|
 |
Iowa
Amateur Softball Association
Classification
Revised Feb. 28, 2010
Major Changes in BOLD RED
|
Article 306 Classification
General
1. The Iowa ASA’s classification philosophy is our mission is best achieved
by grouping together teams within our state who are similar in caliber to one
another.
2. In judging teams we examine their ability to compete within that class and
not their ability to win that class in ASA Championship play. Teams are to be
classified at the highest possible classification level using this standard.
3. A teams desire to play in a state tournament or local invitational
tournament will have no bearing on Iowa ASA Classification decisions. 4. Team
classification shall be based on the roster that is submitted.
B. Classification Board
1. The Classification Board shall be appointed by the Iowa ASA Commissioner
and will consist of three (3) or more members, one of which should be the Player
Representative and District Commissioner in which the team registers. Meetings:
The Classification Board will meet at least once a year, or any such time as
deemed necessary to hear all appeals, and review all classifications. They shall
determine the proper athletic proficiency for teams. Authority: Iowa ASA will
designate a Classification Board to evaluate, classify and review team
competitive levels according to the classification guidelines. The
Classification Board shall have the authority to act on the following: 1.
Classify players and teams prior to the beginning of the regular season play
based on past performance and current season roster. 2. Review players and teams
for possible reclassification prior to the appropriate ASA deadline.
3. Hear properly filed appeals of players and teams on their classification
status by the appropriate ASA deadline. 4. Develop additional guidelines and
regulations as the need arises.
Appeals:
Teams classified in
accordance with this article have the right to appeal their teams classification
to the State Classification Board. The State Classification Board will assist
the National Classification Board for Adult Men’s, Women’s and Co-Ed Slow Pitch
by providing information to assist in these decisions. When called upon to make
a determination regarding a player classification Iowa ASA officials will
examine a variety of factors including but not limited their history in ASA
championship play, history with other associations, softball skill level and
past athletic accomplishments outside of softball and to the National
Classification Board for final review. All appeals must be submitted by the team
manager and contain the following information on the Appeal Form and include: 1.
A copy of the team’s current Championship Roster. 2. A brief statement stating
the reason for your appeal. 3. Evidence to support the reclassification appeal
Example:
Team Names, Game Scores,
and Classification of other ASA registered teams played in the current softball
season. Board Objectives: To determine proper athletic proficiency for teams,
the Classification Board shall be limited to an overall comparison of all teams
within the state. Mandatory Reclassification/Restricted
Classification C. Women’s 11" and Co-Ed Slow Pitch Classification
According to Article 507 G
2 of the ASA Code any team that has four or more players on a roster, including
pick-up players, from a team or team that was reclassified, must play in the
next higher classification for the teams next ASA season. In all Adult national
Championships, the top finishing 10% ( plus ties ) will be reclassified to the
next higher classification. Fractions will be rounded up to the nearest whole
number. NOTE: If a team fails to participate in Championship play the next
calendar year this restriction will remain in effect until the team participates
at the higher classification.
Mandatory Player Classification-
Starting January 1 each
year will start a player appeal process where each player can submit an appeal
to have their player rating dropped. This process ends June 30 and at that time
appeals will not be accepted until January. We have taken our team procedures
and based it on the ASA Code in which a team could have 3 3
Mandatory players from the next higher division on their roster. We consider
our list equal to Mandatory classified players. With the player classification
system that we have in place helps create a fair and level playing field for all
of our teams not only at a local but also at a national level. Below are the
procedures that we use on how to classify a team. Players on the ASA Restricted
List can only participate in the Men’s A or Coed Open Programs. The following
teams may have up to the following number of players on their roster:
A.
Women’s
Class Open Any female player.
B.
Women’s
Class C Three (3) Open classified players.
C.
Women’s
Class D Three (3) C classified players.
D.
Co-ed
Class Open Any female player and two (2) male players from the ASA Restricted
Player’s List.
E.
Co-ed
Class C No Open classified female players and no male classified players above
Class C.
F.
Co-ed
Class D Two (2) female C classified players and two (2) male classified players.
A PLAYER MAY NOT PLAY IN MORE THAN ONE CLASSIFICATION LOWER THAN THEIR
CURRENT PLAYER CLASSIFICATION. A PLAYER IS CLASSIFIED TO A SPECIFIC
CLASSIFICATION, UNTIL RECLASSIFIED BY THE NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION BOARD.
