Trevian Philosophy and Team Agreement

Purpose

The Trevian Girls Softball Association (TGSA) was established in 1980 to provide a top quality softball program for the girls of New Trier High School District.   The TGSA is a non-profit organization run entirely by parent volunteers.   Through participation in the Trevian program, its players learn responsibility, hard work, teamwork and how these things add up to group success.  Trevian players also build self-esteem and the confidence to take on difficult challenges later in life.

This statement of Trevian Philosophy has been assembled to summarize the Association's collective expectations and to guide all Trevian coaches, players and parents in their softball activities both on and off the field.  Exceptions to this philosophy statement may be approved by the TGSA Board as needed to maintain the overall function and development of the TGSA.  It is intended that this statement be broad enough to allow for continued innovation, yet specific enough to ensure that basic objectives are met.

TGSA as a Community Organization

In order to play Trevian softball, a player must live within New Trier High School District, unless approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Out of District Player Policy.  Through this commitment, the TGSA ensures that its members will be part of a community effort and that the girls in our community will continue to enjoy the benefits of the program for years to come.  This requirement is a key to the partnership the TGSA has enjoyed with area park districts, local businesses and the New Trier High School softball program..
The TGSA and its families should continually strive to publicize the program extensively throughout the entire district to keep the program accessible to all eligible players and their families.

TGSA's Commitment to Players and Families

The Association's coaches, board and officers are committed to providing a top-quality softball experience for its players and their families.  Over the course of the program, players receive the opportunity to develop all basic, intermediate and advanced softball skills as well as knowledge of the game required to play at the high school level and beyond.  These are gained by extensive practice and drills as well as through competition in league play and in competitive tournaments.

The TGSA will ensure that all coaches are qualified to teach the skills, rules and strategies of softball appropriate to each age group.  The TGSA board maintains a Coaches' Committee responsible for:  coach selection (with board approval), training and development, supervision, program surveys (including annual evaluation of head coaches) and approval of team policies.
The TGSA depends upon parent input in the direction of the organization and allows for at least one parent representative from each team on its Board of Directors.


Coach’s Commitment

The first priorities of all Trevian coaches are to foster the safety, confidence and self-esteem of their players.  In every phase of the Trevian program, all coaches will treat players with respect and in a positive and encouraging manner.  All coaches will abide by and reinforce safety rules including the TGSA Travel Policy.

All Trevian coaches must be qualified, through experience and study, to teach the softball skills and strategies appropriate to that age group.  All Trevian coaches will work to improve knowledge of the game and teaching methods, in part, by attending Trevian coaches’ clinics, and by reading the ASA Playing Rules at the start of each season.  The Head Coach accepts overall responsibility for developing his or her assistant coaches and holding them to these same standards of developing coaching skills and encouragement to players.

Good communication and administration are critical to the success of every team.  The Head Coach is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate communications, including providing written schedules and travel directions. The Head Coach will provide team members with a written Team Policy, including attendance and standards of conduct for tournament travel with appropriate penalties for rules violations, and will apply the team policy consistently.

Player's Commitment

Trevian players are committed to attend all practices and games, except for excused absences and unforeseen emergencies.  The importance of this commitment comes from the basic nature of team sports.  When any player misses a game or practice, it negatively affects every other player on the team, not only the missing player.  Tardiness or unexcused absences may be cause for suspension or removal from the team.  Players should notify the Head Coach as soon as possible of any anticipated absences.  Players will abide by the written Team Policy and agree to:

• Be on the field, on time and ready to play for all games and practices.
• Hustle and put forth their best efforts on the field at all times.
• Support their teammates and encourage them in their efforts at all times.
• Complete any homework, such as reading, conditioning or skill work.
• Conduct themselves in an appropriate, sportsmanlike manner at all times.
• Follow all safety rules, including the TGSA Travel Policy.

Parent Commitment

Parental support is the foundation of the Trevian program. Parents established the TGSA and serve as its coaches, board members, officers and financial supporters, as well as its most loyal fans.  Trevian parents must also make some fundamental commitments to support their daughters in their softball efforts.   Parents agree to abide by the TGSA Travel Policy.
Trevian parents must reinforce the importance of the commitments their daughters make.  This is crucial to rounding out the overall learning process for our players - without it, players may get "mixed signals" about the overall importance of commitment and responsibility.
Another important job of Trevian parents is the on-going encouragement of the teams as well as their own daughters.  The coaches will maintain a positive, encouraging environment for the players, but Trevian parents must also act as "cheerleaders" both on and off the field.

