March 2009
Update on Scholastic Slow Pitch Softball’s 2008 Season and News 2009
Scholastic Slow Pitch Softball for girls in grades 7-12 just completed its third season this past fall. The league consisted of varsity and junior varsity levels of play. The varsity season consisted of six weekends of play followed by playoffs. The junior varsity season consisted of eight weekends of play with no playoffs. Teams from areas served by the following school districts participated in the league: Fox Chapel, Knoch, North Allegheny, North Hills, SenecaValley and Shaler. In all there were six teams at both the varsity and junior varsity levels.
North Hills entered teams in scholastic slow pitch softball for the second time in 2008. In all 29 players participated for North Hills on either the varsity or junior varsity team. The varsity team finished the regular season with a record of 5-7 and was eliminated in the playoffs by North Allegheny who eventually claimed the title in a close championship game versus SenecaValley. The North Hill’s junior varsity team played only twelve games, as six were rained out and could not be rescheduled.
Congratulations to all the girls who participated. In the off season, parent volunteers will be coordinating and concentrating their efforts to obtain school board approval to make girls scholastic slow pitch softball a “club sport” offered by their respective school districts. On February 16, 2009, the North Hills School Board adopted a new Club Sports Policy that will allow interested sports to apply for recognition. Parent Volunteers plan on making an application to the school district no later than April 1, 2009.
During the past off season scholastic slow pitch softball changed its name to “Western Pennsylvania Slow Pitch Softball” (WPIAL) to mirror names used by other club sports. In addition, a steering committee developed a “Constitution”, “By-laws” and “League Rules”. On May 28, 2008, North Allegheny received school board approval to become a “club sport” http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08157/887209-363.stm but opted during the fall season to not participate as a club until other teams receive approval as clubs. Please look for periodic updates on our web-site during the off season and encourage your daughter to consider playing scholastic slow pitch softball if she will be entering grades 7th - 12th in the fall of 2009. For more information, please contact Ed Vesely at epvesely@gmail.com
Updated March 2, 2009
April 2007
Great News about Girls Slow Pitch Softball!
After more than 2 year of hard work a group of dedicated individuals have taken the next big step to bring girls slow pitch softball as a sport offered at the junior high and senior high school level. Now girl’s who want to play slow pitch softball for their school may soon have the opportunity that boys who play baseball and girls who play fast pitch softball already enjoy. more information
February 2007
Booster’s Organization Objective: We would like to allow more girls to represent their schools at the junior high, junior varsity and varsity levels by getting SlowPitch Softball in place as a “Club Sport” in Pennsylvania.
Booster’s Organization – Who we are! About two years ago a group of community softball association managers and parents in the area organized to pool resources to advance the goal of making SlowPitch Softball a club sport in PA schools a reality.
Background: SlowPitch softball likely represents the largest group of community association-organized sports “not” to be represented in scholastic or club athletics in Pennsylvania junior high and high schools. At least 11 other states in the U.S. allow both FastPitch and SlowPitch softball to be played at these levels in schools as recognized separate sports, based upon the governing national organization, the ASA - http://www.softball.org, has always treated them as separate sports, with separate rules.
Major Issue: “What is standing in our way?”
As it stands today, the PIAA does not have any formal rulings in their history which state SlowPitch and FastPitch are two separate sports. That coupled with our knowledge of the general guidelines for “out of season participation” which basically states that “no student may play the same sport in more than one season in the same school year or outside the sports scheduled season”, our pursuit of playing would likely not be permitted in any districts with FastPitch Programs. And, since most schools in PA have FastPitch teams in the spring, establishing a SlowPitch club in the fall would impact our districts’ FastPitch eligibility in WPIAL/PIAA playoffs and championships.
Therefore, in order for us to organize as a club sport, we need to make a formal request to PA athletic directors and ask them for their support in a request to have PIAA vote and qualify FastPitch and SlowPitch as two distinctly separate sports… Much like track and cross-country must have done in the past, deck hockey and ice hockey… etc…
Who will run it and pay for it?
At the Regional Level - If we were to have the WPIAL and the PIAA recognize that SlowPitch and FastPitch Softball are two different sports, we could officially organize a governing regional body of boosters to run and organize inter-school requirements.
At the local School District Level – Each school district would have to establish their own booster organizations to fund and run their district teams.
