Citywide Sports - GENERAL INFO. (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

This is information - based on the upcoming 2012 season. Once information becomes confirmed, it will be posted on this website. Here are some common-asked questions:

The 2012 spring/summer regular season will start in late April/early May, ending in the second week of July. Playoffs will be during the third week of July.

For those interested, a separate 2012 fall season (6&4 format) will start in the fourth week of August, with playoffs in mid-October.

Visit the rest of our website - for updated information (once it becomes confirmed).

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FUN, ENJOYABLE SLO-PITCH LEAGUE. WHAT'S WITH ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS, PLUS PENALTIES FOR OFFENDING TEAMS AND/OR PLAYERS?

The League is fun and enjoyable to play and be a part of - a large majority of current participants have played in the League five+ seasons. Rules are basic (most follow the SPN rules and guidelines) - more importantly, they work and have been around for a long period of time. Everything should be explained and documented ahead of time - to reduce misunderstanding and incorrect misinterpetations.

We have documented penalties and fines - not to be "wardens", but in order to reduce any challenges and incidents from occuring. At Citywide Sports, we respect the commitment of all teams and players - AND EVERYONE'S INVESTMENT OF TIME. Many juggle career and/or family responsibilities - and if there were no written rules and/or guidelines to follow, the changes of unwanted incidents occuring are a very high probability. Therefore, this would cause massive frustration and anger - due to one's lack of respect for others.

For the upcoming 2012 spring/summer season, we offer a 6&4 adult co-ed format (6 men/4 women) - SEPARATE ADVANCED AND REC. PLAYING CALIBRE DIVISIONS.

For the upcoming 2012 fall season, we also play a 6&4 adult co-ed format (6 men/4 women).

(For all divisions), the team league fees for the 2012 spring/summer season are $1,475 per existing returning Citywide Sports registered team, and $1,575 per new team new to Citywide Sports. The fees are broken down as follows: league fees ($1,325); team fine bond deposit of $100 (any amounts remaining are credited towards the 2012 season AND NO PART IS REFUNDED if the team disbands, is dismissed, or moves on); and a $50 equipment box/lights key deposit (refundable prior to start of playoffs - ONLY if keys are returned to the league).

For a new team to the league, the extra $100 acts as an expansion fee (only applies to the team's first season playing in the league, or an existing team who is under probationary status for the upcoming season).

(For all divisions), the team league fees for the 2011 fall season were $1,275 per existing returning Citywide Sports or 2011 SPN registered team, and $1,375 per new team new to Citywide Sports. The fees are broken down as follows: league fees ($1,125); team fine bond deposit of $100 (any amounts remaining are credited towards the 2011 season AND NO PART IS REFUNDED if the team disbands or moves on); and a $50 equipment box/lights key deposit (refundable prior to start of playoffs - ONLY if keys are returned to the league). If a team is already registered with SPN for the 2011 season (proof required), the team fees are credited by an amount of $85.

We keep our expenses to as low amount possible, and all these expenses occured are non-variable costs to us (i.e. they are fixed costs, which are determined by SPN and/or the applicible municipal/city jurisdiction - with regards to field usage permits).

Individual player fees are different for all teams, depending on each team's fundraising, sponsorship, and size of the team roster.

For the spring/summer season, all bases are stored at each diamond that we use. However, it is the designated home team to set up the field, and to take down at the last game of the day. This allows teams to save time when setting up/taking down the plates/bases; having access to all of this at their respective diamond location (NO MORE CARRYING TEAM's OWN SET!).

HOWEVER, all TEAMS and PLAYERS will be financially responsible for taking care of all equipment THAT IS, ALL REPLACEMENT COSTS - due to all, or any of the following: damage to; misplacement of; theft of any equipment items.

Teams and players are responsible for their own bats and gloves. Equipment can either be purchased from Prostock Athletic Supply; MVP Athletic Supplies, or other sporting goods store. When purchasing products from either MVP or Prostock, you should be able to get a 10% discount (mention that you play in Citywide Sports, and have them contact the league, if needed).

Regardless of where you purchase the items, they all must conform to league and SPN standards (for safety and consistency reasons). Detailed information may be found throughout this website.

For the spring/summer season, Citywide Sports plays out of very good quality and sized fields (i.e. outfields with 270+/- ft. distance from home plate) throughout the south-central to northeast part of the City of Vancouver and Burnaby. Information is listed on the field locations page.

Our current allotments are Monday to Friday, and Sunday (depending on the park) during the regular season. For each playing format, we will offer the following for the upcoming 2012 season:

Most scheduled game start times are either 6:30 or 7:45 pm (or earlier, depending on park location and day of week - Sunday games start as early as 1:00 pm).

No games are scheduled if the day or night happens to be a statutory holiday (i.e. Canada Day), or if the day/night happens to be during a long weekend (i.e. Victoria Day, Canada Day, BC Day).

Please submit an email to indicate your team's preferences and suggestions for locations and days of the week

Games will be scheduled on weekends only (Saturday and Sunday) during the regular season, starting as early as 10:00 am until 4:00 pm; and weeknight games are scheduled at Burnaby North Park (6:30pm, 7:45 pm, 9:00 pm) and Squint Lake Park (6:45 pm and 8:00 pm) between Tuesdays and Friday evenings). No games are scheduled if the day or night happens to be a statutory holiday (i.e. Canada Day), or if the day/night happens to be during a long weekend (i.e. Victoria Day, Canada Day, BC Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day).

If you have an interest in putting a team into our league, please contact us for more information (please search through our website first - chances are that you will find your questions and answers here).

For any individuals or couples looking for a team to play on this season, please send your information to us (via our Notice Board page), indicating your name(s); experience level; position(s) played; and contact information. Team coaches and managers check these postings regularly, so they will contact you directly with more information.

It is an acronym for COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION, which is a uniform rating of the "liveliness" of any given softball. Nearly every softball used in North America must perform to certain COR standards, as stated by every association organizing body.

COR is the result of a test whereby a ball is "thrown" against a flat plate to measure how far it bounces back. If a ball with an inbound speed of 60 mph strikes the plate and bounces back at 24 miles per hour, it has a COR of .40 (24 mph/60mph = .40).

Compression is the method used to rate the hardness of a softball. This is determined by placing a softball between two steel plates, then measuring the amount of force required to compress or squeeze the ball 1/4th of an inch.

COR has a much greater effect on a batted ball speed, than compression. If you're after maximum hit distance (from higher batted ball speed), look for the highest COR numbers. For example, a .47 COR will travel farther than a .40 COR - yet both balls might meet the 525 lb. standard.

ON MY SOFTBALL BAT, IT INDICATES A BPF RATING OF 1.20, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

BPF is an acronym for Bat Performance Factor. It is determined in testing laboratories by creating and measuring ball-bat collisions according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Please note that a bat that meets the 1.20 standard does not mean that the bat's rating is 1.20, this simply means that it does not exceed the 1.20 standard.

Recommended techniques differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, but some of the most common techniques include treatments - such as shaving cream, saddle soap, or glove oil. Temperature treatments - such as heat through the oven, hot water, or storing the glove in the trunk of a car may help the process along.

When treating your glove, place a ball in the glove to properly form the pocket. It is also helpful to keep a ball in the glove when not in use to maintain the shape and prevent flattening of the pocket. Any combination of these treatments will help, but constant use of the glove will ultimately break it in.