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Organization The rules and regulations contained herein set out the procedures and policies governing HAC league play. All managers, assistants, coaches and players will abide by all the rules forth herein without exception. These rules are not guidelines or suggestions and are not subject to individual or exaggerated interpretation during the season. No changes can be made without the approval of the Board of Trustees. Any violations of HAC rules may result in suspension of coaching privileges and may have an impact on future considerations on future coaching positions. 1. No player will be accepted after the posted HAC sign‐ups. Anyone wishing to sign‐up after posted sign‐ ups should contact the softball commissioner to be placed on a waiting list, in the order the call was received. This waiting list will only be used to fill out a league. This can only be done with the approval of the officers, league director and commissioner. 2. The HAC provides the following groups of leagues for eligible players from 5 through 19 years of age. Any girl who reaches the age of 5 before January 1st of said year is eligible to play. Divisions Ages Shetland League (tee‐ball) 5 International League 6‐8 Player Pitch 9‐10 National League 11‐12 Little League Fastpitch 11‐12 Tri‐T Fastpitch 13‐14 American League 13‐19 years of age 3. All teams will be comprised of not more than 14 players. If expansion or contraction of any league is required in order to maintain a maximum of 14 players, the HAC expansion/contraction policy will be followed. a.) Minimum number of players assigned to a team roster will be 10. b.) If half the teams fall below 12 players, the contraction of said league will be mandated. c.) If more than half the teams go above the 14 player limit, expansion will be mandated. 4. In dual age leagues no more than half the roster should be of the older age players, unless there are enough players to accomplish this rule or a team was left with an imbalance from the prior year. 5. In multi‐age leagues the number of players from each age group on a team should be proportionate to the number of players of that age in the league. All managers will be appointed on the basis of applications submitted to the Manager Selection Committee, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. All new managers will be appointed to their team by a draw from a hat prior to the draft. 6. No one under the age of 21 can manage and no one under the age of 18 can be an assistant manager. All managers, coaches, assistants or anyone else who has access to the dugout has to have an updated background check on file with the league.
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Playing Rules If it is not outlined in these HAC rules than ASA rules will apply. 1. All leagues will need a minimum of nine (9) players to start a game. 2. All leagues will bat their full roster in continuous order. If a team only has 9 players or a player leaves for any reason during a game, that player will not be counted as an out when it is their turn to bat. But that player may not return to the playing field until the conclusion of the game. 3. If a player(s) arrive after the teams batting orders have been exchanged, the late arriving player(s) must be placed at the bottom of the batting order and may bat when it is their turn. (Exception: suspended game rules, Page 10 #4) 4. All leagues will use free substitution, but every girl must play defensively at least 3 innings or half the game in a shortened run rule game. 5. No batter can strike out on a foul ball. 6. No team will be allowed on the fields prior to 4:00 pm for pregame warm‐up. The available time will be shared equally by both teams. 7. The home team will keep the official scorebook and is responsible to report the final scores to the league director in a timely manner. 8. Home team will use the first base dugout and is responsible for getting the bases from the storage area before the game and also returning them to the storage area at the conclusion of the final game for the day. Home team will also provide the game ball and will have use of the field for the first half of pregame warm‐up. 9. Injured runner rule; in the event of an injured runner, the player who made the last out prior to the injury will be the substitute runner. 10. In order to keep the games moving in a timely manner there will no more than 2 inning huddles, per game. 11. Howland and Parochial school activity rule; if more than 3 players from the same team are not present due to a school function; the game may be rescheduled at the discretion of the Commissioner and league director. Managers must give notice to a league official no later than 5 days prior to the function. 12. All catchers must wear protective helmet, face guards and chest protector in all leagues or they will not be allowed to play. (No metal spikes are allowed in any league) 13. All girls 12 and under; no infield fly rule 14. The HAC will now require that all leagues wear batting helmets with a secured chin strap. Helmets with facemasks are recommended in all leagues. 15. No regular scheduled game can be canceled for a make‐up rain out game. The time may be rescheduled on the same day. 16. All bats used or issued by the HAC will be “Official Softball” approved bats stamped 2004 or later and have a barrel 2 ¼ “or less to be considered ASA approved. 17. Protective mouth guards are recommended for all players. 18. It is solely the umpire’s decision to allow the game to continue or be suspended due to darkness. The influence or badgering of the umpire will not be tolerated with a possible forfeiture of the game for the offending manager. This will include asst. coaches and fans conduct during and after said game. 19. Only the manager or one designate of the team is permitted to speak with an umpire, if a member of the team (other than manager/designate) disputes a call with the umpire an out can be awarded. 20. Managers are responsible for the behavior of their players and fans at all times.
