The Birmingham Vipers 95 will be the sole Alabama team in the 12U Age group out of 64 teams playing in the ASA Nationals in Sacramento, California.
Teams from 15 states will be at the event which will crown the best 12U team in the Nation.
Good luck Vipers and represnt the state of Alabama well!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Metal Cleats Aproved for High School Softball
Article taken from NFCA.org website...
NFHS Approves Metal Cleats Among Rules Revisions
07/09/07 - Special Release High school softball players will be permitted to wear metal cleats and metal toe plates beginning with the 2008 season.
This change in Rule 3-2-11 is one of three rules revisions approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 10-12 in Indianapolis. The rules changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
“Metal cleats provide better traction for athletes on nearly all surfaces, including hard, wet or under-maintained fields,” said Cindy Simmons, chair of the NFHS Softball Rules Committee and assistant executive director of the Oregon School Activities Association. “They also help prevent slippage on the bases, especially home plate.”
Current rules prohibit runners from illegal tactics when sliding, and if sliding is executed correctly, the risk of defensive players being “spiked” will decrease.
In another change, Rule 7-3-1 states that a batter shall take her position in the batter’s box within 10 seconds after the ball is returned to the pitcher in the circle. Previously, the batter was permitted 20 seconds to enter the box, and the pitcher was also allotted 20 seconds to deliver the pitch.
“Before this change, we had two sets of rules in conflict with one another,” Simmons said. “By allowing the batter 10 seconds to enter the box, the pitcher now has the other 10 seconds to step on the pitcher’s plate and deliver the pitch. This change clarifies previous confusion and keeps the game flowing.”
The final rules revision, Rule 3-6-7, restricts the head coach to the dugout when a second, unreported substitution occurs. Head coaches are held responsible for reporting all substitutions, and if a second infraction occurs, he or she is held accountable along with the player.
The committee also approved major editorial changes in addition to the rules changes. Rule 1-5-4 clarifies what constitutes a legal bat, stating that bats must meet the 2004 ASA Bat Performance Standard, bear either the 2000 or 2004 certification mark and not be on the ASA non-approved list.
Rule 2-5-3, new Rule 8-2-13 and Rule 8-6-15 all specify when an on-deck batter is subject to interference and clarifies the penalty associated with the infraction.
Rule 3-6-6 adds that bat and ball shaggers are permitted out of the dugout. In addition, bench personnel are permitted out of the dugout between innings for warm-up purposes.
“There have been misconceptions about where individuals need to be during specific points of the game,” said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. “We want state associations to be aware that it is legal for the bench to engage in throwing and running activities during the one minute designated for the pitcher to warm up at the beginning of each half inning.”
The committee also identified three points of emphasis for the 2008 season. These include pitching, equipment and the use of proper softball signals by umpires.
Softball is the fourth-most popular sport among girls at the high school level with 369,094 participants during the 2005-06 season, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. It also ranks third in school sponsorship for girls across the nation with 14,710 schools.
NFHS Approves Metal Cleats Among Rules Revisions
07/09/07 - Special Release High school softball players will be permitted to wear metal cleats and metal toe plates beginning with the 2008 season.
This change in Rule 3-2-11 is one of three rules revisions approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 10-12 in Indianapolis. The rules changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
“Metal cleats provide better traction for athletes on nearly all surfaces, including hard, wet or under-maintained fields,” said Cindy Simmons, chair of the NFHS Softball Rules Committee and assistant executive director of the Oregon School Activities Association. “They also help prevent slippage on the bases, especially home plate.”
Current rules prohibit runners from illegal tactics when sliding, and if sliding is executed correctly, the risk of defensive players being “spiked” will decrease.
In another change, Rule 7-3-1 states that a batter shall take her position in the batter’s box within 10 seconds after the ball is returned to the pitcher in the circle. Previously, the batter was permitted 20 seconds to enter the box, and the pitcher was also allotted 20 seconds to deliver the pitch.
“Before this change, we had two sets of rules in conflict with one another,” Simmons said. “By allowing the batter 10 seconds to enter the box, the pitcher now has the other 10 seconds to step on the pitcher’s plate and deliver the pitch. This change clarifies previous confusion and keeps the game flowing.”
