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FAQ Categories:
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Who can play? MVLAGS is open to girls from ages 5-16 living or attending school in or near the Mountain View-Los Altos area. Can I join even if I have never played softball? Absolutely! We encourage all skill levels to join. We are a league that is built around girls playing with friends and having fun as well as learning the game and building skills. All girls, regardless of ability or experience, will be able to play softball. How long is the season? How are the teams and age groups organized? Teams are organized in age divisions, determined by players' year of birth. Each division spans two years. When you hear someone say "8U," they are referring to the 8-and-younger division, and so on.
Age Divisions For 2010 Season:
*Note: If there are not enough players for separate 14U and 16U divisions, players will be combined to form one 14U/16U age division.
What time commitment is necessary to play softball and when/where do practices take place? The chart below details the specific time commitment and scheduling for each division: WEEKLY PRACTICE AND GAME GUIDELINES:
*8U adds a second weekly game midway through the season Mid-week games generally start at 5:30pm. Saturday games tend to be earlier in the day for younger divisions and later in the day for older divisions. Practices for 6U & 8U generally take place where it is convenient for the most players as determined by the parents and staff of each team on Team Meeting Night. The 6-and-under ("6U") and 8-and-under ("8U") divisions usually practice on their own school grounds or at a nearby park. The older girls (10U and up) generally practice at Stevenson Park in Mountain View and should count on having either a practice or a game on each of the days listed in the table above (Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturday for 10U, Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturday for 12U and two weekdays plus Saturdays for 14U/16U. Team staff will inform you if other arrangements are made. Most games are played at Stevenson Park in Mountain View, however some teams may play at other school sites and fields in Mountain View. The 12U and above divisions also play Inter-League Partners throughout the local area. See Field Locations for more information. What equipment does MVLAGS provide and what do I provide? MVLAGS provides the uniforms (including visors), fields, bases, batting helmets, bats, balls and catcher's gear. Players must provide a softball glove (please put her name on it!). Softball or soccer cleats (plastic bottomed) are recommended in the 6U/8U divisions and required at 10U and above. Sliding shorts (or pants) and knee pads are recommended for girls at the 10U level and required for any player that slides. If you choose to purchase additional softball equipment:
See the Resources page for suggestions on where you can purchase equipment.
How can I get ready for softball or start to practice? Will there be clinics? MVLAGS is hosting Pre-Season Skills Clinics on weekends starting in February. Come out and work on the basic skills like throwing, catching fielding etc. In addition, there are other opportunities in the area, such as the Stanford clinics. Check out the News headlines on the Home page for clinic dates and more information as it becomes available. What is expected of the parents? MVLAGS is a 100% volunteer run organization and requires each players’ family to help out in some volunteer capacity. The specific positions available can be seen here and you will have the opportunity to specific your preferred roles during the registration process. In addition, most Coaches and Managers appreciate any extra help they can get so please volunteer to help at practices, games or in team support positions. Don’t worry that you “know nothing about softball”- every parent has something to offer. In addition to lots of cheering and your wild enthusiastic support, your daughter will appreciate and benefit enormously from your presence and we HIGHLY encourage you to attend your daughter’s game. Please note, for safety reasons you MAY NOT DROP YOUR PLAYER OFF FOR A PRACTICE/GAME UNLESS YOU EXPLICITLY WORK THIS OUT WITH THE CHAPERONE/MANAGER AND YOUR PLAYER MUST BE PICKED UP AFTER PRACTICE/GAMES. In addition, MVLAGS has a code of conduct and good neighbor policy by which all families are expected to abide. This information will be provided to you as you register, and reviewed with you by your Team’s Manager.