Who may participate? Any girl in the grades 7 thru 12 will be eligible to participate in the sport, guided by their respective school district’s club/sport policies.
Fall Exhibition League Play – Inaugural Season Success This past fall around 10 school districts express interest and successfully executed a Fall Exhibition league composed of 10 teams at the high school level. The effort was run through our local community associations to demonstrate the commitment of those involved in getting this sport in place in Pennsylvania. This year we expect upwards of 20 areas including high school as well junior high school teams. To qualify your area to play in the 2007 Fall Exhibition League, all you need do is support our efforts in your local school district!
What do we need from you…? Just your support…! Represent your school by joining our effort to make this dream a reality for girls across Pennsylvania! Any parents or coaches
who have girls in community association SlowPitch Softball around Pittsburgh or in Pennsylvania can support our effort by contacting Bill Jansto at Svg3s@zoominternet.net to get more information.
April 2006
We, the members of the Steering Committee, of the Western PA High School Girls Slow Pitch Softball Booster Organization, representing 22 schools / school districts within District 7 of the PIAA (also known as the WPIAL), are united in our quest to bring girls slow pitch softball, as a club sport, to the high school level, for both Varsity and Junior Varsity.
This will provide an opportunity for girls to represent their school and community as they participate in interscholastic activities. “This is viewed as a privilege that is unique to young people in American education. Educators across the USA believe that participation in interscholastic activities offers students significant lifetime learning experiences that cannot be duplicated in any other instructional setting.” [1]
We agree that the participation in interscholastic activities not only provides the participants with the immediate benefit of learning experiences, but also provides them a foundation of experiences and learning that they will carry throughout their life. This foundation is part of the basic, well rounded, student/athlete that college admissions directors place at the top of the list.
The following is a brief summary of points that define and clarify our position:
Slow Pitch as a Club Sport
· Slow Pitch Softball would be a New School Sport. It would not be governed by the PIAA and therefore will not fall under their rules, regulations or guidelines.
· There will be no fund allocation from the school board approved budget for this sport as it will be funded by the boosters and outside sources.
· This club sport will not interfere with the Fast Pitch sport. Major differences in rules and how the game is played will deem it a separate sport from the Fast Pitch sport. Schools in ten states currently have both Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch programs at the High School level. This sport would be played in the fall of the school year.
· There is a high level of interest from the girls and their parents in the affected age group.
· We will provide all uniforms and equipment necessary for the sport.
· If School fields are unavailable or are not appropriate for Slow Pitch the Western PA High School Girls Slow Pitch Softball Booster Organization will provide the fields where the games can be played.
· The girls will have the opportunity to represent their schools and play at a higher level of competition than they could in summer recreation leagues.
[1] This quotation is part of the basic philosophy of the PIAA.
Girls Scholastic Slow Pitch Softball (G3S) just completed its second season this past fall. The Greater Pittsburgh Girls Softball League (GPGSL) again sponsored and coordinated activities for the league. The league expanded from one level of play, which was used in 2006, to two levels of play for 2007. The varsity level was for players entering 10th-12th grades and the junior high level was for players entering 7th -9th grades. Teams from areas served by the following school districts participated in the league: Fox Chapel, Hampton, Knoch, North Allegheny, North Hills, Seneca Valley and Shaler. In all there were seven teams at the varsity level and five teams at the junior high level.
For the varsity level each team played each other a double header scheduled on either Saturday or Sunday. The regular season culminated with a single elimination playoff. Fox Chapel defeated Shaler 8-7 in an extra inning championship game held on October 21, 2007.
North Hills entered teams in scholastic softball for the first time in 2007. In all 29 players participated for North Hills on either the varsity or junior high team. The varsity team finished with a regular season record of 5-7 and was eliminated in a close game by Shaler in the opening round of the playoffs. North Hill’s junior high team played 14 games. No records or standing was kept and no playoffs were conducted for junior high level.
Congratulations to all the girls who participated. In the off season, parent volinteers will be coordinating and concentrating their efforts to obtain school board approval to make girls scholastic slow pitch softball a “club sport” offered by each respective school district. So far one participating team has received such school board approval. Please look for periodic updates on our web-site during the off season and encourage your daughter to consider playing scholastic slow pitch softball if she will be entering grades 7th - 12th in the fall of 2008.