Softball

 

NJCAA Region XIX SOFTBALL CODE

Effective Date: October 13, 2009

Section A – Regular Season Playing Regulations

1.       All teams must schedule all other teams within their division twice.  Division III schools are no longer mandated to play Division II schools and vice versa.  The North / South Sections no longer exist.

2.       All regional divisional games must be played.  Scheduling priorities when there is no available date should be:

a.       Region XIX division opponent (SEE SECTION K)

b.      Region XIX opponents

c.       Other opponents

In the event a game is postponed, it should be rescheduled on a mutually agreeable date.  In the event no such date exists, the game must be rescheduled at the next available date when both teams do not have a region divisional game scheduled.  This includes canceling or rescheduling a non-regional divisional contest to allow a regional game within the division to be played.  Failure by one team to adhere to this rule will count as a forfeit for seeding purposes.  The region divisional team that was willing to play the date decided receives a win for seeding purposes.  In the event all avenues have been exhausted to the satisfaction of the region director, a “no contest” shall be declared.

3.        All games must be scheduled for seven (7) innings, including double-headers.  If the game is tied after the 7th inning the approved tie breaker rule goes into effect immediately.  The tie breaker rule states: “During each half inning of the innings used to enforce the tie breaker rule, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat in the ninth position in that respective inning starting the inning at second base.”

4.       An eight (8) run mercy rule will be in effect for all Region XIX games, after the 5th inning.  At this point the game is declared an official game.

5.       Any College fielding a club team must follow all NJCAA, NCAA, and Region XIX regulations specifically including, but not limited to, filing the NJCAA Club Team form, paying region dues, report game results to your respective service bureau, adhere to uniform rules as per the sport operating code, follow ejection policies for coaches and players (including the reporting of these ejections), follow the home game management requirements and use game umpires which are under contract with Region XIX.

6.       Region XIX will follow the playing rules of the NCAA/NJCAA unless otherwise indicated. 

7.       All completed schedules must be submitted to the Service Bureau Director for your division by the winter region meeting.  This schedule must also include a declaration as to whether or not an institution will play on Sundays and/or religious holidays.

8.       All umpires must be certified and be members of the organization contracted by Region XIX to provide umpires for the sport of softball.  The region softball assignor must attempt to secure the highest rated officials available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section B – Reporting of Scores

1.       All service bureau reports must be emailed/called/faxed in by Friday before 11:00am each week to the Service Bureau Director.

2.       Service Bureau:  All games and statistics must be faxed weekly or your team will be fined $50.  Such fine(s) must be paid in full five (5) days prior to the seeding meeting for the tournament.  Colleges not reporting to their respective service bureau director by the due time because of emergency closures (i.e. snow closure) will have 24 hours (next working day) from the due time and date to submit their report.  If it is known that the institution will be closed at the reporting time – the report should be sent prior to the closing and before the due time.  If at this time no report is received by the service bureau director, a fine of $50 will be assessed (invoice sent by the service bureau director w/ copy to the respective region director, men’s or women’s and payment sent to respective region director).  If no payment is received by respective region director five (5) days prior to the seeding meeting the offending college(s) will be reported to the Standards and Ethics committee.

Section C – Regional Tournament Qualification

1.       The Region XIX Softball Tournament will be played the first and second weekends of May with the finals in both Division II and Division III being held the second weekend in May.  Adjustments will be made to this schedule if/when District playoffs and/or NJCAA national tournament dates dictate.  The Region XIX softball final four be held at a site predetermined and approved by the Athletic Directors of Region XIX .

2.       For the purpose of establishing qualification for the region tournament, colleges may not add new games or drop originally scheduled games 14 days prior to the published seeding meeting for their respective tournament, unless to make-up a region division game.  Games previously scheduled, but postponed, may be rescheduled during this time period vs. the same opponent.

3.       The top four (4) teams in each division must participate in the Region Tournament.  Any additional team(s) with a .500 winning percentage overall or in regional divisional play, may participate.  In the event of a tie in relation to region division record to get to the minimum of four (4) teams, all teams that are tied will qualify for the tournament.