TEAM FORMATION FAQs How are teams formed? Does my player have to try out? As the focus of MVLAGS is purely recreational and skill development, everyone plays and there are no tryouts to determine who “makes” or “does not make” the league. At the upper divisions (10U and above), there is a player skills evaluation held in order to help create balanced teams. Teams are formed after registration has closed based upon a variety of factors including: school attended in the lower divisions; and in the upper divisions by a draw system balancing skill level and age (see Age Divisions above) as well as balancing pitchers and catchers. MVLAGS Player Agents make the final determination of placement for any individual player. Players are only placed on teams by the Player Agents, and not through any agreement made with coaches or managers. My player is ready for the next level of softball. Can she "play up" despite her age? MVLAGS requires all players to play in their correct age division by birth year. The very few exceptions to this policy are outlined in the 2010 MVLAGS Playing Up or Down Policy. Can my daughter play down a division? MVLAGS requires all players to play in their correct age division by birth year. The very few exceptions to this policy are outlined in the 2010 MVLAGS Playing Up or Down Policy. Can sisters play on the same team? Sisters in the same age division will be put on the same team unless the parent requests otherwise or if the player submits a buddy form naming a same age-division buddy instead. Note: having sisters of the same age placed on different teams can be challenging on a parent's schedule and is therefore not recommended. Can my 6U/8U daughter play with her friends? In the 6U/8U (players born in 2001 – 2004), divisions teams are “school-based” meaning that to the extent possible each team is formed with girls from the same school. Nearby schools may be combined if individual schools don’t have enough girls or coaches to form a complete team. If your daughter would like to be placed with one specific friend, they need to download, fill in, and postmark and official MVLAGS Buddy Form no later than December 18tt 2009. Every effort will be made to accommodate 6U or 8U Buddy Pairs from the same school wanting to play together and players from different schools will be placed together IF POSSIBLE. To request that your daughter play on another school’s team, check that box during the registration process. Such requests will be honored IF POSSIBLE, but are NOT GUARANTEED. Can my 10U and older daughter play with her friends? In the 10U (and above) divisions, players may make, when registering, one buddy request naming a friend they would like on their team. Buddy requests must be made on the official MVLAGS Buddy Form and postmarked no later than December 18th, 2009. In the interest of balancing skill level across teams, buddies CANNOT both be pitchers, both buddies cannot be catchers and both buddies cannot be two Nova or other Travel Ball players. Download the Buddy Form here for more info. Priority is given to balancing the skills across the teams, so buddy requests will be honored IF POSSIBLE, but are NOT GUARANTEED.
Can my daughter play with her sister and a buddy? A player can request to be placed on a team with a Buddy OR a Sister but not both. How and when will I know what team my player is on? Teams are formed just prior to the start of the season. Your coach will receive his/her roster at a meeting of the Coaches and Managers and players will be informed on or before Team Meeting Night. What position will my daughter play? Many factors such as skill, attitude, and participation in practices determine playing positions. While coaches make the final decisions, many teams rotate players through a variety of positions throughout the season to achieve this goal. Can my daughter be a pitcher? We encourage anyone who is interested to try pitching. New players with prior pitching experience will be evaluated prior to team placement. Players interested in learning to pitch should inform their Coach. As players reach the older divisions (10U and above), pitching requires additional practice, and players may benefit from individual coaching if they aspire to be a primary pitcher. What are the pitching policies at various age levels? 6U: Coach pitch or players hit from a batting tee. There are no strike-outs. All players hit every inning. 8U: Player/Coach pitch. Pitching is introduced at this age level but is limited to keep up the pace of play. We encourage players interested in pitching to try it in game situations. 10U: Mostly Player pitch with some exceptions*. Pitchers are allowed to pitch a maximum of 6 innings per week. 12U: Player pitch only. Pitchers are allowed to pitch a maximum of 6 innings per week. Pitchers are encouraged to develop their pitching skills through focused practice and clinics. 14U+: Player pitch only. Pitchers are allowed to pitch a maximum of 7 innings per week. Pitchers are encouraged to develop their pitching skills through focused practice and clinics. * For more detailed information in division pitching rules, see resources. Do you offer more competitive play? There are opportunities through our sister organization, MVLA Nova, for players in 8U and above looking to elevate their playing level. Nova plays primarily at the ASA B/C level, which requires participation in MVLAGS to be eligible for Nova. Interested players and parents should inquire in early April about opportunities to play on a Nova team; note: tryouts are required at the Nova level. How and when do I sign my daughter up? Registration opens November 2nd, 2009. Early bird discounts will apply until November 9th, 2009. Registration closes December 18th, 2009. After December 18th, one may still register but will go into a Wait Pool and is not guaranteed a place on a team. The Wait Pool will be used to fill any spots in divisions where there are drops or where the number of registered players on December 18th is not sufficient to create viable numbers of teams. To register, click: Register Online. Why do you ask for school attended? In the 6U/8U divisions, teams are 'school based' meaning that to the extent possible each team is formed with girls from the same school. In the older divisions, it helps us ensure players