2024 EVALUATION INFORMATION 

U11, U13, U15 and U17

 

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**IMPORTANT**

Saskatoon Zone 1 Hustlers are encouraging no spectators viewing the tryouts. We want your player to perform their skills to the best of their ability, so we kindly ask that you refrain from staying within the building. We have found in the past spectators can be a distraction to both the players and our evaluators. Parents may assist their player to the turf prior to the scheduled tryout session and exit 10 minutes prior to the start of the tryout/evaluations. Parents/players may not approach any of the evaluators before or after the tryout sessions.

 

  

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MANDATORY Evaluations dates 

Our Evaluation Dates for U11, U13, U15 and U17 age divisions are Friday, February 2nd and Saturday, February 3rd, 2024.

** You must be registered by Feb. 1st to take part in Evaluations **

Evaluations are mandatory to be eligible to play on an A team. If for some reason you are not able to attend our evaluation dates please contact us ASAP at dean.bilodeau@usask.ca 

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2024 Evaluations Information

Saskatoon Zone 1 Hustlers Evaluation and Team Formation Methodology Policy

Player Requirements

Participants are required to bring their own glove, helmet, bat and running shoes or turf shoes (NO CLEATS will be allowed on the turf). There will be some catchers gear available but players are encouraged to bring their own equipment.

Evaluations

Parents and players always have questions about this process and how players are placed. We feel it is important that there is full disclosure of this process in advance of evaluations. Our goal as an organization is to hold unbiased evaluations and give every player an equal chance of making the team. The Zone has developed an evaluation process that intends to place players on teams matching their individual skills and competitive level. We recognize that players develop at different times and intervals. Some players will develop the most from being one of the top players and driving the team flow. Some players will develop the most from being one of the lower players and having to step up their level of play. The goal is to build teams that consist of players with similar abilities and drive, in a competitive atmosphere, while fostering skills development.

Should a player have an illness or injury, or cannot attend evaluations/tryouts, immediately contact the Zone Commissioner or the Zone Coordinator to discuss the situation.

For those players that have chosen NOT to be considered for an A team are still encouraged to attend evaluations so they can be properly evaluated based on their skill level which helps us make our teams at the B level. 

The Zone makes every effort to ensure a fair, impartial, and balanced evaluation of players for our various Teams. This is a difficult task that our association and evaluators undertake in any given season.

Your Evaluators: We have brought back the 222's, Keith Mackintosh, Dean Holoien, and their team of instructors for the 2024 Hustler Evaluations. Click here for the 222's website.

 

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Evaluations Format

This year, we will be running evaluations as a circuit. It will comprise of (4) area's. Hitting, Infield, Outfield, and Arm Strength Velocity. We will split each age division into (4) groups, and they will move through the circuit to complete all (4) area's. These (4) areas of the circuit will be running simultaneously to maximize time and space.

SIGN-IN Required - when you arrive at this year's Evaluations, you will be required to sign in with the Executive. You will be assigned a Group Leader (an executive member) and you will be with that group for the entire evaluation process. This is to ensure that we stay on track, as well as keep it flowing properly. More importantly, this is to ensure that everyone gets through the circuit and is properly evaluated.

Hitting – Each athlete will get 10 live pitches and 10 soft front toss pitches.  The athletes will be scored on contact, swing mechanics and power.

Bat Exit Speed Velocity – Each athlete will hit a ball into a bow net from 10ft away.  The Speed in which the ball comes off the bat will be recorded and athletes will be given points based on their ranking.  Each Athlete will be given 4 attempts.

Infield – Athletes will field a rolled ground ball 75ft from 1st base at the shortstop position.  The test is glove to glove time. Time starts when the rolled ball hits the athlete’s glove and stops when it reaches the coaches glove at first base.  Points are also given for accuracy and mechanics and these points are combined to give a total score for the attempt. Each athlete will get 4 attempts, the best two attempts will be averaged for their score. Each Athlete will also get 5 ground balls hit to them that they must field and throw to first base from the shortstop position.  The evaluator will give a score based on mechanics, body positioning and skill proficiency. This score will be added to the time testing score for an overall Infield score.   

