Softball : Grades 7-12 | Spring Season | 2019-2020

Day 1:  03.09.2020

State Tournament: June 4 – 5, 2020

Cost: $231

Head Coach:  Bob Beedle coachbeedle@gmail.com

Assistant Coaches:  Amy Hoffman, Mike Meyer, Joe McQuillan, Angie Ryan, Mike Gray

Athlete Information Meeting:  February 12 | 2:50 PM | SAHS D205

Athlete Meeting:  March 23 |3:00 PM | SAHS D205

Parent/Guardian Meeting:  March 23 | 5:00 PM | SAHS Cafeteria

Team Captains: Haley Eder-Zdechlik, Megan Wohlers

External Website:  stillwaterfastpitch.com

Note:

• Before participating in tryouts, practices or team activities participants must be registered using FeePay.
• If you need assistance registering or access to a computer to complete registration, please contact Jacki Delahunt: delahuntj@stillwaterschools.org
• For registration information: http://www.goponies.org/page/hot_news/view/78
• Practices and competitions are held up to six days per week and on non-school days including fall break, winter break, spring break and summer break. Season start dates are determined by the MSHSL and affect all schools in the state.

 

The School Board of Independent School District No. 834, Stillwater Area Public Schools, took action on December 20, 2018 to approve budget adjustments for the 2019-2020 school year. One approved item would require individual users to pay credit card transaction fees beginning July 1, 2019, when making payments for athletic, activities and other fees related to the general fund through FeePay, the School District's online payment system. (4.29% per transaction)
 

From Coach Beedle, Varsity Head Coach:

2019-2020 B-SQUAD & 9^th GRADE SOFTBALL:

• There will be one B-Squad team composed mainly of 8^th, 9^th and 10^th graders. However, our conference allows Junior’s and Senior’s to play on the B-Squad and we use this opportunity occasionally.
• There will be a number of players returning that played up last season or will be moving up from last year’s 9^th grade team.
• It is common for 8^th or 9^th graders to play two or more years at the B-Squad and Junior Varsity level of play. Advancement to the varsity level is based on performance and not the number of years played at the B-Squad or JV level of play.
• This year all 9^th graders are invited to tryout at the B-Squad level of play.
• This year a few younger players (7^th and 8^th) will be invited to tryout at the B-Squad level of play. These players/families will be contacted directly by our coaching staff.
• There will be Middle School teams for 7-8^th grade players (and 6^th grade players) that choose not to try out for the 9^th grade team. Sixth graders are not allowed to play above the Middle school level of play.
• Middle School softball starts approximately April 1. This is a “participatory” experience and less competitive than the 9^th grade team experience.
• The B-Squad plays at the same time and location as the varsity. Start time is 4:30 with a few exceptions (check the schedule).
• All players ride the same bus. Early release times are reemphasized the day before all away games. Middle School players are picked up at their school for away games. All players return to SAHS after the games.
• It is important for players to inform their last hour teacher that they will be missing class time for softball. Be pro-active on this. Get assignments and projects done early if possible.
• Spring Break is March 11 – March 17. Varsity will practice during spring break. B-Squad & 9^th grade teams do not practice during spring break.  B-Squad and 9^th grade pitchers and catchers are invited to practice with the varsity over spring break if they are in town and available.
• March 16 will be the B-Squad and 9^th grade team’s first practice date this season.
• The B-Squad and 9^th grade teams practice at SAHS. They practice together for the first week or so of the season.
• There could be two 9^th grade teams this season depending on final registration numbers.
• There is a daily shuttle bus that leaves from OMS and SMS and arrives at SAHS at approximately 3 PM.   Shuttle bus information can be found here:  www.goponies.org/page/3268
• Softball at SAHS is a 7-12 program which means that 7^th graders and above are allowed to play up to higher grade levels. It has been our experience that 7^th and 8^th graders that have participated in travelling softball are ready to compete at the 9^th grade school level of play.
• We recommend all travelling 7^th and 8^th graders tryout for the 9^th grade team. However, ALL 7^th and 8^th grade players are welcome to try out for the 9^th grade team.
• Our 9^th grade team will have very few 9^th graders on it. The rosters of other conference teams, with a few exceptions, will also be composed of 7-8 grade players.
• Our philosophy is to place our players at a level of play where they will be challenged to compete and grow.  
• All teams: 9^th Grade, B-Squad and Varsity are expected to participate in fundraising activities.  INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED BY STAFF OR CAPTAINS.
• If you have any questions or concerns: coachbeedle@gmail.com or Cell: 651-343-7129
• Coach Ryan and Coach Hoffman are both teachers at SAHS and can be contacted before classes start or during the day when not in class.
• Registration Opens on Fee Pay on Monday, February 3, 2020..

2019 – 2020 VARSITY SOFTBALL

Making the team and playing time:

• All playing time is earned by performance in practices, scrimmages and games. Players who are not playing are expected to support those who are playing and vice versa. Our conference allows us to play seniors and juniors on the sophomore and junior varsity team. Our goal is to have players playing and not sitting on the bench. Playing at a lower level should be viewed as an opportunity and not a demotion.
• Each player will have a meeting with the coaching staff at which time they will discuss where the player stands at that date. Players are encouraged to ask questions and express any concerns that they might have at that time.
• Players are also encouraged to use their captains as a conduit to the coaching staff if they feel more comfortable communicating in that manner.
• Captains will be creating   a “concern box” where players are encouraged to bring any suggestions, concerns or issues forward by placing their anonymous, unsigned comment in the box which is then delivered to the coaches by the captains.

