Koa Sports - Mudcats Girls Youth Softball Modified Fastpitch League
Information and FAQs

Spring 2012 Girls Softball/Modified Fastpitch League- FAQs
(Grades 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th, 6th-8th) Registration Closed Contact Mindi for Wait List Info

Dates: Sundays - 3/25 through 5/13 (Rain Date 5/20) No League 4/8
GameTimes: Games are generally scheduled between noon and 6:00pm
Game Locations: Connelly School of the Holy Child (9029 Bradley Blvd., Potomac MD 20854)  
Midweek Practice: Week day practice clinics start week of 3/19
Cost:  $270/player (see our Value Chart)
REGISTER HERE!!

Program:      Koa's girls softball/modified fastpitch league introduces athletes to the fundamentals of softball.  As with other Koa programs, we handle all of the player development while you – the parents – get to sit on the sidelines and cheer!  Our professional coaches, many of whom played softball at the collegiate level, work with the players both in their pre-game warmup, during the game and at our optional midweek practice clinics -- all included in the fee.  You may register individually, with a few friends, or bring a pre-formed team.  Teams will have 13 players.  Games will be on Sundays. 

If you have any questions, please contact Mindi Susskind (mindi@koasports.org)

KOA GIRLS 2nd-8th GRADE SOFTBALL/MODIFIED FASTPITCH LEAGUE FAQs:

We’ve covered the FAQ’s about our Koa Girls Softball/Modified Fastpitch League below, but if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mindi Susskind

Q – Who can play in the Koa Mudcat League?
A – Any girl in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grades for the 2011-12 school year is welcome to join the Mudcat League.  Will have 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th, and middle school (6th-8th) divisions. Click here to register -- registration closes 2/25!

Q -- How do I get on a Mudcat League team?
A – It’s easy to play on a Mudcat team. When you sign up for the Mudcat League, you can opt to have Koa place you on an age appropriate team or you can come to Koa with a pre-formed team. If you have a pre-formed team, email Parent Relations Director Mindi Susskind to move your entire team over to the Mudcat League.  Keep in mind that we will do everything possible to accommodate all requests to play with friends, but if you don't come in with an entire team, we cannot guarantee this. When registering, be sure to include your friends' names at the "requests" prompt.

Q – Can I move my entire team into Koa?
A – Yes, absolutely.  Teams may have up to 13 players. Contact Mindi for any questions about moving your team to the Mudcat League.

Q – Who will coach the teams?
A – At Koa Sports, we believe kids can get the best training from experienced coaches and instructors. It is important that every Mom and Dad in our program read the Koa White Paper on The Importance of Learning from Non-Parent Coaches. All the coaches are required to go through extensive background screening. Furthermore, they are trained to follow the plans of our Advisory Board, made up of collegiate athletes and professional players. All teams have some interaction with our collegiate players. Full bios for many of our coaches can be found on our staff page (click here for bios).  The Koa coaches will run the pre-game practice and coach the games in addition to running the midweek practice clinics.  A volunteer PAC (Parent Assistant Coach) will assist the Koa coach during the games and the pre-game practice. The parents get to enjoy the games and cheer on all the athletes from the sidelines.

Q - What does a "professional" coach mean?
A - In simplest terms, it means that the coach is required to (a) follow the practice plans designed and implemented by the Koa collegiate and professional ball players; (b) have extensive background screening performed; and (c) strive to adhere to our code of "PEP" (always POSITIVE, with ENERGY, and PROFESSIONAL).

Q: What are the qualifications of the Koa coaches?
A: All of Koa's coaches are required to go through extensive background screening. Furthermore, they are trained to follow the plans of our Advisory Board, made up of collegiate athletes and professional players (one of whom was a starting shortstop in the World Series!). All teams have interaction with our collegiate players. Full bios of some of our coaches can be found on our staff page.

Q - What is the parent involvement for the Mudcat Softball League?
A - Each Mudcat Softball team will be asked to provide a PM (Parent Manager) and a PAC (Parent Assistant Coach). The role of the PM is to act as the communications point person between Koa and the team. The PM will send out team communications and get weekly head counts for the games. The PAC (and/or the PAC's designee) will assist the Koa Head Coach in the pre-game practices and will coach 1st base during the games. The Koa Coach will provide game-time advice and strategy to the girls. Here are the links to the PAC and PM guidelines.

Q- What is Modified Fastpitch softball?
A- Modified Fastpitch is similar to slowpitch softball in that the pitcher delivers the ball without using a windmill motion, but in modified fastpitch, the ball crosses the plate on a flat/even plane, without an arc.  Since the pitcher cannot use a full windmill motion, the pitches will be slower than fastpitch, yet on a level plane that promotes hitting. (At this age, most girls have yet to fully develop their depth perception, making a ball coming in on an arc extremely hard to hit due to the deceleration that is achieved once the ball reaches it maximum altitude causing the ball to drop at a faster pace.)  We will use coach pitch for the 2nd/3rd grade division and kid pitch for the older age groups.

Q-What are the rules for modified fastpitch?
A- 2012 Mudcat Softball League Rules

Q- Who will be pitching?
A- For the 2nd/3rd grade division, the PAC or a coach will pitch to their own team. For the 4th/5th as well as the 6th-8th grade divisions, the girls will be pitching. During our weekday practice clinics, we will have a devoted pitching station.

