FULLY LOADED Club and Association manual Softball — Club and Association Manual 2/14

CONTENTS

4 What is Fully Loaded Softball? Benefits of organising a Fully Loaded Softball Competition What is the role of an affiliate in organising a competition? 5 Competition Coordinator Game Coordinator 6 How does Softball Australia and the State Association assist? 7 What equipment and playing field requirements are there? Setting fees for your competition 9 Registrations for Fully Loaded Softball – New format Getting Started 10 Softball Australia contact information 12 Appendix 1 – Rule changes with a participation focus 13 Appendix 2 – Rule changes with a performance focus “A more exciting, faster format with big scores, more home-runs and more of your seat, white knuckle moments” Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual What is Fully Loaded Softball? 4/14

JOIN IN THE FUN! BENEFITS OF ORGANISING A FULLY LOADED The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball, was held SOFTBALL COMPETITION at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney from Fully Loaded Softball provides a range of benefits to 4-6 February 2019 and was broadcast live in prime- affiliates who choose to organise a competition. time by Fox Australia. It featured six franchised teams made up of Australia’s elite women’s softball • Opportunity to leverage the marketing exposure of representatives who were joined by international players “The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball” from several of the world’s top 12 ranked teams. • Opportunity to attract new participants

For more information about the event, go to: • Opportunity to engage past players www.fullyloadedsoftball.com.au • Opportunity to further engage current participants

“A new era in softball is here”. • Greater utilisation of facilities • Generate greater revenue through facilities WHAT IS FULLY LOADED SOFTBALL? • Opportunity to link with local business and Fully Loaded Softball offers a brand-new style of game community groups (sponsors and schools) that puts pressure and excitement into games from • Assist with long term growth and sustainability of your the very first pitch and aims to increase activity for association participants who experience higher levels of engagement. • An enhanced community reputation to impress local • Action packed, 3 innings, short game format and state government • Bases loaded to start every innings • Showcase your venue to a new audience • Tiebreakers, with two out per inning, played if scores are locked after 3 innings WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AN AFFILIATE IN ORGANISING A COMPETITION? • 100% action, no warm up pitches at the start of an innings or for a new The affiliate will: • No time outs for conferences during play • Provide an appropriate space and time to play games • 15 seconds for to deliver the pitch • Appoint a competition coordinator to oversee the • Rapid fire rules when out is made organisation of the competition • Shorter fences mean more homeruns • Appoint at least one game coordinator to oversee each game • 60 second inning changeovers • It is possible that one person could manage both roles. Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Coordinators 5/14

COMPETITION COORDINATOR GAME COORDINATOR • Ensure that the Clubs and Associations are set up for • Is responsible for ensuring all participants are online payments in Sports TG registered to play • Ensure participants are registered on the Softball • Instructs any participants not registered to do so Australia database, Sports TG online, prior to taking the diamond • Ensure the competition will have the equipment • Ensures all participants have fun required and that the venue is suitable • Ideally, is bubbly, energetic and outgoing • Acts as the point of contact for Softball Australia, the State Associations, teams and individuals for that competition • Allocates individuals to teams • Provide the game coordinator with a list of team and individual registrations for the competition • Identifies the person responsible for overseeing the venue on game day (they could take on this role themselves) • Ensures all competition organiser terms and conditions are met • Is obliged to read and be bound by the team terms and conditions plus participant terms and conditions Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Assistance 6/14

HOW DOES SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA AND THE Marketing Resources STATE ASSOCIATION ASSIST? Softball Australia has invested in the “World First” A dedicated Fully Loaded Softball Website has been international event “The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded developed www.fullyloadedsoftball.com Softball”. The event was broadcast on Fox Sports Australia and Kayo Sports beaming our brand of softball • The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball Event into the living rooms of fans all over the country and into promotion overseas regions. • Highlight sizzle reels that can be used for club From the event, digital images and sizzle reels (video clips) marketing have been produced that associations and clubs can • Action images for use in marketing use for promotion and marketing activities through their • Posters that can be printed out and used in marketing websites, publications and social media channels.

• Marketing collateral to be used across Instagram, The images will also be available for use with image Facebook and Twitter credits to “Softball Australia”

Provision of Online Sports Management System Examples of marketing strategies your club or association Softball Australia provides an online sports management can used will also be provided so you can link to local system (Sports TG) to help associations and clubs to communities such as schools, businesses and wider administer their competitions and save time. The tools general public. available will help you: Resources • Capture membership data online Along with this manual official playing rules for different • Process payments online saving administrators time levels of play are available from the website for each of the variations of rules, age groups and competition types • Competition management (including senior and junior fastpitch/slowpitch and Fully Insurance Coverage Loaded T-Ball).

