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Welcome to Bridgewater Softball's Tournament Team program!
For those of you new toTournament Softball or new to our Softball program, please find below information to help you learn about our competitive summer Softball program.
Eligibility: Players in grades 1 through 9 must be registered in our current spring recreation program to participate in our tournament softball program. Depending on a player's grade or age (birth date). Please see the chart below, Players can tryout in their age level and up to one level above their age eligibility level. Example - Date of birth is March 1, 1998. On December 31st 2008, player is 10yrs old, player has the option of trying out at 10U and 12U.
Age Eligibility Table
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Age Group
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Eligibility
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8U
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8 years old or younger on December 31st , 2008
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10U
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10 years old or younger on December 31st , 2008
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12U
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12 years old or younger on December 31st , 2008
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14U
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14 years old or younger on December 31st , 2008
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16U
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9th Grade or higher, 16 years old or younger on December 31st , 2008. Must be Bridgewater-Raritan High School Student . Freshmen and JV players receive an automatic spot on the team
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Fee: The fee for summer tournament softball is based on the number of tournaments the team attends. The fee includes Tournament Softball Uniform.
Registration: Final registration is in person at the day of the tryout when you sign in, but each player must pre-register on the website. Generally, each age group has one coordinator that will send out information in advance about the tryouts. They will track a list of names of pre-registered players interested in playing tournament Softball.
Registration forms are online
Team Formation: Generally, we have one team at each age group, and some age groups may grow to two teams. Players are evaluated at tryouts and the top 12 or 13 are placed on the "A" team. The next tier of 12 or 13 players will play on the "B" team. The number of teams at every age level will be determined by the total number of players who tryout, with the consideration that there needs to be enough pitching and catching talent to support all the teams.
Tryouts: Players must participate on scheduled tryout days for their age group. If a player cannot make the tryout you must contact the coordinator for the age group to let us know why in advance. Players who are going to tryout for more than one age group, must attend tryouts for both age groups. Should that player make a team at both levels though, they may only play on one team, and they will need to make the decision immediately once notified about team placement. In Tournament Softball, not all players will make the team, some players will be cut. Players will be rated objectively at the tryouts by a team of assessors.
16U Tryouts: In order to be eligible to tryout at 16U players must be a student of Bridgewater-Raritan High School. Players from the Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity High School teams will be invited to join this team.
2009 TRYOUT SCHEDULE
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Age Group
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Days
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Dates
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Times
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Locaiton
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Contact
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10U
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Tuesday
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March 31, 2009
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7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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BRMS
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Chris Zinn
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12U
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Saturday
Sunday
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October 18, 2008
October 19, 2008
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2:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
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North Bridge #1
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Gene DeStefano
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14U
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Saturday
Sunday
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October 18, 2008
October 19, 2008
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4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. - 12 noon
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North Bridge #1
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Dominick Gonnella
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16U
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TBA
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Spring 2009
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TBA
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TBA
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Commitment: The tournament program is competitive-level Softball which requires a commitment from both the player and the player's family. Practice is base on field availability during the Spring Recreation season and then 1-2 times per week depending on the game schedule during the summer season. Tournaments usually begin at the conclusion of the school year, and generally conclude by the end of July. From mid-May through the end of July, players and families should expect to practice and or play games multiple times during the week and multiple games on the weekends. Some teams may choose to practice twice a week then attend weekend tournaments, while other teams may play league games twice a week and attend weekend tournaments. We try to be flexible and work with other spring activities, but Spring/Summer Softball should be the primary emphasis (e.g. - not soccer, swimming, lacrosse, etc).
While vacations are not out of the question, absences are discouraged, as the team and players depend on each other to be there through multiple tournaments and practices. Please remember that our tournament game season lasts for only seven weeks. Rosters are kept to a minimum, to maximize playing time during every game. A player and their family are expected to make a full-time commitment to the program.
Remember, if you do plan on playing tournament and also taking vacations during the tournament season, your child could be taking a roster spot away from a player who is willing to make a 100% commitment to the program. Missing games due to vacation or other activities could result in less playing time. The intensity of the program depends on the coach and the collective intentions of the team.s parents. You should expect the "A" team to be a highly competitive and stricter in its approach to the commitment. You should also expect lesser intensity on a "B" team.
Tournaments: Bridgewater Softball Tournament teams will participate in tournaments and the Midstate Girls Softball League (MSGSL) at the manager's discretion. In addition, our more competitive teams will also participate in the Cal Ripken District League ("A" teams only) a progressive competition which could lead to States and Regional level tournaments. Most tournaments play 4-5 games each weekend including playoff/championship rounds, typical tournament season, teams will play between 25 and 35 games during the seven week period from early-June through the end of July.
Sample Schedule of Tournaments and League Games
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Tournaments & League Games
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Dates
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No. of Games
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West Jersey Challenge
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June 21st & 22nd
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3 games + playoffs
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South Plainfield Fastpitch
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July 18, 19 & 20th
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3 games + playoffs
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Readington No Fear
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July 26th & 27th
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3 games + playoffs
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MidState Girls Softball League (MSGSL)
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June 9 - July 25
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10 season games + playoffs
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Cal Ripken District League
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TBA
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TBA
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Geography: Teams usually travel only as far as surrounding counties (Somerset, Hunterdon, Union and Middlesex).
Managers: All managers are approved by the Board and are dependent on the final outcome of their child's tryout. If you are interested in managing or assisting please contact your age group's coordinator. Any additional questions, please contact age group coordinators or board members.
AGE GROUP COORDINATORS
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Age Group
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Coordinator
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10U
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Chris Zinn
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12U
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Gene DeStefano
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14U
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16U
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