The following are the local rules and regulations of the Diana Girls Softball Association Program for the 2023 season hence forward. It is not the intent of these rules to redesign any of the official rules and regulations of FASA/ETSA. All other rules and regulations of FASA/ETSA shall apply. All decisions by the Dian Girls Softball Association Board of Directors (Board) are final.
RULE 1
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
The Board will determine the registration dates each year. All players must register during the designated registration period in order to be eligible for player selection.
Any player can register after the designated registration period, prior to season play if they meet one of the following exceptions and can provide a doctor’s excuse.
They were sick
They were injured
They became new residents of the community
A certain age group is short of the number of plays to make a full team
Player's parents or legal guardians must complete and sign a registration and medical release form, must use DOB on birth certificate (At any point if age is in question Diana Girls Softball Association, can ask for copy of Birth Certificate to confirm age of play) and pay the registration fee set by the Board for the current year on or before the closing dates of registration.
Registration fee for the current year is $99.00 for one child, $10 dollar discount for each child thereafter.
Per League Rules All Infield players from 6U to 14U are REQUIRED to wear a Face Mask
RULE 2
PLAYER SELECTION:
Each league will assign players to league teams using a draft system.
All players must attend skills day for the age group in which they are going to enter.
Players who do not participate in skills day will be entered into a blind draft system.
Players will be assigned to each league according to their age as of January 1st of the current year.
Players will be allowed to enter DGSA 6u league if they will not be 4 by January 1st The eligible date for district tournament play will revert back to January 1st to meet FASA guidelines.
A parent or legal guardian may request to move their child up to the next age group prior to the draft. If they can play with either age group within the league, they must specify at signup what age group they are going to play in for draft purposes. This request must be made in person by the parent or legal guardian of the player to the commissioner of the age group.
The Board of Directors will select the organization(s) to participate in which provide for organized Spring, Summer, and/or Fall girls softball play. The Board may modify the league’s age divisions based on the available organizations and rostered players in the league.
League Divisions include: 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U.
Division assignment is determined as follows:
(a) 6U: Girls 6 and 5 years old as of 1/1 of the current year.
(b) 8U: Girls 8 and 7 years old as of 1/1 of the current year.
(c) 10U: Girls 10 and 9 years old as of 1/1 of the current year.
(d) 12U: Girls 12 and 11 years old as of 1/1 of the current year.
(e) 14U: Girls 14 and 13 years old as of 1/1 of the current year. league in which the player is of age.
The Board will decide the roster size for each league team prior to the draft by a majority vote. Each league shall be acted upon individually and established at the Board's discretion.
Only team managers (or their designated representative) will be present at the draft. After completion of the draft, the team managers may select up to two (2) assistant coaches in accordance with Rule 3 (c).
Draft
Players may not be assigned to teams prior to the general draft with the following exception:
Pre-draft player selection will occur for players in the following situations:
(a) Manager’s children
(b) Coach’s children
Additional pre-draft player selection may occur if a returning coach stays with the previous year’s age group. The coach will have the option to keep any returning players on his team. But that coach must keep all returning players or do complete re draft. Once the coach/team “age-up” all players must return to the player draft. In the case of returning age group coach, how every many returning players that coach has. The other coach in the draft gets that many number first draft picks to start the draft. “Example- If returning age group coach keep all 5 of the returning players from prior year. The other coach gets the first 5 draft picks”
Any disputes concerning pre-draft selections will be resolved by the Player Agent and Managers. If resolution is not possible, the Board of Directors will render a final decision.
The draft order will be determined by a blind draw.
Special Designations
Pitchers and catchers are identified prior to the draft. Pitchers will be drafted first followed by catchers. These players will be categorized by the Player Agent and Managers. Any unresolved categorizations will be resolved by the Board of Directors.
Any player identified as both a pitcher and catcher will fill a pitcher and catcher draft selection for that drafting team. For example, a pitcher/catcher player who is drafted in the pitcher draft will count as a drafted pitcher and catcher for that team.
Any pre-draft players who are identified as pitchers or catchers will constitute a drafted pitcher or catcher.
The team with the fewest players after pre-draft selection and special designation process will select players until they have the same number of players.
Coaches will then draw numbers to determine the order of the draft. The open draft will then continue in a snake fashion until all players have been selected. Pitchers and catchers are drafted before position players.
If no players were selected in the pre-draft player selection or special designation process, the order of draft for each division will be determined by drawing numbers prior to the start of the draft.
Coaches will then select players until they have one (1) more player than the team with the most players. This process will continue until all teams have one (1) more player than the original team. The open draft will then continue in a snake fashion until all players have been selected.
In the situation of late registrants, these players will be assigned to the team that had the next selection in the open draft. Late registrants will be assigned, in order of registration, to each team in the order that was in place during the open draft. Any unresolved open draft picks will be resolved by the Board of Directors.
