Playoff Seeding Announcement- May 6, 2017, 5:00 Pm;

47th ANNUAL SOFTBALL FINALS

Playoff Seeding Announcement- May 6, 2017, 5:00 pm; www.cif-la.org

Playoff Dates- All Divisions

Round 1 Tuesday, May 9, 2017 Home Sites

Round 2 (round of 16)Thursday, May 11, 2017 Home Sites

Quarterfinals Monday, May 15, 2017 Home Sites

Semifinals Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Home Sites

Finals Saturday, May 20, 2017 Cal State Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Division IV- 8:00 am Division III- 10:45 am Division II- 1:30 pm Division I- 4:15 pm

Schools are not to host “Senior Night” during the playoffs in any sport. This event needs to be held during the regular season. Any school who partakes in having this event during the playoffs will be penalized and held accountable. The playoffs are a CIF LA City Section event. Please make sure the head coach is aware of this policy.

*Game times are 3:00 pm unless otherwise indicated*

Playoff officials will be coordinated by the Softball Unit Assigners and assignment notifications will be sent to home schools for Round 1, Round 2, Quarterfinals and Semifinals via the arbiter. Officials for the Finals will be arranged by the Sports Coordinator in coordination with the Unit Assigners. PLAYOFF ENTRY PROCEDURES

Seeding Committee Meeting The seeding for the Softball Championships will be done by a committee made up of five members. One coaching representative may be present to provide guidance and clarification. However, this coach may not be a voting member. NO OTHER COACHES WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SEEDING PROCESS OR BE IN ATTENDANCE. The Seeding Committee will determine the placement of all teams in each of the pre-determined four divisions. Divisions I, II, III and IV will be 20-team brackets. The Seeding Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 6.

Playoff brackets will be released at 5 pm and posted on the Section website, www.cif-la.org, under Sports / Softball / Playoff Brackets.

Selection Process All league champions are guaranteed a playoff berth (unless there is a tie) for the division that has been pre-determined before the season. If multiple teams tie as league champions, one will be determined as the automatic entry and the others as at-large entries with no guarantees of making the playoffs. League finish determines who goes on the board first for seeding consideration.

In the event of ties, the established tie-breaking procedures for softball will be used to determine league standings and automatic entries. All other teams will be considered and selected on an at-large basis.

Tie-Breaking Procedures 1. Head-to-Head competition; if tied… 2. Run differential between the two schools; if still tied… 3. Common Opponents; if still tied… 4. Coin flip THERE WILL BE NO GAMES PLAYED TO BREAK A TIE.

GENERAL INFORMATION

HOME SCHOOL’S RESPONSIBILITIES For all rounds the higher seed will be the home team on the bracket sheet which will be posted on the Section’s website, www.cif-la.org on the night of the seeding meeting. Home team means hosting the game at your school or regular home site. The home school is responsible for providing officials’ fees, scorekeeper, supervision, field preparation, etc. Visiting schools are asked to confirm the playing site of the home school. Both teams must bring game balls (Diamond softball is required; no other brand may be used) to each playoff contest!

All results MUST be posted on MaxPreps immediately following the game. The winning school is responsible for reporting the scores on MaxPreps as well as to the following newspapers: Los Angeles Times (213) 237-7151, Daily News (818) 713-3607, Daily Breeze (310) 540-5511 and your local newspaper! OFFICIALS Officials will be assigned for all rounds by the Softball Unit Assigners. Host schools are responsible for round 1, round 2, quarterfinal and semifinal games. The Section Office will handle officials' assignments and checks for the Finals only.

The home school is responsible for paying officials at all home site contests at the rate listed in the Gold Book ($76 plate umpire; $73 base umpire).

Admission Option: With approval of both schools, host schools may charge admission for the first two rounds of playoff contests in the sport of softball and baseball with condition that gate receipts must first be used to pay game expenses. Excess revenue will be split 60% host school, 40% visiting school. Ticket prices are to be determined with agreement of administration of participating schools for the first two rounds.

Should there be no excess revenue, then all necessary expenses for home site contests will be divided equally (50/50) between the two participating schools including umpire fees. No reimbursements will be provided for home site contests.

“Pursuing Victory with Honor” Announcement; PA Reads Please read the “Pursuing Victory with Honor” announcement at all home playoff games as well as the Spring championship PA reads when an announcer is used. Sponsor PA reads will be emailed to your Athletic Director prior to playoffs.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAYOFFS

1. Championship Program: *TEAM PHOTO, ROSTERS AND OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION* Coaches must submit a team photo and roster using the official excel roster template. The roster template will be emailed to all coaches as well as be posted on the Section website. All information must be provided by each team who advances to the quarterfinals. This information should include player’s name, number, position & year. Team photo in JPEG format is required. Information will be due by May 16, 2017, to [email protected].

2. First Aid Supplies: should include ice packs and your emergency cards packet. Medical personnel will attend the Finals.

