TABLE OF
CONTENTS PAGE
SECTION A: DETERMINATION OF TEAM AND LEAGUE NUMBERS 2
RULE 1. Number of teams
SECTION B:
ASSIGNMENT OF MANAGERS AND COACHES TO AVAILABLE TEAMS 2
RULE 1. Application requirements
RULE 2. Seniority‑based assignments
RULE 3. Returning managers
RULE 4. Late application requirements
RULE 5. Assignment of umpires as managers
RULE 6. Assignment of interim managers
SECTION C: RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGERS
& COACHES 5
RULE 1. Team association
RULE 2. Attendance
RULE 3. Equipment Maintenance
RULE 4. Knowledge of local and national rules
RULE 5. Behavior of coaches, players, spectators
RULE 6. Notification of organization re: problems
RULE 7. Selection of Team Parent(s)
SECTION D: PLAYER SELECTION PROCESS: TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY 6
RULE 1. Registration
RULE 2. Now players
RULE 3. Returning players
RULE 4. Promotion to other age divisions
RULE 5. Selection of players as options
SECTION E:
PLAYER SELECTION PROCESS: METHODS OF SELECTION 8
RULE 1. Team inclusion in player selection process
RULE 2. Determination of parity
RULE 3. Selection order
RULE 4. Selection by age group
RULE 5. Redraft of all players in an age division
RULE 6. "Blind" player pool
SECTION F: LOCAL OPTIONS TO DIXIE SOFTBALL, INC.
RULES 10
RULE 1. Game times and game time limits
RULE 2. Recording and reporting of game time
RULE 3. Time limits and regulation games
RULE 4. Times limit and tie scores
RULE 5. Forfeitures
RULE 6. Player participation
RULE 7. Ten batters/inning rule
RULE 8. Ten runs/inning rule
RULE 9. Determination of field playability
RULE 10. Split-season schedule
SECTION G: MISCELLANEOUS LOCAL RULES
11
RULE 1. Practice rules
RULE 2. Sportsmanlike conduct
RULE 3. Selection of game officials
RULE 4. Official's control of game
RULE 6. Removal of participants or spectators
RULE 6. Protest committee and protest hearings
RULE 7. Players agents
RULE 8. Player attendance
RULE 9. Concession duties
RULE 10. Scorekeepers/Score Reporting
RULE 11. Fall Play
SECTION H:
TOURNAMENT TEAM SELECTION PROCESS 14
RULE 1: Selection
meeting
RULE 2: Balloting
RULE 3: Unanimous
vote/impasse
RULE 4: Player
responsibilities
RULE 5: Replacement
players
RULE 6: Managers
RULE 7: Sweetees
NOTE 1: These rules
are supplemental to the rules listed in the Dixie Softball Inc., Official Rule
Guide, and are adopted as local rules governing operation of Decatur Dixie
Girls' Softball, Inc.
NOTE 2:
SECTION A: Determination of Team and League Numbers
1. The number of teams/leagues will be dependent
upon the number of players registering to play softball.
a. All players
registering by the deadline will be assigned to a team through the player
selection process. (See Section D.3.b.)
b. The player registration deadline will be commensurate with the make‑up tryout date, except for the Debs Division. Debs registration deadline shall be 5 days prior to the date of the first Debs game.
c.
The number of
teams/leagues in each division shall be determined by limiting the maximum
number of players per team:
1)
Sweetees 14 players/team
2)
Darlings 14 players/team
3)
Angels 14 players/team
4)
Ponytails 13 players/tearn
5)
Belles 13 players/team
6)
Debs 15 players/team
(See Section A.1.a)
d. Any team having the maximum number of players (i.e., extra players) for one season will be exempted from having extra players the following year.
1) A manager may choose to waive the exemption.
2) The Organization
may waive a team's exemption, in order to place all girls on a team, after all
non‑exempt teams have taken an extra player.
3) The teams that are
exempt shall use the draw to determine the order of assignment of remaining
players.
e. Dissolving teams may be required to accommodate seasons of reduced player numbers.
