| 1. |
1. Will neither abuse nor let players abuse umpires or opposing players. Cheering during a game is to encourage teammates not to taunt or tease players from the other team. Under no circumstances will abusive language be tolerated. |
| 2. |
2. Report any defective equipment to the Equipment Manager. Never use equipment that might cause injury to a player. |
| 3. |
3. Bring your first aid kit to all games and practices. Check frequently to ensure you have ice packs and first aid materials. |
| 4. |
Never leave a player at a field alone. Remain in the field area with players until they are picked up or accounted for after a game. Assistant Coach or the Team Parent may help in this regard. |
| 5. |
Try to have practices before and at the beginning of the season. Once make-up games are required, there may be a shortage of available fields. Check with your commissioners for field availability times. |
| 6. |
Have your players report no later than 15 minutes before game time, unless you are notified of a reason why they will be late. |
| 7. |
Coach should arrive with all score sheets and game needs so as not to unduly delay the start of the game. There is a two-hour time limit for games. |
| 8. |
8. Winning coach should promptly call in the scores (home team for a tie). |
| 9. |
Home team provides the umpire if there is no BGSA umpire assigned to do the game. Except as a last resort, coaches and assistant coaches are not allowed to umpire their own games. Umpires must wear a mask when behind the plate, otherwise call the game from behind the pitcher. |
| 10. |
Disagreement with an umpire's call will be handled as follows: |
|
| a. |
Judgement Call -- e.g. ball/strike, fair/foul, safe/out, etc. No disagreement is allowed. The umpires’ calls, as they see them, are correct. |
| b. |
Play requires an explanation or interpretation of a rule: after play has stopped, and before the next pitch, calmly ask for time to be called. Get together with the umpire and opposing coach, away from players and spectators, to discuss the rule. Refer to the rule in question and why you believe the rule may have been violated. The other coach may agree or disagree with your contention. Umpire will then make the final call and play will resume. However, at this point either coach may state the intention to “protest” the call (see Rule 2-29 on how to protest). |
|
| 11. |
Care should always be used with parents. No coach should ever get into “discussions” with parents from the opposing team. Coaches are responsible for keeping their respective parents under control. Don’t hesitate to ask an opposing coach to calm a situation. Coaches must be mindful that to engage in such controversies can cause them to escalate a situation out of control. |
| 12. |
Board members and coaches have a responsibility to monitor compliance with BGSA rules. A coach having reason to believe a violation exists, especially as relates to fair treatment of players, is responsible to report this to the Board. |
| 13. |
Coaches are required to: |
|
| a. |
Distribute and collect all uniforms. |
| b. |
Maintain equipment in good repair. |
| c. |
Return uniforms/equipment promptly as scheduled. |
| d. |
Keep fields and bench areas free of trash. |
| e. |
Assist the Team Parent with collection of picture/banquet money. |
| f. |
Allow only one coach and two assistants on the field during a game. |
| g. |
Keep parents off the bench and playing fields. |
| i. |
Attend coaches meetings. |
|
| 14. |
School teams have the use of some fields during our season. Stay off the field until the game or practice is over. If BGSA teams cannot take the field by 6:00 PM, the coaches can elect to have the game rescheduled. If the game is started, then it is an official game and must end at 7:30 PM (two-hour rule). |
| 15. |
Coaches are strongly encouraged to thank the umpire, particularly the volunteers, after a game.TD>
|
| 16. |
Field dimensions for your reference are as follows: |
|
| a. |
60 feet from back of home plate to the far edge of first and third base. |
| b. |
60 feet from the foul line edge of first and third to the center of second base. |
| c. |
84 feet 10 inches from the back of home plate to the center of second base. |
| d. |
40 feet: back edge home plate to front edge Senior League pitcher’s plate; |
| e. |
35 feet: to the front edge of Junior or Middle League pitcher’s plate. |
| f. |
8 feet: from edge of circle to center of pitcher’s plate. |
| g. |
Instructional League, see field dimensions handout. |
|
| 17. |
Softball is fun and should be an enjoyable experience for all involved. However, failure to observe BGSA rules and guidelines may result in the disqualification of a coach, assistant coach, team parent, or board member from further participation. The objective of the BGSA is for the girls to learn the game, make new friends, and to have FUN. |