Team Restricted Classification
Returning teams with two or more wins, excluding forfeits, in a state
tournament must play in the same or higher classification in their next ASA
playing season and shall be considered the same team for restricted and/or
mandatory reclassification purposes.
D. Men’s 12" Slow
Pitch (Class A, B, C, and D)
G. New Team
A NEW team is defined as being a team with no more than 4 members from a
team’s roster in their previous season in ASA. A PLAYER MAY NOT PLAY IN MORE
THAN ONE CLASSIFICATION LOWER THAN THEIR CURRENT PLAYER CLASSIFICATION. A PLAYER
IS CLASSIFIED TO A SPECIFIC CLASSIFICATION, UNTIL RECLASSIFIED BY THE NATIONAL
CLASSIFICATION BOARD.
A. A NEW Class B team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class A Players.
B. A NEW Class C team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class B Players.
C. A NEW Class D team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class C Players.
D. A NEW Class E team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class D Players.
For purposes of this provision players subject to mandatory reclassification
will be treated as though they played their most recent ASA season at the level
to which their team is being reclassified to.
2. Returning Teams
Returning Teams shall be defined as team that returns with 4 or more players
(including pick-ups, players from any other reclassified teams of the same
level, and up to three players from one classification higher than their current
player classification.
3. Team Restricted Classification
Returning teams with two or more wins, excluding forfeits, in a state
tournament must play in the same or higher classification in their next ASA
playing season and shall be considered the same team for restricted and/or
mandatory reclassification purposes. Returning teams with one or fewer wins,
excluding forfeits, in a state tournament may not drop to a lower classification
without district commissioner and State Classification Committee approval.
4. Player Classification
All men’s slow pitch players participating in championship play will be
individually classified. The National Softball Player Classification Board will
oversee all aspects of adult slow pitch classification including those for both
teams and players. Iowa ASA representatives will assist the board by providing
information to assist in these decisions. When called upon to make a
determination regarding a player classification Iowa ASA officials will examine
a variety of factors including but not limited their history in ASA championship
play, history with other associations, softball skill level and past athletic
accomplishments outside of softball. Player Rosters for championship play may
include higher classified players. Players who were members of a team subject to
mandatory or restricted reclassification must maintain the same classification
as assigned by the mandatory or reclassified rule in their next ASA season. The
number of players shall be as follows:
a. A Class B team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class A Players.
b. A Class C team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class B Players.
c. A Class D team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class C Players.
d. A Class E team may not have more than 3 members who are classified as
Class D Players.
NOTE: A PLAYER MAY NOT PLAY IN MORE THAN ONE CLASSIFICATION LOWER THAN THEIR
CURRENT PLAYER CLASSIFICATION. A PLAYER IS CLASSIFIED TO A SPECIFIC
CLASSIFICATION, UNTIL RECLASSIFIED BY THE NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION BOARD.
5. Mandatory Reclassification
Returning Teams and Players must play in the next higher classification of
championship play in their next ASA playing season if they finish in the:
1. In all Adult National Championships, the top finishing 10% (plus ties)
will be reclassified to the next higher classification.
2. The Top (2) two finishers in the Iowa ASA Men’s C Slow Pitch State
Tournament for two consecutive years.
3. The Men’s Class D and Class E (Rec.) Slow Pitch East Champion, West
Champion, and Championship Series Champion (if different than the East or West
Champion).
Mandatory reclassified teams must play at the next higher classification for
one year before appealing to play in another classification level. NOTE: If a
team fails to participate in Championship play the next calendar year this
restriction will remain in effect until the team participates at the higher
classification.
6. Restricted Player List
Any player on the Iowa ASA Restricted Player List will not be eligible to
participate in championship play below the B level. The classification committee
will be responsible for identifying members of the Restricted Player List.
Classification criteria for Men’s Slow Pitch
The following factors will be considered when judging a slow pitch team’s
appropriate classification level:
1. The level of competition roster members have competed at and the success
they have experienced at these levels in previous years of ASA and non-ASA
championship play.
2. The level of success team’s judged to be of similar or lesser caliber have
accomplished in ASA championship play.
3. Past athletic accomplishments of roster members outside of 12" slow-pitch
softball.
4. Results of invitational tournament play.
5. The number of home runs a team can consistently hit assuming normal
weather conditions and a fence distance of 300 feet. Teams will generally be
placed at the highest level where they can consistently hit the number of home
runs allowable.
