Does SRVGAL have age and grade requirements?

SRVGAL uses the USA Softball age guidelines, with August 31st as the cut-off for determining a players age for the following season.  Click here for 2025 age chart.

 

Since the USA Softball age guidelines align with the age requirements for schools in California, SRVGAL has decided to do away with Grade Based divisions and use the 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 15U naming designation for all of our divisions. The only exceptions to the above is in our Pre-K/K division and our Middle School Division.

 

We continue to use the Red (and Blue when applicable) designations for drafted divisions and White for our undrafted divisions.

 

When does the season start and end?

The Red & Blue divisions begin their practices January 11, 2025.

The 6U, 8U White, 10U White, Middle School & Senior divisions start their practices on February 6, 2025.  

All games begin on March 8, 2025.

The season is scheduled to conclude the 3rd week of May. 

(These dates are subject to change due to field availability.)

 

When and where are practices?

Practices will be held once during the week and once on a weekend.  Practice days and locations vary from team to team and are not determined until the teams are formed and will be based on field & coach availability.  Once games start most team will have one practice time either during the week or on the weekend. 

Teams may also choose to leverage our indoor academy for additional hitting practices throughout the season. These are generally in addition to any practices, but sometimes used in lieu of a field practice.

Please be aware that due to field availability and the number of teams in any given division practices may be held on Sundays.

 

When and where are games?

All games begin on March 8, 2025.

The season is scheduled to conclude the 3rd week of May. 

(These dates are subject to change due to field availability.) 

 

All divisions play one game during the week and one game on a Saturday.  White divisions, with the exception of the Senior Division, have no travel outside of the San Ramon and Danville area. The Red & Blue divisions & the Senior division may have limited travel to neighboring communities (Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, Castro Valley).  

 

How do I register and how much does it cost?

To register your player, click on the Registration 2025 button on the home page of the SRVGAL website. Registration will open September 1st.

The registration fee for our Pre-K/K, 6U& 8U White grade divisions is $390.

The registration fee for our 8U White division is $400.

The registration fee for our 10U White & Middle School divisions is $440.

The registration fee for our 8U Red,10U Red/Blue, 12U Red/Blue, & 15U Red divisions is $465.

The registration fee for our Senior division is $340.

 

SRVGAL has attempted to keep our registration fees flat from previous years, however we did have to make small increases to make up for increased field rental costs passed on to use by the City of San Ramon and the Town of Danville.

 

Registration for 8U Red, 10U Red/Blue, 12U Red/Blue, and 15U Red closes 11/8/24.

A $25 late fee will be added to the registration fee after 11/8/24.

See our complete refund policy below.

 

Registration for Pre-K/K, 6U, 8U White, 10U White, and Middle School divisions closes 1/14/25.

 

After 1/14/25 registrations will be accepted as space is available. A $25 late fee will be added to the registration fees after 1/7/25.

See our complete refund policy below.

 

Additional details, for our Senior division, can be found below.

 

When do I need to sign up for the Senior Division?

We accept registrations for our Senior division until all the local school district high school softball teams have been formed.  If a player does not make their JV or Varsity softball team and they would like to participate in our Senior division, they may register at that time without any financial penalties.  The local high school teams usually make their final roster cuts in the beginning of February. If a senior player registers for SRVGAL and is drafted to her local school softball team (for example SRV Wolves or Cal Grizzles), a full refund will be given without any financial penalty.

 

Should I sign up for White, Open, Blue or Red and which divisions require tryouts?

All divisions play one game during the week and one game on a Saturday.  White divisions, with the exception of the Senior Division, have no travel outside of the San Ramon and Danville area. The Red & Blue divisions & the Senior division may have limited travel to neighboring communities (Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, Castro Valley).  

 

The Pre-K/K, White, Open & Senior divisions are designed for the recreational player.  When you register your daughter for these divisions she will be placed on a team without the need for tryouts.  Each team is determined from the geographical area, school attended, and parent volunteer participation. 

