Effective January 2001, the Newtown Girls Youth Softball Association began operating as an affiliate of the internationally-recognized Babe Ruth League, Inc. The Babe Ruth League is now ranked as the premier amateur baseball & softball program in the world. In addition to the year 2001 being a significant one for Newtown Girls Softball, we will not be the only ones celebrating this very positive step forward, as the Babe Ruth League is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

The Babe Ruth organization represents more than 858,000 players on some 43,500 teams in more than 6,750 leagues. The softball division, started in 1984, is the fastest-growing division in the Babe Ruth League, Inc. Its primary emphasis is on the local league season: education, skill development, participation for players at all levels of athletic ability, and to ensure the participants have FUN.

Our Mission Statement

The Board of Directors, Coaches, and Volunteer Staffs will commit to creating a learning environment, that is both a challenging and FUN experience, for all members of the Newtown Girls Softball Association. Our primary intent is to help all of our players improve their softball skills, and to develop their abilities to function and prosper in a team environment. We will achieve that by promoting skill development, fostering team participation, teaching them the rules of the game, and most importantly the standards and concepts necessary to contribute to their teams, families, classmates and community.

Our Goal

To provide our community with a sound fastpitch softball program for girls and young women of Newtown that embodies the ideals of sportsmanship, fair play and community spirit. We as adults, parents, and role models must positively reinforce and support the efforts of EVERY member of our organization. We want to build self-esteem and promote confidence. We must constantly strive to attend games, and instill the spirit of teamwork, and citizenship. We must set the example by volunteering to help make today better than yesterday. Always conducting ourselves with a mutual respect of one another, maintaining high standards in the area of conduct, and commitment, while together we constantly focus on having FUN.

Changes

Major changes are in effect for our 2001 Newtown Girls Babe Ruth Association season. Girls can now play organized softball in our town for 13 years (ages 6 – 18). Prior to joining Babe Ruth girls could play for 8 years (2nd grade – 9th grade).

Girls will be uniformed from head to toe: Every participant will receive a softball jersey with two-button placket, softball shorts, sanitary hose with knit-in stirrups, and visors. Prior to joining Babe Ruth every participant received a T-shirt.

Seven playing divisions: Student Division (6-8), 10U, 12U (American & National), 14U (American & National), and a combined 16U / 18U division for High School & College girls. The (American & National) divisions of the 12U & 14U leagues will better enable us to provide our girls with an opportunity to compete in a league that better suits their skill levels. This increases the opportunity for a girl to play her favorite position. Prior to joining Babe Ruth there were 3 Playing Divisions. On many teams players were not given the opportunity to play their favorite positions for various reasons. Some of which were safety-related issues.

Games: Girls will play a minimum of 16 games (goal is 20 games per, and is based on the # of girls that register). Student Division will play 10 games (once a week). Prior to joining Babe Ruth teams were scheduled to play 10 regular season games (plus playoffs).

Saturday games will be conducted in the 10U – 14U Divisions. The Student Division will participate in Saturday afternoon training clinics at Treadwell Park, featuring paid trainers. Saturday and Sunday afternoons will be earmarked for make-up dates. Division directors will now hold all teams accountable for make-ups and practices. A lack of cooperation will now result in a forfeit. We will attempt to coordinate and distribute an assigned practice schedule. Prior to joining Babe Ruth, Saturdays were used for scheduling make-up games, and teams were on their own to reschedule their rain outs, or conduct practices. Some teams played make-ups, some practiced, and some didn’t!

There will be a mandatory Player/Parent Meeting on “Meet your Coaches/Uniform Night”, which will take place prior to Opening Day. Our vision and current Action Plan will be clearly communicated to all participants so that we can establish a clarity of expectations. Questions from players and parents will be welcomed immediately after the conclusion of our 30 minute presentation. Everyone meets their coach and receives their new uniforms. All playoff and All-Star games that are controlled by the Newtown Girls Babe Ruth League will be included on the schedules that will be distributed by the coaches that evening.

Saturday Opening Day Ceremony: Every team will attend in full uniform, and all teams in the 10U – 14U divisions will play their 1st game of the season. This will also serve as Photo Day for every team in our league. Prior to joining Babe Ruth there was no such meetings, events, or activities.

Accident & Liability coverage will be intact for all rostered players, bat/ball boys and girls, managers, coaches, league officials, scorekeepers, umpires, and volunteers under our new League Insurance Plan. Prior to joining Babe Ruth our organization did not provide an insurance plan.

A League Action Plan will be published, which includes our vision for girls softball in the 21st Century. Fundraising activities are being planned so that our vision can become realities for the girls of Newtown. On Opening Day, every member of the league will fundraise in Newtown, and possibly in high traffic Danbury shopping centers too. Prior to joining Babe Ruth there was no such action plan, or fundraising activities.

