If you are interested in participating on a fall clinic squad on weekends from 10/31-11/15, please fill out this form by Tuesday, October 20.

We will need to confirm coaches and fields before we can finalize rosters for the three weekends of clinics.

We will ask that you submit at registration fee and a signed waiver before the session begins. If you played in the first round, you will not need to fill out a waiver a second time.

The City of Berkeley Health Department guidance on # of pods:

The Health Department encourages all families and program providers to keep the number of cohorts children are in to a minimum. Each additional cohort joined increases the risk of exposure to COVID. The fewer the number of cohorts, the safer their family, other families and program staff will be.

LINKS to Public Health Order:

- Most most recent revisions to the City of Berkeley’s Public Health Order (revised 9/2/20; effective 9/4/20).

- The allowable cohort size for most youth and child activities and programs has expanded to 14, with no more than 2 adults per cohort. See Appendix A, Article 2, item 2.a.

Here are the field assignments for each Fall Squad:

Air Quality:

Please use Purple Air to see the air quality at the field. You can enter the location (Albany Middle School for Cougar Field or Tom Bates Sports Complex for Gilman Field). All practices will be canceled if there is a nearby reading of 150 or higher. Some teams will be canceled if there is a reading of 125 or higher.

Older - Bo/Becky: will cancel if AQI hits 125.

Older - Avery/Matt: will cancel if AQI hits 150.

Older - Becca/Betsy: will cancel if AQI hits 150.

Middle - Daisy/Meghan: will cancel if AQI hits 150.

Middle - Alison/Kristi: will cancel if AQI hits 150.

Each family should decide if they want to send their practice based on the air quality. We do not expect players to attend practice if it feels unsafe.

Starting October 3, ABGSL will offer Fall Clinic Squads: a 3-week practice clinic session (and maybe a second one if we have time/interest/fields).

We will send you an email with your player's squad and practice times. If you want to confirm your player is joining the clinic squad for a three-week session, there are two things we need from you: (1) a signed Covid waiver, and (2) $25 registration fee.  

Please submit your registration fee of $25 for each player through PayPal using the donate button at the end of this message. If you cannot afford the $25, please email us at "president (at symbol) abgsl.org" and note how much you can pay.

The $25 registration fee does not/will not cover the cost of the clinics.  We will then wait to see if the squads are able to play all three weeks before asking families to pay (and then only if you are able and on a sliding scale) to try to meet the actual costs of the Clinic Squads. 

You will need to sign the waiver and upload as directed in the email. Reminder of the health and safety protocols: 

• No competitive play is allowed, so we will have fun doing drills, practice exercises, and likely some conditioning. This is mandated by the local health officials at this time  and, like everything listed below, is not up for debate. So, for example, no scrimmages are allowed during the clinics. 

• We will put kids into fixed Squads of no more than 14 kids with 2 coaches. Those assignments are set for the three-week period. Coaches cannot switch or help out with other squads and kids cannot go to another squad’s practice. 

• Players and coaches will maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet at all times.

• Players and coaches will wear face masks whenever within 30 feet of any other person.

• Players and coaches will take their temperatures before practice and agree not to attend practice if they have a fever (over 100.4) or any other symptom of Covid-19 (cough, sore throat, sneezing, body aches, loss of sense of smell, difficulty breathing, or fatigue). 

• Players and coaches will notify the league if they are exposed to anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 or if they are positive for Covid-19. Any squad in this situation will cease practicing for the remainder of the 3-week session. 

• Players must bring their own water bottles. Absolutely no sharing of water bottles at any time.

• Players must have a personal set of equipment - glove and bat for every age, and for older kids a fielder’s face mask (not just the cloth face mask every player must wear). 

  • Upon request, ABGSL will provide equipment on the first practice to anyone who wants one (a glove, bat, helmet, fielder’s face mask, catching gear) and players will then be responsible for bringing that gear to the entire 3-week session.

• Players and coaches should bring a personal container of hand sanitizer to use at every break. Coaches will also bring hand wipes to each practice.

  • ABGSL can provide hand sanitizer for players upon request and hand wipes to coaches. 

