NE-10 Conference Sport Code Manual. Softball

Transcription

1 NE-10 Conference Sport Code Manual Softball [Softball is an official sport of the Conference and all members who sponsor a team are to participate in the regular season and conference championship unless excused by official conference action.] Section 1. Awards The following awards shall be presented in Softball: 1. Regular Season Champion 2. Conference Tournament Champion 3. Tournament Runner-Up 4. Freshman of the Year 5. Pitcher of the Year 6. Coach of the Year 7. Player of the Year 8. Tournament MVP 9. All-Conference Team members a. Eleven awards for First Team b. Eleven awards for Second Team c. Eleven awards for Third Team 10. Player of the Week (chosen from SID nominations) 11. Freshman of the Week (chosen from SID nominations) 12. Pitcher of the Week (chosen from SID nominations) 13. Weekly Honor Roll (chosen from SID nominations) A conference championship premium shall be presented to each finalist team member. Quantity will be based upon the recognized NCAA official traveling party size contained in the NCAA Travel Handbook. Section 2. Awards Selection A. All-Conference Teams and Conference Honors shall be selected by a vote of the coaches and shall be announced at the conclusion of the conference championship. The Conference shall distribute and tabulate all ballots. B. All-Conference Teams shall be selected by position. Each team shall be composed of the following: a. 1 First Base f. 3 Outfielders b. 1 Second Base g. 1 Designated Player c. 1 Shortstop h. 2 Pitchers d. 1 Third Base e. 1 Catcher

2 C. In the balloting process for All-Conference Teams, student-athletes may be nominated in two player categories. D. Coaches' may nominate, but shall not vote for themselves or their players, in the award selection process. Any violation will result in that particular vote being cancelled. E. The coach of the winning team shall select the tournament MVP. Section 3 Ball A. Institutions shall use the official softball of the Northeast-10 Conference, the Diamond 12RFP47, for all regular season games. B. The home team shall provide the game balls. Section 4. Coaches Meetings A. A coaches' conference call will be conducted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. All head coaches are expected to participate on the call. B. A conference representative will conduct the conference call. C. The conference office shall charge each participating institution a pro-rated fee based upon final cost. Section 5. Conference Schedule A. The conference schedule will consist of a fifteen (15) team, single round robin schedule. B. All openings shall be doubleheaders consisting of two (2) seven-inning games. C. All conference games must be played during the regular season and take priority over scheduled non-conference games. D. Any conference games postponed due to weather or unforeseen conditions, must be rescheduled (date decided upon) within 48 hours of the originally scheduled date and played on the first available date. E. Pending approval by both athletic directors and the conference office, changes may be made to the conference schedule using the prescribed conference change of schedule form. F. Based on the daylight savings time calendar, weekday games shall begin at 3:00 p.m. unless a host school has lights and both participants agree to a later start time.

3 F. For all regular season contests (not NE-10 tournament play), the international "speed up" rule will be instituted at the top of the 10 th inning. For the conference championship, the "speed up" rule will not be utilized. Section 6. Rainout Policy A. If any game reaches regulation status and is then called due to inclement weather or darkness, it shall be declared an official game. B. The home team shall determine whether or not a game is to start. Normally, a game shall begin within one (1) hour of the scheduled starting time. C. If any game is postponed prior to reaching regulation status, the rescheduled game shall be replayed in its entirety. D. The umpire-in-chief has sole authority to call the game after the lineup cards are exchanged, if conditions become unfit to play. Coaches shall not interfere with the umpire's decision. E. If a game is postponed, both coaches should immediately determine the make-up date, adhering to the policy noted in 5(D). Notification of the rescheduled date must be given to the Conference office after both Directors have signed the change of schedule form within forty eight (48) hours and is subject to Conference approval. The Commissioner may declare the contest forfeited by either or both teams for failure to agree on a date within the specified time period or failure to report the date as required. Section 7. Facility A. NCAA rules and regulations regarding acceptable playing venue will be strictly enforced. B. All fields must meet NCAA minimum field size requirements. C. All fields must have outfield fences that are within NCAA-specified distances. D. The host institution shall have at a minimum some field drying compound and rakes available to use on the field in case inclement weather threatens the start or completion of a game. A concerted effort must be made by the host institution to get the field in playable condition. E. If no effort is made to prevent a postponement from occurring, the Commissioner, after deliberating with the umpire-in-chief, both coaches and directors, may determine the make-up game be played at the site of the original visiting institution. Section 8. Ground and Playing Rules

4 A. The local ground rules shall be given to the visiting coach and to the umpires before the game. ASA and NCAA rules shall be followed except where local ground rules require modification. B. A team shall forfeit any Conference game for which it is not prepared to play at the designated time, or in any other situation determined as a forfeit by NCAA regulations. C. There shall be a fifteen (15) minute break between games unless otherwise agreed by the head coaches. D. A game shall be ruled a complete game (and therefore terminated) when one team is ahead by eight (8) or more runs following the completion of five innings. Section 9. Practice A. Each team shall have thirty (30) minutes of batting practice (not on game field) and seven (7) minutes of infield practice prior to the start of play each day. The home team shall hit first and take infield practice first. Infield maintenance shall occur ten minutes prior to game time. Section 10. Officials A. Two umpires shall be assigned for each regular season game. B. Umpires shall be assigned for regular season games through the host institution. Section 11. Tarps A. Each institution is encouraged to have a full infield field tarp prior to the 2006 season. Section 12. Scouting A. Institutions shall not provide scouting reports (verbal or written) or videos of other Conference member institutions to non-ne-10 Conference opponents. B. The verbal or written exchange of scouting reports between conference members regarding other conference teams is strictly prohibited. Section 13. Medical and Training Services A. Refer to the opening section of the sport code manual, Section 17 (a), (b) and (c). Section 14. Overnight Lodging Requirements A. All conference teams staying overnight are required to utilize Book My Group for their team lodging reservations (regular season and tournament contests). Please contact Andrea Casperson at (888) for more information. Softball Championship