All-Star teams will be selected for every age group. They will compete in a National Tournament to decide the top Babe Ruth teams in the country. District, state, and regional tournaments precede the National Championship Tournament games. Prior to joining Babe Ruth there was no such opportunity for the girls of Newtown. (Note: The local all-star games that were conducted for the Midget, Junior & Senior Division will continue for the National Divisions of the 12U & 14U leagues. These players will receive all-star team T-shirts consistent with last year.)

A new Travel Division will be operated and governed under the Newtown Girls Babe Ruth Softball Association. All teams will be named the Newtown Hawks. We will offer travel play to interested candidates in the 10U – 18U brackets. One tryout format will be utilized consistent with that of the Newtown H.S. program, to evaluate prospective players.

Coaches: The 10U Team will be coached by Nancy Brown, 12U by Rich VanWallwijk, & 14U by Lin Hertberg. Paul La Francesca will be available to assist as a Team Trainer to all Newtown Hawk teams. We are also exploring the possibilities of utilizing outside professional trainers for weekend instruction. If we do not have enough players to field 16U & 18U teams in Newtown we will possibly merge that age bracket with another area town travel team, or assist those interested players in their efforts to finding a team outside of Newtown.

All Newtown Hawk Teams will compete in the CVFL (Central Valley Fastpitch League) during the months of June & July, with a season wrap-up tournament scheduled for August 3rd – 5th. In addition to the CVFL League we plan to complete in one tournament outside the state of Connecticut. The Newtown Hawk teams will also complete in the Hudson Valley Fastpitch Fall League. No practices are held during the fall season, and all games are played via Sunday doubleheaders.

Field work/parties and maintenance: Weekend work parties will be scheduled under the supervision of the Newtown Parks & Recreation Dept., who we will be working very closely with to provide our girls with the best fields possible.

Field upgrades and improvements: A safety initiative has been put in motion with the hope that aluminum player benches complete with protective fencing will be approved for all of our ball fields. If approved, we will work very closely with the Parks & Rec. Dept. to have these installed prior to Opening Day.

Equipment upgrades and lock box improvements and issues will be presented at the Player/Parent Meeting.

An Annual Holiday Gathering will be held in December to say thank you to our volunteer league officials. This is a new initiative. Prior to joining Babe Ruth there was no such event.

Sixteen new board positions have been created to develop a more professional, efficient and exciting organization for our girls to participate in: Those positions are as follows: Insurance Manager, Fields & Facilities Director, Special Events Coordinator, Auxiliary President, League Concessionaire, Constitution & By Laws, Publicity Director, League Statistician, Director at Large, Player Agents, Player Certification Director, 16U /18U Division Director, Student League Division Director, Newtown Hawks Travel Team Coordinator, Director of (League All-stars) Tournament Play, and Director of Training & Player Development. All board members will be introduced at the Player/Parent meeting. We will explain how these newly created positions will play a vital role in the overall performance of our leagues. (Note: Volunteers are still needed to assist us in the roles and duties of nine of these areas of responsibility. Call Paul La Francesca at 270-1844. I want to be crystal clear that volunteers do not have to take on the responsibility of a Board of Directors position. We will utilize any time that you are willing to dedicate. Volunteer hours are a mandated requirement for participation in most youth organizations throughout the country, so please put your best foot forward and help our girls today, so that we don’t have to follow the national trend of making volunteering mandatory tomorrow!

Volunteerism, parental involvement, family and community support: To make our new organization a successful one, our action plan a list of results, and our vision a reality, we need parental support, family support, and community support. Older players must help younger players, by playing with them, cheering for them, and setting the right examples. In order to make this season the best it can be for our girls, young women, and our town, it is important for parents to actively contribute in any way, shape or form to the overall effects of their child’s league. We are always in need of more assistance, we are never all set. Many board members are wearing two, three and four hats. We are accessible, we need you, and we value your input. Do it for the kids, get involved today. Call us.

In Closing: The Newtown Babe Ruth Girls Softball Association intends to infuse more dollars than ever before into uniforms, equipment, player & coach training, field upgrades, field maintenance, insurance, and fundraising opportunities. Please acknowledge that we cannot accomplish all that we desire during our first season. We will commit to doing our best and to accomplish as much as possible, as soon as possible. We can accelerate our accomplishments by expanding our volunteer base. It is often said, “Time is Money,” and we need both, so please contribute as much as you can, whenever you can, of either of them, or both of them. Our Board of Directors meet on the 2nd Wednesday of ever month at 7:30 pm at the Edmond Town Hall (downstairs to the right). Those interested in making today a little better than tomorrow, should call Paul La Francesca at 270-1844.