MAHATTA BEACH GIRLS SOFTBALL

14U ALL STAR PLAYER SELECTIO PROCESS,

RULES & PHILOSOPHY

Manhattan Beach Girls Softball (MBGS) All Star Philosophy

The Manhattan Beach Girls Softball all star teams recognize children who have developed,
though individual effort, the ability to play softball at a highly skilled level. The selection to
an all star team is an honor for a child requiring the selection process to be treated seriously
by MBGS board members, managers, coaches, parents and players. Participation on an all
star team is a privilege and not a right for managers, coaches and players. These individuals
will be representing Manhattan Beach Girls Softball and the City of Manhattan Beach and
they must do so with a high level of sportsmanship and integrity.

The MBGS all star teams allow the more skilled softball players an opportunity to develop
higher level skills and experiences that will prepare them for future competitive softball
situations. Winning is important, as it allows the teams and players to play more games and
have a more enjoyable experience. It is not, though, a win at all cost environment. Building
skills, teamwork and self esteem are equally important. Within the MBGS all star
philosophy, the following are appropriate:

• To expect a child to arrive at practice on time and with a supportive attitude toward
the team, teammates and coaches and a desire to improve.

• To expect managers and coaches to be positive and encouraging with the players and
to expect them to respect the players as individuals as well as a unit.

• To expect managers and coaches to organize practices that improve player skills,
build team unity and build individual player confidence.

• To place a child in a position on the field and in the batting order where the manager
feels the team will have the best chance to succeed.

• For the manager and coach to communicate his/her game strategy to players in a
manner that will allow them to support team goals and maintain self esteem.

• For managers to find creative opportunities to involve all players in a game.

• To expect the parents of the players to be supportive of MBGS, the all star team,
other players and the manager and coaches.

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 Manhattan Beach Girls Softball 14U All Star Team
Manhattan Beach Girls Softball will select one 14U all star team during any year when the
MBGS Board decides to field a 14U team. The players on that team will be selected from all
eligible 13 and 14 year old players.

The 14U All Star Team

1. Members of the All Star Player Selection Committee will consist of the President, Vice
President, 14U Commissioner, Player Representative, and any other member of the MBGS Board
of Directors appointed by the President (collectively the “Committee”). The Committee shall
have, including for purposes of voting, a minimum of 3 members and a maximum of 7 members.

2. The 14U All Star Team. The 14U All Star team will consist of 11-13 players. The first 10
players will be selected based upon the results of votes registered by secret ballots as described
below. The 11th, 12th, and/or 13th player(s) will be selected by the all star team manager and the
Committee as described below. The Committee (to avoid conflicts of interest) and all star team
manager will determine if a 12th and 13th player will be added to the team after the initial 11 are
selected, based upon an assessment of the need for additional players, competitive balance and
other relevant considerations once the initial 11 players are identified.

3. The Process.

a. Player Voting. On the last Saturday in April a ballot containing the names of all
eligible 13 and 14 year old 14U players will be distributed to the players for
voting. If there are four or more regular season teams, then the ballot for each
team shall have the eligible players from their own team removed, so that players
shall not vote for their own team members. Each player will be asked to vote for
no more than 5 players who are on other teams in their division. If there are two
or three teams, then the ballot for each team shall list all the eligible 14U players
and state that a player may vote for no more than 2 players from her team and no
more than 5 players in total. If there is only one team and the MBGS Board
decides to field an all star team, then the ballot shall list all the eligible 14U
players, and each player will be asked to vote for no more than 5 players. The
voting will be conducted by secret written ballot prior to the commencement of
the regularly scheduled games that day under the supervision of a member or
members of the Committee whose child or relative is not eligible for the 14U all
star team, or other members of the MBGS Board. The completed ballots will be
turned over to a Board Member who does not have a conflict of interest.

b. Manager Voting. On or before May 22, the 14U division manager(s), 14U all
star team manager and Committee will meet. Other members of the MBGS
Board may also attend the meeting. The results of the player voting will be
announced to the manager(s) and the manager(s)’ all star ballot listing all eligible
13 and 14 year old players will be distributed. The manager(s) and MBGS board
members will discuss all players that are recommended by the manager(s) and
league officials to be selected for the all star team. There is no limit on the
number of eligible players that are to be discussed as recommended players for
selection. When there is a discussion of a player who is the daughter of a
manager, Committee member or any other adult present at the meeting, the
parent of that player, after having an opportunity to comment about that player,
shall leave the meeting during the discussion of that player’s qualifications for
the all star team. Following the discussion, the 14U division managers will vote

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 for no more than 6 players from the ballot, not including the 5 players that were
selected by the players. If there is only one 14U regular season team, however,
then the 14U division manager and the Committee while giving reasonable
deference to the suggestions of the 14U division manager will vote for no more
than 6 players from the ballot. The voting will be conducted by secret written
ballot under the supervision of the Player Representative and/or other Board
Members who do not have a conflict of interest. The completed ballots will be
turned over to the President or another Board Member appointed by the
President.

c. Counting the Ballots. At the conclusion of the voting, or as soon thereafter as

practical, the ballots will be counted by the President, Player Representative, and
14U Commissioner or other Board Members if a conflict of interest precludes
any of these individuals from participating in this process. The top 5 eligible
players voted on by the players will be on the all star team. Five additional
players will be selected to the team based on total number of votes from the
managers’ ballots or manager and the Committee ballots. Based on total votes
received, the top 5 eligible players selected by the managers or the manager and
the Committee will be on the all star team. The additional 1 to 3 players for the
team (“At Large Selections”) will be selected by the 14U all star team manager
and the Committee. The Committee and all star team manager will consider
specific team needs for overall competitiveness and team balance (i.e. position
needs) recognizing the format, position needs, and game rules of the all star
tournament. If the all star team manager and the members of the Committee
cannot unanimously agree, a vote will be taken among the all star team manager
and Committee members to determine the number and selection of these
additional players. In the case of a tie, the President will break the tie.

