What is the age cut off for travel?
Our travel teams play in ASA tournaments and are governed
by their rules.
ASA's cut off is Jan 1, of 2008. For us this means the following.
Can my daughter play on a travel team and on a recreation league team?
Last year we allowed girls to play both the travel and
recreation league. Every year we evaluate this decision. We have not yet made a
decision for the 2008 season. We welcome feedback on this from
parents and coaches.
Am I giving up my entire summer to softball?
Each travel team is slightly different. This past year the 12U and 14U
teams each played in 5 or 6 tournaments from June through September. This still
left plenty of time for other summer activities. Practices during the summer are
usually one weeknight and Saturday mornings. Coaches will typically ask the team
for their vacation plans to try and accommodate as many of the players as
possible. The tournament schedule is generally set in April and May so families
have plenty of time to see the weekends when there will be a tournament.
What type of commitment is this?
Playing travel softball is a strong commitment. Girls that tryout for the
team should have a love for softball. We ask that during the season this is the
girls primary extracurricular activity. That means we do not expect practices
and games to be missed for other extracurricular activities. The teams typically start practicing
indoors during the winter one weeknight a week. During the spring the teams
practice twice a week and have 6 doubleheaders against area travel teams. The
summer usually has one or two practices a week and 5 to 6 tournaments.
Tournaments typically consist of 3 games on Friday and Saturday with a single
elimination tournament on Sunday.
How is travel different then the recreation league?
Travel softball is played against teams from throughout the state. Most of
the games are played in tournaments. Last year we played in tournaments as close
as Danvers and as far away as Bristol, RI.
Travel teams unlike our recreation league do not have minimum playing times for
all players. Each coach decides how they distribute the playing time, but in
general it is based on ability, attitude and attendance. All coaches do their
best to get all the girls into the games, but it is not guaranteed. Over the
course of a travel season all girls will play more softball then they
typically would in a recreation league season.
Who should try out for travel softball?
Girls that love softball and want more of a challenge. For girls that played
in the recreation league last year and were wishing everyone on the team wanted
to play as hard as them - it's probably the right time to tryout for travel
softball. Girls that are interested in playing softball in high school should
give strong consideration to the travel league. This year's BHS varsity team was
made up almost exclusively of girls that played travel softball at the 12U and
14U level.
How are the teams selected?
At each tryout we have a group of evaluators. The evaluators are typically
league officials without a connection to the girls trying out. The players are
run through a set of drills. Each of the evaluators rates the girls during each
of the drills. The travel coaches use these evaluations along with their own
judgment to select the team.
How many travel teams are there?
We are currently committed to have a single 12U and 14U team for next year
(we're still working through what other levels we'll compete at next year). If
we have enough interest from players and coaches to support a second team in
either age group we will take it under consideration.