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Northern Virginia Girls' Softball Association |
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Welcome to
Northern Virginia Girls Softball Association!!
"In the Spirit of Sportsmanship"
We are a non-profit, volunteer organization that is devoted exclusively to Fastpitch Softball for girls! We are proud of our girls!! We all have fun as they learn skills and develop respect, teamwork, and leadership as our motto signifies. NVGSA offers both House League and Select levels of play for girls ages 5 to 18. For details on our house development league, see our Frequently Asked Questions and Why NVGSA sections below.
Monday, March 1
Annual General Membership / Parent Orientation Meeting - Tue. 3/16
The Northern Virginia Girls' Softball Association (NVGSA) will hold its Annual General Membership / Parent Orientation meeting on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:15 PM at the George Mason Regional Library (7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003).
The league considers this a MANDATORY event for new parents and coaches and encourages returning parents to attend each year.
During the meeting, we will conduct a brief discussion concerning the League's organization, goals and expectations for coaches, players and parents, general information regarding upcoming season. This is your opportunity as parents to find out how NVGSA "works" and to raise any questions you may have.
The meeting will last about 45 minutes. After a five minute break, our plan is to hold our monthly Board of Directors meeting. This meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to stick around and observe/participant.
Send an email to NVGSAsoftball@yahoo.com if you have questions.
Sunday, March 14
NVGSA Coaches Clinic - Thu. March 18 - 6:30 PM
Suzy Willemssen, the head softball coach at Episcopal High School, the Head Coach for the 16U Glory Gold Select team and the head of softball development at VA Baseball Club, will conduct a Coaches Clinic at Lane Elementary School on Thursday, March 18th, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. The clinic will focus on practice organization and skills development techniques.
While all head coaches and assistant coaches should attend, this clinic is open to all those interested.
Lane Elementary School is located 7137 Beulah Street, Alexandria, VA 22315.
Monday, March 8
NVGSA 2010 *LATE* Registration
Spring registration is closed but we are taking *late* registrations at some levels. Send an email to NVGSAsoftball@yahoo.com to inquire whether space is available.
Levels:
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8u 5-8 year olds (Coach Pitch)
10u 9-10 year olds
12u 11-12 year olds
18u 13-18 year olds
Divisions:
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East - for families that live near Franconia / Lee District / Telegraph Road / Springfield (east of I-95)
West - for families that live near Burke / Fairfax / Fairfax Station / Annandale / Springfield (west of I-95)
View the Informational Flyer: MS Word | PDF
Email: NVGSAsoftball@yahoo.com
Monday, December 28
Important Dates
Spring 2010 Calendar
- Registartion January 1 - March 1
- March (2nd week), teams formed
- Mid/Late March, pre-season practices start
- April 17 Saturday, Opening Day
- Late April, Picture Day
- Late May, Regular Season ends
- Late May, Post-Season Tournaments begin
- June 12 Saturday, NVGSA All-Star Game
- June 19-20 Sat/Sun, FCGSL County All-Star Tournament
Dates subject to change
Monday, March 9
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Thursday, February 19
Why NVGSA? - What to look for in a softball organization.
Where is the organization's main focus?
Do they have enough players to have multiple teams at each age level?
What are their age groupings?
Do they offer developmental and select play?
What developmental offerings are there after the spring season?
Are there any hidden costs?
Do they have family discounts?
Are their fields close by?
What memories do they offer?
What other things do they do for the community?
NVGSA Answers Those Questions as follows:
NVGSA focuses 100% on girls' softball
NVGSA does not divert fees to prop up other boys and girls sports. 100% of our effort and your fees are dedicated to softball. Thus, your daughter learns and progresses at the fastest rate possible, while having the maximum amount of fun :)
NVGSA has over 275 girls
While other leagues struggle to put together 2 teams in each of their age groups, NVGSA averages over 5 teams in each age group.
House development age groups 5-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-18
Why is age grouping important? Because not all children develop physically and emotionally at the same pace. By keeping the age groupings small. it allows girls of the same age and skill level to compete on a more even scale. This allows them to develop athletically and emotionally at a faster rate than organizations that throw 8 year olds in with 13 year olds. Our 5-8 year olds (8u) hit coach pitch. This allows the hitters to develop hand eye coordination at a faster pace than tee-ball leagues. Our 9-10 (10u) year olds begin to pitch. This allows the hitters to get accustom to a player pitching at an earlier age, while our pitchers begin to develop at an earlier age. Our 11-12 (12u) year old girls play 100% fast pitch softball. We even offer competitive fast pitch softball for girls 13-18 (18u), which many leagues do not offer! Although we recommend the girls playing in their own age level in the spring (age level based on age as of Jan. 1st), we do permit the more experienced girls to play up at the next level.
