GALS announces the following dates for their Invitational Tournaments:

10U / 18U

Friday, June 1 - Sunday, June 3

 GALS Quad, Caldwell

12U / 14U / 16U

Friday, June 8 - Sunday, June 10

GALS Quad, Caldwell

Entry Fee is $225.00 - 3GG. 

For additional information and/or contact information on these tournaments see the Invitational Flyers on the Hand-Outs page of our website.

 HOMEDALE BATTLE OF THE SNAKE softball tournament will be held June 1-2 for age groups 12U & 14U.  See the Hand-Outs page for more information/flyer.  Thank you.

IDAHO YOUTH GAMES announces dates for their 2nd fastpitch softball tournament as follows:  June 15th - 17th.  See the Hand-Outs page for more information/flyer.  Thank you.

IDAHO EXPRESS SOFTBALL announces the Kuna Klassic Softball Tournament to be held June 22/23rd for 10U/12U/14U age groups.  See the Hand-Outs page for more information/flyer.  Thank you.

MCCALL will be hosting their summer softball tournament.  More information will be forthcoming soon.  Dates are set for July 27 - 29th.  Thank you. 

GALS is pleased to announce that we have been awarded the 2012 ASA JO 12U State Tournament.  Idaho ASA announces the 2012 ASA JO State Tournament locations as follows:                     

      10U - BOISE

12U - CALDWELL

14U - NAMPA

16U - LEWISTON

18U - BOISE

For information on the 2012 ASA JO 12U State Tournament, please contact GALS at caldwellgals@gmail.com or check out the State flyer/registration form on the Hand-Outs page of this website.  For additional information and/or a contact for all other age groups, please check the Idaho ASA website.

The College of Idaho announces dates for their 'Summer Softball Camp' as follows:

Monday, June 11 - Wednesday, June 13

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

More information/registration form can be found on the Hand-Outs page.  Thank you.

May 29 - Great players have the ability to "leave it on the field."  After the game, regardless of the result, move on to something else your child will enjoy.

May 22 - Maintain a "Magic Ratio" of five truthful, specific praises for every one specific, constructive criticism.  If you do, you will find out why it's called that, because children will be able to do things you wouldn't have thought posible.

May 15 - Fill your children's Emotional Tanks.  Like a car's gas tank, an empty Emotional Tank won't take us far, but when the Tank is full we can keep it running.

May 8 - To excel, your children must love the game enough to work at it.  Pressuring them to excel can sap that love.  You can nurture this love of playing by noticing and recognizing them for specific things they're doing well.

May 1 - Let your kids know that whether or not they win or lose, you will still love them and will be proud of them.  Kids see how much their parents are investing (time and money) in their sports and they worry they'll upset their parents with anything other than victory.

April 24 - It is the responsibility of players and coaches to try to win.  You have a much more important responsibility: making sure your children draw from sports the lessons that will help them become successful, contributing adults.

April 17 - When talking sports with your kids, keep it a conversation among equals.  Get them to share their thoughts with you rather than telling them what you think.

April 10 - Courage isn't the absence of fear - it's doing what is right in spite of the fear.  Encourage your children to see scary situations as opportunities to develop courage.

April 3 - Encourage your children to occassionally take risks on the athletic field.  Without this, they might always be afraid to make mistakes and won't maximize their athletic ability.

March 27 - When your child is really nervous before a game, ask her if she wants to go to the field where the game will be played and check it out ahead of time.  This will give your child a sense of control and take some unknowns off the table.

March 20 - Remember those growth charts that measured your children's height at different ages?  Create something similar each sport season, measuring their progress.

March 13 - Remember, research shows that athletes who receive positive encouragement, support and unconditional love from their parents tend to thrive.

March 6 - Ideally, children will try multiple sports.  Playing different sports is good for young minds and bodies.  Help your child manage her choices so she doesn't become overwhelmed.  Build in down time from sports to make room for other activities.  

