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FAQ Categories:
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Who can play? MVLA 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. How long is the season? The MVLA recreational softball season runs from mid-March through May. How are the teams and age groups organized? Teams are organized in age divisions. Player’s age is determined by their 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 2008 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.
Where do practices take place? Practices take place where it is convenient for the most players as determined by the parents and staff of each team on Team Announcement Night. The 6U/8U divisions usually practice on their own school grounds or at a nearby park. The 10U and above divisions generally practice at Stevenson Park in Mountain View. Team staff will inform you if other arrangements are made. Where do games take place? 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. Check the individual Division Schedules and Field Locations for more information.
What time commitment is necessary to play softball? Below are guidelines for game and practice amounts for each age division. In general, each team decides when, where, and how long practices will be based on what works best for the most number of players and staff. Teams often practice twice per week in the preseason and cut back to once per week when games begin. The time commitment increases as players get older and beginning at the 12U division, some games are played against other leagues.
WEEKLY PRACTICE AND GAME GUIDELINES:
*8U adds a second weekly game midway through the season What equipment does MVLA provide and what do I provide? MVLA
provides the uniforms (including visors), fields, bases, batting
helmets, bats, balls and catcher's gear. If you choose to purchase
softball equipment, helmets must have a face mask, be
NOCSAE-approved and we
suggest an adjustable rather than “one size fits all” model. Bats must
be marked "ASA Softball"-approved but check with a coach first if you are
uncomfortable making a choice (correct bat size is critical).
Sliding shorts (or pants) are recommended for girls in 10U and required for any girl who slides. How can I get ready for softball or start to practice? Will there be clinics? MVLA is hosting Pre-Season Skills Clinics on the weekends starting in February. Come out and work on the basic skills like throwing, catching fielding etc. Check out the News headlines on the Home page for clinic dates. What is expected of the parents? Lots of cheering and wild enthusiastic support! Your daughter will appreciate and benefit enormously from your presence and we HIGHLY encourage you to attend your daughter’s game. 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.
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. TEAM FORMATION FAQs How are teams formed? Does my player have to try out? As the focus of MVLA is purely recreational and skill development, everyone plays and there are no tryouts. 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) and balancing pitchers and catchers. MVLA Player Agents make the final determination of placement for any individual player. My player is ready for the next level of softball. Can she "play up" despite her age? Playing out of the appropriate age division is discouraged and will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Player Agents. See Registration FAQs below for how to make this request. 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 chooses to have a same age-division buddy on her team (for 10U and above). Note: having sisters of the same age placed on different teams can be challenging on a parent's schedule and therefore not recommended. Can my 6U/8U daughter play with her friends? 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. Nearby schools may be combined if individual schools don’t have enough girls to form a complete team. Some girls prefer to play on a team at a another school which we will do our best to accommodate. See Registration FAQs below for how to request a different school. 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 will be honored only if both players request each other. In the interest of balancing skill level across teams, buddies CANNOT both be pitchers and/or catchers and it is not always possible for two All-Star or Nova Players to be buddies. See Registration FAQs below for how to select a buddy. Can my daughter play with her sister and a buddy? A player can 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 in early March and players will be informed on Team Announcement 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. 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. 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. 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 in early November. Early bird discounts will apply until mid-December (check back for exact date). You may choose to Register Online, Register by Mail-In or Walk-in Registration. 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 "special requests" section of the registration form. How do I make a Buddy Request? In the 10U divisions and above players may make one Buddy Request, allowing them to choose a friend they would like on their team. ((This is not necessary at the 6u/8u level as the teams are "school based"- if you want your daughter to play at a school other than the one she attends let us know on the reg form).
In the interest of balancing skill level across teams, buddies
CANNOT both be pitchers and/or catchers and it is not always possible
for two All-Star or Nova Players to be buddies. 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' field on the registration 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? Playing out of the appropriate age division is discouraged, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Player Agents. Please indicate your request in the "special requests" area on the registration form. My player just missed the cut-off for the next higher/lower division. Can she sign up for the higher/lower division? Playing out of the appropriate age division is discouraged, but may be requested during registration and will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Player Agents. Please indicate your request in the "special requests" area on the registration form. I missed the cutoff date for registration. Can I still sign my daughter up? Please email us if registration has closed and you would still like to sign up. We may be able to add your daughter to a team.
How much does it cost? The fee is based on the player's age division (see Age Divisions above). The fees for the 2008 season are outlined below.
Division Registration Fee Late Registration (on or before Jan 13) (on or after Jan 14) 6U $75 $90 8U $115 $140 10U and above $130 $155
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? 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.
If a player has registered and then decides not to play, we will refund fees according to the following schedule:
Please email us if your player decides to withdraw from softball.
MVLA 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. I'm new to MVLA -- 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. 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: 10-10.5 inches for 6U, 11-11.5 for 8-10U, 12-12.5 for 12-16U. What do I need to know before buying a glove? Buy all-leather. Glove is worn on the left hand for players who throw with their right hand. 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. 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. 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). "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 less common but are available in more expensive bats. 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 with an option at 2nd half to change to a Wilson A9306BASA-Low 11" Optic Yellow. 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
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. |
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League - P.O. Box 4264- Mountain View, CA 94040 |