| Constitution
SCIFL Constitution
2011 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MEN’S FAST PITCH LEAGUE
CONSTITUTION
Article 1
The Southern California Men’s Fast Pitch Independent League is an organization of franchised fast pitch softball teams and will be referred to as the SCIFL. Teams in the league will be sanctioned by the North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA). If any rule or article is not addressed in this constitution, we will refer to the rules that have been adopted by NAFA.
The league will consist of approximately 8 – 9 tournament weekends in an open format to allow guest teams to participate. Each tournament will consist of 3 – 4 game guarantees for the weekend. For three game weekends, the NAFA approved 3-game bracket will be used. The four game weekends will consist of a three game round robin that will seed the teams into the appropriate single elimination bracket.
Teams will be classified for play using NAFA classification terminology and each team will have the opportunity to appeal their classification if necessary. All teams will play against each other regardless of their classification. The Tournament Supervisor will have the opportunity to select teams into the pools for fairness to all. All teams will be placed in a single elimination bracket for Sunday when the pool play is used on Saturday.
Article 2 - Objective
The primary objective of the managers, players and the league is to promote the game of fast pitch softball in the Southern and Central California area. To achieve this, the league will:
1) Promote and regulate fast pitch softball through cooperation, understanding, and friendship amongst team members.
2) Maintain a board of directors which will be voted on by the managers. The commissioner and his staff will be in place to regulate and institute the constitution and the rules of this league.
3) Actively cooperate with local and national fast pitch organizations.
4) Maintain a non- profit identity with all revenues going into a pre-designed league account to be used for league expenses.
5) Display the highest levels of competition and sportsmanship
6) Maintain a good relationship with park staff.
Article 3- Organization
The league will be governed by a board of directors. To carry out the best interests of the league, the following positions will be established:
Commissioner - David Carrillo
Duties include, but not limited to:
- Preside over and take notes at all meetings
- Supervise the performance of other board members
- For voting on policies, have the final vote for any ties
- Be empowered to make a ruling on any situation not covered in the league rules or constitution
The commissioner will also help in creating the tournament schedule. He is also responsible for league promotion and helping maintain the league website.
Vice-Commissioner * - Lou Enriquez
Duties include, but not limited to:
- Acts in place of the commissioner’s absence and is empowered to make all decisions when the commissioner is unavailable
- Act as the right hand man for the commissioner and also have input in schedule making and rules
- Responsible for collecting tournament entry fees and getting it to the commissioner
- Help assign and pay scorekeepers if they are used on a weekend
Division Supervisor * - Cecillo Smalling
Duties include, but not limited to:
- Report to the commissioner items that can be done to improve the league
- Work with the Commissioner and Tournament Supervisor to ensure the tournament is running accordingly
- Provide input to the Classification Committee
Umpire-in-Chief * - Kalani Ongasis
Duties include, but not limited to:
- Secure umpires for each tournament
- Select an umpire to be tournament crew chief
- On tournament day he is responsible for any umpire issues including paying umpires and umpire assignments
Player Representative * - Angel Saucedo
Duties include, but not limited to:
- Is a player in the league that brings concerns from the players to the board of directors
- Responsible for player conduct and reporting to the board of directors on player discipline issues
Player Representative * - Fernando Ramirez, Sr.
Duties include, but not limited to:
- Is a player in the league that brings concerns from the players to the board of directors
- Responsible for player conduct and reporting to the board of directors on player discipline issues
Tournament Supervisor * - Robert Hernandez
Duties include, but not limited to:
- Responsible for league weekend organization and overseeing the weekend
- Insure the fields are ready, teams present, rosters turned in
- Will insure that umpires and scorekeepers are paid
- Update schedules and scores are correct
- Move games and teams to insure tournament runs efficiently
- Work with the commissioner on solving any concerns that arise
- Will oversee the financial matters of the league and give detailed reports of all league finances when needed. He is also responsible for league promotion and helping maintain the league web site.