February 28 - Have your child make a collage about a professional or college athlete that they respect.  Then have them talk you through the collage.  If you feel creative, make one too!  Then you can see how much your thoughts and your child's match.

February 21 - Help your young athlete to understand the value of a good opponent.  Good opponents bring out the best in us.  Model this attitude by talking about opponents respectfully.  Never demonize the opponent as "the enemy".

February 14 - Commit to conducting yourself by a code, which Positive Coaching Alliance calls 'Honoring the Game'.  To remember components of this code, remind yourself and your children that Honoring the Game means respecting the sport's ROOTS, where ROOTS stands for Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates, and Self.

February 7 - Let your child know you are OK with her not making a particular team.  You may be disappointed FOR her if she doesn't make it, but you WON'T be disappointed IN her.  This will take the pressure off and free her up to give her 'best effort'.   

January 31 - Talk with your child about her goals and how sports may help her achieve them.  Recognize that your goals for her sports experience may not be the same as hers.  Support her in striving to reach her goals.  If the goals are all about skills or results, remind your child that "having fun" should be at the top of the list.

January 17 - Ask your children's coaches if they have a coaching philosophy.  If not, let them know you admire coaches who strive to win, while teaching life lessons through sports.

January 10 - As soon as you know who your child's coach is going to be, introduce yourself, let him/her know you want to help your child have the best possible experience and offer to assist the coach in any way you are able (at practices or just handling paperwork or treats).  Meeting the coach early and establishing a positive relationship will make conversation easier if a problem arises during the season.

January 3 - Instead of focusing on the scoreboard, remember the ELM Tree of Mastery for Effort, Learning, and Mistakes are OK (because mistakes help us learn, but fear of mistakes helps us fail.)

December 27 - Coaching your own child can offer some of life's greatest moments, though it requires a delicate balance between coaching and parenting.  Make it clear to your child when you are in coach ' mode'.  Be sensitive to favoring or penalizing your child.

December 20 - To excel, your children must love the game enough to work at it.  Pressuring them to excel can sap that love.  You can nurture this love of playing by noticing and recognizing them for specific things thy're doing well.

December 13 - Avoid having your children specialize in one sport too early.  It can lead to burnout and overuse injuries, and perhaps worst of all, falling out of love with the sport.

May 29 - Create special roles for your bench players, especially if you coach in an environment where playing time is not equal.  Communitcate with these players frequently so they are ready to contribute when they enter the game.

May 22 - The next time you're officiating your own team's scrimmage, intentionally make a bad call.  Some of your players will react negatively.  Call timeout and remind everyone to respect officials, even when disagreeing with the call.

May 15 - Start practices in a way that signals to players that they are part of a team that has it's own way of doing things, it's own culture.  Develop an opening ritual that gets players moving.  A distinct opening ritual helps players make this transition from whatever has been going on in their day to practice.

May 8 - While your players are competing, try to limit your instruction.  It can be distracting.  Instead, use trigger words, one or two word phrases, to remind them of previous instruction.

May 1 - We define elite athletes as Triple-Impact Competitors -- they make themselves better, they make their teammates better, and they make the game better.  Reinforce the value of those second and third impacts whenever possible to build character in your athletes.

April 24 - Develop a written coaching philosophy.  Write down a few things about what you value as a coach (e.g. talent development, having fun), and then write a paragrah designed to teach parents why your philiosophy is so important to their children's education.  Share this with the parents before the season.

April 17 - Before a game against a challenging opponent, tell your athletes that "Nervous is normal" and that feeling will never go away.  Being nervous shows that you care about doing well for your teammates, so it's a good thing!  As a coach, remind them that you don't expect perfection.  All you want is their best effort.

April 10 - Ask your athletes to visualize what will happen in the game, so they can become comfortable with performing in a "clutch" situation before ever taking the field.  Either as a team or individually, have them close their eyes and guide them through this visualization right before your next competition.