The final rules revision, Rule 3-6-7, restricts the head coach to the dugout when a second, unreported substitution occurs. Head coaches are held responsible for reporting all substitutions, and if a second infraction occurs, he or she is held accountable along with the player.
The committee also approved major editorial changes in addition to the rules changes. Rule 1-5-4 clarifies what constitutes a legal bat, stating that bats must meet the 2004 ASA Bat Performance Standard, bear either the 2000 or 2004 certification mark and not be on the ASA non-approved list.
Rule 2-5-3, new Rule 8-2-13 and Rule 8-6-15 all specify when an on-deck batter is subject to interference and clarifies the penalty associated with the infraction.
Rule 3-6-6 adds that bat and ball shaggers are permitted out of the dugout. In addition, bench personnel are permitted out of the dugout between innings for warm-up purposes.
“There have been misconceptions about where individuals need to be during specific points of the game,” said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. “We want state associations to be aware that it is legal for the bench to engage in throwing and running activities during the one minute designated for the pitcher to warm up at the beginning of each half inning.”
The committee also identified three points of emphasis for the 2008 season. These include pitching, equipment and the use of proper softball signals by umpires.
Softball is the fourth-most popular sport among girls at the high school level with 369,094 participants during the 2005-06 season, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. It also ranks third in school sponsorship for girls across the nation with 14,710 schools.
Friday, July 27, 2007
E aluations have Started...
Private evaluations have started. We're seeing some good talent and are already looking forward to a good fall season!
Go Crusaders!
Go Crusaders!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Player Evaluation on August 11, 2006
This will be a short evaluation looking for players for the Fall/Spring 2008 season. We are currently looking for a starting Pitcher and Infielder and and outfielder.
Evaluations will be at Gardandale Girls Softball Park at 11am.
If you need directions email us at birminghamcrusaders@charter.net
We hope you will consider being a part of our Crusade this season!
Evaluations will be at Gardandale Girls Softball Park at 11am.
If you need directions email us at birminghamcrusaders@charter.net
We hope you will consider being a part of our Crusade this season!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
A New Crusade...
A brief history of how our organization came into existence.
The 1st team of the organization derived from a softball team in the Gardendale Girls Park. The memebers of this team won the Alabama 8u All-Star State Championships and then ventured out into the world of travel ball where we combine with a few others to form a team sponsored Ready Mix USA. This team went on to win the 8u World Series. The next year we once again came together, however this time under the name of Birmingham Thunderbolts which was sponsored by MorrisShea Inc., and won the 8u World Series again (2 consecutive years). The past few seasons this group has played under the banner of the Birmingham Thunderbolts 97 and Purple 96. They went on to participate in USFA World Series, ASA Regional’s, NSA and USSSA State Championships and in 2007 earned a berth to the ASA Nationals by winning the Hartselle ASA Regional Qualifier. Then the time came once again to venture out and form what is now called the Birmingham Crusaders 12u Softball Team.
In our most recent season as the Thunderbolts Purple we won a total of 4 tournaments and runner-up in 3 more making a total of 7 out of 14 tournaments in which to Bolts at least placed.
Come and be a part of our Crusade!
The 1st team of the organization derived from a softball team in the Gardendale Girls Park. The memebers of this team won the Alabama 8u All-Star State Championships and then ventured out into the world of travel ball where we combine with a few others to form a team sponsored Ready Mix USA. This team went on to win the 8u World Series. The next year we once again came together, however this time under the name of Birmingham Thunderbolts which was sponsored by MorrisShea Inc., and won the 8u World Series again (2 consecutive years). The past few seasons this group has played under the banner of the Birmingham Thunderbolts 97 and Purple 96. They went on to participate in USFA World Series, ASA Regional’s, NSA and USSSA State Championships and in 2007 earned a berth to the ASA Nationals by winning the Hartselle ASA Regional Qualifier. Then the time came once again to venture out and form what is now called the Birmingham Crusaders 12u Softball Team.
In our most recent season as the Thunderbolts Purple we won a total of 4 tournaments and runner-up in 3 more making a total of 7 out of 14 tournaments in which to Bolts at least placed.
Come and be a part of our Crusade!
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