Outfield – Athletes will catch a pop up, thrown to them, and then throw the ball 120ft to home plate. The test is Glove to Glove time.  Time starts once the tossed ball hits the athlete’s glove and time stops once the ball reaches the coaches glove at home plate.  Points are also given for accuracy and these points are combined to give a total score for the attempt. Each athlete will get 4 attempts. Each Athlete will also get 4 fly balls thrown to them that they must attempt to track and catch and throw the ball back to the coach.  The evaluator will give a score based on mechanics, body positioning and skill proficiency. This score will be added to the time testing score for an overall Infield score. 

Arm Strength Velocity – Each athlete will throw a ball into a bow net from 10ft away.  The Speed of the throw will be recorded and athletes will be given points based on their ranking.  Each Athlete will be given 4 attempts.

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Pitching and Catching Evaluations

Pitching – Each Pitcher will be asked to throw a set number of pitches.  The evaluator will record speed, location and spin as well as assess mechanics. The number of pitches are determined by the age division.

• U11 -  3 attempts of each pitch that they throw or a combined total of 9 pitches

• U13 – 3 attempts of each pitch that they throw or a combined total of 9 pitches

• U15 – 3 attempts of each pitch that they throw or a combined total of 12 pitches

• U17 – 3 attempts of each pitch that they throw or a combined total of 15 pitches 

Catching – Each Catcher will be tested on the following items:

• Test 1 - Each catcher will be tested on 3 attempted bunt throws to first base on a movement to glove time.  The catcher will start 4ft behind home plate in the squat position and field a bunt in three different locations in front of home plate and throw the ball to first base.  The bunts are timed as three separate attempts with time starting on the catcher's first movement and stopping when the ball reaches the coaches glove at first base. Accuracy points will also be awarded for each attempt.

• Test 2 – Pop Time – Glove to glove test on a throw from behind home plate to second base.  The catcher will receive a pitched ball from a coach and then make a throw to second base.  Time will start when the ball hits the catcher’s glove and stop when the ball reaches the coaches glove at 2nd base.  Accuracy points will be awarded to complete the overall attempt score.  Each catcher will get 3 attempts.

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'A' Team Formation Methodology

Based on the evaluation scores the top ranked 18 players will be eligible to be selected for an A team.  

Of this group of 18 athletes:

           (7) players will be chosen from the evaluations process exclusively:

   •     The top 2 ranked pitchers will be chosen

   •     The top ranked catcher will be chosen 

   •     The top 4 ranked position players will be chosen (not specific to position)

The remaining players 5-7 players are selected by the head coach which considers:

   •     Evaluation scores

   •     Team needs (by position)

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Note: Pitchers and catchers are evaluated on general fielding and hitting skills in addition to their pitching or catching skills. Therefore if the athlete does NOT rank in the top 2 pitchers or top catcher they can a) still be chosen based on top (4) ranked position players and or selected in the remianing coach selections.  

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'B' Teams Formation Methodology

All remaining players, not placed on an A team, will be divided equally and placed on a B team. Starting with the pitchers being divided equally and then followed by catchers. The remaining players will then be divided equally based on evaluation scores, this also includes the non-evaluated players. This ensures each B team has pitching, catching and are as equally skilled as possible. Unfortunately friend requests are NOT considered.

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Summary

Don’t put unnecessary pressure on your child. They may play at several different levels during their youth softball years, as all kids develop at different rates. 

We hope the disclosure of this process helps explain how things will work and gives you confidence that we will make the softball tryout process fair and independent. Parents’ support of both their child and the program are critical components in a child’s understanding of tryouts and ultimate motivation for enjoying softball. It is important for parents and players to understand that the highest-level team is not always the best fit for a player. Parents should not assume that if their child was on an A team the previous year that they will automatically be placed on an A team the following year. The Zone will continue to work very hard to ensure that every player is set up for success and is in a position to have fun competing in the great sport of softball.

By success, we define that not in terms of wins and losses, but rather in the following terms:

·       Best chance to develop and improve their personal softball skills

·       Best chance to have an impact in gameplay

·       Best chance to develop confidence on the field with similarly skilled players

·       Best chance to develop a love for the game

We strongly believe as an organization, if we can get most of these criteria for success correct, the player will have an enjoyable softball experience, continue to love the game, and play and develop as a ball player.

Players---remember to work hard and have fun!

Any further questions, please contact the Saskatoon Zone 1 Hustlers Board