EP Fastpitch Player Evaluations

The Eden Prairie Fastpitch Association (EPFA) is excited to perform our Fastpitch Player Evaluations! The EPFA will place every registered participant on a team as our primary goal is: softball skill development. This applies to players of all ages and all levels of skill. 

Why do we do evaluations?

Player Evaluations will be conducted by a panel of coaches outside of the EP Fastpitch Association who will assess each player's skills. EP Fastpitch Board members, including some who may also serve as team coach during the season, will run the stations (operate the pitching machine, run the timers, hit grounders, etc), but are not involved in the evaluation scoring; any Board member with a daughter being actively evaluated is removed from the EPHS Activity Center interior until their daughter's session is complete. Skill evaluation includes (but is not limited to):

• hitting & bunting

• infield fielding & throwing

• outfield fielding & throwing

• base running

• pitchers and catchers will be evaluated separately

This is a closed-door evaluation. This process is not unlike the procedures used by other sports clubs. Parents must wait outside the Activity Center while evaluations are conducted.

8U

• Check-in at 11:30 am for numbers, uniform sizing, warmups, etc

• Please place gear in the bleachers in the Activity Center and begin warmups until 12:00 pm

• Evaluations will run from 12:00-1:30 pm. We could likely be done in an hour, so please return for pick up around 1:00 pm. 

​10U

• Check-in at 12:45 pm for numbers, uniform sizing, warmups, etc

• Please place gear in the bleachers in the Activity Center and begin warmups until 1:15 pm

• Evaluations will run from 1:15-3:00 pm

• Non-pitchers/non-catchers will likely be done about 2:45 pm, pitchers/catchers will possibly go past 3, but we know there is a large group of pitchers so we will do our best. 

12U

• Check in at 2:30 pm to sign in, get a number and finish any uniform details

• Please place gear  in the bleachers in the Activity Center and begin warmups until 3:00 pm

• Evaluations run from 3:00 pm to 4:45 pm; athletes who do not intend to play as a pitcher or catcher on a summer team are excused at the conclusion of Player Evaluations (4:30-4:45). Pitchers and Catchers remain for Pitcher and Catcher Evaluations. 

• Pitchers/Catchers: 

  • Catchers will gear up and begin Catcher Evaluations immediately after Player Evaluations.

  • Pitchers will receive up to 20 minutes to warm up with a provided volunteer catcher (see below). The pitcher will begin their Pitcher Evaluation when they indicate they are ready (if ready before 20 min). Pitchers will not receive more than 20 minutes, so be sure to prepare your pitcher ahead of SUN so that they know how to complete their pitching warmup within the allotted 20 minutes. At the end of the 20-minute warmup period, remaining pitchers will wait in turn to be called up for their evaluation.

    • The volunteer catcher will be an adult who is not the pitcher's parent nor an adult with a daughter in the current age group. They will not be allowed to coach (give tips, etc) or decide when a pitcher is ready or not.

All players are REQUIRED to attend on March 12th. Everyone MUST have a score to be placed on a team.