Centennial Fastpitch: ByLaws and Rules CENTENNIAL GIRLS FASTPITCH SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS AND PLAYING RULES All business pertaining to the Association known as the Centennial Girls' Fastpitch Softball Association will be governed by a Board of Directors as follows: 1. President 2. Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer 5. Equipment Manager 6. EquipmenUUniforms 7. Umpire-in-Chief 8. Fundraising and Concessions 9. Traveling Representative 10. Groundskeeper All decisions concerning Centennial Fastpitch Softball will be voted on by all members in attendance at meetings (simple majority prevails). Centennial Girls' Fastpitch is affiliated with the Minnesota Sports Federation (ASA-MSF) and the Tri-County Softball League. MISSION STATEMENT The Centennial Girls' Fastpitch Softball Association's purpose is to create a league to improve the ability of the softball within the community. We wish to increase the competitiveness of the individuals and of the teams. We hope to support the school's athletics, promote the player's future athletics and to assist in building an increased level sportsmanship, responsibility, discipline and selfesteem within our young adults. We hope our league will also assist in the development of future leaders. GENERAL RULES 1. Players must be 18 years of age or younger on January 1 of the current playing year.
2. Due to insurance coverage, coaches, scorekeeper, batboy/batgirls and players are the only ones allowed in the team dugout or bench during the game. 3. Any league participant who is physically or verbally abusive will be warned and subject to suspension for the remainder of the season. 4. League participants under the influence of drugs or alcohol are not allowed at games or practices. Violators will be required to leave the area immediately and are subject to suspension from the league for the remainder of the season. 5. To ensure good sportsmanship, all players and coaches will shake hands with opposing players and coaches after games. 6. Foul language will not be tolerated about the playing field by coaches, umpires, players or spectators. 7. BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS: a. Unsportsmanlike conduct by any player or coach will not be tolerated. First offense: verbal warning Second offense regardless if same player or coach will mean ejection from the game. b. The umpire has the right to call a game due to deliberate misconduct by anyone involved with the game. The umpire must give one warning before calling the game. 8. No smoking is allowed on the playing field, bench or dugout area at any time. Us of any form of tobacco on school property is PROHIBITED. 9. Coaches may not hold the President and Traveling Representative positions on the board. 10. Grievance or complaint: Any player, coach or parent objecting to a procedure during a practice or game must file a written complaint to the Player Representative within 48 hours after the grievance. PLAYER GUIDELINES
1. Absences: a. Players will notify the coach prior to any absence from a game or practice. b. Players will notify the coach at least one week prior to leaving when going on vacation. c. The player is subject to the coach's disciplinary action for unexcused absences. 2. Tennis shoes or rubber spikes are allowed, but not metal spikes. 3. Players warming-up a pitcher must wear catchers' masks. 4. Players must wear safety equipment at games and practices as follows: Catcher's mask, chest protectors batthing helmets when running, hitting, on deck or base coaching. 5. Long pants or shorts with sliding pads are mandatory at all practices and games. COACH GUIDELINES 1. Head Coaches/Assistant Coaches must be 18 years of age or older. 2. The coach is responsible to see that equipment is not abused. During games, umpires will issue a warning to both player and coach if a player is observed abusing equipment, e.g. throwing a bat, helmet, or ball in frustration. If another violation by the same player occurs following the warning, that player shall be ejected by the umpire from the game. 3. Coaches are responsible to maintain orderly behavior by the players. 4. The head coach is the only member of the team to discuss rules, calls, etc., with the umpire. 5. Ground rules will be explained to coaches by the umpire before each game.