Junior Varsity:

• JV games are played on Tuesdays. These will be five inning double headers (this year, one 7-inning game). There is an end of the year JV tournament. All non-conference varsity games play a second game which is a JV game. It is important to note that not all JV games get played. By conference rule, a postponed varsity game must be played the next available date and JV games will be cancelled if their game is scheduled on that date. Thus, history tells us that all scheduled JV games may not get played. Junior varsity games play an important role in the ongoing evaluation of players as the season progresses.

Vacations, missed practices, missed scrimmages, lateness and conflicts in general:

• I believe that what we teach and cover in practice is important. If a player is missing, someone else gets an opportunity. The players that perform best in the staff’s judgment will play. If you are not present, you are not performing. In this sense, poor attendance could impact playing time. We ask our players to bring a note signed (by themselves) explaining why they were late or missed a practice.
• Conflicting events: Spring break, Good Friday, Easter, Prom, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, SAT/ACT testing, behind the wheel driver’s training, graduation, college visits, Band, Choir, Orchestra concerts and trips, school newspaper trips, confirmation classes, Mission trips, doctor, dentist or eye appointments, weddings, birthdays etc.
• We do not attempt to differentiate between an excellent, very good, semi-good or good reason for an absence. We all have decisions and choices to make in life. Again, performance in practice and games will dictate playing time.

Other Sports: This is our softball season. We expect softball players to be at our practices, scrimmages and games. However, we support multiple sport athletes and ask that they communicate any conflicts that might arise. We will do our best to accommodate conflicts in a fair manner.   

Club Softball: Sophomore, JV and varsity softball players will be practicing or playing games five or six days per week. We prefer that players refrain from participation in Club softball until their high school season concludes. However, what a player elects to do on their free time is entirely up to them.

Lettering Criteria:  Any player that participates in at least five games will letter. A pitcher can earn a letter with one varsity win. A senior who completes the season will letter. The coaching staff will make the final determination on all letters.

Academics:  Players have been directed that academics come first. It is important for athletes to touch base with their last hour teacher because we get out of school for our away games. The best way to handle this is to be proactive. Get your assignments in early, find alternative times to take a test, make sure your papers and projects are handed in a day ahead of time. Teachers will be much more receptive if you communicate early and often about your game conflicts. Do not use softball as an excuse.

Nutrition and Hydration:  The day gets very long for these athletes and having a healthy snack before practice is essential. Also, they need to bring water or a sport drink to scrimmages and games.

Miscellaneous:

• Players are expected to ride the bus to and from the games. Team chemistry, bonding, scouting reports and general team fun are all part of the bus ride. If a rare need comes up, you should inform the coach ASAP and bring a note indicating the name of the responsible adult that will be driving the athlete. Athletes will not be able to drive one another to and from an event when a bus is provided. If the driver is not a parent, the coaches reserve the right to deny the athletes request.
• Cell phones and other electronic devise are not to be used during practices or games. NO TEXTING during practices or games. 
• Social media such as Facebook and Twitter: Please make sure that your athletes understand that they can be held responsible for whatever shows up on these networks. Once something gets on the internet, it is impossible to retract. Exercise good judgment when communicating via social networks.
• Cell phone cameras: Athletes need to understand that they can be photographed whenever a phone camera is present.
• We will have an end of the year banquet. Players from all levels, grandparents, parents and fans are invited to this banquet. Please join us.
• We will have parent’s night, senior night and an association picnic night. These are listed on your game schedule. These events are organized by the parents of this year’s captains and they will communicate directly with you regarding the details of those events.
• We ask that parents support the entire team and that if they have concerns that they direct those concerns through the coaching staff and not the players. Coaches should absolutely NOT be approached or confronted before, during or after a practice or game. Prearranged meetings have proven to be a very effective way to handle parental concerns.
• If you have a concern or grievance, the proper procedure to handle an issue is: player to coach; parent (player optional) to coach; parent and coach with Athletic Director; parent, coach and athletic director with principal.
• We ask that parents refrain from approaching the dugout during a game unless it is to deliver water or equipment. There should be no parental coaching instruction going on during the course of a game or practice.
• Blood donations: We ask, if at all possible, that blood donations not be conducted on a game day.
• The Web site: www.suburbaneast.org has our game schedule and maps to the fields. It is updated for rain out decisions by our athletic department. Rainouts, by rule, are determined by 1:30 on game day. You can select, on the site, to be notified by email when a game is rained out.
• All teams: 9^th Grade, B-Squad and Varsity are expected to participate in fundraising activities.  INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED BY STAFF OR CAPTAINS.
• If you have any questions or concerns: coachbeedle@gmail.com or Cell: 651-343-7129
• Coach Ryan and Coach Hoffman are both teachers at SAHS and can be contacted before classes start or during the day when not in class.
• Registration Opens on Fee Pay on Monday, February 3, 2020.