Evergreen Park Girls Softball League
Evergreen Park Girls Softball League

2024

All Stars

THE ALL-STAR EXPERIENCE

All-Stars is an extracurricular activity offered by the EPGSL. It's an entirely different experience and season than the regular season.

The All Star experience is a unique opportunity for softball players and their families to build new friendships in the context of a competitive softball experience. There's also some difference in Age Eligibility and Structure from how the IN-HOUSE league is run. We encourage every parent to read the entire summary so they understand the whole All-Star process. Don't hesitate to Contact Us if you have any questions about All-Stars.

 

If you're not sure what your daughter's league age is, see the 2023 Little League Age Chart below.

ALL-STAR AGE STRUCTURE

What A 2021 All Star Season!

In 2022, we continued our success in the Little League State Tournament.  

 

Our 11-12 year old team and our 9-10 year old team both took 2nd place in the State Championship games!

 

Beginning in 2022, EPGSL moved to District 7

 

PLAYER SELECTION:                                                      ALL-STARS ARE OPEN TO ALL-GIRLS!

Cost is $150 and the fee must be paid immediately to the manager when accepting being on the team.  

 

A tryout will take place for ANY interested girl by LEAGUE AGE.

 

2024 All Star Tryout Schedule:

 

TBD

 

 

Some players, depending on their league age (see Structure below), are eligible to tryout for two teams during a given season. However, a player may practice with and participate on only ONE tournament team during a given season. The exception to that would be if there were multiple teams, and for some reason one of the other teams needed players to complete a game because of injury or for whatever reason.

 

Evaluation and selection of the players for the tournament team(s) in each age group shall be the sole decision of the tournament manager.

Note: Rosters are subject to final approval of the board. The  board doesn’t want to get into the business of micro-managing ANY of the league's All-Star team’s selection, and should not be looked to fix what are judgment calls. The board understands that not everybody will agree with the All-Star selections, but will not step in unless we feel the issue is egregious.

 

All girls must have played in at least 60% of their eligible IN-HOUSE league games. 

Note: There is an injury, illness or school season exception.

 

Players participating in Travel Ball for another organization at the time of All-Stars shall not be considered for tournament teams.

 

All players MUST show up for at least (1) of the tryouts to be put on a roster for the official team.

Note: There is an injury, illness or school season exception.

ALL-STAR ROSTERS POSTED ON WEBSITE

Rosters will be posted on the league’s website. Because a player makes an all-star roster, that does not guarantee the player of making the team. All players and their parents must make a commitment to the all-star manager for the time that the tournaments will take place before officially making the team. Each tournament team is different and each manager will make those decisions individually. For the most part if you participate on an all-star team it will cover the end of June and most of July or mid-July. Managers may or may not be able to work around your vacation plans. If teams participate in the State or International Tournaments, managers will likely want a full commitment for those tournaments.

THE UNIQUENESS OF ALL-STARS

All stars is often a series of “firsts.” All-Stars is the first experience of truly competitive athletics for many girls. It is the first time to play before large crowds (several hundred at the district level, as many as ten thousand at the regional finals). It is the first time many children feel the pressure to perform and win. All-Stars is also the first time many players are not the best player on the team. They must learn to sit on the bench, contribute when given a limited opportunity, and share the success the team achieves. These “firsts” are challenging for every player, and their parents. This can create a significant learning experience.

PUTTING TOGETHER AN ALL-STAR TEAM

We want to remind everyone that making an all-star team is a privilege and not a right for any player! Just because a player was on an all-star team or flex team during this or previous season(s) does not mean she will make the team this year. And just because a player played a certain role on a team in past season(s) doesn’t mean that role will be the same from year-to-year. Parents and players must understand that you need different kinds of players to put together a good all-star team. That means pitching, speed, power and other intangibles. You can’t have three left fielders or four shortstops. This sometimes means some players in the regular season who may have higher averages or better statistics may not be picked over someone with a particular skill.

EPGSL ALL-STARS HAVE FOUR UNIQUE GOALS:

The first is to provide an intensive clinic/camp type experience. Although only two or three coaches are officially named to the team, frequently four to six coaches work with the team in practice. Precise skills for each position are taught. Intensive work on the finer points of the game are covered. Players are able to develop much more rapidly in this environment, both because of the coaching and the quality of their peers in practice. 

The second goal is to provide a great team/friend building experience. As one girl said, “All stars is not about softball.  It’s about friends.” Well said! The game is simply the context in which players and their families bond in unique ways and develop significant friendships. The intensity of all stars, coupled with the competitive environment, deepens the bonds of those who share the experience.

The third goal is to build lifelong positive memories. Many people who play in Little League all stars remember it fondly, have memorabilia which they save into adulthood, and remember the experience as a focal point of family life during their childhood years. 

Finally, while the EPGSL promotes equal play/participation throughout its regular season program, all stars is different. The fourth goal of All-Stars for EPGSL is to win tournaments. Note: One of the nice things about the Little League program is during its State or International Tournaments at the 14U and under levels there's still some sort of minimum participation rules, so every girl will still get a chance to contribute. In fact it's often how much the manager develops and uses those who would be considered the last few players picked on a team that determines a team's success.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REGULAR SEASON AND ALL-STARS

All stars is a different experience from the regular season for players AND THEIR PARENTS. It is, as the Little League rulebook says, “a whole new ball game.” Failure to recognize this can create frustration and disappointment for the players AND THEIR PARENTS.