*These six positions will make up the board of directors and will vote on any matters that need to be voted on. The Commissioner will be the deciding vote in the event of any ties. A majority will be needed to pass any rule, article or addendum. This group will also act together in organization of each league weekend.
Classification Committee
The classification committee will consist of Robert Hernandez, Michael Sherman and Lou Enriquez. They will be responsible for classifying all teams, players and pitchers that play in the SCIFL.
Article 4 - League Meetings
League meetings shall be conducted on a semi-regular basis at a location so designated by the commissioner. An SCIFL team/manager will be allowed one vote on matters pertaining to league business in the division in which they participated. If the SCIFL manager cannot attend a meeting they shall notify the Board in advance of their proxy, if any. A voting SCIFL team/manager is one that has played in at least six (6) SCIFL events within the past season. SCIFL Board Members will be allowed one (1) vote on matters pertaining to league business. In the event that an SCIFL team has one its members on the SCIFL Board, that SCIFL team/manager may not contribute an additional vote on behalf of the team.
Anyone (players, umpires, scorekeepers, visiting managers, etc) associated with the league is permitted to attend, participate and submit motions to the floor; however, voting is limited to SCIFL teams/managers and SCIFL Board Members.
Article 5 - Banishment
Banishment from the league may occur when any of the incidents occur by any player, manager, owner or anyone involved in the league.
- Misappropriation of league funds
- Falsifying records or any documents related to the league
- Physical abuse to an umpire, player, league official, manager, owner prior to, during or after any league game.
- Verbal abuse to an umpire, player, league official, manager or owner prior to, during or after any league game may not result in removal from the league, but result in a possible suspension.
Article 6 - Player Eligibility
Each player will be responsible for signing a roster for one team only. You may only play for one (1) team and in any of the divisions.
- Any player wishing to change teams must clear it with the board of directors.
- Any player playing illegally on a team will result in forfeit of the game and that player suspended for the remainder of the weekend, plus one additional (1) league weekend
- We will strictly adhere to the California NAFA pitchers list which will be updated on a regular basis
- In the A-Major division and above – pitching limitations will be determined in January of the coming year in play.
- Teams will be notified of their classification once their roster has been turned in and will be able to appeal throughout the season. Teams may be allowed multiple classifications as determined by players’ and/or pitchers classification (i.e. A Division, A-Major if Players X, Y, &/or Z are listed as P).
- All rosters must be turned in before the season begins. Any additions or deletions to your roster must be made as soon as possible and sent to the Tournament Supervisor. This can be done by email or phone call to the Tournament Supervisor. Please also turn in a roster for each league weekend.
- Guest teams are required to submit a roster prior to play to determine the appropriate classification
- There are no age restrictions, however, minors must have parent or guardians signature on the roster
- Each team will be allowed a maximum of eighteen (18) players on a roster.
Article 7 - Uniforms
Each team shall be required to attempt the following:
- Players make an effort to wear the same type of uniforms
- Uniforms must be somewhat alike in color and design
- Each player should have a unique number
- Hats shall be worn at all times, by all players on the field
Article 8 - Equipment
The NAFA approved equipment list should be used at all times. In addition, the following guidelines shall be used:
- Bats on the banned list shall not be used. Use of an illegal bat will result in the batter being called out and ejected from the game. If you are unsure of a bat ask before the game begins.
- NOCSAE double-ear helmets will be required at all times for both batters and runners
- Catchers will always use a mask
- Pine tar will not be used on the ball by a pitcher. If caught, it will result in ejection from the game.
Article 9 - Scorekeeping
The league will provide official scorekeepers for each tournament who will keep the official score of the game. The score they report is final.
Article 10 - League Play
All weekend schedules will be available by Wednesday the week of the tournament. If your team must drop out of a tournament, please notify the Tournament Supervisor as soon as possible. Late or no notification is subject to weekend fee’s. The following will apply to league weekends:
- All money and rosters are due before your first game. The fee will be $410.00 or otherwise specified. Checks should be payable to SCIFL.
