All Stars
Who or What are the "All Stars?"
The Pixie, Pigtail and Ponytail divisions each have "All
Star" teams. These teams are made up of the division's top players,
selected from all players/teams in the division. Each of the five
Leaguerette leagues in the county sends its All Star teams to a tournament
held at the end of each spring season.
Is there a Pee Wee All Star team?
No. Only the Pixie, Pigtail and Ponytail divisions have All Star
teams.
How many players are on the All Star team?
Each All Star team has 13 rostered players. In addition, we name two
alternates. However, the alternates are not placed on the official All
Star roster unless one or more of the original 13 is unable to play in the
All Star tournament.
Are alternates treated differently from the 13 rostered players?
The alternates practice with the team and receive uniforms. The county
does not provide the alternates with trophies, so our league buys trophies
for the alternates.
Is the All Star team required to have a certain number of players
from each team in that age division?
No. There is no minimum or maximum number of All Star players to come
from a particular team. A team may not have any All Star players, or it
could have a great many All Star players.
Does each age division have its own All Star team?
The Pixie, Pigtail and Ponytail divisions have All Star teams. The Pee
Wee division does not have an All Star team.
Who coaches the All Star team?
The head coach of the first place team in the division is the head
coach of the All Star team. All coaches of the first and second place
teams in that division are entitled to be assistant coaches and to receive
an All Star coach's shirt. The head coach may invite additional coaches
from other teams to also be assistants, and the Board may approve coach's
shirts for them as well. The All Star head coach determines the role of
each assistant coach. If the All Star team is selected before the first
place team is known, the head coach from the first place team in the first
half of the season will serve as interim head coach. When first place for
the season is determined, that coach assumes the All Star head coach
position.
How are All Stars selected.
The members of an All Star team are selected by vote of the teams in
that age division.
How does the voting work?
Each team's coaches cast a total of 26 votes, but no more than two votes
for any one player. Votes are cast by secret ballot, and a team must cast
all the votes it is entitled to cast. The 13 players with the
most votes make the team.
Who tallies the votes?
Generally, at least two board members count every ballot,
cross-checking each other on vote totals. When possible, board members
whose daughters are nominees are not involved in counting the ballots. If
most or all directors have daughters who are nominees, we may involve a
non-board member in the vote count.
Are the vote counts announced?
No. The vote totals are completely confidential. The persons counting
the votes announce the names of the girls receiving enough votes to make
the team, but nothing else. The ballots are destroyed and no record is
kept of the votes cast.
What if there is a tie?
If there is a tie, any player who received more votes than the tied
players are in, up to 13 rostered players. If adding all tied players
would put the number of rostered players over 13, then a new vote is taken
for the remaining number of open slots, up to 13. Each team gets two votes
per available slot, but again no more than two votes per player. All
nominees are eligible to receive votes in the runoff, not just the girls
who were tied. There is no runoff vote between the tied players. This
procedure continues until all 13 players are selected.
How are the alternates selected?
After the 13 original rostered players are selected, we do not
simply declare the alternates to be the next two highest vote recipients.
Instead, we select two alternates using the same voting
procedure that was used to select the original 13 rostered players. When voting for alternates,
coaches may vote for any nominee, including nominees who did not receive
any votes when voting on the 13 rostered players.
Who decides how the team's votes are cast?
Usually the coaches, managers and assistants get together to talk
about how the team will vote. Sometimes the head coach casts 13 votes and
the lead assistant coach or the manager casts 13 votes. Sometimes one
person from the team casts the votes. Ultimately, the head coach will have
the final say on what procedure a team uses to cast its votes.
Who can attend the vote meeting?
Only the official coaches, managers and assistants may attend, with a
limit of no more than three individuals from any one team. Board members
attend to oversee the meeting and to tally the votes.
What criteria are considered by the coaches in casting their votes.
Many people have strong opinions regarding what factors should be
considered in selecting All Stars. Some believe that players should be
selected based on overall talent, or overall value to their regular season
teams. Some believe that the proper approach is to pick the players who
will make the strongest All Star team, based on strength at needed
positions rather than overall strength as a player. Some believe that
sportsmanship, attitude, effort, age, years with the league, and other traits are
important.
Because this issue is so controversial, TTL has not established any
particular criteria for All Star selection. The coaches are free to
consider whatever criteria they desire, even if you or I might consider a
factor completely irrelevant.
When are All Stars selected?
All Stars usually are nominated shortly before the Spring Break
tournament, and selected a week or two after the tournament.
How are players nominated for the All Star team?
Several weeks prior to the All Star vote, the coaches submit
nominations to the league's board of directors. After the nominations are
submitted, the preliminary list of nominees is distributed to all coaches,
who then are given an opportunity to submit additional nominees.
How many girls can a team nominate?
Each team may nominate any number of players. However, the coaches should
nominate a player only if they believe that she deserves to be on the All
Star team.
Can coaches nominate girls from other teams?
Coaches
usually nominate key players from their own teams, but they are
permitted to nominate players from other teams also.
How do players find out if they have been nominated or selected for
the All Star team?
Names of nominees are supposed to be kept secret. Unfortunately, some
coaches reveal the names of their nominees. The voting process also is
supposed to be kept secret, except for the final results.
What commitment is expected of an All Star player?
All Star players are expected to make a serious commitment to the
team. Practices are frequent and intense. Playing in the tournament is a
rigorous experience. A player who can not make the required commitment is
expected to decline to participate.
When do the All Stars practice?
Practices usually begin right after the team is selected. Players
should expect a great many practices, perhaps every day during some weeks.
When is the All Star tournament?
The All Star tournament is the last event of the Leaguerette playing
season. The tournament usually is held over a weekend about two weeks
after the county championship tournament, or about three or four weeks
after the last regular season game.
Where is the All Star tournament?
Most years, the All Star tournament is at J. C. Handley Field in
Brandon.
What do All Stars receive in the way of uniforms, etc.?
All Stars receive a special uniform to wear in the All Star
tournament, and usually receive a jacket or other item in recognition of
their participation. The player is entitled to keep these items after the
season is over.
Do all All Stars receive the uniform and recognition item?
Not necessarily. A player is recognized as an All Star only if she
participates in the practices and the tournament (alternates may not play,
but are expected to attend). If she drops out or is
unable to participate, she is not entitled to be honored or recognized as
an All Star. The Leaguerettes board may make exceptions to this policy in the case of serious illness,
injury, etc., though exceptions are rare.
Who pays for the All Star uniforms and other items?
The league pays most of the costs of uniforms, recognition
items, and other costs associated with our All Star teams. However, parents/players are expected to pay a
portion of the uniform cost. Most years, we will expect the All Star
players to conduct some sort of fund raiser to help defray the costs of
our All Star program.
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