3. Game Balls: the official playoff softball is Diamond 12RFP 47 CL. Each team that makes the playoffs may pick up three softballs at either the Section office or LAUSD athletics office beginning May 8 at 10 am. This ball must be used for all playoff games!

4. Participants: must wear the approved team uniform and required protective gear. Please refer to the National Federation High School rules regarding these items.

5. Ground Rules: if any, will be established by the Head Official, Softball Coordinator and Assistant Commissioner at the championship venue. Home sites are responsible for all other contests.

6. Higher Seed: will be the Home team throughout all rounds of the playoffs for all games. League champions are NOT guaranteed home games. The higher seeded team takes precedent over a lower seeded league champion.

7. Warm-up Time: for each game will be 15 minutes prior to the game time.

8. Emergency Action Plan: Host schools are required to have an emergency action plan in place for athletic events. Should you require additional information, please go to the Section website for “Event Emergency Guidelines” at www.cif-la.org.

MANDATORY MEETING

There will be a mandatory finalist meeting for the Assistant Principal of Athletics or the Athletic Director of all schools participating in the Championship Games. The meeting will be at the Section Office on Thursday, May 18, at 11:00 am. Teams will be given instructions for the Finals. NOTE- we will notify all schools should this meeting be cancelled due to spring playoffs.

FINALS

The Championship games will be regulation seven inning games. The tiebreaker procedure will be subject to the site of the finals.

1. Facility Cal State Dominguez Hills. Please enter off Avalon Blvd. and University Dr.

2. Public Parking (cars and buses) At Cal State Dominguez Hills, there will be a $6.00 charge for SELF-PARKING at ALL parking lots on campus. Please use the self-pay machines and park in Lot 4A off University Drive. Put the parking permit on your car’s dashboard. Buses will be permitted to drop off teams at the field and park in Lot 4B.

3. Spectator Area Adequate bleacher facilities are available for spectators. No spectators will be allowed in the team dugout area. Fans may bring lawn chairs to sit along the grass berms along the first and third base lines and behind the outfield fences at CSDH.

4. Admission at Finals Only

FINALS: Adults $10.00 Students w/ID and Senior Citizens $8.00 Children (4 and under) Free

Valid Game Passes 2016-17 CIF Los Angeles City Section Annual Athletic, State CIF Pass and Gold Life Passes will be accepted for admission to all playoff contests. Only Media, Executive, Life Time, and State CIF passes will be accepted at the championship finals. Guest, Coaches, Athletic Director, and Administrative passes are not valid for admission at championship events.

5. Participant Guidelines a. Coaches, players, trainers and two managers must arrive in uniform together to the facility to be admitted free into the stadium. b. Five complimentary tickets will be provided to each school for supervision purposes. c. A maximum of six (6) cheerleaders in uniform per school will be permitted free admission to the Finals and ALLOWED TO CHEER FROM THE STANDS! After six, all others will be charged $8.00 and will be admitted as spectators and NOT ALLOWED to cheer.

6. Dugout Policy Please remember only players and paid coaches are allowed in the dugout. There are to be NO SEEDS or other refreshments in the dugout, water only!

7. Concession Stand A concession stand provided by CSDH will be available for spectators.

8. T-Shirts Championship t-shirts will be available at the Finals. Other championship apparel will also be available for purchase through Team Outfitters.

9. Awards Ceremony A team plaque will be presented to the Champion and Runner-up teams, and 18 individual medals will be presented to the Champions and Runner-ups in each of the four divisions. The Championship team in Divisions I, II and III will also receive a Perpetual Trophy. If you carry more than 18 on your roster, your school is responsible for purchasing the additional medals. There will be not be any championship patches given out. The awards presentation will be conducted immediately following each Championship game. Both teams must stay on the field for the duration of the awards ceremony. Failure to do so will result in penalties by the Section.

10. School Supervision Participating schools are responsible for their own supervision and should coordinate number and procedures with opposing schools. Management would appreciate administrative personnel notifying them of their presence. A reminder to Finals participants- schools are asked to keep spectators off the field at the conclusion of the game and to prohibit any materials that require clean up. PLAYOFF AND CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

The Playoffs and Championships are the direct responsibility of the CIF Los Angeles City Section. The Sports Coordinator shall facilitate the administration of the Playoffs and Championships. The Sports Coordinator will oversee game management and operations of the Championship event. He will be responsible for logistical and security aspects of the Championship and will be available to assist participating schools. All questions regarding game management and logistics should be directed to the Sports Coordinator.

For assistance, please contact Dick Dornan, Softball Coordinator, or Assistant Commissioner Vicky Lagos in the Section Office at (818) 767-0800.

APPROVED: Vicky Lagos, CIF LA City Section Assistant Commissioner

DISTRIBUTION: Athletic Director, Administrator and Head Softball Coach This bulletin can be found on the Section website: www.cif-la.org