Q – How does the Koa Mudcat League differ from other leagues?
A – Thankfully, girls who want to play softball have some options.  Our league differs from others in one important way:  our league provides professional coaching whereas other leagues leave it to the parents.  Not that there’s anything wrong with parents, of course. (Those of us writing these FAQs are all parents!)  But we believe that the players get better instruction and have way more fun, when the professionals are doing the coaching! Read the Koa White Paper outlining our coaching philosophy.

Q – When will the games be held?
A – We will play on Sunday afternoons.  The pre-game warmup and practice will be held immediately before the game.  The Spring 2012 season games will begin March 25, 2012 and run through May 13 with May 20 reserved for rain make-ups. Practice clinics start the week of March 19th.

Q- Do teams have practices?
A- Mudcat teams are encouraged to come to the weekly practice clinics as a team -- practice clinics begin the week of 3/19. We will hold midweek practice clinics - Tuesdays and Thursdays. Although we cannot ensure a team’s individual coach will be at every practice clinic, the players will be kept in their league teams during the clinic. Team PMs will poll the team for the day most players can make. These team practice clinics encourage teams to gel in addition to giving more opportunity for instruction. Players who cannot make their team practice day are welcome to attend another practice clinic. Teams are also encouraged to practice as a team during the week outside of the Koa practices; however Koa cannot provide a field. Should a team decide to hold a mid-week practice, the PAC (Parent Assistant Coach) will be in charge. Koa will provide suggested practice plans for such practices 

Q - Will there be a Koa mid-week practice?
A -Koa will hold free "development" practices weekly for players in the Mudcat League throughout the spring season beginning the week of 3/19. At these optional practices, registered Mudcat Softball League players are eligible and encouraged to attend as a team. Team PMs will poll teams for the practice day most players can attend and stay with that schedule for the season. Players who cannot make their team practice day are welcome to attend another practice clinic on a space-available basis. At each practice, the players within a team will work on a particular focus area with the Koa coaches (Midweek Practice Plan). The schedule of development practice focuses will be on the website during the season. PACs and PMs do not need to be present or assist with these player development clinics.

Q - Do practice times ever change during a season?
A - Yes, as daylight conditions change during the season we will need to adjust practice times. In the fall this means earlier start times later in the season and for the spring it means later start times after daylight savings time begins. We want all teams to get in as much time on the field as they can during the season so we take advantage of the longer days whenever possible.

Q – What will you do at the Sunday pre-game practice?
A – Our coaches will have a practice plan each week, focusing on player development. Mudcat Game Day Routines.

Q – Will the games have umpires?
A – Yes, the games will have umpires!

Q – How long is the season?
A – The Spring 2012 season begins Sunday, March 25, 2012 and goes May 13 with May 20 reserved as a make-up date with practices starting the week of March 19th. There will be no League games on April 8.

Q – Where will the games be held?
A – We are excited to announce the Spring 2012 season games will be held at the Connelly School for the Holy Child in Bethesda (9029 Bradley Blvd.). The fields at Holy Child are turf giving us more options should we have rainy weather this spring.

Q - What equipment will my player need?
A - Players should come to every game and practice with their glove. Personal bats and helmets are optional. Please note, those concerned about lice may want their player to have her own helmet. Many players also choose to wear mouth guards. Players should wear sneakers or turf shoes.

Q - What should my player wear at games and practices?
A - Players should wear the Mudcat uniform (Koa-issued Mudcat jersey, shorts and socks) to every game. Sneakers or turf cleats should be worn to games and practices. Players must wear their Mudcat jersey to any practice they attend. Wear comfortable shorts or pants -- no jeans or jewelry please!

Q – How many teams do you expect to have in each division?  
A – Based on the interest we have had, we expect each division to have between 4-8 teams per division. Because of our professional coaching model, space is very limited. We had to turn down many players in the Spring 2011 season.

Q - What is the age range for players competing?
A - The Mudcat League age range for competing players generally goes from +/- 1 or 2 years/grades. Other local leagues can go +/- 2 to 3 years, which is normal for many "open registration" sports.

Q – When is the cutoff date for registration?
A – Registration closes February 25, 2012 - but remember we had to turn away players last spring! Contact Mindi for wait list info.

Q - What if I have to withdraw from the League?
A - There will be no team/league refunds given to any individual player who withdraws after the published registration deadline. If an additional replacement player can be found to take the spot of a withdrawing player, we will be able to refund league fees minus a 20% administrative fee. The administrative fee covers among other things, time spent (1) contacting new payers, (2) adjusting rosters, (3) notifying host league, and (4) hosting a new tryout. If we cannot find a replacement player we will give you credit towards a future Koa program, minus the administrative fees.

Q – How much does it cost to play in the Spring 2012 Mudcat League?
A – The fee per player is $270.00 and includes a Koa uniform, professional coaching during the games, plus the opportunity to attend our player development clinics during the week. Check out our Mudcat League Value Chart:

Q – Are you having a regular fast pitch program?
A – We offer fastpitch travel teams if your daughter is looking for something at a higher level. Tryouts have already taken place for the Spring 2012 Season. Please contact Coach McKenna for waiting list information.

Q – What if I already play another spring sport?
A – Koa believes kids should be playing several sports, especially at this age.  We will work with you to try and find a placement that will fit your schedule.  Although we cannot guarantee game times, our Sunday schedule will eliminate many spring soccer conflicts. 

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