Mission Statement 

 The SEP Rams Softball Club Select Program is designed to offer players a higher level of competitive softball while upholding the values of sportsmanship, player development, and community pride established by GAGSA and the SEP Rams Softball Club. The Select Program exists to primarily serve athletes within the Southeast Polk community who have demonstrated elevated skill, commitment, and a desire to compete at advanced tournament levels. While expectations may differ from the traditional SEP Rams Softball Club program, the Select Program remains grounded in the same core principles that define the SEP Rams identity. 

Why We Created the Select Program 

 In recent years, the landscape of tournament softball in the greater Des Moines area has changed dramatically. What was once a smaller community with limited competitive options has expanded into a highly competitive environment with more programs offering tournament-level play than ever before. In response to this evolution, the SEP Rams Softball Club created the Select Program to offer players a higher level of competitive softball while remaining true to our established values. While expectations may differ from the traditional SEP Rams Softball Club program in terms of commitment and competition, the Select Program remains firmly grounded in the core principles of sportsmanship, player development, and community pride that define GAGSA and the SEP Rams Softball Club.  

Relationship to GAGSA and SEP Rams Softball Club Policies 

The SEP Rams Softball Club Select Program operates under the broader governance of GAGSA and the SEP Rams Softball Club. The Select program will leverage the SEP Rams Softball Clubs “core” infrastructure, while offering approved coaches and teams flexibility in their roster formation to align players with similar elevated skills and levels of commitment while keeping with GAGSA and the SEP Rams Softball Club core principles.  

Coaches interested in being part of our select program should contact the GAGSA Tournament Director for additional information.

tournamentdirector@gagsa.org

What Families Should Know Before Joining a Select Team 

The SEP Rams Select Program is part of GAGSA and the SEP Rams Softball Club, but it operates with added competitive expectations and structural differences compared to our traditional program. 

Roster Formation & Tryouts 

Select Program teams are built through private tryouts and evaluations led by approved Select Program Head Coaches.

Roster formation is coach-driven, with final oversight and approval by the SEP Rams Softball Club Tournament Director and Selection Committee. 

All players selected for placement on a SEP Rams Select team MUST attend the SEP Rams Softball Club Tryout dates in addition to any privately held tryouts held by approved Select Program coaches. 

Select Program teams are required to be rostered at the USSSA "A" or "B" divisions of play - no exceptions will be made. If a Select Program team elects to be reclassified to the "C" division during their current season, the team will be ineligible for Select Program application the following season.

Player & Residency Requirements

All players wanting to tryout for a SEP Rams Select Program team must have prior tournament experience. 

SEP Rams Select Program teams must have a minimum of *65% of their players from within the Southeast Polk Community School District residential boundaries. Players living in-district but attending other educational institutions are still considered "in-district".  

*Please see the SEP Rams Softball - Select Program Handbook for additional details. 

Playing Time & Development Approach

All SEP Rams Softball Club teams are committed to player development, however Select team rosters are designed for higher-level tournament play. 

While equal playing time is not guaranteed in either the traditional or Select program, Select Coaches and teams will operate with more autonomy than our traditional program. 

Coaches may make lineup decisions based on performance, attendance, positional needs, and competition level as they see fit.

Fees & Tournament Costs

The base registration fees for Select program players is the same as our traditional program and includes all the same amenities (uniforms, indoor/outdoor practice facilities, and tournament entry for 8 standard events, etc). 

Select teams often choose to play in more or higher level tournaments (including Fall or late Summer) or tournaments that may include travel fees, which will result in additional out-of-pocket expenses not included in registration fees.

Coaches and teams may opt for additional indoor space, enter in HitTrax leagues over the Winter, require players (especially pitchers & catchers) to take private lessons, play in Perfect Game or Top Gun tournaments, etc. 

Coaches are expected to clearly communicate their intentions on all the above policies with their families prior to accepting a roster placement. 

Mid-season Changes & Roster Policy 

Once the SEP Rams Softball Club traditional program rosters are finalized in August, players and families who choose to opt out of the Select Program at any point during the season are not guaranteed a roster spot on a traditional program team for the remainder of the current season. 

Code of Conduct 

Code of conduct violation on a Select team may disqualify a player from participating in either program for the remainder of the season and may impact future eligibility. 

Parent Agreement 

 A Select Program Addendum to the Code of Conduct will be required for all Select players and families. This agreement will outline the differences in structure, expectations, and autonomy for Select teams while reinforcing our commitment to GAGSA and the SEP Rams mission.

Additional Information

Please see the SEP Rams Softball Club - Select Program Handbook for additional details. If you have any questions regarding the Select Program, please reach out to the SEP Rams Softball Club Tournament Director via e-mail at tournamentdirector@gagsa.org.