d. Eligible Players. Players are “eligible players” only if they satisfy all ASA rules
and regulations regarding all star player eligibility and can fulfill the mandatory
attendance requirements for all star team practices and games to the extent
required by MBGS officials.

e. Alternates. When it is determined that a player selected for the all star team will
no longer be able to play for the team, due to injury or otherwise, the player shall
be replaced by an alternate. Unless a specific team need exists, as determined by
the all star manager and the Committee, the player with the next highest vote
total from the managers’ or equivalent manager and Committee voting will be
selected to the team if and when it is determined that a player is needed after the
team has been set. If there is a specific need as determined by the all star
manager and the Committee, then the alternate will be chosen in the same
manner as the 11th player has been chosen. The names of the alternates will not
be disclosed unless additional players are needed.

4. The Results. The results of the balloting will be sealed and delivered to the President, and will
be announced at a later date in accordance with applicable ASA rules and MBGS policies. Only
the players selected will be announced. The number of votes received by a player will not be
revealed at any time.

All Star Player Fee

Each year the MBGS Board will decide the amount to charge each player’s family for
participation on the all star team (all star player fee). The purpose of the fee is to offset

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MBGS costs associated with tournament participation, uniforms, and equipment. Each
player’s family must pay the fee to MBGS before the player starts practicing with the all star
team. Financial assistance may be available from MBGS for any family lacking financial
resources.

All Star Player, Manager and Coach Attendance Requirement

The selection to an all star team is an honor and privilege and players, managers, and coaches
are expected to treat their responsibility seriously by attending practices and games. If a
player, manager, or coach cannot meet the mandatory attendance requirement, their position
on the all star team should be taken by a player or coach that can attend practices and games.

Players, managers, and coaches are expected to attend most, if not all, scheduled practices
and are expected to attend all games through the expected completion of the ASA District
Tournament. It is recognized, however, that some players will miss a few practices and
perhaps a game or two depending on how far the team advances. To be eligible for an all star
team, a player may not be absent for more than one game of the ASA District Tournament.
Because of the objective to be successful as a team in tournament play and the risk that
specific bright line rules regarding attendance at practices may result in unintended
consequences for an all star team, there will be no predetermined minimum attendance
requirements for all star team practices, other than an understanding that players must attend
a sufficient number of practices to be considered a meaningful contributor to the team. The
all star team manager, in consultation with the Committee, will determine the extent to which
players will be required to be available for all star team practices for each all star team.

If a player, manager or coach is unable to meet the minimum attendance requirements for the
team, such individual will be eliminated from consideration for the all star team. This
decision will not be dependent on whether the player is voted onto the team by the players or
managers. Players’ families, managers, and coaches must be honest and forthright about the
ability to meet the mandatory attendance requirement. Failure to do so may result in the
removal of the player, manager, or coach from the all star team and will impact future
consideration for all star player, manager, and coach positions. Whether to remove a player,
manager, or coach from the team, for failure to be honest and forthright about the ability to
meet the mandatory attendance requirement, will be decided by a vote of the MBGS
Executive Board. Extenuating circumstances such as an injury, illness, death in the family,
or a family emergency (or business emergency for managers and coaches) may be excused by
the MBGS Executive Board.

In order to assist in evaluating a player’s ability to meet the mandatory attendance

requirement, all star managers must prepare, and distribute to parents, a practice schedule
within seven days of the all star player selection meeting.

Mandatory All Star Parent Meeting

At least one parent of every all star player must attend a mandatory meeting with the all star
manager, President, and selected appointments by the President. It is expected that this
meeting will be a part of the regular team meeting and not a special meeting. The purpose of
this meeting is to prepare the parents for the all star experience. The agenda for the meeting
should include:

• MBGS all star philosophy.

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 • The responsibility of representing Manhattan Beach Girls Softball and the City of
Manhattan Beach.

• Attendance requirements for practices and games.

• Parent expectations versus team goals.

• Dealing with the expectations of the children and their successes and failures.

• A discussion of all star rules.

• The manager’s coaching and discipline philosophy.

• Documentation needed for all star play.

• The use of professional coaches.

• All Star supplies. Uniforms, helmets, visors, socks, jackets and pins. And the cost to
the families for all star supplies.

If a family emergency arises, a make-up meeting will be scheduled. Failure of a parent to

attend the regular or make-up mandatory meeting will result in the removal of the player
from the all star team.

Mandatory All Star Player Meeting

Every all star player must attend a mandatory meeting with the all star manager, President,
and selected appointments by the President. The purpose of this meeting is to prepare the
players for the all star experience. The agenda for the meeting should include:

• MBGS all star philosophy.

• The responsibility of representing Manhattan Beach Girls Softball and the City of
Manhattan Beach.

• The importance of sportsmanship.

• Attendance requirements for practices and games.

• A discussion of all star rules.

• Playing softball where winning is important and team goals receive a priority over
individual goals.

• The manager’s coaching and discipline philosophy.

• The practice schedule and the appropriate attitude.

• The use of professional coaches.

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If a family emergency arises, a make-up meeting will be scheduled. A player’s failure to
attend the regular or make-up mandatory meeting will result in the removal of the player
from the all star team.

All Star Team Uniform

MBGS will supply a jersey, socks, and a visor. Visors are optional while playing defense.
All players must wear the all star team uniform supplied by MBGS during all star games.

Miscellaneous

Nothing herein shall serve to waive any of the ASA rules pertaining to the selection or
removal of all star managers, coaches or players. To the extent anything herein is determined
to be contrary to any ASA rules, the ASA rules shall govern.