Additional open-draft player selection situations:
a) Siblings will be allowed to play on the same team
Eligible siblings will be drafted onto the same team unless otherwise requested by a parent or legal guardian to be placed on separate teams. Such a request must be presented to the league commissioner and approved by the Board before the draft is conducted. Siblings other than dependent children of a team manager will be drafted at the same time. The number of siblings drafted to a team will determine how many picks the team manager uses. (Example: if a manager picks two (2) siblings in round 2, then he will not be able to pick anyone in round 3 and will be able to pick again in round 4,
NOTE: Siblings is defined to be 'two or more individuals having one common parent, or two or more individuals having one common and current legal guardian."
Once a player is drafted by a team, she will remain on that team.
Post-draft player selection situations:
(a) Players designating up to one (1) manager/coach whom she does NOT want to play for.
Trades would be allowed in the event of extenuating circumstances. All trades would be at the discretion of the board and are final.
(b) Players requiring teammates for transportation purposes. If circumstances are for a valid reasoning. Board will take it under consideration and cast vote all votes are finial
The draft order based on the managers draw will be in effect, and the manager will stop drafting once the team is full.
Eligible players coming in after the draft will be assigned to a team by the Commissioner of each league. Incoming players will be placed initially to the first team to have fallen below the number of players per team as determined by the board prior to the draft. In the event all teams are full, the incoming player will be placed on the team that was next in the draft order at the conclusion of the draft. Late "sign ups" not in compliance with rule I(b) will not be accepted.
Managers shall not drop a player or players from their rosters in order to sign a new incoming player.
No player trading will be permitted, and rosters will be formed in accordance with draft rules only.
RULE 3
TEAM MANAGERS:-
Any individual desiring to be a team manager must fill out a DGSA risk management form and submit his/her name to the League Board of Directors for consideration each year at the time of league sign up, even if they were managers the previous year.
The league commissioner must submit to the Board, all applicants for team manager positions within his/her league after the league sign up closing date. The league commissioner and/or Board may opt to interview any or all the applicants at their discretion.
Every effort will be made to ensure that each manager selected is of good character and representative of the purpose and objective of the Association as described by Dixie baseball and within the DGSA By-Laws.
Team manager applicants in good standing, who managed a team or coached as an assistant the previous year will be given first consideration for team assignments. In the case where only enough players for 1 team in an age group. The coach that coached in the league last year will be the head coach of the team. In the Chance that two coaches age up or new coach The coach that has seniority for number of consecutive years in the league as head coach/assistant will be selected coach for age group.
The Board will consider coaching candidates that:
(a) Have completed a background check.
(b) Have attended any required coach’s event/ 1 workdays a year as determined by the Board of Directors.
(c) Have the ability to commit to effectively coaching a team and be able to head coach 90% of games.
(d) Have needed no league Board intervention.
(e) Have successfully coached within the previous year, expectations will be mad to new coaches. Joining league for first time or coming in to 6U League
(f) Positive Coaching evaluations.
Team managers will be named by majority vote of the Board. In the event that there are not enough qualified applicants to fill each team manager position, all vacancies will be filled by the Board at its discretion.
A team manager “Head Coach” may nominate two (2) assistant coaches, from parents or legal guardians of players on his/her roster. All assistant coaches must fill out a DGSA risk management form and be approved by the board.
The team manager will be held responsible for the actions and conduct of his coaches and players, and the Board will look only to him.
Duties Of Team Manager/Head Coach
(a) Be responsible for attending all mandatory coaches’ meetings
(b) Be responsible for attending at least 1 league workday
(c) Be responsible for being present at draft or have assistant in present of absence
(d) Be responsible for being in DGSBA coaches’ communication group
(e) Be responsible for setting way of communication for team members parents
(f) Be responsible of Team Scheduled Maintenance weekend which will involve
(1) Mowing and Weed Eating Field
(2) Picking up trash around the park
(3) Emptying All Trash Cans around the park and in dug outs
(4) Cleaning up girls bathroom shared with baseball. Supplies will be provided
“If Team does not have access to mower for field maintenance. He/She must reach out to commission of there age group to work solution”
(g) Be responsible for if they are the first team to play on game day Chalk the fields
(1) Chalk Fair and Foul base line
(2) Chalk Batter’s Box
(3) Chalk Pitchers Circle
(4) Chalk Halfway line between bases (6U only)
(5) Chalk 8 foot dead zone in front of Home Plate (6U Only)
(h) Be responsible for if they are last team of the night to empty trash cans in dug out on field they played on
(i) Work with Concessionaire to fill required Team spot for working concession
(1) Team will fill spot with player parents
(2) Team will pull money together to pay for spot to be filled. Money must be submitted by required date. OR team will be required to have parents work concession stand
Disciplinary Action
Appropriate disciplinary action may be taken by the Board of Directors against a coach for violations of the Code of Conduct or failure to effectively coach his/her team in accordance with the duties of Manger/Head Coach set by DGSBA league. Disciplinary action can include but is not limited to: Verbal Warnings, Written Warnings, Suspension, and Removal. Any action taken against a coach can be referenced by the Board for a period of 1 year.
