• participate in the winter skills clinics, and
• increase the likelihood of honoring special requests for coaches and playing with friends.

AGE GROUPS

BRYC Girls Softball is for girls ages 5 through 18 with groups according to age and experience.  The age is based on the player's age on January 1 of the current year.  For example, a player who turns 11 with a February birthday is considered to be 10 years old for the whole year.  The age groups/skill levels for the 2010 seasons are:

T-Ball/Coach Pitch:  Born in years 2001 through 2004
Ten-and-Under:  Born in years 1999 and 2000
Pigtail:  Born in years 1997 and 1998
Ponytail:  Born in years 1991 through 1996

We recognize that some girls who have played before may be more advanced than those who are in their age group, and some 4 year olds are ready to play T-Ball.  We allow experienced girls to move up to the next level, and 4 year olds to start, with approval of the parent and the league commissioner.

FEES

Our Spring 2010 registration fees are $90 for the Coach Pitch and 10 & Under leagues, and $100 for the Pigtail and Ponytail leagues.  There is a $10 discount for each additional player registered from the same family.  These fees apply through March 21.  The 10U, 12U and 14U tournament teams have team-specific registration that is run through the team coaches.

We accept late registrations (after March 21 with a $10 late fee) to allow the opportunity to play softball to as many girls as possible, but only if there are openings left on teams.  In the past two seasons we only had late registration openings for our Ponytail League teams. 

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS

Requests to play with friends or with a specific coach will be honored to the best of our ability with priority given to registrations received first. There are no guarantees that we can satisfy these requests in every instance. Once a team reaches 10 players for Coach Pitch and 10U teams, 12 players for Pigtail teams, and 13 for Ponytail teams, we will not be able to honor requests to join the team. Players not requesting specific coaches or teams in the will be placed on teams by the Commissioner. 

Also, we may need to shut down registration early if we fill up the available teams.  The number of teams that we carry is based on the number of volunteers for coaches.  For this reason, we sometimes have to stop registration so that the teams do not get overfilled with players.  If any parent wants to coach, that opens up opportunities for more girls to play and for friends to play together.  We will work to help any new coach that enters the league, and will work to assign players with parents who also offer to help coach.

REFUND POLICY

REGISTRATION METHODS

The following methods are only for registering players for house ball.  If your daughter is playing on a select team, get a registration form from her select coach.

• ONLINE REGISTRATION requires a credit card, and active.com assesses a small convenience fee for credit card use.  Online registration will be available after Nov. 30.
  

• MAIL IN REGISTRATION  is available by downloading and printing the registration form, then mail it along with your check to the address printed on the form.
  

• IN PERSON REGISTRATION  at Kings Park Library (9000 Burke Lake Road) on January 23, 1:30 to 3:00, and March 20 from 10:00 to 12:00 noon.
  

Are you a High School softball player?  According to BRYC Softball rules, girls who play on their school's varsity softball team are not eligible to play club softball during the spring varsity season.  Varsity players can play in the fall, and Junior Varsity players are eligible to play with BRYC Softball during both the spring and fall seasons.  This is an excellent way for JV players to sharpen their softball skills. 

High school players are welcome to register early and participate in our free winter clinics.  If you get placed on a varsity team, we will gladly refund you the difference between the registration and our $25 gym use fee.  Why wait?  Register now, take advantage of the free clinics, and be more prepared for Varsity tryouts.

VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services (CRS) requires all athletic organizations that use County fields to submit rosters of registered players.  The rosters identify the names, ages, and addresses of participants.  Once CRS receives this information, it becomes a public record and as such may be released under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) if someone requests it.  CRS can not release information about participants under 18 years old only if the parents or guardians have affirmatively requested that this information not be released.  We have amended our registration forms to provide parents and guardians the opportunity to indicate that they do not allow CRS to release this information under the Virginia FOIA. If you do not want the information about your child to be released under a FOIA request, you must check the box on the application form to show this.  (See the CRS letter on this topic.)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: When does registration begin and end?
A: Our spring registration begins during mid-November and ends around mid-March. Our fall registration begins in mid-June and ends the last day of August.

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 2nd - 3rd week in April. 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: Why does registration sometimes close early?
A: Sometimes we do not have enough volunteers for coaches.  When that happens, we need to close registration when we fill the teams for which we have teams.  The best way to make sure your daughter can play on a team is to volunteer to coach!

Q: Once I send in my form, when can I expect to be contacted?
A: If you gave us your email address on the registration, we will email you a confirmation that we received your registration.  For the spring season, our coaches receive their team list around the 3rd weekend in March.  For the fall season, they receive their rosters on the 1st week of September. You should be contacted shortly after that.

Q: If my daughter is more experienced, does she have to play at her age level?
A: We recognize that 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: What are the clinics you hold?
A: We'll hold clinics during the winter for both skills and pitching.  These will start in January. Players must be registered to attend. Go to our Clinics page for details.

Q: When will the games start?
A: The spring season games for house teams start on April 10, 2010 for all but the Ponytail League, which will start its games the following week.  Select teams start playing games and tournaments in March.

Q: When does the season end?
A: The spring season ends June 14, 2010 for house teams.  Select teams continue to play through the summer.

Q: How many practices a week will we have?
A: Before the season begins, each team will be one or two practice days. The coach decides how many practices to have.  Once games start, each team has one practice day a week.

Q: When will my team hold its practice?
A: Coaches determine the practice day and times. If a certain day is not good for your daughter, please let us know on the registration form.  Practice time on weekdays is typically between 4:30 to 8:00.  Practice time on weekends is on Sunday afternoons during the season and on Saturdays before the games start.

Q: What days do you play your games on and at what times?
A: Most games are on Saturdays with games starting between 9 am to 4 pm.  We do play some weekday games that start between 6 to 7:30 pm.  Later games are played on fields with lights. There may be an occasional Sunday game to make up rain dates.

Q: If my daughter plays for the High School varsity team, can she also play also BRYC?
A: Not during the spring varsity season, but she can play in the summer and fall, according to our league rules.  Furthermore, most HS coaches do not want their players playing any softball other than that for their HS team.  However, Junior Varsity players are eligible to play with BRYC Softball during any season.  This is an excellent way for JV players to sharpen their softball skills.

Q: What if my daughter makes her High School varsity team?  Can I get a refund?
A: Yes.  The amount depends on whether your daughter participated in our winter clinics.  If she participates in our clinics, we will refund all but $25, which we need for non-refundable fees for insurance coverage and Fairfax County gym fees. 

Q: If my daughter plays for the High School JV team, can she also play also BRYC?
A: Yes!  Most 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. BRYC coaches understand that there may be a conflict in the beginning of the season, but that occurs with other activities, too.

Q: Does the house league conflict with High School JV softball?
A: Yes, but only for a few weeks in the spring. The JV season usually ends the second week in May, so there are 3 to 4 weeks of overlap.  There will still be 4 weeks of BRYC games after the JV season ends.  Also, BRYC coaches excuse JV players from BRYC practices and games when there are conflicts. We want JV players to make all their JV practices and games.

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.