USSSA FAST PITCH SOFTBALL

PROGRAM NATIONAL BY-LAWS

 

 

 

          ARTICLE 1. NAME AND OBJECTIVE

Sec.1. Name. The program shall be known as USSSA Fast Pitch Softball.

Sec.2. Object. The object of USSSA Fast Pitch Softball is to organize and promote youth and adult fast pitch to perpetuate the interest and love of the game. To organize and provide an opportunity for teams to compete in tournament competition that leads to state and world championships in their respective competitive classes in there age groups.

 

            ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

Sec.1.Team membership. Team membership 18&over, 18/16/15/14/13/12/11/10/9/8/7/6 & under class “A”, “B” and “C” team’s fees shall be set annually by the USSSA Fast Pitch National Committee.

Sec.2. The fast pitch season and team registration will run from August 1 until July 31. Tournaments and leagues played after August 1, (excluding current year’s World Series) will qualify teams for the following season’s State and World Series Tournaments. All teams playing between August 1 and December 31, (excluding current year’s World Series) must play by the following year’s eligibility classifications.

Sec. 3. Umpire Membership. Will be set annually by the Board of Directors

Sec. 4. League participation. All USSSA Fast Pitch sanctioned leagues will qualify teams for state and / or World Series tournament play.

Sec. 5. Tournament participation. All USSSA Fast Pitch tournaments held prior to championship events will qualify teams for state and / or World Series tournament play.

Sec.6. Division of play. USSSA will offer two divisions for National and World Series play, which shall be A and B. Each state will adopt an acceptable method to classify teams. The main criteria for classifying teams shall be the overall defensive and offensive strength and overall experience of the team.

 

ARTICLE III. TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Sec.1. No team shall be allowed to compete in USSSA sanctioned leagues or tournaments without paying their National Team registration fees to the association.

Sec.2. A team must be composed of not more than twenty eligible players. Coaches or managers must be included in the twenty in order to be eligible to play.

Sec.3. The cut-off date for adding players to the roster shall be in accordance with the rules set forth in this handbook.

Sec.4. A team winning a tournament and advancing to a higher tournament may be allowed expense money in accordance with advance rules governing the tournament, which rules shall be promulgated by the National Headquarters of the association and are consistent with the constitution of the USSSA. Such expense monies shall be presented to the team and not the individual players and must be used by the team to offset team expenses. The same rule shall apply to any such rule governing league winners advancing to tournaments

 Sec.5. A. A Tournament Director shall not accept an out-of -state team without a team registration number, unless:

            1. They contact the team’s State Director to establish proper team classification or advise the team to register online.

            2. They collect the proper team registration fee if the team cannot show proof of prior registration.

            3. They issue the team a team registration number.

            4. They submit the proper paper work and fees to the National Headquarters with copies sent to the team’s State Director. Tournament Directors in violation of this rule shall be subject to sanction by the Association and the Tournament, which violated this rule, may not be considered sanctioned by the Association and the awarding of any advancement berth may not be honored.

Sec.6. A State Director has the authority to re-classify any team during the current season except when a team has been reclassified by the USSSA Fast Pitch National Committee.

 

ARTICLE IV. INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

 

Sec.1. A player is eligible to compete in the USSSA Fast Pitch program as long as they abide by the Fast Pitch by-laws, and playing rules, when listed as a member of an eligible team.

Sec.2. A player shall not compete in any sanctioned tournament of the association with more than one team during the same tournament.

Sec.3. A tournament director may not manage, coach, participate as a player, or umpire in any tournament in which they serve as Tournament Director

Sec.4. When a team qualifies for a state or World Series Tournament the team roster will be frozen, whether a team accepts the berth or not.

            A. The team roster becomes frozen immediately at the qualifying event. Players will be bound to this qualified team up to and including the teams respective World Tournament. A team may decline a World Series Tournament berth that is passed down. The team manager shall be allowed to add three players to a qualified team’s roster as late as 72 hours prior to the start of the tournament. Such additional players can only be added to the rosters that have openings to allow for such add-ons.

            B. A team manager may release up to three players from his team’s qualified frozen roster, all such releases must be made on or before 7 days prior to start of World Series. A team manager cannot replace a released player with an add-on.

            C. All players added to a qualified frozen roster must meet the following requirements

             1. Players cannot be on another qualified team’s roster.

             2. All roster additions must be approved by the State Fast Pitch Director.

Sec.5. A player that is released from a qualified team’s roster cannot return to that team during the current season. A player may be released from only one qualified team’s roster during the current season.

Sec.6. A team with a frozen roster with less than ten players, which has used all options for additions and releases, may apply for status of disbandment with the State Fast Pitch Director. If approval is given, the team forfeits all berths, and sponsor travel monies earned. A disbanded team may not reform.

Sec.7. A player that is in violation the Association’s Fast Pitch by-laws and / or official playing rules and regulations shall be considered an ineligible player.