Developmental house and Select (tournament) teams
NVGSA offers two levels of play. The house development league teaches softball skills and provides a field of play for girls from novice to intermediate softball skills. Our select teams offer a forum for girls with a more competitive drive. Our select teams are a separately run organization and do not draw funds from the house development league. We have 2 levels of select teams with teams in the 10u, 12u, 14u, 16u, and 18u age groups. Our 'A' level 'Firebirds' are nationally competative and travel out of state. Our 'B' level Dimensions offer a competative level of play while playing in local tournaments.
Softball offerings all year long
NVGSA does not shut down after the spring! In the fall, when other softball organizations are dormant, NVGSA gears up again for a full fall season, with emphasis on developing skills. During the spring and fall seasons we have batting cage facilities in both our east and west divisions to enhance their batting skills. All year long our resident pitching coach, Don Maley, offers FREE pitching clinics, including indoors during the winter. During the winter, NVGSA's select Firebirds' organization sponsors hitting, fielding, catching, and pitching clinics. And, if you thought we left out the summer, we did not. There are hearty soles in our organization who put together ad-hoc teams and join the summer FCGSL 12 game/ 6 week program.
NO FUND RAISERS!
NVGSA's registration fee covers your whole house league obligations! There are no fund raisers to supplement the fees. There are no administrative fees tacked on to your registration fee. There are no participation fees to force parents to participate. None of your fees go to other sports or other organizations. Our select teams are completely autonomous from the house league and their fees.
Price breaks to families - Family Discounts
For families with more than one girl playing softball, we reduce the registration fee for the second child to $50 and $20 for three and more.
Field Locations Near You!
Fairfax County Rec Dept. controls the allocation of fields and does not guarantee any organization a field from season to season. But, with hundreds girls stretching over several zip codes, we play on a field near you. Because of our large size, we have two divisions, east and west. In the past, our West Division has played at Wakefield Forest Elementary School (Braddock Road / Route 236 area) while our East Division has played at Clermont Park and Wilton Woods Administrative Center (Franconia Road / Telegraph Road area). Our girls in both divisions get the thrill of playing under the lights at Wakefield Park.
Trophies, Pictures, Playoffs, and All Star Memories
The girls in the coach pitch (8u) division all receive memorabilia in the spring season. We also offer every parent an opportunity to have their child's picture taken in uniform. Each of the non coach pitch divisions participate in playoffs and all star games.
College Scolarships
To encourage scholastics in our girls and to give back to the community, NVGSA offers three $500 scholarships annually.
In conclusion, why choose NVGSA? Because we care as much about your daughter as you do. If you have any questions regarding registration or NVGSA in general, please contact us at NVGSAsoftball@yahoo.com.
Sunday, August 10
Frequently Asked Questions about NVGSA
During spring and fall registrations, we frequently get asked many questions regarding girls' fast pitch softball and NVGSA specifically. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions and our answers to them.
Q: When does registration begin and end?
A: Our spring registration begins during January and ends around the last Day of February. Our fall registration begins in June and ends in the last week of July
Q: Is there late registration after the deadline?
A: Yes, we will take late registration requests up until the beginning of the season. In the spring that is around the last week in March. In the fall, that will be around the 1st - 2nd week in September. Although we will accept late registrations, team placement is always based on space availability.
Q: Do I have to mail in the registration form?
A: During regular registration, you should mail your form into the address at the top of the registration form.
Q: Once I send in my form, when can I expect to be contacted?
A: Our coaches will receive their team list and equipment for the spring season around the 2nd weekend in March. For the fall season, they receive their rosters on the 2nd weekend in August. You should be contacted shortly after that.
Q: What are your age levels?
A: We group the girls as follows: Coach Pitch (8u) 5-8 yrs old, Pigtails (10u) 9-10 yrs old, Ponytails (12u) 11-12 yrs old, Seniors (18u) 13-18 yrs old.
Q: If my daughter is more experienced, does she have to play at her age level?
A: NVGSA is a developmental league. Girls who play many seasons will be more advanced than those who just start. With such tight age groups, we recognize that more experienced girls should play up the next level, with approval of the parent and the league.
Q: When will the season start?
A: In the spring, practice begin in mid March and games begin mid April. In the fall, practice begin mid August and the games start around the 2nd weekend in September.
Q: How many practices a week will we have?
A: Before the season begins, each team will be assigned up to 2 practice days and 1 batting cage time a week. It is up to the coach to decide how many of those to use. Although most coaches in the 10u, 12u, and 18u level hold as many practices as they can. Many of the coach pitch managers opt to have fewer practices during the pre and regular season.
Q: How many games will we play?
