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Wildcats 2012 Assessment Day

• the SQUIRT B division (2001 / 2000) working out at 9 - 11 am
• The PEE WEE B Division (1999 - 1998) working out at 11 am - 1:30 pm
• The Bantam A (1996-1997) working out at 1:30 - 4 pm
  

Wildcats Rep Softball

• 01B
• 00B
• 99B
• 98B
• Bantam A
• Bantam B
• Wildcats Uniforms and Equipment
  
• Wildcats Tournaments

The VWMSA encourages and supports a "rep" or repertory program as an outlet for those who want to excel at the game, or who don't find the competition at house to be stiff enough. Rep teams typically:

• practice in the off season,
• practice twice weekly in season,
• play more games (20-24 vs. 18 for house or "C" ball) starting in early April
• participate in tournaments (often 3-4 per season)
• fund raise (and/or draw on parents) to cover the cost of uniforms, clothing, tournaments, equipment and travel
• play in provincials in mid-July, for the top VWMSA team in their division

The "B" level is a level that many house division players could play in with good results. The VWMSA would like to form "B" teams from Squirt to Midget, with 2 teams per division divided by birth year, to allow the girls to compete at a higher level without having to play cross-boundary.  We also try to have "Mites Selects" team every year, subject to available/interested coaches (see the Mites page).  As a relatively small association, if we are competitive it is because of coaching and competitive spirit rather than because we have drawn on a large pool of talented kids.  We had two rep "B" teams in 2009, four in 2010, and five in 2011.  There is no limit on the number of "B" teams that our Association can register in the interlock. The practical limit seems to be the number of coaches and players that are prepared to dedicate the time and effort needed to compete at a higher level.

"A" Teams

Vancouver Wildcats will be holding tryouts to form a Bantam "A" team for the 2012 season - tryouts will be held September 9 at 6pm / September 10 1:30 - 4 pm at Trafalgar park. Contact Lisa Ebel  -all5@shaw.ca / 604 708-1944 for information or to express interest in attending these tryouts. While our other categories may have individual kids capable of playing "A" ball, the VWMSA at present has only B teams.  

In general, the difference between A and B is not time commitment or cost, but rather mental commitment.  At the A level, mistakes are costly, and so focus in practice and games is essential.

How to Sign Up

Any player who was not a member of a rep team in a prior year that wishes to be considered for selection on a rep team should contact the coach of the rep team for their age group/birth year/level. The coaches for the Wildcats rep teams for the current/upcoming season are listed on the individual pages and at the bottom of this page.  At Registration, players are invited to state on their registration whether they wish to play at the rep level.

We have a tryout session usually in early September every year, but coaches have discretion on numbers and what happens through the year.  Our intention is to build around a core of girls of a particular birth year, and have them play ball together, adding to the team to make up for attrition.  For now, on most teams it is simply finding kids willing to commit to the extra time, cost and most importantly the desire to play more ball.

Cost

The cost of playing rep softball is somewhat more than playing house.  Fees from the association are the same, but players purchase uniforms.  Typical total cost excluding league fees (assuming no fundraising) for first year in rep is $500-$700, with lower costs in subsequent years (replacement of worn or outgrown equipment).  This includes personal equipment, team equipment, clothing, and tournament fees.  Travel costs vary by team, and are generally a team decision.  The association does not pay for rep team tournament fees, as it does for house teams (entry fee for one tournament). Rep teams normally fund raise through sponsors and other fund raising activities, to defray the added costs of playing at the rep level.

Tournaments

The number of tournaments rep teams enter in each year depends on the coaching staff, management, and level of interest amongst the players and their parents. Rep teams will ordinarily enter one or more pre-season "ice breaker" tournaments, as well as other tournaments during the season.  The players usually crave the chance to travel where overnight stays are part of the event; how much they do depends on the coaches and parents.

Playoffs

The playoff format for rep teams is different than for house teams. At the end of the regular season, there is a playoff within our District (District 5), which includes the Wildcats and (if they have a team) the Vancouver Lakers who play out of east Vancouver.  At the moment, the Lakers program is very limited, so VWMSA teams normally represent District 5.   In 2012, the playoffs will be between two VWMSA Squirt teams, and between two VWMSA PeeWee teams; the Bantam teams will have byes, as we only have one Bantam rep B team and one Bantam rep A team. 

The winner of the playoffs proceed to the Provincial Championship, and then perhaps can proceed to the Western Canadian Championships if they are in Bantam and Midget  A or B. Canadian Championships are for A teams only. Western Canadians and Canadians are not available at all levels. 

BC Summer Games Teams

District 5 with District 4 (N Van & Squamish) typically form a Zone 5 team to compete in the BC Summer Games in those years from girls of the correct age band (PeeWee).  See www.zone5softball.net for information on the 2012 team (1998 and younger eligible).