Juniors - Minors - Majors

FGS has determined that a fair and equitable draft will be conducted for any division that keeps standings (wins/losses) as part of its regular season to determine playoff seeding.

The following guidelines apply to the Junior, Minor and Major divisions of Frankfort Girls Softball and are designed to mirror the mission of FGS (“no girl left behind”) with the following objectives in mind:

1. To provide a level playing field for all FGS players involved in the Junior, Minor and Major divisions
2. To provide a competitive but more importantly, an INSTRUCTIONAL level of play for all players and coaches.
3. To encourage coaches to continually develop every player at as many positions as safety will allow (i.e. pitching, catching)
4. To encourage coaches to place Instruction, team building, confidence building and self esteem over “winning”

FGS will hold indoor draft day workouts for each of the Junior, Minors and Majors Divisions on separate dates. This workout takes place immediately prior to the Coaches Draft. The Division Commissioner shall be responsible for contacting all Division Coaches (2 per team) with Draft information (day, date, and time) and guidelines at least 1 week in advance. In addition, the Division Commissioner is also responsible for running an organized and fair Draft workout.
Division Commissioner should build a team of volunteer coaches necessary to help with the draft workout.
The objective of the workout is to give all coaches an opportunity to observe the perspective players during offensive and defensive drills including infield, outfield, batting, and base running if time allows. An additional pitching and catching session will be held at the end of the workout for all players interested in pitching and catching. Coaches should encourage players to try pitching and catching at the workout in order to build this important skill moving forward.
All players from each division are expected to attend the workout. Registered players who do not attend the workout will still be part of the draft meeting process. Non registered players (late registrants) who do not attend the workout will be placed in order of registration on the team whose draft pick was next in line at the conclusion of the draft, and so on.

1.  MATERIALS and AGENDA:

     MATERIALS NEEDED: (Division Commissioner is responsible for organizing the following)

• The most recent printed spreadsheet of all FGS players at the division level
• Note: ALL FGS FUSION PLAYERS MUST BE NOTED BY LEVEL (i.e. 9U, 10U, 10U ORANGE, etc.) on the printed spreadsheet and coaches draft sheet
• Corresponding number for all registered players (alphabetically) on registration spreadsheet.
• Corresponding number LABEL for all registered players (alphabetically)
• Draft List for all coaches (2 copies per team) See example attached
• Check in station (registration table) set up 30 minutes prior to workout start time
• 2 Volunteer(s) for Check in station
• Register incoming players onto registration sheet
• Give each incoming player their corresponding number LABEL to wear
• Equipment necessary for Workout, including pitching machine, bases, bats, balls, helmets, etc.

 
     WORKOUT AGENDA: (Division Commissioner is responsible for organizing the following)

• OpeningRemarks:Explain Workout Agenda/Objective to all players/coaches/parents

(the following drills may be run simultaneously to speed workout process)

• Begin Defensive Drills (coaches should observe and make any notes on supplied draft sheet)

-run all players in number order through infield drill until complete
(field 3 ground balls and throw to first (coach) at second base, shortstop, and third base positions)

-run all players in number order through outfield drill until complete
(field 3 fly balls and throw to relay (coach) from typical outfield distances/ positions)
 

• Begin Offensive Drills (coaches should observe and make notes on supplied draft sheet)

-run all players in number order through batting cage until complete
(use pitching machine to allow each player to hit 5-10 pitches depending on time available-to be determined ahead of time )
 
(the running drills may be run if time allows)
-run all players in number order through base running drill until complete
(allow each player to round bases, or “first to third”-to be determined ahead of time )
 

• Begin Pitching/Catching Drills (coaches should observe and make notes on supplied draft sheet)

-workout all interested pitchers with interested catchers until complete
(be sure to firmly announce the number of each pitcher and catcher as they change in and out of the workout. )
 

• Closing Remarks: Explain notification procedure to all players/parents

1. RULES  and AGENDA

IMPORTANT DRAFT RULES: (Division Commissioner is responsible for explaining the following to all Coaches)

• No more than Two Coaches shall be placed onto a team prior to the Draft. Additional Coaches will be assigned by the Head Coach after team rosters are complete. Note: Once the Draft Meeting is complete, and Teams are named, each Team will be limited to 4 official coaches. “Official coaches” are defined as coaches listed in the FGS directory, website and eligible for the FGS volunteer redemption).

