Select Softball

"Enhancing our youth through excellence in teamwork, sportsmanship, & softball"

Thank you for your interest in having your daughter play on a "select" softball team sanctioned by FMYSA. Should you choose to try out, the commitment should not be taken lightly. This is a serious commitment of time, energy, and money for the selected players/parents. Most select teams begin practice in January, play games from February through November, play 40-80 games, play numerous tournaments both locally and remotely to include other states, play tournaments that start on Thursday evenings and may end on Monday evenings (including Sunday morning and evenings).

The number of teams FMYSA has chosen to "sanction" was based on a number of things to include the following:

Quality of the coaches requesting a teams
Current number of "sanctioned" select coaches in that age group
Field space availability
General parental/player interest, etc.

The timeline for the selection process and the method that these teams will be formed will be left to the individual head coaches. All selections must be complete by Feb 10th. This will allow those not making one of the FMYSA Sanctioned Select Teams to still have time to register for our Spring Recreation program.

Select softball is NOT an equal play program. It is a place for those who choose to play a higher level of softball. For the most part, the best players will consume the majority of the repetitions. That being said, we do encourage all coaches to provide a memorable experience and attempt to “service” each player with quality game time experience.

Should you have further interest, please contact the coach for times and locations for their tryouts.

FMYSA Select Softball

Select Team Contact Information

Please click on the team name below for updated tryout times and other information about the team of your choice, or you may email or call the coach.

Age	Level	Team	Coach / Email	Phone
10U		Texas Glory	Dennis Cook	972-410-0313
10U		Texas Glory	Kevin Janse	214-601-9750
10U		Texas Twisters	Doug Arthur	214-212-6130
12U		Texas Glory	Doug Meador	214-869-1343
12U		Texas Glory	Dan Moser	972-355-3721
12U	A	D-Bats	Keith Allen	817-491-9223
12U	B	Dallas Tigers	Greg Burchfield	972-998-8717
14U	A	American Freedom	Dina Evans	469-247-1030
14U		Texas Glory	Brian Holinsworth	972-746-1973
14U	B	Shadows	Karl Springer	214-989-0409
16U		Dallas Tigers	Sara Hernandez	830-734-2779
16U	A	Dallas Tigers	Larry Burwell	972-839-5176
16U	A	16U Texas Glory	Jack Fultz	214-557-7722
18U	A	Shadow	Curtis Mosher	214-918-7371
18U	Gold	Dallas Tigers	James Foust	214-293-5462

FMYSA Select Softball Guidelines

1. Purpose of Sanctioned Select Softball

To offer a quality, competitive, select softball program sanctioned by FMYSA and available to FMYSA softball participants.

2. FMYSA Select Program & Team Organization

The FMYSA Board of Directors is the final authority regarding sanctioned select softball matters.

The FMYSA Select Softball Committee (FMYSA-SBC) is responsible for overseeing the select softball program. Currently, that committee is comprised of the President of FMYSA, the VP of Softball and the VP of Select Softball. Contact information is available on the FMYSA website (www.fmysa.com).

FMYSA may authorize official sanctioned select softball teams for any of the following designated age classifications given sufficient interest and talent levels in each classification:

• 8 & Under
• 10 & Under
• 12 & Under
• 14 & Under
• 16 & Under
• 18 & Under

FMYSA Board of Directors may grant approval to sanction select teams in other age groups. The FMYSA-SBC will determine the number of teams sanctioned at each age group and will submit its recommendations to the FMYSA board for final approval by the end of each year.

Playing Time and Team Rosters:
FMYSA recreational rules requiring minimum playing time requirements are waived. However, all select softball team coaches are expected to abide by the following sanctioned select softball minimum participation requirements for defensive innings:

• All Leagues 50% of defensive innings and minimum 1 at-bat per game
• "B" Tournaments 50% of defensive innings and minimum 1 at-bat per game
• "A/O" Tournaments 50% of the defensive innings per tournament

Each team shall have a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 13 players. The VP of Select Softball must approve rosters carrying below 9 or above 13 players.

3. Coaches' Applications, Responsibilities & Conduct

Head coaches, assistant coaches, and all game-day coaches of sanctioned select teams are volunteer positions. Head coaches may select their own assistant coaches. There can be only one designated head coach of each team. Any person interested in coaching a select team must complete a coaching application and follow the process outlined on the FMYSA website. Coaches will be selected once a year in August for the following season, although the board may select 8U and perhaps other coaches after the fall season. The Select Softball Committee shall review applications, interview applicants, and make recommendations to the FMYSA Board of Directors.