Injuries can happen, which is why Softball Australia Scorecards, playing field requirements and equipment provides an insurance program to every registered resources are all available on the website www. member. Individuals MUST register themselves on the fullyloadedsoftball.com.au Softball Australia Database prior to competition starting to be covered for insurance. Support The Softball Australia Participation team and relevant Clubs and associations will set up links to the online State Office are available to help support your program forms for participants to register. Softball Australia will be and answer any questions on how you can utilise Fully available to help administrators through this process. Loaded Softball to grow your club. Competition Equipment Competition Equipment is available through the National Programs Equipment Link on the Fully Loaded Softball webpage.

Standard competition equipment allowed should be suitable for the relevant age, skill and rules being implemented.

For recommendations on what equipment should be used please refer to your state office. Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Equipment and playing field requirements 7/14

WHAT EQUIPMENT AND PLAYING FIELD Guide for Pricing – Traditional Seasons REQUIREMENTS ARE THERE? If you are planning to simply introduce some of the rules Equipment requirements are available on the and concepts of Fully Loaded Softball to enhance your website for: existing competition, then there are no changes to the administration process and no additional fees. The cost • Senior Fastpitch Elite from each of the levels (National, State, Association, Club) • Slowpitch Senior/Junior will remain the same as what is currently in place. • Fastpitch Junior For existing seasons that are changed to Fully Loaded • Fully Loaded T-Ball Softball rules, the normal process of registration is followed. All participants are to be registered through Minimum field requirements available on the the national registration form on the Sports TG database website for: before they take the field. Each member is registered to • Senior/Junior Fastpitch a club in the system. All costs for the existing member • Senior/Junior Slowpitch record types Senior, Junior, Sub-Junior, Official and Off- Diamond are unchanged. • Fully Loaded T-Ball It is mandatory that ALL players are registered and SETTING FEES FOR YOUR COMPETITION captured as members in the Sports TG system prior to The amount that is charged for competitions of Fully taking the field. This is required for two reasons: Loaded Softball will depend on the type of competition, • Softball Australia’s obligation to report on player its format and structure. Variables to consider are listed numbers to Australia as the peak funding below. body for our sport. • Is this competition your existing season that is • All members must be registered on the Sports adopting Fully Loaded Softball Rules? TG database prior to competition starting to • Is the competition a shorter format (different type) in qualify for coverage under the Softball Australia addition to your regular or traditional season? Insurance Policy. • Are there any additional field costs for ground usage (rental or lighting)? • How many weeks will the competition run for? • What are the appropriate costs at each level for your specific scenario (consider National, State, Association and Club costs) • Will you pay someone to run competitions for you? • What equipment will need to be purchased? • What is the minimum number of participants to breakeven? Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Equipment and playing field requirements 8/14

Guide for Pricing - New Fully Loaded Softball in the form of an exciting new style competition. Format Notes: For an association or club to participate in the new format of Fully Loaded Softball, appropriate costs for All costs need to be confirmed with your state. what to charge participants will need to be determined. Different costs will be set up by your state to play in Fully If you are planning on running a Fully Loaded Loaded Softball for: Competition with a changed format (in addition to your • Existing members (or previously registered member) traditional season), then you will need to consider what to charge, taking into consideration any National, State, • New members (new to the sport and have not played Association and club costs. softball before)

Changes to the format to be considered: Existing members • Will not be charged a fee by the National body to play • Adopt Fully Loaded rules Fully Loaded Softball (they will have paid this with • Will you play a competition, tournament or host a their traditional seasonal membership). single day or multi day event? • May have to pay a competition fee which will be set • Play a short season, for example 4, 6, or 8-week in the registration form and paid online (for example competitions (or other variation) there may be additional ground rental fees paid by • Change to the day and time of competition to a week the association for ground usage) night New Members • Reduced number of innings to keep games to an hour • Will be charged a fee for each level (National, State, or less Association, Club) which will be set in the registration • Incorporating speed up rules during play form and paid online

To help qualify your event and establish what to charge • As a short format, the total fee payable will be much please register your event at https://salforms.softball.org. lower than a traditional seasonal membership au/fully-loaded-softball-event-registration/ • Need to pay this to be included in the National Insurance Program Please note: The new style competition is not designed to replace the traditional or regular season, but to add value Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Registrations for Fully Loaded Softball 9/14

