FAQ

1. ALL NEW players are required to provide proof of age in the form of a copy of a Birth Certificate or Alberta Health Card. Please email a copy to registrar@airdriegirlssoftball.com
2. ALL NEW players require one parent to take the one time RIS (Respect In Sport) course found here. If the course has been taken in a different sport, it is transferrable. Please log in and share your RIS number with Calgary Minor Softball.
3. ALL U7 – U19 players are required to register with Softball Alberta’s RAMP for affiliation and insurance – click here for more information.

Nights of play are listed on our Age Divisions page here.

Games start at 6:45pm, coaches will ask you to arrive 45-60 mins prior to game time to allow an adequate warm up for the team.

Games do have a time limit for each division. There are to be no new innings after 1hr 30mins for U9 and no new innings after 1hr 45mins for U11/U13/U15/U17/U19.

We are part of the Calgary Minor Softball Association and will be playing games in Calgary and surrounding areas.  Approximately half of the seasons games are home games – Airdrie Diamonds. U9, U11 & U13 Divisions 2 & 3 will be playing in Airdrie, NW Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, and Strathmore.  U11/U13 Div 1 & U15/17/19 will be playing games in Airdrie, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, Strathmore & Okotoks. Team schedules can be found here.

***Some years when divisions in the North or South do not have enough teams to have their own division they will have one combined division. In this case, teams could travel to any CMSA community for away games. For a list of all CMSA districts see here.

Individual teams will decide if they would like to participate in any additional tournaments, which are often located outside of Airdrie. 

For U9-U19 the 2025 Season will start with indoor practices at the end of February. Team placement/evaluations will be mid March. Games begin at the end of April. See Calgary Minor Softball’s season dates here.

U7 begins in May.

The first round of AAFA hosted skills clinics will begin in October, the 2nd will begin in January (see here for more information). Indoor gym time will begin as early as end of February, for registered players, with outdoor time beginning in April, depending on the weather. The outdoor season will open the last week of April starting with weekday games and an opening weekend tournament style of games (all teams will play 2 games Saturday and 2 games Sunday of opening weekend).

**Please note that indoor gym nights might not be on the same nights as league games – this schedule will come out once teams are formed.

There are 1-2 practices per week. Each Coach/Team determines when their teams practices will be held, but it will likely be on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

AAFA welcomes all new players at all levels U7-U19 to the game of Fastpitch. Our teams play in the Calgary Minor Softball League. CMSA has divisions for all skill levels and requires players to be tiered for their skill level. This means players will be on a team with other girls of similar skill level and their team will play against other teams, from the Calgary area, with similar skill level.

Yes, AGSA offers indoor Fall and Winter clinics so our players can work on their skills during the off-season:

For U9 – U19:

• All Players MUST have their own CSA approved batting helmets with dual ear flaps, fastened chin strap and attached face mask.
• All players MUST wear a jill/cup to play on the diamond.
• All Players require a fastpitch softball glove.
• Softball cleats are recommended but not mandatory.
• ALL pitchers MUST use an approved face mask for all levels U9 and above.
• Face masks are strongly recommended for all infielders but are not mandatory.
• Purchasing an ASA approved bat is optional (please see bat size guide here and approved bat listing here).
• Purchasing a softball is recommended but not mandatory (U9/11 – 11″ indoor training ball, U13 – 11″ core 47 optic ball, U15/17/19 – 12″ core 47 optic ball). 

 *One approved pitcher’s mask and ASA approved bats are provided in the team equipment bag by AAFA.

**Required equipment can be purchased locally at Eastside Sports here in Airdrie or at any Sporting Goods store.

For indoor gym times and clinics please bring the following:

• All Players MUST wear a jill/cup.
• All Players MUST have a fastpitch softball glove.
• All Players MUST have clean, non-marking runners.
• Players should bring a CSA approved batting helmet with dual ear flaps, fastened chin strap and attached face mask.
• Players may bring an ASA approved bat.
• Players are asked to wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle.

**If practicing for a back catching position, players will be required to cover their knee/shin pads with thick hockey socks.

**For U7 Players visit our Learn To Play page here

• AAFA provides all players U9-U19 with a jersey and a pair of socks. The socks are yours to keep, but the jersey must be returned.
• You will need to purchase navy ball pants, a red belt and a navy undershirt (undershirt is optional and available to purchase through Eastside). 
• When purchasing new pants, regular and 3/4 length are acceptable; new belts and pants are available for purchase at Eastside Sports in Airdrie.

