1. 6U/8U In-House 2016 Parent Meeting Feb 2 & 9

2. Agenda Meeting Purpose Review Program Details/Objectives
8U Tournament Option
Coaches
Fall Ball
Cost
Equipment
10U Options

3. 6U In-House Eligibility Logistics Number of Teams Game Nights
Girls Born in 2010 or younger
Must reside within St. Michael or Albertville or attend an ISD 885 or St. Michael Catholic School.
Players from other communities may participate but should contact the Board prior to registering.
Logistics
Play Mondays and Wednesdays – one game night per week after 2 weeks of practice
Walnut Park – 2 fields
Teams will practice/play at either 6 or 7. Practices during the school year will be shorter and at different times.
Number of Teams
Typically 6-8 (8 in 2016)
10-12 players per team
Game Nights
Practice Monday, games Wednesdays
Coach pitch or tee
Entire line up bats each inning before switching.
Cost - $65

4. 8U In-House Eligibility Logistics Number of Teams Game Nights
Girls Born in 2008 & 2009
Must reside within St. Michael or Albertville or attend an ISD 885 or St. Michael Catholic School.
Players from other communities may participate but should contact the Board prior to registering.
Logistics
Play Mondays and Wednesdays – one game night per week after 2 weeks of practice
Big Woods, Middle School East, or Walnut Park Fields
Teams will practice/play at either 6 or 7. Practices during the school year will be shorter and at different times.
Number of Teams
Typically 8-10 (10 in 2015)
10-13 players per team
Game Nights
Practice Monday, games Wednesdays
Player pitch, leading off allowed, no walks, no steals
Switch at 3 outs or 5 runs per inning
Umpires
Will play at least 1 game in Rockford
Cost - $85

5. 8U In-House, continued Tournaments
1 weekend tournament (optional, player preference)
Player or machine pitch
5 run rule
Competitive benefits
Year end Tournament, last week of June
Pool play followed by bracket play
All players get a participation medal

6. Coaches Volunteers Fall Ball Qualifications
Desire to help all players of all ability levels
Create a fun, inclusive atmosphere
Willing to learn the game and ask for help if lacking basic softball knowledge
Must pass a background check
Coaching clinic offered, date and time TBD
Fall Ball
Late July through Early September
Clinic style run by volunteer coaches & parents
Practice for 1 hour
Play games for 1 hour
Random teams each week
Coach pitch
Sunday evenings
Big Woods Fields
Minimal cost

7. Cost and Equipment Costs Player equipment Insurance
Equipment – balls, whiffles, tees, catcher’s gear, bats, helmets, etc.
Shirts/uniforms
Tournament Entry Fees (8U)
Umpires (8U)
Fields & Sanitation
Indoor training space, when needed
Player equipment
Catcher’s gear provided
Helmets provided
Most parents prefer to purchase their own
STMA GFA helmet deal
Bats provided
Choosing a bat
Glove
Athletic shoes or cleats
Fielding mask optional/personal preference
Softball pants, sweat pants or shorts.
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8. Board Positions New Board Leadership is needed
4-5 Board members departing in 2017
Vice President
Travel Director
In-House Director
Treasurer
1-2 Board members expected to depart in 2018
President
???
2017 Needs
Assistant Travel Director
Assistant In-House Director
At-Large Members
What does it mean to be on the Board?
Time – depends on position, Feb-April are busiest, a couple hours per week, 1-2 meetings per month
Reduced or free registration for 1 player
Develop collaboration skills
Impact the lives of our daughters
Have fun

9. 10U & 12U EWCFL & Suburban Travel 2016 Parent Meeting February 2 & 9

10. Agenda Meeting Purpose Travel vs. EWCFL Overview Cost Volunteer Hours
Time commitment: Practice, Leagues, Tourneys
Evaluations/Tryouts, Open gyms
Cost
Volunteer Hours
Coaches Needed
Practice helpers
Fall ball

11. 10U-16U Program Overview www.suburbanleagemn.com Who’s eligible?
10U: 2006 / 2007 birth date
12U: 2004 / 2005 birth date
14U: 2002 / 2003 birth date
16U: 2000 / 2001 birth date
10 / 12U - Must live or go to School in STMA
Must reside within St. Michael or Albertville or attend an ISD 885 or St. Michael Catholic School.
Players from other communities may participate but should contact the Board prior to registering.
14U / 16U - Open Registration/Open Tryouts
Players can play for any program they choose
Association and Club teams
Crow River Revolution – STMA & Rockford cooperative
Club Teams
STMA in 2018???

