Northwest Lady Vikings
Softball Handbook
For Players & Parents

As members and supporters of GINW’s softball program, it is our responsibility to develop the social, mental, and physical aspects of the game of softball.

SOCIAL: Our first and foremost goal is to produce quality team players who can accept authority, work together in a team effort, acknowledge limitations, respect great accomplishments, lose with dignity, and win with humility.

MENTAL: Many athletes, fans, and coaches ignore this aspect of sport in the pursuit of the perfect physical athlete. Athletes, coaches, parents and fans need to develop positive attitudes that support their all people involved with the team in both failure and success. People who believe in themselves and their teammates are much more likely to be successful than people who are constantly exhibiting negative and destructive behaviors and attitudes. This philosophy applies to life as well as sports, so it is extremely important that we strive to create the perfect mental athlete.

PHYSICAL: Finally, we need to create players who are physically prepared to compete on a championship level. In order to play and win like champions, we need to train like champions. This means that everyone must attend practices, games, and team meetings. Each practice and game must receive a one hundred percent, focused effort from all people involved with the team.

PREPARATION +PERSPIRATION=SUCCESS.  

TEAM RULES

All team members will be held accountable to the expectations set forth in the GINW Activities Handbook.

All athletes must attend scheduled practices and games unless the absence is cleared through the head coach before the day of the practice or game. Exceptions will only be made for athletes with family emergencies, illnesses, or medical appointments.

All members of the team are expected to be present for both Varsity and Junior Varsity competitions. This is a team, and we need to support one another’s efforts.

All members of the team are expected to wear matching uniforms for competition. This includes sliding guards, visors, helmets, batting gloves, undergarments etc… if the athletes choose to use them. The accepted color for these is black. The NSAA regulates this area of the game, so it is imperative that we comply.

All team members are expected to stay in the dugout during competition. Running around getting food and talking to people during the game shows a lack of focus and intensity. We can afford neither of these and they will not be tolerated. Personal cell phones must also be turned off and put away during practices, games, and warm up times.

Do not discuss coaching decisions with me or other coaches on the days of competitions. This only serves to distract you, me, and the other members of this team. If you want to talk to me or another coach about technical aspects of the game, we will be more than happy to set up a meeting time that will be convenient for all involved people. We will not discuss playing time.

Always be positive in your comments to the people on the team, the officials, fans, and members of the opposing team. Positive attitudes are contagious and very beneficial to a total team effort. In addition, a negative attitude only serves to represent members of your community in a negative way.

Give a 100% effort every time you represent the team whether it is in practices or games. Success does not come without hard work and sacrifices!

Always do your best to represent the team and community in a positive manner even when not attending a team function. The actions of individuals are seen as a direct reflection of the team, school, and community of Grand Island .

Understand your role as a team player, and strive to be your best in that role. There are four roles performed at any competition:

-Player

-Coach

-Official

-Spectator

Only one role can be performed at a time. Understand which role is yours and do your best to fulfill that role.

Any athlete who participates on a fast-pitch softball team other than the school’s team from the first day of practice until the day following the State Softball Tournament becomes ineligible for the school’s team and any awards that might follow. This includes practices, games, one-on-one instruction, and try-outs.

Athletes cannot actively participate in softball clinics from the first day of fall practice through the end of the state tournament.

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FROM THE TEAM

Failure to comply with GINW Handbook guidelines.

Two or more unexcused absences from scheduled practices, games, or meetings.

- One violation will result in a one game suspension from play.

-Two violations will result in a three game suspension.

-Three violations will result in the offender being asked to leave our program.

Walking out on practices, meetings or games.

Exhibiting disrespectful or negative behavior towards teammates, coaches, officials, or spectators. Each case will be handled on an individual basis.

Use of Alcohol, Illegal Drugs or Tobacco during the season. People caught using these will forfeit their right to be a starter or to have significant playing time for the remainder of the season. Not only is the use of these drugs illegal, but they also severely inhibit a player’s ability to perform at a championship level.

Athletes will be allowed one week to get off of the down list the first time their name appears. After that one time, the athletes will not be able to compete until their names are removed from the down list. We are concerned about academics before athletics. We expect you to stay academically eligible.

Failure to comply with team expectations and rules as stated above.  

GENERAL COMMENTS

Playing for the GINW Vikings Softball Team is a privilege and not a right. By becoming a part of this team we are agreeing to be held to a higher level of standards than the average student in this school. We are also agreeing to represent our team, school, and community in a positive way as we travel across the state. It is our responsibility to be positive representatives for the community of Grand Island at all times. Athletes, coaches, and fans are the most visible ambassadors of the Northwest community, so we need to take this responsibility very seriously. If we wish to participate in this program and help in building a quality program, we will be successful in this system. However, if we insist on putting ourselves ahead of the team, we will not have a very pleasant or very long future with this program.

REQUIREMENTS FOR LETTERING

1. All requirements for lettering must be met while being eligible for a minimum of one-third of the varsity competitions. Junior Varsity stats do not count towards a varsity letter.

2. If letter requirements are not achieved, the head coach has the right to award a varsity letter to an athlete based upon that athlete’s contributions to the team.

3. Receiving a Varsity letter is a privilege; therefore, the head coach may deny a letter to an athlete if the athlete commits acts that are deemed a detriment to the overall welfare of the team. This even applies to athletes who have successfully attained all letter objectives.

4. Being a senior does not entitle a member of this team to an automatic letter or a position on the Varsity squad.

5. Athletes must earn a minimum of 110 positive player points.

• 100 points - Attendance at all scheduled practices and games (2 points/day)
• 10 points – Attendance at Parent/Player meeting
• 10 points - Attendance at Leadership Seminars (2 points/day)
• 10 points – Attendance at pre-season conditioning (2 points/day)
• 10 points – Participation in other Northwest sponsored sports (10 points/sport)
• 10 points – Participation in the team retreat
• 10 points – Helping with Northwest softball summer camp
• 2 points – For each day of attendance at summer weights (2 points/day)

6. In addition to positive player points, athletes must achieve a minimum of three (3) of the following objectives:

• Be in the top five in 1B, 2B, 3B or HR with a minimum of 20 plate appearances.
• Achieve the following in batting average (.333), on base percentage (.500), or slugging percentage (.425) with a minimum of 20 plate appearances.
• Be in the top five in stolen bases.
• Be in the top five in put outs or assists.
• Have a season fielding percentage of .850 or better.
• Be in the top five in fewest errors committed with a minimum of 10 games competed in.
• Be in the top five in RBI’s.
• Be in the top five in runs scored.
• Be in the top five in runs created.
• Lead the team in wins.
• Lead the team in strike outs.
• Lead the team in fewest hits allowed per game with a minimum of 10 games pitched.
• Have an ERA of 3.00 or below with a minimum of 10 games pitched.
• Have a strike to ball ratio of 1-1.
• Lead the team in saves.

7. The following items will constitute receiving an automatic letter:

• Pitching a no-hitter.
• Pitching a shut out.
• Have a .400 or better batting average.
• Being a member on the roster of a first place tournament team.
• Being a member of an official Conference or District Champion roster.
• Being a member of an Official State Qualifying roster.
• Score 200 Positive Player Points

Receiving the team’s Most Positive Player Award

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RULES AND GUIDELINES

We have read and understand the expectations set forth in this handbook and agree to follow them at all times while involved with the GINW Vikings softball program. We agree to strive to become athletes and fans intent upon developing the social, mental, and physical aspects of the game of softball. We agree to be positive role models in our school, our community, and our state. We understand that failure to comply with school and team guidelines will make us subject to any penalties that are determined to be appropriate to the offense.