FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions 

Division Commissioners:

6U (Majors & Minors) Roy Gutierrez - 

8U - Justin Danna -

10U - Ray Havens, Jr. - rayhavens@outlook.com

12U - Kevin Honeycutt - 

13&Up - Aimee Skok -

How is the league organized?
The purpose of KGSA is to provide a league for girls of any experience level in the Katy and surrounding area to play softball in an environment that promotes fun competition and learning. We play according to age levels (starting at 4 years old).

Divisions: 6U (Majors), 6U (Minors), 8U, 10U, 12U, 13&Up (14U-18U)
(Ex: 6U = Any girl 6 years of age or younger as of December 31st of the previous season.)

What division is my daughter eligible for? 
Division eligibility is determined by the player's age attained by January 1, each year for the season being played. Players are allowed to play up in 1 division with prior notice and approval from KGSA. We designate the following registration divisions.

Concession Stand Guidelines: NO CHILD under the age of 16 yrs old will be allowed in the concession stand area, NO EXCEPTIONS! Concessions are operated by an outside vendor that requires NO PARENT working concessions during the Spring or Fall seasons.

How are teams formed?
There is a player evaluation draft in which players will demonstrate their ability through a series of skill drills - hitting, fielding, throwing, and base running. They will be evaluated by a group of coaches. We will then conduct a draft in which coaches will select girls to add to their team in a rotational format. For additional guidelines please see the Draft Guidelines. 

How are "non-drafted" teams formed?
Girls in a non-drafted age bracket (6U) will be assigned to teams by the league according to the following guidelines: Same school, same grade & same subdivision whenever possible. Special transportation needs will be given consideration whenever possible. The availability of coaches and a very great disparity of participation per school often create a necessity to build teams, which may consist of multiple schools and/or subdivisions. We will honor ALL requests to insure that your child does not play for a coach you specifically want to avoid. These requests are kept in complete confidence.

When and where will practices and games be held?
All practices are at the discretion of the team coach and should be organized in a central location to the player's location unless a team is practicing at the KGSA fields or other sporting complexes. Games will be held at the KGSA facilities located at Paul D. Rushing park.

How many games do you play per season?
The Spring season will consist of 10 regular-season games and the Fall season will consist of 8-10 regular-season games. Both seasons will have an End of Season tournament. Games will be played on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays with make-up games (weather permitting) scheduled any day of the week to include Sundays. All games will be scheduled in a double-header format when possible.

How do you handle rainouts?
When possible, games will be made-up/rescheduled based on availability during the week, including Saturdays and Sundays.

Can I be drafted if I miss player evaluations?
Yes. All paid players will be assigned a team regardless if they attend the player evaluation.

What is the purpose of the player evaluation?
The evaluation is an opportunity for our coaches to assess the talent level of each girl within their respective age group. Through this process, coaches draft players in accordance with their observations, with the goal of each team having a balanced roster of experienced and inexperienced players.

What items do I need for tryouts?

How are coaches selected?
Adults volunteer to coach or are recruited by our Board. Each prospective coach completes an application and is screened by KGSA. Recommendations are made to the Board. Applicants who are approved are assigned to teams.

What is "All-Stars"?
All-Stars is a select group of KGSA players (that have played and registered in the Spring season of the same year), that are invited to form a competitive team to represent KGSA at Recreational and All-Star softball tournaments in Houston and surrounding areas. Any player that has registered and played in the Spring season of the same year is eligible to "tryout" for an All-Star team within their respective division. All-Star coaches, Board Members, and any other evaluators will select the players that will be offered a position on an All-Star team. A player must attend tryouts in order to be considered to be offered a spot on the team. The All-Star season typically starts in April and concludes in July. The All-Star program is a great way for girls to gain more experience and insight into select/tournament softball. The number of All-Star teams will vary based on the number of players that try out.

What size glove do I need?  
Glove Sizing: This can be different depending on the size of the child's hand. If she can slip each finger into the glove and swing it from sky to ground without it falling off it’s a good fit. It also has to be appropriate for the right size of ball too.

Gloves are measured by starting at the top of the index finger of the glove and measuring down the finger, along the inside of the pocket and then out to the heel of the glove. Most gloves have the pre-measured size stamped inside where the pocket is. Typical fielding sizes range from 9" - 13".

A glove is typically worn on the non-dominant hand so the dominant hand is ready to throw the ball. Purchasing a glove to fit on the left hand is called a "Right-Hand Throw" while a glove that fits on the right hand is called a "Left Hand Throw", sometimes referred to as "Full Right". So a right-handed player would wear a glove on the left hand.

What size bat do I need? 
Bat Size: A good rule of thumb is to hold the nob end of the bat with the opposite throwing hand and extend directly straight out without dropping the head of the bat. Usually, the length is not as important as the weight of the bat. Too heavy of a bat leads to late swinging and produces foul balls or strikeouts.

Determining the Right Bat Weight

• Most bats are weighed in ounces

• Manufacturers have done a great job of balancing the bat's weight with its length

• Many bats have a weight-to-length ratio, often shown as -4, -6, etc.

• This basically means a 34-inch bat with a -6 ratio weighs 28 ounces

• Selecting weight really depends on two critical factors--your strength and your hitting style

• It also depends a lot on your personal preference in weight and length, so the following are simply guidelines to follow:

• Bigger, stronger players prefer a heavier bat since they get the benefits of both the heft and swing power

• Smaller players with less strength should consider a lighter bat to generate a quicker swing

• Younger players, too, should consider that a lighter bat increases control, great for singles hitters, while also reducing the risk of injury

General guidelines:
There are some standard rules of thumb in selecting the appropriate bat length. The charts below offer some guidelines based on age and weight and height:
Age: Using your age as a guide, use the chart below to determine the bat length that fits your body.
 

Height and weight: Height and weight are usually better ways to determine what bat length may work best for you. Once again, use the height and weight chart to give you a general idea of the length of the bat that fits your body
 

What size softball is used? 
6U and 8U
11" RIF ball - The smaller size makes it easier for children's hands to grab, while the extra soft texture is touted as being a safer alternative to the hard 12-inch ball.

10U
11" standard softball – This ball more closely resembles the firmness of the 12” size but has a small diameter to fit a smaller hand.
 
12U+
12" - Girls in 12U and up divisions switch to a 12-inch ball. This ball is harder than most 10” and 11” models, and is in fact comparable to a regulation baseball in hardness, belying its name. 12-inch fast pitch is the standard for girls and women's softball from youth leagues through high school and college levels.

What size helmet do I need?  
Helmet Size: Helmets should fit snugly around the ears and front part of the forehead. The helmet should not bounce around the head when jogging/running around.  All helmets are required to have a protective facemask and chip strap.

What shoe do I need?  
Rubber cleats will give the player better traction and safety in the dirt than general sneakers.
Only players in the 14U/16U/18U division are eligible to wear metal cleats.