UTAH AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION CODE

Revised Nov. 2004

ARTICLE 1: Name The name of the association shall be the Utah Amateur Softball Association, Inc. and shall be known as the Utah ASA.

ARTICLE 2: Purpose The purpose of the association shall be to foster, develop, promote and regulate amateur softball; to provide proper safeguards in accordance with the spirit of true sportsmanship; to encourage the unification of all softball teams and umpires to cause the advance of amateur softball; to promote and conduct softball tournaments and to promote the qualified teaching of softball to the residents of Utah.

ARTICLE 3: Jurisdiction The Utah ASA is an affiliated member of the Amateur Softball Association of America /USA Softball, which is recognized through the 1978 Congressional Amateur Sports Act by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Softball Federation, as the national governing body of amateur softball in the United States of America. The Code of the ASA is adopted by this association and is incorporated herein by reference.

ARTICLE 4: Territory The association shall be limited to include all of the state of Utah.

ARTICLE 5: Officers The State President, Vice President and Player Representative of the association shall be elected at the Commissioner's Council annual meeting to serve a one year term. Candidates for State Player Representative must be a district player representative before being eligible for State Player Representative election. The State President, Vice President or Player Representative of the association can be removed for just cause by a two-thirds vote of the Commissioner's Council or Executive Committee, providing notice is mailed to each member at least ten days prior to the vote on removal. Officer vacancies may be filled at a regular meeting of the Commissioner's Council or Executive Committee, providing notice is mailed to each member not less than ten days prior to the meeting at which the vacancy is to be filled. In addition to the elected officers, the State Commissioner shall appoint annually, a Secretary, State Umpire In Chief, a State Junior Olympic Commissioner, and as many Deputy and District Commissioners, Deputy Umpire In Chief and Deputy Junior Olympic Commissioners as deemed necessary for the conduct of business of the association.

Duties of the president shall be to preside at all sessions of the Executive Committee and the Commissioner's Council meeting. The President shall help to promote the ASA and try to recruit new team and umpire registrations. Shall perform such duties as may be required (i.e. attend tournaments, hand out awards, and other assignments requested by the State Commissioner). The Vice President shall assist the President and perform such duties as may be requested by the State Commissioner.

State Player Representative and Junior Olympic Commissioner shall help to promote the ASA programs and help to increase team registrations. Shall assist in providing player and coaches clinics. Attend all meetings and perform other duties as requested by the State Commissioner.

ARTICLE 6: Commissioner's Council The Commissioner's Council shall be composed of State and District personnel. State personnel shall consist of all members of the Executive Committee. District personnel shall consist of the District Commissioner, District Junior Olympic Commissioner, District Player Representative, District Umpire In Chief. Each member of the Commissioner's Council shall have one vote at the annual meeting. Vacancies shall be filled by the appropriate State and/or District Commissioner. Proxies will not be allowed for Council meetings.

ARTICLE 7: Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be composed of the State and District Commissioners, the State Deputy Commissioners, the State President, State Vice President, State Umpire In Chief, State Junior Olympic Commissioner, State Player Representative, State Secretary, State Treasurer, and the immediate past president. Each member of the Executive Committee shall have one vote at all meetings. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the affairs of the association between council meetings. Proxies will be allowed for meetings of the Executive Committee providing the proxy is a member of the District Commissioners staff. In the case of State Officers, the proxy shall be selected from the District in which they reside. All such proxies must submit a letter of proxy to the State Commissioner ten days prior to the meeting. The letter of proxy must be signed by the Executive Committee member who is absent. Executive Committee meetings can only be attended by Executive Committee members.

ARTICLE 8: Meetings The Commissioner's Council will meet annually following the ASA National Council meeting. The purpose of the annual Commissioner's Council meeting is to elect state officers, vote on properly submitted Code changes, approve the list of sanctioned tournaments, train council members in job responsibilities, and conduct any other business that may properly come before the council. The Commissioner's Council can only be attended by voting members. The Utah ASA General Association meetings will be held at a date following the Commissioner's Council meeting and is open to everyone. The purpose of the General Association meeting is to communicate to the association members the information pertinent for the upcoming season.

