SPRING TRYOUT INFORMATION
8U optional, mandatory for top team 3/14 only.
10U & 12U NEW THIS YEAR - Mandatory 2-days of tryouts 3/14 & 3/21.
Additional details below under tryout & team formation.
March 14, 2021 Tryout Date #1 @ Tonka Dome
*Groups will be assigned 1 week prior to tryouts. Players must be registered by March 6th to be elligible for tryouts.
8U, 10U, & 12U
7:30am-9:00am 8U All (Groups 1-4)
7:30am-10:00am 10U Pitchers/Catchers Groups 5-6
8:30am-10:00am 10U Utility Groups 7-8
8:30am-11:00am 10U Pitchers/Catchers Groups 9-10
9:30am-11:00am 10U Utility Groups 11-12
9:30am-12:00pm 12U Pitchers/Catchers Groups 13-14
10:30am-12:00pm 12U Utility Groups 15-16
10:30am-1:00pm 12U Pitchers/Catchers Groups 17-18
11:30am-1:00pm 12U Utility Groups 19-20
March 21st Tryout Date #2 @ Tonka Dome
*Groups will be assigned following tryout date #1.
10U & 12U
5:00pm-7:00pm 10U Group 21
6:30pm-8:30pm 10U Group 22 & Group 23
8:30pm-10:00pm 12U All (Groups 24-25)
FORMS TO FILL OUT PRIOR TO TRYOUTS
8U (All Players that tryout)
There is only ONE tryout date for 8U. Tonka fastpitch encourages any player (2012 or 2013) that desires to be placed on the A team, AND all 2nd year (2012) players to attend tryouts.
2nd year 8U players are recomended to go through the evaluation process for the following reasons.
1-Tonka Fasptich wants them to be prepared when they move up to 10U fastpitch
2-There has been discussion on if/how to use the data we receive from tryouts. This will be communicated asap.
Prior to tryouts, you and your daughter must fill out the form declaring your team placement intentions found here.
10u/12u (All players)
Your daughter needs to attend BOTH tryout dates. Important: If your daughter is unable to make either tryout date, she will not be eligible for an A team.
Prior to tryouts, you and your daughter must fill out the form declaring their position placement intentions found here.
Procedure
Due to Covid-19, Tonka Fastpitch asks that the players arrive at their scheduled start time. We have built in time for check-in and warmups; please do NOT send your player in early. 8U Players may be accompanied by a parent into the dome for checkin, the parent must leave the dome immediately following checking. 10U & 12U players MUST enter the dome alone - NO PARENT ENTRY ALLOWED.
There are restrooms outside of the dome and we suggest girls go prior to tryouts.
Once your daughter enters the dome, she will be greeted by a fastpitch committee member for checkin. Jersey size elections were collected at registration. If you have any concerns about the size choice, the uniform coordinator will be present with sample sizes to try on - any changes to jersey sizing MUST be requested at the 1st tryout, and will then be considered FINAL.
After that, your daughter will receive a tryout number and be placed with their pre-selected group. She will remain with that group throughout the entire tryout. They will rotate through each station together, and they will end tryouts together and the pre-designated time. At the end of each group’s tryout, they will be escorted out of the dome where parents will pick up. No parents are to enter the dome for pickup.
What to Wear
Your player should be dressed in softball attire (pants, sliders, long socks, and gym shoes or cleats). Please have your player refrain from wearing any clothing that suggests winter training, club programs, or previous fastpitch/slowpitch uniforms ro tournament apparel.
Evaluations
It is the goal of Tonka Fastpitch to create a fun and relaxing atmosphere while allowing the evaluators to do their job. Tonka Fastpitch has hired Flexx Softball to provide us with evaluators. Those evaluators will conduct professional, unbiased, and reliable evaluations.
Pitchers and Catchers
We often hear, “I’m afraid to have my daughter tryout as a pitcher and/or catcher because she probably won’t make a higher team.” If your daughter enjoys being a pitcher and/or catcher, why would you want to take that away?
Tonka Fastpitch highly encourages all 12U players to continue honing their passion to pitch and/or catch. Do not fear the B team! Many Division I players were B team players because that provided them more time to refine skillsets at those specialty positions. It is often seen that C team players during their first year of 12U played on the A team during their second year of 12U.
Tonka Fastpitch has made the decision that if your daughter does not tryout as a pitcher and/or catcher, she is not guaranteed any time at these positions during the season (rare exceptions may include incidents such as injury, illness, or absence of a specialty player). For example, if your daughter is a catcher but she decided not to be placed on a team as a catcher, she will not catch. Tonka Fastpitch asks that you not pressure the coach to give your daughter time behind the plate.
Tonka Fastpitch asks pitchers and catchers to do what is right for their development and community. We need two pitchers and two catchers per team. The more pitchers and catchers we have the more teams we can create, thus the more girls we can accommodate in our program!
Team Formation
All teams are formed on results from tryouts. There is no bias on who knows who, or coach input, or past play. The committee doesn't know what the girls did in the off-season, or how they have matured, or how they may play with one coach instead of another.
Forming an 8U Top Team
The sport of fastpitch in Minnesota is growing and becoming more and more competitive. There is a push for more development and organization within the younger age groups so girls are more prepared when entering 10U and 12U. The decision to create a top team was discussed for quite some time among the fastpitch committee. The discussion started when feedback was received by parents, coaches, and players for the need for more like-skilled teams instead of teams based solely on friend requests. Players will have the opportunity to opt out of the opportunity to play on the top team. The top team will be formed based off of tryout data.
Flexx Softball
Flexx Softball takes pride in evaluating softball players. They are not affiliated with any club program. Their goal is to gather data that will be helpful in your daughter’s development. The data collected will provide Tonka Fastpitch with information to support team formation and enhance the growth and development of our entire program. Each player will have her own online player locker hosted by Flexx Softball. Personal data and progress will be scored and accessible to the players and parents. These player lockers can be updated throughout your daughter’s softball career, and Flexx will update each time your daughter is evaluated through them. This is a great tool to measure your player’s growth from year to year and gauge areas to improve.
In order for your daughter to have access to her scores, please create an account with Flexx Softball.
1. Go to https://minnetonkafastpitch.gemssites.com/company/index
2. Login or create a new account (you can use the same login and password for the entire family.
3. At the top of the page click, “Join Here”
4. Click on the Tonka Fastpitch logo for "x"
5. Scroll down to “Purchase Items” and select, “Get Now”
6. A prompt will ask what player you are registering, then select “Confirm” and you should receive an email.
7. If registering multiple players, you will be able to select “Join Here” again after you have confirmed your first player.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding tryouts or team placement, please contact Kristine Hochbaum at fastpitchdirector@tonkasoftball.org.
