2009 Team Sign up deadline is:  April 1

Check for league meeting agenda items and announcements at: www.quickscores.com/austinmn

Registration Form

Wednesday, April 1 is the deadline for your entry fee and registration form

LATE REGISTRATIONS - Let's be courteous! Without your money and registration form I cannot and will not start schedules.  The Park and Recreation Department reserves the right to refuse any late registrations.

AGE DIVISIONS
12 & under   *   14 & under   *   16 & under   *   18 & under
A player's age on December 31, 2008 determines that player's age classification

GENERAL GAME INFORMATION
ASA rules shall apply unless otherwise noted.

All Leagues - To speed the game up and to ensure the maximum number of innings played, these rules will be utilized:

• With the game tied after regulation innings, the next inning shall begin with the last out of the previous inning on second base with no outs. (International tie-breaker)

• If the game is tied after time runs out and each team was allowed to complete their inning, it is recorded as a tie.

  Coaches will have a pre-printed roster/line-up card filled out before each game for the opposing coach.

• The following run rules apply: 15 runs after 3 innings and 8 runs after 5 innings. Except U12.

• The team at bat may use courtesy runners for the pitcher and/or catcher as soon as they reach base. The same runner may not be used for both positions. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be required to leave the game under such circumstances. If a player has already been in the game as a starter or substitute, they will not be eligible to be a courtesy runner, however if a player serves as a courtesy runner early in a game, she can be used as a substitute for another position at any time after that half inning is completed.

Inclement weather - In the event of bad weather, the home coach is responsible for any decision on postponement and must inform the opposing coach no later than 4 pm. Make-up games will be scheduled by the home coach and should be made up no later than two weeks after the postponement. All make-up games must be played no later than one week prior to the teams' appropriate state tournament.

League championship - Shall be determined by a single elimination tournament to be held toward the end of July on their regular league nights.  Each individual league division tournament will be held at a host location.  League champions in each division shall receive individual medals.

LEAGUE PLAY

No league games will be scheduled July 1-7.
Players may play for more than one team during league, but not for two teams in the same age division. 
Players may only participate with one team in post season tournaments.
Teams have a ten-minute grace period.  Please arrive early and be ready to play.

Whenever possible leagues will be divided by ability.  Please record appropriate playing level on team registration form.

U12 - Two 5-inning games will be played, as time permits, with a 5-minute break between games.  One point will be awarded for each game win in the standings.  In case of rain, 2 1/2 or 3 innings is considered complete.  Host team is home first game, visitor the second game.  Games will have a 6 run limit per inning for all innings played.  All U12 leagues except Jade will be limited to 3 runs per inning from passed balls.  The other 3 runs must be earned from walks or hits.  There will be a minimum of 5 innings played regardless of the score, as long as time allows.  If the trailing team is unable to catch up after 5 innings the game is over.  The ASA run rules are not in effect.   Nights of play will be Tuesday and Thursday.  League starts June 2.  Games shall begin at 6 pm and no inning shall begin after one hour from the start of the game.   May re-enter all players including substitutes once during the course of a game.  U12 pitching distance is 40 feet.  Coaches are not allowed to pitch or participate in the game except coaching. League standings as of June 23 will determine which teams go to Class A, B, or C.

U14 - The nights of play will be Monday and Wednesday.  League standings as of June 22 will determine which teams go to Class A, B, C, or D.  Leagues will be divided if needed.  League starts June 1.  Games shall begin at 6 pm and no new inning shall begin after 65 minutes of the first game and for the second game 1 1/4 hours from the start of the first game.  Two 7-inning games will be played, as time permits, with a 5-minute break between games.  One point will be awarded for each game win in the standings.  In case of rain, 2 1/2 or 3 innings is considered complete.  Host team is home first game, visitor the second game.  Players must hustle on and off the field in order to complete games before dark.   May re-enter all players including substitutes once during the course of a game.

