Columbiana Mahoning County Girls Fast Pitch League Position Name Cell Phone Home Phone Email President Rich Oxley 330-727-8895 330-427-6431 roxley11@comcast.net Vice President Shane Franks 330-423-9713 330-332-5512 shanefranks2000@yahoo.com Sec/Tres LuAnn Holisky 330-692-0387 330-482-9387 lholisky@comcast.net Welcome Teams! Good Luck in the 2016 Season Amateur Softball Association of America, Inc. (A.S.A.) - Officials Title Name Cell Phone Home Phone Email A.S.A Commissioner Warren Jones 419-651-3335 419-289-3978 wjones3@frontier.com A.S.A. Assigner Chuck Straub 330-277-1612 330-332-5265 cstraub9@yahoo.com A.S.A. District Commissioner Randy Shepard (740)541-8740 Ranshep72@roadrunner.com Umpire in Chief Randy Sheppard LEAGUE WEBSITE: www.allprosoftware.net/cmcsoftball_2016 A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are. - Ara Parseghian 1
MANAGER/COACH CONDUCT AGREEMENT 1. No tobacco products (smoke and smokeless) or alcohol at fields. 2. No swearing or displays of poor sportsmanship. 3. All games will be played. Any manager refusing to play a game will declare an official forfeit to Rich Oxley. At the end of the year coaches will decide if forfeit was warranted. If it was not, that manager will not be permitted to coach the following season. 4. Managers are responsible for parents. Any parent removed from a game will not be permitted to return for the remainder of the season. Please be sure to go over this with your team/parents. a. If anyone causes or creates a forfeit game situation and will not adhere to the umpires warnings, the offender should be addressed in the following manner: 1. Local law enforcement will be called. 2. Guilty party(s) will be removed from the complex or playing area and will not be allowed to attend any remaining games. 5. All managers are required to attend league meetings unless otherwise notified. A.S.A. Guidelines for Lightning Safety Lightning safety is the number one consideration; the activity can be made up later. The umpire(s) should monitor weather conditions and determine whether or not to suspend play. Signs of imminent thunderstorm activity are darkening clouds, high winds and thunder or lightning. Even storms that are many miles away can pose a lightning danger. When determining whether or not to suspend play, the umpire should use his/her common sense and good judgment. If a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during an activity or contest (regardless of whether lightning is seen or thunder heard), postpone or suspend the activity until the hazard has passed. No place is absolutely safe from lightning threat; however, some places are safer than others. Large, enclosed structures (substantially constructed buildings) tend to be safer than smaller structures or open structures. Unless an advanced lightning detection device is in use, if activity has been suspended due to lightning, the umpire should wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or sound of thunder prior to resuming activity. Unless an advanced lightning detection device is in use, each time additional lightning is observed or thunder is heard, the minimum 30-minute waiting period should be reset. A clear sky or lack of rainfall are not adequate indicators for resuming play. 2
Unless an advanced lightning detection device is in use, the minimum 30-minute returnto-play waiting period should not be shortened. All individuals participating in or observing an outdoor softball event are responsible for their own safety and should monitor threatening weather conditions. Before each practice, warm-up time, or game, the home plate umpire should appoint an individual as the designated weather watcher. If the home plate umpire is the only official at the event, then the home plate umpire should be responsible for the duties of the weather watcher. The individual will make the call to stop play, remove individuals from the field, and announce a warning to the spectators. League Rules for 2016 No one is allowed in your dugout or on the playing field without an A.S.A background check and an updated concussion training certificate. Copies of these documents should be with you at all games. Electronic devices such as ipads, laptops, or tablets can only be used in the dugout area for the purpose of keeping statistics, scores, etc. A team can begin the game with nine (9) players in the lineup even though they only have eight (8) players. The team would take an out every time the 9 th batter came to bat and the spot was empty. If the 9 th player shows up, she can enter the game. Her name must appear on the roster and be in the lineup at the start of the game. A team may begin the game with eight (8) players and finish the game with the same number. No player can be added at any time in this situation. No players can be on the bench to use either of these new rules. The new rules must be agreed upon by both managers/coaches at the home plate ground rule meeting prior to the start of the game. Once the game begins there are no changes to the new rule. Team Requirements 1. Carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance a. Advised to have release forms for their own teams 2. Sanction A.S.A. 3. Abide by the A.S.A Official Rule Book for the 2016 season 4. All fields must have the double first base 5. Balls: 3