ARTICLE 9: League Rules Leagues or districts retain the right to administer their programs with more or less restrictive playing and eligibility rules. Any deviation from ASA rules must be clearly specified for those teams and players involved. It is understood that deviations from ASA rules may render players not eligible for ASA championship play. In the case of ASA suspended or disqualified teams, players, coaches, managers, leagues are advised that if they allow these people to participate, the ASA will not provide umpires. A league is defined as: a specific group of teams that play at a specific location. Teams playing in accelerated leagues are considered accelerated teams and, therefore cannot enter the Recreation State Championship tournament. The State Commissioner will determine leagues and their player’s classification/level of play.

League tournaments may only include registered, regular season ASA teams from within each league, not all-star teams. Recreation JO league tournaments held between Memorial Day and Labor Day must be held Monday through Thursday, and may not include Friday through Sunday play.

ARTICLE 10: Classification The State Commissioner shall have the responsibility of classifying teams, players and leagues. Classification will be based on invitational tournament results as well as the previous year state and regional tournament results. Any team winning the state, regional, or national qualifier two years in a row will automatically be moved up to the next higher level of play. Any team winning the national championship will automatically be moved up to the next higher level of play. Teams and/or players participating in any non ASA sanctioned tournament, in a higher classification will be moved to the higher classification. Junior Olympic teams and or players participating in non-sanctioned tournaments need to understand that these tournaments will affect their Accelerated/Recreation status. Appeals on player and/or team classification shall be in writing, addressed and sent to the State Commissioner by March 1 of the current playing season to be considered for re-classification. An appeal on a player's re-classification must be made by the player. To be eligible for review, all appeals must include statistics (to be supplied by the player) from ASA tournaments only. League information will not be considered. The State Commissioner shall meet with the classification board to review the appeal and make a decision, whose decision shall be final.

ARTICLE 11: Divisions of Play The following divisions and classifications of play are recognized by the Utah ASA.

DIVISIONS CLASSIFICATIONS

Men’s and Women’s Fast Pitch Major, A, B, C, 23 under

Men's and Women's Slow Pitch Major, A, B, C, D, Coed, Industrial

Girls Fast and Slow Pitch Gold-18-16-14-12-10-8 Rec. and Accel

Boys Fast and Slow Pitch 18-16-14-12-10

NOTE ONE: Two separate state tournaments, for accelerated and recreational teams, will be conducted in 16-14-12 and under girl’s fast pitch. Only teams playing in the accelerated state tournament may advance in any level of championship play. Possibility of 18/10 GFP recreational state tournaments will be determined by the State Commissioner.

NOTE TWO: Any team or player that plays in more than two invitational tournaments during one season will be considered to be an accelerated team or player. Players who appear on a high school varsity roster will be considered to be accelerated players. Teams that play in accelerated leagues may be classified as an accelerated team. Such teams and players must play in the accelerated state tournament.

ARTICLE 12: Team and Player Registration A team may register only once in a division of play. An adult player may appear on the roster of more than one team in one division of play, but is eligible to play in ASA invitational and championship tournaments for only the team with the highest classification. JO players may participate in a higher classification ASA invitational sanctioned tournament without affecting their own classification. They would be eligible to play for the higher classified team for that tournament only. Rosters on which her name appears but for a team for which she is not eligible in tournament play, must be marked “NE” meaning not eligible for tournament play. Notwithstanding the above, a player may appeal the decision of limiting her play to the higher classification to the District Commissioner of jurisdiction. The appeal must be in writing and sent to the District Commissioner who will then meet with the State Commissioner on the appeal for consideration. Such appeals must be made prior to the player signing any roster. Exception: A team may add players to their regular league roster from a lower class, providing that said additions take place prior to June l, and the players are removed from the higher classification on June l.

ARTICLE 13: Team Registration Fees Teams may become members of the association by paying the annual registration fee. All teams registering with the state association will be registered with the Amateur Softball Association of America. All adult teams and JO Recreation teams shall pay a registration fee of $20.00 per team and each team in the league must join and pay the fee. Independent teams, without ASA league affiliation or because all league members did not register, shall pay a registration fee of $40.00. Fall teams and league registration fee is $15.00. Accelerated JO team registration fee shall be $21.00 per player and 10.00 per coach, this registration will require both computer forms and regular roster to be filled out.

