8 Top Youth Softball Leagues in Los Angeles, CA
Find the best youth softball league near you in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, renowned for its dynamic blend of cultures and celebrated sports history, is a prime destination for fastpitch softball enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.
The city boasts a rich tapestry of softball leagues, from community-driven gatherings in the verdant expanses of Griffith Park to competitive matchups under the dazzling lights of Dodger Stadium.
Against the backdrop of LA's iconic skyline and the sprawling, sun-kissed beaches that outline its coast, the spirit of softball thrives, weaving its way through the city's heart.
Join us as we explore the diverse softball leagues in Los Angeles, ensuring you connect with the perfect league that matches your passion for America's favorite pastime.
Unlock your ballplayer’s full potential
Find the perfect vetted coach to build a solid foundation or take your player's skills to new heights.
Download the free app
1. Ladera Little League
Details about Ladera Little League
- Description: Ladera Little League, with a history spanning over 60 years, provides baseball and softball play and instructional programs for children aged 5-14. It emphasizes character, courage, and loyalty, aiming to develop superior citizens through the sport. The league operates under Little League International and is entirely volunteer-run.
- Location: Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Sports Complex, 5401 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90056.
- Website: Ladera Little League
2. Wilshire Wildcats Softball League
Details about Wilshire Wilcats Softball Leagues
- Description: Established in 2002, Wilshire Girls Softball's goal is to help girls build strong fundamental softball skills while teaching and practicing the ideals of character, teamwork, good sportsmanship and fair play. They currently offer 3 age divisions, 8U, 10U, and 12u.
- Location: 4959 Lemon Grove Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
- Website: Wilshire Wildcats League
3. West Los Angeles Little League
Details about West Los Angeles Little League
- Description: This league offers various divisions, including several softball divisions for different age groups. It emphasizes an enjoyable Little League experience while adhering to Little League International's mission.
- Location: 5401 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90056
- Website:West Los Angeles Little League
4. Los Angeles Little League
Details about Los Angeles Little League
- Description: Offers a community-focused softball experience for various age groups, emphasizing sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal development. They invite volunteers and provide extensive support for coaches and families.
- Location: 6240 Meridian Street, Los Angeles, California 90042
- Website: Los Angeles Little League
5. Culver City Little League
Details about Culver City Little League
- Desrcription: Since 1957, this league has been providing baseball and softball programs to children in Culver City and surrounding areas. It's part of Little League District 25 of Southern California, offering programs for boys and girls ages 4-16.
- Location: Games and practices are held at various parks in Culver City. Here’s a field directory.
- Website: Culver City Little League
6. Bell Gardens Recreation & Community Services
Details about Bell Gardens Recreation League
- Description: Youth Softball participants ages 8-13, & 14 the opportunity to compete in a healthy environment promoted by positive sportsmanship. Participants are also given the chance to enhance life skills, such as sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play. They also learn basic skills such as hitting, running bases, catching, and fielding. The registration fee includes a team jersey and trophies that are awarded at the end of the season.
- Location: Bell Gardens John Anson Ford Park
- Website: Bell Gardens Rec League
7. Westchester Del Rey Little League
Details about Westchester Del Rey Little League
- Description: Focusing on providing a fun, instructional sports environment, this league caters to children in Westchester, Playa Vista, Playa Del Rey, and surrounding areas. It offers tee-ball, baseball, and softball for ages 4-14.
- Location: Carl E Nielsen Youth Park
- Website: Westchester Del Rey Little League
8. Dodgers Dreamteam Softball
Details about Dodgers Dreamteam Softball
- Description: The Dodgers Dreamteam (formerly RBI) Softball program is designed to encourage youth participation in softball, offering opportunities for skill development, teamwork, and competitive play. This initiative, supported by the Los Angeles Dodgers, focuses on providing access to the sport for underserved communities, aiming to inspire the next generation of athletes. For more detailed information, consider visiting the official Dodgers community programs page or contacting them directly.
- Location: Fields and Sign-ups
- Website: Dodgers Dreamteam
These leagues represent the rich diversity of youth softball opportunities within the Los Angeles area, catering to a wide range of skills and interests. Whether your child is just starting out or looking to play in a more competitive setting, there's a program suited to every young athlete's needs.
Each league has its own registration requirements, season schedules, and volunteer opportunities for families looking to get involved.
To help your softball player really excel in whichever league you choose, private 1:1 instruction is the fastest and most effective way to get her skill set up to snuff.
How to Get Started with Private Softball Lessons
Embarking on the journey of private lessons can be a transformative experience for softball players looking to elevate their game.
However, knowing where to begin can be overwhelming.
Parents need a safe and straightforward process for finding, vetting, and connecting with professional instructors.
This is why coaching marketplace platforms like SeamsUp were made.
