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Softball All Stars

Click here for 2025 LCYO Softball All Stars Letter
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2022

All-Star Selection Process
La Costa Softball Association
8u, 10u, 12u

STEP 1: Gathering Interest

  • All-Star Program Information Letter – In early April, a letter is sent to all current Spring players. For anyone interested in trying out for All Stars, the letter must be signed by parents. The letter outlines expectations, player availability requirements, appropriate behavior, estimated costs, potential tournament schedule, how to deal with conflicts, etc.
  • All-Star Coach Interest Letter - In early April, there is a letter sent to all current Spring coaches. Prospective managers and assistant coaches need to state their interest prior to the evaluation process. Those interested in the manager position will need to submit a statement detailing their experience and coaching philosophy. Assistant coaches from the recreational season may apply to manage an All-Star team. Coaching candidates who have been issued Code of Conduct warnings during the regular season will not be considered. Note: All All-Star coaches are required to have a background check and complete the required certificate/training courses required by USA Softball.
  • All-Star Play Nomination Letter - In early April, a letter is sent to all current Spring head coaches. This is an information gathering process only. Nomination doesn’t imply the player will be selected. Head coaches should send their nominations in by the same deadline players are asked to turn in their signed interest form.

STEP 2: All Star Manager Selection

  • An All-Star selection committee consisting of all Softball Directors (Pee Wee not required), VP Softball, and President will vote to select the managers. As requested in the coach interest letter described above, prospective managers will submit a statement detailing their experience and coaching philosophy.
  • Assistant coaches may apply to manage an All-Star team.
  • Applications should be submitted by mid-April.
  • The selection committee will review the applications and vote on manager candidates. Depending on the number of anticipated teams per division, a preliminary manager should be named for Gold, Silver, and Bronze, as appropriate. Please note that prior to the player vote, this is a preliminary decision. In the event the child of a manager chosen for a team does not get picked for that team, the board has the right to make adjustments based on the next highest voted manager. Note: If there’s a conflict of interest with a potential manager that is part of the Selection Committee, that person should abstain from voting. Also, any coaching candidates who have been issued Code of Conduct warnings during the regular season shall not be considered.
  • Key manager selection criteria include:
    • Coaching philosophy
    • Past LCYO coaching success
    • Past softball/baseball experience
    • Previous season evaluations
    • Feedback from coaches, parents, umpires, former players, etc.
  • When there are two equally qualified managers, priority is given to the manager who did not coach the same age group the last season. Our goal is to avoid having the same All-Star manager year after year for the same age group since this leads to a perception that select individuals always get to manage the All-Star teams.

STEP 3: Player Evaluation

  • Division Directors populate the All Star Evaluation spreadsheet prior to the evaluation day. Spreadsheet includes players who have expressed interest by signing All Star Program information / interest letter and/or players who have been nominated by head coaches. Spreadsheet includes conflicts, head coach nomination notes and a “rating” provided by the head coach. Rating system to be confirm by the All-Star Selection Committee. Example: 5=Gold level (top 12 in division); 4 = on the bubble between gold and silver; 3 = Silver level (top 13-24 in division); 2 = on the bubble between silver and bronze; 1 = Bronze level (top 25-36 in the division); 0 = not recommended for All Stars at this time Note: There is no guarantee Silver and Bronze teams will be filled every year in every division - this is solely for gathering input on how the player rates amongst their peers in their division.
  • Players interested in trying out for All Stars must sign the All Star Program Information Letter and attend the mandatory evaluations.
  • The Softball All Star/Select Program Director will schedule evaluations and organize the stations with the help of Division Directors, VP Softball, head coaches and assistant coaches.
  • During the evaluation, head coaches will be asked to evaluate players based on the selection criteria outlined below. The same rating structure used in the pre-tryout rating will be used here. Therefore at the end of the evaluation, a player will have a rating from their specific head coach, plus a rating from each of the head coaches at the evaluation.
  • All Star Selection Committee will determine which divisions will field Gold, Silver and Bronze teams. Talent and level of interest will determine if Silver and Bronze teams will be rostered. This will vary from year-to-year.

Player Eligibility – All players trying out for All Stars must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the USA Softball yellow book for the current calendar year.

Player Selection Criteria – Players will be selected primarily based on their performance during the regular season and playoffs, along with their assessment/ranking during All-Star evaluation day. Coaches will provide an overview of each player, focusing on their playing ability and attitude.

IMPORTANT - Steps 4 & 5 should be completed within 24-48 hours of Player Evaluations

STEP 4: Rostering Teams and Assistant Coach Selection

All-Star Player Vote and Teams – Once all information is gathered and documented in the All Star Evaluation Spreadsheet, final decisions need to be made about managers, players and assistant coaches:

  • All Star Selection Committee confirms manager selections. Assuming the selection committee’s top ranked manager’s child is voted onto the team, that manager is then assigned as team manager. If not, we move to the second highest ranked manager, and to the third if required.
  • Roster Players: All Star Selection Committee meets with Gold managers to roster Gold teams in each division. The top eight players with the highest ratings will be automatically assigned to the Gold/A team. Once selected, he/she will select four additional players. Next the full Silver/B team will be voted on from the remaining list, and the manager assigned depending upon the player vote. If we elect to have a third team for the respective division, the “Bronze/C team” will be voted on next.

A neutral board member who does not have a child in the division being voted on will monitor this process.

Note: The All Star/Select Program Director, Division Director and Team Manager reserve the right to modify this process if fielding a team with the proper position players becomes an issue. For example, if the top seven players happen to all be pitchers, it may make sense to discuss making adjustments. Again, this needs to be done with a neutral board member who does not have a child in the division being voted on.

Assistant Coach Selection - Selected all-star managers have the opportunity to select their assistant coaches with the All-Star Selection Committee support. Any parent/coach who has expressed interest in managing or assisting deserves consideration. Candidates are not required to have been a head coach or assistant coach during the regular season. The manager and All-Star Selection Committee will adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Minimum of three assistant coaches. If not enough volunteers have expressed interest, a minimum of two assistant coaches is acceptable. In the regular season, a head coach and two assistants is more than sufficient, but during tournaments, three assistants is ideal for warm ups, check-in process, etc.
  • If a volunteer isn’t chosen, the manager and selection committee need to be prepared to support this decision. Although All Stars is a competitive environment, it’s still a recreational-level league. And therefore, there’s no reason to exclude willing volunteers unless there is an acceptable reason for doing so.
  • During the selection process, the same criteria listed above for managers will also be considered in selecting assistant coaches.

STEP 5: Communication Selections

Selected managers should contact assistant coaches and players and welcome them to the team. Be sure to include a date for mandatory parent meeting, which typically coincides with uniform sizing.

  • All Star Director will send an email to all players who were not chosen - congratulating them for being considered and encouraging them to try out next year.

STEP 6: Parent Meeting

Mandatory Parents All-Star Meeting – Parents of players who are selected for All-Stars must attend a meeting. During this meeting, managers will communicate their coaching philosophy, introduce assistant coaches, share playing time expectations, and communicate what LCYO expects from them as a Parent of an All-Star player. Parents will get all their All-Star related questions answered during this meeting. This meeting typically coincides with uniform sizing.