Colonie Girls Softball League Policies

Transcription

1 Colonie Girls Softball League Policies (Revised 7/2011) A. TEAMS AND LEAGUES: 1. All children who register will be assigned to a team. 2. The week will start on Saturday and end on Friday. 3. Each division will be established depending on number of registrants. Each team roster shall have not less than two (2) subs, and no more than five (5) subs as members. T-ball excluded. 4. League age shall be the age each child will be on Jan. 1 st of that season. 5. Any child who will not be twenty three (23) years of age on Jan 1 st is eligible to compete in that season. 6. Each new registrant must furnish a birth certificate on the day of registration. 7. Registrants will be assigned to a division according to league age. 8. Once final registration is announced, whether on the website or by , anyone who registers after that will incur a $10 late fee in addition to our regular stated registration fee. 9. Divisions are determined by age and are as follows: A) T-Ball: 6 years old and younger B) Mini-Minor: 7-8 years old C) Minor: 9-10 years old D) Major Prep: years old E) Major: years old F) Senior years old (Hudson Mohawk Travel Only) G) Open 23 years old and younger (Hudson Mohawk Travel Only) B. MANAGERS AND COACHES: 1. All managers must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board. Unless a manager has been banned from Colonie Girls Softball, the request to manage will be reviewed on an annual basis. 2. Any manager or coach, who resigns or quits the position, must sit out one complete season before managing or coaching again. 3. The manager is responsible for the return of all equipment to division representative in reasonable condition no later than the year-end banquet. 4. The manager is responsible for the preparation of the game rosters and selection of coaches and team parent(s). 5. The manager may request the release of a player with the approval of the Executive Board for any justifiable cause under the league rules of conduct. Any player released from a team is not eligible to participate for the remainder of the season including travel teams. 6. The manager must notify Executive Board of any player who leaves the league after being assigned to a team. 7. The manager may establish team rules in addition to those covered in the policies with approval of the Executive Board. 8. The manager must participate in the scheduling of practices. Each team shall conduct a minimum of one (1) practice per week during the pre-season (before opening day).

2 C. TEAM RULES: 1. All players are expected to attend all practices and games. This rule does not apply to players participating in school and community activities. 2. All players are required to attend games in their full team/school uniform (pants/shorts, visors & shirt). 3. All practices shall be on fields designated by Colonie Girls Softball. 4. Scrimmage games outside of the league are only permitted with approval from an Executive Board member. 5. All players are expected to report to the field thirty (30) minutes prior to games and ten (10) minutes prior to practice being scheduled. 6. Teams listed last in the game schedule are Home Team and are responsible for official scorekeeper. 7. The home team from all fields shall provide one (1) worker for the concession stand. Concession stand workers are expected fifteen (15) minutes prior to game time. Home teams not providing a concession stand worker in a timely manner risk forfeit of their game. 8. Parents/guardians are required to work in the concession stand as assigned. If a parent/guardian does not show for concession duty their child will not play that game. Parents/guardians shall familiarize themselves with concession stand rules and procedures in Section O. D. DECORUM: 1. No player, manager, or coach shall with intent throw a bat, helmet or any other equipment while on the playing field or in the dugout. Violations of this rule will result in ejection from the game by umpire. 2. Uniformed players, managers, coaches, and umpires only shall be permitted within the confines of the playing field prior to and during games. Except for the batter, base runner, player on deck, and base coaches all players will be on the benches or in the dugout. Players, bat assistants, managers, and coaches shall be the only persons permitted in the dugout. (i.e. no friends, brothers, sisters, etc.). When the team is on defense all substitute players will be on their bench or in their dugout. 3. Tobacco use is restricted to the parking lot at all Colonie Girls Softball facilities. 4. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all Colonie Girls Softball facilities. 5. No manager, coach, spectator, or player shall at any time, whether from the bench, playing field, or elsewhere incite or try to incite by word or sign a negative demonstration by spectators. 6. No manager, coach, or spectator shall use any language, which, in any way, refer to or reflect negatively upon an opposing player, umpire or spectator. 7. When a manager, coach, or player is ejected from a game, they shall leave the game field immediately and take no further action in the game. 8. There shall be no standing on, climbing on, or hitting of balls into any fence at any Colonie Girls Softball facility. 9. Colonie Girls Softball Code of Conduct applies to all registered players, parents, legal guardians, and guests to the complex.

