2018 NJSIAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Transcription

1 NEW JERSEY STATE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 1161 Route 130, P.O. Box 48 Robbinsville, N.J NJSIAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT ATTENTION: COACHES MUST HAVE A COPY OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS AVAILABLE AT ALL GAMES. COACHES SHOULD CALL SECTIONAL REP WITH QUESTIONS/RESULTS UP TO AND INCLUDING STATE SEMIFINAL. Sectional Assignors: Non-Public South, CENTRAL & SOUTH: ALLISON MUNCH, , CELL , ajmunch@comcast.net. Non-Public North, NORTH 1 & 2: VIC DUDKA, , vicdudka@hotmail.com. Tournament Director: Donna Martello dmartello140@comcast.net dmartello140@comc TO QUALIFY Teams must be competing on a varsity interscholastic basis and must have: 1. Teams with at least 50% WINNING RECORD at the time of the cutoff, Thursday, May 10, 2018 will qualify automatically. Teams will be seeded by the Power Point ranking based on their first fifteen (15) games described on Page 5 Seeding Procedure. If less than 15 games are played at the cutoff, it will count as a loss and no power points added. 2. Teams may be seeded into the tournament having less than a.500% record as determined by the seeding committee based on power points. Teams not wishing to enter the softball tournament must notify NJSIAA by May 9, 2018 using the TOURNAMENT REFUSAL DESIGNATION (AD website login required). 3. In order to qualify, all varsity game scores, rosters and complete varsity schedule must be reported to Your team records and power ranking will be drawn from this website after the cutoff date. 4. Seventy percent (70%) of the games played before the cutoff date (May 10) must be against New Jersey Schools. 5. Any player with two (2) or more disqualifications in the current season, prior to the start of the NJSIAA tournament, will be unable to compete in said tournament. 6. Any varsity team accumulating three (3) or more player or coach disqualifications for flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct prior to the start of the NJSIAA tournament will not be permitted to participate in same. Seeded teams will forfeit their right to compete if a disqualification limit is reached prior to the start of the tournament for the team. To promote fairness in competition and the health and safety of student athletes, no NJSIAA member school will be eligible to participate in any NJSIAA Championship Tournament if it has violated the Specific Sports Regulations for the sport including, but not limited to, the start of practice, the start and ending of the sport season and the maximum contests permitted during the regular season. The application of this eligibility standard is non-appealable. PROCEDURE FOR ENTRY All schedules MUST be entered by the start of the season, and scores reported to as soon as possible after each contest. Coaches are reminded to check their schools power points and record throughout the season and particularly on Thursday, May 10 th to insure that it is accurate. The Seeding Committee will use these results to determine that all games have been entered, and for advancing the brackets. If you do not know your school code, or you encounter problems, please contact support@njschoolsports.com or the NJSIAA. SPECIFIC SPORTS REGULATIONS (found in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Handbook Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules & Regulations Program Regulations: SOFTBALL Section 1. Rules The National Federation Softball Rules shall govern all NJSIAA games. Section 2. Start of Practice - First Friday in March. (March 2) Section 3. Start of Regular Season March 31, 2018 Section 4. End of Season (From Program Regulations - Section 10 (June 9) Section 5. Transfers on or after May 5, 2018, not eligible for post-season play. (See Article V, Section 4.K. (2).d.) Section 6. Maximum Games A member school may play twenty-five (25) games including regular season and tournament games, plus one additional tournament, plus the State Tournament.

