SEP Softball Club Tryout Information
When will registration for tryouts be available?
We will make the tryout registration pages available the first week of June. Registration will close @ 11:59 PM on the evening before your first scheduled tryout. (For example, an 11U player that wishes to pitch or catch MUST complete their registration before 11:59 PM on Tuesday, August 7th even though the All Players tryout is later in the week). An e-mail will be sent to all current enrollees of our program when the registration pages are open.
Is there a fee for tryouts?
Yes, there will be a $75 non- refundable fee required to try out. If your daughter is placed on a tournament team, this amount will be credited toward your annual fees.
Who will conduct the evaluations?
SEP High School Softball Varsity Head Coach Tia Stiles, her coaching staff, and select college and high school players will complete the player evaluations during the tryouts.
What is contemplated in the evaluations of each player?
Hitting: Mechanics, Power, Contact, Bunting
Infield: Form, Accuracy, Strength, Reaction, Angle
Outfield: Catch, Angle, Accuracy, Strength, Reaction
The scores of these individual outcomes will be collated to determine a total score per player. Coaching evaluations and in-season stats from the previous tournament season, if available, may also be used to determine team placement.
How will pitchers and catchers be evaluated and divided between teams? How many pitchers and catchers will be on each team?
It is important that a program of our caliber has skilled pitchers and catchers throughout each of its teams. For 10U-14U, our preferred outcome is that each team has 3 Pitchers and 2 Catchers.
We will rate each player on both overall ability and pitcher/catcher ability. If a situation arises where a player’s "All Player" evaluation score is significantly higher than their "pitcher/catcher" evaluation score, we will have a discussion with that family about the recommended outcome and the family’s preference. While it will ultimately be the head coach's decision on positions played throughout the season, a player who does not declare and try out as a pitcher/catcher should not expect to play these positions. In other words, players expecting to pitch and catch during the tournament season need to “tryout” to pitch or catch.
Can a player tryout for more than one or a different age group than the one she was 'born' into?
Players will not be allowed to try out for multiple age groups, but should register for the highest age division in which they desire to compete. The player will be assigned to the team/age division that is best for our program based on skills, coach evaluations, and available stats. Players eligible for a younger age group who want to play up will not force out an eligible player within the age group.
Will tournament teams be placed for players that are “odd age eligible” (9U, 11U, 13U)?
GAGSA will continue to do this if the tryout placement fits for the player and program numbers allow. Players that score significantly higher than their age could be placed with the older team if the Club feels that it will be in the best interest of the player or teams. These teams are put together when there is a cluster of players that are age eligible and score within a similar range. Program numbers and evaluation scores will dictate if these teams will be put together or the number of them within any particular age. In other words, if program numbers do not allow for multiple odd age teams, players could be placed to the next available age to fill teams.
Will a player outside the SEP school district be allowed to try out?
Outside players are allowed to try out, but players within the district will be given priority to participate over outside players for placement on a team. Outside players that previously lived in the district or participated in the program are considered in-district so long as their participation in the program is without interruption. The outside players will be placed based on the evaluator’s and SEP Rams Softball Club tournament committee discretion. The number of teams will be determined based on player and coach availability.
Is a 9th grade player eligible for SEP Rams Softball Club?
9th grade players are not eligible for the “traditional” program, therefore should not register to attend a tryout if age eligible. If a 9th grade player resides in the district and is interested in finding a team, feel free to contact the tournament director who will attempt to find a team outside of our program to participate in.
What are the expectations of parents and players to be a part of the SEP Rams Softball Program?
We have put all of our code of conduct, volunteer, and capital improvement expectations online.
It is imperative that you read and understand these. This code of conduct applies to practices, games, and anytime that would be considered GAGSA time. We have and will take recourse in given situations where the code of conduct is not followed.
When will team announcements be made?
On or about August 16th. Teams may not start practice before August 31.