Play Up Policy

Fox Chapel Baseball and Softball Association strongly recommends that all players register within their correct age groups for any given season.  Even though some players may exhibit some natural talents toward the game, most youth players will benefit greatly by playing in their actual age group. 

In most cases, we recommend that a player with a strong drive and desire in baseball register in the appropriate group based on birth date and take advantage of opportunities to be called up for teams in an older division.  Nonetheless, there may be some players who could be advanced in size, strength and skills to the point where the child could truly benefit from play at an older level for an entire season.  Then, it may be possible to make an exception and allow such a child to play up.

Here are the requirements for requesting to play up:

1. All players hoping to play up must make the request to the FCABSA Softball Commissioner prior to registering for the upcoming season.

2. The Commissioner will review the player's previous season's end of year rating.

3. The Commissioner will solicit a recommendation from the previous season's coach stating that the player is capable of playing up. If coach is player's parent, another coach in the same level's recommendation will be solicited.

The final decisions will be made by the Softball Commissioner and the Softball Directors of the levels in question. The number of players that will be approved to play up will be small and the decision will be final. 

If there is a difference in the cost of registration from one level to another, the difference will appear as a balance on the registering parent/guardian account. (example - if a player is requesting to move from 8U ($90 fee) to 10U ($100 fee), an additional $10 balance adjustment will appear and will need to be paid to cover the differing costs from one level to another).