When selecting head coaches, the Select Softball Committee and Board of Directors shall consider each of the following criteria:

• Knowledge of the game
• Ability to effectively teach SOFTBALL to age-specific players
• Coaching experience and coaching success
• Ability to communicate effectively with parents
• Amount and quality of past support provided to FMYSA
• Ability to complete NYSCA Certification and background check
• Any previous written complaints or commendations from other coaches, parents, umpires, or other league members
• Any other pertinent information regarding the individual's qualifications to serve in this capacity

In addition to coaching their respective sanctioned select teams, head coaches are required to assist the FMYSA Recreational Softball Leagues during league registration, league coaches meetings, draft evaluations, camps, clinics, tournaments, etc.

Each select team is required to create and maintain a team website. Minimum website information should include: Level of play ("B" or "A"), estimated dates for beginning and ending a season, expectation of time for practices and tournaments, and intentions to play out-of-town tournaments.

Conduct:
All head coaches are required to be members in good standing of FMYSA's approved accredited coaching certification program (i.e., NYSCA), and pass an annual background check as administered by an approved FMYSA contractor. Assistant coaches may, at the request of FMYSA, be required to pass annual background checks and/or pass certification.

All coaches, including assistant coaches, represent FMYSA at all times. They are responsible for the well being of each team member. All coaches will demonstrate proper demeanor while serving as an FMYSA representative. Failure to do so may result in probation and possible removal from the privilege of being on the field during games. The FMYSA Board of Directors reserves the right to remove any coach from the team for cause.

4. Players, Residency Rules, Player Removal

Any player, league age 7 or above, may try out for any FMYSA sanctioned select softball team. Players may play up in an age classification. Interested players should be reminded of the commitment required to participate at this level.

Selected players will make yearly commitments (Aug to Aug). Coaches should refrain from selecting players who, regardless of reason, are unable to commit to participation requirements, as well as a majority of the scheduled events. While a member of a sanctioned team, players shall not participate on any other softball team without written authorization from the sanctioned team's head coach. Players who are on any age group league-sanctioned select team roster are not eligible to participate as a guest player, or as a roster player, in any FMYSA recreational league game of any age group.

Residency Rules:
Teams sanctioned by FMYSA will adhere to the following residency requirements. All sanctioned teams must have at least the following number of players on their team who reside in Marcus or Flower Mound High School districts.

*Team playing level depends on how the team registered for national championship tournaments

Age	Classification
Group	B	A
8U	10	7
10U	8	6
12U	8	5
14U	8	5
16U	8	5
18U	8	5

*Residency is determined by school registration address.

Player Removal:
The Head Coach may remove a player from a team for cause with approval of the VP of Select Softball and/or the FMYSA Board of Directors. The head coach must consult with the VP of Select Softball before initiating removal of a player for cause.

FMYSA does NOT consider the following as causes for removing a player during a spring/summer or fall season:

• Player performance on the field
• Retooling for tournament season
• Retooling for a National Championship

FMYSA COULD consider the following as causes for removing a player during a spring/summer or fall season:

• Player's family unable to fulfill team time commitments
• Chronic behavior and/or attitude problems by the player or the player's parent(s). Such behavior problems should be documented in email to the VP of Select Softball and/or the FMYSA Board of Directors.

5. Tryouts & Recruitment

Sanctioned teams' official try-outs will be coordinated and operated, in most cases, by the respective head coach. FMYSA will provide each team with equitable field time to conduct tryouts. Coaches may rent facilities or fields on their own for team tryouts if needed beyond league-issued fields or in case of bad weather. Coaches will hold try-outs in an attempt to give all participants a fair and equal opportunity to make the team. Newly formed sanctioned teams are required to hold open tryouts. Returning teams may conduct open tryouts depending on needs. Players from the previous season are not guaranteed positions and may be asked to try out like any other player.

RECRUITMENT PROTOCOL between FMYSA sanctioned teams is as follows:

• "A" registered team coaches may initiate contact with "B" or Rec Players/Parents
• "B" registered team coaches may initiate contact with Rec Players/Parents
• No horizontal recruiting, i.e., "A" recruiting from other "A" teams within FMYSA select teams.

During the softball season, head coaches are allowed to add players as needed to the team. If the player being added to a team is on the roster of another FMYSA select or recreation softball team, the VP of Select Softball and both head coaches must be in agreement to add the player prior to the player practicing or playing with the new team.

