Sanford Sports Academy, Northern State teaming up for six-week program
The SSA and NSU Rookies and Foundation Instruction Leagues for youth fastpitch softball will run May 18 through June 25, 2026 in Aberdeen.
ABERDEEN — The Sanford Sports Academy of Sioux Falls is teaming with Northern State University to bring some special youth fastpitch softball training to the Aberdeen area this summer. The SSA and NSU Rookies and Foundation Instruction Leagues are set to run for six weeks starting Monday, May 18, through Thursday, June 25, 2026. The leagues are open to players 5-14 and will be held at NSU's Koehler Hall of Fame Field.
"This is something we've done in the Sioux Falls area as softball has grown. There's a big need for practicing twice as much as you're playing games," Sanford Sports Academy softball program director Toby Bryant said. The Rookies League, for players ranging in age from 5-9, is scheduled run on Mondays at 6:30 p.
m. and the Foundation League, for players 10-14, on Thursdays also at 6:30 p. m.
Bryant said the hope is to draw a maximum of 22 players, from Aberdeen and surrounding areas, for each league. Each night, there will be about 30 minutes of skills and drills followed by 60 minutes (four or five innings) of game action. "It will be very much a teach-in-the-moment thing," Bryant said, noting that instructors will stop games to offer instruction to the players.