The long-term goal of  TGSA's Red Storm program is to field a single competitive team in each category (older and younger) of the following age groups: 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U, with a particular focus on attracting and developing A-class competitive teams.

In prior years of the Red Storm program, two teams in a given class have, from time to time, been authorized and fielded.  In consideration of facility resource issues, generally declining numbers in the recreation leagues, the potential for bad blood between two teams in the same year and class and the desire to stop forming mediocre (at best) travel teams that do little more than diminish the reputation of TGSA, this practice has been generally stopped.  The two age older age groups that currently have two teams in a given year will be allowed to age out of the program or will be reduced to a single team in the next two to three years.

The motivation behind this expectation is to provide exposure for the players and the Red Storm program on a national level, better positioning players for collegiate opportunities.

With the motivations to 1) field quality teams and 2) avoid future train wrecks, a Red Storm team will not be formed until a quality coach can be found for the team.

The same general philosophy for player recruiting applies to the recruiting of Red Storm coaches.

The Red Storm Director leads the recruiting effort of highly skilled head coaches and assistant coaches from both inside and outside of the TGSA programs. 

All coaching candidates must pass criminal and sex offender background checks.

TGSA has passed the "warm body" stage of Red Storm coaches.  We are looking for the cream of the crop.  Great coaches attract and develop great players.

TGSA recreation league coaches have no automatic claim on any new or existing Red Storm team.  Good recreation league coaches sometimes make for good Red Storm coaches, sometimes not.

The Red Storm Director makes recommendations for Red Storm head coaches to the TGSA Executive Committee. 

The TGSA Executive Committee (EC), as a matter of program direction, makes the final decision on Red Storm head coaches.

In the past, TGSA has approved Red Storm coaches on a twice-yearly basis.  In an effort to improve the stability of Red Storm teams, Red Storm coaches are named one time and remain the coach of the particular team until they 1) resign, 2) are removed for cause by the TGSA EC or 3) are removed by the TGSA EC on the recommendation of the Red Storm Director because a more viable / competitive option is available.

The Red Storm Director will conduct an annual review of each Red Storm team prior to the beginning of the fall season and make appropriate recommendations to the TGSA EC.

There is no right of succession when a Red Storm head coach steps down.  The Red Storm Director, with the approval of the TGSA EC, may nominate one of the assistant coaches or bring in a new head coach.

Red Storm coaches are encouraged to recruit highly skilled players with significant potential from both inside and outside of the Trussville area. 

Roster selection is solely the responsibility and privilege of the head coach.

There are no recruiting restrictions, geographic or otherwise, on Red Storm coaches. 

There is no "right to play" on any Red Storm team. 

Parents are recruited just as much as the player.  Highly skilled players are sometimes rejected due to non-coachable parents.  A parent that disrupts a Red Storm team may be putting his / her daughter at risk of being cut from that team.  If a parent does not like the coach of a Red Storm team or has ongoing issues with the operation of the team, the parent is encouraged to take their daughter elsewhere in lieu of becoming yet another thorn in TGSA's collective backside.

The selection of a player for a Red Storm team does not confer any coaching privileges to the parents of the player.

To ensure properly timed player development (e.g., changing to player pitching or a larger ball) and to promote team stability, coaches of younger Red Storm teams, primarily 8U and 10U teams, are encouraged to limit the number of "year minus one" players on their teams.

A Red Storm coach may impose any restriction on the players regarding recreation league play or other outside play.  Restrictions imposed by the Red Storm coach may include, but are not limited to, requiring players 1) not to play recreation league ball, or 2) not to miss any Red Storm events / practices if recreation ball is played, or 3) not play all-stars or any other condition the Red Storm coach deems beneficial to fielding a competitive team.

Policies regarding allowing Red Storm players to pickup with other competitive teams (Red Storm or otherwise) are team-specific and determined solely by that team's Red Storm head coach.

Coaching Tenure:

A newly named Red Storm head coach (excluding interim head coaches) will have, at a minimum, two full years (younger year in the age group, and then the older year in the age group) in which to develop a competitive team.   After the initial two-year period, TGSA may elect to make a coaching change to address competitive, player development or other issues. In the event of performance or conduct issues, TGSA may make a coaching change at any time if it is deemed in the best interests of the players or the program as a whole.