Page 4 of 11 21. International League (6 to 8 Yr olds): A. No standings or records are kept for this league. All teams will the make the playoffs in a blind draw format. This league is intended to be instructional and all players should be given the opportunity to play in both the infield and outfield. B. On an overthrow to first base, the ball is dead. The batter advances one base, base runner(s) advance one base beyond base made if the ball crosses the coach’s box line C. Pitching rules; Parent pitcher will pitch to their own batters. Parent pitcher must start their delivery with one foot starting on or in contact with the pitching rubber, the delivery of the pitch must be made within 1.5 steps. 6 pitch total, 3 strikes and out, batter cannot strike out on foul ball. D. If a batted ball hits parent‐pitcher, the ball is dead. No ball or strike is counted and the batter will return to home plate to continue batting. E. If the umpire calls interference on parent pitcher, the ball is dead, the batter is out and base runner(s) return to previous base. F. No base coaching is permitted by the parent‐pitcher after the delivery of the pitch until the ball is deemed dead by the umpire G. Only adults may coach the bases. They cannot touch or interfere with any of the players or an out may be called by the umpire. H. One defensive coach is permitted in centerfield before Memorial Day, after Memorial Day no defensive coaches are permitted in the field. I. The player pitcher must wear a heart guard and either a helmet with attached faceguard or a defensive fielder’s mask; one foot must be in the circle until the pitch is released from the parent pitcher. J. Face protection is mandatory for all infielders by use of a batting helmet with an attached faceguard or a defensive fielder’s mask, aka “rip it”. K. All batters are required to wear batting helmets with a full facemask and a secured chin strap. L. Up to Eleven (11) players will play in the field. A team must have a minimum of 9 players to begin a game and at least 8 to finish the game. If there are 8 players you must play with limited outfielders. M. Umpires will advance runners according to position in relation to the hash marks. Base runners must have one foot on the ground past the hash mark to be awarded the next base. Runners before the hash marks will return to their previous base. Exception: When a defensive player has possession of the ball ahead of lead runner when time is called, the approaching runner must return to previous base regardless of position in relation with hash marks. Umpires judgment is final! N. After a play has been established on a batted ball and the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitchers circle, or if any fielder has possession of the ball in the infield, and the lead runner is stopped from advancing, the ball is dead. The umpire will call time and position the base runners according to the hash marks between the bases. Umpires judgment is final! O. Outfielders: All outfielders must start play 8 feet from the edge of the grass in the outfield, including the fifth “rover” outfielder. Start of play is deemed the point at which the ball is crossing home plate upon delivery of a pitch. P. Infielders must position themselves no closer to home plate than four feet from their respective base positions. The base path will be used to determine this for the shortstop & second
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22. 23.
24. 25. 26.