Removal
A Manager, head coach or assistant coach may be removed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The vote shall be required after President and Vice President have talked and taken statement with Head coach, or assistant coach for remediation has been completed. At said time all information will be brought to the board for a vote.
Any manager or assistant coach ejected from a game by an umpire or league official will be suspended from the following game. The manager shall have five (5) days to appeal his suspension or the
suspension of his assistants by requesting a hearing before the Board. Any manager ejected twice during the same year will be suspended for the season.
RULE 4
FASA TOURNAMENT TEAM SELECTION:
The Secretary shall prepare "All-Star' ballots after the team rosters are complete and before the balloting date, listing all eligible players in random order. Any player ineligible will not appear on the ballot. An ineligible player is one who meets any of the following conditions: Has not paid a registration fee prior to FASA/ETSA rosters being submitted
Owes money to the Association for any other reason
Has not furnished a birth certificate prior to FASA/ETSA rosters being submitted
Has not played in the number of league games required by FASA/ETSA rules
Is not eligible because of age restrictions as set forth in FSAS/ETSA rules
The Team shall consist of no more than 12 players
The date for balloting shall be scheduled by the Board but no later than five days before the league's last scheduled game.
The Board shall inform all managers of the balloting date. If a manager or assistant coach will not be available on that date, it will be his responsibility to secure a ballot and turn it in, in a sealed envelope, to the league Commissioner prior to the vote count. Ballots so received are to be properly identified and retained by the Secretary until the ballots are counted.
On the date specified for voting, ballots will be distributed by the league Commissioner to the manager and two (2) assistant coaches for each team, and they will mark the appropriate number of players as determined by FASA/ETSA Guidelines for their age group.
In the event of a tie for one or more spots to fill a team roster, ballots will be reissued with all remaining eligible players excluding those already elected to a team. Votes for the remaining players will be recast until the roster is filled. In the event that the roster cannot be filled in this manner after twice recasting of votes, the board will select the remaining player(s).
A group of Board members, consisting of at least the President, Vice President and Commissioner of each league, shall count the ballots as soon as possible after the voting has been completed. Any Board member who desires to assist with or be present for the count may do so, and each Board member not attending is entitled to the results upon request.
The ballots will be tallied as follows:
The votes of the team managers will equal five (5) points each
The votes of the assistant coaches (two (2) per team) will equal three (3) points each
All the votes will be counted and recorded on the tally sheet, given to the Secretary and filed until after each All-Star team has completed tournament play.
The team manager for each All-Star team will be the coach of the league champion. (Overall Win/Lose Record). The Board must approve each manager with a majority vote. If a recommended manager is not approved by the Board or they decline the position, than another coach will be recommended to the Board for approval by the League Commissioner.
Each All-Star team manager may select at his/her discretion, two (2) assistant coaches who are coaches within their league.
The board of Directors will determine the time of announcement as to those selected to the "all staff' teams, but prior to the conclusion of the season.
RULE 5
INCOMPLETE GAMES AND RAINOUTS
An incomplete or rained out game will be made up as scheduled by the league Commissioner along with the communication of President. Failure of a team to appear for a scheduled makeup game will be a forfeit.
In the event a team in any league forfeits more than two games during a season, the Board will determine whether or not their record will count in the league standings.
RULE 6
FILLING VACANCIES:
A team, which falls to less than nine (9) permanent players, will be filled by a blind draw, conducted by the Player Agent from a list of volunteer players from other teams within the league.
A team falling temporarily to less than nine (9) players may opt to use a substitute player to fill the vacancy under the following criteria:
The substitute player is currently on the active roster of a DGSA team in the age group below the league to which team he will play temporarily.
The substitute player does not participate as a temporary player in conflict with their regular team league schedule.
The substitute player does not play in any game whereas nine (9) permanent and eligible players are available prior to the start of the game.
The substitute player bats last in the batting order.
The substitute player is not allowed to pitch, unless specific consent is given by the opposing team manager prior to the start of the game.
No substitute will be allowed to play defensively, or continue to play defensively in a game whereas nine (9) permanent and eligible players of a team roster become available to play. In the event that nine (9) permanent and eligible players of a team roster become available to play during the course of a game, the substitute players(s) will be removed from the game defensively at the h inning. The substitute player(s) will remain in the batting order and arriving players will be added at the end of the order.
When the team's temporary vacancy is filled by the availability of nine (9) players active on the team roster, than all substitute players will be released from the team.