2 Section 7. Scrimmage During the regular season count toward the allowable number of games. However, while a school is competing in the State Tournament, it may schedule with teams entered in the tournament one (1) scrimmage during any week in which it has only one (1) or two (2) games and two (2) scrimmages during any week in which there are no games. These scrimmages will no count in the total number of allowable games. ENTRIES - Records must be updated for all games played up to and including Thursday, May 10, 2018, and throughout the tournament at njschoolsports.com. PLEASE CHECK: Send Officials Form (Page 9) ASAP, Deadline is Monday, May 7 th to: DATES Kim DeGraw-Cole, NJSIAA, P.O. Box 487, Robbinsville, NJ Entry Fee of $80 mailed to the NJSIAA, P.O. Box 487, Robbinsville, NJ Tournament dates are May 17 th to June 8 th, (Earlier if additional game required.) Seeding will determine deadlines for tournament progression, and dates will be noted on the pairings form, which will be posted on on Monday, May 14 th (afternoon). Brackets should be final on Tuesday, May 15 th at NOON. Preliminaries: Games may be played earlier than dates indicated on pairing form, if both schools agree; however in cases of disagreement, the game must be played on the stated date, and non-njsiaa tournament games scheduled for these dates must be rescheduled. SCHOOLS ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT WILL NOT BE GRANTED A CHANGE OF DATE/TIME DUE TO ANY CONFLICTS WITH SCHOOL TRIPS, PROMS, BANQUETS, SAT'S, AND THE LIKE. Note: Memorial Day is May 28, Non Public (Round 1 & 2) and Public (Round 1, 2, & 3) If schools cannot agree on an earlier date, the game must be played on the date listed below. Date confirmation must be secured from the Sectional Assignor on or before provides flexibility in scheduling, however, it is contingent upon umpire availability. Final decision-njsiaa Assistant Director, Kim DeGraw-Cole. NON-PUBLIC ONLY - Preliminaries: 1st Round on or before Monday, May 21 (not 5/17) (Rain Date -May 22) 2nd Round on or before Thursday, May 24 (Rain Date May 25) 3rd Round on or before Tuesday, May 29 (Rain Date May30) Sectional Finals: Thursday, May 31 (Pre-determined Sites) (Rain Date June 1) PUBLIC ONLY Preliminaries: 1st Round on or before Thursday, May 17 (Rain Date - May 18) 2nd Round on or before Monday, May 21 (Rain Date - May 22) 3rd Round on or before Thursday, May 24 (Rain Date May 25) Sectional Finals: Tuesday, May 29 (Higher Seed)* (Rain Date-May 30) State Semifinals: Thursday, May 31 (Pre-determined Sites) (Rain Date - June 1) STATE FINALS PUBLIC AND NON-PUBLIC: Saturday June 2 & Sunday, June 3 at Kean University. If weather causes postponement, the next playable date will be used. Game Date and Game Times TBD. Please Note: June 2, 2018 is an S.A.T. Testing Date, plan accordingly. TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS Semifinals: Tuesday, June 5 and Wednesday, June 6 Game Times: 5:00 & 7:00 pm Finals: Friday, June 8 Game Time: 7:30 pm Pre-determined Sites: The NJSIAA reserves the right to conduct tournament games on Turf Fields, which may require alternative footwear. (metal cleats not permitted at some Turf Fields).

