Vista Girls Softball Select Team Guide/FAQ

Vista Girls Softball Select Team Guide/FAQ

Q1: What exactly is the SELECT Team? A: The SELECT Team is a new idea from ASA to help the recreation leagues keep their better players from leaving the recreation leagues to play for travel teams. The SELECT Team will effectively be the GOLD All Star Team. The SELECT Team will represent the League in the ASA B Districts Tournament (as well as the ASA State tournament if they qualify). Q2: Is there any change for the SILVER Team? A: The SILVER Team will now be eligible to participate in the ASA C Districts Tournament (and is also eligible to qualify for the C State Tournament. In the past, SILVER Teams were not eligible for the B District Tournament. This is a great opportunity for all of our All Star Players to participate in an ASA District (and possibly State) Tournament. The SILVER Team would be playing against teams they have played against throughout the All Star Season so the level of competition would be more balanced. Q3: What does this mean for the GOLD and SILVER All Star Teams and the selection process that normally happens at the end of the recreation season? A: There are multiple answers to this question: Player evaluations and the selection process is still part of All Stars. The SELECT Team essentially replaces the GOLD Team for All Stars. The SILVER All Star Teams will still be chosen at the end of the recreation season. Players will be evaluated for their overall skill potential and be placed on the appropriate All Star Team. (See Questions 15, 16 & 17 for more information.) If there is no SELECT Team in a division, then both a GOLD and SILVER Team will be selected at the end of the recreation season just as it always been done in the past. Q4: Which teams (divisions) are eligible for SELECT A: Only 10U and 12U are eligible for SELECT. The league has the option to have a SELECT Team from 10U, 12U or both. It is possible there may be just one (1) team (10U or 12U), Two (2) Teams (one each from 10U & 12U) or there may be no teams at all. There are no SELECT Teams for 8U or 14U. Q5: Are Recreation Leagues required to have a SELECT Team? A: No, the league is not required to have a SELECT Team or participate in the ASA SELECT Program. Participation by leagues is optional. For 2015, the league has decided to participate in the SELECT Program.

Q6: What are the benefits of participating in the SELECT Program? A: Girls have a chance to play against a higher level of competition throughout the recreation season. The team will also have an opportunity to prepare more thoroughly for the All Star season. Games will be played against SELECT Teams from other recreation leagues (such as Carlsbad, San Marcos, San Dieguito etc.) with the intention of providing a higher level of play & competition during the recreation season. These would essentially be the equivalent of playing the (All-Star) GOLD Team from other leagues during the recreation season. Q7: What are the requirements to be eligible for the SELECT Team? A: Players must have played with their recreation at least one (1) season prior to the current recreation season. Winterball counts as a prior season. Players joining the league for the first time in 2015 will not be eligible for the 2015 SELECT Team. This is an ASA Rule, not a league rule. The intention of this is to prevent players from shopping around for a league for which to play. As mentioned previously, the main intention of the SELECT team is to help the B & C recreation leagues keep their best players within their leagues longer. *NOTE* Players that are new to the league (did not play for this league in the previous season, either Winterball or the prior year Spring Recreation) may be eligible to participate on the SELECT Team with approval from the local ASA District Commissioner. Player must petition directly to the local ASA District for permission to play on the SELECT Team. Q8: When will the SELECT Team practice & play? A: During Recreation season The SELECT Team may meet no more than one day per week. This can be a practice, a game, or a day off usually on Sundays and in agreement with the board. During Allstar Season, regular schedule practices and tournaments will be continued. During the off season (Summer/Winter Ball) the board will determine and agree with the manager the practice/game schedule keeping in mind that our players are Student Athletes first. Leeway will be given to the players for academic and/or multiple sports commitments. (The exact number of games is yet to be determined.) Practices and games are in addition to the player s normal practices and games for their recreation season teams. Practices will be at Vista. Games may be played at other leagues fields (such as Carlsbad, San Marcos, San Dieguito etc.) The practice & game schedule will be published on the League Website. Q9: Who will manage the SELECT Team(s)? A: The managers will be selected by the League Board. The manager for the SELECT Team may or may not be a manager for a spring recreation team. Q10: When will the SELECT Team games be played? A: Games will be scheduled by our local ASA District and take into account our recreation season schedule. It is expected the SELECT Team will play their games on Sunday and may be set up as tournaments or friendly matches.

Q11: How will girls be chosen for the SELECT Team? A: Team managers from Vista Spring Recreation season will meet with the SELECT manager and a Board Representative (IE: All Star director, President etc.) to determine which players qualify to participate in SELECT. The SELECT Team cannot be formed until all players have been drafted onto a recreation season team. Q12: Will SELECT Players play for a recreation team as well? A: YES, SELECT Players are required to play for their recreation team in addition to the SELECT Team. Player s must play a minimum of 50% of the recreation season games. Q13: What are the costs to play for the SELECT Team? A: During the recreation season, there will not be any additional fees associated with the SELECT Team. Players will use their recreation team uniforms for games. Any additional fees (umpire, game fees) will be paid by the team players/parents but the fees should be minimal. Normal fees for All Stars will be collected during All Star season. Q14: How does the SELECT team impact players that may be playing Travel Ball? A: In the past, Players were permitted to play for a Travel team until March 31 st. With the addition of the SELECT program, players will not be permitted to participate in a travel ball program after February 1 st of the current recreation season (2015). Anyone rostered or practicing with a travel team after February 1 st will not be eligible for the SELECT Team at any point during the season and will also not be eligible for All Star play. Q15: How many players will be on the SELECT Team? A: At this time, it is not yet known how many girls will be on each team. However, girls may be added during the recreation season until March 31 st. Most likely, the team will carry a larger number of players to start the SELECT Season, with the intention of finalizing the roster by March 31 st. Q16: At what point is the roster set for the SELECT Team A: According to ASA, the league will have to set the roster by March 31 st. However, it may be possible to add players up to closing day (probably no more than 1 or 2 more players per team ). Q17: What if my daughter does not want to play on the SELECT Team? Can she still play All Stars? A: Yes, if your daughter cannot play SELECT during the recreation season or chooses not to play SELECT, she can still play All Stars. There is a lesser chance she will play for the GOLD (SELECT) team (see Q16) but she will still be eligible to try out for both teams.

Q18: Is the SELECT Team a permanent change to the All Star process? A: Right now, ASA has decided this is the best option to try to reduce the number of players leaving the recreational programs to play travel ball. 2015 will be the first year for SELECT so there are still many unknowns that come with any new program, especially one like this that will make significant changes to the way All Star Teams are selected. However, the overall goal will be to provide a more challenging environment for better players (or players that are hoping to continue playing softball into high school) and help the recreation leagues remain more competitive throughout the course of the year. Q19: What happens when All Star Season is over? A: The idea for the SELECT Team is to try to remain together to continue to build on what was learned in All Star season and improve their overall softball skills through the fall ball season. It is expected that the fall ball (Winterball) program will change somewhat to accommodate the new SELECT program but exactly how is still to be determined. Right now, we are focused on making the SELECT team work for the League through the upcoming recreation season and All Star Season. This guide/faq is subject to change as ASA rules and league guidelines dictate. This guide is only designed to provide general information. ASA will provide specific rules governing how the SELECT program will operate.