•  Parents/guardians will not be allowed to remain at the field during practice at spectators.

• If parents/guardians come to or leave the field with players, they must be wearing face masks at all times. 

Please support ABGSL by making us your beneficiary of your shopping at Amazon! Click this link and remember to use smile.amazon.com when shopping!  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-2958214

We are a community organization made up of volunteers who care deeply about equity and justice. The Board of ABGSL fully supports the Black Lives Matter movement and the current nation-wide push for racial justice. We know there are systemic barriers and racial inequities throughout our society, and that is true even in a local softball league. We will work to find ways to make ABGSL a more welcome home to all families and a stronger leader for checking white privilege. We are hopeful that this time of protest and listening brings about actual changes—big and small—to make our society stronger and our kids healthier and happier.

- ABGSL Board of Directors, Juneteenth, 2020

Hi ABGSL families and interested new families,

We are still in a holding pattern for organized softball due to COVID-19. As the health orders are beginning to loosen up, we are considering options and communicating with city officials to determine what, if anything, we could offer in the summer for kids to play a little softball.

We are also keeping a close eye on the possibility of a fall league.

As you are all well aware, nothing is certain and things change quickly regarding the pandemic. But we wanted you to know that we would love to have something to offer families when and IF it is safe and approved to do so.

We recently sent out a Google form to get a sense of how interested people are in playing if we are given the green light and find something that would work. Thank you for responding if you did. It was really valuable to see how much interest there is in getting out on the softball field.

At this time, we don’t have anything definite to offer, but please stay tuned as things could change quickly, and as noted above, we are actively working to try to find an option to offer.

As for STING, the ABGSL competitive travel team, we are also still in communication and consideration as to what could happen. Since Alameda County is currently in the stage of opening up with 12 or fewer people to a pod, we are not yet at a point where we can make STING work. But this is very much on our minds and we are actively working to understand what could be possible.

Right now, our continued commitment is to stay in step with official, public health guidance. While we know some softball and baseball teams are moving forward, we will not do so until we are confident we are following the guidance of local officials.

We would LOVE to be out there playing, to give everyone something healthy, productive, and fun to do with their time. Yet we are also keenly aware of the rightful concerns that numbers continue to rise in Alameda County, and we do not yet have readily accessible treatments or developed and tested vaccines.

We certainly hope it becomes an option soon.

In the meantime, if fields are open to public use, you can go out and play. You can pod up with other families who want to play.  As we noted in March, if anyone needs access to equipment, please contact us and we can help provide you with league bats or balls to borrow during this restrictive time.

Sports Basement has also agreed to give ABGSL another week of discounted shopping. For the week of 6/21-6/28, you can get 20% off if you are a member (a “Basementeer”) or 11% off all purchases for all non-members.  Here is the code for shopping online: 2050010622547. You can use this discount for any purchases, not only for softball.

From Sports Basement: “The discount is good at all 10 locations and online from 6/21-6/28, 20% off for Basementeers and 11% off for Non-Basementeers, Basementeers can stack! Simply show the flyer at checkout or enter the code online. We have enhanced safety measures in place and we are offering curbside pickup at all locations. Your safety along with the safety of our staff will remain our top priority.” 

Thank you all for your support of ABGSL. We look forward to seeing you out on the fields when the time is right.

ABGSL Board of Directors

Message Sent to Spring Rec Families - 4.5.20

Dear ABGSL Families,

ABGSL is a non-profit league inspired by and dedicated to community. The League was created by families almost 40 years ago who volunteer their time to have a healthy, fun, and effective athletic environment for girls to play softball together and for families to find connection and support. Here we are in an unprecedented time of crisis: instead of being out on the field, we find ourselves staying at home to try to beat (or at least minimize) an immense threat. 

This is a long email, I apologize, but it involves information about (1) the season’s cancellation, (2)  available refunds, and (3) ways to support each other in this crisis. 

1. Season’s Cancellation

ABGSL would love to play softball. It’s such a great experience to be outside, to see the kids grow and develop skills while forming friendships, and to see the teamwork develop. However, following the lead of Governor Newsom, local health officials, and the public schools, we are officially ending the Spring Rec season. 