Player Safety

Coaches will consider player safety as an overriding priority.   While injuries are a risk in any athletic activity, the Trevian safety record has been excellent over the years, with injuries to players being very few and generally very minor.  The TGSA will provide appropriate protective gear as required by the Amateur Softball Association.

It is the responsibility of the parents to notify the Head Coach in writing before the season, or as soon as practicable, of any medical condition or physical limitation which could impair their daughter's ability to perform softball activities safely.
Each parent is required to sign a separate Waiver and Release prior to a player's activity in the TGSA program.  The release portion of this form authorizes emergency medical treatment for a player if a parent is not on hand.

Player Development

It is the Association's belief that players should receive training and playing time in more than one position over the course of a season.  This makes our players more versatile and, therefore, better prepared for the inevitable day when they will be asked to play a "new" position.  Teams with versatile players are also capable of remaining competitive in spite of the unavoidable injuries, illnesses and absences which occur on every team.

All position players will receive instruction and practice in at least one infield position and at least one outfield position during the course of each season.   Pitchers and catchers will receive instruction and practice in at least one other position.  Coaches will make best efforts to see that players have playing time for new positions to ensure that these skills are reinforced.

Playing Time

A primary goal of the Trevian program is to prepare each player for a significant team role and for the playing time needed to reinforce the skills learned during practice.  A key step in meeting this goal is to give every player a chance to perform in both league play and in tournament situations.  For all age groups, differences in playing time are determined by relative player commitment, work ethic and skill.  Players in the younger age groups may expect more equal playing time, while playing time for the older age groups will be geared more closely to player ability. Assuming good commitment, attendance and hustle, players may expect playing time as follows:
Players on 9 and 10-year-old teams can expect to play about equally over the course of a season.  For invitational tournaments, these players will play at least half the innings in pool play and an average of at least 2 innings per game during championship play, all subject to time limits and "run-ahead" rules.

For 11 to 14-year-old teams, "starting" lineups are emphasized during the more competitive league games as well as in tournament play.  For league play, players 11 and older can expect to play at least 3 innings of each regulation (7-inning) game, with teams batting the full lineup.  Players on these teams may expect a continuation of the 10-and-Under playing time policy for invitational tournament pool play. Substitutions in invitational tournament championship play, metro, regional and national tournaments and national qualifier tournaments will generally be in response to competitive situations.
Playing time for 15 to 18-year-old teams will be determined by each player’s competitiveness, commitment and hustle, with most substitutions made in response to competitive situations.

The Role of Competition

The Trevian Philosophy embraces competition as an important component of player development.  Athletic competition is healthy and is an exciting and stimulating part of the sport of softball.  Competitiveness and player development may sometimes appear to be in conflict.  There are some occasions when competition will play a decisive role in team decisions, but on most occasions competition should take a back seat to player development.

Emphasis on competition for Trevian teams differs greatly across the various age groups. Competition plays a minor role for the youngest age groups but increases in importance for the older age groups. As Trevian players gain skill and confidence, their natural desire to compete becomes greater and should be encouraged and developed.

Trevian Sportsmanship

Trevian coaches, players and parents are to conduct themselves in a respectful and sportsmanlike manner at all times.  This is important because the actions or words of one Trevian will be automatically associated with the rest of the Trevian organization. It is the responsibility of the Head Coach to establish this tone and reinforce it strongly at all times.

Trevian players will show respect for their teammates and Trevian coaches at all times.  In return, Trevian players can expect to be treated with respect by their teammates and coaches.

Trevian players will show respect for opposing players and coaches. Trevian team cheers should be positive in nature and directed to our team. Cheers which are derogatory or insulting to an opposing team are not allowed at any time.

Trevian coaches, players and parents will show respect for umpires at all times. Trevian parents and players may not argue with umpires or dispute their decisions at any time.  Questions and/or protests by Trevian coaches regarding rule interpretations must be made within the guidelines of the ASA Playing Rules.

Team Agreement

I understand and agree to abide by this Trevian Philosophy and Team Agreement:
Player ____________________________________________________________  Date ______________________
Parent ____________________________________________________________ Date ______________________
Coach ____________________________________________________________ Date _______________________