Standing League Rules ARTICLE I – ROSTERS 1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

11. 12.

13. 14.

SECTION 1 – GENERAL GUIDELINES Submission of the entry roster is to be given to the Treasurer. Subsequent submissions are to be given to the Secretary or designee. Teams are entered into the league by church affiliation. The persons listed as managers on the original roster are the only ones allowed to submit roster additions or removals unless someone else has been designated by the manager of record and the manager has notified the Secretary or designee. Each team is to enter in a roster. In case of combined teams, each church shall submit its own respective roster. An individual may play for any team. If it is a church they are not a member of they must be listed as a non-member on the roster. Team rosters must have a minimum of twelve (12) players. In order for a request to be considered at the Annual Meeting to allow three or more churches to combine to form a team, each church must have a minimum of four (4) church members listed on the initial roster. Persons are eligible to play in any division once they have reached the age of 10 years old or if they will be turning ten during the course of the season. Any team a player participates on must have them listed on the roster. If a player appears on more than one roster in a division the player must choose one team with which to play by noon on the Monday prior to the start of the season. Each team roster may include five (5) players that are non-church members (See Rule 1 – Non-church member). These players are to be indicated as non-church members on the roster. Non-members are only eligible to play for the team on whose roster they appear. Any player can appear on only one roster in a division. The initial team roster and subsequent roster modification submissions to add church members must have a signature, phone confirmation or e-mail from the church clergy in order to be properly submitted. In the event of a clergy vacancy, an elder of the church may sign, phone or e-mail. NOTE: Non-church member roster submissions do not require clergy confirmation. A submission with multiple names is considered to be one submission. Service personnel on leave from military service are eligible to play immediately upon approval of the Secretary or designee. NOTE: The rest of the roster rules in this section still apply.

SECTION 2 – ROSTER TIMELINES 1. March 22nd or prior: The initial roster is due on or before March 22nd and will be subject to review at the Annual Meeting. 2. March 23rd through May 31st: Teams may submit modifications to the roster. Players are eligible to play when a properly submitted roster modification is submitted by noon on the Monday prior to the next scheduled game(s). These submissions will be processed by the Secretary or designee. Roster appeals may be considered by the Board of Directors by contacting the President. 3. June 1st and after: Teams are allowed a total of two roster modification submissions. Players are eligible to play when a properly submitted roster modification is submitted by noon on the Monday prior to the next scheduled game(s). These submissions will be processed by the Secretary or designee. Roster appeals may be considered by the Board of Directors by contacting the President. NOTE: Proper submission is defined as meeting the applicable criteria in this article. NOTE: When sent through the mail or e-mail the roster will be considered turned in on the date of the postmark.

Updated April 2, 2017

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Merrill Area Church Fast Pitch Softball League

ARTICLE II – TEAM FEES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1.

2. 3. 4.

SECTION 1 – TEAM FEES Regular season and own division tournament play is $250 per team; an additional $50 security deposit is also required for a total of $300. These monies are due to the Treasurer on or before March 22nd. The payment is non-refundable. NOTE: When sent through the mail the entry fee will be considered turned in on the date of the postmark. Teams that turn in their entry fee and roster on March 15th or earlier may deduct $25 off of their entry fee. Teams entering into a higher level tournament than that it is assigned may enter by paying $40 in full two weeks prior to the tournament. The payment is non-refundable. Teams that have been fined an amount of more than $50 will be charged a $100 deposit the next season as part of their team entry. Any unpaid fines from the season will be carried over and garnished from the next year’s deposit at the beginning of the season.

