The Underwood Optimist Club is once again offering Winter Baseball Clinics starting in January 2026 at the Underwood High School.

 

We highly recommend that if your son intends to play baseball for the Underwood Youth Baseball program this Spring or is interested in learning the skills if they have never played before, these clinics are a great way to learn the skills in advance of the season.

 

To keep our Underwood Community Schools youth baseball boys engaged in baseball during the off-season, the Underwood Optimist Club is hosting OPTIONAL baseball clinics for boys in grades 2nd-7th (9u-13u teams). All clinics are FREE of charge for any Underwood Community Schools boys intending on playing baseball on an Underwood Optimist Youth Baseball team in the WIBBL in Spring 2026. To be able to continue offering sessions like these, additional equipment will be necessary in the future. Stay tuned for future fundraising opportunities or raffles to help build up the program through training and equipment purchases.

 

Each week will have a different focus between throwing, hitting, fielding, base running, or skill drills. In addition, there will be group pitching lessons each week. Pitching is a specialized skill that takes time and repetition to learn and is important to start early in the year and not in late March/April right before season starts (especially for our younger boys who are just learning to pitch). We encourage all boys who may have an interest in pitching in the upcoming 2026 season to attend these clinics. Clinics will be held from 4:00-5:00pm for 2nd-3rd grade and from 5:00-6:30pm for 4th-7th grade on the following Sundays at the Underwood High School: 

 

Participants are NOT required to attend every session. We are requiring all registered participants to only come to the timeslot for their grade/age group to provide more focused skill sessions for each age level and due to safety issues of having our younger boys in the gym with our 7th graders.

 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR SON PARTICIPATING IN THE CLINICS, the first step is to register your son. You will need to create an account if you have not already used the Underwood Optimist Club's online registration site for baseball, softball, or volleyball registration. If you have previously used the website to register your son or daughter for an activity, please use your previous login information and 'add a player' to add your son to your account.

 

The purpose of registration is to ensure you, and your son receive all future communications regarding weekly schedules and updates. All boys who are registered will be added to a "team" in the GameChanger app where they will be able to individually RSVP to specific sessions each week. IMPORTANT: If you already have a GameChanger account, it is important to use the same email for creating your Underwood Optimist Club Sports Connect account so when teams are pushed to GameChanger your get the notifications. Please use the app to RSVP each week so we can better plan drills and ensure there are enough coaches to help with drills.

 

Training sessions will be led by multiple volunteer baseball coaches and several parent volunteers. We are always looking for more volunteers! Any adults or high school aged students with an interest in leading any drills or helping out, please email [email protected] OR register as a 'volunteer' at the time you register your son (you are not required to be present every week, but extra hands are always helpful if you're going to be there watching your kids anyway!)

The Underwood Optimist Club is once again offering our Winter Softball Clinic program. This year there will be a change in the facility location. We will be utilizing the Underwood High School Gym(s) and batting cages.

We have heard so many compliments from Parents, Grandparents, fans, and opposing coaches regarding the growth and skill level of our Underwood youth softball players over the past couple of years of offering this program and hope to see it continue for many years to come. Many of us within the program noticed the marked skill level difference in those girls who have participated in our Winter Clinics and those who did not. We highly recommend that if your daughter wants to play softball, or is interested in learning, these clinics are a great way to learn the skills in advance of the season.

In an effort to keep our Underwood Community Schools youth softball girls engaged in softball during the off-season, the Underwood Optimist Club is hosting OPTIONAL Softball clinics for girls in grades 2nd-8th grade. All clinics are FREE of charge for any girls playing softball on an Underwood Optimist Youth Softball team in WIGSL. This is only available because of the great effort of our softball players and families selling raffle tickets last season to help pay for equipment necessary to be able to train right here in Underwood at our High School. (THANK YOU TO EACH OF THE GIRLS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR HELPING RAISE THESE FUNDS!)

