2020 TRAVEL SOFTBALL BOARD€¦ · •Expect full commitment to Softball •If you choose to play...

2020 TRAVEL SOFTBALL BOARD

PURPOSE FOR PLAYING YOUTH SPORTS according to parents …

• Promote Confidence

• Provide Exercise

• Develop Team Concepts

• Build Individual Skills – Learn the Game

• Relationship Between Effort and achievement

• Creates Understanding of Winning and Losing

• Get to participate with Friends and have Fun

• Learn about competing, Sportsmanship and Life Lessons

• Ask yourself – when you are upset, is it about one of the above things?

I.M.P.A.C.T.

I MAKE POSITIVE ACTIONS COUNT TODAY

P.L.A.Y. CODE OF CONDUCT

• Signed during the Registration Process

Please Remember:

• Players will make mistakes

• Coaches will make mistakes

• Umpires will make mistakes

• I will not use profanity or offensive language.

• I will not indulge in the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs while attending

P.L.A.Y. events

P.L.A.Y. CODE OF CONDUCT

If Issues / Concerns Arise During The Season:

Talk To The Head Coach - Never during/immediately after game or practice

- 24-hour waiting period

- Include player in discussion (8u-10u)

- Player should lead discussion (12u-14u)

Talk to the Travel Director, Tyler Chambers

Talk to VP of Softball, Brian Domagalski

P.L.A.Y. CODE OF CONDUCT TRUST THE PROCESS

What is Travel Softball?

• Differences of “Travel” and “In-House” Programs

• Significant Step up from In-House in expectations of time and commitment

• Should include time on own spent on skill development

• Expect full commitment to Softball

• If you choose to play multiple sports in the Spring or Summer, or family has

travel plans, In-House Softball is a better option

• Parents and Players who sign up for Travel Softball are expected to be at all

practices, games, and tournaments

• Teammates and program expect commitment to development

• Should include work outside of regularly scheduled activity

• Commitment to making most of practice time

• Commitment to working with your coach (Off-season & In-season)

REGISTRATION FEES, OTHER COSTS & EQUIPMENT

• Travel Softball – 2020 Fee breakdown

• Sport Fee: $190.00-8u, $290.00-10u-14u

• Tryout Fee: $47.00

• Sport Facility Fee: $20.00

• Admin fee: $27.00

• Facility: $3.00

• Field Maintenance Fee: $20.00

• Fall Ball 2020

• $110.00 total fee for fall

• ALL LEVELS (8u – 14u)

• Team-Decided Other Costs – team fund (typically start with $100/player)

• Additional Invitational Tournaments

• Cage and/or dome time

• Team Meals

• Team equipment

• Team fun

EQUIPMENT

• Glove

• Each player must have their own helmet

• Bats – NOT supplied by P.L.A.Y.

• Bat Rule in 2020 remains the same

• Must have an ASA Bat stamp on bat

• Bats that are only stamped USSSA are ILLEGAL (Easton Ghost Gold Bat)

• Cleats

• Rubber or plastic molded cleats for 8u - 12u

• Rubber or plastic molded or Metal cleats for 14u

• Catching gear supplied to each team

ASA BAT STAMPS

LEGAL ASA Stamped ILLEGAL USSSA Stamped

LOOKING AHEAD - 2020

• Year Two of Shake the Lake Tournament

• Last year was a great success, with many

compliments on how it was run.

• Format Change for this year (A/B)

• Still only 10U / 12U

• Addition of our second tournament:

• The Prior Lake Classic Tournament

• Includes 8U / 10U C Only / 12U C Only

/ 14U B/C

• Putting in to host 12U State July 11th -12th

• (TBD) if we are a host site

• Will Know by Mid May if we get to host

• Uniforms

• Uniform vendor + Uniforms Remaining the

same

• Will have a third jersey (2019 fall ball

jersey) for 10U /12U

• Helmet-requirement (Navy or Navy /

White)

• Finish can be either glossy or Flat

• Tryouts

• Two day, general tryouts 8u-14u

• Outside evaluators for Pitching tryouts

• Independent 3rd party general tryout

evaluators

• Umpire Association (MEU) for League

Games & Tournaments

• Focus on coach and player development

• This past off-season we have offered

for players:

