The purpose of the Oklahoma
USSSA Youth Council is to provide leadership, guidance and a common set of
guidelines and/or rules interpretation for the youth softball program in the
state of Oklahoma. Further, the Oklahoma USSSA youth Council shall coordinate
each of the "special youth activities" discussed in this document.
MEMBERSHIP
There shall be eleven (11)
members of the Oklahoma Youth Council. Of these three (3) shall be designated
as "executive members," and shall consist of (1) the Oklahoma State
Youth Director, (2) the Oklahoma Girl’s Slo-pitch Assistant Director, (3) the
Oklahoma Boy’s Assistant Youth Director. The remaining seven (7) "regular
members" shall be appointed by the Oklahoma State Youth Director, and
approved by the Oklahoma USSSA State Director. All members shall have one (1)
vote in any Oklahoma Youth Council decisions. No decisions shall be made final
by the Oklahoma Youth Council unless a majority of six (6) votes are present of
which two (2) must be the executive member votes.
MEETINGS
Oklahoma USSSA Youth
Council meetings shall be called as needed by the Oklahoma State Youth
Director, and when ever possible, advance notice of the meeting date and place
shall be given to all members. The Oklahoma State Youth Director shall have a
full power to set meeting dates within the limitations of these bylaws, and to
appoint another member to preside in his absence. The Oklahoma State Youth Director
for reference and/or review shall keep minutes of the Oklahoma USSSA Youth
Council meetings on file.
DECISIONS
The Oklahoma USSSA Youth
Council shall provide leadership and guidance in each of the following areas:
A. Tournaments:
1. The number of World
Qualifying tournaments to be held shall be decided based upon the number of
berths expected to be received in each youth divisions.
2. A method of awarding
and/or distributing all World Qualifying tournaments shall be established, and
dates shall be set for them.
3. The formats and
guidelines for the Oklahoma USSSA State Open Championship tournaments shall be
established.
4. A method of awarding the
Oklahoma USSSA State Open Championship tournaments shall be established, and
dates shall set for them.
5. Organizations and/or
ball parks must register with the Oklahoma USSSA, all teams participating in
their league(s) for the current season prior to hosting any USSSA World
qualifying or State tournament. Failure to comply with the rule will result in
the tournament being awarded to another Organization and/or ballpark.
B. Rules Additions
and/or Modifications:
1. Pickup player
eligibility shall be clearly defined for both the Oklahoma USSSA State
Championship tournaments, and for any team qualified for World Tournament
Berths.
2. Team eligibility shall
be defined for teams qualifying for World tournament berths.
C. Oklahoma Youth/Coaches
Clinic:
1. Times and dates shall be
established for an Annual USSSA Clinic.
2. Committees shall be
formed (not limited to Youth Council members) to establish formats, find
suitable accommodations for the clinic, locate and invite special guests, find
suitable sponsors, etc.
D. Other Activities:
1. Any statewide youth
activities to be hosted by the Oklahoma USSSA such as All-State games, parties,
etc. shall be defined, and appropriate rules, plans, and/or committees
established.
The Oklahoma State Youth
Director shall make final decisions in all areas with the approval of the
Oklahoma State Director. Whenever it is in
any way possible, these decisions shall be made prior to the effected softball
season, and shall be publicized in youth softball pamphlets, newsletters,
meetings, etc.
2009 YOUTH BYLAWS ATTACHMENT 1
I. RULES ADDITIONS
AND/OR MODIFICATIONS:
1. Upon being awarded a
world tournament berth at a tournament, that teams roster will be frozen, and
shall become their official roster for all USSSA sanctioned tournaments. If a
team declines a berth their roster remains frozen and is still their official
roster. The declining team must re-qualify with this roster, and qualified team
pickup rules still apply.
2. Pickup players shall be defined as any player not participating with a team’s league as part of that teams "league " roster, or any player added to a team’s roster after that team has qualified for World tournament play.
4. After qualifying for
world tournament play no more than 3 players may be added to a teams qualified
roster.
5. Pickup player violations
constitute the use of an ineligible player, and the effects set forth in the
Official Rule Book shall apply.
6. In the case of protest as to players age, teams managers will be responsible for producing at the time of protest a birth certificate or other legal proof of age for the protested player.
7. World tournament entry fees must be received in the Oklahoma USSSA state office no later than July 7th 2006
8. All teams participating
in sanctioned tournaments shall use the official USSSA Youth Roster with
signatures, (copies will be acceptable except at the state tournaments.)
(8 & under players need not sign rosters). Team r
9. Any person ejected from a
game for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ejected for a minimum of 2 games. The
tournament director may impose a more severe penalty.
II. STATE TOURNAMENTS /
CLASSIFICATION
2009 USSSA 'B' State Tournament Qualification Instructions
1. Only teams classified as Recreational on line will be allowed to drop down into the recreational bracket.
2. Must be Oklahoma registered USSSA Slow Pitch team.
III Team classification
may be appealed:
1. The State Youth
Director, and/or the Classification Board may change a team’s classification at
any time during the season.