Sec.8. Any time during a game or after, if the Tournament Director discovers an ineligible player; they have the authority to apply penalties as described in the USSSA Fast Pitch rulebook.

Sec.9. Any time during a tournament game or after, or after the completion of a tournament date, penalties may be applied as described in the USSSA Fast Pitch rulebook.

Sec.10. All players participating in the USSSA Fast Pitch youth tournament play shall have photocopies of their birth certificate in possession of their team manager. Failure to have a copy of birth certificate available upon demand will result in the offending team losing the game, being placed last in the standings and forfeiting all awards, sponsors travel money and tournament berths that would have been awarded at the tournament.

 

ARTICLE V. STATE AND INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

 

Sec.1. The State or Area Director shall conduct all tournaments within their defined area to assure that proper administration is being effected at all times.

Sec.2. No team will be allowed to compete in any State or Invitational tournament unless they are registered with the Association. A team can only participate in a State tournament in one state during the season.

Sec.3. Amounts to be charged as entry fees for such tournaments shall be left up to the discretion of the State or Area Fast Pitch Director.

Sec.4. The number of trophies and awards and amount of travel monies to be awarded will be left up to the discretion of the State Fast Pitch Director

Sec.5. Each State or Area Fast Pitch Director shall adopt an acceptable system to be used for qualifying teams for State and World Series Tournaments. Established league participation may be included in such a system if so desired.

Sec.6. No tournament shall be considered as sanctioned by the Association if all applicable fees and registrations are not promptly paid to the Association.

 Sec.7. Only USSSA Fast pitch approved softballs can be used in any USSSA event. Such approval will be made by the USSSA Board of Directors.

Sec.8. State tournaments shall be scheduled to provide each team at least two games of participation. This can be changed at the site of the tournament, by the Tournament Director, after starting date of tournament has begun and it is determined that it would not be feasible to attempt to continue on the double elimination plan due to weather conditions or other acts of God. A substitute plan will be decided upon at the tournament site.

Sec.9. Refund of tournament fees for any USSSA Fast Pitch sanctioned tournament will be made only under the following conditions:

            A. Request for refund must be made in writing prior to the published tournament cut-off date for acceptance of cancellations. Such request must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to the Tournament director. U.S. Postal mark will be considered as date of refund request.

            B. Immediately upon receipt of such request, the Tournament Director will forward check to cover the fee previously paid.

            C. Tournament Director shall not be compelled to make refunds after published tournament cut-off date regardless of circumstances.

 

ARTICLE VI. WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENTS

Sec.1. World Series Tournament entry fees will be established by the USSSA Board of Directors.

Sec.2 A. The USSSA Fast Pitch program will use “pool play” format in its World Series Tournaments. Teams will be placed in pools where they will play a minimum of three games. A double elimination format will be used in the championship bracket following pool play. The exact format of the tournament, number of pools, number of teams in each pool will be set by the Tournament Director and approved by the USSSA Fast Pitch program Committee.

            B. Teams will be seeded into pool play based on their National points on file with the National office at the time of pool play bracketing. If points are not at National office at that time, they will not be allowed to be used. Teams will be seeded into double elimination base on pool play results. This format will be used in all National and World Series Tournaments.

            C. In case of a tie in the standings in pool play the following tiebreaker formula will be used in all World Series or National Tournament play: This process continues and does not start over if a tie is broken when three or more teams are tied.

                        1. Tie Breaker for individual pools.

                                    A. Overall record.

                                    B. Head to head competition.

                                    C. Least amount of runs given up between teams tied with in pool play.

                                    D. Least amount of runs given up overall in pool play.

                                    E. Runs scored with a maximum allowed of 8 per game.

                                    F. Coin flip.

                       

2. If teams are tied after pool play for seeding into the double elimination bracket.

                                    A. Least amount of runs given up in pool play.

                                    B. Runs scored with a maximum of 8 runs allowed per game.

                                    C. Coin flip.

                        3. At all qualifying Tournaments State level and above, the following tiebreaker system will be used in the event a tournament cannot be completed.

A.     Undefeated team will be placed 1st, if more than one team is undefeated, than it will be decided by average runs allowed in single or double elimination.

B.     Loser of winner bracket final will be second.

C.    Winner of loser bracket final will be third.

D.    Average runs allowed in single or double elimination will decide all other places.

E.     Coin flip would be last resort if the above still ends up in tie.

                                                                                                       

Sec.3. Team sponsor travel expense monies may be awarded for State and World Series Tournaments. Travel expense monies may be awarded in qualifying tournaments that lead to advancement to a State or World Series Tournament. The awards can only be made when a team participates at the higher classified tournament.

