2012 NVSUA/Ashland Scholarship Tourney

                    

Ashland Youth Softball is proud to announce it will host the 2012 Nobscot Valley Softball Umpires Association (NVSUA) Scholarship Tournament on Father's Day Weekend.

Tournament T-Shirts available for purchase online until May 31 at a discount!

 

HOW:             Download registration form to be added to our wait list

WHEN:           June 15 - 17

WHERE:         Warren School Fields (73 Fruit St), Ashland, Mass.

WHO:            ASA Registered 12U Teams

PRICE:            $350

CHECKS PAYABLE TO       NVSUA

MAIL TO                        Karen Moore

                                   57 Overlook Dr, West

                                   Framingham, MA 01701

QUESTIONS: Please contact Gerry Leon at ashlandmasoftball@comcast.net

Ashland’s Warren School Field features a full concession stand with cold drinks, snacks, pizza and lunch foods. There are indoor rest rooms in the concession stand. 

The playing fields include two skinned diamonds with infields that were replaced before the 2011 season. Dugouts on both fields have roofs to protect players from the hot sun and/or inclement weather.

Use of personal grills, consumption of alcohol, smoking and dogs are NOT ALLOWED on the property where the tournament will be held.

There will be a ZERO TOLERANCE policy through out the tournament. Any player, coach or fan acting inappropriately will be required to leave the premises.

The Ashland Redevelopment Authority is sponsoring Rediscover Ashland 2012 from June 9-16. Check the event web site for things to do between games!

TEAMS ENTERED AS OF 4/15/12:

Ashland (C)

Franklin (C)

Frozen Ropes Natick

Holliston (C)

Hudson (B)
Marlboro (C)

Milford (B)

Medfield (C)

 

Any additional teams will be placed on our wait list

 

 

CHECK IN

Team coaches or representatives must report to the Concession Stand at the at the Warren School at least 1 HOUR BEFORE GAME TIME OF YOUR FIRST GAME. Teams playing on Friday night may check their team in starting at 4:45 PM.

 Coaches will be REQUIRED to provide:

  1. Insurance Certificate.
  2. Proof of Birth for all players. (Birth Certificates, ASA ID cards, and adoption papers are acceptable proof of birth).
  3. Rosters are limited to 15 players as registered with the ASA.  These must be turned in to the Tournament Director prior to tournament start.  No additional players will be allowed once this has been turned in. Roster packages will be returned at the conclusion of the tournament.

Coaches will receive a packet containing: 

  1. Copy of the rules & procedures for the tournament.
  2. Complete schedule for the tournament. (Note – The single elimination bracket and game times will be provided)
  3. Parking Permits for head coaches

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

  1. There will be a ZERO TOLERANCE policy through out the tournament. Any player, coach or fan acting inappropriately will be required to leave the premises.
  2. Any display of poor sportsmanship by players and/or coaches will result in automatic expulsion from that game and at least the next game at the discretion of the tournament director.  Any coach being ejected must leave the area of the field immediately. In the event that a team is left without any previously named coach that team will forfeit those games.
  3. Ground rules will be reviewed prior to the first game for each team in the tournament.
  4. ASA umpires will be used for all games.  There will be two umpires for each game whenever possible.

  5. ALL players must have been born on or after January 1, 1999. Anyone born in 1998 or earlier is NOT eligible. 

  6. MVP balls will be exchanged after each game, to be signed by each player on the team.  The players of each team will select an MVP from the opposite team.  Balls will be provided by the Tournament Directors. (Coaches are expected to have the balls signed by each team member prior to the end of each game).
  7. Team coaches (head/assistant) are responsible for their team parents and fans.  Only 3 coaches per team will be allowed within the field area.
  8. NO ALCOHOLIC beverages are allowed on the premises
  9. NO SMOKING is allowed on the premises.
  10. NO DOGS are allowed on the premises.
  11. NO GRILLS are allowed on the premises.
  12. Players' families are allowed to park in FRONT of the school. Only head coaches and game & tournament officials are allowed to park behind the school. Parking permits will be issued to head coaches at the tournament.
  13. Final records will be posted at http://www.aybsonline.org/tourney2012/index.html following the tournament.

 

TOURNAMENT PROCEDURES

  1. Coaches are to ensure that all players are free of jewelry. Taping over earrings is NOT acceptable. Medic Alert bracelets must be taped down or covered.
  2. Please clean out the dugout after each game.
  3. No infield or batting practice is allowed on the playing fields.  
  4. Both teams must submit a lineup card with FIRST & LAST NAMES, & SHIRT NUMBERS to the umpire and opposing team at pre-game meeting.
  5. In the absence of an official scorer, the home team’s book is official.
  6. Score keepers for each team must compare scores after each ½ inning and any disputes are to be settled immediately. 
  7. Both teams are responsible for reporting game scores at the Concession Stand immediately after the game.
  8. All equipment used must meet ASA standards. Bats & helmets will be checked by the Umpire prior to each game.
  9. THE GAME OFFICIALS ON THE PLAYING FIELD WILL RESOLVE PROTESTS BEFORE THE GAME WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. THE UIC’S DECISION IS FINAL. NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED AFTER THE GAME IS COMPLETED.
  10. Should any game be suspended due to weather or unusual conditions, it will be resumed at the point of suspension. See Rain Policy.
  11. Game time is forfeit time for all games if teams do not meet ASA Rules of eligibility.
  12. Batters, runners, bat persons, and player coaches must wear helmets.  If the helmet falls off, it must be put back on at the first opportunity.  If a runner deliberately takes their helmet off while running the bases, the player will be called out.
  13. Catcher’s equipment will include a mask, throat guard (or hockey style mask instead), helmet, and chest protector.

