We wanted to bring to your attention a new registration option for MSBL Travel Softball.
Through community outreach, we’ve received feedback that many parents and players are interested in continuing softball after the Spring Rec season but are not necessarily looking for the highly competitive nature that “Travel” sports often imply. With that in mind, we’re excited to introduce a new option during the registration process: the ability to choose between a “Developmental” or “Competitive” track.
If you’ve already registered, your child will default to the Competitive option. If you would prefer the Developmental track instead, please let us know and we’ll be happy to update your registration.
Some information that might answer frequent questions (Please note that not all situations can be anticipated or fully addressed in these guidelines.)
Developmental Track:
Players selecting this option will not require evaluations and will be placed directly on a developmental team.
Competitive Track:
Players choosing this option will be evaluated. Those not placed on a competitive roster due to size limitations will be assigned to a developmental team and may also serve as substitutes for the competitive team. This approach helps manage roster sizes and avoids the need for player cuts.
Team Philosophy:
While guidance will be provided to team managers, in general:
Developmental teams will focus on increased playing time, player rotation, and skill development over competition.
Competitive teams will still emphasize development and rotation when possible, but coaches will prioritize game strategy and player positioning to support a more competitive environment.
If there are not enough players to form two separate teams (Competitive and Developmental), a blended approach should be taken. We suggest that the team manager meet with parents to determine the best path forward. A few ideas include:
  •  Playing the regular season in a developmental style (e.g., high levels of player and position rotation), while approaching playoffs and/or tournaments with a more competitive mindset.
  •  Differentiating between league play and tournaments—for example, treating league games as developmental and tournaments as competitive, or vice versa
We hope this new structure provides more flexibility and a positive experience for all players and families. Thank you for your continued support and as always please reach out to softball@msbl.us if you have any questions!
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