The following describes the attributes of teams’ in each classification
level: Class B teams: All or nearly all players are high skilled outstanding
experienced players with few, in any, mid-caliber players in the lineup. Several
players will have competed in inter-collegiate athletics including some who may
have competed in NCAA Division I. Class C teams: There will be a mix of highly
skilled and mid-caliber players in the lineup. Very few players will have
competed in inter-collegiate athletics and typically at levels below NCAA
Division I. The vast majority of team members will have not competed in
athletics above the high school level. Class D teams: Teams will consist of
predominately of mid and low-caliber players who have either never played
inter-collegiate athletics or if they have they are very inexperienced softball
players. Class E/Rec teams: Teams will consist of almost exclusively low caliber
players often with very little softball experience. Players should have little
history of success in competitive athletic competition in high school and
otherwise.
E. Men’s Modified Pitch – Mandatory
Reclassification/Restricted Classification
A.
The top 2
finishers in the Class B state tournament shall be required to move up to Class
A the following season provided they have a minimum of 4 players on their roster
(including pick-up players) from the previous season.
B.
Any team
that wins at least 2 games in the Class A state tournament will not be allowed
to compete in the Class B state tournament the following season provided they
have a minimum of 5 players on their roster (including pick-up players) from the
previous season.
F. 16 inch and 14 inch Slow Pitch.
Teams must compete in
district competition to be able to compete in state tournament play. Teams will
advance to the Major, A and B state tournaments based on their finish in the
district tournament. The number of teams that advance from district play to
state tournament play in each class shall be based on the number of teams
competing in their district tournament. The Top 4 teams from Major 16" State
tournament automatically qualify for Men’s Major 16" State Tournament the next
year. The Top team from the Men’s 16" Class A State Tournament automatically
qualifies for the 16" Men’s Major State Tournament the next year.
G. Men’s Fast Pitch. Teams must compete in district competition to be
able to compete in state tournament play. Teams will advance to the A, B and C
state tournaments based on their finish in the district tournament. The number
of teams that advance from district play to state tournament play in each class
shall be based on the number of teams competing in their district tournament.
Note: Any Men’s Fast Pitch team may declare that they want to play in the Major
classification for the season. If a team declares that they want to play in the
Major classification, they are eligible to enter the Major National Tournament
without playing in District, State and Regional Tournaments.
H. Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Teams.
Teams may classify
themselves to levels of competition, be classified by the JO District
Commissioner where they are playing league(s), or be MANDATORY RECLASSIFIED
based on the following: Note: Girl’s Class B Teams must be made up of players
who participate in the same league.
A player may participate
as a regular rostered player on only one team within a division in championship
play during a season. A team may register and participate in more than one
division of play, but is limited to only one classification within national
Championship Finals play. Exception: Girl’s Fast Pitch 8 & Under Coach Fast
Pitch Players may also play in Girl’s 10 & Under Fast Pitch. A team that wins
two or more games, excluding forfeits, in a state tournament or regional
tournament may not participate in a lower classification in their next ASA
playing season. A team that plays in the same age division that has five or more
players on a roster, including pick-ups, from such a team shall be considered
the same team. The top three (3) teams in Class B and Class C from the previous
year that plays in the same age division will be classified to the next higher
classification in their next ASA playing season if that team has five (5) or
more players (including pick-ups) that participated with that team. Example - If
a team that plays in 10-Under Class B finishes in the top three places in the
state or regional tournament and stays in the 10-Under age division in their
next ASA playing season they must move up to class A. If the team moves up to
the 12-Under age division they may play in either class A or Class B, but are
not required to move up to Class A. A team that wins at least two games in a
state or regional tournament may not move down a Class provided they stay in the
same age division. Each JO District Commissioner may classify teams in their
District according to: a) past performance and current season roster based on a
level of play where a team will be competitive b) classification changes made by
the District Commissioner will be notified in writing to the affected teams no
later than June 1st
of the current
year. Appeals of classification changes must be made in writing within five (5)
days of notification, to the State Commissioner, whose decision is final. Note:
Teams that are mandatory reclassified shall not be allowed to appeal their
re-classification.
