Livermore Smoke Players will be assigned to divisions according to age as follows:

T-ball Division - Ages 5 and 6.
8 & Under Division - Ages 7 and 8.
10 & Under Division - Ages 9 and 10 and 5th graders.
Middle School Division - Any girls in grade 6th, 7th, and 8th.
Senior Division - Any girls in grade 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.

Age groups are determined by the birth date of a player according to her age as of January 1st 2010. All exceptions must be approved by the AGC coordinator and the executive board.

Also, 10u and middle school divisions are split into red and black divisions. Number of teams in each division depend on try out results, with more experienced/skilled girls placed in the black division. Evaluators do their best job at rating each girl. The goal is have the level of play on the field give each girl a chance to be safe, learn new skills, be challenged and have fun.

A copy of your child's birth certificate will be needed at registration. All players new and returning will need a copy with registration. We are shredding all certificates at the end of each year now for security purposes.

2010 Spring Registration Costs will be posted soon.
For current information see our 2010 Spring Rec page.

Each team will be assigned a bag with catchers gear, several bats and softballs. Girls will need to purchase a mitt, helmet with facemask and cleats. Many players also buy their own bats. When purchasing equipment keep in mind the following.

Helmets:
All helmets must be equipped with a face mask and chin strap that have been approved by NOCSAE - National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.

Bats:
Bats must have official softball marking on them. Here are two resources for selecting softball bats : age and weight chart and selecting the right bat.

No web?
Call the hotline 925 556 5259 for
current updates and LSGA information.
Also, Rain outs and field conditions on
game days are posted on the website.

Team and individual pictures usually occur on Opening Day. Each team will be given a time slot either before or after the ceremony. Your manager/team picture person will distribute picture information before opening day.

T-Ball and 8U players are placed by geographic school location. Requests will be attempted, but are not guaranteed.

10U and Middle School player are chosen in a Blind Draft. Players are placed in rounds based on their evaluations from try-outs. Managers and coaches players will be frozen in the round they fall(2 players max.). The draft proceeds in rounds the 1st and 2nd begin with pitching, 3rd with catching and 4th beginning with regular players. Number of rounds is based on the total players. Requests are not guaranteed.

A typical season follows this time frame:
Teams are picked in January,
practices begin in early February,
regular season games run from early
March to the end of April
with one week night and one weekend game.
The 10u and Middle School divisions have a postseason tournament ending in middle of May,
and an all star day which follows the tournament.

The Seniors regular season games start in
mid March and continue into early June.

Each year rain will interfere with the schedule, making
make up games necessary.
Specific dates for this year will be posted when available.

Team schedules are passed out on
opening day and available on the website.

Smoke try outs occur in early May,
with teams forming in Mid May.
The number of teams and age groups depend on
available players and coaches.
Teams practice several times a week, and play weekend tournaments around the Bay Area and Northern California.
The first tournament is our own Smoke tournament,
memorial day weekend in Livermore,
and then teams continue to play into early August.

Tournaments will typically have
3 pool games on saturday
scheduled from early morning to evening,
and from the results of saturday,
teams are seeded for a single elimination
bracket play on Sunday.
Number of teams and games
can vary with each tournament.

Try outs are run in late fall each year for girls moving into
10u and older divisions,
check our calendar for specific dates.

Typically try-outs run from 2 to 3 hours.
All girls will run through 4 stations:
hitting balls off a pitching machine,
catching fly balls in the outfield,
catching grounders from the short stop area
and throwing to first base, and running the bases.

Since it is off season for many girls,
evaluators are looking at softball skill form
and athleticism of the girls,
rather then the number of balls hit etc..
Girls who want to catch or pitch
must tryout for their positions at try-outs the same day.

The league will provide team shirts just before the regular season starts. At the initial team meeting, teams will decide on type/color of socks and shorts or pants to purchase. Additional items you may need
depending on your daughters age:
rubber or plastic cleats,
sliding shorts, visor or hat,
a sliding knee pad and batting gloves.