- When paying on the day of the tournament, please do it promptly in cash as the umpires and scorekeepers must be paid
- The league will open a league account with a financial record available to managers after each league weekend
- Guest teams traveling the farthest will get later times, if needed
- Teams must be ready to play a minimum of 30 minutes before their scheduled game time
- Lineup cards will be submitted to the scorekeeper fifteen (15) minutes before each game and to the umpire at home plate
- Tournament Supervisor reserves the right to move or shorten games and change the schedule if necessary
- Designate one (1) person (manager, captain or a player) to communicate with the umpires or commissioners
- All efforts will be made to make sure you play each team throughout the year.
Game Day
- Coin toss will determine home team unless otherwise already designated.
- Time limit is 1 hour and 30 minutes (except championship game)
- Ten (10) minute grace time for first games on Saturday only. Game time is forfeit time. Tournament Supervisor reserves the right to extend or grant time for unique circumstances.
- International tiebreaker is in effect for all games. In round robin play only, after the completion of 9 innings the game shall end in a tie
- Run Rule: 15 after 3 innings, 10 after 4, 7 after 5 innings
- You may use any or all of the following in the line-up:
- Designated Runner- The DR must be clearly marked on the lineup card. The DR can enter the game defensively or as a hitter, however, you will lose the DR position for the remainder of the game. The DR can only be used once per inning
- Designated Batter (DB) – The DB may bat in any of the spots in the lineup, but must be selected prior to the game and included in the lineup card presented to the umpires. Extra Hitter – The EH is a extra hitter in the lineup. The EH can enter defensively at any point in the game.
- Defensive Specialist (DS) – When a DB is used, a non-batting player (DS) must be listed in the last spot of the lineup for defensive purposes only. The DS may enter the game on offense for any of the players listed on the lineup card, but it will terminate the DS for the remainder of the game. The DS will then be locked into that spot in the batting lineup for the remainder of the game.
- Courtesy Runner – Can be used for the pitcher, catcher or an injured player only. The Courtesy Runner must be the last recorded out, or with the permission of the other team any other player.
- Protests will be limited to player eligibility and a misinterpretation of a rule. A $50 protest fee cash only. Umpire in Chief and Tournament Supervisor will rule on protest. If the protest is upheld, the protest fee will be returned to the team.
- Ejections- Players ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct prior to the 6th or last inning of the game are only ejected for the remainder of that game. If the player is ejected in or after the 6th or last inning, they will be ejected for the next game as well as the remainder of the game in which they were ejected.
- Keep the on-deck area clear of bats and helmets
- Keep your dugouts clean
- 5 warm- up pitches per inning
Other General Rules
- All games will be played in accordance with the most current rules adopted by NAFA
- All games will be 7 innings, unless the run rule or time limit is invoked
- Any player ejected will leave the playing field and dugout area
- Smoking is not permitted on the playing field
- Alcohol may not be consumed in the dugouts during the game
- Any equipment thrown may result in a warning or an ejection
Article 11- Player Conduct
Each player, manager, and umpire is responsible for acting in a professional manner on and off the field. Please adhere whenever possible to the following guidelines:
- Be on time
- Watch your language
- Address your fellow players and umpires with respect
- Hustle at all times
- Wear the proper uniform
- Show good sportsmanship
- Play hard
We must remember that all of us represent the league, our teams, our families and fast pitch softball and we have an obligation to conduct ourselves in a professional manner at all times.
Article 12 - League Awards and Prizes
At the end of the season, eligible teams will receive financial awards to use towards the NAFA World Series. To be eligible for the awards, teams must play in 7 of the 9 and participate in the NAFA Open, AAA, AA-Major, AA, A-Major, A or 23 & under World Series for that Championship season. Teams may collect the award during or after the World Series, but are responsible to arrange pick-up of the award. Resources permitting, the league aims to have team and player awards at the end of each tournament.
Article 13 - Team and Player Involvement
This being a new league it is very important that everyone be involved in helping out in anyway possible. In order for this to work all players and teams must work together as a group to do their share. We cannot put the responsibility on just the board of directors as they are only spokesman representing everyone in the league.
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