Definitions and Interpretation of These Regulations Shall Be in Accordance with the Rules

Softball Victoria

CHAMPIONSHIPS REGULATIONS

These Regulations are made under the Board's Regulation making power in the Rules and contain various directions and requirements of the Association which are, where the context so indicates, mandatory, but which are not of a general nature which justifies inclusion in the main body of the Rules. These Regulations are subject to the Rules and in particular Rule VI/D.

Definitions and interpretation of these Regulations shall be in accordance with the Rules.

In the context of this Regulation all references to an Affiliated Member Association shall also apply to a School Affiliated Association.

A. CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE

(a) A Committee of three to five persons shall be appointed annually by the Board.

(b) SV shall call for nominations for positions on this Committee at least eight weeks prior to the Board meeting at which the appointments shall take place. Nominations shall be accepted from any registered member of a Member Association, and must be signed by the nominee and endorsed by the nominee's Affiliated Member Association.

(d) All nominations shall be accompanied by a resume of relevant qualifications and experience verified by the nominee's Affiliated Member Association.

(e) The Board shall upon receipt of nominations make the appointments to the Committee. The Board shall also appoint a Chairman.

(f) The duties of the Championship Committee are to:-

(i) Liaise with State Championship Host Member Associations in all matters and to assist them where possible to ensure that the Championship is a success.

(ii) Prepare an appropriate playing draw based on team entries including method of finals for each Championship.

(iii) Grading will be determined through a promotion/relegation system and/or a pool system, whichever is appropriate.

(iv) If an Affiliated Member Association does not enter, or withdraws from a Championship that Affiliated Member Association will be placed in the bottom position of the grade beneath that which they last competed in or were to compete in.

(v) Grading shall be based on previous years entries where any new team will be placed at the bottom of the grade below where they were last to compete.

(g) Provide Official Score Cards to the Host Affiliated Member Association

(h) Make a detailed report to the Board which will include:-

(i) Results and standings of immediate past Championships;

(ii) Proposed seeding for the next series of Championships based on these results;

(iii) Recommendations with respect to Championships for consideration of the Board and acceptance by Affiliated Member Associations.

(i) Submit to the Board a list of expenses incurred in the carrying out these duties, including score cards, individual medallions/pennants, travel expenses and telephone expenses.

(j) Keep an official register for each series of Championships.

B. GENERAL

(a) The Victorian Championships (the "Championships") shall be conducted in grades of Open, Under 19, Under 17 and Under 15. Each Championship shall have a female and male section which will be allocated games dependant on the number of teams participating and previous results. Affiliated Member Associations may enter a maximum of one (1) team in each of the female and male sections.

(b) The host Affiliated Member Association shall be determined in accordance with the roster, which shall not include School Affiliated Associations.

(c) New Affiliated Member Associations, except School Affiliated Associations, will be added to the roster with reference to the current host cycle at the time of affiliation. Each Affiliated Association retains its place on the roster which remains as such whether or not it is able to host the Championships.

(d) Affiliated Member Associations shall be advised 2 years in advance of when they are scheduled to host a Championship. If the Affiliated Member Association accepts; details of grounds and other relevant facts are to be forwarded to the Championship Committee no later than the following November.

The Championships dates shall be determined, upon consultation between the Championship Committee and Softball Victoria and presented to the Affiliate Member Associations at the April/May delegates meeting two (2) years in advance.

(e) The perpetual trophies for the Championships shall be as prescribed in the appendices to these Regulations.

(f) SV shall present to each member of the winning team of each Championship grand final, a "Champions" medallion indicating the grade and year. The winning team's Member Association shall be presented with a pennant or plaque.

(g) SV shall present to each member of the unsuccessful team of each Championship grand final a Runners Up medallion indicating the grade and year. The runner up’s Member Association shall be presented with a pennant or plaque.

(h) SV shall present to each Umpire officiating in a Grand Final, a medallion indicating grade and year.

C. CHAMPIONSHIP REQUIREMENTS

1. Team Entries & Registrations

(a) Entries for each Victorian Championship shall be lodged on the official entry form, using the prescribed method.

(b) The official Entry Form, together with Team Entry Fee must be submitted by Affiliated Member Associations to the Softball Victoria office to be received by the due dates advertised by Softball Victoria.

(c) Each participating Affiliated Member Association is required to lodge with each team entry payable to Softball Victoria. The amount of the Entry Fee shall be set by the Finance Committee and advised at the April/May Delegates meeting.

This money is non-refundable and will be retained by SV to cover costs associated with administration, championship medallions, Affiliated Member Association pennants/plaques, and programmes.

(d) Failure to submit official entry, with all details completed, may result in the team entry not being accepted, and shall result in a penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) per offence.

(e) Should the umpire nominated on the entry form not meet the requirements as per Clause 11(I), The Affiliated Member Association shall be advised accordingly and be required to resubmit an acceptable nominee by the appropriate due date. Where the due date has passed the Affiliated Member Association shall, upon notification, resubmit an acceptable nominee within 7 (seven) days.

(f) Failure to comply with Clause C1(d) may result in the team entry not being accepted.

(g) Notification of withdrawal shall be telephoned to the Softball Victoria office and confirmed immediately in writing. Withdrawal shall result in forfeiture of Entry Fee monies paid and the relevant Affiliated Member Association shall be liable to suspension should the situation warrant.

(h) Registration forms for each team must be submitted to the Softball Victoria office by Affiliated Associations by the due date advertised by Softball Victoria.

(i) Details on the submitted form may be altered by Affiliated Member Associations at the respective Championship's scheduled team officials meeting.

(j) No players/officials other than those listed on the form may participate in the Championship without the prior approval of the Disputes Committee.