April 3 - Teach DIMITT (Determination Is More Important Than Talent) to athletes to reinforce the notion that they will be as good as they are determined to be.  Tell your players that, more than anything else, it is the amount of effort they are willing to put into their sport that determines how good they can become.

March 27 - You may have to search hard for a truthful, specific praise for your weakest player, but resist the temptation to offer empty, unearned praise.  You can always find something truthful and specific that is positive about what your players do.

March 20 - Help your players establish and strive for stretch goals.  Stretch goals are just beyond a player's reach but can be achieved with effort over time.  The best stretch goals are set by the player's themselves.

March 13 - Catch players doing things right.  This is harder than it sounds.  You have to get into the frame of mind to ignore the little 'wrong' things so you can reinforce players when they do the right things.

March 6 - Keep your reserve players involved by asking them to do Positive Charting (i.e., recording their teammates' positive plays), helping identify defensive shifts, etc.  In addition to preventing those players from becoming a distraction, it will help prepare them to see the game differently when they return to action.

February 28 - Before a game ask the official if they would like to speak to your team and/or your team parents.  This show of cooperation sets the expectation of how everyone should respect the officials.    

February 21 - Implement "Positive Charting" recording positive efforts and plays during practices and games.  List all your players with space to note two or three of their specific positive acts.

February 14 - Hold a Winner's Circle after each game where teammates take turns offering each other specific, truthful praise.  You speak last and make sure to recognize any players who haven't been singled out.

  February 7 - To remind players that Mistakes are OK, institute a 'mistake ritual' such as the "no sweat" motion of wiping your brow.  Then when an athlete makes a mistake, control your disappointment and use your mistake ritual.

January 31 - Help your players establish and strive for 'stretch goals'.  Stretch goals are just beyond a player's reach, but can be achieved with effort over time.  The best stretch goals are set by the player themselves.

January 17 - One way to reinforce the value of effort is through an award following each practice or competition, such as a ball or a "Dirty Shirt" award for the players who hustle hardest.

January 10 - Use the 'Buddy' system.  Pair up your athletes during practice and challenge them to fill their buddy's emotional tank.  You can make it a competition, and they can keep score of how many positive things they say to each other.

January 3 - Redefine what it means to be a "winner" through a mastery approach to coaching.  Instead of focusing solely on the scoreboard, explain the ELM Tree of Mastery for Effort, Learning, and Mistakes are OK, because mistakes help us learn, but fear of mistakes makes us timid and helps us fail.

December 27 - Set "Effort Goals" such as running hard for contested balls, in addition to outcome goals.  In this way, over time, if players achieve the effort goals, they also will move toward achieving desired outcome goals, such as winning contested balls.

December 20 - Maintain a "Magic Ratio" of five truthful, specific praises for every one specific, constructive criticism.  It's called the Magic Ratio because when coaches get close to it, magical things happen with their players.

December 13 - Conduct a parent meeting as soon as possible after learning which players are on your team.  Use the meeting to explain your approach to coaching, learn what your athletes and parents want from their youth sports experiences and to set expectations for athlete and parent behavior in the coming season.

THE IMPACT OF COACHES

I have come to a frightening conclusion.  I am the decisive element on the field. 

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.  It is my daily mood that makes the weather. 

As a coach, I possess tremendous power to make an athlete's life miserable or joyous. 

I can be the tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.  I can humiliate or humor, hurt, or heal. 

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and an athlete humanized or de-humanized.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE GALS QUAD DOES NOT ALLOW DOGS INSIDE THE FACILITY.  WE HAVE FAR TOO MANY YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE AFRAID OF DOGS AND OTHERS WHO ARE ALLERGIC TO DOGS.  THE CITY HAS POSTED THE NO DOGS SIGN AT THE ENTRANCES.  PLEASE LEAVE YOUR DOGS (AND ANY OTHER PETS) AT HOME.