3 SITES: Sites for all games up to and including the Public Sectional Finals will be the home field of the higher seeded school as determined by the Seeding Committee. Home School must play be rain date: at home, neutral site or opponent s site. The NJSIAA will assist in securing sites to keep the continuity and fairness of the tournament in place. The home team will have choice of bench area. Please notify Sectional Assignors when games are cancelled and rescheduled. Sectional Assignors: Non-Public South, CENTRAL & SOUTH: ALLISON MUNCH, , CELL , ajmunch@comcast.net. Non-Public North, NORTH 1 & 2: VIC DUDKA, , vicdudka@hotmail.com. Sites will not be declared unsuitable merely because recommended minimum fence distances are not available or field conditions are less than perfect unless Leagues or Conferences have ruled such sites unsuitable for League or Conference play. Fields should be lined in accordance with National Federation Rules. *State Public Semifinals and Non-Public Sectional Finals will be played at predetermined designated sites. Coin Flip will be executed: Winner of the coin flip selects Home/Away or Bench, Opponent (loser of the coin flip) receives remaining choice. Up to but not including the State Finals, whenever a game is played at a designated and/or predetermined site for which there are grounds-keeping or rental charges, the schools shall share the cost of same although every attempt will be made to secure a site for which there will be no rental or minimal rental charges. GAME TIMES: Point of Emphasis 1. All games must start at 4:00 PM unless otherwise agreed upon by both schools and approved by the Sectional Assignors: Allison Munch or Vic Dudka. Non-School game times as designated by the home team. 2. Weather conditions are the only acceptable reason for changing the start time on GAME day! All changes must be made by 10:30 AM. If the athletic directors from both schools agree that due to the anticipated weather conditions a time change is warranted, the home school must contact the umpires assigned to determine if they are available. The umpires assigned to the game will stay with the game (if at all possible). In addition, to contacting the assigned umpires, the home school must contact the Sectional Rep/NJSIAA Assignor of the potential time change. If replacement umpires are needed, the Sectional Rep/NJSIAA assignor will make every effort to accommodate the request. It is the responsibility of the home school to keep all parties informed. The NJSIAA Assistant Director and Softball Tournament Director should be informed as well. POSTPONEMENT Responsibility for postponing a game shall rest with the person in charge of the playing site, and it shall be his/her responsibility to notify both schools and the tournament representative at least three (3) hours prior to game time. The competing schools' representatives shall share responsibility for assuring that adequate on-site preparations have been made. SECURITY Each school must provide at least one (1) staff member, not associated with the coaching staff, to be present at each tournament game to assist on-site management in maintaining control of spectators. UMPIRES 1. The NJSIAA Sectional Representatives will be assigning the Officials for the ALL rounds of play! 2. Officials Fees: Fees are per umpire no difference between base and plate. Preliminaries (2) $80 Paid by Home School State Semifinals (3) $85.00*Public North II & South Sectional & Semi Final (3) $85 Paid by Home School State Final & T of C (3) $90 NJSIAA Umpires should arrive 1 hour before game time. Note: If a game is postponed after teams and officials have arrived, but before the game has started, officials must be paid the full fee. 3. When the home field of one of the schools is used, the school on whose field the game is played shall pay the umpires and the visiting school shall pay their own transportation costs. 4. The Sectional Assignors (above) shall assign three (3) umpires for the Sectional Semifinals, Sectional Finals and State Semifinals. The Tournament Assignor in consultation with the NJSIAA Asst. Director will assign three (3) umpires to the State Final games and the Tournament of Champions games. 5. Pre-determined Sites Payment of ALL Umpires: *Non-Public Sectional Finals: Higher Seed *Public Semi- Finals: 2018 North II and South (2018) NJSIAA will pay all umpires for the State Final and Tournament of Campions Please Note: Protest will not be honored based on an umpire s judgement or misapplication of the playing rules.