(k) Failure to submit a registration form by the due date shall result in a penalty of $50.00 (fifty dollars) per offence.

2. Coach

(a) Each team competing must register at least one (1) coach who holds a minimum current National Accreditation Level 3. Such registered team member must actively fulfil the role of coach for that team throughout the Championship.

(b) Any member who fulfils the role of coach or assistant coach, for a competing team throughout the Championship, additional to the coach nominated as per Clause C2 (a) must hold a minimum current National Accreditation Level 1.

3. Scorer

(a) Each team competing must register a scorer who holds a minimum current National Accreditation Level 2. Such registered team member must actively fulfil the role of scorer for that team throughout the Championship.

(b) Failure to comply may result in a fine of $200.00 (two hundred dollars) per offence.

4. Eligibility

(a) Players and officials participating in Championships must be registered members of their respective Affiliated Member Association.

(b) Each Affiliated Member Association team may be allowed a maximum of 5 (five) pick- up players and 2 (two) non-playing officials who have made themselves available to and who are not required by their parent Member Association.

(i) No more than 2 (two) pick-up players to any one team shall be registered with the same parent Association.

(ii) The Championship permit form is to be completed using the online permit system (My Softball Community) and processed 14 (fourteen) days prior to the Championship.

(c) In selecting teams for the Championships, Affiliated Member Association’s may use players from any grade in any competition, in order to balance their teams.

(d) Maximum Age for State Championships is based on 31st December of the year the summer season starts as per member registration process for all age specified competitions. For Example: 2016/17 Summer Season = 31st December 2016

(e) It remains the responsibility of individual Affiliated Member Associations to ensure that players conform to these age limits. If a dispute arises in this regard, proof of age will be required.

(f) Minimum age at Championships shall be 11 (eleven) years of age as at December 31st for Under 15 and Under 17 tournaments.

(g) No player under the age of 14 (fourteen) years of age as at December 31 in the year of the Championship shall be permitted to participate as a player in the Open Championship.

(h) No player under the age of 13 (thirteen) years of age as at December 31 in the year prior to the Championship shall be permitted to participate as a player in the Under 19 Championship.

(i) Provided that a player meets the age requirements for the grade, that player may compete in more than one section of the Championship series.

5. Uniforms

(a) Players shall wear a playing uniform as registered with SV. The uniform shall also conform to the requirements of the Rules of the Game of Softball. Each player's uniform shall have a prominently displayed number. Each player shall retain the same number throughout the Championship.

(b) All officials shall wear a uniform as registered with SV. Enclosed shoes must be worn.

(c) No part of the uniform/equipment authorised for use by State Representative team members and/or Development Academy members shall be worn at Victorian Championships.

(d) Protective clothing may be worn by those players and officials on the bench in the event of inclement weather. Only a registered warm up jacket may be worn on the diamond.

(e) All players participating in State Championships must wear a cap whilst the game is in progress. Caps must be identical, in official team colours and registered with SV.

(f) Any player or official who is not in uniform may be reported on the official score card by the Umpire. Any such report or any infringement of these uniform requirements shall be referred to the Championships Disputes Committee.

(g) The wearing of sponsorship logos on uniforms is permitted but only with the prior approval of Softball Victoria.

(h) Players shall wear batting helmets.

6. Photographs

The Association shall arrange for an official photographer to be in attendance to take team photographs on one specific day of each Championship and arrange a roster in consultation with the photographer. Affiliated Member Associations shall be responsible to arrange any changes with photographer, and shall be required to order and prepay on the day of the session.

7. Compulsory Meetings

Member Association Team Coaches and Managers are required to attend meetings convened prior to the commencement of the Championship or other meetings convened as necessary during the Championship.

Non attendance or late arrival of more than two minutes at any meeting called during the Championships shall result in a fine of $100.00 (one hundred dollars) per offence.

8. Opening and Closing Ceremonies

There shall be a closing ceremony and presentation at each Championship and all participating Affiliated Member Associations are required to have all players, officials and umpires in attendance in full uniform.

There may be an opening ceremony and all participating Affiliated Member Associations are requested to have all members in attendance as requested by the Host Affiliated Member Association.

9. Accommodation

It is the responsibility of each Affiliated Member Association to arrange its own accommodation, confirm the booking in writing, pay the required deposit, and to advise the Host Affiliated Member Association in writing of its arrangements.

10. Team Contact

Should a team have cause to depart the venue during a Championship other than at the end of the days competition, the Team Manager shall notify the Championship Committee representative the name of a person who shall be, at any given time, at the venue and able to make immediate contact with the team.

11. Umpires

(a) Umpires shall wear a uniform in accordance with the Rules of the game of Softball.

(b) Affiliated Member Associations shall indicate their named umpire/s on the Official Entry Form as per Regulation C1(a).

(c) An Affiliated Member Association not able to name an Umpire, who meets the requirements of this Regulation, may in extreme circumstances apply, on the appropriate form, to seek assistance in providing an umpire. Such application and subsequent process must be completed and lodged with the Official Entry form.

(d) Changes to the original named umpire may be made up to fourteen (14) days prior to the Championship and must be notified by the Affiliated Member Association in writing to the Director of Umpiring. Failure to comply will result in a fine of $100.00

(e) All umpires must be eligible as per clauses 11 n, o & p to attend and be available to officiate for the full duration of the Championship. Failure to comply will result in a fine of $100.00

(f) Affiliated Member Associations and each umpire shall be notified in writing by the Director of Umpiring at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Championship indicating whether or not the umpire is required to officiate.

(g) Should a team withdraw from a Championship the nominated umpire is still required to attend, unless notified as per clause C11(f)

(h) Failure of a required umpire notified as per clause C11(f) to attend a Championship shall result in a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00)