4.       All region division games must be played.  In the event a region division game is forfeited, it will count for qualification and seeding purposes.  All other forfeits will not count for qualification purposes.  Programs that “drop” during the regular season will have those game results, including regional divisional games that were played to that point, count on overall records only, per Region Bylaws Article VI Section F.

5.        Member colleges must comply with dates and times for submitting entry forms and other pertinent information as requested by the Committee Chairperson.  Non-compliance will result in the offending college(s) being reported to the Standards and Ethics Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section D – Regional Tournament Seeding

1.       Seeding will be based as follows:

a.       Teams will be ranked according to divisional region record (records should indicate each institution playing each divisional opponent twice)

b.      In the event of a tie, seeding will based upon:

a.       Head to Head competition

b.      Record against the number one seed, if still tied, then record against the number two seed, and so on for the records against seeded teams.

c.       If a tie still exists, a coin flip will decide the seed or drawing of lots for a three-way tie.

 

Section E – Regional Tournament Format       

1.       Each team that participates in the Region XIX softball tournament must pay a $350 entry fee.

2.       All teams will be seeded and will maintain their seeds throughout the tournament.

3.       All tournament games will be scheduled for seven (7) innings.  If a game is delayed due to rain, light failure, etc., it shall be resumed at the point of suspension regardless of the number of innings played. 

4.       If the double elimination tournament has not begun two days prior to the final play date listed in the NJCAA Handbook, the tournament shall become a single elimination tournament.  Every effort shall be made to conclude the tournament one day prior to the NJCAA final play date.  Should play not be concluded by the final play date, the highest seed of the remaining four (4) teams in the tournament shall advance to the national (or district) tournament.

5.       Highest rank team(s) may receive a bye(s), depending on the number of teams that qualify for the tournament.

6.       If eight (8) or less teams are involved, the following format will be utilized:

a.       Best 2 out of 3 series at the higher seed (higher seed is home team for all games in the series).

b.      A doubleheader is played on Saturday, with game one at 12:00pm and game two starting 20 minutes after the completion of the first. 

c.       If a third game is necessary, it will be played on Sunday at 12:00pm at the higher seed.

d.      All first round game scores must be reported to the tournament director immediately after the games (2nd game on Saturday).

7.       If more than eight (8) teams qualify for the Region XIX tournament, the following process would be utilized:

a.       A “rat-tail game” would be played to qualify for one of the eight (8) bracket spots

·         #9 seed would play #8 seed at the #1 seed

·         #10 seed would play #7 seed at the #2 seed

b.      These games would be played at 12:00pm on Saturday as part of a doubleheader.  The highest seed will be the home team.  Teams will share equally in the cost of the umpires for the “rat-tail” game.  The winner of the “rat-tail” will advance to a best 2 out of 3 series vs. one of the top four seeds.  The loser of the “rat-tail” game is eliminated.

c.       The first game of the best of 3 series will begin 20 minutes after the completion of the “rat-tail” game.  The higher seed is the home team

d.      The second and third (if necessary) games of the series will be played on Sunday at the higher seed, starting at 12:00pm.  The third game (if needed) will start 20 minutes after the completion of game two.  The higher seed is the home team for all games of the series.

e.      All scores must be reported to the Tournament Director.

8.       The NJCAA eight (8) run mercy rule will be in effect, EXCEPT in the championship games (includes both games, if winners bracket team loses first game of championship).

9.       There is no tie breaker rule in the tournament.

 

 

 

Section F – Regional Tournament Logistics

 

1.       All teams in the tournament shall provide four (4) NJCAA approved softballs for each game. 

2.       At the final four site, the host team (if participating) will have choice of bench.  If the host is not playing, or has been eliminated, the higher seed gets choice of bench.

3.       The host school pays for all umpire costs during final four.

4.       Each team pays for one (1) umpire during preliminary (rat-tail) round games

5.       Home team pays for umpires during first round games (best of 3 series) and supplies NJCAA approved softballs.  Visiting team pays for travel

6.       Teams competing in the final four are responsible for all travel costs

7.       A site director for each early round (preliminary and first round) game shall be appointed by the selection committee.  This individual will make all necessary final decisions regarding the operation of the game at that site.

8.       All fields used for hosting the regional tournament must legal per NJCAA /NCAA rulebook.  Portable fences are acceptable.

