Monroe Sports Association: FAQs

Monroe Sports Association Info

mail to:  PO Box 183, Monroe OH, 45050
check payable to: MSA (Monroe Sports Association)
***DO NOT mail registration form after registration deadline, registration may be declined

Is my child guaranteed a spot on a team if he/she is signed up by the registration deadline?

Yes. Exception - if we don't have enough players to make up 1 team for 1 division, but we will do everything we can to get them on a team but it might not be an all Monroe team.

We do not live in Monroe city limits nor does our child attend Monroe Schools, can my child sign up?

Yes. Monroe Sports Association is a recreational league that is not boundary based, nor ran by city, nor ran by school system.
Exception - if your child played in another organization that is a member of a larger affiliation that Monroe is also affiliated with, then a LOR(Letter of Release) may be required. Example girls play in SOGFSA and boys current play in Cal Ripken, SOGFSA requires that Monroe contact the previous organization and obtain a LOR.

We encourage our coaches to call players within the following week of draft (this prevents calls/questions to the organization).
draft is middle to end of Febuary

Maybe. We are bound by rules by leagues associated with as to how far into the season we can add players. Sometimes a division is closed on the registration deadline, due to too many on each team and there wasn't enough players to create another team. We have set a roster max of 13, some divisions have lower max numbers. Having too many on a team is not good for players and/or coach because each child needs the playing time.

Waiting List:
If a division is closed you may fill out the waiting list.
We will contact you in the order the entry was received for that division:
if a spot becomes available
OR
if there are enough entries(or close to a workable number) to form another team

Registration Timing:

• Inperson registration dates are in January.
  **** Online registration is normally up by 1^st of Janurary.

To know when registration is taking place, look for:

• Here...the website


• flyer through school, in your childs daily papers


• blurb in "Community Roundup" section of Middletown Journal or Pulse Journal


• flyers at local businesses


• Sign in front of park.


• PLEASE READ-We reserve the right to change dates, our numbers are growing so we are having to start organizing the season earlier, so signup deadline might be earlier than they were the previous season.
  

Boys - eligibility is based on what league we have decided to join. The current(2012) age cutoff is May 1st. see Age Placement table below.

Girls - eligibility is based on SOGFSA(in which falls under USSSA) rules, which is January 1st of the year the season is being played. see Age Placement table below.

Can my child play "up" a league? - We discourage playing up due to either danger factors or not being fair to other kids on team.

Age placement table
Gender	Division	Age
Boys - Birthday cutoff May 1    (whatever there age is on May 1 of current year)
	T-Ball	5-6
	Coach Pitch	7-8
	C-League	9-10
	B-League	11-12
	A-League	13-15
Girls - Birthday cutoff Jan. 1 , must be 5 by Jan. 1    (whatever there age is on Jan. 1 of current year)
	T-Ball	5-6
	U8	8 under
	U10	10 under
	U12	12 under
	U14	14 under
	HS	16 under

Practices:
Based on draft being in the middle to end of Febuary, practice starts in the month of March(depending on weather and coach). Opening Day is usually the first Saturday in May, with the EXCEPTION of odd years when the first Saturday is May 6 or 7, the opening day might be moved to the last Saturday in April in order to complete game schedule before July 4th weekend. 

Regular Season:
Boys - Normally goes from 1st Saturday in May until July 4th. Depending on age/division and league associated with, games will start on opening day. Sometimes the regular season games could start the week before our Opening Day.

Girls - Normally goes from 1st Saturday in May until 3rd Saturday in June. Divisions(teams) that are playing in SOGFSA league, have team optional pre and post season tournament which is held middle of April and last Saturday in June respectively.

***NOTE - not every communities Opening Day is the same weekend. Some communities don't have a designated Opening Day. 

Does Spring Soccer Conflict with Baseball/Softball?

MSA(Monroe Sports Association) does not guarantee that baseball/softball will not conflict with spring soccer. 

Coaches determine when the team, you are drafted to, will practice. Most all divisions are blind drafted.

Boys normally play through the week and use weekends for rain makeups.
Girls could play any day because all divisions play outside of Monroe, so we have to fit other organizations tight field schedules. 

Reading the above section (When do practices start...), you will need to make the decision whether to try your child doing both.

How does a blind draft work?

Blind draft based on age and experience for each division, thus ensuring for even teams. Divisions are separated by age and experience groups, each group is then distributed (usually coach selecting an folded registration form or computerized) to each coach.

No. Exception t-ball division in which you can request your child play with another child because it helps them to be more comfortable with the new baseball/softball experience.

Yes. However, we would like to know the reason why. Please submit this in writing.

Can I withdrawal my child?

Yes. Before games start you can get a refund minus $25 fee. No refunds after games start.

My child is new to playing baseball/softball.

What do they need?

• Shoes - either tennis shoes or cleats, cleats would benefit them. You can pick up used shoes at a used sporting goods shop (especially the small shoes) ie: Play It Again Sports.
• Glove - Any type will will do. Ensure that it is not too big or small for your child to handle the appropriate ball they will be playing with.
  Ensure you write your childs full name on the glove.
• Bat - It is not require for your child to have a bat. MSA provides coaches with different length/weighted bats.
  ADVICE from coaches: If your planning on buying a bat, please wait until after practice has started and your child tries different sizes. Just being able to swing a bat in the store is alot different in real play and having the wrong size bat could encourage bad habits.
  Ensure you write your childs name on the ball.
• Ball - It is not required for your child to have a ball. If your buying a ball, please buy the ball they will be playing with during.
  Ensure you write your childs name on the ball.
• Pants/Shorts -
  Boys - pants are not provided. Wait until after first team meeting to buy pants b/c some teams might decide to go with another color/style other than just white.
  Girls - shorts may be provided by MSA with uniforms, however some teams are opting for pants. If shorts arent provided by MSA please wait until first team meeting in case the team decides to go with different color/style.
• Shirt - are provided when signing up.

How much time is required?

• How often they practice? - Before games start, usually 2-3times per week, depending on coach. After games start, usually 1-2times per week.
• When are the games? - Games can be any day of the week.
  Boys - if the division is all in-house, games are scheduled during week leaving Saturdays open for makeups. 
  Girls - can be any day of week. Some communities cannot use fields during week, so weekends are used.
• When are the practices? - During week starting at 5:30pm or 6:30pm, weekends are open. Remember, most of the coaches are full time workers/parents also so they will work it out.

How can I help my child?

• Plan 5 minutes a day to just throw the ball with them. Even without a glove and a tennis ball increases the hand-eye coordination. 5 minutes will be 5 minutes one day and 30 minutes the next, but if you plan to do the 5 minutes everyday this will increase their skill. 
• Watch the practice and see what skill your child is weak. Then work on that skill with them in your "Plan 5 minutes".
• Ask the coach what they think your child needs to work on.