• Pitching Clinics, Catching Clinics,

Hitting Clinics, & Winter Skills Clinic

• Coaches

• Classroom sessions for all coaches

• Development of “Coaches

resources corner” on website

• Investment in Coaching Resources

GENERAL SEASON OVERVIEW • League play

• 10u-14u play in the “Big West League”

• Website https://fastpitch.mnsoftball.com/bigwest

• All League games are 65 minute doubleheaders

• 10u game nights are Tuesdays, possible for a few Thursday nights too

• 12u games are Mondays & Wednesdays

• 14u games are Tuesdays & Thursdays

• Number of league games dependent on amount the team’s coach schedules, all league games completed before State Tournament

• 8u plays in the Tri County League

• Game are Wednesday evenings

• Doubleheaders last two weeks of the season (late June)

• League games begin May 4th or 5th for 8U / 10U / 12U

• 14U games begin May 19th

• League Qualifiers for State Tournament

• No 8U Qualifier

• 10U / 12U: June 27th-28th

• 14U / 16U / 18U: July 11th – 12th

• Multi-Site locations

• Based on # of teams in League, last year sites had 33 teams per tournament site

• Double Elimination Tournament, must win 1 game to qualify for the State Tournament

• Teams that play A level ball will automatically qualify for State

GENERAL SEASON OVERVIEW

• Weekend Invitational Tournaments

• Some tournaments will have the possibility of Friday evening games

• 8u will have 2 tournaments (typically 1 day events), in addition to our PL Classic

tournament

• 10u – 12u will have 3 tournaments, in addition to (1) of our own tournaments

• Paid for by the association

• 14u will have 3 tournaments, in addition to our PL Classic tournament

• Teams are welcome to add a tourney – at cost to that team’s families

• Be mindful of adding a tourney

• Excluding our own tournament weekends


• State Tournaments: Updates for 2020

• P.L.A.Y. Blackout Dates (June 29th – July 5th)

• Minnesota State Softball Tournament

• Gate Fees – covered by P.L.A.Y.

• 8U / 12U: July 11th – 12th

• 8u automatically plays at State (2 day event), season ends after State

• 10U / 14U / 16U / 18U: July 18th – 19th

• 10u – 14u must qualify to attend State Tournament (win 1 game at qualifier)

• Multi-tiered, Multi-site locations

• Typically 16 – 24 teams to a Tier, Tier 1 is the highest level of play

• Based off of finish within standings of League Play & finishing place at

Qualifier Tournament

• Double Elimination Tournament


• National Tournaments – Fees

• P.L.A.Y. pays for (1) National bid for qualifying teams

• Teams EARN bids for Nationals by finishing 1st or 2nd at Invitational

Tournaments

• Team pays for Gate Fee

• Team pays for any additional costs (i.e. costumes, gift bags, trading

pins, lanyards, yard signs)

• Teams should decide early if they are hoping to play at Nationals


• Monsta Championships

• 10u, July 30th – August 2nd Bloomington, MN (A, B, C)

• 12u, July 30th – August 2nd Lakeville, MN (A/B/C)

• 14u, July 30th – August 2nd Fridley, MN (A/B/C)

National Tournaments Options

• NAFA Northern Nationals

• NAFA Northern 12u, July 16th – July 19th Eagan, MN

• NAFA Northern 10u, July 23rd – July 26th Cottage Grove, MN

• NAFA Northern 14u, July 23rd – July 26th Eden Prairie, MN

UNIFORMS

• New Uniform vendor – Custom Apparel (CA Gear) in Burnsville

• Comprehensive Uniform Package - $123.00

• Includes two jerseys

• Navy “home” jersey and White “away” jersey

• Package includes high quality Mizuno pants, gold & navy belts, navy & gold

nylon blend sport socks

• Can order more than one pair of pants or socks if desired

• Must Order online directly from CA once rosters are posted

• Player must also have navy undershirt(s), long sleeve for cold weather or

short sleeve if they desire

• NO WHITE, GOLD, OR OTHER CLASHING COLORED UNDERSHIRTS

• All “extra” apparel can be purchased from other sources as long as

they meet spec

• Softball Spirit Wear items will also be offered for sale on the CA Gear website

and Squadlocker is and will remain open year round.