4 RULES The 2018 National Federation Softball Rules and NJSIAA modifications will govern all tournament games. DISQUALIFICATION Participation by an ineligible player in any game during the regular season results in forfeiture of said game. If such forfeit(s) would have caused the school's failure to qualify for the tournament or if an ineligible player participates in a tournament game, said SCHOOL will be disqualified from the tournament immediately and their last opponent will advance in their place. Schools eliminated prior to the last opponent will not re-enter tournament competition. WITHDRAWAL Any member school and/or student-athlete withdrawing from competition after having officially entered an NJSIAA tournament in any sport will be disqualified from all remaining NJSIAA tournament competition in that sport in that season and barred from participating in NJSIAA tournament competition in that sport during the next school year unless truly extraordinary circumstances were present. (Program Regulations, Section 16: New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations) EQUIPMENT 1. When the home field of one of the teams is used, the school on whose field the game is played shall supply at least four (4) top-grade leather softballs bearing the NFHS stamp, the COR and compression. Optic Yellow balls must be used throughout the tournament. 2. For Non-Public and Public Sectional Finals, the higher seeded (home team) shall supply at least four (4) top-grade leather softballs. North II and South will provide softballs State Semi-final games. Yellow balls must be used throughout the tournament. 3. NJSIAA will provide Softballs for all State Final and Tournament of Champions games. (Wilson ball, A9011, optic yellow). GAMES 1. All games shall start at 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise agreed upon by both schools and the Sectional assignor. When weather may become a problem, games may be started earlier if officials are present and both schools agree. If the game is scheduled before 4:00 PM, the Sectional Assignor must be notified. Non-School day game time designated by home school. 2. Public Sectional Final sites shall be the site of the higher seeded team. *See coin toss on page 4 for Non Public Sectional Final and Public Semi-Finals at Pre-determined sites. 3. If rain delays the completion of a round, teams must adhere to the deadline of the succeeding round. 4. Games should not be postponed unless absolutely necessary. If a game is postponed, it must be reported immediately to the Sectional Representative. 5. Infield practice will be limited to ten (10) minutes per team. NO TEAM WILL BE PERMITTED TO USE THE INFIELD FACILITY FOR BATTING PRACTICE FOR ANY TOURNAMENT GAME. Soft Toss may be permitted if the site allows. 6. No hitting will be permitted in live ball area. On fields where there are no outfield fences, hitting will be permitted beyond 200 feet. Each team shall have equal opportunity. Please Note : Regular Season and Individual, County, Conference Tournament Play: The Softball Rules committee approved the Suspended/Halted Game as per the NFHS Softball Rules book, Rule 2, Section 26, Article 1 and Rule 4, Section 2. SOFTBALL SUSPENDED GAME RULE FOR STATE TOURNAMENT GAMES All NJSIAA post season tournament softball games must be played to the full seven innings (turns at bat) unless extra innings are necessary because of a tie score, or unless shortened because the home team needs none of its half of the seventh inning or only a fraction of it. The exception to this is the 10-run rule that the state association has adopted. A softball game that has reached the point of regulation game, five full innings having been played, or if the home team has scored and equal or greater number of runs in four of four and a fraction turns at bat than the visiting team has scored in five turns at bat, or if play has gone beyond five full innings, and then the game is called (ended) by the umpire(s) due to weather or darkness, the game will be considered a suspended game and the game will be resumed at the point of interruption.

5 GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Teams must play their games by the date designated as the final date for the completion of a round or on the date designated by the Sectional Representative or the Tournament Director. Any school entering the tournament and then withdrawing will be subject to the penalties as enforced by the NJSIAA and barred from participation for one additional year. IF ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSE POSTPONEMENT, GAME MUST BE PLAYED ON SUCCESSIVE DAYS, SUNDAYS EXCLUDED if Board of Education or School Policy exists. However, by mutual agreement of the schools, games may be played on Sundays. Schools not willing or able to play on the designated dates (including rain dates), in the State Group Finals should not enter the tournament. 2. A game postponed due to weather, must be scheduled for the following day. If the game cannot be played at the higher seeded school on the rain date, that school has the option of finding another site, or playing the game at the opponent's field if it is playable. 