GENERAL OVERVIEW

There are many national governing bodies for softball.  They include USA Softball (formerly ASA Softball), Babe Ruth League, Little League, and USSSA.  The are very similar to one another but do have small unique differences,  both organiztionally and in some game rules.

DYSL is affiliated with Babe Ruth League and follows its guidelines.  Like Little League softball we draw our players from a designated jurisdiction. DYSL can take players from Dover, Somersworth, Rollinsford, So. Berwick, Berwick, No. Berwick,  and Eliot.  We can also take players who attend any school in Dover regardless of where they live.

There is a nearby Little League affiliated program which services the communities of So. Berwick, Rollinsford and Eliot, SBRELL.

The major difference of a USA Softball program is they comprise teams without regard to any jurisdiction.  They offer softball for various age groups and are generally focused on a competitive tournament summer schedule.  As such,  they may be considered club programs and are located in various communities.  Examples are Seacoast United in Hampton, NH Comets from Concord, NH, Rip City Softball in Salisbury, MA, Southern Maine Flames in Cumberland, ME, and NH Lightning in Londonderry, NH.   Some believe them to be elite softball programs because the select only the best players via tryouts.