Age Groups

Rockford Fastpitch Softball fields teams at the following ages:

8U (DOB 2004/05/06) – player must be at least in 1st grade for the 2011-2012 school year

10U – Intro (DOB in 2002/03)

10U (DOB in 2002/03)

12U (DOB in 2000/01)

14U (DOB in 1998/99)

16U (DOB in 1996/97)

Players age as of Jan 1st determines the age group for the following summer.

 

8U

This team plays in a league that is a cooperative between the STMA Fastpitch association and RAAA. This team is for 7 and 8 year olds in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades and the focus is to help transition girls from T-Ball to the world of Fastpitch softball. The girls use a softball with a soft core. The girls pitch until 4 balls are called, then a coach steps in and pitches until the batter either puts the ball into play or strikes out. This team will participate in the Anoka/Ramsey Dirt Devil Tournament the weekend of 5/31 – 6/2. Practices start in late April/early May and will be held on Mondays. Games start in late May and run through early July and will be held on Wednesdays.

10U-Intro

This team plays in the Hanover/Rockford/Delano/Corcoran softball league. This team offers a solid introduction to travel softball, with minimal weekend commitments. In the Hanover, Rockford, Delano, Corcoran softball league, the girls pitch until 4 balls are called, then a coach steps in and pitches until the ball is either put into play or the batter strikes out. Limited stealing is allowed. Games for this league start in mid May. Games are played in Hanover, Delano, Corcoran, as well as Rockford.  This team will participate in the Anoka/Ramsey Dirt Devil Tournament the weekend of 5/31 – 6/2. Practices start in late April/early May and
games start in late May and run through early July.
10U Travel
This team plays in the Central Minnesota Fastpitch League (CMFL). This team offers a travel team atmosphere with regular season games being played in communities such as Big Lake, Becker, Maple Lake, Elk River, Monticello, St. Michael, as well as Rockford. The girls pitch the entire game. There is a 5 run limit for each half inning. Stealing is allowed. This team will participate in 2 weekend tournaments, a state qualifier, and potentially a state tournament. The team starts practicing in April\May and the season may stretch until the end of July, depending upon the date of the state tournament that the team qualifies for. This team will practice at least 2 times a week in addition to playing any scheduled games.
12U/14U/16U
These teams will play in either the Crow River Fastpitch League Tier I, Central Minnesota Fastpitch League, or Suburban League, depending on which league is the best fit for the team in question. These teams will play in 2 weekend tournaments, a state qualifier, and potentially a state tournament. These teams start practicing in April\May and the season may stretch until the end of July, depending upon the date of the state tournament that the team qualifies for. This team will practice at least 2 times a week in addition to playing any scheduled games.

 

Playing up an Age Level

The Softball board reserves the right to move any player up to the next level to cover any specialized needs in accordance with program objectives.

Requests from a player to play-up to the next level, must be submitted in writing to the Associate Softball Director, with the Softball Director on copy.

The player must have approval from all legal guardians.Request must be received 7 days before the evaluation date.

Player must attend the evaluation with her current age level.

The player must achieve evaluation scores that place her in the top 3 of her current age.

The player must also attend the evaluation with the next age level.

The player must place in the top 6 of the next age level in order to qualify to play up.

The Softball Board, will discuss the appropriate team assignment of the player once all conditions above are met giving consideration to the following:

o Impact other players at the play up level, including negative impact to other position players

o Specialized position needs including impact next age level pitchers and catchers Appeals will be handled by the RAAA Executive Board.

If a decision that has to be made which has a direct affect on the child and/or team of the child of the Softball Board/Committee/RAAA Executive Board member, input and consultation will be sought by other committee members not directly affected by the final decision.