HVA Fastpitch Softball

The primary mission of Highland Village Softball is to provide a recreational league fastpitch softball program in order to provide a fun and safe environment for elementary through middle school aged girls within our community to learn to play fastpitch softball with solid skills and a fundamental understanding of the game. The league will ensure that each team within the league focuses on providing organized and skill-focused practices with equal opportunity provided to all players to participate and to learn. Coaches, volunteers and parents will also conduct themselves in such a way as to teach players proper conduct, values and attitudes learned by participating as part of a team in a competitive environment – whether playing, watching or coaching the game.

A secondary mission of Highland Village Softball is to provide an advanced level of competitive fastpitch softball for those players who are interested in preparing themselves for play at the high school level. As part of this mission, the league will act as a feeder program to the Marcus High School softball program by ensuring that those players who wish to participate in this program will be properly trained in the fundamental skills taught by the Marcus High School Softball coaching staff.

LEAGUE OBJECTIVES

Emphasize the quality of coaches and their proper training
Teach correct softball skills and a fundamental understanding of the game to all players
Make practices and games fun and enjoyable for everyone
Teach players how to set goals, work hard, stay organized
Reinforce life skills: teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play, honesty, courage, enthusiasm
Ensure every team’s practice session is organized and includes skill oriented drills
Encourage physical fitness and cardiovascular exercise
Maintain effective communication between the league leadership and the parents
Provide a positive game environment with proper conduct by everyone on and off the field
Organize two seasons - Fall Ball for individual development, Spring Ball for competition
Provide opportunities for tournament play for the more competitive teams and players
Maintain communication with the local high school coaching staff
Use the best possible umpires that the league can afford
Maintain a friendly relationship with all area leagues – interlock where possible
Follow ASA rules unless exceptions are board approved
Maintain a friendly relationship with ASA district 13 and region 7

LEAGUE ORGANIZATION

1. GENERAL. Highland Village Softball will operate under the “umbrella” of the Highland Village Baseball Softball Association (HVABSA). The Vice-President of Softball will be selected by a process determined by the HVABSA board – usually by a vote of the league membership if there is more than one candidate or by board approval if the position is uncontested. The VP-Softball will be a voting board member HVABSA and will appoint softball division commissioners to assist him or her in running the day to day operations of the softball league. The HVABSA board always encourages volunteers to submit their names for consideration for board positions.

2. DIVISIONS. The softball league will organize under the following American Softball Association (ASA) divisions:
6U Coach Pitch / T-Ball Girls Only
8U Junior Olympics (Youth) Fastpitch Class C Recreational
10U Junior Olympics (Youth) Fastpitch Class C Recreational
12U Junior Olympics (Youth) Fastpitch Class C Recreational
14U Junior Olympics (Youth) Fastpitch Class C Recreational
14U Junior Olympics (Youth) Fastpitch Class B Competitive
16U Junior Olympics (Youth) Fastpitch Class B Competitive

3. VOLUNTEERS. The softball league will use volunteers in the following positions:

VP-Softball                                           Equipment Coordinator
Class B Commissioner                          Field Preparation Coordinator
14U Commissioner                               Umpire Coordinator
12U Commissioner                               Team Mom Coordinator
10U Commissioner                               Concession Duty Coordinator
6U/8U Commissioner                            Coach / Manager
Player Agent                                         Team Mom

It is recognized that volunteers will often hold multiple responsibilities, but the league will always encourage and utilize whatever volunteer support is available.   Highland Village Softball will have a meeting of all commissioners and coordinators prior to each registration period and after each of the seasons are concluded to discuss plans and changes that need to be made.   Managers, coaches, team moms and parents are encouraged to work though their division commissioners to submit input on how the league can be improved.

4. The goal of the league is to have 6 teams per age level. This will allow each team to play each other twice within a season and to have a minimum of 10 games.

5. The league will operate two seasons – fall and spring. The fall season will run from September-October and will focus on individual player development, not on league standings or tournament play. The spring season will run from April-May and will focus on team development with more emphasis on team competition and tournament play.

Wes Ireland
VP-Softball