Ages 8–10 · Year-Round · East Hartford, CT · Limited to 20 Players
The most important years in your daughter’s softball career are right now.
Most programs let 8, 9, and 10 year olds wing it. We don’t.
Built for the years that actually matter.
Ages 8–10 are when habits form — good ones and bad ones. A player who learns to think the game at 9 is a different athlete at 12 than one who was just warming a bench at tournaments. We built this program because we’ve coached both kinds of players, and we know exactly where the gap starts.
This is not a travel team. The focus is development — not a tournament schedule. We may play one or two tournaments if it makes sense for the group, but that’s not the point. The point is serious, structured coaching twice a week — indoors at Clubhouse 220, outdoors at McAuliffe Field — with coaches who take this age group as seriously as any 16U program does.
A year-round skills program designed to develop young athletes through systematic instruction, character-first coaching, and progressive skill-building — with a direct pathway to elite Diamond Club travel teams in 2027–2028.
Program at a Glance
Season
Aug 15, 2026 – Jul 30, 2027
11.5 months · Year-Round
Practices
2x per week · 1.5 hrs each
3 hours of coaching weekly
Capacity
20 players max
Waitlist when full
Facility
Clubhouse 220 (indoor)
+ McAuliffe Field (outdoor)
Practices are never cancelled. Indoor for bad weather. Outdoor when it’s nice. Your family can plan around this.
Skill. IQ. Character. In that order.
Every session has a plan. We don’t show up and wing it. Over the course of the program, players build all four layers.
Physical Fundamentals
Hitting mechanics and bat path · Fielding footwork and hands · Throwing arm care · Baserunning reads and decisions
Softball IQ
Watch the game, not just wait for your turn. Know what’s happening before it happens. Understand situations, not just positions.
Mindset & Character
Mistakes are how we learn — we don’t hide from them. Effort matters more than perfection. Confidence is built through real reps, not participation trophies. Team-first is the standard at 8, at 10, at 16.
We’ve seen this work. For 10 years.
Diamond Club ran 11 teams over a decade in Connecticut. Our athletes went on to play high school and collegiate softball. Some of those same players are coming back now — college kids who came up through this program — to help us rebuild it from the ground up.
When you put your 8-year-old in this program, you’re not betting on something new. You’re betting on something proven that took a few years off and came back better. The feeder program is where the next 10 years start.
This is where the path starts.
Players who demonstrate excellence in skill, character, and commitment will receive invitations to join Diamond Club travel teams for the 2027–2028 season. Here’s the exact timeline:
Selection Timeline
Aug 2026 – Apr 2027 — Continuous evaluation during practices
May 2027 — Invitations sent for 2027–2028 travel teams
Jun 2027 — Non-refundable deposits due ($1,000)
Aug 2027 — Travel team season begins
Age-Appropriate Placement
8 & 9 year olds — evaluated for 2027–2028 10U travel team
10 year olds — evaluated for 2027–2028 11U travel team
Selection Criteria
Skill development · Coachability · Consistent attendance · Academic performance (B average or better) · Character · Family engagement
Not every player advances to a travel team. Travel teams are elite, invite-only, and capped at 12–13 players. Players earn their spot over the full year — there’s no shortcut.
What’s Included & Pricing
96 hours of professional coaching annually · Year-round indoor + outdoor facility access · Systematic curriculum · Individual evaluation and feedback · Alumni mentorship program · Direct pathway to elite 2027–2028 travel teams
Early Bird
$175/mo
Register by July 1, 2026
Save $287.50/year
Regular
$200/mo
After July 1, 2026
$22/practice vs $30 drop-in
Drop-In
$30/session
No commitment required
No guaranteed spot
$250 non-refundable registration fee due upon signup — applied to your first month.
Common Questions
Is this a travel softball team?
No. The focus is 100% development and evaluation. We may play a tournament or two if it makes sense for the group — but there’s no tournament schedule, no travel commitments, and no weekend obligations beyond practices.
Can my daughter play on another team?
Yes. No exclusivity requirements. She can play school softball, rec ball, or other programs simultaneously.
When does the program start?
August 15, 2026. Runs through July 30, 2027 — 11.5 months, year-round.
Will my daughter make the travel team?
Not guaranteed — and that’s by design. Travel teams are elite and invite-only. This program gives her a full year to develop and be seen. 8 & 9 year olds evaluated for 10U; 10 year olds for 11U.
Do we save money with monthly vs. drop-in?
Yes — $22/practice vs. $30/practice. Plus a guaranteed spot and priority scheduling.
What if we need to cancel?
Monthly membership cancels with 30-day written notice. Registration fee is non-refundable. No refunds for missed practices.
Limited to 20 players. First come, first in.
When we hit 20, we go to waitlist. We don’t stretch the roster for revenue — we stretch it when it’s right for the program.
Questions? Contact us — we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.