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Key dates

High School Ball Calendar

Season start dates, first legal contest dates and the full IHSA state series schedule for Illinois softball through 2031 — plus the travel ball windows that decide whether you get seen. Dates are published by the IHSA and are subject to change.

Don't wait to start travel ball

The high school season runs late February through early June. Everything that gets you recruited — showcase exposure, verified metrics, film, coach contact — happens on the travel calendar, and most programs finalize rosters in August and September. Athletes who wait until winter to look for a team lose an entire recruiting cycle. If you are between teams right now, mark yourself available in the Portal today.

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IHSA softball state series calendar

Milestone2026-272027-282028-292029-302030-31
Season startsFirst day teams may practice (Mon. Week 34)Feb. 22Feb. 21Feb. 19Feb. 18Feb. 24
First contestEarliest date a game may be played (Mon. Week 36)Mar. 8Mar. 6Mar. 5Mar. 4Mar. 10
Season summary deadlineOnline season summary form (Mon. 10:00 a.m. Week 44)May 3May 1Apr. 30Apr. 29May 5
Team seeding deadlineOnline team seeding (Tues. 12:00 noon Week 44)May 4May 2May 1Apr. 30May 6
Regional quarterfinalsMon. Week 46May 17May 15May 14May 13May 19
Regional semifinalsTues. & Wed. Week 46May 18-19May 16-17May 15-16May 14-15May 20-21
Regional finalsFri. or Sat. Week 46May 21-22May 19-20May 18-19May 17-18May 23-24
Sectional semifinalsTues. & Wed. Week 47May 25-26May 23-24May 22-23May 21-22May 27-28
Sectional finalsFri. or Sat. Week 47May 28-29May 26-27May 25-26May 24-25May 30-31
Super-sectionalsMon. Week 48May 31May 29May 28May 27Jun. 2
State finalsThurs.-Sat. Week 48Jun. 3-5Jun. 1-3May 31-Jun. 2May 30-Jun. 1Jun. 5-7
Season endsSat. Week 49Jun. 12Jun. 10Jun. 9Jun. 8Jun. 14

Source: IHSA softball calendar. All dates subject to change.

Your year, month by month

June - July

Summer showcase season

The high school season is over and college coaches are watching travel events. If you are not already rostered, you are missing your highest-exposure weeks of the year.

August - September

Tryouts and roster locks

Most travel programs hold tryouts and finalize rosters now. Waiting until winter usually means the spots on top teams are gone.

October - January

Fall ball, training and recruiting

Fall tournaments, indoor training and camp visits. This is where your metrics and film get built before high school ball starts.

February - May

IHSA high school season

Practices open in late February and games start in early March. Travel commitments should already be settled so you can focus on your school season.

Top ranked players to watch

Pulled from our released Top 100 lists. These are the Illinois softball standouts to follow through the season.

  1. 1Shelby IzzoClass of 2029
  2. 2Alana NietoClass of 2029
  3. 3Dylan MartinezClass of 2029
  4. 4Cayleigh SteeleClass of 2029
  5. 5Abby BrewerClass of 2029
  6. 6Mckenzie GaleClass of 2029
  7. 7Abigail CaulfieldClass of 2029
  8. 8Tova ChungClass of 2029
  9. 9Caroline TautkusClass of 2029
  10. 10Alyssa MuhlbachClass of 2029
  11. 11Michelle EsquivelClass of 2029
  12. 12Megan MarusarzClass of 2029
  13. 13Charlotte MichelClass of 2029
  14. 14Emma HaddonClass of 2029
  15. 15Sophia RoblesClass of 2029
  16. 16Macie Dever-BoazClass of 2029
  17. 17Paisley LabountyClass of 2029
  18. 18Riley KassClass of 2029
  19. 19Rachel KassClass of 2029
  20. 20Lilly BurdaClass of 2029
  21. 21Avery StockClass of 2029
  22. 22Dev JohnsonClass of 2029
  23. 23Ryan JohnsonClass of 2029
  24. 24Brooke GossettClass of 2029
  25. 25Kaiya HildrethClass of 2029
See all player stats