Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💰 What does my registration fee include?

Your registration fee covers everything your athlete needs to participate in the season—so there are no surprises later on! This includes:

• Official MARA Player Jersey

• Pants, Socks, and Belt

• Field time for practices and games

• CharMeck Softball registration fee

Our goal is to make registration simple and ensure every player is fully outfitted and ready to play.

🥎 What equipment will I need to purchase for my athlete?

Families are responsible for providing personal softball equipment. Each athlete must have:

• Cleats

• Softball bat

• Softball glove

• Fielding facemask

• Batting helmet

If you’re new to softball or unsure what to buy, don’t worry—coaches and league staff are always happy to help with recommendations.

📅 My athlete is X years old—what age group should they play in?

At MARA, age divisions are determined by grade level as of September 1, 2025, which helps keep teams balanced both socially and developmentally.

Age Divisions:

• Rookies (formerly 6U): Grades 1st and under

• Minors (formerly 8U): Grades 3rd and under

• Majors (formerly 10U): Grades 5th and under

• Middle School U / MSU (formerly 13U): Grades 6–8

• High School U / HSU (formerly 18U): Grades 9–12

⬆️ Can my athlete move up or down an age group based on skill?

• Athletes may try out to play up in an older age group if their skill level supports it.

• Once an athlete moves up, they cannot move back down to a younger division.

• Athletes may not play down in a younger age group under any circumstances.

This policy helps maintain fairness and consistency across all teams.

🕒 What is the rec schedule? When are practices and games?

We know families are busy, so we work hard to keep schedules as consistent and predictable as possible throughout the season.

Typical Weekly Schedule:

• Rookies

  • Practice: One weekday (set by head coach), 5:00–6:00 PM

  • Games: Saturdays, 9:00–10:00 AM

• Minors

  • Practices & Games: Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 PM

  • Saturdays: 9:00–10:30 AM

• Majors

  • Practices & Games: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00–7:30 PM

  • Saturdays: 10:30 AM–12:00 PM

• Middle School U (MSU)

  • Practices & Games: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:30–9:00 PM

  • Saturdays: 12:00–1:30 PM

• High School U (HSU)

  • Practices & Games: Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:30–9:00 PM

  • Saturday Practices and Game times may vary slightly based on field availability

📍 Where will practices and games be held?

• All practices take place at MARA.

• Games are split evenly between home and away games. This means about half of your child’s games will be at MARA, and half will be at other local CharMeck associations.

To explore other association locations, visit charmecksoftball.org.

🤝 I’m not a coach—are there other ways I can help?

Absolutely! MARA thrives because of our amazing parent volunteers. Whether you have a lot of time or just a little, there’s a role for everyone.

Ways to Get Involved:

• 📋 Scorekeeper: Track plays and stats during games—an essential role every team needs.

• 🏟️ Team Parent: Help with communication, snacks, and keeping the team organized.

• 🎤 Event Volunteer: Lend a hand during opening day, special events, or tournaments.

• 🛠️ Field Crew: Help prepare and maintain our fields so they’re game-ready.

• 📸 Photographer: Capture the unforgettable moments of teamwork and growth.

• 💻 Social Media Volunteer: Help share MARA Softball highlights and spread the word about our community.

No experience required—just a willingness to help and be part of something special!