Fairfield County Fastpitch Softball League: My Site News

Remember, you have to register your team to play. Here are the teams registered in the CT USSSA as of this Monday:

1. Register your team with the CT USSSA. Contact David (see the news story further down the front page). Insure your team/players and have proof of insurance with you at all games.

2. Pay your $100 deposit to the host tournament town for your age group (again, read more below).The names of paid teams will be posted to this webpage.

3. Enter your scheduled games into this website (see how to schedule games by reading the news story below). Failure to do so means your are not playing in the year-end tournament.

4. Create/update your team page. You must have an ID/password to do so. This info has been sent to you. If you have forgotten it, contact me and I will re-send.

5. On the front page of your eteamz team website, list your roster (first names and uniform number only!)

6. In order for your players to be eligible for the FCFSL tournament, they must appear on your website, have played regular season FCFSL games (as evidenced by your scorebook), and be listed as a registered CT USSSA player. 

1. Login with your ID for first time users (or email addresses for old pros) and password.

2. Click "calendar" in the left-hand menu.

3. Click "games."

4. Find and click on your age group (10u, 12u, 14u, 16u)

5. Once inside your age group site, make sure you see a red tab that says "FCFSL (e.g., 10u) 2011." Right underneath this tab, click "add game."

6. Here are the items you must enter after clicking "add game:" a) select home and away teams; b) game date; c) game time; d) game location; e) under display options at the bottom, make sure that all options are clicked "yes," including "display on home page;" f) at the very bottom of the page, click "add game" when you have entered all of the above info.

7. Repeat ad infinitum...

10u = 9 games

12u = 10 games

14u = 9 games (revised)

16u = 5 games (revised)

To meet the minimum, you must 1) play different teams; a second game against the same team will not count towards the minimum; 2) schedule the game on the website and post the score – a game played and not scored does not count as a game played.

Listed below are the teams that paid their deposit to the host towns. By making the deposit, these teams have solidifed their intent to commit to, and play the games they have scheduled. Teams that have not made this deposit have not made this commitiment to their schedule. This site will be updated as host towns receive deposit checks and report them to the FCFSL.

10u: CT Seahawks, Westport, Xtreme Chaos, Newtown, Monroe (Host town: Wilton)

12u: Brewster Rockets, Wilton, Newtown, Fairfield Fury White (Host town: Southbury)

14u: Newtown, New Milford, Fairfield Light, Trumbull Seahawks, Stamford Storm (Host town: Bethel)

16u: Norwalk (Host town: Ridgefield Rebels)

The 2012 scheduling meeting is TONIGHT - Monday, April 2nd at 7pm in the School Hall at St. Philip Church, Norwalk, CT (click on the headline for directions).

If you plan on fielding a team in 2012, you or a representative of your team MUST be in attendance to schedule games. Feel free to contact teams ahead of time to schedule games, but only schedule games if you are sure that you have a team!

Go to the Handouts section and take a copy of all FCFSL contacts so that you have a list of teams to schedule.

Listed below are the teams that paid their deposit to the host towns. By making the deposit, these teams have solidifed their intent to commit to, and play the games they have scheduled. Teams that have not made this deposit have not made this commitiment to their schedule.

10u: Newtown, Monroe (Host town: Wilton)

12u: Brewster Rockets, Wilton, Newtown, Fairfield Fury White (Host town: Southbury)

14u: Newtown, New Milford, Fairfield Light (Host town: Bethel)

16u: Norwalk (Host town: Ridgefield Rebels)

Based on your feedback from the survey, here is what the FCFSL has out in place for 2012:

1) Each team pays $100 to the host tournament town in their age group before the scheduling meeting (April 2).

10u Host (Wilton): "WBSA" or "Wilton Baseball Softball Association." Mail checks to: Pam Nessel, 3 Cora Lane, Wilton, CT 06897

12u Host (Southbury): “SGS.” Mail checks to Southbury Girls Softball, PO Box 162, Southbury, CT 06488.

14u Host (Bethel): “BSA” or Bethel Softball Association. Mail checks to: Mike Garcia, 24 Green Pasture Rd., Bethel, CT 06801

16u Host (Ridgefield): “Ridgefield Rebels Softball.” Mail checks to Cary J. Nadel, 524 Bennetts Farm Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877

2) The host tournament town alerts the FCFSL that the fee has been paid.

3) The FCFSL posts “paid” team names to the website.

4) Teams can schedule both “paid” and “non-paid” (at their own risk) teams/games. No new teams will be allowed to join and schedule games in the FCFSL after June 1st.