Each week will have a different focus between throwing, hitting, fielding, base running, or skill drills. In addition, there will be group pitching lessons each week. Pitching is a specialized skill that takes time and repetition to learn and is important to start early in the year and not in late March/April during team practices right before season starts (especially for our younger girls who are just learning to pitch). We encourage all girls who may have an interest in pitching in the upcoming 2025 season to attend these clinics. Clinics will be held from 6-7 pm for 2nd-3rd grade and from 7-9pm for 4th-8th grade on the following Sundays at the Underwood High School (NOTE: The location is a change from previous years)

Participants are NOT required to attend every session.  We are requiring all registered participants to only come to the timeslot for their grade/age group (exception of 4th graders may attend either session) in order to provide more focused skill sessions for each age level and due to safety issues of having our younger girls in the gym with our 6th/7th/8th graders.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR DAUGHTER PARTICIPATING IN THE CLINICS, the first step is to register your daughter. You will need to create an account if you haven't already used the Underwood Optimist Club's online registration site for either softball or volleyball registration. If you have previously used the website to register your daughter, please use your previous login information.

The purpose of registration is to ensure you and your daughter receive all future communications regarding weekly schedules and updates. All girls who are registered will be added to a "team" in the GameChanger app where they will be able to individually RSVP to specific sessions each week. IMPORTANT: If you already have a GameChanger account, it is important to use the same email for creating your Underwood Optimist Club Sports Connect account so when teams are pushed to GameChanger you get the notifications. Please use the app to RSVP each week so we can better plan drills and ensure there are enough coaches to help with drills.

Training sessions will be led by multiple volunteer softball coaches and several parent volunteers. We are always looking for more volunteers! Any adults or high school aged students with an interest in leading any drills or helping out, please email [email protected] OR register as a 'volunteer' at the time you register your daughter (you are not required to be present every week, but extra hands are always helpful if you're going to be there watching your kids anyway!)

BASEBALL REGISTRATION OPEN: 2/2/2026-2/22/2026 (No registrations will be allowed after jersey orders are submitted). Prior to registering, review the 'Baseball Information' tab on the website to learn more about related equipment needs, jerseys, and player expectations. (If asked to purchase equipment as part of the registration checkout process, please know that is a marketing approach by the website provider and is not associated with the Underwood Optimist Club. There is a section for the BSN Store on our website which is the apparel store used by Underwood Community Schools Underwood Eagles Fan Gear / BSN Sports Store).

7U Division Players who turn 8 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 1st grade. Also, any player turning 9 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 7u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

9U Division Players who turn 10 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 3rd grade. Also, any player turning 11 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 9u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

11U Division Players who turn 12 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 5th grade. Also, any player turning 13 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 11u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

13U Division Players who turn 14 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 7th grade. Also, any player turning 15 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 13u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade. 

The Underwood Boys Youth Baseball program is sponsored by the Underwood Optimist Club through its affiliation with the Western Iowa Boys Baseball League (WIBBL). All rules and regulations to be followed as set forth by WIBBL. Information regarding WIBBL can be found at: WIBBL

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As per WIBBL Rules: Article II, Section 2: Section 2 - A player must play for the town team that they attended school at the time of the roster deadline (April 1st) or live in (year-round). However, if a player is in 7th or 8th grade, the player must attend the school district in which the community is in.

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The program cost for each player to participate will vary depending on the Division in which they are enrolled due to WIBBL Team Fees, Uniforms, the anticipated number of home games requiring the cost of field preparation, Umpires, and Game Balls, etc.:

7u (Kindergarten/1st Grade) (Coach Pitch) = $65 (program fee of $25 plus $20 jersey, and $20 hat fees)

9u (2nd/3rd Grade) = $95 (program fee of $55 plus $20 jersey, and $20 hat fees)

11u (4th/5th Grade) = $175 (program fee of $100 plus $55 custom jersey, and $20 hat fee)

13u (6th/7th Grade) = $175 (program fee of $100 plus $55 custom jersey, and $20 hat fee)

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This baseball program runs only because of generous volunteer hours and donations. At least one member of each registered family will be asked to contribute approximately 2 hours of volunteer time OR pay a $25 volunteer fee per family per program. If you do not register for a volunteer slot, you will be charged the $25 at checkout, no exceptions.

