Player Skills Assessments

PROMOTING PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION, AND FAIR COMPETITION

The WESA SQs — Skills Questions for Player Assessments

This page explains how WESA evaluates player softball skills and uses that information to create fair, inclusive competition while supporting player development.
Contents:

• 2026 Path to finalizing skills assessments
• Learning Resources & Description
• WESA Skills Assessment (SQs) Process

"WESA Athletics is about learning, not judging. We focus on developing the four core skills of softball: Hitting, Running, Fielding, and Throwing. The annual Skills Assessment is simply a tool that helps players understand their progress, recognize their strengths, and identify opportunities for growth." - WESA

Learn more about WESA Athletics and how we use the Player Skills Categories to develop players. More HERE.

2026 Path to Finalizing Skill Assessments
The SQ Committee has been hard at work observing league play and answering the skills questions for all members.  The volunteers wrap up the process in June using this schedule.

Monday, June 8 - the earliest date for Preliminary Assessments to team managers for feedback
Thursday, June 12 - the earliest date for Preliminary Assessments to WESA members
Saturday, June 20 - June Field Day is the day set aside for final Challenges by members in Fielding, Throwing, and Running. (Hitting not available)
Monday, June 29 - Deadline for SQ Committee final skills questions observations

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To view the WESA SQs and iPride Ratings visit the Results page HERE.

Learning Resources

Why WESA Uses the Skills Questions System

As a competitive league, WESA groups players by skill level to ensure safety, fair play, and fun for everyone. This practice is common across North America and is supported by the objective iPride Softball (formerly NAGAAA) Skills Questions system.

Getting It Right

In 2025–26, WESA completes a multi-year process to refine how player assessments are conducted. While we continue using iPride’s benchmarked system, our approach is now unified, objective, and consistent across all divisions.  The league has linked the Skills Assessment Process with our Skills Development efforts. 

Previously, assessments were handled mainly by teams with limited oversight — leading to inconsistencies. Now, assessments are centralized, standardized, and conducted by trained volunteers on the SQ Committee.

A key improvement: We focus on objective observation, not subjective “intangibles” like attitude or potential. The goal is accuracy, fairness, and transparency.

In 2026 - The volunteers on the WESA Skill Assessment Committee will begin their observations soon and, as part of a pilot project, will be using video to capture select game play to support the accuracy of SQ assessments. Any footage collected will be used solely for the committee’s evaluation purposes.

Intangibles and Limitations

The Skills Questions are the most objective method available for evaluating softball ability, but they don’t measure everything. Team value also includes leadership, teamwork, and spirit — qualities assessed during the draft process, not through SQs.

“Our goal is to keep the league fair and fun for everyone.” 
- WESA

challenging: If You Disagree With Your Assessment

If you believe your answers to the skills questions (SQs)  are incorrect, you may challenge during the official challenge window ONLY.  Each season the window to challenge will stay open for about a week after the preliminary SQs have been released to the members by email notification. 

• Use the Form available during the challenge period 

For challenges involving Fielding, Running or Throwing, you may have these skills assessed at a  Field Day.  See the Field Days and Clinics Page for the schedule.

All reviews are subject to availability of qualified volunteers.

WESA Skills Assessment (SQ) Process

The WESA Skills Assessment (SQ) process is a collaborative effort between the player, their Team Manager, and the SQ Committee. The purpose of the process is to promote fair, consistent, and transparent player assessments that support balanced competition and an inclusive league experience.

The process recognizes that each participant brings a unique and valuable perspective. Players understand their own experiences and development, Team Managers observe players throughout the season, and the SQ Committee works to apply league-wide standards consistently across the membership.

The goal of the Skills Assessment process is not to rank players, but to help place them in an environment where they can compete, develop, and belong.

Role of the Player

Players are encouraged to:

• Review and understand the Skills Questions;

• Participate honestly in the assessment process;

• Raise questions or concerns through the established review process; and

• Participate in assessment opportunities or challenges when applicable.

Players provide an important perspective on their own softball experience and growth.

Role of the Team Manager

Team Managers play an essential role by:

• Providing feedback based on direct observation of players during league games, practices, and team activities;

• Identifying situations where a preliminary assessment may not accurately reflect a player's current abilities;

• Helping players understand the purpose and intent of the Skills Questions; and

• Working collaboratively with the SQ Committee during the review process.

The experience and day-to-day knowledge of Team Managers are an essential part of maintaining accurate and fair assessments.

Role of the SQ Committee

The SQ Committee is responsible for:

• Applying the Skills Questions consistently across the membership;

• Reviewing information provided by players and Team Managers;

• Considering league-wide standards and precedents;

• Promoting fairness and consistency between teams and divisions; and

• Making recommendations to the League Commissioner regarding Skills Question outcomes.

The SQ Committee recognizes that the assessment process is strongest when informed by the perspectives of both players and Team Managers.

Governance

The SQ Committee serves as an advisory body to the League Commissioner. After considering the collaborative input of players and Team Managers, the Committee forwards its recommendations to the League Commissioner, who is responsible for the administration of the WESA Skills Assessment process.

Guiding Principles

Collaboration

Players, Team Managers, and the SQ Committee each contribute valuable information and perspectives to the assessment process.

Consistency

Similar skills and situations are best assessed in a similar manner across the league.

Fairness

Assessments are intended to support balanced competition and inclusive participation throughout WESA.

Respect

Skills Questions measure specific softball abilities. They do not measure or define a player's overall value, leadership, softball knowledge, attitude, commitment, sportsmanship, or contribution to the WESA community.

Inclusion

WESA believes that belonging and balanced competition go hand in hand. An inclusive league must also be a fair league. The Skills Assessment process may sometimes place limits on individual preferences in order to protect the experience of the broader membership and preserve confidence in the league's competitive structure.

League Sustainability

The long-term health of the league depends on balancing individual interests with the collective experience of the membership. The Skills Assessment process supports sustainable growth by promoting fair competition, encouraging player development, and maintaining confidence in the integrity of league play.

Summary

The WESA Skills Assessment process is built on the belief that the best decisions come from collaboration, open communication, and shared responsibility. By combining the perspectives of players, Team Managers, and the SQ Committee, WESA seeks to maintain a process that is fair, consistent, and supportive of every member's softball journey.

In keeping with the League's values of Inclusion, Sportsmanship, and League Sustainability, the objective is not simply to evaluate skills, but to help create teams and divisions where every player has the opportunity to compete, develop, and belong. Achieving that objective sometimes requires balancing individual preferences with the needs of the broader membership, recognizing that a league remains strongest when it is both welcoming and fair.

The WESA Skills Assessment process is founded on a simple belief: a player is more than a score, a team is more than its record, and a strong league is one where every member has a place to play while having confidence in the fairness and integrity of the game.