2020 UNIFORMS - HOME

2020 UNIFORMS - AWAY

2020 UNIFORMS - ALTERNATE

2020 UNIFORMS - FULL

2020 UNIFORM – GAMEDAY STANDARDS

• Visible undershirts or long sleeve shirts must be navy

• Helmet Rule

• Batting helmet must be navy or combination of navy & white for player with birth year of 2008-2013

• No chrome, camo, white, white w/ accent colors, or multi-color galaxy looking helmets please

• 2005-2007 birth years are grandfathered in with current helmets as long as they match the uniforms similarly

• Arm sleeves must be navy in color (just like undershirts)

UNIFORMS • Assigned uniform #s remain in effect

• If you have played travel before you have your number reserved until you

age out of the program or decide not to play anymore

• Ability to change numbers if player desires, has to be available in order to

switch

• Note – any jersey changes (size or jersey #) will require additional purchase by

parent – we are keeping no inventory

• 2005 - 2009 odd / even system remains

• For 2010 birth year and later:

• Able to choose an odd or even number (if it hasn’t been chosen the 2 preceding

years) and it then locks for 3 years (birth year + next two years)

• Uniforms and fan apparel (ordered from CA Gear) will be delivered to team’s

Head Coach for distribution

VOLUNTEER HOURS • A parent for each player will be responsible for fulfilling up to eight (8) volunteer hours

• Capped at (12) volunteer hours for families with multiple athletes

• Volunteer Hour Season runs fall ball through summer (2019 Fall ball – 2020 Summer)

• Weekend tournaments

• Concessions, Field Maintenance, Parking attendants

• Tryout help

• Head coaches exempt

• Volunteer deposit of $350.00 / athlete

• If hours are not fulfilled, check will be cashed

• Hours need to be completed by 7/26/2020

• NEW in 2020: Buyout Option-$300.00 / athlete

• Those that do not want to volunteer

• Money to be used to hire workers to cover hours

• All tournament volunteer slots will be open for signups at once

• The time/date that we will send the signup for DIBS links will be publicized so all are aware and have similar access

• Please do not procrastinate!

TRYOUTS & TEAM SELECTION

•Must bring volunteer deposit check on 1st Day of Tryouts!

• 3rd Party independent tryout evaluators

• There will be no Make-Up tryout dates

•No Parents are allowed in the Dome for pitching or general tryouts

TRYOUTS & TEAM SELECTION • 10u – 14u Pitching Tryouts

• Will be held at the Savage Sports Dome

• Tuesday, March 10th 4pm – 8pm

• Exact times for everyone will be communicated by Friday March 1st

• 8u – 14u 2 Day General Tryouts

• Will be held at the Savage Sports Dome

• Suggest going to both sessions but not required

• General Tryout 1, Sunday, March 8th (Catcher Tryouts)

• 8u – 10u, 6pm – 8pm

• 12u – 14u, 8pm – 10pm

• General Tryout 2, Wednesday March 11th

• 8u – 10u, 5pm – 7pm

• 12u – 14u, 7pm – 9pm

• MUST ATTEND AT LEAST ONE GENERAL TRYOUT NIGHT, BOTH ARE RECOMMENDED. IT WILL NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECT TRYOUT SCORES

• NO PARENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS ALLOWED IN THE DOME DURING TRYOUTS

TRYOUT PROCESS • Players (8u – 14u) will each go through hitting, fielding, running stations

• Additional Station for those trying out for Catcher

• Pitching machines will not be used

• (1) Station of bunting (8u not expected to know how to bunt)

• (2) Stations of underhand soft-toss (from a bucket approx. 12-15 feet)

• Players should swing at all pitches

• Evaluators will call out bad pitches and disregard – “no pitch!”