2. The main criteria for
classifying a team is the overall strength of the team offensively and
defensively.
3. Notify the State Youth
Director in writing of the desire to appeal, and of reasons for wanting this
consideration. No appeals will be heard unless the request is in writing.
4. Team manager/coach must
furnish the following:
a. League record.
b. Tournament record.
c. Any other pertinent
information.
5. The youth classification board will meet on June 7, 2006.
One representative from a
team appealing their classifications will be allowed to attend classification
meeting (it is strongly recommended that a representative be present).
Ball parks will classify
teams either Competitive or recreational prior to the spring league starting (but after preseason
tournament.)
IV. FALL STATE
Players must participate in
the age classification that they will be required to participate in during the
next spring/summer season.
V. YOUTH MIXED PROGRAM
1. Youth mixed program will
be played in accordance with the rules specified in the " Official Rule
Book "
2. All playing rules not
specifically covered in rule 12 of the " Official Rule Book " Shall
be governed by the other rules 1 through 12 of that book, as well as these
bylaws.
8 & UNDER MACHINE PITCH RULE
1. All teams must turn in a
completed Official USSSA roster prior to their first game.
2. There will be a 1-hour
time limit excluding the championship game.
3. The run rule will be 12
runs after 3 innings 2 ½ innings if home team is ahead, 8 runs after 4 innings
3 ½ if home team is ahead.
4. Game time is forfeit
time.
5. Offensive players must
wear a "NOCSAE approved" batting helmet with extended earflaps, which
cover both ears and temples when in the live ball area.
6. Teams will bat all
members on the roster (exception allowed for sickness or injuries). Any member
arriving late will be added to the bottom of the batting order. If a player is
removed from the game due to sickness or injury, she will not be allowed to
re-enter that game. There will be no penalty for this removal unless the
batting order drops below 10 players in which case, an automatic out will be
declared.
7. There will be a maximum
of seven runs scored per ½ inning.
8. Batter is allowed 3
swings or 5 pitches to hit the ball in fair territory. If 3rd swing
results in a foul ball a pitch is counted, but not a swing. No walks will be
allowed.
9. All fielders must stay
behind the 35 foot arc line.
10. No player will be
allowed inside the 10ft circle around the pitching machine.
Effect:
Dead ball, base runners will be awarded 1 base from last base touched
11. If a batted ball hits
the pitching machine or comes to rest inside the circle the ball is dead.
Batter is awarded 1st base runners advance 1 base if forced.
12. Will be awarded 1 base
from last base touched.
13. The pitching machine
may be adjusted at the top of each inning by mutual agreement of team managers.
The umpire may adjust the machine at any time they feel it is necessary.
14. Managers are
responsible for knowing when and where their next game is scheduled.
15. The infield fly is not
in effect.
16. One player designated
the pitched must be positioned no more than 3 feet from the 35 foot arc line
and no more than 3 feet from the 10 foot circle.
17. While on defense, only
one coach will be allowed to stand in his respective batters Warm-up circle.
18. The team manager may
make all appeals.
19. No alcoholic beverage
of any kind will be allowed on the premises during any Oklahoma
USSSA Youth tournament. Any
person ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike
Conduct will be ejected for
a minimum of 2 games. The tournament director may
impose a stiffer penalty.
20. All rules not listed
above will be in accordance with the current national playing rules as published by USSSA
and the Oklahoma Youth Council.
Notice
The age cut off dates have been changed effective 1 January
1999
Effect: a player may play in the age group of the age they
are on January 1st.
8 & Under Coach Pitch Rules
A. The game will consist of
6 innings, with a "run rule" being declared if a team is ahead by 12
runs after 4 innings (3½ if the home team is ahead), or
8 runs after
5 innings
(4 ½ if home team is ahead).
B. Infield fly rule will
not be in effect.
C. Each position in the
batting order will be allowed at bat a maximum of once per inning. The end of an
inning will be declared when either 3 outs are made or all batters have batted
on time..
D. Each team will name a
coach to act as "designated pitcher" to pitch to their team.
E. The designated pitcher
may be changed at any time during the game as long as another coach takes that
position, and the change is made without excessive delay of the game
F. The designated pitcher
may carry a glove onto the filed while pitching, to be used for his/her own
protection only.
G. While pitching, the
designated pitcher may not coach his/her own team in any way. The designated
pitcher may not distract the defensive players in any way, either by action(s)
or verbally. Violations of this rule will result in the designated pitcher
receiving one warning from the umpire, and should a second violation occur, he
will be removed from the designated pitching position for the remainder of the
game.
H. If the designated
pitcher attempts to field play the batted ball, or he/she is hit by the
batted ball before it passes a fielder, a dead ball will be declared, the
batter runner is called out, and runners may not advance.
I. Should the designated
pitcher be hit by a thrown ball, the infraction constitutes interference. All
play stops, the ball is declared dead, the most advanced runner is call out,
and remaining base runners must return to the last base touched unless forced
to advance.