a. May be A.S.A. / N.F.H.S. and may be optic yellow/green with raised red stitched with core of no more than.47 and compression no greater than 375lbs b. Home team to furnish one new ball and a good used ball, visitors to furnish third and fourth balls (good used balls c. All balls must be the same color and meet umpire approval 6. Roster/birth certificates: Must be at all games, the roster is open (unlimited players). All final rosters turned in to the league president, 72 hours prior to first game of the season. 7. A player s age for league and division purposes is determined by what her age was on Dec. 31, 2015. 8. Players are permitted to play up and play in an age division above her actual age. Example: A ten year old is permitted to play in the 12U division. 9. Players are permitted to be on two separate rosters in two different age divisions. Example: An 8 year old player can be on both an 8U and 10U roster and play in all league games in both age divisions. 10. Players may not be on two different rosters in the same age division. 11. Rainouts MUST be rescheduled within 7 days by the opposing coaches and played within 14 days. League officers have the authority to schedule any game that has not been rescheduled by the coaches after 7 days. Neutral fields may be used. Games not played for any reason will not be counted in the final standings. Division winners must complete all regular games to be crowned division champions. 12. Fields & dugouts. Teams are responsible for the condition of the dugout. Please clean them after each game, both home and away. 13. NO STEEL SPIKES IN ANY AGE GROUP 14. Tournaments. a. All teams are automatically in the tournament unless they elect not to participate. b. All players must have played in at least half of the regular season games to play in the tournament. This rule does not apply to younger players playing up but these players must be on the original rosters. c. Tournaments begin June 27, 2016 and the tournament drawing is June 25, 2016 at 9:00pm location TBD 15. League fees are $100.00 per team plus the A.S.A sanction fee of $30. 16. Umpires. Only Columbiana County Fast Pitch Umpires Association umpires will call the games in the 2016 season. 17. Official score keeper. Home team is the score keeper 18. Wearing of Protective Face Masks (PFM) a. This rule passed and is in effect April 4, 2013 b. Rule was put in place for the safety of the players and to prevent injuries to the head, face, eyes, mouth, and teeth c. All age groups are required to wear a PFM in the infield, other players may wear them, but are not required 4
d. Manager/coach is responsible for the enforcement of this. Umpires are excluded from the enforcement of this rule e. Players not wearing a PFM must have their parent or guardian provide to the manager/coach a typed or handwritten release of liability for their daughter f. This letter will state they (parent/guardian) assume all responsibility and releases the manager/coach/league and any other team official should an accident occur to their daughter during a game and it is their decision to have their daughter play without a PFM Columbiana Mahoning County Girls Fast Pitch League Games Played by A.S.A Guidelines Instructional Tournament Play 8 and Under (8U) Additions to A.S.A rules are as follows: 1. 11 softball will be used 2. Team manager/coach pitches to the batter from the front of the pitching circle 3. Pitch no further than 8 in front of the pitcher s rubber NOTE: it helps to make lines halfway between the bases 4. All batters receive six (6) pitches in the strike zone to attempt a hit while at bat. If, after six pitched strikes the batter has not hit the ball, the batter will be declared out. The batter is not out on a sixth strike foul ball. Batting Tees will not be used. 5. Base runners may advance NO MORE than one base from her starting position for any reason when the ball is hit and remains in the infield. If a ball is hit into the outfield, it will be deemed a live ball and all base runners may advance until the ball is firmly secured by an infielder. Once the ball is firmly secured by any player playing in the infield, the play is over and base runners may not advance. 