5 [Refer to the opening section in the sport code manual for further information regarding all NE-10 Conference championships.] Section 1. Ball A. The official ball for the Conference championship shall be the Diamond 12RFP47. B. Diamond will provide eight (8) dozen softballs for use during the conference championship. Section 2. Championship Site A. The 2008 Conference championship, including the first round, shall be played May 2-4 at the site of the highest seed, with the ability to secure a second field. Section 3. Championship Format A. The top eight (8) teams from the regular season shall advance to the Conference championship, which shall be a double-elimination tournament. Seeding shall be based upon the final, regular season standings (see conference tiebreaker section for applicable procedures). B. The championship shall follow a TBD format. C. The conference office shall announce the tournament bracket the week of the championship. D. Dates and Times: Host: TBA May 2 TBD May 3 TBD May 4 TBD E. Unless weather or some other emergency is a factor, teams in the Conference championship shall not play more than three contests in one day. F. All games shall be seven innings unless the score necessitates adherence to the aforementioned NCAA "eight run mercy rule". G. If the entire championship is cancelled due to weather conditions or other unforeseen events, pending approval of the conference office, the regular season champion will be declared the tournament champion.

6 H. If any round of the championship is played and weather conditions or other unforeseen events necessitate cancellation of any subsequent rounds, pending approval of the conference office, the highest remaining seed with the best record through game #4 of a double elimination six (6) team tournament, will be declared the tournament champion. Section 4. Automatic Qualifier A. Per conference policy, the team winning the conference championship shall be the automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament. Section 5. Championship Manager A. The host institution shall provide a Championship Manager. He or she may not be the host's Athletics Director or the head softball coach. B. Refer to the front section of the Sport Code Manual for duties and responsibilities of the Championship Manager. Section 6. Home Team A. The home team for all rounds of the championship shall be the higher seeded team. The home team shall occupy the third base dugout, warm up first and wear white uniforms. The visiting team must wear a uniform of contrasting color. As a reminder, when teams play back-to-back games, they must be prepared to change uniforms, if necessary. Section 7. Secondary Site A. If the host institution loses in opening round play, they will be relegated to the losers bracket game at the secondary site. Section 8. Officials A. Two umpires shall be used at all tournament games. B. Umpires will be coordinated through the Conference office utilizing the ECUA, assignor. Section 9. Introductions A. For first round games and the championship final, all student-athletes shall be introduced. Teams shall line up on the baselines extending from home plate. B The visitors shall be introduced first (non-starters, coaching staff and starters) followed by the home team (non-starters, coaching staff and starters). Section 10. Protocol A With National Anthem and Introductions: Game clock shall be started 24 minutes prior to game time and follow this schedule: minutes Home team infield

7 2. 17 minutes Visiting team infield minutes Umpires and coaches at home plate 4. 7 minutes Team Introductions 5. 3 minutes National Anthem 6. 0 minutes Game begins B. Without National Anthem: Game clock shall be started 21 minutes prior to game time and follow this schedule: minutes Home team infield minutes Visiting team infield 3. 7 minutes Umpires and coaches at home plate 4. 4 minutes Team Introductions 5. 0 minutes Game begins Section 11. Official Scorer A. The host institution shall provide an official scorer for all games of the Conference championship. B. The official scorer shall use an approved score book and shall keep score in accordance with NCAA rules. C. The host institution shall prepare a NCAA box score after each game for the media, each school and the Conference office. Section 12. Finances A. The host athletics director is responsible for submitting a financial game report on a form developed by the Commissioner, to the Conference office no later than fifteen (15) days from the conclusion of the championship. B. The host institution is responsible for championship administrative costs. C. Each host institution is responsible for the following for each round/day of the championship: D. Admission must be charged for all rounds of the championship - unless the conference office grants a waiver. E. The first $ of gross revenue generated per round/day, shall be sent to the Conference office, with up to an additional $ generated being retained by the host, to help cover expenses. F. If gross revenue remains above the $ level, the remaining gross dollars shall be split evenly (50/50) between the host institution and Conference.

8 G. All revenue for merchandise and program sales shall be retained by the Conference. H. All competing institutions are responsible for costs related to travel, lodging and meals. I. The conference office is responsible for payment of officials for all rounds of the conference championship. J. Admission prices for the championship are at a minimum: a. Adults - $ 5.00 (min) Students - $ 3.00 (with valid ID) Seniors - $ 3.00 (min) Children - $ 3.00 (min) M. The conference office is responsible for buying all championship awards.