There are multiple volunteer roles to choose from including head coach, assistant coach, dugout manager, scoreboard operator, and concessions. Additional details for each role are included in the registration process.

Note: You may register yourself as the volunteer when registering, even if another member of your family will be doing the volunteer work.

If you choose to pay the $25 non-volunteer fee during registration but change your mind and volunteer during the season, the fee will be refunded once the volunteer hours are completed. Please reach out to '[email protected]' with any questions.

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March 29, 2026 @ 2:30 pm (Underwood): Preseason Scheduling Meeting (Town Coordinators and All Head Coaches must attend)

April 1, 2026: WIBBL Team Fees Due (***Preferred paid at the scheduling meeting***)

April 15, 2026: Opening Day for WIBBL Games

June 19, 2026 @ 11 pm: Last Day for WIBBL Regular Season Division Games 11u/13u to be played.

June 22-June 26, 2026 (TBD): WIBBL Tournament Games

If you need to cancel registration, email [email protected]. Any credit card and service fees that were paid will not be able to be refunded. If cancellation occurs after jerseys have been ordered, the jersey fee will not be refunded. The program fee is eligible to be refunded via check or Venmo.

NOTE: SportsConnect offers registration insurance, GAP Medical coverage, and also will ask you during registration about purchasing equipment through the website. Please know that this is not affiliated with Underwood Optimist Club as this is marketing through SportsConnect and we cannot help with questions regarding this. If you wish to purchase fan gear, please go to the Underwood Eagles Fan Gear / BSN Sports Store on our website.

SOFTBALL REGISTRATION OPEN: 2/2/2026-2/22/2026 (No registrations will be allowed after jersey orders are submitted). Prior to registering, review the 'Softball Information' tab on the website to learn more about related equipment needs, jerseys, and player expectations. (If asked to purchase equipment as part of the registration process, please know that is a marketing approach by the website provider and is not associated with the Underwood Optimist Club. There is a section for the BSN Store on our website which is the apparel store used by Underwood Community Schools Underwood Eagles Fan Gear / BSN Sports Store).

The Underwood Girls Youth Softball program is sponsored by the Underwood Optimist Club through its affiliation with the Western Iowa Girls Softball League (WIGSL). All rules and regulations to be followed as set forth by WIGSL. Information regarding WIGSL can be found at: WIGSL (google.com)

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As per WIGSL Rules: Article II, Section 6: A player must play for either the town she lives in or the school she attends. When no WIGSL team exists, she may play for the nearest available town team when approved by the board.

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The program cost for each player to participate will vary depending on the Division in which they are enrolled due to WIGSL Team and Town Fees, Uniforms, the anticipated number of home games requiring the cost of field preparation, Umpires, and Game Balls, etc.:

Kindergarten/1st Grade (D Division) = $35 (program fee of $15 plus $20 jersey fee)

2nd/3rd Grade (C Division) = $65 (program fee of $45 plus $20 jersey fee)

4th/5th Grade (B Division) = $150 (program fee of $105 plus $45 custom jersey fee)

6th/7th/8th Grade (A Division) = $150 (program fee of $105 plus $45 custom jersey fee)

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This softball program runs only because of generous volunteer hours and donations. At least one member of each registered family will be asked to contribute approximately 2 hours of volunteer time OR pay a $25 volunteer fee per family per program. If you do not register for a volunteer slot, you will be charged the $25 at checkout, no exceptions.

There are multiple volunteer roles to choose from including head coach, assistant coach, dugout manager (C & D Divisions), scoreboard operator, and concessions. Additional details for each role are included in the registration process.