6. No infield fly rule 7. Each inning ends after three (3) outs or five (5) runs, 8 runs maximum until ball is dead 8. There will be 10 players in the field, infield, six (6) and the outfield four (4) 9. There may be up to four (4) coaches on the field two (2) to stand no closer than the edge of the grass and one standing with the catcher and one standing with the pitcher 10. Six (6) innings will be played. A roster should be exchanged before the game to help maintain the batting order 11. Mangers/coaches should meet before the start of the game at home plate to discuss any special ground rules 12. All games have a one hour, forty-five minute (1:45) time limit. You must finish the inning you are in at the 1:45 mark, but cannot start a new inning. 5
Instructional Tournament Play 10 and 12 Under (10U & 12U) 1. Played with 10 fielders; six (6) infield and four (4) outfield 2. Teams must have a minimum of 8 players to start a game (see League Rules, pg. 4). 3. No tie games. Teams will continue to play until one team is ahead at the end of a complete inning. 4. Mercy rule. 10 runs after legal game, five (5) innings 5. Each player shall play at least two (2) innings with one at bat. a. Manager/coach has the option to bat the entire order with free substitution for field play. Batting order cannot change 6. Maximum runs per inning, five (5) runs per inning continuous play, eight (8) maximum play continues until ball is dead For 10U only 1. 11 softballs will be used 2. One hour and forty-five minute (1:45) time limit 3. The ball must cross home plate before a player is allowed to leave the base on a steal 4. No steals on a walk 5. After being walked by the opposing pitcher, a batter is only allowed 1 st base and cannot steal 2 nd base 6. The catcher has a free throw for an out at 2 nd base. 7. If the catcher overthrows, the runner is on 2 nd base with the play dead at this time no advancement 8. Catcher may throw to 3 rd base as a free throw as well. If it s an overthrow, the ball is dead no advancement by the runner 9. No 3 rd strike drop 10. No stealing home player may only advance to home plate on a hit or walk. 11. Pickoff attempt on a throw from the catcher to first base creates a live ball situation and all runners may advance at their own risk. 12. Players bat through the entire lineup 13. No coach pitch For 12U Only 1. 12 Softballs will be used 2. No time limit 3. A full seven (7) inning game is to be played. In the event of a tie, the 8 th inning will be played with the international tie breaker status until the tie is broken. The game must be at the bottom of a complete inning. 4. A player that walks may immediately advance to 2 nd base without stopping 5. If she stops when the pitcher and the ball are still in the circle, she is out 6. If a play is being made, she may continue or go back at her own risk 6
2016 Schedule Columbiana Mahoning County Girls Fast Pitch League Age Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 8U X X As needed As needed 10U X X As needed As needed 12U X As needed X As needed As needed As needed 1. All weeknight games will begin at 6pm. a. Saturday games begin at 11:00am/or coach-umpire agreement 2. When a game needs to be rescheduled, follow this protocol: a. Coaches confirm a date b. Home team coach confirm field is available and can be prepared c. If not a rain out, the coach requesting change must contact Rich Oxley d. Contact Chuck Straub (umpire assigner) with at least a 48 hour notice. 3. All umpires are ASA licensed. Managers/coaches have the right to ask the umpires to see their license and background check card to make sure they are current for the 2016 season. 4. Managers/coaches are required to have the umpire sign and date their score book 5. Umpires earn $45.00 per game a. If the game is suspended, the A.S.A. Assigner will work out the details if the same umpire is scheduled to finish the game or if a different umpire is scheduled to finish the game at a prorated fee 6. Spectators are to watch the game and not disrupt the playing of the game for the players. Please remind fans the game is for the players and not the adults 7. Assigner fees are $5.00 per home game and due at the scheduling of your home games Columbiana Mahoning County Girls Fastpitch League Please remember all youth are not at the same playing level. Some may need more help to get them there so be patient and willing to work with them. Improve on the abilities that they do have and everyone can enjoy the season. Recreation softball is really not about the wins and losses in a season, but it should be about improvement and understanding the game. Like it or not, you are training them for High School softball. When your players reach that level, your coaching will speak for itself 7