12. Travel Overview
Suburban League – Anoka, Elk River, Big Lake, Maple Grove, Becker, etc.
Practices:
Field availability determines practice nights, 1-2 practices/week.
Times may vary but expect most practices to start at 6:00 and end 7:30-8:00
Start in late April (indoor as needed)
Season:
Practices / home games usually at same fields
8 weeks (14-20 games)
2 to 4 in-season tourneys (determined by coaches and parents)
State - $100 gate fee
Not all teams qualify
Games:
Starting first week of May
Doubleheaders
10U Tuesdays and some Thursdays
12U Mondays and some Wednesdays

13. 10U & 12U/14U EWCFL Overview
East Wright County Fastpitch League (EWCFL) – Delano, Hanover, Rockford, STMA
Monday and Wednesday practices/games
Practices starting first week of May
Practices may include sharing a field with other teams or having joint practices
Games are Doubleheaders starting mid-May
Umpires – paid teenagers, 14 and older, experienced players
Tournaments
1 weekend tournament opportunity available
Team decision
Dates TBD, usually first weekend in June
Year end tournament in mid-July with league teams only

14. Travel Overview Game Play All players on the roster bat
Players rotate in the field
9 players on defense
Pitching is critical
Walks!
Max of 5 runs per inning (no limit in 12U Suburban A)
Speed of play
Pitching: 10U up to 42 MPH; 12U up to 48 MPH
Stealing is allowed
Bunting
Offense / defense

15. Player Numbers & Teams Team formation
Up to 55 10U Suburban players expected (53 in 2016)
Up to 50 12U Suburban players expected (48 in 2016)
U EWCFL players expected
U/14U EWCFL players expected
No playing up an age group unless needed for numbers
Optimal roster size: 11
Suburban: 10 is too few, 13 is too many
EWCFL: Rosters size to accommodate all
Number of teams
10U Suburban: 1 A, 1-2 B, 2-3 C
12U Suburban: 1 A, 1-2 B, 2-3 C
EWCFL: evenly distributed teams based on number of participants

16. Suburban Travel Player Evaluations
Key Dates
Pitching & Catching - March 17
Pitching Evaluations
Not used to determine team placement unless to fill a need.
Helps identify interested pitchers for coaches
Positional
March 18 for all players
Overview
3 stations
Fly ball, ground ball, hitting
Board members and selected volunteers run the stations but do not evaluate players
3 Neutral evaluators per station
No parents allowed in gym
Big Hints
Hustle and work hard
Call for the ball
Encourage others

17. EWCFL Player Evaluations
Key Dates
March 18 for all players – Usually begins at 3:00
Overview
3 stations
Fly ball, ground ball, hitting
Coaches evaluate players and form balanced teams
Big Hints
Hustle and work hard
Call for the ball
Encourage others

18. Evaluation Prep Open Gyms – Locations & Times TBD
Limited dates available this year
March 9, 10, 13 & 14
Players are grouped together and get 30 minutes to work area (hitting, ground balls, fly balls), simulate evaluation drills on 13 & 14
Check website for dates
Volunteers needed to help with drills and safety
to reserve a place.
$5 per date (Slug Club Members no extra charge)
Evaluation forms posted on Website
Evaluation tab on our website

19. Evaluations Logistics Tryout (3 gyms at Middle School East)
Players arrive minutes prior to start time
Turn in volunteer check (unless all DIBS are complete or bought out of DIBS)
Assigned a number
Try on uniforms/record sizes if not already done
Warm up
Players are dismissed after they complete their last station
Tryout (3 gyms at Middle School East)
Times posted online – may adjust due to change in expected numbers

20. Suburban Team Formation
Scores keyed in during evaluations
Players ranked 1 through XX based on total score
First order
Number of teams
Second order
Pitching / catching
Placement preferences
Teams based on scores
1-11, 12-22, etc.
Coaches determined last

21. Teams
Teams posted on site 2-4 days after evaluations - player evaluation number will be posted, not names
Coaches need to:
Complete on-line concussion training (30 minutes)
Complete ASA Certification and background check
Attend coaching clinic
Get equipment
Game strategy, practice drills, etc.
Sign up for fields / practices
Review Coach’s Code of Conduct
Register for tourneys
Contact team and set up a team meeting before first practice
Indoor Practice starts in early April

22. Suburban Player Costs
Registration fee - $275 with new jersey top, $230 if using 2016 jersey
Extra pants - $25 (can be paid for with registration)
Tryout fee rolled into registration fee
Open gym ($5 each)
Additional Tournaments
Gate fee to State
$8-10 per player (not included in registration)
Equipment
Helmet, Glove, Cleats (non-metal), Fielding Mask, Bat, Batting Gloves
HELMET DEAL – $47 Rip-It Helmet
Royal Blue with facemask
Decal on front and number on back
No personalization besides number on back
Retail cost is $59.99 (according to Dick’s Sporting Goods)
Can indicate that you want a helmet on Registration, pay when helmet is sized and delivered. Limited supply.

23. EWCFL Player Costs Registration fee - $110 includes pants and Jersey
Extra pants - $25 (can be paid for with registration)
Open gym ($5 each)
Tournaments
Gate fee to State
Rec State is available if teams wish to compete
Equipment
Helmet, Glove, Cleats (non-metal), Fielding Mask, Bat, Batting Gloves
HELMET DEAL – $47 Rip-It Helmet
Royal Blue with facemask
Decal on front and number on back
No personalization besides number on back
Retail cost is $59.99 (according to Dick’s Sporting Goods)
Can indicate that you want a helmet on Registration, pay when helmet is sized and delivered. Limited supply.

24. Association Travel Costs
Direct Costs
Tournament entry: $600 or more allocated per team for 2 tourneys
$60 per player
Uniforms: $80 per player (projected 2017 cost)
League fee: $595 per team (Suburban League)
Up to $60 per player
Equipment Expenses & Upgrades: $3,000 for 100 Travel players
$30 per player
Umpires: $4000 per 100 travel players
$40 per player
Field prep & Sanitation: $5 per player
$275 per player in direct fees
Indirect Costs
Insurance, website, gym time, flyers, background checks, coach training, etc.
Bottom line: we lose $$ for each travel player

25. Volunteer Hours Requirements Opportunities 9 hours for 1 player
12 hours for families with multiple players
3 hours for EWCFL
Opportunities
Required 3 hours
Bar Bingo – we get portion of proceeds (Tuesday evenings)
Meat Raffle
Open Gym help
Slug Club set up
Concessions during games
Equipment clean up and storage
Coaching!
Be on the board!

26. Coaches Needed Requirements Time commitment Philosophy
Background check
Concussion awareness
Coaching clinic
Time commitment
Run practices
Keep book
Coach during games
Philosophy
Fun, learning experience
How we can help:
Sample practices!
Packets to hand out to families
Teach you the things you don’t know
PITCHING!
We have all been there…. Take the plunge!

27. Helpers Needed Send / receive e-mails from the league / board
Picture Day
Sponsorships and Fundraisers
Assistants on game days
Base coach
Pre-game warm-ups
Score book
Practice helpers

28. MMFL Fall Ball
5 to 6 Sunday afternoon doubleheaders starting in late August
Saturday tournaments are open as well
Teams formed with Board input
Coaches submit interest and selected by Board
Players register online
Teams formed by friend requests and prior season’s playing level/age
Coach input on rosters
No home games
3 “league” game days on Sundays
State Qualifier (Saturday)
State Tourney (Saturday)
Cost – about $60 (some teams will order new t-shirts for games at own expense)

29. 14U & 16U Options
Open Tryouts – players can tryout for any team they want (free agents)
Summer Tryouts for next season – August 2017 for 2018 season
Higher cost & more off-season training
Club Teams
Community Association Teams
League Options
Elite Gold League – Select number of teams allowed
Suburban League – A & B only, no C level of play offered
Crow River Revolution – 14U & 16U
Joint community program offered through Rockford and STMA GFA since 2015
2 14U teams and 1 16U team playing Suburban League in 2016
2 Suburban A and 1 Suburban B 14U team for 2017, 1 16U team in 2017

30. Board Positions New Board Leadership is needed
4-5 Board members departing in 2017
Vice President
Travel Director
In-House Director
Treasurer
1-2 Board members expected to depart in 2018
President
???
2017 Needs
Assistant Travel Director
Assistant In-House Director
At-Large Members
What does it mean to be on the Board?
Time – depends on position, Feb-April are busiest, a couple hours per week, 1-2 meetings per month
Reduced or free registration for 1 player
Develop collaboration skills
Impact the lives of our daughters
Have fun

31. Questions?