NOTE: You may register yourself as the volunteer when registering your player, even if another member of your family will be doing the volunteer work.

If you choose to pay the $25 non-volunteer fee during registration but change your mind and volunteer during the season, the fee will be refunded once the volunteer hours are completed. Please reach out to '[email protected]' with any questions.

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March 29, 2026 @ 6 pm (T-C Cafeteria): Preseason Meeting/Scheduling (Town Coordinators and All Head Coaches must attend)

May 1, 2026: Opening Day for WIGSL Games (All paperwork due to the WIGSL Board)

June 23, 2026 @ 11 pm: Last Day for WIGSL Regular Season Division Games (A/B Divisions) to be played and records submitted.

June 24, 2026 @ 6:00pm (T-C Cafeteria): Tournament Seed Meeting

June 26-28, 2026 (TBD): WIGSL Divisional Tournament Games (A/B Divisions) (Rain Dates: June 29th)

June 30, 2026 (TBD): B Division Overall Tournament (Rain Dates: July 1st)

July 2, 2026 (TBD): A Division Overall Tournament (Rain Dates: July 3rd)

July 12, 2026 @ 4 pm (T-C Cafeteria): Post Season Meeting

If you need to cancel registration, email [email protected]. Any credit card and service fees that were paid will not be able to be refunded. If cancellation occurs after jerseys have been ordered, the jersey fee will not be refunded. The program fee is eligible to be refunded via check or Venmo.

NOTE: SportsConnect offers registration insurance, GAP Medical coverage, and also will ask you during registration about purchasing equipment through the website. Please know that this is not affiliated with Underwood Optimist Club as this is marketing through SportsConnect and we cannot help with questions regarding this. If you wish to purchase fan gear, please go to the Underwood Eagles Fan Gear section on our website.

This program is offered for Pre-K (Boys and Girls) and Kindergarten (Boys and Girls) who are not yet age eligible for either WIBBL 7u Baseball (6 & 7 year old boys) or WIGSL D League Softball (K-1st Grade Girls). We highly recommend all eligible ball players to sign up for either WIBBL or WIGSL as a first option.

Program Costs: $55 ($15 Program Fee, $20 Jersey Fee, and $20 Hat Fee)

The Underwood High School Junior Optimist International Club (JOI Club) and the Underwood Optimist Club are proud to once again offer an annual subscription to celebrate six national holidays by lining the streets of Underwood with American Flags. Annual Subscription is $40 per flag per year (plus a one-time $3 Servicing Fee for online enrollment). Subscription service is limited to addresses within the Underwood City limits. All proceeds support the JOI Club and Optimist Club’s activities and projects. Thanks Underwood residents for your awesome support!

Club volunteers will place a 3’x5’ nylon American Flag on a 10-foot pole in front of your home or business on the following national holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Patriot Day, and Veteran’s Day. (*Please note that in case of severe weather (snow, ice, violent storms, or heavy rain), for the safety of our club members, we may not put out flags.)

Club volunteers will generally install the flags one day (minimum) before the holiday and retrieve them sometime after the holiday.

If you have not previously subscribed, be aware that a receptacle will be installed approximately 3’-10’ from the street in front of your home or business and will remain year-round. We will contact Iowa One-Call before placing receptacles, so utilities are not disturbed. We need approximately 2 weeks' notice to get the receptacle placed. The receptacle will be just above ground level with a red cap so as not to interfere with normal mowing but is visible to us. If you can help us remove vegetation and debris around the cap it will help us greatly to find them.

For anyone who would like to have more than one flag (add another subscription) at your home or business, you may do so. You may also want to donate a subscription to someone else’s home or business.

Annual Subscription enrollment will begin each year in January and close by May 15th to ensure sufficient time to place receptacles and put up flags by Memorial Day. Prior year subscribers will receive an email annually to remind you to renew your subscription.

Any questions, please contact Barb Robertson 402-670-8029 (text or call) or email: [email protected].

Thank You for your support!