5) The season starts and all teams are required to re-confirm games prior to 72 hours before game time. At this time, teams must provide advance warning of any “dire situation” that they know of or anticipate (e.g., fields are not draining water well, several players injured/ill). There is a grace period if this dire situation gets worse and the game must be canceled – in other words, you can cancel 24 hours before a game, but not any less warning than that.

6) If a team is a no-show, or cancels the day of the game (for reasons other than active weather), the penalty kicks in following this step: The team who was “canceled on” sends an email to the FCFSL, the host tournament town, and the canceling team, notifying the request for compensation. All details are provided.

7) Once approved by the FCFSL, the host tournament town credits the “canceled on” team by $50, taking the money from the “canceling” team. This reduces the “canceled on” team’s year-end tournament payment by $50. A second instance by the same canceling team results in an additional transfer by the host tournament town for the remaining $50.

8) A notice is posted to the FCFSL website that this transfer has taken place. Serial offenders will be noted as such. The FCFSL will contact the serial offender about further action.

9) The “canceled on” team gains a win by forfeit. However, in the spirit of sportsmanship and what is good for the girls, the FCFSL strongly encourages teams to replay the game. If the game is replayed, the outcome on the field takes precedent over the forfeit result.

I want to first express my sincere appreciation on behalf of USSSA for putting your confidence in us. We will work hard to provide your league and teams the best possible service and offer your players the most opportunities possible.  So here is the information all teams need to know. First everything you will need to know about USSSA Fastpitch in CT is found at our website at http://www.ctusssafastpitch.com/

Team Registration
The online process to register is very easy. We are offering all teams a discount on team registration. However this only applies if we register your teams for you. USSSA does not allow us to discount the national process which is online and credit card only. That process is only $30. To create and ID and a team go to this link: http://www.usssa.com/sports/ISTSLogin.asp?Sport=16. If you want us to register your team we can do this for $20 per team. I am attaching a spreadsheet. Just fill in the mandatory fields, email me the file and mail a check to CT USSSA to the address below by name at the bottom of this email. I will also be at Scheduling Day, April 2, and you can register your team with me and pay there as well.

Once your team is registered you will get an automated email from USSSA with your ID. Then you can log-in and enter your roster into the system. There you can also enter any  tournaments as well.

Tournaments
As I explained to all teams when I met with you, the majority of your teams would be considered "C" teams in USSSA. Some of your teams may be considered B teams. One thing to know is if you classify yourself as a B you cannot play in a C tournament. However, is you classify yourself as C you can play in C, B, A or Open tournaments. You can see the definitions of A, B and C at  http://www.ctusssafastpitch.com/teams/team-classification/  If you have registered as a B team and want to change your classification please email me. C teams are classified as follows.

Class C: Any team that typically only plays in a local league, a town league, an all star team from a local league or a team that might only play in one or two tournaments a year.  A "C" team is also any team considered to be an entry level or new travel team and lacks the experience and number of skilled players and pitchers to compete on a National or State levels with the higher skilled Class “A and B” teams. If you're a newly formed team that plans on playing in a number of competitive tournaments or an existing team that consistently finishes in the middle or at the bottom of the pack in most tournaments, then you are a "C" team.

State Championships - USSSA has CT State Championships for all levels this summer.  Open (A, B, C (not suggested for C) and C Championships. Here is what is available still for the state championships. To see a full list of tournaments, Click Here. <http://www.usssa.com/sports/FindTourn2.asp?optSelection=2&WTD=Tournament&ParkID=0&ClassID=1000&ClassID=1081&ClassID=1015&ClassID=1016&ClassID=1051&ClassID=1058&ClassID=1083&ClassID=1020&ClassID=1021&ClassID=1052&ClassID=1059&ClassID=1084&ClassID=1085&ClassID=1060&ClassID=1093&ClassID=1025&ClassID=1026&ClassID=1054&ClassID=1061&ClassID=1086&ClassID=1087&ClassID=1062&ClassID=1094&ClassID=1030&ClassID=1031&ClassID=1056&ClassID=1063&ClassID=1088&ClassID=1092&ClassID=1064&ClassID=1082&ClassID=1089&ClassID=1096&State=6&StatureID=0&TypeID=0&SeasonID=16&BeginDate=9/24/2011&EndDate=>

6/16-17 - 12U Open Championships - full availability -  cost is $550
6/16-17 -  C Championships for 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U -  full availability - cost is $395
6/23-24 - 14U Open Championships - 8 slots available - cost is $550

"C" Summer Ender Tournament
CT USSSA is offering a season ending C tournament  Aug 4-5. Cost is $395.

OPEN Tournaments
There is still availability in many OPEN class tournaments between April and August .