The following criteria may be used as
guidelines
when evaluating
teams. The JO District Commissioner will have the final say as to what class
your team will be placed in based on the level where your team will be
competitive, unless your team is mandatory reclassified:
Class A Teams:
Have numerous skilled
players. Pitcher(s) are skilled and show above average control. Players are
generally recruited or selected via tryouts. Teams play in five (5) or more
Invitational Tournaments, occasionally traveling out of state or more than 60
miles to tournaments. Teams generally place in the upper half of the league or
tournaments that they enter, occasionally winning a tournament. Teams may
practice in the off-season. Class B Teams:
Have a few skilled
players. Offense and Defense is limited in ability and inconsistent although
Teams may play in invitational tournaments. Pitcher(s) do not control the game.
All players who wish to play are welcome. Teams play in three (3) or more
Invitational Tournaments, only traveling 60 miles or less to tournaments. Teams
may participate in out-of-state tournaments if the location is within a 60-mile
radius of the team’s origin. Teams generally place in the upper three-fourths of
the league or tournaments that they enter. Teams may hold practices in the
off-season. Play is mostly recreational in nature, allowing players to
participate in other activities and may not devote a large amount of time to
softball. Class C Teams:
This division has no
advancement and is set up for teams that are strictly recreational in nature.
These tournaments are designed to give teams with little or no tournament
experience a chance to participate in a state tournament. All players must be
from the same league. Teams play in no more than 2 invitational tournaments.
Players are less skilled and not as competitive as class B teams. Teams do not
have a desire to advance to further levels of Regional or National play.
I. Appeal Process see also
How to Appeal
Your Classification
State Classification Board
Teams/Players will have a
right to appeal their classification after participating at the higher
classification. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the State
Commissioner on an Iowa ASA appeal form and must be fully and accurately
completed. The State Commissioner will review and forward the appeal with a
recommendation to the National Softball Player Classification Board (NSPC) and
the Chair of the Tournament Programs Committee. The SCC will consist of members
appointed by the Board by the State Commissioner.
Given the interconnected nature of team and player classifications, all team
appeals shall result in a complete review of each team member’s classification
status. Appeals can be made starting January 1 and will conclude June 30 with no
further reviews until the following January. If a team appeal is approved a
roster will be frozen for the balance of the year. If the team adds a player to
their roster, except Pick-Up Players pursuant to 9
Article 503 of the national code, the appeal is nullified and the team is
reclassified to at least the next higher classification.
and the State Classification Committee (SCC)
1. The primary factor in the decision making process of the state
classification board shall be the players on their roster from the previous
season and the players on their roster for the current season.
2. The team must compete in the class that the classification board assigns
the team during the next season that they compete in ASA championship play or an
ASA sanctioned tournament. If the team skips a season of championship play, they
will be required to play in the class that they were assigned for the previous
season in ASA.
3. Player classification reviews will involve the consideration varied
factors. The claim there are certain players, within the classification level
being sought, that are superior to the one requesting reclassification will not
alone be sufficient grounds for a successful appeal.
4. To successfully appeal for removal from the Restricted Player List a
player must demonstrate they have made a bona fide commitment to consistently
play throughout the current season with a C level team and they are not involved
in playing with a higher classification team regardless of association
ASA Slow Pitch
Player Classification Database Online
The Amateur Softball Association of
America
(ASA) official ASA Slow Pitch Player Database is now available online.
In an effort to properly classify teams, the website will continue to be a
work-in-progress and contains data from the past five years of championship
play.
Click
http://www.asasoftball.com/adult/associations.aspx to view the
database.
“The ASA feels this database will better maintain the integrity of our slow
pitch play,” said ASA Executive Director Ron Radigonda. “This tool will be
utilized to help enforce the ASA Code that was passed in November of 2008 that
rates each player. The combined player ratings for an entire roster then
determines the classification that team must play starting in the 2009 season.”
The
website will be continuously updated as more upgrades are completed. Please
check the site on a regular basis as player appeal process information will be
made available at a later date. The National Adult Slow Pitch Classification
Board will handle all appeals and the five members of the Board will be released
at later date.
G. Mandatory Classification
01.
Mandatory Player Classification. Starting January 1 each year will
start a player appeal process where each player can submit an appeal to
have their player rating dropped. This process ends June 30 and at that
time appeals will not be accepted until January. We have taken our team
guidelines and based it on the ASA Code in which a team could have 3
Mandatory players from the next higher division on their roster. We
consider our list equal to Mandatory rated players. With the player
rating system that we have in place helps create a fair and level
playing field for all of our teams not only at a local but also at a
national level. Below are the guidelines that we use on how to classify
a team. Players on the ASA Restricted List can only participate in the
Men’s A or Coed Open Programs.
a. Men’s
Slow Pitch
-
01.Men’s A = 2 Player’s
from the ASA Restricted Players List.
