by age group to allow players to hit and pitch in consecutive sessions. They go right from one to the other. There is a multi-session discount.
What if we sign up and find out later he can't come? Can we get a refund?
Unless otherwise stated, the following refund policy is in effect. Cancellations prior to a month before the program will receive a refund minus a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations inside a month of the camp will not receive a refund. If a pre-camp injury prevents a player from attending, we will refund your money upon receipt of a doctor’s explanation. Once a camp begins, camp credit is given in lieu of a refund.
What if we miss a week because of vacation or a scheduling conflict?
Because we have the facility reserved for only those days, there are no makeup sessions. However, most people still find it a good value to get even two or three lessons. While the sessions are cumulative, players who miss a week are not “lost” when they return. During the course of the program, many players miss a week due to conflicts with another sport, a family vacation, or illness.
My daughter is advanced and her friend is a beginner. How can the program be right for both of them?
While the stations are consistent for all the players in a particular age group, the way we run the drills varies according to the ability level of each player. We stress to our coaches the importance of coaching each player at her own level. Older and more experienced players work on more advanced concepts as the weeks progress. The level of instruction changes throughout the day and throughout the program.
My daughter is a 3rd grader, and I don't want her in the group with 1st graders. How does that work?
There is a small age range within each session, but players are broken into small groups with six to seven players. There may be 1st graders and 3rd graders in the facility at the same time, but we create small groups based on the players grade. The third graders are grouped with other third graders, and the first graders with first graders.
The confirmation page says players in the hitting camp need to bring a bat. Will you have bats for them to use, or can they borrow one from another player in the camp?
We want each player to bring a bat because there are times when everyone in a group will be performing a drill at the same time, so it’s not ideal to borrow a bat from someone else in the camp. She might try borrowing a bat from a teammate not in the program, or from her coach.
Pitchers are supposed to supply their own catchers? Her friend is in the same session. Can they catch for each other?
In the pitching program, players are all performing the drills at the same time, and each player needs a catcher. If one player in a session catches for another, each will only receive half as much instruction. A catcher can be a parent, sibling, or friend. Youth players serving as catchers should bring a catcher’s mask to wear.
How should players dress?
Most activities are indoors so wear tennis shoes; shorts, sweat pants or softball pants, and a T-shirt. Where available, instruction may take place outdoors. You will be notified if your camp is outdoors and we always instruct players to be prepared to go outdoors if weather permits.
