News and Announcements
ALL DIVISIONS ARE REQUIRED HELP AT THE SNACK BAR. PARENTS NOT SHOWING UP WILL RESULT IN A FOREFIT OF YOUR DAUGHTER'S NEXT LEAGUE GAME. .
SPGS LEAGUE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Santa Paula Girls Softball (SPGS) is a non-profit organization staffed and supported by a team of dedicated volunteer parents. SPGS’s mission is to providing a safe and positive environment for girls to participate in Fastpitch Softball. It is our intent and desire that each player have fun while gaining knowledge of the game, each player know the importance of teamwork, commitment, hard work and each player develop a self-confidence and positive character traits.
When is the playing season for SPGS?
The spring recreational season begins with “Draft Day” in January with practices starting in February. Opening Day will be in March 3, 2018, and there are typically two games per week until the season ends. One game will be played during the week and the other game on Saturday. There may be travel dates.
When can I register my daughter(s)?
SPGS Early registration starts on November 4th and continues until the middle-end of January when “Draft Day” is conducted.
Final payments of fees are required prior to your daughter participating in the “Regular Season”. Your daughter will not receiver her uniform or play in any game until all fees are paid.
In what age division does my daughter play?
A player’s age on January 1st, 2018, determines the age classification in which the player is eligible to participate.
6U (Tee) Ages 5 and 6
8U Ages 7 and 8
10U Ages 9 and 10
12U Ages 11 and 12
14U Ages 13 thru 14
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Registration Costs: |
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“VARIES” - Please see site and flyers for more information. |
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What is included with the fees?
Included in the registration fees are: a jersey, socks, ASA registration, insurance, basic equipment and a picture package. Registration fees also help to cover costs associated with running SPGS such as umpire fees, utilities, field rental costs, field maintenance, etc.
Snack Bar
Each team & division will be required to work snack bar shift(s). SPGS will allow plenty of advanced notice for scheduling. Any team missing a snack-bar date will forfeit the next regular schedule game. Please parents, let’s all work together.
What if I need to cancel my daughter’s registration?
You may cancel your registration at any time up until teams are formed and jerseys are ordered. 75% back after the draft process and 50% back after teams are formed. No refund after jerseys orders have been placed.
Is a try-out required?
SPGS does not conduct a try-out. All board members, managers and coaches know our players and surrounding players. We will make every effort to make sure teams are balanced and fair.
My child must play for a specific coach or with a friend for carpool reasons. Will that be a problem?
SPGS cannot guarantee that a child will play on a specific team. In Divisions 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U, players are selected through a draft in an effort to keep the teams balanced.
In the (6U), parents can make their requests and preferences in writing at the time of registration. Divisional Coordinators will make an effort to accommodate those requests.
What will I have to buy before the playing season starts?
SPGS supplies basic team equipment including balls, bats, helmets and catcher’s gear. This equipment is shared with the team, but you may choose to purchase these items on your own.
You will need to provide a softball glove and cleats. Optional items are: a bat, a defensive facemask (recommended), a helmet with a faceguard, sliding shorts and/or knee guards (recommended for 8U+).
What size ball is used?
T-Ball–8U = 10” ball. 10U = 11” ball. 12U–14U = 12” ball.
When should I expect to hear from a coach?
Player drafts are held during the 4th week in January. You should expect to hear from your daughter’s coach by the first week in February.
When do practices begin?
Spring season practices begin no earlier than February 1st. Each coach will determine the day(s) of the week and location of the practices.
When are the games played?
Spring season games will be played throughout the week. Saturdays begin as early as 8:00am and as late as 5:00pm. Weekday games typically begin at 5:15pm or later.
Where are the games played?
Spring season games will be played at Harding Park, SP Big Field or the Utility Field. 8U and up will travel, please be prepared and coordinate car pooling if required.
What are my responsibilities as a parent?
We are a VOLUNTEER league and as such you can help in so many ways. Volunteer positions include Manager, Coach, Scorekeeper, Field Prep, and Team Parent. In addition, we are always looking for volunteers to help out with different committees required to keep SPGS running smoothly. If you are interested in helping out, please contact a SPGS Board Member.
What are my responsibilities at practice?