ARTICLE 14: Team Rosters All players must compete in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Amateur Softball Association of America. Team rosters on an official ASA roster form must physically be in the hands of the State Commissioner by June 15. The maximum number of players permitted on a roster is 20, which includes all transfer players and pick up players. No player may transfer to another team after July 15, if such transfers occur prior to July 15, it must be communicated to the State Commissioner to be considered valid for tournament play. All players should have picture identification with them at all ASA events. Once a player and/or parent have signed the official roster form, the only person who can release the player is the head coach.

ARTICLE 15: Travel Permits ASA registered teams wishing to travel outside of the state of Utah for the purpose of playing in ASA invitational tournaments, must be a team in good standing with the Utah ASA and obtain a travel permit from their District Commissioner. A copy of the travel permit must be forwarded to the State Commissioner prior to the team leaving for the tournament. Teams that travel to compete in National Qualifiers will need to contact their District Commissioner at least two weeks in advance of the tournament to obtain a special tournament entry form. This form will replace the travel permit when attending a National Qualifier.

ARTICLE 16: Residency Players must compete on a team comprised solely of players from the district in which they are a bonafide resident on or before March 1. If a team competes in league play, it must be in the district in which they are a bonafide resident. In the event there is not any competition in the district in which a team or player is eligible to play, they may play in an adjacent district, providing they have the written permission of both District Commissioners and the State Commissioner.

EXCEPTION ONE: Adult and 18 and under players may play, or have domicile anywhere in the state.

An 18U player is defined as a player who has reached the age of 17 prior to January 1^st of the current year.

EXCEPTION TWO: 16 and under players, playing on an 18U team, can have up to 1/4 of their active regular rostered players from outside their district and such players must be an 18U player as in Exception one above.

ARTICLE 17: Pickup Players Teams are allowed to pickup a maximum of three players for championship tournament competition. Pickup players must come from the same or lower classification and cannot be from a team entered at the same or advanced level of competition. Pickups made prior to the State Championship tournament must come from the same district as the team making the pickup. Pickups made after the State tournament may come from any district as long as they competed in the State tournament, but are not still eligible for championship tournament play.

Slow pitch teams are allowed to pickup a maximum of three players, providing the pickups are made after the State tournament and that they come from the same or lower classification and from within the State of Utah.

ARTICLE 18: Junior Olympic Competition JO players must compete on teams composed of players from the same district. Once a JO player and or parent has signed a team roster, they cannot change teams, nor be approached about changing teams by other coaches, team representatives, and/or parents. If a player wants to be released she must contact her coach and ask for a written release that will be sent to the District Commissioner on or before the State tournament managers meeting. Add on players for invitational play must be from the same district. A player may not be added on for invitational play if her team is entered in tournament play that same weekend. A player may not be picked up if her team is eligible to play in the same or next level of tournament play. Teams advancing to regional or national tournaments may only pick up players who have played in championship play. All teams entered in State Championship tournaments must be certified eligible and in good standing with the Utah ASA by the District Commissioner from the district in which they reside. JO teams must submit copies of documents (i.e. birth certificate, baptismal record etc.) to verify age in all tournament play. Coaches are advised to carry a copy for each player at all times. Players should carry a photo ID with them at all events.

Note: See Article 11 Note Two.

