Organization Policies

Blizzard Policies (2025)

Board Members are: Stacy Dunn, Shauna Baenziger, Katie Beck, Joel Dunn

A - New board members are invited and voted in by current board members.  Legally we must always have 3 board members.  We would like no more than 5 - 7 (if considerably large growth happens).

B - We will not order any uniforms or equipment for players who have NOT paid their team fee for the year.  If picking up players for a tournament due to missing regular players, the coach may order needed pickup uniforms, but is encouraged to use the uniform of the missing player in order to save on costs.

C - Blizzard is cost minded.  Our focus is on scrimmages & tournaments (playing time), training, equipment, college recruitment (16u-18u teams), team-building, and supporting players in enhancing skills to give them a chance at playing at the college level.  4 more years is our mantra!  The 16U - 18U teams can have recruitment quality uniforms, but are expected to reuse uniforms as a high school program does.  We expect more than one year out of a uniform, unless it’s not possible.  Board will decide what is practical.  10U - 14U levels are developmental and treated as such.  They may have a “Championship Sunday” uniform if proper funds are raised, and two cost effective uniforms.  Board must approve team purchases over $1000.  All purchases must go through President of BBF for approval, or purchase will not be paid by BBF.  

D - Coaches will each receive up to 3 coaching shirts each year.  Board may vote on anything further.  Coaches are not currently paid.  One day we would like to change that in order to recruit the best possible coaches for the girls, but it will be years before this happens.  Stipends would be the next step when program is ready.

E - Each team will need to put in an equipment request to the Board.  The Board will ultimately decide on what is purchased.  If new equipment is needed after this original purchase, a coach may put in another request.  

F - The goal of the “4 the Girls” Challenger is to be the tournament in the region that GROWS SOFTBALL and makes softball players feel like the big deal they are.  We want the ELITE FEEL in every aspect.  This does cost us.  Too often baseball gets the elite experience, and the experience for the girls lacks in comparison.  We would like to change this.  Trophies and prizes will be top tier as long as possible.  Ultimately there must be more income than outcome.  Although the funds from tournament and teams are combined under the “softball umbrella,” we need the tournament to pay for itself if at all possible.  This is one giant Blizzard service project to the region and Billings.

G - When a player leaves, she will need to return all equipment (bat bag, helmet, etc.) and uniforms that do not contain name.  Otherwise, she will be billed and appropriate action taken.  This is a program that tries to keep costs low.  The next player in the program will receive the passed down equipment.

H - An inventory of all equipment will be kept for each coach. If a coach leaves the program, the equipment will be returned to BBF.  

I - Each head coach will receive a NFCA membership and will be encouraged to learn from teaching available via NFCA online programs.  Depending on availability, some assistant coaches will also receive membership.  This we be decided on by President.   The goal is to equip coaches for teaching as much as we can.

J - Each team will abide by USA Softball rules.  Each coach will get background checked, complete Safe Sport, and complete Ace Training each year.  Head Coach for each team will complete concussion training. A minimum of 3 coaches are needed per team.  

K - Players will be held accountable for their actions and attitudes by coaches and Board, if need be.  A player who does not comply with standards of BBF will be released.  The standard is respect to all, and acting in a way that reflects positively on the BBF organization.   Playing for BBF is a privilege and not a right.

L - Coaches will be held accountable by Board for their actions and attitudes.  Coaches are expected to act and dress in a professional manner at all times.  The standards are high, due to the presence of children.  Unless serious, a warning is to be given before a release is given.  Ultimately, release and seriousness of offense is left up to the Board. 

M - Fees will be kept as low as possible.  However players will be encouraged to raise the amount it costs to play through sponsorships and fundraising.  Many opportunities will be given in order to raise the difference between the fee and the costs.  If a player makes little effort to raise funds, they will be asked to pay the difference or leave the program.  The Board will decided on what “little effort” looks like.  At least a two week warning will be given before release.   The hope is fostering accountability, and appreciation for the experience they are being given; rather than entitlement and an expectation for things not worked for.  

N - This program should have a FUN feel to it, and a strong focus on FUNdamentals.  

O - 10U - 14U will play a maximum of 4-7 tournaments.  The younger, the less tournaments they will play.  If they want more games, teams can set up scrimmages with other teams.  Little League is encouraged for these age groups.  10u-12u practices should be short; no longer than 2hrs!  10u has an attention span of around 30mins.  14u practices should not be longer than 2.5hrs.  If you lack time, make your practices more efficient by running stations.   Coaches must keep in mind that kids won’t remember what was said, but how you made them feel.  Get players to fall in love with the game, and they will be stars when they are older because they will consistently put in the softball time over the course of their childhood. Consistency is more effective than LONG practices. LONG practices and too many practices can cause a kid to walk away from softball at the younger ages.  Love is the secret ingredient to having a long softball career.  They NEED coaches to inspire them at practices to LOVE this sport.  In off season, coaches should not hold more than one practice a week, unless it is pitchers and catchers only.  Coaches need to request more practice time from the Board if they want more practice time.  This is a developmental age group.  In season, coaches may have up to two practices per week.  Coaches, bring your enthusiasm to practice!  The kids are sponges.

P - 16U - 18U will play in as many high tier tournament as possible in order to help with the recruitment process.  Each team will be different, but the goal is to have a program that builds the skills needed to play at the highest level of the game.  These can’t be built without playing competition that challenges the team.  Each team will look for tournament where they are not the best team or the worst team, but right in the middle.  That may mean playing Gold ball.  That may mean playing B ball.  It depends on the team.  One thing this does mean, is that if the team is winning every tournament, or even in the championship game of every tournament, you are probably not appropriately challenging the team and, therefore, are not maximizing their growth potential.  Coaches will work with the Board to create the opportunities for these teams to get showcased to college recruiters. Girls not interested in playing at the college level may still play Blizzard ball, but will be held to the same standards as the girls who want to play at the next level.  This level requires patience as you are working along side high school coaches, and many of the girls have jobs they will need to navigate when it comes to making team practices.  Attendance to team practices will be greatly encouraged.  Policies on what this looks like are not in place, but will need to be looked at in future years as the program develops.

Policies will be reviewed annually by the BBF Board, and will be adjusted as needed.