Sting is our competitive travel team fastpitch softball program. If you love softball, consider trying out for Sting. You'll play action-packed, unforgettable games during two-day tournaments in the summer and fall. The experience can be exciting and challenging, fast-paced and fun. Also you'll learn advanced skills from experienced women coaches, most of whom have competitive softball experience at the collegiate level. These women are wonderful teachers who both inspire the girls and continue the ABGSL tradition of great skills development in a nurturing environment.

Sting teams are for the more motivated player who wants to play competitively and develop advanced skills. ABGSL sponsors summer and fall Sting teams for girls who played ABGSL recreational ball in the spring 2009 season and ASA-registered recreational players that played interleague with ABGSL this spring. Our teams play in tournaments of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Pacific Coast Region 14, Junior Olympic B and C Divisions. Depending on the number and skill level of players, we hope to offer two 10U teams and two 12U teams in Summer 2009.

Fall 2009 Sting 10U Team Photos

10U Team with Family on left

Fall 2009 Sting 12U Team Photos

2009 Fall Sting Super Heroes

10U Santa Clara 4th Place Winners

Congratulations to the 12U Benicia Tournament Champions

Fall Team Selection:

Fall team selection differs from the methods used for the summer due to the large number of variables involved. The teams will be formed with the following two goals in mind: (1) the teams must be capable of competing at their competition level; and (2) the teams will be selected with the goal of maximizing the number of girls who can participate. The commissioner is vested with the authority to constitute the team(s) following these steps:

1. After choosing the summer teams the summer Sting coaches will rank the remainder of the Sting tryout candidates who indicate they want to play Fall Ball. The coaches will also indicate to the commissioner players they do not believe are ready to play at a competitive level.
2. Summer players will be given first choice to continue on their team in the fall. If their team does not continue in the fall, but another team at the same age group continues, they will have priority for that team over players who did not play in the summer program.
3. Late in the summer season the commissioner will ask each player whether she intends to return in the fall. (A player who indicates she will not return, but later changes her mind, may lose her spot on the team.)
4. The commissioner, in consultation with the summer Sting coaches, will fill open spots on each team. These spots will be filled by some combination of girls who attended the spring Sting tryouts, were deemed qualified, but did not play in the summer, and promoting players from other Sting teams. The commissioner retains sole discretion in how to equitably reformulate the teams.
5. In the event there are additional openings after all girls meeting the above criteria are offered a place on an appropriate team, the commissioner may recruit girls who played in ABGSL's recreational season to fill out the team. If positions are still open, the commissioner may then recruit other eligible girls.
6. In general, no more than five players who do not have prior Sting experience will be added to a team. This is done to insure the competitiveness and coachability of the team.
7. Once the commissioner forms the fall teams, and the ABGSL president (or a designated ABGSL Board member who does not have a child in the program) concurs, team selections will be posted on the ABGSL website.
8. The ABGSL Board reserves the right to make any changes to the selection process.

Sting-related Documents

Sting Guidelines: Updated for 2009, the Sting Guidelines provide all the details about our summer and fall programs.

All About Sting: General information about this year's program.

ABGSL medical form: If you did not play with ABGSL during Spring 2008, please print and fill out the medical form. Bring this form to Sting Tryouts on May 4. If you played with ABGSL this spring, you do not need to fill out this form again.

If you have questions, please send email to: sting@abgsl.org.