ARTICLE 19: Invitational Tournaments Local and district organizations with the approval of their District Commissioner, shall apply for sanction of tournaments by mailing tournament request, along with the appropriate sanction fee of $100.00 per classification/age division, to the State Commissioner by the date indicated on the sanction request form. Sanction requests received after the deadline will be assessed an additional $100.00 per classification. The appropriate fee must accompany the request in order for consideration. The State Commissioner shall provide a list of sanctioned tournaments to the Commissioners Council for approval. The State Commissioner has full authority to sanction or not sanction any request received after the deadline. Notice of acceptance or rejection shall be provided to the person making the request. If for some reason a tournament is canceled, the fee will be fully refunded provided the Utah ASA State office is contacted in writing, requesting a refund. Any team participating in an ASA sanctioned tournament while not a registered ASA team shall forfeit their right to participate in ASA events in the future and the right to be an ASA registered team. Teams unable to provide proof of current registration must register with the tournament director by paying a $40.00 fee which shall be forwarded to the ASA State Office, along with the team name, and mailing address. A tournament director allowing non registered teams to play in an ASA sanctioned tournament shall forfeit their right to request and run future ASA tournaments. Any ASA registered team that fails to abide by ASA rules is subject to disqualification from participation in ASA tournaments. No cash prizes will be awarded to any individual, team sponsor, or family member thereof, unless said tournament is run by the Utah ASA. No tournament will be conducted that conflicts with championship play in the same division and classification. All registrations and publicity shall include the statement: Sanctioned by the Amateur Softball Association. No invitational tournaments shall be advertised/publicized as an ASA sanctioned tournament without the approval of the State Commissioner. Violations may result in Executive Committee action.

Sanction approval requires that the following stipulations are adhered to:

1. Tournament UIC will be assigned by the State UIC with the approval of the State Commissioner.

The fast pitch UIC fee is as follows: The slow pitch UIC fee is as follows:

1 - 8 Teams = $125.00 1-8 Teams = $100.00

9-19 Teams = $175.00 9-19 Teams = $150.00

20-30 Teams = $250.00 20-30 Teams = $200.00

31 and up = $400.00 31 – up = $250.00

2. Fast pitch tournaments must use a minimum of two umpires per game. Umpire game fees:

Youth tournaments $20.00 per umpire per game.

Adult tournaments $ 25.00 per umpire per game.

MMFP tournaments $ 30.00 per umpire per game with 3 umpire

Mechanics.

3. All umpire game fees for 'IF" games that are not played will be returned to the tournament director.

4. All umpire game fees for tournament games not played will be returned provided the umpires assigned to work the game not played were reassigned to another game during that specific game slot. Any exceptions to the games fees as outlined must be approved by the State Commissioner.

5. Slow pitch tournaments may use one umpire. Umpire game fees: $18.00 per umpire per game.

6. Only ASA logo balls may be used, fast pitch balls for fast pitch games, slow pitch balls for slow pitch games.

7. Tournament must provide at least one new ball per game.

8. Teams from outside the State of Utah must have travel permits, and present them to the tournament director before play begins.

9. Only umpires in good standing with the Utah ASA may be assigned to sanctioned tournaments.

10. Umpires must wear the official ASA umpire attire as outlined in the ASA Code.

11. At the conclusion of the tournament, the tournament director is responsible for forwarding within five days the following information and paperwork to the State Commissioner:

Final completed bracket Order of finish

All travel permits All rosters

Tournament report List of working umpires

12. Failure to comply with the above may forfeit your right to request and run future tournaments.

ARTICLE 20: Championship Tournaments The ASA shall sanction championship tournaments for qualifying teams to play in state, regional, and national tournaments in all recognized classes of competition for which there are registered teams. All championship tournaments will be conducted on facilities whose local league programs are 100% registered with the Utah ASA, including but not limited to all fast pitch and slow pitch programs. Exceptions are at the discretion of the State Commissioner. All championship tournaments shall be conducted in accordance with the ASA Competition Procedural Code, as well as the Rocky Mountain Regional Code and the Utah ASA Code. At such time as the tournament bracket has been established, money for entry fees will not be refunded for any reason. All sales of gate tickets, programs, souvenirs, T-Shirts, etc at championship tournaments will be administered by the Utah ASA State Office without any encumbrances, and any championship tournament received, acknowledges this right whether referenced therein or not. Food and drink items will be negotiated with the championship facility. Teams and players entering championship tournaments must be current members of the ASA with all fees and accounts paid in full. Location of championship tournaments will be determined by the State Commissioner. Adult and JO teams must be registered with the Utah ASA no later than June 1 to be eligible for championship play. Teams wishing to participate in state championship play must submit the appropriate fee to the district commissioner in whose district the tournament is to be played by June 1. State tournament entry fees are $250.00. Decisions to accept late entries for championship play will be made by the District Commissioner in whose district the tournament is to be held. If a late entry is accepted, the team will be assessed a late fee of $50.00. Failure to comply with the deadline may cause teams to forfeit their right to play in championship play.

