Do you love softball? Take your game to the next level with ABGSL Sting. This program is for the more motivated player who wants to play competitively and develop advanced skills. Sting teams are highly skilled, and feature quick, accurate pitching. During the two-plus day tournaments, the experience can be exciting and challenging, fast-paced and fun. But it's more than just thrills and skills. It's also an amazing chance to grow as a player and a person, while enjoying yourself too.

Sting differs from the recreation league in several ways. While the recreation league emphasizes fun and basic skills, Sting emphasizes fielding a competitive team. Although all team members will see playing time, there will be starters and subs. Also, most Sting players will concentrate on no more than two positions. Our summer and fall Sting teams mostly play in tournaments of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Pacific Coast Region 14, Junior Olympic ‘B’ and ‘C’ Division. Depending on the number and skill level of the players, Sting will field teams for 10U and 12U. Detailed program information, including team formation procedures, can be found in the “Sting Guidelines” and related material at http://abgsl.org/sting.html.

The season begins with Sting tryouts in early May and usually ends on the last weekend in July. During the recreational season, practices are on Sundays. When the recreational season ends, there are two weekday practices and one weekend practice or tournament per week. Practices may be on fields not normally used by ABGSL for recreational play, and may be further away. The fall season will have one weekday and one weekend practice with one to two tournaments per month between the first week in September and the first week in November. At the time of the Sting tryouts, each player must indicate for which season she will be available to play. Summer players who wish to continue in the fall have first priority for fall team positions; any fall team positions not filled by summer players will be filled first by other players who attended the Sting tryouts in May.

The head coaches for the summer Sting teams are paid experienced women softball players. The summer coaches may continue in fall; if not, the head coaches may be parent volunteers. Parent participation in Sting is greater than in the ABGSL Spring season. Be prepared to take on various jobs to support the team. Each team will have a mandatory parent meeting held in early May (summer) or September (fall) to introduce the head coach, distribute information, and organize parent support for each team.

Sting fees for each player will be about $400 for the summer season. There is an additional $25 fee for non-ABGSL players. This will cover the cost of hiring the head coach and 4 – 5 tournaments. If team sponsors are found, player fees may be reduced. The fall Sting fees will be determined at the end of the summer program and will vary due to who is coaching. Partial, limited player scholarships are available on an as-needed basis: contact registrar@abgsl.org for scholarship information. There is an additional cost for the uniform, between $50 and $160. Additional out-of-pocket costs will occur for travel to tournaments (meals, transportation, and lodging), additional tournaments, etc.

To be eligible for summer or fall Sting teams, players must have participated in the previous ABGSL Spring season or a neighboring city league that participated in the previous Spring Interleague Program with ABGSL. If you are a returning 9th grader who is trying out for a high school team, you still must register for ABGSL and include full payment. If you make your high school team, we will issue a partial refund to reflect your limited participation in the spring season; you will still be eligible to play in the Sting B program.

For more information,  send an email to sting@abgsl.org