Frequently Asked Questions
When are Spring Season practices and games?
Before daylight savings, there will likely be one weekday practice, a Saturday game and a Sunday practice (your practice schedule will depend on your coach, he/she may only want to practice once a week).
After daylight savings, there will be one weekday game around 5:15pm, one Saturday game and a Sunday practice.
Some coaches may also choose to only practice during the week and not on Sunday. It depends on how many teams there are and what's available.
When are Fall Season practices and games?
There will likely be one weekday practice and a Sunday afternoon game. Due to players' religious activities and obligations, we try to schedule all Sunday games in the afternoon. However, interleague obligations and field space may make it impossible to schedule ALL games in the afternoon.
Some coaches may also choose to practice on Saturday, provided there is field space available.
When does registration open and how do I register my child?
Registration dates will be posted on the ESO website. E-mails will also be sent to everyone registered to receive e-mail updates from ESO.
To sign up for the upcoming season, click on the Register Now link on the front page of our website.
If I choose to pay by check, when is my child's registration complete?
Your child's registration is not complete until registration fees are paid.
A credit or debit card payment automatically confirms a spot for the upcoming season. Those that pay by credit or debit card will receive an email confirmation that day. Those that pay by check will not receive a confirmation. Be sure to log into your account and check to confirm that we have received payment. You may not receive any further notice from us.
The league is not responsible for checks mailed but not received or received after a deadline. Payment must be received before the last day of early-bird registration to qualify for the discount. If received after that date, regardless of the check date, the regular fee will apply. All payments must be received before the last day of registration. No player may attend the skills assessment without payment being completed.
Do we need to live in the Encino/Sherman Oaks area?
No, there are no geographic boundaries based on your residency that would prevent your daughter from playing at ESO or participating in district all-star tournaments.
If you can get her here, she can play.
What if my daughter hasn't played before?
No problem! That's what our recreation league is all about: learning to play. ESO is open to all girls, regardless of experience. The season is designed to be instructional, challenging, and fun!
All age levels have players that are new to fastpitch softball. Each year, when teams are formed, we use a player evaluation and drafting system to balance all teams.
Why do I have to register myself online and fill out forms to volunteer?
For the protection and safety of our players, ASA requires all board members, managers, coaches, and other volunteers or hired workers who provide regular service to the league and/or who have repetitive access to or contact with players or teams to register as a volunteer.
Additionally, ESO is required to conduct a background check on each of these individuals.
See our Volunteer page for more information.
Why does ESO have fundraising events?
Our registration fees do not cover all the expenses needed to operate our league.
In order to maintain our facilities and purchase equipment, resources or services there is additional fundraising at ESO. This includes team sponsors and fundraising events.
Why do we need to volunteer? What is the volunteer deposit?
Each ESO family is required to volunteer four (4) hours per season. A volunteer deposit is added to each player's registration total at checkout and will be refunded once the family has completed their volunteer hours.
In most cases, families complete their volunteer hours by helping out at the ESO snack bar. The snack bar is one of the most important sources of revenue for the league and is run by volunteers.
Prior to the season, a snack bar volunteer link will be posted on the Volunteer page. You can use that link to sign up for your volunteer time. Keep in mind that snack bar volunteer shifts are limited, so you should select a shift early, before all shifts are filled.
Volunteers may also fulfill their obligation by assisting with field/facility maintenance or repairs.
Time spent as a coach or team parent does not count toward the 4-hour volunteer requirement.
Can I request a specific division, team, manager or practice/game schedule?
Unfortunately, no.
Each season, the league offers an organized program with several hundred players playing in five different divisions. Our draft process for the 8U-14U divisions follows USA Softball guidelines to ensure proper placement of players and balanced teams.
We understand that children have commitments outside of ESO and there are schedule conflicts sometimes. As with any extracurricular activity, it's up to the parents to adjust their child's schedule accordingly to allow them to participate during our season. This should be carefully considered before registering.
For 6U teams, we do our best to accommodate teammate requests. However, placement cannot be guaranteed.
What is the difference between a Manager and a Coach?
The Manager of a softball team is the head coach. The Manager is responsible for the entire team (i.e., planning and conducting practices and game lineups/strategies). The Manager is responsible for knowing ASA and ESO rules.
A coach is an assistant coach. Coaches help the Manager and work alongside the Manager at practices and games. When the Manager is absent, a coach may assume the Manager's role for a practice or game. Teams typically have at least two coaches in addition to the Manager.
The Manager and coaches must adhere to our Code of Conduct to ensure all players are treated fairly, have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of softball and learn good sportsmanship.
What is the role of a Team Parent?
The Team Parent is an integral part of the team. The team parent assists the manager by organizing and distributing information to the parents.
Each team MUST have parent volunteers who will assist the team and ensure there are volunteers in the following areas throughout the season: Field prep, photo day coordinator, team sponsorships, fundraising, opening/closing ceremonies, etc.
Who do I call if I have problems with my Manager?
You should always try to solve any problems through your Manager first. If he/she does not seem able to resolve your issue, you can contact your Division Representative or any Board member.
All Board members can be reached via our Board of Directors page.