Summer Rec All-Stars F.A.Q.

Q: What is the registration cost for Summer Rec All-Stars?
A: The registration cost is always posted before try-outs but typically ranges from $250-$300.  

Q: Who can participate in Summer Rec All-Stars?
A: Any player that is not on a current USSSA/USA travel team roster (i.e. only plays rec or local school softball) is eligible to play in Rec All-Stars.  There are try-outs for Rec All-Stars, and the best players at try-outs are picked to be on the team by the coach.  Rec All-Stars is an introductory step to “Travel Softball” and is seen as almost a required to step for girls who have travel ball aspirations.

Q: Can my child “play-up” in a higher age bracket?
A: It is not recommended.  While in normal rec ball we encourage talented 8 year-olds to play up in 10U, and talented 10 year-olds to play up in 13U, the talent level is much greater in Rec All-Stars and travel softball.  Playing your daughters proper age group is highly recommended in All-Stars and travel softball in general.  Rec All-Stars have age levels 8U, 10U, 12U, 15U and 18U.

Q: What is the time commitment for Summer Rec All-Stars?
A: A rough schedule is known and posted before each season and can vary based on age group.  But in general, there are try-outs near the end of the spring rec season, 2x weekly practices start after the end of the rec season (mid-June) and continue till the end of the summer season (mid to end of July).  There are typically 3 weekend tournaments in July.

Q: What are the tournaments like?
A: Rec All-Stars teams typically participate in up to three Saturday/Sunday tournaments in the month of July against other Rec All-Stars teams from the DELMARVA area.  Saturday consists of two pool-play games.  Then based on how the teams do on Saturday, all teams are seeded and play single elimination bracket-play games on Sunday.  The exact game times and schedule for Saturdays are not known and published until about 7 days prior to the tournament.   The exact game times and schedule for Sunday are based on seeding, so that is not known until all the games on Saturday are completed, and the schedule is typically released around 7 or 8 pm on Saturday.  On average you can expect to be at the ball field for 4 to 5 hours on a Saturday, and a minimum of 2 hours on a Sunday (if you loose your first game) or up to 5+ hours if you continue to win and go to the championship game.  Teams typically never play more than 3 games on Sunday if they go to the championship game.  Saturday pool-play games are limited to 75 minutes (finish the inning) and Sunday bracket-play games are limited to 85 minutes (finish the inning).

Q: Where are the tournaments/what travel is involved?
A: All tournaments are considered “Central Maryland” so travel is very limited.  The exact venue for your team is not known until the schedule is set, which occurs about 7 days prior to the tournament. Central Maryland USSSA events use venues located in Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Laurel, Savage, Glen Burnie, Brooklyn Park and Pasadena.

Q: What are the rules and are they any different from rec softball?
A: Depends on the age group. Normal rec softball uses modified rules for fairness, development, and pace of play, even at the 13U level.  Rec All-Stars 18U, 15U and 12U uses all normal USSSA softball rules with no modifications and no run limit per inning.  10U uses the same rules but adds a 5 run limit for the first 2 innings, no drop 3rd strike, and no stealing of home.  10U is also 100% player-pitched and there are walks.  8U rules are: 100% coach pitch.  3 swinging strikes or 5 pitches.  No walks or HBP.  No coaches in the field of play (except the coach pitcher).  No Stealing.  No infield fly rule.  You CAN run on over-throws and play is stopped when the pitcher has the ball or a defensive player has the ball in front of the lead runner.