 

The Blue division is competitive while less so than Red.  To play in a Blue division each player must attend one of our tryouts. Teams are determined by tryouts and a coaches' draft, with no consideration given to where the player lives.    A link to sign up for a tryout will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

 

The Red division is the most competitive level of play.  To play in the 8U Red, 10U Red, 12U Red, & 15U Red divisions each player must attend one of our tryouts.  Teams are determined by tryouts and a coaches' draft, with no consideration given to where the player lives.  A link to sign up for a tryout will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

 

Accepting a Commitment Waiver is required for all players registering for a Red or Blue team.

 

My daughter is going to try out for a Red or Blue team.    When will my daughter find out if she made a team?

 The 2025 Red drafts are occurring on the following dates at 7:00 pm:

●      15U Red Draft on Monday, December 16, 2024

●      12U Red Draft on Tuesday, December 17, 2024

●      10U Red Draft on Wednesday, December 18, 2024

●      8U Red Draft on Thursday, December 19, 2024

 

The players that are drafted by a Red team will be called and notified by their coaches within 24 hours of the Red draft night. If a player was not selected in the 10U or 12U Red draft, she will automatically be placed in the pool for the Blue draft.  If a player is not selected for a 15U Red draft, she will automatically be placed on a 15U Open team. If a player is not selected for an 8U Red team she will automatically be placed on an 8U White team. 

 

The 2025 Blue drafts are occurring on the following dates at 7:00 pm:

·       12U Blue Draft on Wednesday, January 7, 2025

·       10U Blue Draft on Thursday, January 8, 2025

 

The players that are drafted by a Blue team will be called and notified by their coaches within 24 hours of the Blue draft night. If a player was not selected in the Blue draft, she will automatically be placed on a age appropriate White team.

 

My daughter is going to play in the White or Open division.  When will she find out which team she is on?

Players will find out after February 5th which team they are on and who the coaches are.  There is a coach meeting on February 5th in which the coaches are given their team rosters.  The coaches will either call or email each family personally after that night.    

 

Can my daughter play with her friends or request a specific coach?

In the younger divisions, team assignments are made according to grade, home address, school attended, and parent volunteerism.

 

Players may submit a single friend request or request to be placed on a team with players from their grade/school.

 

While we understand the importance of playing with friends, the challenge of honoring every single friend request has become quite cumbersome/time consuming for the league. That being said, we have a new policy for friend requests in 2025, allowing players to choose one of two options:

1. Players may request 1 Friend on their registration. If the friend request is mutual, then we will honor the request. For example, Player A requests Player B and Player B requests Player A - Player A & B will be placed on the same team.

or

2. Players may request to be placed on team with schoolmates - they will be placed on a team with players from same grade/school.(This does not guarantee your player with be with players from her class.)

 

We will no longer be honoring specific coach requests.

 

What if I am interested in coaching a team?

Please click on the Registration 2025 button on the homepage of the SRVGAL website to fill out a coach application.  All applicants will be contacted by the appropriate age group coordinator to have a phone interview.  All persons selected for coaching assignments will be required to provide personal information and permission to SRVGAL to run a comprehensive background check.  All coaches are required to complete two online training courses (Concussion Safety & SafeSport), attend the Big Coach meeting on January 9th for Red/Blue teams or February 5th for White/Open teams, and attend in person softball skills training.  Coaches U is tentatively scheduled for February 1. Specifics about Coaches U and additional trainings will be provided by the division coordinator during the interview process.

 

What is SRVGAL’s refund policy?

In the event you should change your mind and decide that your daughter is not going to play this season you can withdraw and request a refund before 12/9/24 for the Red/Blue divisions.  The final day for refunds for all other divisions is 1/14/25.  The only exceptions are: if a senior player is drafted to her local school softball team (for example SRV Wolves or Cal Grizzles), if your family moves out of the area prior to the season, or your player is injured prior to the start of the season and will be unable to play. Refunds will be given to those players.  A $20 processing fee will be taken from all refunds. To request a refund, send an email to our League Administrator at srvgaljantomsic@gmail.com that includes the name of your daughter and the reason for the request. 

 

What equipment does my daughter need to have?

