Sport Information Guide 1. Competition Dates Softball competition for Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 (APMG2018) Open divisions, for Men and Women in Fast Pitch. The Softball competition schedule is as follows: 7/9 Fri 8/9 Sat 9/9 Sun 10/9 Mon 11/9 Tue 12/9 Wed 13/9 Thu 14/9 Fri 0800 1300 Registration Official Practice Final 1400 1900 Registration Official Practice Final The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for the evening of Saturday 8 September2018 with the Closing Ceremony on the evening of Saturday 15 September2018. All dates and times are subject to change, pending final entries received. A detailed schedule by event for each discipline will be developed throughout 2017 and early 2018. 2. Competition Format The events, divisions and age categories for Softball at APMG2018 are as follows: Event Division Age Categories Open Men s 35+,45+,55+ Open Women s 35+,45+,55+ For each team to be confirmed, a minimum of 12 players need to be registered, with a maximum of 20 players per team. However, only a maximum of 17 players are permitted to be named on the team card for each game. The age of the youngest registered team member determines which age category the team will compete in and for the Games, and the age is determined as at 31 December 2018. Each athlete can only enter to compete in 1 team. Teams must have a minimum of 12 players registered to secure the team s spot in the competition.
3. Venue Details APMG2018 Softball competition takes place at the following competition venue: Venue Name University Science Malaysia Competition Hosted Men s 35+, 45+, 55+ Venue Address 11800 Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia Venue Name Penang Free School Competition Hosted Women s 35+, 45+, 55+ Venue Address Jalan Masjid Negeri, Jelutong, 11600, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia 4. Competition Details 4.1. Competition standards and rules The APMG2018 Softball event will be conducted in line with the competition rules of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (Softball Division) 2017, or as otherwise specified in this document, with some minor adaptations. These adaptations will be distributed to all teams prior to competition. 4.2. Hours of Competition The competition will start at 0800hrs and continue to approximately 1830hrs each day. 4.3. Open Competition The APMG2018 Softball event will be run as a single open competition for each gender, without any grade definition. 4.4. Format for play Each game will consist of 7 innings or 1 hour 30mins in duration. If an inning is in progress at the end of 90 minutes, that inning will be completed. An inning will not be started with 5 minutes or less of game time remaining. Where there are insufficient entries in an age category, the categories may be combined in order to conduct a viable competition. The awarding of medals will not be affected, that is, teams will still be awarded medals in the age category in which they originally entered. 2
Each team will play a minimum of 7 games, where at last 8 entries have been received in the division. If there are more than 8 teams entered in a category teams will be divided into different groups of not more than 8 per group, depending on the number of entries. Each team will play a round robin format, before qualifying to the knockout format. In the event games are postponed or cancelled, the APMG2018 Softball Organising Committee may be required to modify the competition format to ensure the competition can be completed. For example, the length of games may be shortened, number of total games reduced or number of innings modified. 4.5. Umpires and scorers Each Team is required to register a qualified umpire (at least National-level certification) as a Non-Playing Official in the registration system. Umpires will need to provide their own blue uniform. All umpires will have a minimum of 2 games per day, and where possible, the organisers will aim to coordinate this around their accompanying team s timetable. The umpire s role, either base or home plate umpire, will alter throughout the event. Please note that the Technical Delegate shall select and assign the umpires to officiate the medal rounds, semi-finals and finals games (therefore not all umpires may umpire games in this final phase). Each team is responsible for keeping an official score sheet and will be required to submit the score sheet to the umpire at the completion of every game. The APMG2018 Organisers will provide sufficient umpires and scorers for the competition. 4.6. Technical delegate The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has endorsed the appointment of SEE KOK WOOI (Malaysia) to act in the role of Technical Delegate for the APMG2018 Softball competition. The Technical Delegate will oversee the implementation of all sport specific rules and requirements at the Games. 3
4.7. Softball Technical Meeting One representative from each team is required to attend the Softball Technical Meeting prior to the commencement of the event. Further information will be confirmed closer to the start of the competition. 4.8. Registration and Medals Where there are insufficient entries in an age category, the categories may be combined in order to conduct a viable competition. The awarding of medals will not be affected, that is, individual/teams will still be awarded medals in the age category in which they originally entered. The medals presentation ceremony will be held on the same day after the completion of an event. Each participant in APMG2018 can register up to a maximum of 3 events. 5. Equipment The APMG2018 Softball Organising Committee will provide bases and WBSC approved game balls for competition. All other equipment (gloves, bats, catcher s equipment, practice balls etc.) must be supplied by the participating team and must conform to the WBSC standards. Softball bats must be WBSC approved bats and are subject to bat checks. Batters and runners are to wear two-eared helmets at all times whilst on the field. Metal cleats will not be allowed at any venue. Teams are advised to bring their own balls for training and are advised to bring their own water bottles and strapping tape. Individuals are responsible for the safekeeping and storage of their own equipment 6. Uniforms 6.1. Team Uniform Each team must wear the same uniform with individual numbers on the shirts. Coaches must wear the team uniform shirt. Hats or visors must be worn and be of the same colour as the uniform. 4
6.2. Uniform Clashes Where there is a clash of uniform of colours or otherwise, the designated visiting team (as indicated on the draw) will be responsible to change their uniform tops in to an alternative strip, or wear a coloured bib (provided by the APMG2018 Softball Organising Committee) in order to distinguish one team from the other. The home plate umpire and the Technical Delegate will render the final and binding decision. 7. Accommodation The APMG 2018 organisers recommend the following selected hotels for softball participants based on location and accessibility to the competition venue: - Olive Tree Hotel - Vistana Penang - Eastin Hotel Penang However, participants are free to select own accommodation according to own preference. To assist participants, an accommodation booking section offering special room rates for the Games is made available on the official website www.apmg2018.com 8. Further Information Planning for the APMG2018 Softball competition will continue throughout 2017 and early 2018. Additional sport-specific operational information will be communicated to registered participants and updated in future additions of this Sports Information Guide. All participants are encouraged to monitor the APMG2018 website at www.apmg2018.com and other Games communication channels to find out all of the latest information. If you have any further sport specific questions, please send an email to softball@apmg2018.com. 5