Please make sure your daughter is dressed appropriately for physical activities (no jeans, tank tops or flip-flops). They should bring all the softball equipment identified above to each practice. They should also have some form of liquid (water, Gatorade, etc.). There must be a female on site at all times. We strongly recommend that you stay and help at practices to enhance this experience, especially in the younger divisions. The drills are easy to learn and with more help, the groups are smaller and it gives the girls more opportunity to learn.
What are my responsibilities at games?
Make sure your daughter arrives on time (usually an hour prior to game time so she can warm up), and in uniform, with all her required equipment. You play a support role, so let the coaches run the games and have control over the team and allow the umpires to do their jobs. Please refrain from entering the dugouts unless requested by your coach. Our goal is to teach the girls sportsmanship skills, as well as softball skills.
Please remember: Coaches......coach, players......... play, and parents..........cheer - we all have our own roles, please stick to yours.
What are the key dates to know?
Watch on the Calendar at http://www.eteamz.com/SPGS/ for all upcoming events
This is a SPGS League FAQ & Costs Info for parents, supporters and others interested in how SPGS is run and what it costs yearly to provide.
First and foremost, Santa Paula Girls Softball is a non-profit organization. Board positions, which overlap each other, are up for renewal every 2 years, elections and voting occurs during the fall. These open volunteer postions are posted in the Santa Paula Times. SPGS has a free open-board enviroment, meaning we don't pick who we want to be on the board and keep it closed like some close by cities and leagues do. It's public election and the word volunteer is strongly emphasized. Often parents and sometimes critics of our league and don't realize the REAL amount of time that is involved and must be donated weekly as full member of the SPGS board. It’s an organization, built on the shoulders of previous board members, year after year, through the dedication of moms & dads who each put in 100+ hours throughout the year. But in the end all time and work is focused on one thing, supporting and encouraging sportsmanship for our girls of Santa Paula, through the sport of softball.
At times board personnel will be questioned why have fees increased, why do we have to sell raffle tickets or dinner/show tickets when I've already paid my registration fees? First, it should be mentioned Santa Paula Girls Softball has the lowest registration league fees in the county. We strive to make registration as affordable as we can. We try to promote early registration and encourage families to take advantage of payment plans to lock in the lower early registration costs. Other nearby cities, such as Fillmore & Camarillo have registration fees of $200 to $250 and also add a snack bar help deposit of $40 to $50 that parents are required to provide. If you fail to help with mandatory snack bar, then in those leagues your deposit is forfeited. Also, remember we do not have 250-275 players like the SP Little League does or other larger cities to absorb/lessen the costs.
Our raffle/comedy show requirement is a fundraising event which helps stipulate some of the costs that our league incurs. It allows us to keep our registrations costs as low as possible, while also having the ability to allow families to sell SPGS tickets in lieu of having to raise the full amount themselves.
Below, is an example of some the types of yearly costs that SPGS incurs, 75% of these costs are supported through registration fees & sponsor donations.
- CITY OF SP FIELD USE FEES & LIGHTING FEES (CHARGED HOURLY)
- ELECTRICAL COSTS
- RESTROOM & CLEANING COSTS
- UMPIRES FEES @ $45.00 PER GAME (10U - 14U) & $20 (8U GAMES)
- "LITTLE LEAGUE HAS VOLUNTEER UMPIRES" - SOFTBALL MUST USE ASA UMPIRES
- PLAYER UNIFORMS, TEAM PICTURES & TROPHIES/MEDALS
- FIELD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, CHALK & MISC. ITEMS
- SOFTBALLS, CATCHING EQUPMENT, TEES, TRAINING AIDS, ETC.
- PRINTING, WEBPAGE, FLYERS & FIRST AID KITS
- COST FOR COACHES/BOARD MEMBERS BACKGROUND CHECKS
- LEAGUE CLASSES, MISC. TRAINING & MANDATORY CONFERNCES
- FEES PAID YEARLY TO THE SOCAL CHAPTER OF ASA WHICH IS (COST PER GIRL)
- SNACK BAR RE-STOCKING, UPKEEPS AND REPAIRS
- ALL STARS AND TOURNAMENT FEES
- IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FOR FUTURE NEW FACILITIES (BATTING CAGE / ETC.)
SPGS encourages parent involvement, whether its lending a little extra help at the snack bar, maybe helping prep the field while your daughter is warming up for her game, or just volunteering your time. You can always ask a board member where your help might be needed. Remember, in the end we're all volunteers and parents alike and its all for our girls and softball memories they'll always cherish & remember years from now.
SPGS