-
02.Men’s B = 3 A Rated players and no players from the
Restricted Player List.
-
03.Men’s C = Three ( 3 ) B classified players and no players
from Class A or the ASA Restricted Player's List.
-
04.Men’s D = Three ( 3 ) C classified players and no players
from Class A, Class B or the Restricted Player's List.
-
05.Men’s E = Three ( 3 ) D
classified players and no players from Class A, Class B, Class C
or the Restricted Player's List.
NOTE: No A Rated
players may participate in the D Level or/and no C and above Rated
Players may participate in the E Level.
b.
Women’s Slow Pitch
-
01. Women’s Open = Any
Female Player
-
02. Women’s C = Three ( 3) Open classified players.
-
03. Women’s D = Three ( 3
) C classified players and no Open classified players.
c. Co-ed
Slow Pitch
-
01. Co-ed Open = Any
Female Player and two ( 2 ) male players from the ASA Restricted
Player’s List.
-
02. Co-ed C = No Open classified female players and no male
classified players from Class A, Class B, or the ASA Restricted
Player's List.
-
03. Co-ed D = Two ( 2 )
female C classified players and two ( 2 ) male C classified
players. No Open classified female players or male players from
Class A, Class B, or the ASA Restricted Players List.
NOTE: Players that have
no ASA playing history should be handled in the following manner. If
a track record of a player can be verified in another National
Association that player can be rated at that level or higher.
IMPORTANT DATES
1. The age that a Junior Olympic
player age as of December 31st determines the age in
which the player is eligible to play the following
year. Players of a younger age classification
may play in an older age classification, but an
older age classification player may not play in
the younger age classification.
2010 Calendar Year Season
10-Under
- A player born after December 31, 1998 is ELIGIBLE
12-Under - A player born after December 31, 1996 is ELIGIBLE
14-Under - A player born after December 31, 1994 is ELIGIBLE
16-Under - A player born after December 31, 1992 is ELIGIBLE
18-Under - A player born after December 31, 1990 is ELIGIBLE
2.
The cutoff date for determining eligibility in Masters Divisions (35, 40,
& 45 of age and over)
of play is DECEMBER 31ST
of the current season.
Uniforms:
In accordance with Iowa ASA code, Article 206, team members for state
tournaments are
required to wear
the same (like) colored shirt with at least a six inch high Arabic numeral and
visible on the back of the uniform shirt.
If your team qualifies for the national championship
tournament, all team
members will be required to be in identical uniforms ASA Rule 3-6.
All
Junior Olympic Fast
Pitch batting helmets shall be equipped with a NOCSAE
approved face mask/guard.
Pick Up Player Information
An
Official pick-up player form must be obtained from the Iowa ASA State Office.
You may
pick up one, two or three players for after your first
tournament has been completed in
championship play, with the exception of national Qualifiers. Your roster can have no
more than 20
players at any one time. Players may be deleted to make room
for pick-up players if your roster would
exceed 20 players. Please read the following information regarding pick-up players.
The pick-up
player form must be signed by the State Commissioner
and accompany the roster to the next level of play
for
each team.
In
Youth Play, you may only pick-up players from your same or lower age
group from a team
that is no longer eligible for championship play..
If you are a Class B team, you may only pick-
up players from other Class
B teams that are no longer eligible for championship play.
If you
are a Class A team, you may pick-up players from a Class A or a
Class B team that is no
longer eligible for championship play.
In
Adult Play, you may pick-up players from any team that is in your class
or lower that is
no longer eligible for championship play. If you have already picked up a player or players
after
district tournament play,
You may not have more than three pick-up players
and not exceed 20 players (including pick-up players). Pick-up players may
be from one class
higher, provided those players played at the same class (or lower) than
the team that is picking
them up and they do not exceed the three players allowed from one class higher.
In
youth and adult play, the players that you pick-up, must come from teams that
are no
longer eligible for championship play and they must come from teams that
are registered with
the
Iowa ASA for the current season of play.
Your roster is limited to a maximum of 20
players, including pick-up players.