FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions are listed below.

Q. What is girl’s fastpitch softball?
A. Fastpitch is a sport that is played at the middle school, high school, college and Olympic level. Fastpitch is a cross between slowpitch softball and baseball - a softball is used instead of a baseball. Unlike slowpitch, the girls are allowed to lead off and steal bases. Girls at all levels do the pitching, which is a fast moving underhand delivery. Girls ages 8 – 18 may play for CPFA.
 
Q. Which Association do I play fastpitch for?
A. The Minnesota Sports Federation (MSF) regulates fastpitch in the state of Minnesota. You must have a high school to have a fastpitch association. The draw area for fastpitch is the high school’s attendance area. If your address is within the Champlin Park High School attendance area you are eligible to play for Champlin Park Fastpitch Association. Girls outside the Champlin Park attendance area may play for CPFA if there are openings on the teams. CPFA is a member of the Suburban League. The Suburban League is responsible for scheduling the League games and the end of season State Qualifier & State Tournaments. (www.suburbanleaguemn.com) Teams are classified as “A”, “B”, or “C” and play other teams within the same category. Classification of the teams is determined by the teams and is based upon pitching & catching ability & depth, as well as the overall defensive & offensive skills of the team.
 
Q. When does the season start and end?
A. For each age level, the season generally consists of double header league games played at night during the week, in-season tournaments on the weekends, and the State Qualifier tournament (which determines eligibility & placement for the State Tournament), and the State Tournament (if qualified). Both the State Qualifier and the State Tournament begin on a Friday and end on a Sunday. League Play & State Qualifier/State Tournament: 10U and 12U usually begins the first week of May and continues through late June for league play. The State Qualifier is generally held in late June and the State Tournament is generally held in early July. Practices generally start indoors in April in school gyms before moving outdoors as weather permits. 14U usually begins late May and continues through early July for league play. The State Qualifier is generally held in late June and the State Tournament is generally held in early July. Practices are outdoors and generally start in late April or early May as weather permits. 16U and 18U usually begins after school is out and continues through early July for league play. Practices are outdoors and generally start after the high school season is over. The State Qualifier and the State tournaments are both usually held in mid-July. Weekend Tournaments: In order to obtain additional experience, the CPFA encourages teams to participate in weekend tournaments. These are hosted by other fastpitch associations and allow CPFA teams to play against teams outside of the Suburban League. 10U & 12U: The CPFA hosts a tournament in mid-May and it is expected that each 10U & 12U CPFA team will participate. The entrance fees for this tournament and one additional weekend tournament are included in the registration fee. The additional weekend tournament is determined by each coach. 14U, 16U & 18U: The CPFA registration fee includes the entrance fee for two weekend tournaments during the season. The coach will be responsible for determining which tournaments the team will participate in.
 
Q. How often do I play?
A. 1) Suburban League Play: 10U: Double headers are played 1 night a week against the same team. Each game of the double header has a time limit - no inning is started after 65 minutes. 12U & 14U: Double headers are played 2 - 3 nights a week against the same team. Each game of the double header has a time limit - no inning is started after 65 minutes. 16U & 18U: Double headers are played 2 - 4 nights a week against the same team. Each game of the double header has a time limit - no inning is started after 65 minutes. 2) Tournaments: Although it can vary, weekend tournaments during the season generally begin on Friday night or Saturday, and conclude on Sunday - teams usually play 5 games during that time. 3) State Qualifier & State Tournament: During the end of season tournaments, teams continue to play as long as they continue to win games. Generally, teams discontinue play once they have lost two games during the state qualifier & the state tournament. 4) Practices will be held throughout the season and the time commitment is in addition to the game times noted above.
 
Q. Where do we play games and how far do we travel?
A. All home games will be at the Fastpitch fields at Champlin Park High School on the corner of Zane and 109th. The away games could be played anywhere in the metropolitan and northern suburban area. The Suburban League makes up the teams’ schedules for the season. They make every effort to create divisions based upon teams’ locations to keep travel as close as possible. If for some reason there are not enough teams within our general area at an age level to create a division, you could possibly play teams further away. There is really no way to tell for sure.
 
Q. What age level is my daughter eligible to play for?
A. Your daughter’s age as of December 31st determines the age level for the following year. For the 2009 season, the age levels are: 10U - girls born in 1998 and later 12U – girls born in 1996 & 1997 14U – girls born in 1994 & 1995 16U – girls born in 1992 & 1993 18U – girls born in 1990 & 1991 A copy of each player’s birth certificate and an identification picture with the players printed name are required for registration. Examples of a valid identification picture can include a copy of a school yearbook page that contains the player’s picture & printed name, or a school identification card.
 
Q. Can my daughter play up a level or more?
A. Girl’s will be allowed to play up one level, if the number of girls playing at both age levels involved will allow it. Considerations to move up a level include prior fastpitch experience & evaluation results and the availability of openings at each level involved. Please note that you may never move down an age level. The Board may request that girls play up in order to fill out the teams. If you are interested in having your daughter play up a level, please indicate this on the registration form. The CPFA Board will review these requests.
 
Q. Who will be the coaches?
A. All coaches are volunteers, usually a parent. If we can not find someone to coach, we will not have a team. Subject to limitations, the Association will reimburse the cost of a coach’s clinic for anyone who is interested in coaching at CPFA, has a daughter registered to play with CPFA and would like to attend a coaching clinic. Please contact the Board if you are interested in attending a coaching clinic. Reimbursements will occur after the season begins. All assistant coaches & practice helpers are also parents. With the teams numbering from 11 – 13 girls, parent assistance at all practices & game warm-ups is vital for each girl to continue to develop their skills.
 
Q. What equipment do I have to supply for my daughter to play?
A. You will be required to supply your own glove, cleat shoes and a batting helmet with a mask. Additional equipment is also highly encouraged – including a visor, compression sliding shorts, a slider (covering the shin), and batting gloves. Helmets, visors, sliding shorts & sliders are available for purchase at the annual parent/player meeting.
 
Q. What does the registration fee include? What additional expenses can I expect to incur?
A. The registration fee includes the cost of the basic uniform (shorts, jersey & socks), field rental for practices & games, umpire fees for games, entrance fees to three – four tournaments (two weekend tournaments during the season plus the State Qualifier (all teams) and the State Tournament (if the team qualifies)), team equipment, registration in the Suburban League, and other miscellaneous administrative costs. Additional fees, to be paid separately, may be incurred, including fees for any additional tournaments that the team decides to participate in beyond those included in the registration fee. If there are enough girls to form two teams at an age level, there will be an evaluation fee. In addition, the CPFA relies upon its members for fund-raising and volunteering. It is expected that each family will contribute to these fund-raising and volunteer efforts. Beginning in 2009, the CPFA will require a $100 additional payment for those who have chosen to not volunteer or participate in the available fund raising & volunteering opportunities. The fee is required at registration, and will be returned at the end of the season if fund-raising and volunteering requirements have been fulfilled.
 

 

 

 

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