3 E. GROUNDS KEEPING: 1. The home team manager shall be in charge of scheduling team parents/guardians to line field and have field ready for play at game time. 2. The visiting team manager shall be in charge of scheduling team parents/guardians to drag field at end of game. 3. Any teams practicing on fields are responsible for dragging field at end of practice. 4. General maintenance and cleanliness is the responsibility of all users of Colonie Girls Softball facilities. 5. Please put all litter and waste in receptacles provided at each field. 6. Each team is responsible for pickup of litter around each bench and/or dugout after games and practices. Trash cans are to be emptied, with clean, new bags replaced in the receptacle. Full bags to be placed in the dumpster located in the parking lot. 7. Umpire in Chief determines all rainouts and notifies hotlines and umpires. 8. Once game has officially started, rainouts will be determined by official umpire or board member of the night. F. RULES OF PLAY-RECREATIONAL DIVISIONS: (NOTE: Refer to Section I for special divisional rules.) 1. Must Play Rule a. Each team must bat its entire roster continuously in each game. b. All players must play at least nine (9) defensive outs based on a full game. c. Any violations of this rule will result in the player(s) playing the next game in its entirety. d. Division Representatives will monitor this rule by scorebook review and are responsible for enforcement. 2. The unlimited substitution rule will be in effect for all games. 3. All players and bat assistants must wear a batting helmet while at bat, on bases, and on deck. 4. Facemasks, chest protectors, and shin guards must be worn by catchers for all games. 5. Managers, players, or adults may be used as base coaches. Players must wear a helmet. 6. A team may start or continue a game with eight (8) players taking an out for the ninth batter. 7. Unintentional throwing of the bat is prohibited. a. On the initial violation, the umpire will notify the scorekeeper to place an X by the offending player s name in the scorebook. The player and manager will be warned and notified of the violation. b. A second offense by the same player that has been warned in any one game results in an automatic out and all base runners will return to their original base. 8. Games are seven (7) innings in the Minor, Major Prep and Major divisions. Games are five (5) innings in the T-Ball and Mini-Minor divisions. a. Please refer to Section G Additional Rules Rainouts/Darkness for details on game termination due to darkness. b. Any game that precedes another game on the same field will have a two (2) hour time limit with no new inning starting after two (2) hours from SCHEDULED start time. 9. An inning is over in three (3) outs or five (5) runs whichever comes first-except in the case of the last inning when there must be three (3) outs; T-Ball excluded. 10. Any game called due to weather conditions after officially started and not regulation in length (divisional rules apply) shall be rescheduled and continued from exact point of stoppage. 11. Refer to ASA rulebook for rules not specifically covered by policies above. 12. League President s ruling on any violations is final.

4 13. Refer to Section H for playoff policies. G. ADDITIONAL RULES -- RAINOUTS/DARKNESS Rainouts are to be made up on the weekend days following the weekday the rainout occurs. The first rainout for each division is to be played at 3 PM on Saturday, the second rainout is to be played at 5 PM on Saturday, the third rainout is to be played at 3 PM on Sunday and the forth rainout is to be played at 5 PM on Sunday (as needed and available). Managers will contact Division Coordinators confirming rainout schedule time/date. If one of the teams cannot make it on their scheduled day and time, that team will receive a loss and the other team a win. If neither team can play at the rescheduled date/time, they will each receive a loss. Those individuals responsible for board member of the night, concession stand duty, etc. for the night of the rainout are expected to work at the rescheduled game time. In the T-Ball, Mini-Minor and Minor divisions, games end immediately at the sound of the darkness horn. In the Major Prep and Major divisions, games are called for darkness at the discretion of the ASA umpire. If, for some reason, no ASA umpire is presiding over the game, the game ends immediately with the darkness buzzer. If the home team is winning when the game is called - the home team will get the victory. If the home team is at bat and the game is tied, the game will end in a tie. (The inning does not have to be complete in these two cases and the score does not revert back to the previous inning). If the home team is not winning when the game is called, the score will revert back to the last completed inning. These scoring scenarios are based on the assumption that the game being played is considered a complete game. If the game is not considered complete it must be rescheduled and resume from its point of end. Refer to Section I for official game definitions in each division. H. CALL UP RULES: 1. This rule is in effect for all divisions. 2. Teams may call up a maximum of two players from the immediate lower league division for the purpose of fielding a team of up to nine (9) players. 3. Call up players must play complete game. 4. Call up players will not be limited to playing any certain position. 5. No call up player can play up to the next division in place of their regular team game. I. PLAYOFF POLICIES: Although recreational teams have priority over travel teams, it is poor planning to schedule recreational games at the same time as travel games. As a league, we have chosen to participate in the Hudson Mohawk Travel League. We must therefore support that decision. There shall be no playoffs in the T-Ball division. As is customary during the regular season, ASA umpires will be used for Major Prep and Major playoff games. Every effort will be made to use ASA umpires for the Minor division games as well. Mini-minor games will be umpired by board members, manager/coach in another division, or junior umpires. Playoff structure shall be determined by divisional coordinators with input from managers in respective divisions PRIOR to the start of the season. Every conceivable effort will be made to finish the regular season games. In the event that after all scheduled recreational games end with two (2) or more teams with identical won/loss records, with ties counting as ½ win, then the following will apply to determine division standings:

