** Tryouts for the 2023-2024 season have already been completed. **

The Elmhurst Emeralds is the travel softball program offered by Elmhurst Baseball & Softball League (EBSL) and is designed for select players who have the skill, competitive work ethic, maturity and understanding of the sport required to take their game to the next level and prepare for high school competition. 

Players are challenged to maintain the time commitment of the travel program and a healthy respect of the game required to further develop skills and competitively face a higher level of skill than typically seen in the in-house league. Coaches are committed to encouraging our athletes to be team players while building character and confidence. The Emeralds travel program’s mission is to provide a healthy and competitive opportunity for young players to achieve their highest potential both on and off the field.

Participation in the Emeralds program is dependent upon being selected after participating in tryouts. 

The Emeralds travel softball program starts at the 9U (9 years old and under) level and continues to 16U. A player’s “softball age” is their age on January 1 and this will determine which team they will be eligible to play.

Emeralds Part-Time Travel Softball

The Emeralds part-time travel teams allow the girls to gain exposure to travel softball. The players continue to play in-house softball with and against their friends and neighbors. The Emeralds part- time team introduces the player and their family to the commitment and level of competition of travel softball.

The Emeralds part-time program is in addition to and compliments the EBSL in-house league. You must register and participate in the EBSL in-house league in order to tryout and participate in the Emeralds part-time travel program.

The Emeralds part-time travel teams will participate in practices and potentially practice games against other part-time travel softball programs on Sundays in June. The part-time activities will never interfere with the EBSL in-house schedule. Starting in July, part-time travel teams will practice approximately times a week (left to manager discretion), and play in 2-3 tournaments (depends on tournament availability and scheduling). The tournament season will not go beyond the month of July.

If selected to play, each player will pay a Player Participation Fee and a Uniform Fee. We anticipate the Player Participation Fee per player will range from $100 - $200 while Uniform Fees will range from $50 - $100.

Emeralds Full-Time Travel Softball

The Emeralds also offer a full-time travel softball program. These players no longer participate in the in-house softball league.

The Emeralds full-time teams participate in a fall season starting in late August where the teams will practice 1-2 times a week (left to manager discretion). The fall season also consists of a fall league which is usually about 15 games. In addition, the Emeralds full-time teams play in 2-3 tournaments (depends on tournament availability and scheduling).

Emeralds full-time teams begin winter practices in January through March. Practices are twice per week and typically consist of batting practice in an indoor facility on a weekday and agility, fielding, and throwing in an indoor facility on weekends.

All Emeralds full-time teams play in a spring league, typically in the Illinois Power League or West Suburban League. A full schedule of games will run from April until the end of June. All Emeralds teams also participate in multiple (approximately 6-8) tournaments during that time frame.The full-time season usually concludes by mid-July.

Our Emeralds full-time teams may travel out of town for a Regional or National tournament as well, but that is at manager discretion.

Selection for Emeralds 9U-16U teams is based on try-outs, typically held in July. If selected to play, each player will pay a Player Participation Fee and a Uniform Fee. We anticipate the Player Participation Fee per player will range from $800-$900 depending on the age level and number of tournaments (out of town travel/hotel expenses are in addition to these fees) while Uniform Fees will range from $250-$350.

Emeralds Full-Time Payment Structure

1. EBSL Initial Payment: You will be charged an initial fee by Elmhurst Baseball and Softball League.  This fee must be paid within one week of acceptance of your spot and acts as a down payment on the total fees for the year.  Players who have not made this initial payment will not be eligible to play any fall ball or participate in any off season training until payment is made. This fee is non-refundable.

• What this fee covers: umpires, league fees, insurance, light fees, park district fees, tournament registrations, facility usage outside of Bo Jackson dome, team equipment

2. Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports:  All full-time travel teams will be practicing at least one time a week at the Bo Jackson Dome in Bensenville. We are teamed up with Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports and will have extensive access to this awesome facility, in addition to the professional instruction which will augment our already highly-qualified managers and coaches. Each manager will make the decision as to the level of commitment his or her team will be making to the facility. This will determine the amount each player will owe. This payment will be made directly to Bo Jackson Elite Sports. The initial down payment will be due on October 1, and monthly installments will be required the next five months thereafter. Players who are not up to date with payment will not be permitted to participate in practices and games.

• What this fee covers: team practices at the Bo Jackson dome​

3. End-of-Season Payment:  At the conclusion of the season, any outstanding balance will be charged to your account.

• What this fee covers: umpires, league fees, insurance, light fees, park district fees, tournament registrations, facility usage outside of Bo Jackson dome, team equipment​

4. Uniforms: Uniforms will be ordered directly though the manufacturer after team selection in August and are not part of the payment to EBSL.

5. Fundraising:  Each team will have the ability to fundraise to defray costs. Managers will work with teams and parents to create their own fundraising opportunities.  In addition, there may be program-wide fundraisers which will result in sharing of fundraising profits.

Sue Bieterman
EBSL VP Travel
630-421-0664
suebaseball@comcast.net

Patrick McMahon
Emeralds Softball Commissioner
630-209-5253
pbmcmahon3@gmail.com