ALSO, THERE ARE NO BIKES, SKATEBOARDS, ROLLER SKATES, ROLLER BLADES, LONG BOARDS, OR SCOOTERS, ETC. ALLOWED INSIDE THE QUAD.  TOO MANY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE GETTING RUN IN TO.  YOU ARE WELCOME TO USE THE SKATE PARK AND/OR THE BMX TRACK (IF NOT IN USE) BUT THESE ITEMS MUST NOT BE INSIDE THE QUAD.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF THE GALS QUAD RULES SEE THE HAND-OUTS PAGE.   THANK YOU.  GEARLD WOLFF, GALS PRESIDENT

GALS WISHES TO THANK ALL THE YOUNG SOFTBALL PLAYERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE 2012 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - PITCH, HIT & RUN COMPETITION ON SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH.  WE HAD A GREAT TURN OUT AND WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT TIME! 

FOLLOWING ARE THE WINNERS IN EACH AGE DIVISION:

     AGE 7/8:                        ALL AROUND CHAMPION

MAKEA RODRIGUEZ - TOTAL SCORE: 543

PITCH CHAMPION

MAKEA RODRIGUEZ - SCORE: 225

HIT CHAMPION - THREE WAY TIE

MAKEA RODRIGUEZ / LEXI LOUCKS / REBECCA RODRIGUEZ - SCORE: 100

RUN CHAMPION

MAKEA RODRIGUEZ - SCORE: 218

     AGE 9/10:                    ALL AROUND CHAMPION

KATRINA VALLEJO - TOTAL SCORE: 685

PITCH CHAMPION

COURTNEY MARQUEZ - SCORE: 300

HIT CHAMPION

KATRINA VALLEJO - SCORE: 222

RUN CHAMPION

MELICAH ANDERSEN - SCORE: 405

   AGE 11/12:                    ALL AROUND CHAMPION

CASSIDY SCHILLING - TOTAL SCORE: 898

PITCH CHAMPION

GEMMA LAVERGNE - SCORE: 450

HIT CHAMPION

MADISON JACKSON - SCORE: 210

RUN CHAMPION

MADISON JACKSON - SCORE: 460

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!!!

FOLLOWING ARE  RESULTS FOR ALL THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PITCH, HIT & RUNCOMPETITION:

     AGE 7/8:  Makea Rodriguez - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/218 -- Total Score:  543

                      Lexi Loucks - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/75 -- Total Score:  325

                      Rebecca Rodriguez - Pitch/75, Hit/100, Run/84 -- Total Score:  259

     AGE 9/10:  Katrina Vallejo - Pitch/150, Hit/222, Run/313 -- Total Score:  685

                       Courtney Marquez - Pitch/300, Hit/100, Run/265 -- Total Score:  665

                       Melicah Andersen - Pitch/50, Hit/50, Run/405 -- Total Score:  505

                       Addy Doores - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/203 -- Total Score:  528

                       Ashlynn Kelsom - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/378 -- Total Score:  628

                       Brianna Youngstown - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/294 -- Total Score:  619

                       Cynthia Rodriguez - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/184 -- Total Score:  434

                       Deanna Martin - Pitch/50, Hit/100, Run/356 -- Total Score:  506

                       Grace Jackson - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/350 -- Total Score:  600

                       Holly Goslin - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/334 -- Total Score:  584

                       Hope Welch - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/222 -- Total Score:  547

                       Isabelle Pittz - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/163 -- Total Score:  413

                       Jade Martinez - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/375 -- Total Score:  625

                       Kassie Adkinson - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/325 -- Total Score:  575

                       Madison Lopez - Pitch/75, Hit/100, Run/278 -- Total Score:  453

                       Madison Myers - Pitch/50, Hit/100, Run/335 -- Total Score:  435

                       Marcelina Ojeda - Pitch/75, Hit/100, Run/265 -- Total Score:  440

                       Reese Kinney - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/230 -- Total Score:  480