We know that in times like these, more important than playing softball is supporting the community – families, businesses, teachers, and our efforts to combat Covid-19. We know there are families who could really use their registration fees now, and there are businesses and non-profits that need support. 

2. Family Refunds

We have looked over the numbers so far, and our best estimate is that we have already invested about 50% of the total from family registration fees (including field costs, insurance, registration with national associations, uniform and marketing costs, and payments to the teens who led clinics). We may be able to recover some of that money, and we will certainly try. 

If you would like a refund, please use this Google Form to let us know. We are offering a range of refunds for those who request it. 

If your family needs a refund, please don’t hesitate to do so. If you are willing to forgo a refund of your registration fee to ABGSL, we certainly appreciate that and will use that to cover our costs for the Spring 2020 season. The Google Form will allow you to decline a refund and we can allocate those funds towards our expenses. If we end up taking in more money than our costs, we will donate the remaining amount to another local non-profit that is working directly with those in need during this crisis. 

3. Community Support

• Businesses and Organizations

We all know that some of the ABGSL sponsors and other local businesses and non-profits are hurting. Please consider ways you can support them, such as online ordering, home delivery, and consulting by video. Thank you for checking in with your local favorites, finding out how best to support them, and spreading the word within the community.

Here is a list of 2020 ABGSL Sponsors: 

Five Little Monkeys          Prins Chiropractic          FB Design Build             Fog Studio        Berkeley Design Build    Jane Hammond Events Ferrari Orthodontics        

Strategic Economics         Solar Car Wash                        Love in the Mix             Adobe

Title Nine Keene Builders             Red Oak Realty             The UPS Store Berkeley

Zonta International          Rotary Club of Albany              Alliance Graphics                     Brushstrokes     North Berkeley Wealth Management   Precision People’s Car Repair

• Playing with your kids

Similarly, we don’t want anyone to miss out on at least being able to play catch during this time. Even though use of city playgrounds and recreational areas are prohibited, the public health officials have still indicated you can play ball sports with people with whom you share a household. So, if you need a ball or two, or a glove, or anything, please let us know and we will find a safe way to get that to you. Contact president@abgsl.org.

• Network of Support

Finally, if your family needs support, or you know of someone who needs support in this crisis, ABGSL can be a resource. Within our network, we know there are people who could grocery shop, who have professional expertise and contacts, who can make face masks, or even who could check in to make sure people are ok. Contact president@abgsl.org anytime for anything, and we will do our best to help.

In solidarity, 

ABGSL Board of Directors

ABGSL provides fun recreational and competitive softball for girls in grades K-9 on fields all across Albany and Berkeley, CA. The league's main recreational season runs from March til June with competitive and additional recreational programs at other times of the year. Founded in 1983, ABGSL is a non-profit, all volunteer league that offers a positive softball experience for every girl who wants to play.

Micros Division is for Kindergarten and First Grade kids. Micros meets every Saturday of the season from 9-11 am at Jane Hammond Field in Codornices Park. After the first few weeks of practice, teams will practice the first hour and play games the second hour each Saturday. 

Younger Division is for Second and Third Grade kids. Younger Division players meet three times a week - kids can sign up for M/W/Sat or T/Th/Sat. The times for the weekday practices are 5:30-7, and Saturday practices are 90 minutes starting at either 11, 1, or 3. Games begin a few weeks into the season and can occur on weekdays or Saturdays. Weekday games are 5-7 and Saturdays can be 11-1, 1-3, or 3-5. Saturday times vary throughout the season, but the full schedule is set and available on Opening Day.

Middle Division is for Fourth and Fifth Grade kids. Older Division is for Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Grade kids. Middle and Older Division weekday practices are 5:30-7, and Saturday practices are 90 minutes starting at either 11, 1, or 3. Games begin a few weeks into the season and can occur on weekdays or Saturdays. Weekday games are 5-7 and Saturdays can be 9-11, 11-1, 1-3, or 3-5. Saturday times vary throughout the season, but the full schedule is set and available on Opening Day.