attend school in an MVLA-area school or neighboring district. What if my 6U/8U player wants to play for another school? To request your player be placed on another school team, please indicate this in the Additional Information section of the registration form. Please note that this request may not be able to be honored. How do I make a Buddy Request? For all age divisions, players may request that one friend OR one sibling be placed on the same team with them, provided they are in the same age division. The ability to make such Buddy Requests is intended to help with carpooling issues, to inspire players to invite more friends to play softball and/or to help newer players feel comfortable on their team. For 6U & 8U (players born in 2001 – 2004), priority is given to forming school-based teams where possible. For these two divisions, every effort will be made to accommodate Buddy Pairs from the same school wanting to play together. Players from different schools may also request each other as a Buddy and will be placed together IF POSSIBLE. For 10U and up (players born in 2000 and before), teams are not school-based, but rather distributed by skill and experience. In order to ensure balanced teams and coaching staffs during the team formation process, THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF BUDDY REQUESTS ARE UNABLE TO BE CONSIDERED: · Two primary or secondary pitchers · Two primary or secondary catchers · Two Nova or other Travel Team players Although properly-made Buddy Requests will be accommodated if possible, parents and players must please realize THEY ARE NOT GUARANTEED since creating balanced teams still takes priority. To be considered during the team formation process, Buddy Requests must be made on the official Buddy Form which can be downloaded here. The Buddy Form needs to be filled out and signed by a parent or guardian of each Buddy, then returned in hard copy with a postmark no later than December 18th, 2009 to:
Mountain View-Los Altos Girls Softball League Attn: Registrar P.O. Box 4264 Mountain View, CA 94040 How do I request sisters be placed on the same team? Sisters in the same age division will be put on the same team unless the parent requests otherwise during registration, or if the player chooses to have a same age division buddy on her team. To request sisters be placed on the same team, name the sister in the "buddy or sister' section of the Buddy Form. Note: having sisters of the same age placed on different teams can be challenging on a parent's schedule and therefore not recommended. How do I sign my daughter up to be a pitcher or catcher? If your daughter was a primary or secondary pitcher or catcher on a team last season, check the Pitcher/Catcher box on the registration form. If your player has not played the position but is interested in learning, please inform the Coach at the first practice. What if my daughter wants in a higher (or lower) age division, or just missed the cut-off for the next higher/lower division? Can she sign up for the higher/lower division? Because the practice of allowing players to request to play up or down has been rather subjective and caused myriad problems in the league over the past few years, the Board has decided to adopt a policy more consistent with ASA and many of the local leagues to require all players to play in their correct age division by birth year. Two exceptions to this policy are outlined in the 2010 MVLAGS Playing Up or Down Policy. I missed the cutoff date for registration. Can I still sign my daughter up? You may still register after the official registration period closes on December 18th, but your daughter will go into a Wait Pool and is not guaranteed a spot. The Wait Pool will be used to fill spots in divisions where there are drops or where the number of registered players on December 18th is not sufficient to create an optimal division.
How much does it cost? The fee is based on the player's age division (see Age Divisions above). The fees for the 2010 season are outlined below. Division Early Bird Registration Fee Regular Registration (Nov. 2 – 9, 2009) (Nov. 9 – Dec. 18th, 2009) 6U $75 $95 10U and above $120 $140 Do you offer a family discount? Families with more than one player receive a $10 discount for the 2nd and 3rd siblings and the 4th sibling plays free. Do you offer scholarships? A limited number of scholarships are available for families in need of assistance. Please contact us with your request. What is your refund policy? Depending on the division, we ask our players to commit to 2-3 times per week for practice and games. If your child is playing other sports, has other activities or lots of homework, please consider carefully before signing her up for Softball and also make sure the game and practice days for her division will work for your family: WEEKLY PRACTICE AND GAME GUIDELINES:
*8U adds a second weekly game midway through the season If a player has registered and then decides not to play, we will refund fees according to the following schedule:
Please email us immediately if your player decides to withdraw from softball.
MVLAGS relies completely on the generosity and good will of many, many volunteers to organize our league and complete the many tasks that must be done before, during and after our softball season. Opportunities are available at the Team, League and Board level with a wide range of time commitments. Because of this model, parents are expected to volunteer in some fashion during the season to support the league and enable a positive softball experience for their daughter(s). I'm new to MVLAGS -- What should I volunteer for? For a complete list of volunteer opportunities and estimated time requirements, please visit the Volunteer area of our website. You may either volunteer for either position during registration or you may email us at any time. You will be contacted as soon as possible. Note that softball skills are not a requirement for all volunteer opportunities within the League. How do I become a Coach or Manager? You may volunteer for either position during registration or email us at any time. You will be contacted shortly. All Manager and Coach positions require Board approval. How else can I contribute? Consider having your business sponsor a team or making a donation.