There are four major differences from the regular season parents should note and be prepared for:

First, All-Stars are played by different rules than the regular season. Free substitution and roster batting are not used in tournament play. Other rules restrict substitutions, pitching availability, and player utilization. The result of these rules is that some players will play very little and must learn to cooperate with the manager who makes the playing time decisions. 

Second, your child will fail more during all stars. While they were a dominating player on the regular season team, she may not be in all stars. Be prepared for this. 
Have realistic expectations and help your child adjust to his diminished results. There are still eighteen outs per team in an all-star game, and now some all star must make them!

Third, you will have less control/influence than during the regular season. The IN-HOUSE tournaments are controlled by local leagues and the State or International Tournament is controlled by the Little League Tournament Committee in Williamsport, Pa., through the local District Administrator. EPGSL has no control over tournament operations. While you were able to influence the decisions made in your league by talking with board members, this influence is not available during tournament play.

Finally, the most influential people in all stars are the parents of the players. By their attitude, effort, cooperation, and contributions, the team is able to succeed.

STRUCTURE

There will be 5 to 8 all-star teams for the 2023 season. Per EPGSL Bylaws, if the board feels there are enough girls to field two competitive teams at any age level, the board will vote on whether to field two teams. The board would love to give as many girls a chance to play postseason as it can, but doesn't want to put a second team together who can't compete, thus making it a miserable experience for players, coaches and parents.

8U Team

The 8u team is comprised of players LEAGUE AGE 7 and 8-years old who play in the Jr. Petite and Petite Divisions. Players LEAGUE AGE 6, who play in Jr. Petite and are in 1st grade are also eligible for the 8u Team.

10U DISTRICT TEAM

The 10u District Team is comprised of players LEAGUE AGE 8, 9, and 10-years old who play in the Petite and Chic Divisions and have participated as an eligible player in 60% of the regular season games, with the exception of the school softball season.

 

Players LEAGUE AGE 8, who during the regular season play in Petite and are in 3rd grade ARE NOW eligible for the 10u District Team.  

Note: Those players LEAGUE AGE 8 who want to tryout of the 10u team MUST also tryout for the 8u team.

 

The 10u team generally plays in three tournaments, including the Little League Softball 9-10-Year Old State Tournament. The tournament features around 100 teams from around the state of Illinois. The tournament starts with District play. The winner advances to the Sectional, and the Sectional winner advances to State.

 

In 2022, the Little League State tournament will be hosted by District 9 from 07/23 thru 07/29/22.

11U District Team

Click image for Illinois State Little League website. There you'll find results for sectional and state tournaments.

If the board feels there is enough girls league age 9, 10 and 11-years-old to put together a competitive team we will put together a 11U District Team. Note: The board will decide on the 11U team after the 1OU and 12U District teams have been selected.

The 11U District Team is comprised of players LEAGUE AGE 9, 10 and 11-years old who play in the Petite and Chic Divisions and have participated as an eligible player is 60 percent of the regular season games, with the exception of the school softball season.

 

If the league chooses the 11U District team can compete with teams from around Illinois for the 11U Little League State Championship. 

 

The team will be comprised of 11U players on the 12U B Team and 9 and 10U Players on the 10U B Team.  Any player trying out for the 10u or 12u team that does not make the A team or state team may be considered for this team.

In 2022, the 11u state competition will be held from 07/23 thru 07/27/22.  Location to be determined.

 

 

12U Little League District Team

Click image for the Little League Softball World Series website

The 12U District Team is comprised of players LEAGUE AGE 11 and 12-years old who play in the Chic or Soph Division and have particpated as an eligible player is 60 percent of the regular season games, with the exception of the school softball season.

 

The 12U team generally plays in three tournaments. The league main tournament is the Little League Softball World Series International Tournament. The tournament featues teams from around the World. Every district winner advances to the state tournament. The difference in this tournament from the 9-10s and 10-11s is that the Illinois champion advances to the Little League Central Region in Whitestown, IN (07/25 thru 07/27/22) and the Regional winner advances to the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, NC., which can be seen on ESPN. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.

In 2022, the State Tournament will be hosted by District 10 from 07/16 thru 07/21/22.

 

 

14U Junior League District Team

Click image for Junior League Softball World Series website.

 

The 14U District Team is comprised of players LEAGUE AGE 12, 13 and 14-years old who play in the Chic, Soph and Senior Divisons and have particpated as an eligible player in 60 percent of the regular season games, with the exception of the school softball season.

The 14U team generally plays in three tournaments. The main tournament is the Junior League International Tournament. The tournament featues teams from around the World. Every district winner advance to state. The Illinois champion advances to the Central Region Tournament in Pendleton, WI. The Regional winner advances to the Junior League Softball World Series in Kickland, Washington, which can be seen on ESPN. All expenses for the teams advancing to the World Series (travel, meals and housing) are paid by Little League International.

In 2022, the Junior League State Tournament will be hosted by District 10 on 07/09 thru 07/14/22.

16U Senior League District Team

Click image for Senior League Softball World Series website.

The Senior League Softball District Team is for girls league age 13-16 years old.

 

Unfortunately, we do not anticipate having enough eligible girls to field a state team at this age level this season.

18U Big League Team

Little League Baseball eliminated the Big League program in 2016. However, the ECLIPSE PROGRAM has an 18u Program so that girls still have a place to play. They will play in tournaments this summer as well as a college exposure tournament.

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