The uniform requirement is:

• An Angels Jersey
• An Angels ball cap
• Red Socks
• Navy Pants
• Red Belt
• Navy Angels Undershirt (optional)

For U7 visit our Learn To Play page here

Yes, for U9 – U19, upon receipt of the jersey there is a $75 post dated cheque required to be dated for July 15th. Upon return of the jersey in a good, washed condition by the date set by the AGSA Board, the cheque will be shredded.

*Jerseys are to be handed in to the Jersey Coordinator as a team and correctly labeled. No individual drops offs please.

Yes! Show your Angels Pride by ordering our hoodies, jackets and shirts!

• Apparel is available to purchase at East Side Sports in Airdrie.
• Customized apparel is online https://airdrie-angels.square.site/

Team photos for the 2024 season will be held in May.

Time slots will be every 15 mins between 4:30pm-7:30pm.

Calgary Minor Softball requires all players in all divisions to be evaluated and placed on tiered teams. 

CMSA has a season timeline for each division:

• U9, U11 & Divisions 3 in all other categories will finish the season by June 23rd.
• Division 2 in all categories will finish the season by July 7th
• Division 1 will finish the season by July 21st.

The division categories are:

• U9, Modified rules, Senior division and Junior division
• U11 Division 1, 2, 3
• U13 Division 1, 2, 3
• U15 Division 1, 2, 3
• U17/19 (High School combined) Division 1, 2, 3

AGSA will hold mandatory player evaluations for all U9-U19 divisions when more than one team is registered. Evaluations will be in March, see our Angels Calendar here.

AGSA believes that every athlete deserves a right to play with other athletes that approach the game in the same way. We offer many tiers of softball. From the beginner to the advanced athlete looking to advance their skills, we offer a place for all athletes.

For more information on how players are evaluated visit our Evaluation Procedures Page.

An evaluation sign-up will be emailed to registered players closer to the evaluation date. 

In CMSA the U17 and U19 divisions are combined at the division 1 and 2 levels. Division 3 is U17 only.

This means that U17 and U19 players could be mixed on teams. If teams need to be mixed the decision can be based on number of players registered, skills and abilities and is determined during evaluations.

AGSA does accept friend requests at all levels, you can email player@airdriegirlssoftball.com with your request. However, we cannot guarantee a friend request will be accommodated. There are evaluations for U9 and up when there is more than one team. This is to place players at the correct level for their safety and skill set. 

AGSA will try our best to accommodate Learn To Play friend requests, however teams are formed by age so that players are at similar skill levels.

Umpires are provided by CMSUA for most U15/16/19 Divisions. The U9, U11, U13 and often U15 divisions require teams to provide a parent volunteer to umpire for each of their home games. AGSA has put together a Parent Umpire Reference Guide, here. This document can be found in the equipment boxes at each Airdrie Diamond.

**Calgary Minor Softball Umpire Association also holds Umpire Clinics for all levels, including parents and coaches. AGSA encourages each team to send at least 2 parents to the CMSA run online umpire course. Visit their website for Clinic schedules here.

Please see our coaching section: Coaches Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, our association is run by volunteers, there are many opportunities to help out.  Positions include; board members, coaches, team managers, score keepers, parent umpires (U15 and under) and other club events (uniform/apparel hand outs, tournaments, ect.)

Please email president@airdriegirlssoftball.com for more information about becoming a board member for AAFA.

Participant-requested refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis up to March 1st, 2024. Refunds will be prorated based on the time spent within the program. A $25 administration fee will also be applied for all participant-requested refunds. No refunds after March 1st, 2024. No refunds will be issued after this date as AGSA has paid all fees on behalf of all our athletes.

Please apply by visiting KidSport Calgary or Jumpstart. Then register with AGSA, by sending an email to president@airdriegirlssoftball.com.

Yes. CMSA determines if games are cancelled due to weather by using the Weather Network and Canada’s AQHI. Read their weather policy here and their Air Quality Policy here.

Games will be cancelled by 3-4pm on game days.

If your player is injured and requires a visit to the doctor/hospital, please have your head coach fill out the CMSA Injury Report here and email to president@airdriegirlssoftball.com. If you wish to add to the report you may fill out your own and email it in.

AAFA ensures that all coaches in our association have a current police check and have completed the Respect in Sport Coaches training course. Additionally, two adults, including one female, must be present at all AAFA events (games, practices, team building etc.)