What division should my daughter play in?
Your daughter’s playing age is based upon her age on Aug 31st of the year of the season being played. 6u is for girls under 6 (down to age 4). 8u is for girls 8 and under. 10u, 10 and under. 12u, 12 and under. 14u, 14 and under.
How are Spring Season teams formed?
The board and team managers participate in an open draft. Each manager must freeze his/her daughter and his/her coach’s daughter. Pitching talent is evenly distributed first during the draft process. This is determined by evaluations and past season play. Managers will proceed in selecting all players. Players with siblings within the same division will be placed on the same team.
Does my daughter have to attend a tryout?
Recreational Ball does not have a tryout for the regular Fall or Spring season; everyone makes a team. All girls playing 8U - 14U must attend an evaluation at the beginning of the season for drafting. Evaluation times will be based on the division your daughter is playing in. Typically there will be evaluations on a Saturday morning and 1 makeup the next week. 6U teams are not required to be evaluated.
Any full season select team does have tryouts.
What can we expect at evaluations?
Each division will be grouped together during evaluations. They will be asked to hit 3 times off a machine, run the bases, field grounders, catch, throw, and pitch. All players must throw one pitch, and returning pitchers will pitch 3 times. Please bring your own bat and glove.
We also size for uniforms during evaluations. We will ask for a few desired Jersey #s, and in spring we will ask for a name preference ("nicknames" are often used). Sample pants and jerseys will be there to help you measure sizes. All 6u players will come during this time to be sized as well.
Do you take Buddy requests?
Buddy requests are allowed in 6U. To request a "buddy" write the name of the girl you would like your daughter to play with on your registration. In most cases we are able to honor requests. However, it is critical we create a fair balance of skill levels between the teams.
Can my daughter play in a different division than she's supposed to?
In general, we recommend that girls play in their assigned age division. When wanting to "play up", it must be board approved. There must be room in the division, and the player must be evaluated with the higher division. In rare circumstances if a player is new or young for her division, she may "play down" to accommodate teams or personal circumstances. In this situation, she is not eligible for all stars or select teams.
What is the difference between Fall Ball and Spring?
In Fall Ball, our emphasis is on skill development and instruction. It is the perfect time to start. Fall Registration opens in May and closes in August. Season typically runs until the first week of November. Games are usually only on the weekend. There is no Opening Day, and no All-star follow-up.
Spring Season starts off with a Bang with our Opening Day in February! Registration opens in October and ends in December. Games are during the week and on Saturdays. Practices may begin in February and games may run through May. All Star teams are selected from spring season teams.
Can I request a refund?
BGS will issue a full refund, as long a refund request is submitted to BGS in writing before, we have drafted our teams and have placed a uniform order.
How do I become more involved?
If you have ideas about how we can improve, we invite you to join us for a board meeting. They are on our calendar page (typically the 3rd Wed of every month). Board positions are also available. In addition, every team will need a representative (often known as a "team mom"), a scorekeeper, assistant coaches, and managers. It requires a group effort for a team to run smoothly and the girls to get THE MOST out of a season.
How are the Board Members elected?
Parents or legal guardians of players may run for office. Nominations for elected officers are made every spring. An email is sent asking for all nominees, and then an email is sent out to all player guardians for voting. When positions are open midseason, the board will approve of all new members. To see what positions are currently available, please see the "About Us, Board of Directors" section.
What are the uniform and equipment requirements?
Each player is issued a jersey and pants in the spring. For fall ball, only a jersey is provided. Players may keep these.
Each player is responsible for having a bat, helmet, glove and cleats (wear rubber cleats - baseball, softball, or soccer cleats), any additional undershirts or sleeves, or sweatshirts.
Fielding masks are highly recommended, but not required.
Batters and base runners must have their player number showing and must wear protective headgear (i.e., helmets equipped with chin strap and batting cage – 6U is only exception to the cage requirement). See our "concussion 411" page for more information about helmets.
Below is a great website to help you find a recommended bat length. It also has a list of approved ASA and USSSA bats. Anything with these stamps is fine.