baseman. No infielder once positioned, may move towards or rush the batter until after the ball is batted. Q. The catcher must be in a helmet, chest protector & position herself, in a crouched position, between the backstop and a line four feet behind home plate until the batter hits the ball. R. Any foul ball higher than the batter's head may be caught for an out by the catcher. S. Bunting is not permitted. T. No leadoffs or stealing of bases is allowed. Base runners may not leave a base until the ball is hit. First violation per team will be a warning; any subsequent violation for that team will result in the runner being called out. U. When using 11 players, 5 outfielders a. When using 9 players, 3 outfielders must be used at all times. b. When using 8 players, 2 outfielders must be used at all times V. An 11” (47 core, 375 lb.) softball (tournament ball) will be used in the International League. W. A game will be called at any time after four complete innings if a team is winning by ten (10) or more runs (3 1/2 innings if the home team is winning by ten or more runs) X. A half inning will be over if: The defensive team records three (3) outs OR The offensive team has scored five (5) runs Unlimited run count in the sixth inning. Y. International Game time limits: Regular Season: 1hr. 30 min. Playoff games: 6 innings no time limit Player Pitch (9 to 10 Yr olds) A. Will follow local league playing rules (304 rules) National League (11 to 12 Yr olds) A. Only 7 runs can be scored per each half inning B. A minimum of 5 full innings must be played for the game to be considered complete and the game can only be cut short due to the 12 run rule, darkness or inclement weather conditions that make the game unsafe to continue. C. Game time limits: 1st half of season 1hr. 45 min. 2nd half of season 1hr. 30 min. Playoff games 7 innings no time limit Little League Fastpitch (11 to 12 Yr olds) A. Will follow local league playing rules Tri‐T Fastpitch (13 to 14 Yr olds) A. Will follow local league playing rules American League (13 to 19 Yr olds) A. A minimum of 5 full innings must be played for the game to be considered complete and the game can only be cut short due to the 12 run rule, darkness or inclement weather conditions that make the game unsafe to continue. B. Game time limits: 1st half of season 1hr. 45 min. 2nd half of season 1hr. 30 min. Playoff games 7 innings no time limit
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Committees 1. The HAC policy Committee consists of the President, Commissioner and the 2nd Vice President. 2. The Manager Selection Committee consists of the President, Commissioner and the League Director. 3. The Tournament Manager Selection Committee consists of the President, Commissioner, and the League Director.
League Directors’ Responsibilities 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
All League Directors will conduct a mandatory meeting to distribute and explain all the rules to all team mangers prior to tryouts. The League Director will enforce all the rules and regulations applicable to his/her league, as adopted by the HAC, to make certain that the fields are in proper condition and the umpires are present. The League Director and Softball Commissioner shall notify the managers of cancellations, as soon as determination is made. The League Director and Softball Commissioner will reschedule rainouts in conjunction with the umpiring schedule. League Directors will assign teams with a pre‐game practice schedule. The League Director shall not adopt any rule contrary to these rules and regulations. All League Directors will be responsible for assuring that all managers abide by the HAC policy pertaining to purchasing of team snacks.
Managers The HAC acknowledges and thanks the managers for their participation in the organization. Without their help and continued cooperation the club could not function and would dissolve. The responsibility of the manager goes beyond the playing field, fundraisers, umpiring, the general well being of the players and abiding by the club rules and regulations. It is the responsibility of the manager and their assistants to reflect the proper image in the community during the involvement with the HAC program. Neither the community, nor the HAC, can or will tolerate any person entrusted with the responsibility of our children, of anything but impeccable behavior on and off the field.
Managers’ Responsibilities Managers, assistants and coaches are responsible for the knowing and abiding by all the rules and regulations covered in this handbook. Failure to abide by these rules could result in a managers’ suspension. Violations of the policy will be addressed by the Manager Selection Committee. 1. All managers will be appointed on the basis of applications submitted to the Manager Selection Committee. (League Director, Commissioner and President) The proposed list must be voted on by the body of Trustees at a regularly scheduled HAC trustee meeting. A list of alternate candidates must be available at this meeting for each league. 2. Assistant Managers, unless returning from the previous year, will be appointed by the Managers after the Draft and approved by the Trustees. 3. It is the responsibility of the team manager to explain the HAC rules and regulations to the parents or guardians of his/her players.
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5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16.
