Minimum Standards for the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team open tryouts

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Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
Below is probably a pretty good measure of what to aim for if you are looking to play at the next level. These are the minimum standards to tryout for the 2017 team.


Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum
Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds maximum
Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds maximum
Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum
Pushups - 30 minimum
Pitchers (consistent speed for any three of the following)
Fastball - 63 mph minimum
Riseball - 60 mph minimum
Change up - 45 mph maximum or 18 mph slower than maximum pitch speed
Curveball - 60 mph minimum
Dropball - 63 mph minimum
Catchers (must meet each of the following)
Throw (home to second) - 2 second maximum
Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum
Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum
Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds maximum
Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds max
Pushups - 30 minimum
 
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
Most any 10U parent will tell you their kids easily meet this criteria. :)

Very true Riseball;) The one thing that I thought was pretty interesting was the speed differential on the change-up at 18 mph lower than max speed. I had always focused on around 10 mph slower but 18 mph seems like a lot. Guess we have some work to do.....
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds maximum
Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds maximum


I'd want to see them hit before I ruled anybody out on this account.

Also, is bat speed more significant than exit speed?
 
Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
Below is probably a pretty good measure of what to aim for if you are looking to play at the next level. These are the minimum standards to tryout for the 2017 team.


Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum
Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds maximum
Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds maximum
Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum
Pushups - 30 minimum
Pitchers (consistent speed for any three of the following)
Fastball - 63 mph minimum
Riseball - 60 mph minimum
Change up - 45 mph maximum or 18 mph slower than maximum pitch speed
Curveball - 60 mph minimum
Dropball - 63 mph minimum
Catchers (must meet each of the following)
Throw (home to second) - 2 second maximum
Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum
Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum
Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds maximum
Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds max
Pushups - 30 minimum

Very interesting…makes me rethink things. The throwing speed, my daughter gets. Even though her home to first needs work. She isn't too far off the home to home run. Pitching is out for her but looking at her other positions of 2nd and outfield…possibly something to work more on, even though she really enjoys pitching.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Honestly I imagine these are highly recommended. There are always a few ladies that can't meet the run time but if you are hitting the ball 230ft during BP on a consistent basis my guess is they will find a place for you. Same if you can't pitch your fastball and dropball 63 but top out at 61 if you have control and movement they are not going to show you the door without taking another look. Same with slapper that can't do 30 pushups but get down the line in sub 2.8 (not sure what 2.95 max means? sub 3 is fast)...anyway all that to say for the right person everything is probably open to discussion.
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
While I know I could google it faster than I can ask the question and get the answer here, what is the age range for the Junior National Team?

Follow-up: Googled it anyway...US citizen females born in 1998, 1999, or 2000 are eligible for the 2017 team.
 
Last edited:
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
I think these things are always set up objectively but there are probably some subjective areas as well. I was glad to to see the years (age) of the girls they are looking at. My DD is not old enough yet (nor would she have a shot in hell right now to be honest) BUT in a few years I feel confident she will meet these requirements in all areas or at least in most unless she camps out at Dunkin Donuts between now and then :D

Point being, while they seem to set the mark high, I know we have time to get there and all of them are within site. Keep chasing the dream and perhaps it will happen! If not, it will be lessons learned along the way. WIN WIN:cool:
 

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