OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America/USA Softball will hold open tryouts on July 25, 2015 for players hoping to make the 2015 USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team (JMNT) Player Pool. Held at Emerson Park in Midland, Mich., eligible athletes have from now through July 2 to sign up through ASAUSASoftball.com for the open tryout, which will involve a series of softball related skill drills for each position, plus hitting and bunting.
The top athletes from the open tryout will be selected to participate at the USA Softball JMNT Selection Camp July 25-29, where they will compete for a spot in the 2015 JMNT Player Pool that will participate in the 2015 ASA Jr. Men’s National Tournament in Midland, MI July 30-August 2. In addition those athletes selected to the 2015 JMNT Player Pool will be considered for selection to the 2016 USA Softball JMNT that will compete at the 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Men’s World Championship in Midland, Mich.
“As ASA/USA Softball is the National Governing Body of this sport in America, we are excited to begin the process of selecting athletes that will be wearing the Red, White and Blue and representing their country at the 2016 WBSC Junior Men’s World Championship in Midland MI” said ASA/USA Softball Director of National Teams Ronnie Isham.
The open tryout is open to any male U.S. citizen born in 1997, 1998, 1999 or 2000 who can commit to a July 25-29, 2015 time period. There is a $50, non-refundable registration fee for any ASA/USA Softball registered athlete that includes a participant t-shirt and training from some of the top coaches in fast pitch softball. There is a $15, non-refundable registration fee for athletes who are not registered through ASA/USA Softball. Participants are responsible for their own equipment and expenses to the tryouts. Those athletes who advance from the open tryout and are selected to attend the JMNT Selection Camp will then have their expenses paid for by ASA/USA Softball.
Below is the minimum standards for athletes to register for the JMNT open tryouts:
Infielders/Outfielders (must meet each of the following)
Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum
Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds maximum
Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds maximum
Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum
Pushups - 30 minimum
Pitchers (consistent speed for any three of the following)
Fastball - 63 mph minimum
Riseball - 60 mph minimum
Change up - 45 mph maximum or 18 mph slower than maximum pitch speed
Curveball - 60 mph minimum
Dropball - 63 mph minimum
Catchers (must meet each of the following)
Throw (home to second) - 2 second maximum
Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum
Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum
Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds maximum
Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds max
Pushups - 30 minimum
Click here to register for the Open Tryout.
Further information on the JMNT open tryout, including registration time, hotel information, will be relayed to registered athletes after the registration deadline.
For updates on the USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team and events throughout the 2015 season visit http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball.
From the USA Softball website:
Jr Men’s Open Tryout
The ASA/USA Softball Jr. Men’s National Team will be competing in the 2016 WBSC World Championship in Midland, MI. The Amateur Softball Association of America, the National Governing Body of Softball in the U.S., will hold an Open Jr. Men’s National Team (JMNT) tryout in 2015. Learn how you or someone you know could possibly be a member of the team.
As the National Governing Body of Softball in the U.S., the Amateur Softball Association/USA Softball is responsible for selecting the players and coaches for the Jr. Men’s National Softball Team that will participate in the 2016 WBSC World Championship! ASA/USA Softball takes this important responsibility seriously and has invested its time and resources to create a fair and equitable tryout process.
To apply please login or register an account and fill out an application. The deadline to apply is July 2, 2015.
The Open JMNT tryout will be held at Emerson Park in Midland, MI on Saturday, July 25, 2015.
The 2015 JMNT Selection Camp (invitation only) will be help at Emerson Park on July 25 – Wednesday July 29.
The top performers from the Open tryout on July 25 will be invited to participate in the 2015 JMNT Selection Camp on July 25-29.
The application fee is $50.00 if the applicant is registered with ASA and $65.00 if they are not.
Any male United States citizen born in 1997, 1998, 1999 or 2000 and can commit to the July 25-29, 2015 timeline period is eligible.
Please read the Eligibility Rules before filling out and submitting an application to make sure you qualify.
About ASA/USA Softball
Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit http://www.asausasoftball.com/.
About the World Baseball Softball Confederation
Headquartered in the Olympic Capital city of Lausanne, Switzerland, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) was established in April 2013 and granted recognition as the sole competent authority in baseball and softball by the International Olympic Committee at the 125th IOC Session in September 2013. The WBSC represents a united baseball/softball sports movement that encompasses over 65 million athletes worldwide. The WBSC governs all international competitions involving any of the National Teams of its 141 National Federation members. The WBSC oversees the Softball World Championships, The Premier 12, the World Baseball Classic, and the U12, U15, U18, U21 and Women’s Baseball World Cups. For further information, please go to www.WBSC.co or follow the WBSC on Twitter at @WBSC_co.
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