It allows parents to apply filters to coaching profiles to quickly find the exact right exeperience level and price point to serve their daughter’s learning.
And the app actually helps parents and ballplayers connect with elite coaches for both local in-person and remote style instruction.
Also, SeamsUp does both a background offender database check and manual review of the coach and all claims the coach makes on their profile–so parents can rest easy knowing that their child’s instructor is both safe and exactly who they claim to be experience-wise.
Regardless of how you go about sourcing your softball coach, following a structured approach, can help ensure a smooth transition into training and set the stage for a successful learning experience.
1. Research and Select Your Softball Coach
Firstly, research and select the right lessons coach. This is a critical step, as the right coach will not only improve your technical skills but also boost your confidence and motivation.
Look for a coach with experience relevant to your specific needs and goals.
Review their credentials, background, coaching philosophy, and review feedback from other students. All things that platforms like SeamsUp curate for you to chekcout in quick profile glance, so you can get on with your day.
Many coaches offer a trial session or initial consultation, which can be a great opportunity to assess compatibility before committing to a full program.
2. Have the Right Gear for Your Softball Lesson
Next, ensure you have the necessary equipment and technology. If going the local in-person lessons route, the equipment will depend on what type of private lesson you’re getting. The usual lesson type options are: hitting, pitching, catching, fielding, sports performance training, and mental skills training. Here’s the eqiupment you'd want for each.
Hitting Lessons
Hitting lessons will often require a bat and helmet. Instructors or the training facilities they conduct lessons inside of might be able to provide these items in a pinch.
But much of the magic of private lessons is the work your child does at home in-between lessons, so it’s recommended to at least have a bat to practice with there.
Depending on where the lesson is happening, if it’s on a field or inside of a facility, footwear is a consideration for this and all the future lesson types we’ll go over below.
Your daughter may also need cleats, turf shoes, or tennis shoes–depending on what surface the training is happening on.
Asking the expert you’ve chosen what she needs to bring for any lesson type you choose is always your best bet.
Pitching Lessons
For pitching lessons, the only thing your daughter will usually need is her glove.
If your pitching coach employs any helpful bands, cones, or gadgets, like spinners, into their lessons, they’ll usually provide all such training equipment for the lessons.
Catching Lessons
Catching lessons will almost always require that your daughter has her own full set of catching gear. This includes a softball catching glove (which is different from a baseball one), a chest protector, shin guards, and a catching face mask.
Some coaches may be willing and able to work around a lack of catching gear in the first couple lessons, but she’ll need her own set to be able to get the most of private instruction. If her league’s team has a set that they’ve been provided, usually your daughter’s team coach will be fine with you borrowing the set to use for her private instruction–because if she improves her game, the whole team improves as well.
Fielding Lessons
For fielding lessons, the only thing your daughter will usually need is her glove.
Again, any cones, flat gloves, or other speciality defensive tools will be provided by your private instructor.
Sports Performance Training Lessons
For strength, speed, agility, and mobility sessions, AKA sports performance traning, the only thing your daughter will usually need is comfortable workout clothes.
Though any good trainer will also recommend she bring a water bottle to each session as well.
Mental Skills Training Lessons
For mental performance traning, your daughter won’t really need any equipment–just a willingness to share her experiences on the diamond.
However, it’s strongly recommended that she bring and employ a notebook to keep notes on the tactics she learns from the coach and on her own self-insights that may be revealed in the sessions.
Remote Softball Lessons
Online softball lessons can come in all the various types we’ve already gone over: hitting, pitching, catching, fielding, sports performance training, and mental skills training. And the physical equipment needed by your ballplayer for each of the online lesson types is the same as their in-person lesson counterparts.
But remote or virtual softball lessons also require:
- Reliable internet connection
- A computer, phone, or tablet with a camera
- Any software or apps, as advised by your coach.
As a parent, helping your daughter create a designated practice area where they can train with their remote instructor without interruption will help mimic the structure of traditional lessons and keep her focused during sessions.
3. Have Clear Goals and Communication with Your instructor
The final key to successful private lessons is to set clear goals and communicate them with your coach.
Whether you're looking to improve her batting average, increase power, or refine her windmill pitching mechanics, having specific, measurable objectives will help guide your daughter’s training sessions and provide a benchmark for assessing progress.
Make certain your ballplayer is prepared to commit to regular practice and being open to feedback, as the consistency and willingness to adapt are key to improving their skills through online lessons.
By taking these initial steps, you and your ballplayer are well on your way to a rewarding journey of development and improvement in the world of softball instruction.
About the Author
Mike Rogers
Co-Founder & CEO
Mike Rogers has spent a lifetime entrenched in baseball and softball as a player, a private instructor, a training facility owner, and the son of two college-level coaches.