SECTION 2 – TEAM REQUESTS TO RESCHEDULE GAMES 1. Any regular season game may be rescheduled by submitting a “Request to Reschedule” form (or both managers may email the required information) to the League Scheduler by noon on the Monday prior to the originally scheduled game. On the form teams may suggest a time and date to make up the game. 2. The Scheduler will reschedule the game and will then notify the diamond originally hosting the game, the two teams that submitted the form and the manager of the team scheduled to umpire the game of the postponement and make them aware of the new time and date. 3. Rescheduled games need to be made up by no later than one week after the end of the season. The game may not be rescheduled again except due to postponement by the President. The original diamond hosting the game will get the first opportunity to host the rescheduled game. EFFECT: Both teams will be accessed a $10 penalty for not properly rescheduling a game. SECTION 3 – REPORTING GAME RESULTS OR STATUS For every regular season game a team is scheduled to play, a representative from that team must report the score, forfeiture or suspension of the game to the league Scheduler by noon on the Monday immediately following the scheduled game. Teams are encouraged to email or text the scheduler so that there is a time and date stamp. If a phone call is made only the scheduler’s noted date and time of the call will be considered. EFFECT: A fine of $10 for not reporting will be retained from the team’s deposit. SECTION 4 – UMPIRING The following umpire rotation will be used during regular season play. Home teams must supply two umpires: Two Games Three Games Four Games Game 2 umps Game 1 Game 3 umps Game 1 Game 2 umps Game 1 Game 1 umps Game 2 Game 1 umps Game 2 Game 1 umps Game 2 Game 2 umps Game 3 Game 4 umps Game 3 Game 3 umps Game 4 EFFECT: Penalties for not providing two umpires: First offense: A fine of $20.00 will be retained from the team’s deposit. Second offense: A fine of $30 will be retained from the team’s deposit. Third and later offenses: Forfeiture of the game the offending team was scheduled to play on the day it did not provide two umpires. NOTE: Umpires are responsible for their own umpiring gear. EXCEPTION: The field is responsible for chest protectors and a broom for cleaning home plate. NOTE: For tournament umpire schedule see specific tournament bracket. NOTE: Umpire assignments will remain as originally assigned on the original league schedule. The team originally responsible to umpire the game that is rescheduled is still responsible to umpire the game at the new date and time.

Updated April 2, 2017

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Merrill Area Church Fast Pitch Softball League

SECTION 5 – PROVIDING OF GAME BALLS The game balls will be purchased by the League and will be provided by both teams at the start of any season game. The League will make softballs available for the tournaments. SECTION 6 – PRACTICE AND WARM-UPS BEFORE A GAME No teams will be allowed infield practice. Batting practice and warm-ups must take place in outfield areas. ARTICLE III – DIVISIONAL TIE-BREAKERS If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost percentages, the following steps will be taken until a winner is determined. (NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1). 1. Head-to-head (best won-lost percentage in games between the clubs). 2. Best net points between the clubs. 3. Strength of victory. 4. Strength of schedule. 5. Best net points in division games. 6. Coin toss NOTE: Only one club may earn a placing in any tie-breaking step. Remaining tied clubs revert to the first step of the division tie-breakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker step after all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to Step 1 to determine the winner. When one club wins the tiebreaker, all other clubs revert to Step 1. ARTICLE IV – DIAMOND USAGE 1. Postponements are determined by the President (or designee) and diamond keeper(s) no later than 1 ½ hours before any scheduled game starts or, at any other time, by the umpire. 2. The start times of season games will be on Sundays at 1:30, 3:00, 4:30 and 6:00. 3. The League will offer each diamond $175 for a full softball season. 4. The League promotes the approach that, with the exception of water, teams purchase concessions at the concession stands. 5. The use of alcohol and tobacco products on church grounds outside of the game will be determined by local church policy. 6. As part of the league use of the diamonds, concessions are asked to be offered by the hosting church or its designee. ARTICLE V - TOURNAMENTS 1. A double elimination tournament format approved by the League will be used when there are four or more teams. Seeding for the tournaments will be based on a random draw. 2. Teams are to notify the appropriate Division Director no later than two (2) weeks prior to their tournament if they will not be participating. 3. Teams may enter into a higher level tournament than that it is assigned. 4. Two or more league teams may combine their rosters to form a new team to enter into a higher tournament. 5. Regular roster modification rules apply. 6. Non-league teams may not enter into tournaments. 7. Each umpire will be paid at a rate of $35 per played game for the games indicated on each specific bracket. WIAA, ASA or veteran umpires are preferred. Paid umpires are to be from outside of the league. 8. Allow each paid umpire a $10 per day concession allowance. 9. Only the teams in Division 1 may umpire the Division 1 tournament.

Updated April 2, 2017

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Merrill Area Church Fast Pitch Softball League