Procedures for Play
*Everyone hits, runs, and scores every inning.
*No outs or runs are recorded.
*Games last one hour.
*There are no practices.
*Volunteer teammates help athletes when necessary.

Some Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to play?
How old do you have to be?
Is there a registraton fee?
What equipment will my child need?
How are the teams made?
Is there a free drink at the end?
What do the games look like?
How can I volunteer?
How can I donate?
How do I register my child?
Where did this idea come from?
What are the fields like?
Is there a concessions stand?
Can I bring my dog?
Why is the "front" gate locked?
Rain?
Team Pictures?
I want a t-shirt, too!
How about seating?

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to play?
Any special-needs athlete is welcome - you do not have to live in Weakley County. Our league is supported by donations from various counties and anybody within driving distance is invited to come play!
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How old do you have to be?
Athletes need to be between the ages of 4 and 18. Any younger, and they may not be able to understand the game and what is happening around them. Any older and they may be too strong to play with the other children on the team.
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Is there a registraton fee?
No! T-shirts, insurance, and trophies are supplied by the league.
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What equipment will my child need?
Batting helmets are provided by the Martin Girls Softball League. The helmets are shared with all of the athletes in the league. If sharing helmets causes you concern, you may want to purchase your own batting helmet.

Some bats and gloves are available for use during games. You are welcome to bring your own equipment. Cleats are fine, as long as they are rubber. No metal spikes are allowed. Regular tennis shoes work just as well.

Athletes can wear warm up pants or shorts if they wish. Boys are welcome to wear baseball pants if they have any.
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How are the teams made?
Teams are drafted based on age, size, and ability. The rosters are very flexible. Your athlete may move up or down depending on their needs.
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Is there a free drink at the end?
Yes! Everyone gets a free drink at the end of the game, courtesy of the Martin Parks and Recreation Board. For some, this will be the highlight of the game!!
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What do the games look like?
The games look like whatever the athletes need them to look like. We will use beeping balls for those who are visually-impaired. Volunteer teammates will be assigned to those who need direction fielding and running the bases. The whole purpose is to have fun! It doesn't matter what that "fun" looks like!
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How can I volunteer?
Easy... just click on the "Contact Us" button and send your info. There are lots of opportunities to help. You can serve as a volunteer teammate on the field, you can coach or assistant coach. Some people will be needed to help escort players to the bathroom. There are lots of opportunities to help out!
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How can I donate?
Easy... just click on the "Contact Us" button and send your info. We are always looking for donors. Many of the families struggle with the expense of doctor visits and therapy appointments. The league needs to stay free so that as many kids get to participate as possible.

All of the money donated is spent on the kids and the maintenance of the league.
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How do I register my child?
Please call Stacey Ussery at 731-587-9077 or email at staceyussery@hotmail.com. Registration is done over the phone in a quick interview.
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Where did this idea come from?
Who knows? We stole the idea from Clarksville, Tennessee and they came across the idea at a travel tournament in another part of the country. Margaret Davis coordinates the Buddy Ball program there - it serves 1400 kids a year and offers bowling, basketball, and cheerleading,too! Our games are patterned after theirs and we are extremely thankful to Ms. Davis for meeting with us and helping us get our league up and running.

Dickson County has a league patterned off of Clarksville, too. Their league is called Miracle Ball. You can find both leagues on the net by typing them into a search engine.
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What are the fields like?
The fields are awesome. Truly, we have some of the best fields in West Tennessee. There are 4 fields and they are numbered 1-4. Field numbers can be found on the main building. The number on the side of the building matches the field facing it.

Bathrooms are large and fairly clean. The girls bathroom has a large stall that is wheelchair accessible. I am assuming that they boy's bathroom has the same set up, but I am not sure.

The sidewalks are wide and are made of smooth concrete. The dugouts are large and are made of poured concrete, also.
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Is there a concessions stand?
Yes - Martin Parks and Rec dept. operates a concession stand in the evenings when there are games. They sell gatorade, snow cones, pepsi products, chips, chocolate, hotdogs, and hamburgers. If you are running late after work, you can pick dinner up at the park!
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Can I bring my dog?
Yes! The whole family is welcome! The park belongs to the city of Martin and is run by the Parks and Rec. dept. They require that you keep your animal on a leash.
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Why is the "front" gate locked?
The gate by the playground is usually kept locked. The parking lot right there is for the playground. The softball parking lot is around the "back" of the complex. Locking the gate keeps the front parking lot clear for the playground dwellers.

It is also handy to only have on entrance/exit to the park. It keeps the kids a little safer - they can't sneak away from their parents so easy!
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Rain?
Call the Parks and Rec hotline - 587-6000 and follow the prompts. Choose "Girls Softball" when you hear it. I don't know if we will have our own age bracket, but they will close all of the fields - not just one. Choose any age bracket and you will hear whether or not the games are going on as scheduled. You are welcome to call me - 587-9077 or 819-8906 but I will know only by calling the hotline, too.
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Team Pictures?
Christie Ricketts at Christie's Photography is donating a team picture to each athlete.

Team photos for the Thunder and the Force will be taken on Monday, May 11th at 5:30.

Team photos for the Riptide and the Bandits will be taken on May 19th at 5:30.

Individual photos will be taken both nights starting at 5:00 pm. These packages start at $12.00. All proceeds from the packages will be donated back to Martin All-Ball. What a great offer!! Thanks, Christie!
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I want a t-shirt, too!
Let a coach know. If there is eough interest, we will get an order together.

The t-shirts will be about $8.00. It will take about 3 weeks to have them printed.
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How about seating?
There are bleachers, but you might be more comfortable in your own fold-up chair. Chairs are available at the concession stand for persons with disabilities.
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