Summer Camp and
Fall Ball
While we just ended our exciting Spring
Softball Season and are now in the midst of vacation thoughts,
summer camps will soon be here and back-to-school activities are
right around the corner.
This summer we are again partnering with
the Maryland Mystics (www.marylandmystics.org)
to offer special LUYAA pricing for their 3-day Softball Camp –
July 12th thru July 14th – for ages 7 thru
15. We are hosting the camp at our primary fields at Windsor
Knolls. In addition, July 11th will be a session for
specialized instruction for Pitchers and Catchers.
Discounted Rate
again for LUYAA Team Members:
-
$65.00 fee for 3-day camp for LUYAA
participants
Camp Details (Click Here
for registration link for Mystics Summer Camp):
-
July 11 - Pitchers/Catchers only ($30 add’l
fee)
-
July 12-14 (Camp)
-
Time: 5:30PM to 8:30PM
-
Windsor Knolls Middle School
-
Current Maryland Mystics will
participate/help as camp counselors
FALL BALL
For LUYAA Softball, we are already planning
for FALL BALL!! This year Fall Ball registration will be online
through the normal
www.luyaa.org website. You can see the Fall Sports
registration link. Softball registration is NOW OPEN!
·
Fall Ball games on Sunday afternoons from Sept 12th
thru Oct 31st
o
Practice starts with “Back to School”
·
Online registration now open for all age groups: 8U, 10U,
12U, 15U
o
Girls can play at their current age group from Spring
2010
o
Families can also request to move up and play the age
group they will be in next Spring (2011). We’ll support as many
requests as we can given space limitations.
·
LUYAA partners with Frederick County Girls
Softball League
o
Game locations throughout Frederick County.
·
Priority registration runs through July 19th
o
No late fees through that date; teams limited
based on space
·
Registration covers Team t-shirts, Fall Ball
hoodie, and other misc program costs (including umpires for 10U
and above)
o
10U, 12U, and 15U fee - $60
o
8U fee - $40
LUYAA and our MAYAA friends are looking
forward to continuing our annual Fall Ball partnership with
Frederick County Girls Softball League (FCGSL). Fall Ball
provides the unique opportunity for our players to team together
against other county teams in friendly competition. We hope to
field Fall Ball teams at all age groups – 8U, 10U, 12U, and 15U
– but will create teams based on space and priority signups so
we keep team size reasonable. As in Spring, we have a great
track record of including all interested players.
As our many Fall Ball alumni can attest,
the fun and casual environment allows players to enhance their
abilities while also picking up new skills and trying new
positions. Our “move up” players heading to higher age levels
next Spring also benefit from added challenges and experiencing
new rules they will encounter. The full FCGSL rule set also
provides extra learning opportunities to younger age groups.
Fall Ball practice will basically kick-off
along with school and is usually once per week – games will be
played for eight weeks on Sunday afternoons from Sept 12th
through the end of October. In previous years, teams played two
mini-games back to back - each 1 hr and 10 minutes with a 10
minute break in between. Sometimes these timed sessions are
combined for a normal length game. The Sunday sessions always
last no more than 2 1/2 hours which allows for us to work around
other family activities like football games!! Different start
times are established by age group - usually sessions start at
either 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.
Area teams are grouped by location so
LUYAA/MAYAA teams usually play at regional sites in the southern
portion of the county, including Urbana Park, Frederick,
Walkersville, etc. Team practices will be at normal LUYAA/MAYAA
fields (Windsor Knolls, New Market, Mt. Airy). Game specifics
and practice days will be worked out in coming weeks.
As noted, the Fall Ball program uses FCGSL
rules - which means full girl pitch at the 10U and above levels
(with walks and all - no coach pitch). Since no standings are
kept, Fall Ball provides an instructional atmosphere and
includes special considerations like player rotation and limits
on innings pitched to maximize opportunities.
Please register now to confirm spots in our
2010 Fall Ball Program. We’ll line up teams based on the
response. Please send any questions and move up requests to
softball@luyaa.org - Remember we will be looking for coach
support as well.
Thanks to all the families for your
continued support for the Softball Program. As always, we look
forward to seeing you out on the diamond!
Mike Schoonover
LUYAA Softball
Commissioner
softball@luyaa.org
240.409.9851 cell/text
Program Background
Information for LUYAA Fastpitch Softball:
LUYAA is based
out of southeast Frederick County Maryland and operates the
largest intramural sports program in the region - primarily
serving areas within the Linganore, Oakdale and Urbana school
feeder systems. We partner with Mt. Airy Youth Athletic
Association (MAYAA) for our intramural level fastpitch program
and also with the Frederick County Girls Softball League (FCGSL)
for our upper age groups as well as Fall Ball. In addition,
LUYAA Softball supports regional travel/tournament programs
which offer the highest levels of competition for advanced
players.
Players are
divided by age groups that keep the instruction and competition
matched to the appropriate physical maturity and skill
development of the players. Our intramural program offers 8 and
under (8U), 10 and under (10U), and 12 and under (12U) with
games at our "home" fields located at Windsor Knolls Middle
School (10U/12U), Green Valley Elementary (8U), and Mt. Airy's
Watkins Park (8U/10U/12U). Come see us play!
In addition,
teams are fielded into the Frederick County Girls Softball
League (FCGSL) for 15 and under (15U) and new for 2010 -
a planned 18 and under (18U) level.
Team practices
will be at LUYAA/MAYAA fields at the following locations:
Windsor Knolls Middle School, Green Valley Elementary, New
Market Middle School, and also Watkins Park in Mt. Airy.
For planning purposes and field juggling, we try to target
practice/game days as follows for the age groups: various
weekdays for 8U; Tu/Fri/Sat for 10U; M/W/Sat for 12U; Tu/Th/Sat
for 15U (with some early season Sunday games); 18U tbd. At the
younger ages, there are typically about two activities per week
(games or practice); while older age groups get together at
least 3 times per week. Specific schedules will be worked out
as the season arrives. Practices gets underway as weather
allows in mid/late March. Games start by mid-April and wrap up
by the end of the school year for 8U/10U/12U/15U. The new 18U
season should get underway after the high school seasons end
(near Memorial Day) and finish by end of June.
As Commissioner,
my continuing goal is to ensure LUYAA Softball provides an
outstanding opportunity for our girls to play and learn about
the game in a fun, engaging environment. While studies show
organized youth sports provide notable benefits ranging from
health to self-esteem, we certainly also know this is a game to
be enjoyed by all. In this positive atmosphere governed by our
Code of Conduct (link found below), the girls and the program
will continue to thrive. Indeed, friends made on the diamond
can be some of the most important connections they will have.
The same can be said for the valuable family and community
connections.
I would like to
extend an invitation to each of you to find out how you can get
involved to feed this “love of the game.” As a volunteer
organization, we need help from everyone and there will be
plenty of opportunities to apply your skills whether it includes
helping out with coaching, fields, equipment, team activities,
concessions or other fund raising, finding sponsors, and many
more contributions to a successful season and a healthy
program. There are openings on the Softball Committee as well
to help us guide strategic program decisions.
Please contact
me with any questions, concerns and suggestions, as we get ready
to launch another great season!
Mike Schoonover
LUYAA Softball Commissioner
softball@luyaa.org