REGISTRATIONS FOR FULLY LOADED GETTING STARTED SOFTBALL – NEW FORMAT • Register your event or competition – Fully Loaded All players (new and existing) playing Fully Loaded Softball Registration form at https://salforms.softball. Softball in a new format are required to register in the org.au/fully-loaded-softball-event-registration/ Sports TG database via a “Fully Loaded Softball – • Set up your association and all club details in the Registration Form”. These are set up at State level for Sports TG system for online payments. If already each association registered to run a competition or event. set up this is a straight forward process. If not, an (Note: if playing a traditional season where only the application must be filled out and then bank account rules are changed to Fully Loaded Softball, this is not details provided so money can be automatically considered a new format and registration is via the transferred to the correct account. Club or National form) association administrators with the required access to the Sports TG system will need to set this up, or you If a member playing in a current season (traditional can contact Softball Australia to get assistance with season) also wants to play Fully Loaded Softball in a this process. new format, they will need to register via a “Fully Loaded • Determine the preferred day and time to conduct your Softball – Registration Form”. This is a requirement so competition (we recommend a short game format of detailed reporting can be captured through the Sports TG less than 1 hour on an afternoon or evening during the database. week is more likely to fit todays busy lifestyle trends) For Fully Loaded Softball, all payments will be moved Appoint a competition coordinator, who will be to online processing through the Sports TG system to responsible for improve efficiency. • Marketing and promotions of competitions Prior to your registered competition starting, your online • Overseeing the competition payment system will be set up allowing payment splits to • Registration of participants happen automatically. Funds are instantly transferred to the relevant bank accounts at club, association, state and • Ensure participants have fun national level at the time a payment is made. Utilize the marketing assets provided by Softball Australia to promote your activity When your association registers a competition, the Softball Australia Participation team and staff at Sports • Sizzle reels TG will be available to assist setting up your online • Photographic library payment platform. • Posters Please note that players registered for the traditional season will not pay a national fee again for playing Fully Loaded Softball in addition to their normal traditional season membership. Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Registrations for Fully Loaded Softball 10/14

For assistance setting up your event please contact: BEN UTTING Sport Development Manager Softball Australia [email protected]

@SoftballOz Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Registrations for Fully Loaded Softball 11/14

APPENDIX Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Appendix 12/14

APPENDIX 1 – RULE CHANGES WITH A PARTICIPATION FOCUS The following rule changes are considered relevant to providing competitions for associations with a participation focus and can be adapted to senior and junior competitions. Visit www.fullyloadedsoftball.com.au.

At the start of each innings – this concept increases the number of participants active from the first pitch of the Loaded bases game. In traditional softball 1 batter hits while 8 batters wait for their turn. In Fully Loaded Softball, your 7, 8 and 9 batters are involved from the first pitch of the game.

In the first innings the 7, 8, 9 batters/runners start on base. In the second innings the leadoff batter should be the number 4 batter in the line-up with runners being the original batters 1,2,3 starting on base. In the third inning, the Runners on Base number 6 batter in the line-up leads off, while batters 4, 5, 6 all start on base. By the end of the three-inning game, each player has batter 3 times and each has also started an innings on base.

Rather than 3 outs per innings, each batter can bat each innings. This increases engagement and ensures that Every batter bats each player has an equal opportunity to try the skills. It eliminates the experience where one teams batters gets 3 each innings turns at bat each while the other team (usually less skilled) may only get 1 turn to bat each.

Can have the most impact on the game at the beginner level. A skilled pitcher can dominate causing a poor experience for the batting team (no achievement for batters and low involvement for fielders). A beginner pitcher can also walk a lot of batters which has a similar poor experience rating for the fielders (batters generally want to hit the ball, walks mean fielders are not involved and spectators report poor viewing experiences). Changes to pitching could include:

The implementation of the 3 pitch rule, where if a batter is walked (no strikes in 3 pitches) they get to hit the ball off Pitching a tee. This includes more action for fielders, sense of achievement for the batter and a chance for the fielding team to defend whilst their pitcher is learning to throw strikes.

Implementation of a strike zone mat, rather than a . The strike zone mat is a much bigger target than the traditional strike zone (where a strike is called only if the pitcher can throw the ball between the shoulders and knees of the batter). Calling balls and strikes with the strike zone mat is much easier. Did it hit the mat Yes or No? If yes = Strike, If no = ball, versus “Did the ball travel through the imaginary box that exists 14 inches wide extending from just above the knee to the shoulders of the batter?”

Umpiring made Where judgment of the umpire is relied on to call the strike zone in traditional softball, a simple observation can be easier more successfull without reliance on a high skill level of an umpire.