It is HAC policy that team snacks, at the end of games, will be purchased at the concession stand. All managers are required to enforce this policy and to explain this policy to all players’ parents and guardians. Documents pertaining time for each player should be maintained throughout the season. Managers failing to abide by the minimum playing time requirement for players will be subject to possible suspension. The manager is responsible for having his/her team clean up the dugout and surrounding area after each game. It is HAC policy for any manager to not abandon a player or players whose parent or guardian have not picked them up after practice, games or any team function. All teams are expected to participate in opening day activities. Managers, players or parents are not to prepare fields with any materials to get games in, without the expressed permission of the Field Director or HAC Officer. Managers are responsible for all equipment issued (this includes all equipment: bats, balls, catchers equipment, heart guards and shorts) to their teams and expected to return said items promptly at the conclusion of the normal season. Managers failing to return equipment as schedule may have their names removed from consideration for future teams. Managers are responsible for their teams’ cooperation in any fund raising event. All managers are required to participate in the HAC softball tournament (Example: umpiring, coaching, field maintenance, parking, score keeping, etc) Managers, who feel they should discipline players by not playing them, should do so, only with approval of the League Director and Softball Commissioner. All managers are required to have in their possession, an Emergency Medical Form, for each player at all practices and games. All uniforms must be issued to the players. No uniform will be issued to no‐pays, except for hardships. Hardships are determined by the Commissioner and the HAC Executive Committee members. Managers are required to turn in any proceeds from fundraisers by the date specified by the fundraising committee. Failure to turn in the proceeds or the names of non‐paying participants by the specified date could result in suspension of coaching privileges.
Draft Procedure 1. In the event a new league is formed, all teams in the league will redraft as a new team. 2. For the 13‐17 year old league, the decision to draft, redraft and the number of players to be selected from each age group will be determined by the commissioner in conjunction with the HAC policy committee. 3. Eligibility: A. All new players entering the program for their first year. B. All players advancing to a new league. 4. Draft Loss: A. Managers’ child, if new to a team, is charged as a third round choice. B. Sister of players already on a team will be charged as a fourth round choice of the regular draft. (Exception: known all‐stars will be placed according to managers’ agreement prior to the draft by majority vote of the managers.)
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When sisters are both eligible in the draft, the second sister will be taken in the third round , after the round the first sister was picked.(Example:3rd round‐‐‐than 6th round) D. If there is a conflict in a round where a child can be drafted in a position which has already been assigned, that pick is moved up one round not down. E. When a new manager is chosen to manage a team and his/her daughter was drafted in the previous year on another team, the manager losing the player will be compensated with the same round that the player was picked in the previous year. Manager gets the draft picks that the new manager loses. 5. Draft: A. During the draft, teams will be drafted by one of the following, according to availability: 1. Team Manager 2. Parent 3. HAC Officer A. Prior to the draft, all teams will choose their respective positions for the draft. The last place team(according to last year’s standings) selecting the first, then next to last team, etc., until all teams have their draft position established. B. The draft will begin with the manager in the first drafting position drafting first, then the manager in second position, etc. C. At the end of each round, the following round will be reverse order. D. In multi‐age leagues, the first three rounds of the draft will include only the oldest age players. E. Drafting order for new leagues will be determined by a draw of the hat at the draft or tryouts if all coaches are present. F. All players picked in the catch‐up round must be from the older players, until all older players have been exhausted. The draft will then resume and continue from where the snaking rotation left off( see diagram), until each manager has filled his/her roster with the prescribed number of layers from each age group, through the last round of the draft. G. If there is an excess of older players and all teams are caught up in the catch‐up rounds before the older players have been exhausted, all teams may than select from any age group at the point where the draft continues. H. The last round will be drawn from a hat. If there are not enough players for all teams in the final round, numbered entries will be placed in a hat for the number of players the round is short. The numbered entries will be kept for placement of late entries from fast pitch or late sign‐ups. I. Any player, who does not attend tryouts, will be placed in a hat. Any team may pick from the hat in any round. If the player is a known all‐star, she will be placed in the draft. J. There will be no trading of players after the draft is complete. Hardships must be known prior to the draft. When a hardship occurs, the round of the draft to be used will be determined by a consensus of the managers resent.
Page 9 of 11 Draft Example Shows the snake order, catch‐up round and the finish of the draft; Team 1 Team 2 Team3 Team 4 Team 5 Team 6 =returning players X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X First three rounds 1 2 3 4 5 6 Of the regular draft 12 11 10 9 8 7 Younger age only 13 14 15 16 17 18 Catch‐up round ‐‐ 19 ‐‐ ‐‐ ‐‐ ‐‐ Older age group ‐‐ 21 ‐‐ 20 ‐‐ ‐‐ 22 23 ‐‐ 24 25 ‐‐ 30 29 ‐‐ 28 27 26 Regular draft continues 36 35 34 33 32 31 37 38 39 40 41 42 Draw from hat 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
In this example, if less than 6 players remain for the final round (draw from hat); one or more numbered entries go into the hat to fill out the last round and hold places for any add‐ons from fast pitch or late sign‐ups.