9.       Whenever possible the host team, or co-host team, shall play at their own field during the tournament for the ease of grounds-keeping and handling emergency situations.  If the hosts are playing each other, the game will be at the higher seed’s field.  In all instances, the higher seed will bat last.

Section G – Regional Tournament Awards

1.       Region award plaques will be presented at the conclusion of the tournament to the team champion and runner-up

2.       A Region XIX tournament MVP will be selected by a committee established by the Tournament site director.

Section H – All Region Selections / Coach of the Year

1.       An All-Region / All-GSAC nomination form will be sent to all coaches in mid-April by the Region Softball Committee Chair with specific deadlines for completion and return by the coaches.

2.       Coaches may nominate up to six (6) players.  The players must be nominated in the positions they have played in the majority of the season.

3.       An All-Region / All-GSAC voting ballot will then be sent to all coaches by the Region Softball Committee Chair after all nominations have been collected, with specific deadlines for completion and return.

4.       If a college does not return their voting ballot by the established deadline, their team nominations will be dropped from the voting ballots.

5.       Players must be voted on in the following positions: Pitchers (2), Catchers (2), Infielders (5), Outfielders (4) and the utility player will automatically be the next player with the highest number of votes received.  Coaches may not vote for their own players.

6.       In addition to voting for fourteen (14) players, the coaches must identify and rank the ten (10) best players in their respective division of Region XIX.  The rank order will be ten (10) through one (1), with ten (10) being the player that you believe to be the best player in the Region.   The individual receiving the most votes will be selected the best player in their respective division of Region XIX, second, and so on.  Coaches may not rank their own players.

 

 

7.       Division II and Division III will each have a first and second All-Region Team.  Each player receiving the most votes for their position will be selected to the first team and the next vote getter will earn second team honors.

8.       The Coach of the Year will be the Coach of the Region XIX tournament champion.

9.       An All-Region Academic Team will be selected from players nominated by their institution.  See “Awards Operating Code” for details.

Section I – Ejection

1.       If a coach is ejected from a Region XIX contest and there is no college-approved representative designated by the Athletic Director present, then the game is terminated and forfeited at that point.  In addition, the coach must sit the next scheduled contest.  If the ejection occurs in the last game of the season the ejection will carry into the following year.

2.       An athlete ejected from any Region XIX contest for any reason must sit the next game.  If the ejection occurs in the last game of the season and/or playoff game the suspension will carry into the following season of eligibility used in that respective sport.

3.       Any player ejected for fighting or violent act will sit the next two (2) contests.  If the ejection occurs in the last game of the season and/or playoff game, the suspension will carry into the following season of eligibility used in that sport.  A second ejection for fighting in a season will result in that player suspended from competition in that sport for the remainder of the season.  Reminder NJCAA and NCAA rules may impose more severe penalties.  Region XIX will impose the most severe penalty allowed.

4.       In the event of any ejection, an ejection report must be filed with the region director.  The athletic directors of both colleges should file the appropriate NJCAA form to the region director.

Section J – Open Wound Statement

1.       Under circumstances when constant or profuse bleeding occurs, the participant shall be immediately removed from that contest by the coach or official and cannot return until the bleeding has stopped.

Section K – Tobacco Use

1.       The use of all tobacco products by any coach, player, official, or other individual involved in the conducting of any NJCAA sanctioned or sponsored regular season or post season play is prohibited within the confines of the playing area.  Any individual not in compliance shall be disqualified from further participation in that contest.

 

Section J – Code of Conduct

1.       All members of teams including players, coaches, trainers, scorekeepers, and spectators will follow the Code of Conduct enforced by the National Junior College Athletic Association throughout all games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section K – Region XIX Divisional Breakdown

Region XIX – Division II (8 schools) – 14 games

Burlington

Morris

Del Tech Owens

Del Tech Stanton

Lackawanna

Mercer

Raritan Valley

Salem

 

Region XIX Division III (11 schools) – 20 games

Bergen

Brookdale

Camden

Cumberland

Gloucester

Middlesex

Ocean

Sussex

Northampton

Montgomery

Atlantic Cape

 

 

Approved:                  10/01/03

Last Revision:            1/13/09

New Revisions:        10/13/09 (TT)

 

Approved: 10/01/03
Last Revised: 1/19/10