Pitchers use a slowpitch lob where the pitch must arch over the shoulder height of the batter (in flight) and land on the strike zone mat to be a called strike. This option also makes it easier for an umpire or game facilitator to call Slowpitch lob balls and strikes. Rather than a judgement of the height and width of the ball as it crosses the plate, an umpire need only pay attention to the height of the ball in flight and if the ball lands on the mat or not.

Rotate pitchers each innings to enable a greater participation and to share the pitching around. This gives more Rotate pitchers exposure to people having to develop the skill of pitching and takes away from the ability of any one player to dominate a game.

If using the strike zone mat there is no need for a catcher in the traditional sense. Instead a player can stand behind removed the strike zone mat (3m back) to simply receive the ball and throw it back to the pitcher if it is not hit. Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Appendix 13/14

If you are looking to improve participation outcomes, it is recommended that the following technical rules be removed:

• Infield fly rule: this rule is confusing to participants new to softball and is not required if the second recommendation is adopted

• Tagging up on a fly ball: instead, allow runners to run as soon as the ball is hit without having to tag up.

• No stealing: with loaded bases, and also in the slowpitch version of the game, stealing should not be allowed. Instead, the runners should be allowed to run as soon as the ball is hit. This allows for a free-running and higher scoring game. Offensive strategy should be built on developing pure hitting skills and running the bases once the ball is hit.

• Dropped third strike: catching is considered a difficult skill that takes time to develop. Expecting a new player to execute the required sills with little or no experience is unrealistic.

Example competition rule changes

FLS is a 3-inning game of fastpitch softball

Each inning starts with loaded bases – batters 7, 8 and 9 in the line-up occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases Adult – Fastpitch Quick changeovers apply – no warm up between innings

All other rules are in line with standard fastpitch rules

Adult – Slowpitch As per Social 7s rules, but with bases loaded every innings

As per T-Ball rules but starting each innings with the bases loaded – batters 7, 8 and 9 in the line-up occupy 1st, T-Ball 2nd and 3rd bases. All other rules are in line with normal rules.

Strike zone mat is used

Junior – Slowpitch 3-inning games where each batter bats every innings

Each inning starts with loaded bases – batters 7, 8 and 9 in the line-up occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases Fully Loaded Softball — Club and Association Manual Appendix 14/14

APPENDIX 2 – RULE CHANGES WITH A PERFORMANCE FOCUS The following sets out The Summer Slam Competition Rules & Guidelines - Competition Rules proposed for The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball event held at Blacktown International Sportspark in NSW in February 2019. These could be adopted as competition rules with a performance focus at your association. Visit www.fullyloadedsoftball.com.au.

Regulation game A regulation game is 3 innings. Where the team second at bat is ahead after 2.5 innings of play, the game will end.

Runners on base Each innings, runners will start at 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases (batters 7, 8 and 9 due to bat in that innings).

If scores are tied after the 3rd innings, an extra innings tiebreaker will be played. The tiebreaker will begin with Tiebreaker loaded bases. The batting team gets to choose their batter. Each team only gets one out per inning.

No warm-up pitches at the start of an innings or when a new pitcher comes into the game. The penalty is a ball to Warm-up pitches the batter for each pitch thrown.

Conferences No offensive or defensive conferences. The penalty is as per the rulebook for excessive conferences.

Off-diamond An off-diamond umpire will be used to take changes from each team. umpire

Substitutions/ When defensive substitutions or positional changes are made, the coach is to go directly to the off-diamond Positional Changes umpire. The off-diamond umpire then reports the changes to the official scorer.

Intentional walks Intentional walks are permitted (to speed up the game).

A Temporary Runner is to be used to run for the catcher, when the catcher is on base with two out. Note that this is Catcher speed-up intended to speed up the game.

As per the rulebook, for a new batter, when the pitcher is ready, the batter has 10 seconds to be in the batter’s box, otherwise a strike is called (to be strictly enforced). Batter in the box Between each pitch, the batter must keep one foot in the batter’s box during their turn at bat and be ready to face the pitcher in a reasonable time, otherwise a strike is called.

The pitcher has 15 seconds to pitch the ball:

At the start of an inning, from when the umpire calls ‘play ball’ Pitching the ball Between pitches, from the time they receive the ball from the catcher

Between batters, from the time they receive the ball from a fielder (an infielder, including the catcher, is to return the ball directly back to the pitcher – no throwing the ball around the infield)

This is to be strictly enforced. The penalty for any of the above is an additional ball awarded to the batter.

Home run boundary A temporary homerun fence will be set at a maximum distance of 200 feet.

Guidelines

Time between Aim to keep to a maximum of 60 seconds from last out in one inning to first pitch in the next inning. innings