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 2007 seasons are:

T-Ball/Coach Pitch:  Birthdays from Jan. 2, 1999 to Jan. 1, 2003
Ten-and-Under:  Birthdays from Jan. 2, 1997 to Jan. 1, 1999
Pigtail:  Birthdays from Jan. 2, 1995 to Jan. 1, 1997
Ponytail:  Birthdays from Jan. 2, 1989 to Jan. 1, 1995

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 allows experienced girls to up the next level, and 4 year olds to start, with approval of the parent and the league commissioner.

FEES

Our Fall 2008 early registration fees are $80 for the Coach Pitch and 10 & Under leagues, and $90 for the Pigtail and Ponytail leagues.   The tournament teams have team-specific registration that is run through the team coaches.  There is a $10 discount for each additional player registered from the same family.  These fees apply through July 31.

Our Fall 2008 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 Sept. 1.

We accept late registrations (after Sept. 1 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, 12 players for 10U, and 13 players for Pigtail and 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

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 fall season games for house teams start on Sept. 13, 2007 for all but the Ponytail League, which will start its games on Sept. 20, 2007.  Select teams may play tournaments in late August.

Q: When does the season end?
A: The fall season ends Nov. 1, 2007 for house teams.  Select teams may play two weeks later.

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.