U16 - League play will start the week of June 1.  Nights of play will be Mondays and Thursdays for the Dazzling League.  Blooming Stars will play on Monday/Wednesday evenings.  Games shall begin at 6 pm and no inning shall begin after 1 1/4 hours from the start of the game.  Two 7-inning games will be played, as time permits, with a 5 minute break between games.  One point will be awarded for each game win in the standings.  In case of rain, 4 1/2 or 5 innings is considered complete.  Host team is home first game, visitor the second game.  Players must hustle on and off the field in order to complete games before dark.

U18 - Doubleheaders will be scheduled, first game to begin at 6 pm.  Two 7-inning games will be played.  Host team will be home team in game one.  Traveling team shall be home in game two.  Rain minimum to be counted as a game will be 4 1/2 or 5 innings.  Each win will count one point in the standings.  Home team will provide two new balls at the beginning of each game.  League play will begin June 2 with games on Tuesdays. Teams may use graduated seniors as long as they meet the state age requirements.  The league may also be divided into 2 levels depending on registration numbers.

REPORTING RESULTS
We will be using the Quick Scores website again this year.  Teams will be able to report games scores on line.  Coaches please assign this job to someone else if you are too busy.  More information will come with your coach packet.  Any standings questions contact Tricia at tbranden@ci.austin.mn.us.  Schedules, standings and league news will be posted at:  www.quickscores.com/austinmn

FIELDS
To enable me with scheduling I need to know what fields are available for which league. Do not assume that I know.

STATE TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Each team must decide whether they will participate in the state tournament, if they qualify. A check must be sent to Austin Park and Recreation Department, by Friday, June 12 if you choose to go (Make checks payable to: Austin Park & Recreation Department). If you do not qualify, the money will be refunded. If you qualify and decide not to go, the money will not be refunded. State Entry Fee - $200

STATE TOURNAMENT BERTHS
State eligibility determined after a completed round, when possible.  League standings will determine state tournament seeding in the U12 and U14 leagues.  U18 and U16 will have a league tournament to determine state tournament placement.  Coaches do not get to just pick which state tournament their team will go to.   A, B, and limited C berths will be earned by the Dazzling League.  C & D berths will be awarded in the Blooming Star League.   Play-offs will be played if needed.  Coaches check with your players and parents early about all possible locations and dates.  Reserve motel rooms at all sites, you can cancel the rooms later.  Do not let your association pay if you have no intention of going!

U18 and U16 will have a league tournament to determine state berth positions.  It will be held June 29, 30 and (July 1 if necessary) in Austin.  An entry fee will be charged to cover umpire and tournament costs.  The entry fee will be determined after the June 12 state entry fee deadline.

Hoffman rule
Each team has the option to use the Hoffman Rule or not. The coach will need to state before the game begins whether they will be using the Hoffman Rule or not. When using the Hoffman Rule all members of the team must bat, even the players on the bench. Teams must play the complete game with the Hoffman. If using the Hoffman Rule and a player is unable to continue because of injury, they are removed from the game and can not return to that game. The injured player is eliminated from the lineup and the team is not required to take an out. No courtesy runners are permitted, even to speed up the game. There are no restrictions on defensive substitutions.

EQUIPMENT
League will use a COR .47 optic yellow ball with red stitches. Chin straps and face mask/guards are required for all age groups.

ENTRY FEE
The entry fee for the league shall be $99

Checks should be sent to the League Director and made out to: Austin Park and Recreation Department.

TEAM ROSTERS

All 3 pages of the MSF Official State Team Rosters must be returned to our Office before May 29.  After we receive your roster you will receive a signed copy of your roster and your team membership card.  Rosters must include: coach's name, address, signature, each player's name, address, date of birth, and parent's signature.  Do not tear your MSF roster apart; return all 3 sheets to us.  It is also suggested that each coach collect a copy of each player's birth certificate, as it will be needed to verify player identity and age if you qualify for the state tournament.  Players must have a photo ID for post season tournaments, so make a notebook and keep the photos and birth documents together.  Great job for a “team mom”.  All towns with two teams or more will need to be represented by an association.  The Association must have a board in place, by-laws and be recognized by their local Park and Recreation Department.  Even if your team is not going to the State Tournament we need the MSF rosters returned for insurance reasons.

DEADLINES