News

Spring 2026 Info – Jan 24, 2026

This update summarizes key Spring 2026 dates and details previously shared with coaches and managers. We’re posting it here so players and managers have a place to reference deadlines and upcoming season details. Additional details will be shared as schedules and division dates are finalized.

  • Registration opens: Mon, 12/22/25
  • Team registration deadline: Mon, 02/02/26 (teams must have a minimum of 10 players registered and paid)
  • Fees due for Week 1 participation: Wed, 02/16/26 (applies to players added after the initial 10 required by the team registration deadline)
Registration

Spring 2026 fees

  • $90 – Open Division Player (8 weeks)
  • $65 – Women’s Division Player (4 weeks)
  • $45 – Open Division Non-Player
  • $32.50 – Women’s Division Non-Player

Game dates (Krieg Fields)

  • Week 1 – Sun 02/22/26
  • Week 2 – Sun 03/01/26
  • Week 3 – Sun 03/08/26
  • Week 4 – Sun 03/29/26
  • Week 5 – Sun 04/12/26
  • Week 6 – Sun 04/19/26
  • Week 7 – Sun 04/26/26
  • Week 8 – Sun 05/03/26

Rainout / End-of-Season dates

  • Sun 05/17/26
  • Sun 05/31/26

Recruitment days

  • Sun 02/08/26
  • Thu 02/12/26

Mandatory ratings/coaches clinics (virtual)

  • iPride Tue 02/10/26
  • ASANA Mon 02/09/26 or Tue 02/10/26

Manager’s Council Meeting (virtual)

  • Wed 02/11/26

Changes to Fees – Dec 8, 2025

This update is a condensed version of a December 8 email sent to players, coaches, and managers.

Following the 2026 Planning Session, the board agreed that Softball Austin will move to a Player Fee-Only structure across all divisions, starting with the Spring 2026 season. Team fees will no longer be collected by Softball Austin. This is a significant change after more than 20 years under the prior model, and the board wanted to communicate this shift early to avoid surprises.

For 2026, Open Division players will pay $90 for the regular season, with a $45 fee for non-players.

For teams with sponsors or fundraising accounts that previously covered team fees, this change allows those funds to flow directly from the team to individual players. Teams that historically collected money from players to pay team fees will no longer need to do so.

The End of Season Tournament will continue to follow the fee structure outlined in the Instruments of Governance. This includes half of the World Series hotel deposit, which is refunded to teams that do not earn a bid. League World Series bid allocation will be finalized after registration closes and team totals are confirmed.

The Player Fee Only model is standard across many local leagues and widely used by iPride leagues nationwide. The board believes this change improves operations and makes it easier to form free agent teams, a topic that has come up repeatedly in board and Managers’ Council discussions.

Field requests for 2026 have been submitted to the city and will be shared once dates are confirmed. As previously noted, Spring 2026 registration will open no later than January 1, 2026. Team registration details and player deadlines will be posted once Week 1 is confirmed, with registration expected to close in early February.