NEYSA METRO-LEAGUE SOFTBALL: Rules
NEYSA METRO DIVISION BY-LAWS AND CONSTITUTION 2009
METRO DIVISION
Girls 18 & Under
Fast Pitch Softball
BY-LAWS & CONSTITUTION: Metro Division adopted, 1990 - revised, 2009
The following is a list of rules and regulations to be followed by the teams of the Metro Softball Division.
1. Rules & Objectives:
a) ASA softball rules and regulations (most current version) shall be in effect except as stated in these by-laws.
b) The age bracket for this Metro Division is 18 & Under.
c) The purpose of this Metro Division is to provide an opportunity for young ladies to improve their softball skills through organized competition with their peers, as well as teach citizenship and good sportsmanship.
2. Rosters:
a) The Metro Division utilizes an open roster format. Players can be added to a roster at any point during the current season. Can play for only one (1) metro division team during each season. A player must play in at least three (3) regular season games and play at least 2 innings in each game to be eligible for the tournament.
b) All pre-existing Metro Division teams have until April 10th (Or Date of First Meeting of the Season) to roster a team in the Metro Division. Each team shall submit an official Metro Division roster (with players' signatures) to the Metro Division prior to the start of the season. All changes shall be given to the Metro Division coordinator within twenty-four (24) hours of participation in a game or practice. Any player not listed on a roster shall not be eligible for insurance coverage or playoffs.
c) All teams shall provide an updated copy of their roster, with full names and uniform numbers, to their opponents prior to the start of each game.
3. Schedule:
a) The Metro Division shall operate on an approved schedule for a period of approximately seven (7) weeks beginning in June on Father's Day or as decided by the NEYSA board of directors.
b) The schedule shall be based on double-headers on Sundays and single games on Tuesdays.
c) Sunday double-headers shall be scheduled to start at 4:00pm and no new inning shall begin after 1 Hour 50 Minutes Playing Time. The second game shall be scheduled to start at 6:00pm or fifteen (15) minutes after the conclusion of the first game (whichever is later) and no new inning shall begin after 1 Hour and 50 Minutes Playing Time. The Host team shall be the Home team for the first game and then become the Visitors for the second game.
'PLAYING TIME WILL BE BASED ON THE OFFICIAL TIME WHICH THE UMPIRE OR UMPIRES STATE WAS THE START TIME FOR THE GAMES'
d) Tuesday games shall be scheduled to start at 6:00pm and no new inning shall begin after 1 Hour and 50 Minutes of Playing Time.
'PLAYING TIME WILL BE BASED ON THE OFFICIAL TIME WHICH THE UMPIRE OR UMPIRES STATE WAS THE START TIME FOR THE GAMES'
e) Any game having a different scheduled starting time than that listed above shall be subject to the "no new inning after 1 Hour and 50 Minutes of Playing Time." curfew.
f) The schedule shall be followed as written. NO POSTPONEMENTS or RESCHEDULING of GAMES SHALL BE PERMITTED (except for the following). The Metro Division coordinator and the proper authorities of each playing field shall retain the power to cancel field usage due to poor weather and/or field conditions. The game official(s)shall be empowered with final decision on any/all questions of time, weather and field conditions.
g) All other make-up games shall be rescheduled by the host team for the earliest possible date. The host team shall provide at least two(2) possible make-up dates (prior to the end of the regular season) and notify the visiting team within four(4) days of the originally scheduled game date. The visiting team shall, within three(3) days of notification, agree on a make-up date and reschedule the game(s). The Metro Division coordinator shall also be notified of the rescheduled date and time to reassign officials.
h) Any team unable or unwilling to play any scheduled or make-up game shall forfeit.
i) Any team that forfeits three(3) game-dates during the season shall be suspended from Metro Division play for the remainder of the season.
j) The Metro Division shall be divided into as many divisions needed to be conducive to an acceptable schedule.
k) Divisional standings shall be determined on a point system: Two(2) points for a win, one(1) point for a tie and zero(0) points for a loss, forfeit or unplayed game.
4. Games:
a) There shall be a fifteen(15) minute grace period allowed to a shorthanded team before the game is declared a forfeit. If the first game of a double-header is forfeited there shall be an additional fifteen(15) minute grace period allowed before the second game is declared a forfeit.(In this case the second game will have to start within the grace period after the first games grace period. The 6:00 PM start would no longer be valid in this case) Any game that starts late because of a grace period shall be subject to the preset curfew times. If the first game of a double-header is forfeited but the second game is played, Rule 3e shall apply.
b) A 15-Run After 3 Innings, 12-run after 4 Innings or 8-Run After 5 Innings "mercy rule" shall be in effect. (1/2 inning sooner on these if the home teams are ahead.)
c) A game shall go at least five(5) innings (4 1/2 if Home Team is ahead)to be official unless the mercy rule has been met or deemed otherwise by the game official(s) or Metro Division coordinator.
d) The International Tie-Breaker Rule shall be used for all Metro Division games that are tied after 7 innings (time permitting).
e) Both teams shall call or email the Metro Division coordinator with the results of each game within three(3) hours of the completion of the game(s).
