AAA Softball

Minor AAA Female Classification - Boundaries of Softball Manitoba:
The boundaries for Softball Manitoba’s Minor AAA Rural Regional Organizations shall be those recognized by Softball Manitoba (as per Sport Manitoba’s 2016 MB Games Rural Map/Boundaries). Players representing their Rural Regional Organizations must reside within these boundaries.

Rural Boundary Maps:

 Westman         Interlake            Eastman           Central

Urban Boundaries / Catchment Areas:
For this the City of Winnipeg is divided into 4 quadrants with each quarter representing the 4 current AAA softball organizations. The following organizations would exist in the areas below:

Manitoba Angels - west of the Red River, north of the Assiniboine River, as per the electoral boundaries of the City of Winnipeg. Adding athletes residing in the Westdale Community Club catchment.
Manitoba Thunder - East of the Red River, north of Provencher/Dugald Rd, as per the electoral boundaries of the City of Winnipeg. Adding athletes residing in the South Transcona Community Club catchment.
Smittys Terminators - west of the Red River, south of the Assiniboine River, as per the electoral boundaries of the City of Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Lightning - East of the Red River, south of Provencher/Dugald Rd, as per the electoral boundaries of the City of Winnipeg

View the City of Winnipeg's community centre boundaries and enter your address here. 

The Change for 2020:
The Urban Boundaries outlined above come into effect for the 2021 season. (Commencing Sept-2020)
All athletes playing in the 2020 season at all age groups would be grandfathered to their current organization regardless of their urban address. Once an athlete leaves the program they are grandfathered to - They must return to the organization in their catchment.

Rationale for the Change:
The membership voted in favor of such change - seeking the new policy as a way to encourage increased development for both AAA and A athletes and overall growth of Softball through increased stability and progress within the AAA Organizations. Strengthening the Organizations should result in a heightened level of play within the Province and on the National stage. The stability will now allow organizations to promote the sport within their boundaries and provide better guidance for player development and advancement all while raising the level of exposure of AAA softball programs to local A players. There is now a direct link to A level programming in the specific community for development purposes that provides a pipeline of athletes and coaches if they chose a more competitive route. Boundaries have been successful in the rural regions with retention and development of athletes and by following the rural model, Softball Manitoba’s Membership look forward for the new policy to do the same for the Winnipeg athletes and organizations.

NOTES:
The 2020 Softball Manitoba Information Handbook was printed 2 months in advance of the May 15th Meeting that addressed the new Boundary Motion. In this Handbook the following 2 Minor Division Operating Rules regarding Registration / Boundary will be updated as it has been changed and part of it no longer exists within the Boundary Policy.

How Page M3 - 5c currently reads in the 2020 Softball Manitoba Information Handbook:

WRONG (Old Version)…..
5. c. In the U12A, U14A, U16A and U19A category players must attend an evaluation camp within their home region first. If a player is unsuccessful in making their home regional team they may ask for a release from their region and attend an evaluation camp for another region. In the case of players residing in the Winnipeg Region, they must attend the evaluation camps for all four (4) Winnipeg based teams. If a player is unsuccessful in making one (1) of the four (4) teams they may ask to be released and attend the evaluation camp of another region. Urban players unsuccessful in making 1 of the 4, must be released from all 4 Urban teams before registering with a Rural Organization.
5c will be deleted and replaced with the following:
CORRECT …..
5 c. In the U12A, U14A, U16A and U19A category players must attend an evaluation camp within their home region. Out of Region / Out of Boundary Players can return to their current Organization under the ‘Grandfather Clause’. ‘Grandfathered’ players and players trying out for teams within their Region/Urban Boundary that are unsuccessful in making their team have the option to try out for A Softball.

How Page M3 - 5d. currently reads in the 2020 Softball Manitoba Information Handbook:

WRONG (Old Version)…..
5 d. For the U12A, U14A, U16A and U19A category teams are permitted no more than two (2) new out of region players. Returning players can remain within their current organization, if released they must return to the region in which they reside first, if the player is unsuccessful in making their home regional team they may ask for a release from their region in order to join another team. Returning out of region players plus new out of region players may not equal more than five (5). The four (4) Winnipeg Organizations can obtain their players from within the five (5) Winnipeg Leagues/Associations. (as per M2 1.A. #5 Boundaries -i..
5c will be deleted and replaced with the following:
CORRECT …..
6 c. For the U12A, U14A, U16A and U19A category teams are NO LONGER PERMITTED ANY NEW OUT OF REGION PLAYERS. Returning players can remain within their current organization, if released they must return to the region in which they reside first.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Is the Sibling Rule still in effect?
A. No.

Q. Can a returning AAA ball player tryout for BOTH the grandfathered team as well as home boundary team?
A. Yes

Don Klym
Executive Director
Softball Manitoba