1) Teams to be
dissolved shall be chosen using one or more of the following criteria to
achieve the best league and/or division balance
Teams with no returning manager
Teams with fewest number of players eligible to return
Last team added
Seniority of managers
Redraft all players in their league. (See Section D.3 Note, and E.6)
2) Managers of dissolved teams may be assigned to an open
team. (Section B.3.a, b)
3) Players eligible
to return to a dissolved team may be assigned to another team. (See Section D.3 Note)
SECTION B: ASSIGNMENT OF MANAGERS AND COACHES TO AVAILABLE
TEAMS.
1. Individuals desiring to manage a Decatur
Dixie Girls Softball, Inc. team, in any league must submit a completed Decatur
Dixie Girls Softball Application for Appointed Positions: for the current
Softball Season and a signed/witnessed Acknowledgment of Policy, Creed
and Procedures.
a. Both forms must be submitted to the Board by adjournment of the January meeting of the General Membership held prior to the beginning of the ensuing softball season.
b. Forms may be obtained from the President, Vice‑President, or Secretary prior to, or at the January meeting of the General Membership. They are also available on line at www.ddgs.org.[1]
2. Assignment to open positions shall be based
on seniority with placement priority being given to individuals complying with
Section B.1.
a. Seniority, (defined as the number of consecutive years in an official position as manager, coach, board member within the Organization, or an official position as state director, state board member, or national board member at the state or national levels of Dixie Softball, Inc.) began with the 1980 season.
b. If all positions are filled in the division of the applicant's daughter, stepdaughter, sister, niece, or granddaughter league, the seniority of the applicant will be "frozen" for a period of one year. The individual may request to manage the following season in accordance with Section B.1.
c. In the
event two or more applicants having equivalent seniority request the same
managers position, the following prioritization scheme will be applied:
1)
DEBS Division
a.
Debs coach
b.
Board
member/director at local, state or national level
c.
Belles manager
d.
Belles coach
e.
Ponytails
manager
f.
Ponytails
coach
g.
Angels manager
h.
Angels coach
i.
Darlings
manager
j.
Darlings coach
k.
Sweetees
manager
l.
Sweetees coach
2)
BELLES
Division
a. Belles coach
b. Board
member/director at local, state or national level
c. Ponytails
manager
d. Ponytails coach
e. Debs manager
f. Debs coach
g. Angels manager
h. Angels coach
i. Darlings
manager
j. Darlings coach
k. Sweetees manager
1. Sweetees coach
3)
PONYTAILS
Division
a.
Ponytails
coach
b.
Board
member/director at local, state or national level
c.
Angels manager
d.
Angels coach
e.
Belles manager
f.
Belles coach
g.
Debs manager
h.
Debs coach
i.
Darlings
manager
j.
Darlings coach
k.
Sweetees
manager
l.
Sweetees coach
4)
ANGELS
Division
a.
Angels coach
b.
Board
member/director at local, state or national level
c.
Darlings
manager
d.
Darlings coach
e.
Sweetees
manager
f.
Sweetees;
coach
g.
Ponytails
manager
h.
Ponytails
coach
i.
Belles manager
j.
Belles coach
k.
Debs manager
l.
Debs coach
5)
DARLINGS
Division
a.
Darlings coach
b.
Board
member/director at local, state or national level
c.
Sweetees
manager
d.
Sweetees coach
e.
Angels manager
f.
Angels coach
g.
Ponytails
manager
h.
Ponytails coach
i.
Belles manager
j.
Belles coach
k.
Debs manager
l.
Debs coach
6)
SWEETEES
Division
a.
Sweetees;
coach
b.
Board
member/director at local, state or national level
c.
Darlings
manager
d.
Darlings coach
e.
Angels manager
f.
Angels coach
g.
Ponytails
manager
h.
Ponytails
coach
i.
Belles manager
j.
Belles coach
k. Debs manager
l. Debs coach
NOTE: In the event
two or more applicants requesting the same managers position have equivalent
seniority, and application of the above prioritization scheme does not
distinguish the applicants, team assignment will be determined by a Board
authorized draw.