A: In the spring season, we play 12 games with a single or double elimination playoff at the end of the season for all but the coach pitch level. Post season games will vary based on the number of rain-outs we incur. In the fall, we will play between 8 - 12 games. As we emphasize development even more in the fall, we do not have fall playoffs or all-star games.
Q: When does the season end?
A: The spring season should end on or near the last weekend in May. The playoffs will end before the end of school. An all-star game will be played sometime near the end of the season. The fall softball season will end by the last weekend in October.
Q: What days do you play your games on and at what times?
A: We try to split the number of games in half and play half or more of of the games on Saturday and the remaining games on a weekday. Our weekday games typically start at 6pm. Weekday games which are scheduled for a field with lights will begin around 6:30pm. There may be an occasional Sunday game. When the county assigns field space, they consider Sunday as a playing day and use that in their formula for assigning fields.
Q: Will you practice during the season too?
A: Yes, besides the 1-2 games a week, each coach will be assigned 1 practice day and 1 batting cage day (if he/she chooses to use it). Some coach pitch managers choose not to practice during weeks with weekday games.
Q: Where do you play your games?
A: Fairfax County Rec Dept. determines the fields for all sports organizations, and no team is guaranteed a field from season to season. In the past seasons, our main fields have been at Wakefield Forest Elementary School (Route 236/Braddock Road area near NVCC Annandale campus), Wakefield Park Rec Center (Braddock road), South Run Park (Ffx. Cnty Prkwy), Clermont Park and Wilton Woods Administrative Center (Franconia / Lee District).
Q: With so many fields, where can I expect to play?
A: We separated our teams into 2 divisions (areas), east and west. The eastern division practices/plays at Clermont Park and Wilton Woods Administrative Center (Franconia / Lee District / Telegraph Road). The western division practices/plays at Wakefield Forest Elementary School (near Annandale NVCC). Both divisions will have games under the lights at Wakefield Park Rec Center (Braddock Rd & 495) and South Run Park Rec Center (Ffx Co Pkwy & Reservation Dr). Choose the division to play in based on which field is easiest for you to get on week nights and weekends.
Q: If my daughter plays for the High School JV team, can she play NVGSA?
A: Yes! High School varsity and A level select team players are permitted to play only with special permission from the league.
Q: Does the house league conflict with High School JV softball?
A: Yes, for a few weeks their seasons will overlap in the spring.
Q: If my daughter plays JV, should we sign her up to play in the house league too?
A: Yes! All the area High School coaches recommend to continue playing softball after the school season ends. They encourage the girls to play on select teams or local house league teams. NVGSA coaches understand that there will be a conflict or 2 in the beginning of the season, but that occurs with Girl Scouts, Band, Drama, and other school activities. Ultimately, you need to decide if you want to play softball into mid June or not.
Q: Should JV players wait to sign up until the end of the JV season?
A: No! Do NOT wait to sign up. Our teams may be filled and space may not be available. So, sign up early.
If you have any questions regarding NVGSA, please send an email to NVGSAsoftball@yahoo.com .
Friday, January 2
Registration Refunds
Posted Jan. 2, 2009: If you withdraw your daughter prior to team formation, refunds will be returned minus a $15.00 administrative fee. After teams have been formed, partial refunds may be issued, but only in extreme circumstances.
Tuesday, October 27
Winter Clinic - NVGSA Free Pitcher Clinics
NVGSA is sponsoring FREE winter pitching clinics. There is no cost to the NVGSA players who participate but you need to register to participate. Please chose the location that is most convenient for you.
West Side of Fairfax County
- The clinics will begin the 2nd week of December and run through February.
- The 10U & 12U clinic will be held on Wednesdays from 5:00 - 6:00 PM starting 12/9 ; the 18U clinic will be held on Fridays from 5:00 - 6:00 PM starting 12/18.
- Location: Laurel Ridge Elementary School, 10110 Commonwealth Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22032
- Instruction and supervision will be conducted by NVGSA Select and House coaches. Every pitcher should have their own catcher.
- Contact Don Maley via e-mail at suzette.maley@verizon.net for further information.
East Side of Fairfax County
- The clinic will begin the 2nd week of December and run through February.
- The clinic (for 10U, 12U & 18U players) will be held on Thusdays from 6:00 - 8:00 PM starting 12/10
- Location: Hayfield Elementary School, 7633 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315
- Instruction and supervision will be conducted by NVGSA Select and House coaches. Every pitcher will need to have their own catcher.
- Contact Gary Rose either via e-mail at garyndiane@verizon.net or phone at 703-719-5425 for further information.
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Highlights from our News and Information Page:
Inclement Weather Procedure
Important Dates
Frequently Asked Questions about our league
Why NVGSA? - What to look for in a softball organization.
Thursday, October 29
Field Status
No updates at this time.
Tuesday, September 15
News Flash
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