• Coaches are responsible for determining the Primary Pitchers/Catchers  prior to the Draft Meeting. This category should be determined by:
  • The pitcher/catcher draft workout
  • Coaches experience (should a primary pitcher/catcher be absent from the draft, or choose not to work out during the pitcher /catcher draft workout)

•  “Primary Pitcher”. A primary pitcher is defined as a strong pitcher that is divisionally one of the top pitchers in the league (i.e. if there are 8 teams in the division, the primary pitcher is among the top 8 pitchers in the division)

• “Primary Catcher”. A primary catcher is defined as a strong catcher that is divisionally one of the top catchers in the league (i.e. if there are 8 teams in the division, the primary catcher is at least among the top 8 catchers in the division) Note: Since players are still learning the catching position at younger divisions, it may determined that there are only 4 primary catchers in a division. In this case, a primary catcher would be among the top 4 catchers in the division)

• It is the Division Commissioners responsibility to see that two coaches whose daughters are primary pitchers WILL NOT be placed on the same team prior to draft day (unless they are sisters/step)

• If Coaches daughter is a primary pitcher, she will occupy the first round pick for her Team.

• If Coaches daughter is a primary catcher, she will occupy the second round pick for her Team.

• The determination of “primary pitcher” and “primary catcher” will be made by the league commissioner with the help of all coaches (by vote if necessary).

• If Coach’s Child or children (player) is/are not primary pitchers or primary catchers, they will occupy the third and sixth position in the draft prior to the start of the draft. In the case that there is a 3^rd coach’s daughter (sister), she will occupy the 7^th round position.

 
***IMPORTANT*** While the coaches daughters will occupy the first round (if they are a primary pitcher), second round (if they are a primary catcher), third, sixth, or seventh round (sister) in the pre-draft worksheet, it is understood that any coach may raise an objection before the commissioner and coaching staffs as to the positioning (too high or too low) of their daughters in the pre-draft worksheet. All Coaches will have an opportunity to comment on the objection, and the commissioner may ask for a coach’s majority vote. Ultimately, the Commissioner will objectively decide the draft position of all players
 

• It is the Division Commissioners responsibility to see that all coaches receive the Draft Rules and Procedures at least three days prior to the Draft. Draft Rules are available on the FGS website

• Coaches should respect the special requests of players/parents to be on a specific team. This information is found on the "comments" section of the registration online and it is the commissioner’s responsibility to see that they are applied to the draft sheet.

• If there is more than one sponsor for a team after the draft is completed, and an agreement cannot be made between the sponsors, (allocated to another team) the sponsored child drafted last shall be moved (traded) to another team

• It is recommended that trade requests take place between coaches immediately. However, trades will be considered up to 24 hours after the completion of the draft.

• Trades may be made for players whose draft positions are equal or within 2 rounds of one another (i.e. a fourth round player may be traded for a second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth round player) Of course, both coaches must be in agreement on all trades

• Division Commissioner must approve and confirm all trades.

• Non-registered players (late registrants) who do not attend the workout will be placed in order of registration on the team whose draft pick was next in line at the conclusion of the draft, and so on.

• Complete details including draft order, team rosters, and last player drafted must be sent to the League President within 24 hours after the Draft meeting.

(Division Commissioner is responsible for organizing the following)
Note: The order of the draft shall be determined by “pick from the hat” (blind draw of numbers equal to the number of teams in the division from a hat. The drawn number indicates the draft pick order. (i.e. number 1 picks first in the first round, number 2 picks second in the first round, etc) This draw will also determine your League team number.
 
Note: Draft Pick Order:
Round 1 Pitchers Round) will begin with Team 1(first pick) picking first through last Team number.
Round 2 will begin Team 10 (or last pick) backwards to Team 1. (Example 10, 9, 8, 7….1)
Rounds 3 through the end: Remaining players picked in a "snake" order:
For example, for a 10 Team division:
Round 3    1, 2, 3....10
Round 4    10,9,8...1
Round 5   1, 2, 3....10
Round 6    10,9,8...1 (and so on)
 
 
 
 

• Commissioners Opening Remarks: Explain Draft Rules Objective to all coaches

• Review Coaches Daughters draft placement

• “Pick from the Hat” to determine Draft Order, Begin Draft

• First Round: All Teams Pick Primary Pitchers (Remember, If Coaches daughter is a primary pitcher, she will occupy the first round pick for her Team.)

• Second Round: All Teams pick Primary Catchers (Remember, If Coaches daughter is a primary catcher, she will occupy the second round pick for her Team)

• Rounds 3 through the end: Remaining players picked in ascending/descending order ("snake") at coach's discretion.

For example, for a 10 Team division:
Round 3    1, 2, 3....10
Round 4    10,9,8...1
Round 5   1, 2, 3....10
Round 6    10,9,8...1 (and so on)

 

• 15 mins allowed for Trades reviewed and documented by Commissioner

• Closing Remarks: Explain notification procedure to all Coaches

 
3/2/12
Rev 5
Colin Walsh