5 J. SPECIAL DIVISIONAL RULES: a. Head to Head competition-won/loss record against each other b. Coin flip T-Ball Division: 1. Game start time will be 6:00 PM. 2. Two (2) players can be at the pitchers mound soft touch softball will be used. 4. Bases are 30 feet apart. 5. Each game will consist of four (4) innings or a time limit of 1 hour 30 minutes. 6. Inning consists of three (3) outs or complete batting order, whichever comes first. 7. One base allowed on hit. 8. Everybody plays in the field. 9. Hits inside the 15 semi-circle from home plate will be a foul ball. 10. Pitching Rule Coaches may begin to pitch to the players the last ¼ of the season. Each player will receive a total of 5 pitches. If the 5 th pitch is missed then player will take their hit off the tee. 11. Fielding/Safety Rule If Coaches choose not to play a catcher behind home plate then there will be no play made at home. 12. Rule modifications shall be approved by Division Representative. Mini-Minor Division: 1. Game start time will be 6:00 PM. 2. Each game will consist of five (5) innings, with three (3) complete innings or home team winning after 2.5 innings making it official. 3. Pitcher s mound shall be thirty (30) feet from home plate. 4. Pitching- Coaches/Players shall pitch according to following schedule: a. Weeks one (1) to three (3) of season shall be coaches for first 4 innings and players for the last inning b. Weeks four (4) and five (5) of season shall be coaches for first three (3) innings and players for last two (2) innings. c. Weeks six (6) and seven (7) of season shall be coaches for first two (2) innings and players for last three (3) innings. d. Weeks eight (8) till end of season shall be coaches for the first inning and players for the last four- (4) innings. 5. Windmill pitching allowed if player went through the pitching clinics or with Divisional Representative approval. 6. Whenever a girl is pitching and reaches ball four (4), a coach will then pitch to the batter until the girl: a. Strikes out b. Hits the ball fair c. Is thrown a total of ten (10) pitches (girl and coach) at which time she will be declared out. There will be no walks.

6 7. Only if a runner is past the halfway point towards a base when the ball is in the possession of a player in the pitchers mound area, the runner can attempt to reach said base. 8. Each team is allowed two (2) defensive coaches in the field per inning. 9. Home team must provide an umpire which should be an adult or child thirteen (13) years old or older to use when players are pitching. 10. Base coaches will call outs on bases. 11. No Stealing 12. No infield fly rule. 13. All Players must play a minimum of two (2) defensive innings on the infield in a regulation full inning game. a. Games shortened by rain or darkness, all players to play one (1) inning on the infield. b. Infield to consist of Pitcher, 1st base, 2nd base 3rd base, or shortstop. The position of Catcher is not to be considered infield for this application. c. Violation of this rule shall result in the player starting the next game on the infield to complete their innings for the game in play and the previous games innings. d. Exceptions to the rule must be approved by the 10U Coordinator. Minor Division: 1. No running on drop third strike. 2. No stealing home, the only way a runner can score from third is by a walk or hit ball. 3. One base only on overthrow. 4. Runners can t leave base until pitched ball passes home plate. 5. Game start time is 6:00 PM. 6. Pitchers may only pitch seven (7) innings in two (2) consecutive games. 7. Each game will consist of seven (7) innings, with three (4) complete innings or home team winning after 3.5 innings making it official. 8. No infield fly rule. 9. Pitcher s mound shall be thirty-five (35) feet from home plate. 10. All Players must play a minimum of two (2) defensive innings on the infield in a regulation full inning game. a. Games shortened by rain or darkness, all players to play one (1) inning on the infield. b. Infield to consist of Pitcher, 1st base, 2nd base 3rd base, or shortstop. The position of Catcher is not to be considered infield for this application. c. Violation of this rule shall result in the player starting the next game on the infield to complete their innings for the game in play and the previous games innings. d. Exceptions to the rule must be approved by the 10U Coordinator. Major Prep Division: 1. Game start time is 6:15 PM. 2. Pitchers may only pitch seven (7) innings in two (2) consecutive games. 3. Each game will consist of seven (7) innings, with five (5) complete innings or home team winning after 4.5 innings making it official.

