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Southern Express Softball It’s Hard to Stop a Train! |
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TRYOUTS & OPENINGS: |
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PREVIOUS TEAMS: |
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PREVIOUS TEAMS: |
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Age Divisions & Frequently Asked Questions |
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Age Divisions
For travel softball, teams participate in age groupings defined in two-year increments. Cut-off dates run in conjunction with the calendar year (January 1—December 31). The following age categories apply for the 2010-2011 season:
10U: Includes players with birthdays in 2000 and 2001 12U: Includes players with birthdays in 1998 and 1999 14U: Includes players with birthdays in 1996 and 1997 16U: Includes players with birthdays in 1994 and 1995 18U: Includes players with birthdays in 1992 and 1993
Frequently Asked Questions
Question #1: If my daughter was born on January 1, 2002; is she eligible to play? Answer: Generally, the appropriate age group for this player would be 8U. However, Southern Express does not field an 8U team. Therefore, the player would be eligible to tryout for the older 10U team. In competitive softball, girls are allowed to play up an age division. However, we caution parents that our teams play at a high level of competition. Please do not try your child out for an older age division if their physical skills, size, and mental capabilities are not comparable with players up to 2+ years older. Serious injury can result.
Question #2: I noticed that in some age categories, Southern Express fields two teams. How does that work? Which team should my daughter tryout for? Answer: As teams develop from the younger age levels, groups of players generally pool together with their appropriate age division to form teams. For example, the 14U division will have two teams for 2010: Southern Express 96 and Southern Express 97. Girls with birthdays in 1996 would generally tryout for the older 14U team [Southern Express 96]. Girls with birthdays in 1997 would generally tryout for the younger 14U team [Southern Express 97]. However, it is also acceptable for girls with birthdays in 1996 or 1997 to tryout for either team. The 12U division will also have two teams for the 2010-2011 season: Southern Express 98 and Southern Express 99. Girls with birthdays in 1998 would generally tryout for the older 12U team [Southern Express 98]. Girls with birthdays in 1999 would generally tryout for the younger 12U team [Southern Express 99]. However, it is also acceptable for girls with birthdays in 1998 and 1999 to tryout for either team.
Question #3: Are there fees associated with playing Southern Express Softball? Answer: Yes. Players that make the team will be charged a fee. Currently, that fee is $400. There is no registration fee associated with tryouts.
Question #4: What do the fees cover? Answer: Fees are collected to cover costs. Southern Express Softball is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to girls softball. There is no profit made. Each team is allotted a budget which is used to pay for tournament sanctions and registrations. A small portion of fees goes directly back to the organization to pay for insurance, various team equipment, spare uniforms, etc. None of our coaches are paid. They are strictly volunteer.
Question #5: I heard travel softball is expensive? Can you provide some insight? Answer: Yes, travel softball can be expensive. The largest expense centers around travel costs. As mentioned in Question #4, tournament registration fees are generally covered by each team’s budget. However, travel expenses (lodging, food, gasoline, etc.) associated with attending tournaments is the responsibility of the player’s family. In addition, players are required to buy a set of uniforms, and furnish their own personal softball equipment (bats, gloves, gear, etc.). Each team’s schedule is the responsibility of the coach, and is handled differently by each coach.
Question #6: Where does Southern Express play tournaments? Answer: Southern Express Softball generally attracts families from the Southern Illinois region who are interested in competitive softball. Because Southern Express is a regional select travel program, there are also several players that join from Southern Missouri, Western Kentucky, and Southern Indiana. At this time, there are not many sanctioned tournaments located in the immediate vicinity. Most teams elect to attend tournaments somewhere within approximately 1.5-4.0 hours travel distance. Because Southern Illinois is located within one hour of several different states, it is not unusual for teams to travel to tournaments in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas and northern Illinois. |