5. Teams / Equipment:
a) Each team shall have a field available to play its scheduled Metro Division games on.
* note - Use of Double-First Base is optional
b) Each team shall provide its own equipment: bats, helmets, catcher's equipment, etc.
* note - Use of chin straps and facemasks on helmets is required.
c) Each team member is required to wear a clearly visible numbered shirt. No duplicate numbers on the same team allowed during a game.
d) Only Metro Division-approved balls shall be used during Metro Division play. These balls shall be the appropriate brand name, optic-yellow leather covered, red-stitched, raised-seam, .47 core, 375 lb. compression and ASA stamped.
e) Each home team shall supply at least one(1) new, Metro Division-approved game ball and the visitors shall provide at least one(1) New Metro Division-approved back-up ball in suitable condition for each game.
6. Fees / Umpires:
a) A Metro Division fee of $450.00 shall be collected from each team. This fee includes ASA registration, insurance, 1 game ball for all regular games, awards and operating costs for the tournament. An additional Forfeit Fee of $100.00 will be paid by each team.(This fee will be refunded at the tournament as long as no forfeits and the team will also be playing in the tournament.)
b) A team that forfeits any game(s) shall be responsible to pay a $20.00 per game forfeiture fee plus all umpire fees incurred for the game(s)($80-2 Umpire $60-1 Umpire) to the Metro Division (unless the umpire(s) is/are paid by the forfeiting team at the field) and the Metro Division will reimburse the umpire(s). If a known forfeit has been called in to the coordinator and opposing team in time to stop all parties including officials from having to go to the game, no forfeit fee or umpire fee will be required.
c) The Metro Division coordinator shall coordinate all umpires through the local ASA boards of officials.
d) Umpire fees shall be split equally between both teams playing. The official(s) shall be paid in full prior to the start of the game(s).
e) The Umpire Fee Schedule shall be determined annually. The 2009 fee schedule is:
- $40 per official / per game (2 - umpire system)
- $60 per official / per game (1 - umpire system)
7. Protest Policy:
a) Protest of a game shall be made in accordance with ASA regulations. Game officials and opposing team shall be notified of intent to protest at time of occurrence.
b) The Metro Division coordinator shall be notified verbally of the intent to protest within 24 hours of the game.
c) The written protest and a $20 protest fee shall be presented to the Metro Division coordinator within seven(7) days of the game. The protest fee shall be returned to the protesting team if the protest is upheld. The protest fee shall be retained by the Metro Division if the protest is not upheld.
d) The protest will be turned over to the protest committee who will meet with all concerned parties and make a decision.
8. Code of Conduct:
a) In the event of an injury, the coach shall be notified upon occurrence and the Metro Division shall be notified within fourteen(14) days.
b) In the event of an ejection (player or coach) from a Metro Division game, the point of the incident must be recorded in both score books. Both teams shall notify the Metro Division coordinator of the ejection and he/she will determine if a written account of the matter should be submitted to the Metro Division. The Metro Divsion coordinator has the right to call a Metro Division meeting to determine if disciplinary action is necessary. Disciplinary action may vary from a warning to being expelled from the Metro Division. Ejections do not carry a one game suspension or any other "automatic" penalty.
c) Sideline chanting shall be restricted to cheering for one's own team. Chanting to antagonize or taunt the opposing team or player will not be tolerated and can result in player/coach ejection and forfeiture of the game. The game official(s) shall be empowered to enforce this "Taunting Rule".
9. Metro Division Constitution:
a) The NEYSA Metro Softball Division shall be run by the NEYSA Board of Directors.
b) The NEYSA President or Co-ordinator shall call and preside over all Metro Division meetings. He / She shall be empowered to cast all tie-breaking votes of the Board of Directors. Shall also perform all duties normal to that of the proper running of such an organization.
c) Any changes in these by-laws shall be made by a simple majority vote of a quorum of Board of Directors at a scheduled Metro Division By-Law Meeting.
d) Teams seeking admission into the Metro Division (this includes teams which did not play in the prior season) shall be required to do the following:
1) Obtain the approval of any existing team in the same town(s).
2) Present a roster of at least fifteen(15) players who are eligible to play on this team (not already on another Metro Division roster).
3) Verify the use of suitable field conditions on scheduled game days.
4) Submit in writing to the Metro Division Coordinator the request to be heard at the next Metro Division meeting. This written notice must be received at least two(2) weeks prior to the meeting date.
5) After hearing the request for team admission, the Board of Directors shall discuss and vote on the request. This discussion and vote shall take place after all requests are made and their representatives have left the meeting place.
6) A 2/3rds majority vote is required for new teams to be accepted into this Metro Division.