3. Throughout the entire season, scores must be reported following each game, to If you do not know your school code, or encounter problems, please contact support@njschoolsports.com or the NJSIAA. The Seeding Committee will use these results to determine seeding, and for advancing the brackets. 4. THE WINNING SCHOOL'S COACH MUST NOTIFY HIS/HER SECTIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH GAME: North I, II and Non-Public North: Victor Dudka; Central, South, Non-Public South Allison Munch. 5. No substances (shaving cream/ice/water/etc.) permitted on the field, especially during post-game celebrations. 6. NO SIGNS PERMITTED. One school banner ONLY. TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE - for use in all State Tournament Games At the top of the 10 th inning, during each half inning used to enforce the tie-breaker, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat ninth in that respective inning being placed at second base. (e.g., If the number five batter is to lead off, the number four batter in the batting order would be placed on second base. A substitute may be inserted for the runner.) Seeding Procedure The Power Ranking system will be the sum total of the first fifteen (15) games played up to and including the cut-off day (May 10 th ). 1. The qualifying schools in each group and each section for the public schools and in each group and section for the non-public schools will be seeded according to the power rankings based on the calculations of the power point system. 2. Power Point Calculation Procedure: 1. Quality Points - Each school will receive the following "Quality Points" for a win from the first 15 games: Win = 6 points; Lose = 0 points 2. Group Points - Each school will receive "Group Points" from a team they defeated from the first 15 games: Group IV = 4 points Group III = 3 points Group II = 2 points Group I = 1 points 3. Residual Points - Each team will receive residual points from one of the categories below based on the result of the game. A. Each school will receive "Residual Points" from a team they defeated. For each win your opponent has from the first 15 games, you will receive the following (see examples 1): Win = 3 points; Lose = 0 points

6 B. Each school will receive "Residual Points" from a team they lost to. For each win your opponent has that defeated you (not including your game) from the first 15 games, you will receive the following (see example 5): Win = 1 point; Lose = 0 points Example 1 (win) Team A defeated Team B (Group IV) Team A record 13-2 Team B record 14-1 Team A would earn a total of 52 points for the Team B win. (6 points for the win, 4 group points, 42 residual points) Example 5 (loss) Non-Public (III) Team A defeated Public Team B Team B record 11-4 Team A record 12-3 Team B would earn a total of 11 points from the Team A defeat. (11 residual points) TIES WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED NOR FORMULATED AS PART OF THE POWER POINT CALCULATION! GUIDELINES FOR THUNDER/LIGHTNING SAFETY Termination, or temporary suspension, must always take place when an electrical storm is imminent. The decision to terminate or suspend a game when an electrical storm is imminent, may be made by either the host school management, or the official. If lightning is imminent or a thunderstorm is approaching, all personnel, athletes and spectators should evacuate to available safe structures or shelters. Once lightning has been recognized, it is recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning is Witnessed or thunder is heard before restarting the game. Any subsequent lightning or thunder after the beginning of the 30 minute count should reset the clock and another count should begin. When one contest on a site is suspended due to lightning or thunder, all contests on that site will be suspended. The complete policy concerning thunder and lightning safety can be found in the Handbook for Officials and the Handbook for Coaches. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is the sponsoring association for all levels of State Tournament/Championships. The NJSIAA reserves all rights in regard to the management of these Tournaments/Championships and the sale or distribution of any items and any audio-visual reproductions. Any sale or distribution of clothing, souvenirs or any other items is strictly prohibited without permission from the NJSIAA. AWARDS Sectional Champion - State Group Champion - A team trophy and twenty (20) certificates to each Sectional Champion in each Group. A team trophy and twenty (20) certificates to the State Champion in each Group. Twenty (20) certificates to the runner-up in each Group. ADMISSION Admission to State Finals will be: Adults/Students and Senior Citizens - Ticket prices to be determined ALL TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE GATE. SCHOOLS MUST INFORM THEIR STUDENTS AND LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OF THE ADMISSION POLICY.ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL OF COMPETING SCHOOLS AND SECTIONAL REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ADMITTED BY IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES TO THE GATE PERSONNEL.

