MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to develop fine young women through a competitive, structured, team oriented and disciplined atmosphere while maintaining the importance of academics in preparing them to play at the high school level and beyond.

HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION

The Virginia Aces Baseball Club was initially formed in 1998 in an effort to provide local boys with the opportunity to compete and play baseball at a higher level. During its first season, in 1998, over 60 boys participated, forming 5 teams. They have won various titles and championships at all age levels and annually send teams to Cooperstown, NY to compete at the national level. In 2006, the organization decided to add girls’ fastpitch softball to their program. This was an exciting and new idea in the baseball and softball community. For many years, soccer has had boys and girls under the same organization and this is an opportunity for both softball and baseball to grow together.

Our players are selected each year from a pool of returning players, players moving up from a younger team within the organization and players who participate in our annual tryouts. Each coaching staff selects the players they feel will be most beneficial and the best fit for their team. This selection is based on a player’s ability, determination, character, and a willingness to be the best, to learn and improve their skills in the sport.

“BIG TEAM/little me” is an expression that you will hear repeatedly. It is a way of life for the Virginia Lady Aces. The team wins. The team loses. There is no one superstar on the team. Softball is a team sport and should be viewed in only that way.

HOW DOES THE VIRGINIA ACES BOARD WORK?
The Virginia Lady Aces is an organization founded in cooperative spirit. Our teams work together with each other and with the Virginia Aces organization. The Virginia Aces hold many of the Board positions. Our Managers attend meetings to represent our interests.

PLAYER/PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Players will be expected to attend all practices. They are expected to be on time and ready to start practice at the scheduled time. School functions should come first. School functions may include a dance, a meeting or a sports function. Other sports may be played (recreational ball, for example) but Virginia Lady Aces practices, games and events will be expected to come first. If the other sport becomes a priority over the Virginia Lady Aces, the Manager may take action. This is a Manager driven decision and if at any time the Manager of the team feels there is too much of a conflict, the Manager may decide to not allow participation in outside sports.

Players and/or parents will let the Manager know if they will be late or unable to attend a Lady Aces event. This event could be a practice, a social function or a tournament. Hard work, effort and attitude are the only things a player can control. It is the player’s responsibility to ensure they are maximizing their effort and their hard work. Additionally, schedules will need to remain flexible. Practice schedules will be decided by field availability, weather and assessment by Manager of team need. Practices may possibly be changed with little notification from Manager. Flexibility is key.

If a player or parent is unhappy with a decision made by the Coach or Manager during a tournament, there will be a 24-hour cooling off period. This allows both parties to stay calm and analyze the situation.

Commitment and loyalty are important to the Virginia Lady Aces. Players are expected to commit to the Virginia Lady Aces for the entire season. But, there may be a time when that is not possible. If a player/parent is not happy on the team, the Manager/Coach will help the player find a new team. If a Manager/Coach feels at any time that a player is not fulfilling their responsibilities, the Manager may suspend or remove that player from the roster. Additionally, if a Manager/Coach believes that a parent’s actions are harmful to the team, the player of that particular parent may be suspended or asked to leave. The Manager does have the right to not release the player from their official rosters until all team equipment and uniforms are returned and for up to 30 days.

The Virginia Lady Aces are for you if you believe:

1. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
2. A team wins together and a team loses together.
3. Loyalty is a way of life.
4. Each player can earn quality playing time.
5. Players can learn multiple positions.
6. The Manager/Coach should do what they feel is best for the TEAM.
7. While winning is more fun than losing it doesn’t define a successful team.
8. Creating successful softball players is the ultimate goal of the season.
9. Practice doesn’t make perfect-perfect practice makes perfect.
10. Respecting the time of the coach(es) and teammates means you give 100% effort to games and practices.
11. Common courtesy...notify the manager if you are late or unable to attend an event.
12. School comes first. School dances, school functions and school events are a priority.
13. Every player can benefit from sitting on the bench and cheering on their teammates.

MANAGER/COACH RESPONSIBILITIESThe Manager/Coach will run organized, structured and fundamentally based practices. The Manager/Coach will treat each player objectively and with fairness. The Manager/Coach will continue to search for opportunities to enhance each player’s skill level. The Manager/Coach will register for local and out of state tournaments that will expose the team to different levels of play and different teams. The Manager will be energetic, organized, knowledgeable, and willing to work hard for the team. The Manager/Coach will use a competitive, structured team oriented and disciplined atmosphere to create fine young women athletes who can succeed on and off the softball field.