Equipment your player should bring to tryouts, practices and games is as follows:

●      Water bottle for personal use only

●      Softball glove

●      Softball bat - Click here for a short video on how to buy a bat.

●      Softball Batting Helmet – Must be NOCSAE Certified and include a face mask. Click here an example picture.

●      Softball Fielders Mask

●      Catcher Gear (if you have gear)

●      Softball sliding pants & proper athletic attire.

●      Softball Cleats – No Metal Spikes Allowed. Soft plastic and rubber spikes are permissible.  Girls in the younger age groups may play in tennis shoes.  Soccer cleats are permitted

SRVGAL has some equipment (Bats, Helmets, Fielders Masks, Catchers Gear) to loan individual players. All equipment used, SRVGAL or player provided, must comply with USA Softball regulations.  Catchers must wear catcher’s helmets; batting helmets are not allowed. 

 

Does SRVGAL provide uniforms?

Players will be issued a SRVGAL jersey that is theirs to keep when the season ends.  This jersey must be worn in all official league games.  The coach for each team will determine what the players will wear to complete the uniform. 

 

What is the parent volunteer rebate policy?

Coach & Assistant Coach Rebate Policy

Every Coach & Assistant Coach is eligible for a $150 rebate at the end of the season.  The $150 rebate will be processed automatically by the League Administrator.  No paperwork is required. Only one rebate per SRVGAL player will be issued. The rebates will be processed by June 30th with a credit going back to the credit card that was used to pay for registration.

 

Board Member Rebate Policy

Every Board Member is eligible for a full rebate of their player(s) registration fee at the end of the season. Board members with multiple players will only receive one full rebate of registration fees. The rebate will be processed automatically by the League Administrator.  No paperwork is required. The rebates will be processed by June 30th with a credit going back to the credit card that was used to pay for registration.

 

When is Picture Day?

Picture Day: 3/23/25

(These dates are subject to change based on gym availability.)

 

How do playoffs and All-Star Day work?

All the divisions 8U and older are involved with 1-2 weeks of playoff games.in the playoff week. The Pre-K/K & 6U divisions will have games until at least May 9th.

Playoffs, Championship games are planned for May 12 – May 17. Game times and days will be determined towards the end of the season.

All Star Day is planned for May 18.

(These dates are subject to change based on field availability.)

 

What other playing opportunities does SRVGAL offer?

Stompers Elite and NorCal Valley Stompers are SRVGAL’s travel ball teams.  Players typically come from the blue and red divisions.  Tryouts for the summer will happen in April.  Players wishing to play year-round travel ball can try out for our NorCal Valley Stompers program. 

 

Does SRVGAL have a training facility?

The SRVGAL Academy is the training home for all SRVGAL players.

Updated information about the SRVGAL Academy will be published soon.

 

What do I need to know about for the safety of my player?

Eyeglasses: Players who wear eyeglasses must wear glasses that are safe.  Lenses must be unbreakable, and frames must be unbreakable plastic or sturdy metal.  Thin wire-framed glasses may not be worn.  Contacts are permitted.

Face/Mouth Guards: Players may wear approved face or mouth guards to protect themselves while playing in the field. SRVGAL recommends all players playing an infield position wear a face mask. Please see specific division rules for specific guidelines.

Injuries:  Players wearing orthopedic casts, braces (metal, carbon fiber, hard plastic and like devices) or splints (air or metal) shall not be eligible to participate in any game, practice, tryout, or training session.

Jewelry:  No jewelry may be worn while participating in any game that, in the judgment of the umpire, constitutes a safety hazard to either the player wearing the jewelry or any other player.

Pets:  All dogs bite and they are also a distraction at the games.  For those reasons we ask you to please be courteous and leave your pets at home.

 

What is the SRVGAL Game Monitor?

SRVGAL requires a Game Monitor (GM) at every game to handle any issues related to any negative behavior that may arise.

The SRVGAL Game Monitor Policy was instituted in the 2018 season in order to ensure that all games are conducted in a positive environment and act as an advocate for our teenage umpires.  Click here for a description of the policy and complete listing of the Game Monitor’s responsibilities.