• Will make sure all players have enough valid swings to evaluate ability

• (1) Station of infield grounders

• (1) Station of Fly balls

• (1) Station of timed running

• 40 yard dash (home to 2B timing)

• 20 yard dash (home to 1st timing)

• Players are always being evaluated on effort, hustle, & throwing

• Players are always in control of their attitude & effort! It is the two things that coaches don’t coach, make a good impression!

TEAM SELECTION

TEAM FORMATION PROCESS:

• 5 PERSON EVALUATION COMMITTEE + PLUS HEAD COACHES FORMING EACH TEAM

• COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE: VP, TRAVEL DIRECTOR, PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR,

TWO VOTED ON TRAVEL BOARD MEMBERS

• COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PITCHERS & CATCHERS ON ALL TEAMS

TRYOUT SCORES / PREVIOUS YEAR COACH EVALUATIONS

• 8U – 100% TRYOUT SCORE

• 10U – (1ST YEAR) 80% TRYOUT 20% COACHES EVALUATION

• 10U (2ND YEAR & 3RD YEAR) / 12U (ALL) – 70% TRYOUT 30% COACHES EVALUATION

• 14U – 100% TRYOUT SCORE

PROJECTED NUMBER OF TEAMS PER AGE

• 8U 2 – TEAMS DIVIDED EQUALLY

• 10U 6 – LEVELS DEPENDENT OF TRYOUT SCORES

• 12U 5 – LEVELS DEPENDENT OF TRYOUT SCORES

• 14U 1 – LEVEL DEPENDENT OF TRYOUT SCORES

TEAM SELECTION

• FORM STATES:

1. I WOULD LIKE TO PITCH/CATCH ON THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE TEAM BASED ON

MY SPECIALTY POSITION RANKING. I UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN

PLACED ON A HIGHER TEAM BASED ON OVERALL GENERAL PLAYER TRYOUT

RANKINGS BUT I AM CHOOSING TO EITHER PITCH OR CATCH.

2. I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY ON THE HIGHEST-LEVEL TEAM BASED ON MY OVERALL

PLAYER RANKING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MEANS THAT I MAY NOT RECEIVE

ANY INNINGS AT THE SPECIALTY POSITION THAT I TRIED OUT FOR.

DEDICATION TO DEVELOPING PITCHING & CATCHING

• PITCHER & CATCHER SELECTION FORM

• REQUIRED TO BE FILLED OUT COMPLETELY AND HANDED IN BEFORE ANY TRYOUTS

TAKE PLACE

• HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU PLAYER BEFORE HAND

• NO CALLS POST TRYOUTS TO DETERMINE IF THE WANT TO P/C OR PLAY AT A HIGHER

LEVEL

TEAM SELECTION

• 8U Teams:

• depending on if there were two or more would be split up evenly talent wise.

• 10U – 14U:

• Previous year coach evaluation score will be used with the removal of both the

top & bottom scores submitted (so assuming four coaches - middle two scores

averaged)

• Players will receive a composite score which is composed of their tryout score and

a multiplier from their previous years coaching evaluation. (Algorithm created by

Mike Murray former S/S VP also used by P.L.A.Y. Baseball)

• Allows the committee and coaches to put together the most competitive team

possible and also allows for the player to be put in the position to succeed for the

season

• Helps to eliminate player misplacement on too high or too low a team

TEAM SELECTION

• Picking the A Team:

• The TOP 4 players will lock and then the coach will have a selection zone

of the next 14 players to choose from to create their team

• Based off registration numbers assume 11-12 players per team

• Players 1 – 4 lock

• Coach selects their next 8 players from the selection zone of 5 – 18

• After completing team picks the top 4 remaining players from the selection

zone then become the lock players for the next team (13 – 16)

• The next coach’s selection zone is then 17 – 30.

• Coaches must justify reasoning of selections to the committee


• We plan to post teams on website once selected

• Teams will be selected Thursday, March 12th – Sunday,

March 15th

• Teams will be posted no later than Wednesday March

18th barring any set backs (a lack of coaches to coach

teams)


Have questions about results?

• Wait until 24 hours after team has been posted!

