Registration is open until Saturday, June 3, for the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department’s 2023 Adult Softball Wood Bat Recreational League.
“We’re gearing up for another great summer season for both kids and adults. This year, we’re offering a wide range of summer camps and we’re excited to see kids enjoy so many different options,” city communications manager Lauren Browne said. “Our softball league returns again for more fun and healthy competition, and we’re happy to once again facilitate this popular program.”
Those ages 16 and up can join the co-ed league, which plays by the Amatuer Softball Association Men’s Adult Softball League rules, on the diamond at Posse Grounds Park for the Thursday night games that will take place between 6 and 10 p.m. from June to August.
The post-season will feature a double elimination tournament that will probably be held in the middle of August, depending on the number of teams that sign up. There is not a limit on the number of teams in the league at this time due to decreasing turnout.
The city’s recreation and aquatics supervisor Josh Frewin said that is a trend that is being seen nationwide, not just in Sedona.
“It would be great to get eight or 10 teams going,” Frewin said. “But as a whole, adult sports that [have] people come in and commit for a full season have been declining. People just aren’t committing for a full season and taking the initiative to get people together on a team. [But] I have had a lot of questions and people interested this season and there’s already two teams signed up and a lot of others asking questions.”
Sedona softball had five teams last year and six teams in 2021, Frewin said.
Participation in sports nationwide across all age brackets appears to be declining. A 2021 story by the Los Angeles Times found that participation in team sports between 2008 to 2018 among kids ages 6 to 12 decreased by 7% due to factors such as time commitment and increasing cost.
There is no fee for individual players to participate in the season. Team managers must pay $250 to register a team online at sedonaaz.gov/sports and attend a league meeting after the end of registration to discuss league rules and postseason tournament play.
The signup cost in previous years was $350, but Frewin said it has been lowered to encourage turnout. Players who currently do not have a team can join an online free agent list at sedonaaz.gov/sports to find their future teammates.
The city is hiring umpires to officiate the games, with a starting salary of $25 per hour; interested applicants can apply online at sedonaaz.gov/jobs.
“Summer softball is a great way to get out, have some fun, get some exercise, meet some new people and a great opportunity to have some fun evenings out to play a sport,” Frewin said.