The sanction fee for state and regional tournaments is $32.50 per team entered. The tournament director is responsible for all additional financial obligations. The State will provide the balls, and awards for all championship play. Tournament directors are financially responsible to the State ASA for these items. Any ASA registered team that fails to abide by ASA rules is subject to disqualification from participation in ASA tournaments. Teams that are eligible to advance in championship play and fail to do so because of participation in other organizational play are subject to suspension/disqualification from the ASA. At the conclusion of the tournament there will be an awards ceremony where awards are handed out properly to the teams. Any team eligible of advancing to the next level of play will need to commit immediately and pay the appropriate fees. If a team fails to comply they will forfeit their berth. At the conclusion of the tournament the tournament director and district commissioner must forward within five days all information and paperwork to the State Commissioner.

Finalized completed bracket

          Official order of finish
          All money due the State office
          List of working umpires
          Financial statement

Rosters

Tournament awards will be based on the number of teams entered into the championship tournament.

            1 - 4 Teams            lst place awards
            5 - 8 Teams            lst and 2nd place awards
            9 - or more             lst, 2nd and 3rd place awards

JO accelerated and adult teams will be bracketed into the state championships by a straight draw. All-star teams entering the State Recreational tournament must register as a new team.

ARTICLE 21: Umpire Registration Fees Umpires must be a member of an ASA district or state umpiring organization to be eligible for Utah ASA registration. There are three classes of umpire registrations:

ASA CERTIFIED UMPIRES     The maximum registration fee is $40.00 and the umpire must attend a Utah ASA Umpires certification clinic and score at least 80% on a closed book exam. He is eligible to officiate in local, district, state, regional and national tournament and league games. He receives all ASA umpire supplies and publications, and is covered by ASA accident and liability insurance. Youth umpires (those 19 years of age & younger) register for a fee of $30.00.

ASA LDS CHURCH REGISTERED UMPIRES     Registration fee is $15.00. He receives all ASA umpire supplies and publications and is covered by ASA accident and liability insurance. Clinic attendance and testing is offered but not required. These umpires are not allowed to umpire ASA leagues or tournaments.

ASA AFFILIATED UMPIRES      Registration fee is $10.00, which includes the opportunity to attend a Utah ASA umpire certification clinic, take an open book examination and receive a book/umpire manual. These umpires are not allowed to umpire ASA leagues or tournaments.

$5.00 of the fee is to be deposited into the State Umpire Account. $5.00 of the fee is to be deposited into the District Umpire Account. The remaining moneys are to be sent to the Utah ASA State Commissioner.

ARTICLE 22: Protests All disputes during tournament play pertaining to the interpretation of playing rules must be settled on the playing field by the tournament UIC or his designated representative. All disputes over rule interpretations in league play must be submitted for ruling in accordance with local league rules. In the absence of such league protest rules, the protests should be submitted to the district UIC. Player eligibility protests should be addressed to the District Commissioner/State Commissioner.

ARTICLE 23: Suspensions Any player, team, coach or fan, who assaults an umpire, or any other ASA official in any manner, or who otherwise violates any ASA rule, including eligibility rules, shall be immediately suspended. Any person(s) so suspended, shall have a right to a hearing as outlined in the ASA Code.

Article 24: Finances All funds of the association are to be used for the operation of the Association and shall not inure to the benefit of any one person. The Commissioners Committee appointed by the State Commissioner shall operate under the guidelines established in finance operating procedures, approved by the Executive Committee. The Association shall operate with the closing date of December 31^st.

ARTICLE 25: Amendments This code may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Committee present and voting, or by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the Commissioner's Council present and voting. A proposed amendment to this code must be in writing and signed by a voting member and sent to the State Commissioner at least forty five (45) days prior to the meeting that the amendment will be voted on. The State Commissioner will then prepare and mail all properly submitted proposed amendments to each voting member of the meeting on which the vote will be taken. Such mailings must be at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting.