When did the teams form?
The Trailblazers formed in 2008 when a group of trans men and their allies came together to play softball in a co-ed league. The Barnstormers formed in 2012 when we found we had so much interest that we could form two teams!

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our numbers dropped enough that the two teams merged back into one. 2023 was our fourth season playing as a single team again.

What league do you play in?
We play in Beantown Softball League. The BSL is the largest LGBT slow-pitch league in Massachusetts and hosts roughly 20 different teams in three different divisions.

When, where, and how often do you try to practice?
We try to have at least three practices in April-May before opening day; once the season starts, practices are very infrequent (if they happen at all) and very casual. We know everyone has other time commitments and may not be able to attend weekday practices. Because everything is voluntary, the day and location of practices change based on interest. We will always practice in or close to Boston. On rainy days we go to the indoor batting cages in Watertown.

Where are your games?
The 2024 season will be played entirely at Cassidy Playground in Chestnut Hill (see map). The field is by the Cleveland Circle and Reservoir stops on the green line (C and D lines respectively).

In the past, we've played in Allston on Smith field (next to the Harvard Coliseum - see map), at Clemente Field in the Fenway (see map), and on the Boston Common (see map).

Do you have tryouts?
Nope! People of all skill levels are welcome, as are people who have never played softball before, and there are no tryouts.

How long is your season?
We play anywhere between 16-25 games a season. Almost all our games are played on weekends between early May and early July. We often have back-to-back games (doubleheaders). We do not play over holiday weekends.

The 2024 season (schedule available here) will have 16 games, all played on Saturdays between May 4 and July 20. Every Saturday will have two games, most of which will be back to back.

What kind of rules and regulations do you follow?
The BSL is part of NAGAA, which complies with the ASA. You can find official rules and regulations on their websites as well as equipment information. All bats NEED to have the ASA stamp. There are other rules too, like no stealing and no leading.

What kind of equipment will I need to participate?
You will need a softball glove. If you do not have one, we can help you find one to borrow. You will also need other generic athletic clothing. Many members of the team play in sneakers and shorts, but you should play in whatever you feel comfortable running in. You may use cleats if you prefer, but metal spikes are not permitted.

What are the costs associated for the season?
Unfortunately the costs will vary each year. There are player costs and team costs.

Individual player fees are $70. All of this money goes to the league to pay for things like field permits and umpire costs.

There is also a team fee which goes directly to the league. In the past, we have raised this money by passing the hat (ideally each player chips in about $20), donations, fund-raising, and sponsorships. If we are lucky enough to find a sponsor, we try our best to lower the costs for everyone. Sponsorship also helps to pay for jerseys and other team equipment.

Because we are committed to our mission statement, we also make sure to provide financial aid to anyone who needs it.

If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring our team, contact one of the coaches.

How competitive is it? / I've never played softball before; will I fit in?
Many of us are not athletically talented. Many of us have never played softball before. We do not often win games, but we have A LOT of fun playing and, more so, playing as a team. This also means that if you are super competitive, you may get frustrated with our playing level. But please don't give up on us! We learn from more experienced players and could always use coaches.

Who else plays on the team? On the other teams?
The current complement of our team is mostly cisgender (not trans) women and trans people on the transmasculine/AFAB spectrum. This dynamic changes every year, however, and we welcome everyone regardless of gender or orientation. That said, we try at all times to be "trans first": trans people take priority when we have a lot of people wanting to join the team, and we do our best to center trans people in all that we do. Unfortunately, you must be 18 or older to play with us.

Although the league is advertised as co-ed, its predominant membership is cisgender white gay men in their 30s and 40s.

How do I find out more? Where do I sign up?
Send an email to Coach Michelle. You can also find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/teamtrailstormers.

While we do not have tryouts and do not require that you have athletic experience, we do have two strict requirements of all of our players: sportsmanship and time commitment.

Please do not commit to playing for us unless you are prepared to consistently show up to games. This means that you should expect to more or less give up your weekends for two months. We typically don't get a game schedule until a few days before the season starts, which means we need you to be flexible and readily available. We often play both Saturday and Sunday in the same weekend. We are required to have at least nine players present and ready to play each game; if we have fewer than that, we forfeit and pay a fine. This has been an issue in the past, so please only join the team if you are prepared to put in the time.

We understand that you may have to occasionally miss a game, but we need all players to commit to at least 75% of the games so that we can ensure that we actually get to play and not forfeit. We play anywhere between 16-25 games a season, which means you should commit to playing 13-18 games as a bare minimum. Players are expected to arrive to all games 30 minutes early so that we're fully warmed up and ready by game time.

At the start of the season, we ask everyone to fill in our RSVP Google sheet, and keep it updated throughout the season if your availability changes for a given game. Failing to do so makes our coaches' jobs a lot harder, and has occasionally meant that we've had to forfeit because players didn't communicate their availability. Please understand that keeping the Google sheet updated is part of your commitment to the team if you join us.

Be a good sport! This is the easy one. Bring your energy to every game. Cheer for your teammates and be respectful to your opponents. Play hard and try your best. When you're on the bench, pay attention to the game rather than always being on your phone. Be gracious when we lose. Just generally act like you want to be there. Softball is fun!