CGSL Affiliation with Los Gatos-Saratoga Girls Softball Association FAQ
- Q1: Why don’t we just continue as we have been?
- Q2: Why become an affiliate of Los Gatos and Saratoga Girls Softball Association (LGSGSA)?
- Q3: Why not affiliate with Sunnyvale Girls Softball League (SGSL)?
- Q4: Will I have to travel far for practices?
- Q5: Will my daughter be left out of travel ball teams because of the larger number of players?
- Q6: Will our travel ball teams maintain the Inferno name?
- Q7: My daughter wants to be a youth umpire. Will that opportunity still be available?
- Q8: Are there any changes to my registration fees?
- Q9: Where should my daughter play?
- Q10: Can I help?
Q: Why don’t we just continue as we have been?
Declining enrollment for Cupertino Girls Softball League (CGSL) is consistent with declining enrollment for other local softball leagues. With only 2 teams at each age division in 2013, CGSL was unable to guarantee a diverse schedule of games within our own league. In addition to our commitment to provide a positive and instructive environment, being able to schedule games with a variety of teams is an important part of delivering a rich youth softball experience for our community. In recent years we have had trouble consistently setting up interleague games so a further drop in enrollment will significantly impact our girls’ ability to enjoy softball. Given the declining trends in registration the CGSL board feels that affiliating with another league is the best way forward.
Q: Why become an affiliate of Los Gatos and Saratoga Girls Softball Association (LGSGSA)?
Los Gatos-Saratoga has a thriving softball program and has experience successfully affiliating with other leagues. LGSGSA initiated discussions with several south bay leagues to join the affiliation to expand girls softball in our community. In 2013 LGSGSA formed an affiliation with the Campbell softball league at the 14U division that has been a positive experience for both leagues. In the past Saratoga successfully affiliated with Los Gatos. LGSGSA approached CGSL and wanted to have a closer relationship with us, going beyond the friendly relationships between travel programs and the current affiliation with co-hosting the Alexis Briski Tournament every Fall. They are impressed with the culture of CGSL, including the sportsmanship they’ve seen by players, parents and coaches when playing against CGSL, and felt that it would be a good fit given the geography and common culture of the leagues.
The combined leagues will also enable older girls to continue playing since with more girls it may be possible to field teams at the 16U level as well as “A” level travel teams (neither of which CGSL has been previously able to support).
Q: Why not affiliate with Sunnyvale Girls Softball League (SGSL)?
CGSL has had some very positive experiences with SGSL over the last several years and many families have created close bonds that will continue to grow outside the softball circle. There have been discussions in the past about a closer affiliation between SGSL and CGSL that did not proceed due to the lack of significant commitment required by both boards to create such a close affiliation. As noted above, Los Gatos-Saratoga initiated discussions with several south bay leagues to join the affiliation to expand girls softball in our community. In fact, Sunnyvale has been invited to consider joining the same affiliation. We hope they decide to do so.
Q: Will I have to travel far for practices?
- At the 6U and 8U divisions, CGSL and LGSGSA both agree that friendships play a large part in team formation decisions. Accordingly, if full teams can be made up of girls from Cupertino then we will do so. Furthermore, practices for such teams will continue to be in Cupertino.
- In the older divisions (10U+) additional factors are considered in team formation including balancing teams and having our girls make new friends outside of their schools, so we do plan to have a better integration of girls on the teams in these older divisions. However, CGSL and LGSGSA both understand that asking girls and parents to travel far for practices is not preferred, so during the recreational season both CGSL and LGSGSA have agreed to consider geography when forming teams. We anticipate that, if possible, CGSL girls will practice either in Cupertino or at Saratoga’s Foothill elementary school (near Saratoga High School) which is less than six miles from our fields at Monta Vista Recreational Center (MVRC).
Some drive time examples:
- From MVRC to Foothill School Fields - 13 minutes
- From Ortega Park Sunnyvale to Foothill School Fields - 16 minutes
- From Ortega Park Sunnyvale to MVRC - 12 minutes
- From Home Depot (Cupertino Central) to MVRC - 9 minutes
- From Home Depot to Foothill School Fields - 11 minutes
- From Rainbow Dr and Stelling Rd to MVRC - 9 minutes
- From Rainbow Dr and Stelling Rd to Foothill Fields - 7 minutes
- From Bowlmor Lanes to MVRC - 9 minutes
- From Bowlmor Lanes to Foothill Fields - 13 minutes
- From Stevens Creek Elementary to MVRC - 5 minutes
- From Stevens Creek Elementary to Foothill School Fields - 12 minutes
There will be 6 fields total for practice and game play with 5 of the 6 fields located in Cupertino and Saratoga. Teams will be assigned practices at these locations with the goal of minimizing travel for all our families.
Q: Will my daughter be left out of travel ball teams because of the larger number of players?
No. Both CGSL and LGSGSA want to have as many travel ball teams as can be supported by the girls and parents. CGSL will have a representative on the travel ball committee and a voice in all decisions.
Q: Will our travel ball teams maintain the Inferno name?
No, we will all miss the Inferno name! However, as part of our affiliation we will be part of a single travel ball program that better serves us all in the long run and will be known as the LGCS Magic (LGCS: Los Gatos, Cupertino, Saratoga).
Q: My daughter wants to be a youth umpire. Will that opportunity still be available?
Yes! CGSL and the larger affiliate board encourage our kids to take a more active role in youth softball. CGSL will continue to offer youth umpire positions at the MVRC fields.
Q: Are there any changes to my registration fees?
Yes, please see the tables below:
6U / A | ||
---|---|---|
Resident | Non-Resident | |
2013 Season | $96 | $107 |
2014 Season (before 12/1/2013) | $100 | |
2014 Season (after 12/1/2013) | $135 |
8U – 14U+ / AA, AAA, AAAA | ||
---|---|---|
Resident | Non-Resident | |
2013 Season | $180 | $191 |
2014 Season | $210 |
There is also now a $50 discount for multiple players in the AA-AAAA divisions from a single family.
As part of the fees CGSL will offer twice the amount of professional instruction from Cutting Edge as compared to the 2013 recreational season.
Q: Where should my daughter play?
Of course, only you can answer that question. However, the parent volunteers on the CGSL board, along with past Presidents, strongly support the affiliation with LGSGSA and believe that our girls will develop friendships and softball skills while thriving in the combined CGSL-LGSGSA environment. If you’ve been happy with your experience with CGSL, the combined league will have the same culture you’re accustomed to.
Q: Can I help?
Yes, please! CGSL will continue to exist and will have a Board to operate the league. In addition, the combined affiliated league will have a Board and welcomes parents to volunteer for one or both of these boards to enable our girls and future Cupertino girls to enjoy and develop confidence playing softball locally. Also, we continue to need coaches (head coaches and assistants) and team parents for all our teams.