South Plains Girls Fastpitch

There will be no games on Memorial Day.  If you have a schedule with a game scheduled on Memorial Day, Donnie Rundell will let you know when you will play that game.

Thanks to all the coaches that made it to the coaches meeting tonight.  Your attendance was very much appreciated.  Here are a few of the notes in case you need a refresher on what we discussed:

1. Coaches need to be as close to the dugout gate as possible. One coach out of the dugout.  You may sit on a bucket if the umpire allows it.

2. All Helmets must have chinstraps. Pixie helmets are not required to have face masks, but they are highly recommended by the league.

3. It is imperative that language be watched at all times from parents, coaches, fans AND players.

4. If you have not completed your ACE Certification, you need to get it done and sent in to Lesley Rundell as soon as possible.  If you have done the certification and the site does not allow you to complete the process, email  Scott Stone at the ASA District 26 office.  scott@ASATXDISTRICT26.com

5.  If you have not gotten your all-star password, do so immediately from Karen Dawson.  Her email is on the top of the website under “coach resources.”

6. Make sure you have parent permission before you do anything out of the ordinary for your players

7. Reporting Scores:  Winning Coaches  report scores. Do so in the concession stand in the yellow folder.  Donnie Rundell gets the scores and updates every Monday.

8. Fields:  Home team gets bases and machines in first games and puts them up after the late game.  Visiting team waters the fields following late game.

9. Press Boxes:  Thank you to parents that are helping out in the press boxes with scoreboards and official books.  However, a growing issue is the leave behind of trash, leftover food, and especially sunflower seeds.  Please make sure that the press boxes are left clean.

10.  Coaches, you are responsible for your fans and their behavior in the stands.  Fans using foul language will be asked to leave. We don’t want to create a bad environment for our girls. They don’t always understand why parents yell and scream and use bad language.  If there is an issue with alcohol, call a board member and they will get them removed.

11. Please no driving on the concourse at any time. Only the concession stand personnel may drive up and park on concourse.

12. You may still book practice time at the fields if there is an open field. Check the game schedules and book a practice time. HOWEVER, if a make up game is booked on the field after you book your practice time, that game takes precedent over your practice so do so at your own risk.  Most Sundays are good to go.

13. If you have a player with a cast or boot or something of that effect that limits their ability to play, please do not put them into the game unless cleared by a doctor (with a release).   This is a league safety issue and a liability issue.  The league is going to be liable for any injury that may occur if allowed to do so.  We are not a league with deep pockets and a liability suit against the league potentially could put us out of business. This is not a risk we are willing to take to allow a girl to stand in left field.

14. 8U and 10U will be the only age groups with post season tourneys.  The top two teams in each divisions will make the tourney along with the next four best records in 8U and five best records in 10 U.

15. There will be a portable batting cage available at the fields next week for teams to hit.  A private company will be setting up to allow the teams to pay to hit as they would at a local hitting cage.

16. If your team would like to sign up for the USSSA clinics in conjunction with the pro fast pitch series in June can sign up with Josh Forburger at a reduced rate. Email Josh for more info.  His email is listed above.

Thanks for all you do coaches. Please take time to pass this info onto your parents and players.  Thanks again

Chris Snead

There will be a MANDATORY coaches meeting on Wednesday, May 19th on the Red Quad, field 8 at 7:30.  Every team in the league needs to have a coach or representative of their team at this meeting.

We have had many rules questions in the first ten days of games.  Here is a list of clarifications on the rules to help settle these issues:

Rule Clarifications

#1 – ALL AGE LEVELS -  Time Expired and one of the teams cannot catch up.   -   Basically, We are looking for communication between the Umpires and Coaches.   BEFORE stopping the game, the Umpire will confirm with both coaches the reason for stopping the game.  There might be instances where a team wants to continue to bat, but due to the time of day, other games following, or possible injuries, the best option is to end the game.

#2 – 10U – Bases Loaded – 4 ball walk – Coach Pitch – Due to Safety reasons, The Coach Pitcher will pitch from the 10U pitching rubber.  The number of pitches the coach has to pitch is the number of stikes left in the batter’s count.   If the batter fouls off the last pitch, the batter is NOT out and will be allow to continue batting with the Coach Pitcher until the ball is put into play or the ball is not fouled off anymore.

#3 - Helmets –  Pixie Helmets - ALL Helmets must have a chin strap. Facemask are strongly recommended but not required at this level. However, the Pitcher’s Helmet MUST have both a facemask and chin strap.

ALL OTHER AGE LEVELS  Helmets - ALL Helmets must have both a facemask and chin strap.

If the helmet does not have a chin strap the batter will not be allowed to bat, until a suitable helmet is found.  SPGF sells chin straps in the concession stands.

#4 – Pixie and 8U. Pitch count. 5 pitches. If 5^th is fouled, then 6^th pitch. If 6^th is fouled then 7^th. If 7^th not put in play (including foul ball), the batter is out. If batter swings and misses 3 times then the batter is out.

#5 – Home Team gets the bases in/out. Keeps track of Official Game Book.

#6 – Visitor Team provides a person to run scoreboard.

#7 – Coach Pitcher should not have glove on the field. Due to the ball may still be a “live ball”, The Coach Pitcher should only accept the ball from the girl pitcher after she has established herself in the pitching circle and it is an official dead ball.

#8 – Keep both the dugout gate and the field gates closed on both sides closed.

#9 – ALL AGE LEVELS - 2 Offensive Coaches (1^st and 3^rd bases). And 1 Defensive Coach no more than 3 ft from any portion of the dugout fense.     Pixie – will follow these rules as well.  The outfield defensive coaches are no longer allowed.

#10.  Pixie and Machine Pitch (8U).   Only the Pitching coach can talk to the batter, and verbally adjust the batter in the box.   At no time can the Pitching coach physically move the player into the correct position in the batters box.   

Pixie league coaches, as a clarification to the rule for pixie (6U) division, helmets are NOT required to have a face mask. However, they are RECOMMENDED.  Additionally, all players playing the position of pitcher MUST wear a helmet with a face mask. I hope this clears up any confusion.

SPGF Coaches,

The City of Lubbock has given us the “go ahead” for tonight. However, there are showers in the forecast, so check the site and/or call the league phone line to check for updates.

Good Morning,

Due to the high volume of rain received in the Lubbock area our turf on each field is extremely sensitive.

No League or Tournament games will be allowed on any city owned fields at least till Monday April 19th. The Maintenance Department will re-evaluate at that this time.

Thank you very much with all of your efforts to keep our facilities in great shape.

If you have any questions please contact me by email or phone.

Respectfully,

OJ Williams
Assistant Recreation Coordinator
City of Lubbock
806-775-2672
806-775-3990 Fax
owilliams@mylubbock.us