Skills Assessments
Skills Assessments
Assessments are an opportunity for an athlete to demonstrate her hitting, fielding, and running skills. Within the limits of a volunteer organization, KMGSA strives to make a skills assessment as impartial as possible. Each year, there is a player skills evaluation in which athletes are evaluated by performing skill specific drills. The result of these evaluations are used by the KMGSA Board to competitively roster teams.
Spring 2024 Skills Assessments
Mark Your Calendar for KMGSA Skills Assessments!
For all players in age divisions 10U & Older
- DATE: March 17th, 2024
- 10U- 6-7 pm
- 12U- 7-8 pm
- 14U/HS- 8-9 pm
- KMES - West & East Gyms
Age Divisions
KMGSA forms teams based on age regulations by USA Softball. The Summer 2024 age divisions are as follows:
| AGE DIVISION | BIRTHDATE RANGE |
|---|---|
| 8U | 09/01/14-8/31/17 |
| 10U | 09/01/12-8/31/14 |
| 12U | 09/01/10-8/31/12 |
| 14U | 09/01/08-8/31/10 |
| HS | 09/01/04-8/31/08 |
14U and HS Teams
If registration numbers dictate only one team for summer 2023, the top registered players will be selected for the 14U and HS teams.
Note for Pitchers
Pitchers: Due to the specialization and time commitment of pitching, 10U and older players MUST assess as a pitcher during Assessments in order to be considered for game time innings. The assessments will allow pitchers to be rostered appropriately and for the distribution of innings to aspiring pitchers.
KMGSA highly encourages all athletes interested in pitching to express interest to their coaches, work and improve during practice. Ultimately, it will be the coach's discretion to determine positions and playing time for their team.
Please be aware that there is often limited time during practice dedicated for pitching instruction; KMGSA strongly encourages attendance at organized pitching clinics, as well as, individual pitching practice outside of team practice time.
SUMMER 2024: 10U and Older Team Rosters
The KMGSA Board recognizes that our organization has an obligation to our players and opponents to form teams with skill levels commensurate to age and competitive ability. Therefore, teams ages 10U and older will be formed on the results of the skills assessments.
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The highest tier level team at each age division will include the top position players, the top two pitchers and the top two catchers as determined by skills assessments. The top position players shall not include the top two pitchers or catchers.
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Once the top team is formed, a KMGSA committee will roster players on equitable age division team(s).
Players may request to play down to a lower tier team subject to KMGSA board approval. Specifically, this allows the second rated pitcher or catcher on the higher level team an opportunity to play down in order to pitch/catch on a lower tier team.
What To Bring?
Players need to provide their own equipment; please bring anything you would need to play in a game: bat, glove, batting helmet. Players cannot wear cleats so come in tennis shoes. If your daughter is a catcher and has gear, please bring it.
Catchers: KMGSA will provide a limited number of player equipment the day of the assessment.
What To Expect
A minimum of two evaluators assess each player based on a number of things, including but not limited to the following criteria:
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Hitting, bunting, fielding grounders, fielding fly balls, sliding and base running.
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Softball skill level and consistency and athleticism.
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The ability and willingness to communicate on the field.
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Attitude, energy, body language, capacity for work, timeliness, and preparation.
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Ability to listen, coachability, and the ability to focus on the task at hand.
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Players will be placed on teams based on the above factors but also based on other considerations such as the number of other players with similar skill sets that may also be available for the same team.
KMGSA Eligbility
Athletes must be resident of Kasson-Mantorville or be enrolled in Kasson-Mantorville Schools, be properly registered, fees paid and in good standing with KMGSA to be eligible for tryouts and placement on an KMGSA roster. KMGSA forms teams based on age regulations by USA Softball. Late registrations and/or fee payments (after the formal registration dates) are subject to roster availability and will be assigned to teams at the discretion of the KMGSA Board.
Assessment Attendance
Players are required to attend the full skills assessment process. Illness, injury or extraordinary personal circumstances may cause players to request an exemption from tryouts. Requests must be made prior to the start of tryouts unless an injury or illness occurs during the tryouts. Submission of supporting documents, including a physician's reports, may be requested for submission prior to the end of tryouts for anyone requesting a waiver from tryouts. The KMGSA Board will review the request for exemption and determine the appropriate course of action based on the best interest of the program. Anyone choosing not to participate in tryouts will be placed on rosters at the discretion of the evaluators, KMGSA Board and the best interests of the program.
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If a player is sick or injured and unable to participate in tryouts, the KMGSA Board may evaluate that player based on past performance and player history.
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If a player has a conflict and knows in advance that she will not be able to make it to tryouts, she should contact the KMGSA Board as early as possible (a minimum of 2 weeks advance notice is recommended) to arrange another time to be evaluated prior to tryouts.