Team Control:

The head coach of a Red Storm team has complete control of the team and is subject to the oversight of the TGSA Board of Directors, in general, and Red Storm Director, in particular.

Parental Boards:

TGSA does not allow team-specific parental boards to oversee operation of a Red Storm team or any other nonsense of this type.  If a parent does not like the way the Red Storm coach runs the team, the parent needs to address the matter with the Red Storm coach in a private, professional manner.  If no resolution can be found, then the parent needs to find somewhere else for their daughter to play.

Potential Conflicts of Interest:

Based on past experiences, TGSA no longer allows a Red Storm coach to simultaneously serve as the head coach of a TGSA recreation league team. 

A Red Storm head coach may assist with the coaching of a TGSA recreation league team.

Red Storm teams that are supposed to be moving up will not be permitted to play down in the fall tournaments hosted by TGSA.

Considerations influencing this policy include player safety (first and foremost) and the reputation of the Red Storm program.

All Red Storm coaches, players and parents are expected to abide by the same Code of Conduct that covers the TGSA recreation leagues.

Individual Red Storm coaches may use player / parent contracts that go beyond the requirements of the TGSA Code of Conduct.  Such contracts carry the same force as the TGSA Code of Conduct.  In the case of conflict between provisions in the TGSA Code of Conduct and a Red Storm player / parent contract, the provisions of TGSA Code of Conduct supersede that of the Red Storm player / parent contract.

Players and parents of Red Storm players are expected to publicly support the coaches, the other players and the team as a whole at all times. 

If a player quits or is removed from a Red Storm team for any reason, no refund of registration, sponsorship or other fees will be made.

A parent of a cut player may request a roster release from either the Red Storm head coach or the state director of the applicable sanctioning body.

Red Storm coaches and parents are required to work assigned shifts at TGSA travel tournaments.  For each player you have on a Red Storm team, you are required to work a shift in the concession stand, at the gate or on facilities / field crew.

Red Storm teams may play in ASA, USFA, NSA or USSSA-sanctioned tournaments.

Participation in non-sanctioned tournaments must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the TGSA Executive Committee.

Most Red Storm teams maintain their own web sites under the supervision of TGSA.  Links to these web sites may be found the main TGSA home page or in the column to the right.

Red Storm Team Naming Conventions:

For several years, Red Storm teams were named by their year and coaches' last name (e.g., Red Storm 97 - Shields).

In the fall of 2007, Red Storm 93 - Tuggle adopted the secondary name "Elite" (denoting their formal move to "A" class), becoming "Red Storm Elite".  This change started a movement among some of the other Red Storm teams to adopt their own secondary names (e.g., Xtreme, Fury, Raptors, Rampage).  Other Red Storm teams elected to stay with the previous naming convention.

Red Storm coaches may adopt either naming convention.  Secondary names are subject to approval by the Red Storm Director.

Red Storm teams may play under any sanction or sanctions that best fit their yearly plans (e.g., NSA, USFA, USSSA, ASA, ESA, etc.).  Each year, TGSA will provide the NSA sanction for each Red Storm team.  Sanctions in organizations other than NSA are the responsibility of the individual Red Storm head coaches.

Each Red Storm coach may adopt a custom logo for the team, utilizing existing or new designs, subject to approval by the Red Storm Director.

The Red Storm program is subset of the Trussville Girls Softball Association, a non-profit IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity.

The financial operations of all Red Storm teams are supervised by the TGSA Treasurer.

Each Red Storm team has a separate TGSA checking account with the TGSA Treasurer and Red Storm Head Coach (or other designee) having signature authority.

Each Red Storm team is required to submit periodic expense reports (usually annually) with supporting documentation to the TGSA Treasurer.

Any fundraising programs or promotions must be approved by the TGSA Executive Committee. 

No proposal that is cross-elastic with the TGSA Concessions program will be approved (e.g., a proposal by a Red Storm team to sell snow cones or shaved ice would be considered cross-elastic to some degree with the Dippin Dots sold from the TGSA Concessions and would not be approved).

Non-sanctioned tournaments as fundraisers for individual Red Storm teams will not be held at TGSA facilities.

Player registration fees must be accounted for and receipted separately from donations or team sponsorships.  Sponsorships in lieu of registration fees are not permitted.