7 STATE TOURNAMENT FINAL GAMES & Tournament of Champions: Teams must arrive at site one (1) hour before scheduled game time. Umpires must arrive one hour before game time. 1. The Tournament Director or Site Manager will conduct one coin toss, winner will choose Home/Away or bench, the opponent gets remaining choice. 2. Infield practice will be limited to ten (10) minutes per team as follows: a. Home Team - Infield practice thirty (30) minutes before game time. b. Visiting Team - Infield practice twenty (20) minutes before game time. c. Ten (10) minutes will be allowed for field preparation, and umpires' instructions. d. Teams are not permitted to use the infield facility for batting practice. Soft Toss if the facility permits. 3. Tickets will be sold at the gate and all schools are responsible for informing students and local news media of the admission policy. a. Administrators and supervisory personnel of competing schools will be admitted by identifying themselves at the gate. 4. Teams must arrive in uniform. Dressing facilities are not available at the site. 5. Coaches must provide the Tournament Director and/or Site Manager with a roster and statistics upon arrival. 6. Two School Administrators must be present at all State Group Finals. 7. Athletic Trainer will be the responsibility of competing teams PRELIMINARY, SECTIONAL FINAL AND SEMIFINAL GAMES: Teams must arrive at site (1) hour before scheduled game time. Umpires must arrive 1 hour before game time. State Public Semifinals and Non-Public Sectional Finals will be played at predetermined designated sites. Coin Flip will be executed-winner of the coin flip selects Home/Away or Bench, Opponent (loser of the coin flip) receives remaining choice. Infield practice will be limited to ten (10) minutes per team as follows: a. Home Team - Infield practice thirty (30) minutes before game time. b. Visiting Team - Infield practice twenty (20) minutes before game time. c. Ten (10) minutes will be allowed for field preparation, and umpires' instructions. d. Teams are not permitted to use the infield facility for batting practice. e. Teams must arrive in uniform. Dressing facilities are not available at the site. f. Athletic Trainer-Responsibility of the competing school. ROSTERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE DATE OF THE FIRST TOURNAMENT GAME USING THE ROSTER SITE VIA These Rosters are used in the Programs-please submit! Enter at the start of the season and update periodically by May 15 th! Thanks

8 NEW JERSEY STATE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 1161 Route 130, P.O. Box 487 Robbinsville, N.J Softball Officials Form Page 8 The Sectional Representative/Tournament Director is desirous of engaging the services of the most qualified softball officials for assignments to its 2018 Softball Tournament games. Accordingly, the Sectional Representative/Tournament Director is seeking input from each member school's varsity softball coach as to his/her recommendation relative to the softball officials from his/her area. Please, therefore, list below the names of qualified officials in your area to be considered for tournament assignments. Submission of these names does not imply that these officials will be assigned to your games. PLEASE PRINT/TYPE FOR NJSIAA USE HIGH SCHOOL CITY SECTION GROUP PLEASE PRINT/TYPE (Last Name) (First Name) (Chapter) (Last Name) (First Name) (Chapter) PLEASE list any officials who are affiliated with your school. Affiliation is defined as follows: Employed in the district, close relative employed in the system; child attending junior or secondary school in the district; former student or coach; graduate of school within the last ten (10) years. Listing officials who are not affiliated with you school, will cause entire form to be discarded. (Last Name) (First Name) (Chapter) (Last Name) (First Name) (Chapter) There may be official's names submitted for consideration whom you prefer not to have assigned to your games; therefore, we request that you list below no more than two (2) officials you DO NOT wish assigned. NOTE: LISTING MORE THAN TWO (2) OFFICIALS WILL VOID THE ENTIRE LIST AND THE LIST WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOLS. RETURNED LIST CANNOT BE RESUBMITTED. (Last Name) (First Name) (Chapter) (Last Name) (First Name) (Chapter) AD: Our school is primarily serviced by softball umpires from Chapter. (Must be completed to validate form) (PRINT - COACH) HOME PHONE SCHOOL PHONE CELL PHONE STAMPED SIGNATURES NOT ACCEPTABLE. (SIGNED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR) HOME PHONE SCHOOL PHONE CELL PHONE APPROVED (SIGNED - PRINCIPAL) RETURN THIS FORM ASAP to NJSIAA by Fax , or Scan to kcole@njsiaa.org Deadline BY MAY 7 th!