3. Managers assigned to a team the previous
season will have the first option to retain that team, provided that the
stipulations of Section B.1 are met.
a. In the event a
team to which a returning manager was previously assigned is dissolved, the
manager of that team shall have the following prioritized options for
requesting assignment to a different team:
1)
Any team
having an open manager's position in the League of the dissolved team.
2)
Any team
having an open manager's position in the Division of the dissolved team.
3)
Any team
according to the stipulations of rule Section B.2.c.
NOTE: These options
shall be exercised before any assignments are granted on the basis of
seniority.
b. If one or more teams are dissolved, the managers will draw to the order of exercising options. Team assignment will be determined by a Board supervised draw.
4.
Consideration will be given to individuals requesting to
manage a team after the January meeting of the General Membership, in the event
that an insufficient number of applications are received as per Section B.1 and
team manager positions remain available.
a. Late applicants
must submit a completed and signed
b. The seniority of late applicants will not be considered when making appointments or assigning teams. (See B.2.c Note)
5. In the event that a manager does not fulfill
his/her duty, the Board shall appoint an interim manager for the remaining
season. Managerial seniority shall be accrued as designated by the finalized
team roster. The team effected will have an open managerial slot for the
upcoming season.
1. An individual shall officially manage only
one team in Decatur Dixie Girls Softball, Inc. and may serve as an official
coach on a second team.
2. Managers and
coaches shall attend the greater of 9 games or 75% of the scheduled games.
a. Each manager and coach must sign the official score book within 15 minutes following the conclusion of the game to indicate game attendance.
b. Failure to sign the official score book will officially be considered as an absence. A written note of explanation for an absence shall be given to the League Commissioner within seven days of the game.
c. Absences reported to the League Commissioner as requested in Section C.2.b and for the following reasons shall be waived:
1) Personal or
family illness
2) Job requirements
3) Vacation
4) Legal obligations
d. Game attendance is required to be eligible to manage or coach a tournament team.
3. Managers shall
be responsible for receiving, maintaining, and returning allocated equipment.
a. Equipment will be received from and returned to the Equipment Manager or his/her designee, as he/she designates.
b. Managers shall
inspect equipment for defects prior to signing for receipt.
c. Managers shall
report equipment needs, and defects to the Equipment Manager.
1) The Equipment
Manager shall make equipment exchanges during the first and second weeks of
practice, on two designated nights.
2) Managers must
contact the Equipment Manager for exchanges, replacements and repairs after the
times designated as stated in Section C.3.c.1).
d. Maintenance and return of all equipment as specified is required to retain managing or coaching eligibility for the following season.
4.
Managers shall be responsible for attending a rules meeting
and demonstrating an understanding of the rules contained in the Decatur Dixie
Girls Softball, Inc. Official Operating Rules, and Dixie Softball, Inc.
Official Rule Guide Fast Pitch/Slow Pitch.
a. The League
Commissioner shall schedule a meeting, prior to Opening Day to discuss the
rules, and administer a questionnaire.
b. One additional
meeting shall be scheduled to accommodate those having conflicts with the
initial meeting.
c. Attendance at
one of the two meetings is required to be eligible to participate in the
Organization as an official manager.
5. Managers shall monitor and encourage the
sportsmanlike behavior of all players, coaches and spectators associated with
the team. (See G.4.b)
6. Managers are responsible for notifying the
League Commissioner of team problems.
a. Managers shall notify the League Commissioner of any player(s) that withdraw from the roster. (See Section D.1.c.1))
b. Managers shall notify the League Commissioner or his/her agent of injuries incurred by any player(s) during games or practices.
7. Teams will be eligible to play when the
manager has appointed a team parent(s) and reported his/her appointee to the
Auxiliary Chairperson.
1. All players must register with the
Organization to be eligible to be selected to a team through the player
selection process.
a. New and returning players are required to register prior to be eligible for selection to a team roster.
b. Scheduled
registration will be held on more than one date, prior to the scheduled tryout
dates.
c. Late
registration will be held prior to the player selection process. (See Section A.1.a, b)
1)
All players
that register after the deadline will be placed on a reserve roster and will be
assigned to a team as the vice‑president is notified by League
Commissioners or managers of teams reaching the following minimum player
limits, due to attrition or injury.
2)
The minimum of
players are: