Mounds View Softball Association

TEAM FORMATION POLICY

AGE REQUIREMENTS

MVSA forms teams based on ASA age regulations. The age brackets are as follows:

8U: girls 8 years of age or younger on December 31 year prior to season

10U: girls 9 or 10 years of age on December 31 year prior to season

12U: girls 11 or 12 years of age on December 31 year prior to season

14U: girls 13 or 14 years of on December 31 year prior to season

16U: girls 15 or 16 years of age on December 31 year prior to season

18U: girls 17 or 18 years of age on December 31 year prior to season

ELIGIBILITY
Players must be properly registered, fees paid, and in good standing with MVSA to be eligible for tryouts and placement on an MVSA roster.  Late registrations and/or fee payments (after the formal registration dates) are subject to roster availability and will be assigned to teams at the discretion of the selection committee.  Returning players are subject to board approval.

TEAM FORMATION

Teams for the season will be formed by no later than March 31.

8U Local:  8U Local teams will be focused on player development.  Games will be with teams from Centennial and White Bear Lake.  Games will be coach pitch and will use a softer ball.

10U-16U Traveling: Traveling teams are formed based on an evaluation process.  Evaluations will include try out results and coach evaluations.  A committee comprising the president, VP of travel, VP of 8U and 2 at large board members will form teams grouping athletes with similar skill levels.  Teams will be seeded in the summer and fall leagues based on the anticipated skill level of the teams’ year to year.  It is important for MVSA to roster each team with pitchers and catchers to the extent possible.

Players may request to play down to a lower tier team within their age group subject to board approval.  Specifically, this allows a pitcher or catcher not rated high enough to play on the higher level team an opportunity to play down in order to pitch/catch on a lower tier team.

Tryouts are waived if enrollment at a particular level is less than or equal to the number of players needed to form a team.
Registration fees are not refundable except under extraordinary circumstances, i.e. injury, illness, etc.  A committee of the President, Treasurer, and VP Traveling will review refund requests.

PLAYING UP
The MMFL follows the ASA guidelines for age grouping.  The association exists to provide opportunities for girls to perform at the best of their ability and the board recognizes that there may be athletes with exceptional ability who are best served by playing at a more competitive level.  A player may play at a level above her specified playing age if either of the following conditions is met (12u and above):
A. If she is rated as the number one or two position player on the top tryout team (as noted above) at the higher age level based on the results of the tryout for that age group.  
B. If she is rated as the number one pitcher or number one catcher of the top tryout team based on the results of the pitching and catching tryouts for that age group.
C. The MVSA Board of Directors must approve all exceptions.  The MVSA Board of Directors also reserves the right to request a player(s) to move up to a higher age level in order to fill out rosters to maintain the interests of the program.

8U players wishing to play 10u will be evaluated on an individual basis and will depend on the player's skill level and roster needs for both our 8u and 10u program.

TRYOUT PROCESS
Within the limits of a volunteer organization, MVSA strives to make the tryout process as impartial as possible.  During tryouts, private evaluators will score each player at each skill level including:  hitting, bunting, fielding grounders, fielding fly balls and base running.  A committee consisting of the President, Treasurer and VP of Traveling are responsible for the selection of evaluators.  (However, at times, coaches may facilitate/run a tryout station) No adjustments to the tryout tests or procedures are to be made once the tryout begins.  An MVSA evaluation and team formation committee comprising of the President, VP of Travel, VP of 8u, and two at-large board members will also evaluate each player at the tryout process.

TRYOUT ATTENDANCE
Players are required to attend the full tryout process.  Illness, injury, or extraordinary personal circumstances may cause players to request an exemption from tryouts.  Requests must be made prior to the start of tryouts unless an injury or illness occurs during the tryouts. Submission of supporting documents are highly recommended and should be submitted prior to tryouts for anyone requesting a waiver from tryouts. The MVSA Softball Board will review the request for exemption and determine the appropriate course of action based on the best interest of the program. Anyone choosing not to participate in tryouts will be placed on rosters at the discretion of the selection committee and the best interests of the program.

SUMMER POST-SEASON ROSTERS
MVSA teams advancing to post-season play will be allowed to add players to their roster in accordance with rules of the governing body. Currently, ASA allows up to 3 “pick up” players for teams advancing beyond the State Tournament (once a player/team has been eliminated from championship play). Post-season roster additions are intended to maximize the depth and quality of the team and will be at the sole discretion of the team coach.