• Anything received prior to 24 hours will be deleted

• No profanity/no aggression or threats - please be

respectful

• All emails received will be shared at the next monthly

board meeting

• No “cutting down” other players

• E-mail: [email protected]

• If further questions, e-mail: [email protected]

COACHING

• Coaching Applications must be filled out on-line (annually)

• PLAY home page and click on the “2020 Spring / Summer coaching application” link

• Background Check (every 2 years)

• Concussion Awareness Certificate (every 2 years)

• Sexual Abuse & Safe Sport Act Understanding (1-hour video + quiz)

• PCA Training for Parents is mandatory as determined by P.L.A.Y. Executive Board

• Annually

• PCA Training is a Mandatory Requirement for ALL Coaches – Head and Assistant

• Annually

• Check all dates on requirements on the PLAY website.

• Parent PCA training does not count towards coaching PCA

• Other Key Events / Dates

• Big West Scheduling Meeting (2 Coaches MUST attend) – Thursday, April 9th

• 6:30pm – 10u -- 12 teams

• 8:30pm – 14u – 16u teams

• Roster completion deadline on JOSoftball.com – June 15th

COACH SELECTION

• Head Coaches are selected based on where the coach’s child ranks – their child must

be eligible to make the team (in either locked or selection zone)

• Must have met all Coaching Requirements to be eligible to be a Head Coach

• Head Coaching roles do not necessarily carry over from the previous year -

selected each year

• Again in 2020 – we are a growing travel program that is in need of coaches in

order to support the amount of teams we will have. Please consider helping

make this upcoming season a success.

• Ideally we would like 3 – 4 coaches per team.

• Head Coach candidates will be determined by the evaluation committee.

• After teams are selected the Head Coach chooses a max of three Assistant

Coaches – They must meet all Coaching Requirements

• Other parents/volunteers may help during practices if meets requirements

PLAYING TIME CHART Age

LEAGUE GAME DEFENSE LEAGUE GAME BATTING

LINEUP

TOURNAMENT PLAY DEFENSE TOURNAMENT PLAY

BATTING LINEUP

8U

No player will sit twice before

every player has sat once.

Rotating players evenly through

all positions.

Continuous batting lineup, start

the next game where the last

game left off.



Rotating players evenly through

all positions.

Continuous batting lineup,

start the next game where

the last game left off.

10U



Excluding the active pitcher &

catcher for that game.



game left off.

A: Coach's discretion B & C: No

player will sit twice before every

player has sat once. Excluding the

active pitcher & catcher for that

game.

Coach's Discretion

12U







game left off.





game.

Coach's Discretion

14U







game left off.





game.

Coach's Discretion

Playing Time Philosophy

• League games are for player development

• Tournament Games – Lakers play to win (coaches should seek opportunities to

build positional depth for state)

• Players play where coaches believe the TEAM will have the most success

• Coaches are encouraged to play players in both the infield & outfield*

• * Coaches will take into consideration player interest & abilities

COMMUNICATION - SOCIAL MEDIA

• Sports Engine / E-mail

• Used for critical messages – including rainouts

• rained-out program has ended

• Trying to cut down on # of e-mails

• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter– strongly encouraged

• Primary source for announcements

• Travel Softball Website

• Will post announcements here as well

• Basic program info – info source

USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA - PARENTS

• Social Media can greatly contribute to positive sports environment

• Talk about effort and process

• Celebrate sportsmanship

• Ok to celebrate winning too – unless only focus

• Not recommended you post personal stats – “we not me”

• Not the place to air grievances – respect people enough to speak

with them directly about concerns

• Teach players about social media footprints

• Make sure our players are not making fun of others about team, stats, etc.

• Your social media presence is how you represent your family and community

• TOURNAMENT DATES: MAY 2ND – 3RD & JUNE 13TH – 14TH

• 12U STATE TOURNAMENT: JULY 11TH – 12TH

• BRIAN MONG, TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

• SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

• VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT HOURS

• WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

2020 MAJOR SPONSORS

QUESTIONS

2020 TRAVEL SOFTBALL BOARD€¦ · •Expect full commitment to Softball •If you choose to play...

Documents

Transcript of 2020 TRAVEL SOFTBALL BOARD€¦ · •Expect full commitment to Softball •If you choose to play...