Insurance
USSSA has a variety of insurance options for your teams. You are not obligated to buy USSSA insurance to play in a USSSA tournament. However USSSA insurance offers better coverage. They also offer lower costs. USSSA offers half year policies which save you significant money. This insurance can be used for your league play, and USSSA, PONY, ASA or other tournaments. You can buy your insurance online at http://www.usssa.com/sports/insurance.asp

FCFSL Scheduling Day
I will be on hand at your April 2 scheduling day to answer any questions, sign you up for any tournaments or register your teams.

USSSA World Series
USSSA offers a variety of national tournaments called USSSA World Series. There are a multiple World Series in Ocean City/Salisbury Maryland.

10U -18U "C" World Series July 18-22
10U-12U Open World Series July 18-22
14U-18U Open July 23-29
http://www.usssa1.com/

There are also A and B World Series at  ESPN Wide World of Sports in Disney World.
10UA, 10UB, 11U Open, 12UA, 12UB, 13U Open, 14UA, 14UB, World Series July 28 - Aug. 4
16UA, 16UB, 18UA, 18UB, World Series July 21-28
http://usssaroadtoorlando.com/

You can see all the world series locations at http://www.ctusssafastpitch.com/tournaments/

Once again welcome to USSSA and please contact me with any question.

rgds,

David Rocha
CT State Director USSSA Fastpitch
david.rocha@usssa.com
www.ctusssafastpitch.com <http://www.ctusssafastpitch.com>
PO Box 1192
Simsbury, CT 06070
860-658-6329 Office
860-883-3729 Cell

Nearly 40 FCFSL coaches voted in the recent survey and here are the two key outcomes: 1) The Brewster Rockets 12u team is part of the FCFSL and 2) the registration process will be through the CT USSSA! http://www.ctusssafastpitch.com/ More detail to follow on this site!

The website, http://www.ctusssafastpitch.com/ has comprehensive information about the benefits of USSSA. USSSA has already swept through CT last season and this season is even stronger. USSSA already offers more and better tournaments than any other organization in the state. Many FCFSL teams have already played in USSSA tournaments last year at the 7-field complex in East Hartford and in the indoor events at Fastpitch Nation.

Sanctioning with USSSA
So why sanction your league USSSA? USSSA is the world's largest multi-sport sanctioning organization with over 3.2 million total members. Fastpitch alone has more than 255,000 players across 15,000 teams sanctioned nationwide from California to New York and all points in between. Of all the sports that USSSA sanctions, Fastpitch ranks 3rd behind only Baseball and Slow Pitch Softball for the most teams. But Fastpitch is the fastest growing sport in USSSA. Moreover, USSSA has demonstrated its commitment to Fastpitch last season when it purchased the Washington Glory of the National Pro Fastpitch League and renamed them the USSSA Pride <http://www.usssapride.com/> , featuring players such as Jessica Mendoza, Natasha Watley and Cat Osterman. But USSSA offers team so much more!

See this URL for details: http://www.ctusssafastpitch.com/why-play-usssa/  Sanctioning your league with USSSA.

League and Team Insurance and Fees
USSSA provides comprehensive team and league insurance. You are also free to buy your insurance through whatever carrier you use today if you prefer. Registration for your league is just $25/team.

Northern CT Girls Softball League is now with USSSA
The two largest fastpitch  leagues in CT are the FCFSL and the NCGSL. This year the NCGSL has voted to switch to USSSA for all the reasons stated above but also they said they wanted to be with a forward thinking organization and one that is taking fastpitch in a better direction in the state.

State Championships and Tournaments for USSSA "C" teams as well as World Series

My additional and most important desire is to partner with your league as I have done with NCGSL to really develop the C level program in CT. In USSSA softball teams are broken down as A, B and C. A are the elite teams. B are the majority travel teams that populate the regular tournaments and C are what the majority of your teams are. These are the entry level or town based teams. These are the teams yearning for all the tournament experiences including a national tournament but to date can only play in the events with the A and B teams with little hope of success.  These players deserve better and USSSA provides it. This season I have committed to the C program and am running a USSSA "C" State Championship at my outdoor complex in East Hartford for all age groups June 16-17. This will be the first ever tournament in CT for teams like most of yours in which they can compete with team of equal caliber on a state level. I hope to draw from your league, the NCGSL and from other areas such as Little League all-star teams to build the C program in the state. I have also created a C tournament Aug 4-5 in East Hartford. There are more than 30 OPEN tournaments for all classes available now. Next season I want to add additional C tournaments in different parts of CT to give all these teams more options. I already have something in the works in New London, and in West Hartford on top of the C State Championships I will run in East Hartford. We'd also love to do one in Fairfield County. Moreover, any C team wishing to participate in the C World Series in Ocean City Maryland this year will have an open invitation with no berth requirements. USSSA wants you to experience the incredible offerings the USSSA has at both the local and National levels.

