UCBL - USSSA College and Beyond League

This is great news for women's softball.

I have been working on this for about 4 months now, and have enlisted several keys folks here in NC for advice and support. Thanks to Rick McHone, Rodney Threatt, Jeff McPhail, Chuck Prier, Ed Meyer for feedback and insight.

Here are some details.....

USSSA has formed an Elite College and Beyond League (UCBL) to serve as a "minor league" support system for the NPF.

"The NPF enthusiastically supports the development of the UCBL! We look forward to cooperating with USSSA to work out arrangements for launching this league" - NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf.

The "UCBL" will follow and adopt the NCAA Fastpitch Playing Rules.

Teams will consist of a maximum number of 18 players. Players will be college players with a mandatory six (6) at large players who have either exhausted the NCAA eligibility or have obtained the age of 21 during the current season and are not playing in college.

The UCBL league will play concurrently with the NPF season and will culminate their championship at the NPF Championship Series in Sulfer La. this August.

The 2011 season will consist of 8 teams. 5 teams will be east coast based ( Md., Va. NC, SC, Ga.) and 3 west coast based (California). 4 teams will advance to the National Championships in August.

Each NPF team will establish and draft 2 teams each for the 2011 season. The NPF teams may supply their "Minor League" teams with identical uniforms of the NPF team, and also help support them with equipment as needed.

NPF teams will be allowed to bring up any eligible player from their drafted "UCBL" teams. Once a player is brought up, they will remain on the NPF roster (as an active players or practice player) for the remainder of the season. Collegiate players are not eligible to be moved up the the NPF.

The UCBL will abide be any restrictions regarding College athletes as outlined in the current NCAA Operating and Administrative bylaws and any other Collegiate governing body (NAIA, JUCO).

After the first NPF practice, only players from the UCBL may be signed to the NPF roster.

Each regional UCBL team will work with their NPF affiliate to hold tryouts for the both collegiate and non-collegiate players.

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This is a wonderful opportunity for NC softball. We hope to schedule several round robins throughout the southeast to help promote the league and the girls that play it.

The NPF teams have expressed their support and we are presently working on plans for exhibition games with the UCBL teams and their NPF partner.

We are also exploring opportunities to host exhibition games against select National teams ( Canada, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Brazil, etc.)


Check out this Link.... Fast Pitch TV announces new league..

http://fastpitch.tv/2010/12/30/episode-139-the-ucbl-minor-league-softball-league/


I have been placed with the honor and responsibility of putting together the NC UCBL team.

Team NC will be a platform for North Carolina's best softball players and coaches to compete on the highest of stages. I have attached a pdf outlining details.

I will post information about player tryouts as our college seasons wind down. Feel free to send me names of interested players

Anyone interested in being a part of the coaching or support staff, pm me.

 

Hard work ahead

Lots of work ahead....Biggest issues will be funding and logistics.

I really want this to be a true representation of NC softball.

 

Exciting

This Board for several years has talked about NC softball and how we can be competitive nationally, well here is our chance to join together, support a great opportunity for all "Carolina" girls and provide an entertaining and learning experience for the girls seeking to play at the college level and beyond!
Let's put aside all differences and get behind Charlie's team, the UCBL, and NPF! It is time to prove NC is ready for the national spot light.
This is such an exciting event for North Carolina softball!

 

Very exciting!

This is great news for the young ladies of NC and the surrounding region. I'm excited about all the possibilites. And yes, finally, we will have an avenue to shine the spotlight on the elite talent this region has to offer.

 

College and Beyond

Remember, this is the opportunity for the kids who are presently in College, and those who have just finished their College careers, to play at the highest level, against the nations best.

League rule calls for a mandatory 6 players per team who have exhausted their collegiate eligibility. My initial thoughts are that the team will be 9-10 college players and 8-9 players who have exhausted their college eligibility.

There are only 8 teams nationwide.
Names are starting to filter in.
Spread the word, I want this to be North Carolina's team....

 

Va. Commonwealth Games

Just an update as to our first summer season....

UCBL Team NC Racers competed in the VA. Commonwealth Games
this past weekend in Salem Va. The NC based team dominated pool play,
going 3-0, including a 2-1 victory over the Maryland based UCBL Team Wagners Bandits.

Bracket play on Sunday saw the Racers go 2 and 1, losing the championship
6-1 to the Virginia based UCBL USSSA Pride.

Schools represented on the squad included Elon, NCSU, Campbell, UNC-P, Brenua (Georgia), Meredith, Louisburg, UNC-G, ECU, and Brevard.

Future events include

July 29-31 Kingsport Tn. UCBL National Qualifier
August 5-7 Salem Va. ASA 23U National Championships
August 19-21 Chicago Il UCBL National Championships
(Chicago Bandit Stadium) ESPN

Hope to see the commitment stay strong... this is building into something that will provide a future for athletes as they finish the collegiate eligibility.

Hope to see you on the sidelines