                       Taylor Pelkey - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/325 -- Total Score:  650

    AGE 11/12:  Cassidy Schilling - Pitch/375, Hit/176, Run/347 -- Total Score:  898

                       Madison Jackson - Pitch/225, Hit/210, Run/460 -- Total Score:  895

                       Gemma LaVergne - Pitch/450, Hit/100, Run/306 -- Total Score:  856

                       Alexandria Grant - Pitch/75, Hit/160, Run/361 -- Total Score:  596

                       Amaya Carter - Pitch/150, Hit/144, Run/375 -- Total Score:  669

                       Anissa Godina - Pitch/375, Hit/206, Run/297 -- Total Score:  878

                       Ashley Loucks - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/316 -- Total Score:  641

                       Avery Linder - Pitch/50, Hit/100, Run/435 -- Total Score:  585

                       Berkley Urie - Pitch/75, Hit/168, Run/371 -- Total Score:  614

                       Brooklyn Killian - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/316 -- Total Score:  566

                       Courtney Weber - Pitch/150, Hit/106, Run/341 -- Total Score:  597

                       Dazsha Zamora - Pitch/50, Hit/142, Run/50 -- Total Score:  242

                       Emilee Burch - Pitch/50, Hit/100, Run/306 -- Total Score:  456

                       Isle Mora - Pitch/50, Hit/208, Run/50 -- Total Score:  308

                       Jordan Croft - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/335 -- Total Score:  585

                       Jordyn Godina - Pitch/75, Hit/142, Run/394 -- Total Score:  611

                       Josey Hall - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/275 -- Total Score:  600

                       Julia Martinez - Pitch/75, Hit/178, Run/325 -- Total Score:  578

                       Katie Murphy-Sweet - Pitch/50, Hit/100, Run/162 -- Total Score:  312

                       Kelsey Taylor - Pitch/225, Hit/100, Run/300 -- Total Score:  625

                       Kristen Morse - Pitch/50, Hit/100, Run/312 -- Total Score:  462

                       Kristina Furtado - Pitch/225, Hit/106, Run/331 -- Total Score:  662

                       Macey Wheeler - Pitch/75, Hit/148, Run/341 -- Total Score:  564

                       Maddie Crume - Pitch/75, Hit/130, Run/297 -- Total Score:  502

                       Madi Black - Pitch/375, Hit/100, Run/244 -- Total Score:  719

                       Madison Caress - Pitch/150, Hit/166, Run/347 -- Total Score:  663

                       Makaila Banister - Pitch/225, Hit/146, Run/335 -- Total Score:  706

                       Megan McIntyre - Pitch/225, Hit/166, Run/185 -- Total Score:  576

                       Paige Carter - Pitch/150, Hit/124, Run/271 -- Total Score:  545

                       Quinae Blewett - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/356 -- Total Score:  606

                       Samantha Steinhaus - Pitch/50, Hit/100, Run/247 -- Total Score:  397

                       Sarah Shambaugh - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/285 -- Total Score:  535

                       Sophie Nash - Pitch/300, Hit/130, Run/360 -- Total Score:  790

                       Stormi Sorrell - Pitch/150, Hit/100, Run/325 -- Total Score:  575 

GALS SENDS A 'VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU' TO THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO SOFTBALL PLAYERS FOR ASSISTING WITH THE MLB PITCH, HIT & RUN COMPETITION, YOUR HELP IS INVALUABLE.

GALS ALSO WISHES TO THANK ALL THE 10U/12U SOFTBALL TEAMS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE JAMBOREE.  WE HOPE THIS WAS A 'NICE BREAK' FROM YOUR USUAL PRACTICES AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE 2012 SOFTBALL SEASON.

GALS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GALS is now on Facebook.  Look for caldwell gals softball.  Tod Lane will be our administrator.  Thank you Tod.