_- 6. Two practices per week, minimum (unless team plays 3 games in a week). Practices are approximately 1-1/2 hours in length. 7. Coaches will be responsible to collect the uniforms and equipment following the last game of the season. 8. Home team coaches will call the Vice President for availability of fields for all make-up games. Make-up games must be scheduled within 5 days of cancellation. Make-up games must be played within 14 days of canceled game, unless scheduled otherwise by the Vice President due to lack of field space. 9. The Vice President will call the Umpire-in-Chief for umpires for all makeup games. 10. Coaches must hold a meeting, including players and parents, prior to any out of town tournaments, to clarify acceptable standards of behavior. Overnight accomodations will be closely chaperoned by an adult on all out of town trips. 11. Prior to the beginning of the season, coaches will determine and advise players of disciplinary action for unexcused absences for games and practices. Before the start of any game, the coach must notify the umpire and opposing team manager of disciplined players. TRAVELING LEAGUE RULES The traveling teams will play under ASA-MSF and Tri-County Softball League rules.
11. Centennial Girls' Fastpitch Traveling Team Selection A. Number of Teams: Traveling teams represent the Centennial Girls' Fastpitch Softball Association (CGFSA) in competition with other communities. The CGFSA will establish as many competitive teams as possible in each age category dependent upon the number of tryout applicants, pitching talent available, and coach volunteers. These teams may opt to participate at different levels of Traveling Team competition (Tier I, Tier II and Tier III). B. Player Age Criteria: Candidates for participation must meet the ASA rules regarding age for whatever team they are trying out for. C. Playing Up: The CGFSA strongly recommends that each player participate on a team within the age grouping that is specified by her playing age. However, the association recognizes that there may be circumstances in which it is in the best interests of a player or the association for a player to participate at a higher age group. 1. A player may try out for and play at a level above her specified playing age if the following conditions are met: a. The player must try out with and be compared to the pool of players trying out at the higher age group. b. To be selected as a position player for a team at the higher age group, the individual must have a tryout score that places her in the top half of the position players that are being considered for a particular team. c. To be selected as a pitcher for a team at a higher age group, the individual must have one of the top two tryout scores from amongst the pitchers being considered for a particular team. d. To be selected as a catcher for a team at a higher age group, the individual must have the top tryout score from amongst the catchers being considered for a particular team. e. The board will review all requests to play up and all team selections, and may deny a request to play up, if it is in the best interests of the association and the affected age groups to do so. 2. The CGFSA board reserves the right to request a player to move up to a higher age group ifit is in the best interests of the association to do so. D. Player and Team Selection 1. Traveling teams shall be determined by a number offactors including: a. Desire to keep teams and/or like ages together b. - Try-out results (strong consideration given to top 8 scores and top 2 pitchers and catchers) c. Playing experience d. Player evaluations from prior CGfSA participation (if available)
12. e. Commitment and desire to improve (offseason effort) f. Needs at skill positions g. Positive attitude of player 2. In selection of a team, care shall be taken to enhance the continued development of skill position players. (For example, if a team already has two strong pitchers, a third pitcher would be encouraged to play with another team, even if they could make the team at another position). 3. Head coaches will be selected by the CGFSA Board prior to tryouts. Daughters of a selected head coach will automatically make the team coached by her parent if requested. This does not apply to assistant coaches. 4. The head coach for each team will make the final team selection based on the criteria listed above. The "A" team coach for each age group will select players first with the "B" team coach selecting second, etc. It is highly recommended that the coaches for each age category meet to discuss team makeup prior to any announcement of team rosters. The intent of this meeting should be to discuss appropriate placement of skill position players for overall program development. 5. Team size will be limited by the constraints of ASA rules and regulations. It is recommended that traveling team size range from 11-13 players. The CGFSA Board may require a team to carry a specific number of players, if it is in the best interests of the Association to do so. 6. The CGFSA Board must approve the player selections made by the coaches, prior to team announcement. This is done to ensure that the selection criteria have been followed. A simple majority vote of the CGFSA Board is required for approval of each team roster. 7. A coach not willing to cooperate with the team selection process may be required to step aside from the volunteer coaching assignment. A simple majority vote of the CGFSA Board is sufficient to remove a coach for non-cooperation.