7 Major Division: 1. Game start time is 6:15 PM. 2. Pitchers may only pitch four (4) innings per game. 3. Each game will consist of seven (7) innings. Game will be considered official as follows: Through May 15 th - with four (4) innings or home team winning after 3.5 innings After May 15 th with five (5) innings or home team winning after 4.5 innings K. Draft Rule: 1. All divisions will have a draft with the exception of T-Ball. 2. All managers in each division will be appointed by Divisional Representative and approved by the Executive Board. 3. All managers will be entitled to choose one (1) coach and all other players will be drafted. 4. Divisional Representative will coordinate and manage all drafts with an Executive Board Member present at draft. 5. Any player that is registered after the team draft day will be placed on a team by the Executive Board. L. Play Up Rule: 1. Any player interested in playing in a division above the league playing age, must tryout with managers and Divisional Representative of said division present at pre-determined tryout. 2. No player shall be allowed to play up if the lower division is harmed in a manner detrimental to the division. 3. All players interested in playing up will be voted on by Executive Board and all decisions by Executive Board will be Final. M. Travel Team Rules: 1. Anyone that is eligible for Colonie Girls Softball is eligible to tryout for travel teams. Travel team play will be available for fast pitch in age divisions as follows: 23 and under, 18 and under, 16 and under, 14 and under, 12 and under, and 10 and under. Teams must have a minimum of eleven (11) players to participate. 2. Recreational teams take precedence over travel team practice and games. 3. Travel team players 12 and under must participate at least eighty (80) percent on one (1) Colonie Girls Softball recreational team. Those who don t make the eighty (80) percent and want to play on a travel team must have a valid excuse and approval of the Executive Board. 4. All girls fourteen (14) and under must play in their respective age group travel team. 5. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Executive Board. 6. Players are allowed to play on only one (1) Colonie Girls Softball travel team. Colonie Girls Softball will supply equipment, game balls, uniforms, and umpires for travel games. 7. Travel players will be assessed an additional registration fee to be determined by Executive Board prior to season starting. 8. All Colonie Girls Softball travel teams will be entitled to one thousand ($ ) for tournament fees. 9. Home games are to be played at the CGS Softball Complex. All exceptions must be approved by the Executive Board. 10. The following years travel managers shall be approved by Executive Board as quickly as possible after each travel season.

8 N. Tournament Team Rule: 1. Tournament team play is available in age divisions as follows: open, 18 and under, 16 and under, 14 and under, and 12 and under. 2. Colonie Girls Softball will supply umpires and balls for home tournaments. 3. Colonie Girls Softball will collect tournament fees for home tournaments from visiting teams at per team or more unless limited by sanctioned organization.. 4. Tournament team players pay a fee determined by the tournament team. No family discounts allowed. 5. Tournament team manager has the authority to field a competitive team based on his discretion. 6. Tournament team managers shall be nominated by parents of returning players and approved by the Executive Board of Colonie Girls Softball. O. Concession Stand Rules and Procedures: 1. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult. Children may NOT replace a parent in the concession stand. 2. No children less than 10 years old allowed in stand. 3. Age can help at window: drinks and candy only. 4. Age 15 can help at window: drinks, candy and register only. 5. Age 17 can work everything including the grill and fryer. 6. All parents/guardians must serve one full game in the concession stand. No sharing of duties. It is too confusing to the people working the stand. 7. Parents/guardians shall sign in along side the date and field your child is playing on. 8. Parents/guardians shall read Equipment and Food Preparation Guidelines posted in the concession stand.