J. Before any pitch is
delivered, a defensive player must be positioned parallel to the pitching
rubber, to the left or right of the designated pitcher, maintaining sufficient
distance as not to interfere with the delivery of the pitch. Neither this
defensive player nor any other defensive player in the game, other than the
catcher, shall be positioned closer to home plate than the pitching rubber. Any
defensive player may mover ahead of the pitching rubber to field a ball once
hit or thrown. There must be a line drawn in an arc from foul line to foul line
at the pitching distance, to indicate this distance.
K. Balls and Strikes will be called by the umpire, although no base-on-balls will be awarded by the umpire due to thrown pitches or intentional walks. Batter will be allowed 3 strikes or 5 pitches to hit the ball in fair territory. If 3rd strike results in a foul ball, a pitch is counted, but the batter is not out. After 3 strikes or 5 pitches, the batter is out.
L. Any pitch that does not meet the minimum 3 feet from point of release requirement will be declared an ILLEGAL PITCH/DEAD BALL. The pitch counts as one of their 5 pitches.
M. If teams are tied after
6innings of play, they will begin the next inning with the last batter of the
previous inning on 2nd base and 2 outs.
Notice
The age cut off dates have been changed effective 1 January
1999
Effect: a player may play in the age group of the age they
are on January 1st.
OKLAHOMA
USSSA
T-BALL/6 & UNDER TOURNAMENT RULES
1. All teams must turn in a
completed Official USSSA roster prior to their first game.
2. There will be a 1 hour
time limit for all games.
3. The run rule will be 12
runs after 3 innings 2 ½ innings if home team is ahead, 8 runs after 4 innings
3 ½ if home team is ahead. Maximum of 7 runs per 1/2 inning may be scored.
4. Game time is forfeit
time.
5. Offensive players must
wear a "NOCSAE approved" batting helmet with extended ear flaps,
which cover both ears and temples when in the live ball area.
6. All players must have
reached their 4th birthday by JANUARY 1 2002
7. Teams will bat all
members on the roster (exception allowed for sickness or injuries). Any member
arriving late will be added to the bottom of the batting order. If a player is
removed from the game due to sickness or injury, she will not be allowed to
re-enter that game. There will be no penalty for this removal unless the
batting order drops below 10 players then a automatic will be declared for the
last player to be removed from the game. If the batting order drops below 9
players, a forfeiture of the game will be declared.
8. The team manager may
make all appeals.
9. Batter is allowed 3
swings to hit the ball into fair territory. If the bat hits only the tee, this
is a foul ball. Ball must go past the 10 foot arc to be a fair-batted ball. No
walks will be allowed.
10. All fielders must stay behind the 35 foot arc line. The pitcher must be on/or within 3 feet of the pitching rubber. The catcher must be in the lines of the catcher’s box when pitcher is in position and remain until the batter hits or swings at the ball.
11. The infield fly rule
will not be in effect.
12 If teams are tied after
5 innings or 1 hour they will the begin next inning with the last batter of the
previous inning on 2nd base and 2 outs.
13. The
“Tee-Coach”
is
responsible for removing the tee. The
“Tee-Coach” may provide assistance to the batter until the umpire places
the ball on the tee. After the batter
hits or swings the bat the coach
may assist the batter/runners
vocally or with hand gestures. The “Tee Coach
is responsible for removing the tee and bat from the baseline after the
ball is hit to prevent injuries. Interfering with the play at home will
result in the runner coming home being called out.
The " TEE-COACH must remain in his/her
designated box except when retrieving the bat or tee.
Effect: failure to remove
the tee will result in the runner coming home called out.
15. No alcoholic beverage
of any kind will be allowed on the premises during any Oklahoma USSSA Youth
tournament. Any person ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct will be
ejected for a minimum of 2 games. The tournament director may impose a stiffer
penalty.
16. All rules not listed
above will be in accordance with the current national playing rules as
published by USSSA and the Oklahoma Youth Council.
Notice
OKLAHOMA
USSSA
TOURNAMENT RULES
AGES 10,12,14,16,19
1.
All teams must turn in a completed Official USSSA roster prior to their first
game.
2.
Offensive players must wear a "NOCSAE approved" batting helmet with
extended ear flaps, which cover both
ears
and temples when in the live ball area.
3.
The run rule will be 15 runs after 3 innings 2 ½ innings if home team is ahead,
12 runs after 4 innings 3 ½ if home team is ahead and 10 runs after 5 innings 4
½ if home team is ahead.
4.
Game time is forfeit time.
5.
No alcoholic beverage of any kind will be allowed on the premises during any
Oklahoma USSSA Youth tournament. Any person ejected from a game for
unsportsmanlike conduct will be ejected for a minimum of 2 games. The
tournament director may impose a stiffer penalty.
6. Managers are responsible
for knowing when and where their next game is scheduled.
7.
All rules not listed above will be in accordance with the current national
playing rules as published by USSSA and the Oklahoma Youth Council.
Notice
The age cut off dates have been changed effective 1 January
1999
Effect: a player may play in the age group of the age they
are on January 1st.
