Yorktown Fastpitch About Our Program
(9/28/2005)
Coaches:
There are five coaches currently associated with the program. They include: Ron Huling (varsity head), Katie Speakman (JV head), Will Downs (hitting coach and varsity assistant), Jessica Allen (JV and special assistant), Whitney Cochran (varsity assistant)
Game Schedule:
The varsity plays two preseason games, 20 regular season games and post-season playoffs. The JV plays two preseason games and approximately 17 regular season games. Schedules will be posted shortly on the program’s unofficial website and later on the Yorktown High School website. The unofficial website is undergoing some changes. The new site is www.YHSFASPITCH.NET. The first practice games are scheduled for March 10th. The first regular season games are on March 16 against Chantilly. Post-season playoffs for the varsity begin as early as May 14th and run until the team is eliminated. The last possible playoff game, the state championship, is on June 8th. The JV season will likely conclude the week ending May 5. The varsity will play five of its allotted regular season games this year during spring break at the Grand Strand Softball Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC. The schedule is especially ambitious this year with 12 district games and several non-district games against some of the area’s top teams. Yorktown, Bishop O’Connell and Loudoun Valley will participate in a three team varsity and JV round robin at Barcroft Park on May 5th. Most home games will be played on the new JV field at Yorktown if completed by the start of the season. Otherwise, Barcroft Park will be the site of our home games.
Roster:
The varsity and JV rosters will consist of approximately 17 and 15 players respectively. Juniors and seniors may only play on the varsity; Yorktown-track 8th graders are currently eligible to play on the JV. There are 14 varsity letter winners and 14 JV players eligible to return for the upcoming season.
Off-Season Conditioning Program:
The coaches run an active off-season conditioning program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week from mid-October (October 16th this year) until the beginning of tryouts. The sessions start immediately after the close of school and end around 4:30pm. It is a three-phase program with subsequent phases building on earlier ones. The focus is on agility, speed, plyometrics, and resistance training. Sessions take place in the new building hallways and the YHS weight room. This program is voluntary but participation is strongly encouraged.
Other Winter Activities:
Once again the YHS varsity players and coaches will be running the winter softball clinics for the Arlington Girls Softball Association. These clinics begin on Sunday, January 14th, and continue weekly until Sunday, February 18th. This is an important fundraiser for our program and a good opportunity for our players to pass along their knowledge of the game, their enthusiasm for our program, and their expertise to future Patriots (and Generals and Warriors). All varsity players are asked to participate in as many of these sessions as they can. Given the number of young players attending these clinics, it is critical that the varsity help out.
Tryouts:
Tryouts begin on Presidents Day, February 19, 2007, and continue for at least three consecutive days. Players must have a completed Virginia High School League physical examination form in order to try out. The form may be downloaded from the school’s website. Attendance Beginning with the first try out, perfect attendance at team events is expected, but infrequent absences are excused. Time management excuses are viewed less favorably than others.
Practices:
During the season, practices will be held each weekday and, for varsity players, also on many Saturdays. Practice times vary, depending on whether we are indoors or out and whether our own field is available. Generally outdoor practices will run two hours. If we are on our own field, one team, i.e., either the varsity or JV, will utilize the cage from 3:30-4:30pm and then have the field from 4:30-5:30pm. The other team will utilize the cage from 4:30-5:30pm and then shift to the field. We have not yet decided whether the lead team will be the same throughout the season or whether we will alternate from week to week. In some instances, teams may practice concurrently, alternating between the cages and the fields. If our own field is not available, outdoor practices will be held at Barcroft Park. APS buses will transport the team to and from practice, departing from YHS immediately after the last period ends and leaving Barcroft for the return trip to YHS around 5:45pm. Because we may be indoors or out on any given day, players should keep in their bags both indoor and outdoor attire. Failure to have the proper equipment or dress is not an acceptable excuse. Practices will normally run no more than two hours. However, the clock starts once all players are in attendance and ready to practice. If we are still practicing two hours from the scheduled start time, you may assume that some players were not ready at that time. Regardless of the scheduled start time, players are expected to remain until the close of practice unless they have made prior arrangements with the coach. Players may be excused in advance from practice or from arriving on time for practice. Before seeking permission, first, ask yourself whether you want to communicate to the coaches that you consider another activity more important than participating in the team activity. Many activities are more important; some are not. The coaches give team activities a high priority. We expect you to do likewise. Important Note: Student-athletes who stay after the academic day with a teacher to receive extra help will automatically be excused tardy to practice if they bring a note from their teachers. Individuals missing the bus to the practice fields or off-site games will need to make their own travel arrangements. Coaches may restrict play for unexcused absences or failure to show up on time for practices, games or other team activities.
Playing Time:
There is no guarantee of playing time at this level of competition. It is up to the coaches to determine who the right players are to have on the field or in the batting line-up at any given time. Academic Performance We do not take academic performance lightly. Players will be expected to maintain a satisfactory level of academic performance throughout the season to remain eligible to participate on these teams. The coaches will be monitoring individual academic performance regularly.
Key Dates:
Fall interest meeting – October 13
Beginning of off-season conditioning – October 16
AGSA clinics begin – January 14 AGSA clinics end – February 19
Pre-tryout winter meeting – February 18 Tryouts – February 19-21
Practice starts – February 22 First practice game (varsity and JV) – March 10
First game (varsity and JV) – March 16
Breast Cancer Awareness Night – April 20
Senior night – May 4
District tournament start – May 14
Support:
All parents and fans are encouraged to join the Boosters Club. The Boosters provide valuable support to our program, including financial assistance, labor, etc. Among the Boosters’ various fundraising activities are several carwashes, clinics, etc. The coaches consider these activities to be team functions and all are expected to participate.