Where can I get softball equipment? Check the Resources area of this website. What size glove should I buy my daughter? Suggested sizes:
What do I need to know before buying a glove? Buy all-leather. The glove is worn on the left hand for players who throw with their right hand (known as a “right-hand throw” glove), and vice-versa for left-handers. Look for a hinged design, without extra padding in the palm, to make it easier for your daughter to close the glove. Don't buy a glove that feels too stiff. When buying a youth glove, remember softballs are bigger than baseballs; test how well the ball fits in the glove. How do I break in a new glove? Apply a small amount of mink oil or lanolin shaving cream in the pocket and spread it outward around the glove. Put a ball in the pocket, close the glove evenly on the ball, and tie it closed with a strip of cloth. Then, slide it under a mattress for a day or two. Use the glove to play catch; gloves break in naturally as they are used. What are sliding shorts? Sliding shorts are tight-fitting compression shorts similar to bike shorts worn under uniform shorts for extra sliding protection. They have a non-slip grip on the hem of each leg to keep them in place while the player is sliding. Some versions come with padding — these are recommended, particularly for players new to sliding What are knee guards? Knee guards are long knee pads that protect a player's knee and calf sliding. Most players choose to wear knee guards on both legs. Buy the extended length model that protects both the knee and lower leg. Does my player really need to wear cleats? Cleats will greatly improve your daughter's traction on the dirt infields and grass outfields. In the interest of safety, players in the upper divisions (10U-16U) are required to wear cleats. Some players wear soccer shoes with success, but softball cleats perform better. Metal baseball cleats are not permitted. Should my player have her own batting helmet? Although team helmets are provided, personal batting helmets are highly recommended to ensure personalized fit and cleanliness. Helmet must be NOCSAE-approved and have both a facemask and a chin strap. What purposes do the chin strap and face guard serve? The chin strap keeps the helmet from bouncing off the player's head when running or sliding and is required equipment. The face mask protects the batter's face from foul tips and is required for 8U and above. Face masks are not advised for girls in 6U. What size bat should I buy? For fast pitch softball, choose a light bat with at least a 9 oz drop marked "official softball ASA Approved" (2-1/4-inch diameter or less) and a 2004-or-later certification. "Drop" refers to the difference between the bat length in inches and its weight in ounces. Popular sizes are 25"/16 oz. for 6U, 26/17 for 8U, 28/19 for 10U, 30/20 for 12U, and 32/22 for 14U. Note: The Batter's Box website has a bat sizing chart for youths by player height and weight (http://www.aluminumbats.com/bat_chart.htm). As a rule of thumb, the knob of the bat should come to the player's wrist when bat is stood upright on the floor and player's arms are hanging loosely at her sides. As for bat weight, the player should be able to hold the bat with one arm outstretched for 10 seconds. Drops higher than 10 are becoming increasingly available at affordable prices, and it is generally better to err on the side of getting a bat that is too light than one that is too heavy. Buying a bat that a player can “grow into” is a common mistake, as they generally perform poorly while the bat is too heavy and don’t have fun as a result. Note that certain bats, though ASA-certified, are prohibited for play in MVLAGS intraleague games (played in Division 12U and above). Composite, titanium, or multi-walled bats are not allowed. What size ball should I buy? 6U - Easton IncrediBall SoftTouch 11" Optic Yellow. 8U - Wilson A9317 11" Optic Yellow Soft Compression. 10U - Wilson A9317 11" Optic Yellow Soft Compression. Note: 10U ASA-Sanctioned MVLA Nova uses a Worth Dream Seam which is a raised seam compared to the A9306BASA-Low which has a standard seam. The Worth Dream Seam is a “harder” ball than the soft compression ball used during rec season. 12U - Wilson 9106BASA-Low 12" Optic Yellow 14/16U - Wilson A9016 BSST NFHS 12" Optic Yellow with a Super Seam
What are the basic rules of the game? We follow the rules of the Amateur Softball Association. The rules differ by division. Please visit the Resources area for more detailed information. How can I sponsor a team? For details please visit the Sponsor area of this website.
HOME | JOIN | EVENTS | CONTACT | SPONSORS | TEAMS | RESOURCES Copyright 2007, Mountain View-Los Altos Girls Softball
League - P.O. Box 4264- Mountain View, CA 94040 |