David Rocha

CT State Director USSSA Fastpitch

david.rocha@usssa.com

www.ctusssafastpitch.com

860-658-6329 Office

860-883-3729 Cell

The FCFSL will hold its Annual Meeting, January 30th at 7pm! The meeting will be held in the Youth Activity Center at St. Philip Church in Norwalk, CT. The meeting will last about one hour. We will discuss the 2012 season, rules, new teams, schedules, expectations, and tournament dates.

There are three specific items that need your attention:

1) Should the rostering process remain under the current PONY guidelines or should we switch to USSSA?

2) The Brewster Rockets 12u team has requested entry to the FCFSL. As you know, all non-Fairfield County-based teams must be voted in by the majority of teams within that age bracket (12u).

3) In order to curtail the instances where some teams have scheduled games but do not play them, I offer this proposal:that in order to schedule games, each team must first pay their FCFSL tournament fee to the host town. Once it is received, we post the team name to the website which releases them to schedule games. This should mean that only "committed" teams would be scheduling games.

If you need directions, go to "locations" and click on the St. Philip link or click this headline link.

In case of bad weather on the day of the meeting, check with this website for a cancellation notice before you leave!

Any questions? Please email NAASoftball@aol.com

You have voted and here are the results!

In 10u, the 4th outfielder had been disallowed. Each team must play with the standard 9 defensive players. However, all teams have the option of batting the entire roster.

10u/12u/14u: Tournaments for these age groups will be strictly "A" / "B" affairs from Day 1 of the tournament. "A" / "B" seeding will be based on your regular schedule. Keep this in mind: If you have scheduled only "B" teams in the regular season and you end up with a great won-loss record, your reward will be to play in the "A" tournament. Moral of the story: PLAY BOTH "A" AND "B" TEAMS IN THE REGULAR SEASON!

The 16u tournament is not "A" / "B". All teams play each other.

And to repeat what you MUST DO NOW:

Contact Information: Check the handout section for the current listing. Information in red has been copied from last year, but not confirmed for 2011.

Post your roster on your team's FCFSL home page: Only first names and uniform numbers are required. This needs to match your PONY roster as well as the players that you use in all FCFSL games & tournaments. Submit your official team roster to the FCFSL tournament town organization by July 1st. This will be your FCFSL tournament roster. If you are not playing in the FCFSL tournament, let the host know.

Post Game Schedule: Each team must post their own accurate game schedule to the FCFSL website. This information will be used to help schedule the FCFSL tournaments. If the schedule is not posted, the game cannot be scored, and you will not qualify for the FCFSL tournament.

Post Game Scores: Post an accurate game score on the website. This information will be used to help schedule the FCFSL tournaments. Scores should be posted within 48 hours of completion of the game.

Game Responsibilities: The home team reserves and prepares the field and pays for the “patched” umpire. The visiting team brings two new leather fastpitch softballs to the game. Both managers confirm game details one week prior to the game date. Use the schedule program within the website to convey directions, GPS addresses, game dates and times.

There are new PONY rules in 2011, so read the rulebook! As in the past, we will also incorporate the Extra Hitter rule. You may choose to use an EH or not, but you must allow the other team to do so if they wish.

10u Modified Rules: Third Base is “Gated.” Runs can only be scored on hits, errors, or bases loaded scenarios where there is a Walk, HBP, catcher’s interference, etc. Runs cannot score on stolen bases, passed balls, delayed steals, or over-throws back to the pitcher.

Minimum # of Games to Participate in FCFSL Tournament: 10u = 7, 12u = 9, 14u = 6, 16u = 6. These games must be played against different teams.

Tournament Dates: The 14u and 16U tournaments are on the weekend of 7/28-31. The 10u and 12u tournaments are held during the weekend of 7/21-24.

All Teams: Pitchers & Corner Infielders (P, 1B, 3B) must wear facemasks. No exceptions.

Pitching Distance: High School pitching distance is 43 feet. As a result, the 16u and 14u teams will pitch from this distance.

PONY & Insurance: All participating FCFSL teams must be PONY registered and insured. No exceptions. Bring proof of both to every game and tournament. On your insurance, please list the Fairfield County Fastpitch Softball League as an “additional insured.” The address is 9 Cliffview Drive, Norwalk, CT 06850. The description is “The Fairfield County Fastpitch Softball League is an additional insured, but only with respect to liability arising out of operations of the named insured. All policy terms and conditions apply.”