AA Category

Softball Manitoba has approved the restructuring of the minor division by adding the AA category.

The three categories that now exist are:
A (community level -formerly referred to as B)
AA (regional teams)
AAA (high performance - formerly referred to as A)

The AA category is a development program to bridge the skill gap between the A and AAA categories.  The vision is a competitive program giving grassroots players and coaches an opportunity to be involved in a more competitive environment while advancing skill level and knowledge of the sport.  To protect the grassroots A level of softball, all AA players must register and play A level softball in order to be eligible, and play will be restricted to a specific night and/or specific weekends between May 1 and the end of the specific age category A provincial. The select night during this time frame will be Fridays. The exception being the second weekend in May if a region requires this time for AA Program tryouts and June 16-18, 2023 for the AA Program Showcase weekend.

1. AA regions will mirror AAA regions U11, U13, U15 and U17 AA Categories will be run under the guidance of each region’s AAA organization or a Regional Committee of no less than four people.
   
   
2. The number of AA teams in each U11, U13, U15 and U17 category will be restricted to a maximum of three (3) from each AAA region.  AAA organizations or the Regional AA Softball Committee will oversee the AA program in their region and be responsible to submit teams and rosters to Softball Manitoba.  Overseeing will ensure that there is a process to select coaches, arrange tryouts, select athletes, and determine the number of teams registered based on athlete numbers at the tryout with the team’s ability to compete in mind.  If tryout numbers are strong and coaches are available, a second or third team should be considered.
   
   
3. This is a development program and age advancement will not occur. There will be no displacement of a player from their age eligible category by an age-advanced athlete.  Under extenuating circumstances only, a region may be exempt from the age advancement policy in order to form a single team in an age category, subject to the approval of the Softball Manitoba Board.  No displacement of an eligible athlete and formation of only one team at that particular age category are requirements to access the exemption.
   
   
4. Team Registration - all AA team (9 player minimum) rosters (players, coaches, manager) must be submitted to the Softball Manitoba office by May 16 for the upcoming season. Electronic copies will only be accepted.

AA Softball Regional Tryouts

Regions may host tryouts between April 1-30 or on the designated AA Softball Tryout Weekend (second weekend in May - Friday Saturday or Sunday).

AA Softball Roster submission to Softball Manitoba - May 16^th

• REGISTRATION FORM

For further questions regarding Softball Manitoba’s AA Category please contact Executive Director Don Klym at 204-925-5674 or via email at executivedirector@softball.mb.ca 

2023 MINOR DIVISION AA SHOWCASE WEEKEND

AA Showcase Host Application - Deadline is April 24, 2023

The Showcase Weekend will be held from Friday, June 16 to Sunday, June 18. This is a mandatory event in order to enter AA provincials.

Hosts are required for all 4 age categories. 

Softball Manitoba will be responsible for collecting the showcase fee ($400/team) at the same time a provincial entry fee ($400/team). The entry deadline is May 31. 

All showcase fees will be forwarded to the host committee which will be responsible to run the event including payment of umpires.

2023 MINOR DIVISION AA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - CLICK HERE

COACH CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Coaches must be certified by June 22^nd to ENTER any Softball Manitoba Provincials. 

All coaches on an AA Softball team will require Community Softball Ongoing Participation Certification.  If AA Softball moves on to compete at a Western Canadian Championship in future years, Competition Introduction Coach Certification would be required.

See FULL Coaching Certification Requirements here, https://www.softball.mb.ca/content/nccp-coaching-requirements 

AA REGION CONTACTS