About NVGSA provides an opportunity for girls in and around Fairfax County, Virginia from ages 5 to 18 to participate in spring and fall fastpitch softball playing seasons. All players are welcome and encouraged to participate, regardless of skill levels or previous experience. At NVGSA we recognize not all girls develop physically, athletically, or emotionally at the same pace. By keeping age groups small we allow girls of the same age and skill level to compete on a more even scale. This allows them to develop athletically at a faster rate than organizations that place kids in broader age ranges. The house program is organized into four divisions - Coach Pitch division, the Pigtail division, the Ponytail division, and the Senior division. In addition to our house program, we offer higher levels of competition as well. During spring, fall, and summer our Dimensions program provides competitive or house+ play against other local leagues. Club or travel softball is offered through our Firebirds Fastpitch program. Divisions Coach Pitch: Girls from ages 5 - 6 participate in the 6U division and girls from 7 - 8 participate in the 8U division, where emphasis is placed on development of basic skills and knowledge of the game of softball. Girls receive an opportunity to hit off of either the coach, the tee, or a blend depending on age and skill level. Pigtail: Girls ages 9 - 10 participate in the 10U division, where emphasis is still on learning the fundamentals of the games. Specialized rules for this division include coach pitch after the child pitcher has thrown 4 balls (hence no walking of batters), modified stealing rules, no infield-fly rule, no dropped third strike rule. Ponytail: Girls ages 11 - 12 participate in the 12U division. Girls are introduced to more advanced aspects of the game. At this level, the girls play a straight USA game, with slight modifications for run limitations. Senior: Girls ages 13 - 18 participate in the 18U division. More advanced skills are introduced at this level. This division consists of girls ages 13 - 18 who are both new to the game AND those who are more experienced, including many high school JV players. Although age is an important factor in determining the correct division for your daughter, skill are also taken into consideration. We consider it important to keep the girls challenged. Therefore, you can request to have your daughter placed in a higher division if you believe her skill level is more appropriate to the higher division. However we maintain a high level of play at all ages and for most girls the division matching their birth year will suit them best. Ultimately, commissioners at each level will decide if a younger girl will be allowed to play in a higher age division.