Final rosters shall be announced prior to in-person league registration. This policy allows players not selected for "Sanctioned" teams to be able to participate in recreation softball. In the event of conflicting schedules, the league will make exception for those wanting to sign up for recreational league.

6. Guest Players

The spirit of the Guest Player rule is intended to allow short-handed teams the temporary use of other players, normally for league play. It is not intended to exclude regular team members in favor of more highly skilled players. Guest players may only be used when a team is missing players from its beginning of spring or fall season rosters. When the missing player returns, the guest player must relinquish his spot on the team with exception: A guest player may be used for state and national tournaments, even if the missing player returns, if the guest player played in the qualifying tournament. Be careful in tournaments: Incorrect roster moves could jeopardize the guest player's or your team's eligibility for future tournaments.

7. Fees

A membership fee will be assessed to all select players before each spring and fall season by FMYSA. The membership fee will include expenses such as field usage fees, insurance, background checks, administration cost and web support. The annual membership fees will be determined and announced by the FMYSA Board of Directors before each spring season. Registration can be done online through www.fmysa.com, or during In-Person Registration date posted on the website.

Players/parents also are responsible for costs of all uniforms, league fees, tournaments fee, gate fees, registration fees, and field usage fees above and beyond what FMYSA furnishes for practice and games.

8. Fundraising, Refunds, Records Inspection

Teams may seek private sponsorships for select softball teams and solicit existing FMYSA sponsors. A list of FMYSA sponsors is available on the FMYSA website.

In the event a player quits or is dismissed (for cause) from a team, the player or the player's parent(s) are eligible for a pro-rated refund for any parental contribution, less uniform and other fees, if the termination occurs on or before Memorial Day Weekend for the spring season, or October 15 for the fall season. Coaches are expected to "do the right thing" in these situations.

A team's accounts, books and records shall be open to inspection by team members/parents and FMYSA board. Coaches should provide such information upon request. Head coaches are solely responsible for all financial aspects of their sanctioned select softball team. These fiduciary duties, whether performed by the head coach or a designee, should include: accurate bookkeeping, paying of bills, fund raising and reporting as required. Coaches are required to share bookkeeping with parents or FMYSA upon request.

9. Equipment, Uniforms & Team Names

Select teams fund their own uniforms and equipment. However, any equipment or uniforms supplied by FMYSA shall remain the property of FMYSA. Aside from damage incurred from normal wear, parents will assume financial responsibility for all damage or losses suffered while the property/uniforms were issued to them.

Team colors, team name, uniform fees and uniform selection are the responsibility of the select team coaches. For new teams, the VP of Select Softball must be notified of and approve team names prior to uniform orders. FMYSA may require affiliation patches on a required spot on game jerseys. If such uniform patches are required, FMYSA will provide such patches to all sanctioned select teams. Select teams have the discretion to affix sponsor names and logos to team-funded uniforms with approval from the VP of Select Softball and/or the FMYSA Board of Directors.

Teams are encouraged, but not required, to register in local and state tournaments using the name "Flower Mound" before the team name to further brand the quality of softball played in the community.

No team other than the designated "Flower Mound Rage" shall utilize the "Flower Mound Rage" name.

10. Agreement

All participants/parents chosen for a sanctioned team shall register and pay a registration fee through FMYSA prior to the first game of the year. This normally is done through online or in-person registration.

Any player selected to play for the sanctioned select softball for a TEAM shall make a commitment of one full season to the team and coach.

11. Grievances

Handling of questions, concerns and problems should be handled first on a team level. The FMYSA Board encourages the player to approach the head coach to insure interaction and attempt a resolution. If resolution cannot be agreed upon then, the parent is encouraged to reach out to the VP of Select Softball to discuss the issue. However, if there is no agreed resolution, and the parent feels a league rule was violated, the parent may file a written grievance with the league using the grievance process on the FMYSA website.

It is not the intent of the grievance process to manage or address day-to-day handling of teams, practice routine, lineups, playing positions, etc., assuming such items comply with the Select Softball Guidelines. These types of issues are a coach's decision and must be handled between the coach, player and/or parent(s).

12. Amendments

These guidelines may be amended by majority vote of the FMYSA Executive Board of Directors at any general membership meeting provided that meeting notice contains the proposal that the sanctioned select softball guidelines will be amended. These guidelines are subject to the review and approval of the Flower Mound Youth Sports Association Executive Board.

Download Printable Select Softball Guidelines

Select Softball Guidelines (PDF)