RULE 7
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
The league champion in each age division will be determined by the Win/Loss percentage from regular season play.
In the event that two teams conclude league play with equal Win/Loss percentages, the League commissioner along with the coaches will determine the method by which the league champion will be declared, including:
Head to Head Win / Loss vs. each other
In the event of head to head tie their will be a 1 game playoff.
If three (3) or more teams are tied, the end of season tournament will determine the league champion.
RULE 8
END OF SEASON TOURNAMENT
Each league will have an end of season tournament that will be played the after the conclusion of the regular season.
All league teams will be entered in the tournament and the format for play along with game schedules and times will be as determined each year by the league commissioner and the Board.
Each team will be placed in the brackets (seeded) by their regular season win/loss percentage.
Home team for each game will be decided by a coin toss prior to the start of each game.
FASA Tournament rules will apply to the end of season tournament, although a double elimination format may or may not be used.
The tournament champion will be awarded trophies.
In the event that the end of season tournament is required to determine a league champion, and in the event of unavoidable circumstances including inclement weather that cause the tournament to be cancelled or incomplete, the league commissioner will determine the best method (playoff, rescheduled tournament etc) to determine the league Champion.
RULE 9
REMOVAL OF A PLAYER FROM A TEAM ROSTER:
Team managers may not remove a player from their roster without Board approval.
A team manager can make a written request to the Board at any time to have a player removed from their team roster. Each request will be reviewed by the Board on an individual basis. The Board's decision will be final until such time as an additional request is submitted.
The Board will consider removing a player on a team for any of the following reasons:
The player has moved from the community.
The player has become sick or injured to the point that he/she will miss 50% or more of practices and game.
At the request of a parent or legal guardian.
A player safety issue.
Continual disruptive or disciplinary problems with the player.
Continual unsportsmanlike conduct of the player.
Continual abusive behavior by the player or a parent / legal guardian directed toward other players, coaches, umpires or League officials.
Any player that is removed from a game for disciplinary reasons by a coach or DGSA official during the course of a game will not be allowed to return to that game as a participant.
Any player, manager, manager, coach or assistant coach that is removed from a game by an umpire during the course of a game will not be allowed to return to that game as a participant and will be suspended from participating in their next game.
If the manager has discipline problems with a player, he will not be required to play the player in that week's games.
A player being disciplined for any reason must be reported to the official scorekeeper before each game.
In the event a discipline problem arises during a game, the manager may immediately remove the player from the game and advise the scorekeeper.
If discipline problems are recurring, the Commissioner may ask the manager to appear before the Board.
Any manager, coach or assistant coach not following these rules is subject to such disciplinary action as the Board may deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, forfeiture of a game, suspension for a limited number of games, or removal for the remainder of the season.
The following time limits for regular season games shall be followed to determine a regulation game so long as both teams have had an equal number of times at bat:
NOTE: A new inning shall begin when the last out of the previous inning is made, the game is not considered a regulation game and the game time limit has not expired If time expires during any inning, the inning will be completed and both teams will bat unless the home team is ahead after the Visiting team has completed their at bat.
Umpire with use International Tiebreaker. (The last completed at bat in the previous inning becomes the base runner at second base. Play until a winner is determined.) Exception to this is 6U League game will end in tie.
These local rules and regulations may be altered, amended or replaced by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors
It is the player's responsibility to advise his manager or coach in advance if he is going to be absent from a practice or game.
Only uniformed players, mangers, coaches, umpires and league officials shall be permitted within the confines of the playing field and dugouts prior to and during a game.
Line-up sheets must be furnished to the opposing manager and the official scorekeeper at least five (5) minutes before the scheduled game start time.
The use of tobacco in any form is prohibited on the field or in the dugout at home or away.
Shirts shall be furnished or approved by the Association for players and coaches. All players must be uniformed to participate in a league game.
With the agreement of both Managers, an umpire may call a game in which his child is participating. Otherwise, the Commissioner will postpone the game until umpires are available.
No team may practice on fields once they have been prepared for a game.
A business or individual may sponsor a team with approval of the Board. The Board must review and approve any modifications to an approved Shirt by the sponsor.
The Home team is responsible for providing a competent person to keep the official score book
The home team is responsible for keeping a scorers and turning the scores in to the League
The Visiting team is responsible for providing a competent person to work the scoreboard during the game.
Mercy "Run Rules" are in effect for all leagues.
A game shall be considered a regulation game when one of the following conditions is met:
1. Six (6) innings have been completed — seven (7) for 14U.
A team is ahead by fifteen (15) runs after three (3) innings have been completed or ten(10) runs after (4) innings have been completed.
NOTE: If the Home team is ahead byfifteen (15) runs after the Visiting team has batted during the third inning or ten(10)runs during the fourth inning , the game will end and the Home tie