Schedules 1.
2.
3.
4.
All regular schedules for teams will be made by HAC. There will be no changing of the schedule except by the softball committee. Exceptions will be made only for school and parochial school events where the roster size will be affected. Other events that are non‐school related will not be considered for changes. Regular season will be no less than 14 games. International League will play a tournament at the conclusion of regular season using blind draw seeding. Format of said tournament will be decided by softball committee based on number of teams and scheduling circumstances. American and National League Regular Season; A. First half consists of regular season games. The champion will be determined by won/loss record. In case of a tie for first place, a one game playoff will be scheduled to determine the winner. B. Second half will follow first half rules. C. League championships a three game playoff between the champions of each half. If the same team wins both halves, it is the league champ. A one game playoff will be determined the runner‐up, if the first half and second half runners‐up are different. Game times: Weekdays: Between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00p.m. Saturdays: Beginning at 9:00 a.m. Sundays: No games played unless approved by HAC officers
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*** Games will be forfeit after 10 minute grace period*** (For First Game Only) Practice Schedules: A. During the school year, except Easter break, only two team events are permitted Monday through Thursday, and no more than four team events per week. Sunday practice, which is discouraged by the HAC, cannot be mandatory and cannot be held before 1:00 p.m. No games are permitted on Sundays, except opening day and tentative make‐up games. No regular season games or practice will start on Sunday before 1:00 p.m. B. All practice on Mines field will consist of hardball teams having priority on their fields and softball teams having priority on softball fields. Each league will have priority on their home field. C. At no time will a team practice longer than 2 hours on any given day. D. No practice permitted on the Middle School football field.
Game Cancelations and Suspended Play 1.
2. 3.
4.
Cancelation prior to start of game, due to inclement weather or field conditions will be decided by the Commissioner and League Directors in conjunction with the HAC President or senior officer present. They, in conjunction with the field director, will make the decision whether to play or not. When justified, this will be done on an individual, per field basis. After a game starts only the umpire, League Director, Commissioner or an HAC officer can suspend a game. Suspended games will be rescheduled for completion. If at all possible they will be rescheduled immediately prior to the next game between the two teams. An appeal can be made to HAC officers for cancellation of a game that has no bearing on league championship or standings. Managers involved with suspended games will assure that all relevant details provided to the League Director and each other, so that play may be resumed at the exact point of suspension. When continuing suspended games, any player not on the original batting order must be placed at the bottom of the original batting order. If the last batter, before suspension of the game was the last batter in the team’s original order, any new player(s) who participate(s) in the continued portion of the game will bat last after the next full batting cycle has been completed.
League Expansion and Contraction 1.
Prior to the draft each league Director will evaluate the number of players in the league. If expansion of the league is required to maintain a maximum of 14 players on each team, than league must be redrafted. A. Redraft Procedure 1. The order in which teams draft will be determined from a draw of a hat. 2. Whenever a league redrafts, each age group will be drafted separately, with the oldest age group being drafted first. 3. The order of the draft will be reversed for the younger for the younger age group. Example: Team drafting first in the older age group will draft last in the younger age group. 4. If the younger and older sisters of a manager are in the redraft, each will be considered a third round draft pick in their respective age group, unless both girls are known all‐stars, than the older sibling will be a second round pick and the other will be a third round. 5. All other draft rules apply. 6. All age groups must try‐out.
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League contraction policy: A. When a league contracts by two or more teams, that league will redraft. B. If contracting by one team those players will be placed in the regular draft. C. The HAC policy Committee will decide which team will be contracted: weighing the following conditions. 1. A team that has won less than 15% of its regularly scheduled games from the previous year. 2. A team has no current manager. 3. A team is deemed to be the most non‐competitive team by the League Director, Commissioner and HAC Officers.