Thank you to everyone who was able to attend last night's discussion.  It was GREAT to see everyone in person!

Below is the content we covered in our presentation.  Reach out to me with any follow up questions you might have!

SUMMER Travel LEAGUE DESCRIPTION

For 10U & 12U teams, in weeks where you have two league games, we may add one additional night for practice. 

• 10U - in May, league games on Tuesdays, practice on Thursdays.  In June, games will be on Tuesday & Thursday, practice on either Monday or Wednesday.
• 12U - in May & June, league games will be on Monday & Wednesday nights, practice on either Tuesday or Thursday night.

League Levels & Details (2025)

• 8U: Birthdays Sept 1 2015-August 31 2017 | Monday & Wednesday | Machine Pitch | Fee: $290
• 10U: Birthdays Sept 1 2013-August 31 2015 | Tues & Thurs + 1 practice on weeks with 2 league games | Kid Pitch | Fee: $500
• 12U: Birthdays Sept 1 2011-August 31 2013 | Mon & Wed + 1 practice on weeks with 2 league games | Kid Pitch | Fee: $550

Registration Fee Coverage

Questions?  Contact Wayzata Fastpitch's Travel Director here.

*** With the new MN Softball age rules, PWYSA has decided to let those impacted by the changes to decide which age they want to play in.  Due to this some girls may be eligible to play at 2 different levels.  

***MN Softball groups 16U & 18U together into a High School (HS) league.

All travel players will need to have a full uniform.  This consists of:

• Jersey (2): White & Gold
• Pants (1): Navy with "W" logo
• Socks (2): White & Gold
• Belts (2): White & Gold (new)

Optional Items for purchase include:

• Batting Helmet (preferably Navy)
• Bat Bag (Mini or Large)
• Wind Breaker Jacket

Uniforms pieces can be purchased at Travel Uniforms – Wayzata FastPitch.  

PRACTICE TRYOUTs

Location: Central Middle School Dome
Date: Sunday, Feb 2, 2025
Times:

• 8:30-10:15 8U & 12U Skills & Drills Block 2 Participants
• 10:30-12:15pm 10U Skills & Drills Block 2 Participants
• 12:30-2:30pm All 8U, 10U, 12U tryout participants (Free)

Objective: run kids through same stations they will perform in the tryout

TRYOUT LOGISTICS (2025)

Location: Central Middle School Dome
What to wear: Athletic leggings or softball pants, athletic shirt or jersey
What to bring: Bat, Glove, Fielding Face Mask, Tennis or Turt Shoes (no cleats), Water Bottle
Dates (must attend one): 

• Feb 8 & 11: Tryouts (must attend 1) @ Central Middle School Dome 
  • Saturday, Feb 8
    • 10:00-11:15 8U
    • 10:30-1:00 12U
      • Pitcher/Catchers: 10:30-12:00
      • Non-Pitcher/Catchers: 12:00-1:00
    • 1:00-4:00 10U
      • Non-Pitcher/Catchers: 1:00-2:15
      • Pitcher/Catchers: 2:15-4:00
  • Tuesday, Feb 11 
    • 5:45-6:15pm 8U
    • 6:15-10:00pm 10U & 12U (specific times TBD)
• Feb 14: Teams Posted at 5pm

General evaluation tryout stations (2025)

• Infield: Players field ground balls at SS, throw to 1st.  Then players field ground balls at 2nd base position, throw to 2nd base.  Evaluators are looking range, footwork, hands, arm strength, throwing accuracy
• Outfield: Player stands in ready position.  Coach throws fly balls to the players right, left, in front, and over their head.  Evaluators are looking for range, footwork, tracking, arm strength, and throwing accuracy
• Hitting - 3 components:
  • Living hitting off pitching machine
  • Live hitting off front toss
  • Bunting off of pitching machine
  • Evaluators looking at swing mechanics, ability to make contact, and hit for power
• Running - player will begin at starting line and when coach says go, they will run 60 feet (the distance to 1st base).  Coach will measure time. Player will do this 2 times.
• Throwing: Players will stand in front of a net and throw the ball into the net.  Evaluator will measure throwing velocity of each throw.  

Pitching & Catching tryout stations (2025)

• Pitchers: will warm up with a catcher or volunteer.  Once ready, they will pitch in front of an evaluator.  They will be evaluated on their general pitching motion, ability to hit spots when requested, how hard they throw (MPH by radar gun), if and how they throw alternative pitches (change up, rise, drop, etc), and their pitching mechanics.
• Catchers: will warm up with a pitcher or volunteer.  Once ready, they will catch in front of an evaluator.  They will be evaluated on their general catching, ability to frame pitches, ability to block pitches in the dirt, accuracy and time of throw downs to 2nd base, and if applicable can they catch increased speed. 

Evaluators

• We use 3rd party evaluators from TC Fastpitch to score each station.  The same person scores the same stations between our two tryouts to provide consistancy in scoring.

Team Formation

Our Team Formation Committee (President, Travel Director(s) & Player Development Director(s)) form teams.  They start by aggregating tryout scores from all stations and sort rank by players total overall score (top to bottom).  We layer in pitchers and catchers scores, ensuring our top 2 pitchers and catchers are on the top team and then look at balancing pitchers and catchers amongst remaining teams.  We aim to have teams of 11-12 players, depending on the number of players who try out and we feel are prepared to play travel.  There are times when we feel a player is not ready for travel, at which time we will recommend they play rec to prepare for future seasons.

Coaches:

After teams are formed, we select from the pool of parents on the team who will be the head coach.  We look at who has volunteered to be a head coach, interview potential candidates, and select who we believe will be the best to lead the team.  If no one has offered to be a Head Coach, we reach out to those who volunteered to be an assistant coach to see if they are interested.  The Head Coach gets to pick their assistant coaches. 

PWYSA offers coaching clinics and other materials to support our coaches and help them succeed.  Apply here if you're interested in being a Head or Assistant Coach for a Travel team.  

TRYOUT ABSENCE POLICY

In order to most effectively place players on the appropriate traveling softball team, it is necessary that all players take part in the respective traveling softball tryouts, receive an evaluation by the evaluators, and be considered for a traveling team based on their tryout score.

However, we understand that circumstances will arise that will prevent a player from participating in the tryout (example: injury or illness).  These circumstances need to be approved by the PWYSA Traveling Softball Selection Committee to be an "excused player".  An "excused player" may be eligible and placed on a traveling softball team even though they were unable to participate in the respective tryouts.

In such situations, the following procedures will be followed by the PWYSA Traveling Softball Selection Committee in an effort to place players appropriately within the PWYSA softball programs (traveling or rec league):

• Excused players prior year rankings will be reviewed
• PWYSA softball coaches familiar with the excused player will be consulted to obtain perspective of the players softball abilities compared to others at the same age.
• Others familiar with the excused player may be consulted to obtain additional perspective when deemed necessary.