GAME RULES 

  1. Games are 6 innings.  If the score is tied after 6 innings, the international tiebreaker will go into effect as previously defined.

  2. Up to 10 players may  be used in the field.  A minimum of 9 players must be available to start a game.  During a game should injury or illness occur, a team can continue to play with 8 in the field.
  3. A continuous batting order is to be used consisting of all players present at the game.
  4. Courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers will NOT  be used.
  5. In the judgment of an umpire or coaches that an injury requires immediate medical attention, the ball is immediately called dead and the player is attended to.  Placement of runners and batters is at the umpire's discretion.
  6. If a player is injured or becomes ill during a game there will be no out called for her batting position.  If for any other reason, a batter leaves the order, an out will be called at that player's turn in the lineup.
  7. Mercy rule is in effect for all games – 12 runs after 3 complete innings.

All ASA Rules are in effect including:

  1. There is no limit on the number of steals per inning.
  2. Runners may steal home plate.
  3. Runners can not leave the base until the ball is released by the pitcher.  In the event a runner leaves the base early, the umpire will call play dead and the runner will be called out.  All other runners will be returned to their starting base(s) and the count remains the same to the batter. 
  4. Batters may advance on a dropped third strike.
  5. Bunting is allowed. 
  6. Slashing on a bunt attempt is not allowed (i.e., batter fakes the bunt and then pulls back and swings away). EFFECT: Ball is dead and batter is out on the attempt.
  7. Infield fly rule is in effect.
  8. ASA rule on avoiding collisions states:

    In an effort to prevent injury and protect a defensive player attempting to make a play on a runner, a runner must be called out when they remain on their feet and crash into a defensive player who is holding the ball and waiting to apply a tag. To prevent the out ruling, the runner may slide, jump over the defender holding the ball, go around the defender or return to the previous base touched. If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender is ejected. A runner may slide into the fielder.

 TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Teams will play three games in pool play for seeding in Sunday’s single-elimination round. Champions and runners-up will receive trophies at the conclusion of the Championship game on Sunday.

Pool Play

  1. Home Team will be decided in all games by a double coin toss prior to game time.
  2. International Tiebreaker – The batter who made the last out in the previous inning will begin at second base with the player batting after her in the order leading off in the tiebreaker inning.  Each team has 3 outs to try to score runs.  The teams play subsequent innings using this format till someone wins or the game is called at the discretion of the Tournament Director.
  3. Pool play games may end in a tie.
  4. No inning shall start after 90 minutes from the start time. The umpire will start the clock in each game and notify teams of the start time. The international tiebreaker* will be used in pool play only if played within the time limit.
  5. All games will be limited to 1 hour 40 minutes.  If the inning is not finished, the score reverts back to the previous inning. The batter does NOT get to finish their at bat once time limit has been reached.

Single-elimination Seeding

The Tournament Staff, based on the following, shall determine the official order of finish in qualifying pool play:

  1. 2 Points for a Win and 1 Point for a Tie
  2. If a tie exists, teams will be ranked as follows:

  • fewest runs allowed in pool play

  • Coin toss (for 2 teams that are tied)

  • Draw from hat (for 3 or more teams that are tied)

Single-Elimination Play

  1. The higher seed team will be the home team.

  2. No inning shall start 90 minutes after the start time. The umpire will start the clock in each game and notify teams of the start time.
  3. All games EXCEPT Semi-Final and Championship games will be limited to 1 hour 40 minutes.  If the inning is not finished, the score reverts back to the previous inning.
  4. During single-elimination, the international tiebreaker will begin in the top of the seventh inning or when the time limit expires.
  5. Semi-final and championship games have no time limit and the international tiebreaker will be used.  A time restriction may be imposed at the discretion of the tournament director in the event of extraordinary circumstances.

 RAIN POLICY/FORMAT

The Tournament Staff may change the Tournament Format at any time due to prolonged delays or severe weather conditions. If time is lost due to rain, pool play may be cancelled and single elimination play will begin. In the event of rain or any cause, which interrupts a game, the game must be resumed at the exact point where it was stopped, time permitting. Our ultimate goal is to be fair to all and give everyone the number of games they deserve. However, there may be unforeseen circumstances that make it difficult for the tournament staff to achieve that goal.

As a reminder ASA rules state that play must stop for at least 30 minutes when thunder is heard or lightning is seen. The clock is reset each time there is thunder or lightning. All persons MUST LEAVE the playing fields and seek shelter in the event of thunder and/or lightning.

In case of rain, the Tournament Staff will determine the format for single-elimination.

  1. The tournament director reserves the right to call any game having progressed to the time limit, or to reduce the number of innings for a completed game to try and keep on schedule.

  2. In the championship round, if the game cannot be continued, and the score is tied, the winner will be decided:

  • Head to head competition

  • Total points earned in tournament

  • Least runs allowed

  • Coin Toss