Sec.4. World Series Tournament play shall be under the jurisdiction of the USSSA Fast Pitch National Program Committee. The Association’s appropriate Assistant Executive Director and/or the Fast Pitch Vice-President shall appoint a duly qualified person to serve as Tournament Director. The Tournament director shall supervise the event and be responsible for insuring that the tournament is run according to all the rules, procedures and terms of the written contract and to insure that the event is run according to all rules and regulations of the association. The Tournament Director in carrying out his or her duties shall report directly to the Association Assistant Executive director and/or the Fast Pitch Vice-President

 

Sec.5. World Series Tournaments with 12 or more entries may not be canceled for lack of participation. World Series Tournaments that draw less than twelve teams must notify all teams that they have the option of withdrawing from the tournament with full entry fee refunded. World Series tournaments requesting cancellation must do so by notifying the Executive director within 24 hours of the published cut-off date.

Sec.6. All teams receiving berth to World Series tournaments must play in their Home State’s State Tournament provided such a State Tournament is held. Failure to play in the State tournament, if held will result in forfeiture of the World Series tournament berth.

Sec.7. No team will be allowed to compete in a World Series Tournament unless they are registered with the Association.

Sec.8. All entry forms of teams entering World Series Tournament must be approved by applicable State Fast Pitch directors. If a state does not have a State Director, then such approval can be given by the USSSA Fast Pitch Vice- President. A properly completed letter of transmittal form must accompany each entry form for World Series Tournaments. State Directors may not issue a letter of transmittal for teams from another state.

Sec.9. When a team has qualified to compete in a World Series Tournament but for some legitimate reason cannot compete; the State or Area Director may select the next team in line to take their place or may select a substitute plan to award the berth.

Sec.10. No change to a team’s roster will be allowed after the team has begun play in its first game during a tournament. All team rosters MUST be posted on the USSSA Fast Pitch Web Page and approved by state director.

Sec. 11 A deadline for accepting entries in the World Series Tournament shall be set by the Tournament Director and approved by the USSSA National Program Committee.

Sec.12. It shall be mandatory that the following awards are presented at all World     Series Tournaments:

            A. Championship team award.

            B. Second place team award.

            C. Third place team award.

            D. Fourth, place team award.

            E. Fifth, place team awards (2).

            F. Individual awards to each member and manager of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth (2) place teams

            G. Suitable award to outstanding defensive player.

            H. Suitable award to outstanding offensive player.

             I.  Suitable award to tournament most valuable player.  

J.  Suitable award for team sportsmanship.

            K. Suitable award for outstanding pitcher

L.     A minimum of 15 suitable awards will be given to players on All World Series Tournament team plus one award for the manager selected to the All World Series Tournament team.

NOTE: Team and individual awards will be graduated down for fewer than 40 teams in World Series Tournaments. Fewer than 20 teams-Top 3 teams receive team and individual awards. 21-39 teams- Top 4 teams receive team and individual Awards.

            M. All awards where applicable must bear the name USSSA Fast Pitch or the USSSA Fast Pitch logo and must identify the specific event.

            N. All awards must be ordered from National Office as part of the National Fast Pitch World Series package.

Sec.13. Any team in a World Series that forfeits their next game shall be considered as withdrawing from the tournament. They will be placed last in standings and will not be eligible for any awards, sponsor travel expense allocations, national ranking points or berths that were intended to be given in that particular tournament. The scheduled opponent will be credited with a victory and be advanced immediately on the tournament bracket.

 

 

Sec.14. Players, coaches and managers participating in a National Invitational or World Series cannot be charged any additional fees to gain admission to said playing site. Coaches and managers will be limited to a total of three [3] passes.

Sec.15. At all World Series umpires will be paid a minimum fee per game, which will be set by the USSSA National Fast Pitch Program Committee.

Sec.16. World Series Tournament Umpire Qualifications

            A. Umpires must be registered and in good standing with USSSA.

            B. Umpires should be selected by the Tournament and State Fast Pitch U.I.C. It is recommended that the umpires be selected also include umpires from within the division where the tournament is being held. Umpires may be selected outside the division. All umpires selected must be approved by the State Fast Pitch Director and State Fast Pitch U.I.C. in the State they are registered.

            C. Umpires should have worked Fast Pitch for a minimum of two (2) years and be knowledgeable of all USSSA Fast Pitch rules. It is strongly recommended that they attend all USSSA umpire clinics when available.

            D. All umpires must be dressed in the official Licensed USSSA Umpire’s Uniform.

1. Licensed mesh pullover shirt. If a T-shirt is to be worn under the umpire shirt, it shall be short sleeve and white in color.

                        2. USSSA licensed Umpire cap (short bill hat for behind the plate and long bill hat for the bases.)

                        3. Heather gray slacks with black socks.

A. If the umpire wears shin guards, they may not be exposed.

4. Gray or black ball bag. When ball bags are necessary, only the plate umpire shall wear one.

                        5. Black belt.

                        6. Black polished shoes and black shoelaces.

7. Licensed windbreaker jacket, v-neck pullover may be worn as outside apparel.

8. Umpires working together must be dress alike.

9. The umpire working behind the plate must wear a mask.