309 Dates of Championship Play

i. Men's Major Fast Pitch. Any team that has not competed in the Men's Major

Fast Pitch National Championship Tournament for two consecutive years shall be allowed to participate in a lower classification regardless of the number of games won at the national tournament, provided they have received permission from their Local Commissioner, to compete at a lower classification for the following season. ii. Men’s Class A Slow Pitch

b. Returning Players. A team that has a combination of four or more players on a roster, including pick-ups, from a team or teams subject to mandatory reclassification and/or restricted classification must maintain the classification as assigned by the mandatory classification rule.

EXCEPTION: Players that have successfully appealed and been granted a reclassification shall not be counted towards the four-player rule for a returning team.

I. Classification Appeal. Teams and players classified in accordance with this article have the right to appeal his/her classification after participating at the higher classification. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the team’s local commissioner and should include game results and reason for the appeal. The local commissioner shall evaluate the information presented and forward the appeal with their recommendation to the Chair of the Tournament Programs Committee. The Tournament

Programs Committee shall review the information presented. If the appeal is granted, the team’s roster and players shall be frozen for the balance of the year. If the team adds a player to their roster, except Pick-Up Players pursuant to Article 303, the appeal is nullified, and the team is reclassified to at least the next higher classification.

Article 308 LEVELS OF CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY. The following are levels of championship play: A. Local Association Championships. Local Associations championship play at the state or metro championship must follow the USA Softball Procedural Code.

EXCEPTION: All adult slow pitch and Men’s Fast Pitch.

EXCEPTION: Local Association rules may be enacted for run ahead rules, time limits, uniforms (except that a minimum must be shirts that are like in color and style with numbers on the back), home run rules, stealing, metal cleats and fence distances.

01. Tournament Structure. Local associations may conduct sub district, district or county championships for the purpose of qualifying teams for local association championships. These tournaments are open to registered member teams in accordance with the rules and regulations of the local association, provided such rules and regulations are not in conflict or inconsistent with this Procedural Code or the established policies of USA Softball.

NOTE: Local associations may not conduct championship play tournaments in locations outside of their association's boundaries without permission from that local association's commissioner.

02. Bracket Options. State and Metro Associations may choose to have pool play and a single elimination tournament to qualify 10-Under, 12-Under, 14-Under, 16-Under and 18-Under Class A and Class B fast pitch teams for advancing to National

Championship Finals.

EXCEPTION: This does not include any 16-Under Gold and 18-Under Gold Fast Pitch Qualifying Play.

03. Scheduling. Local Associations may conduct JO qualifying tournaments for the following years championship play. Teams that participate in these tournaments must use age eligible players for the year the championship play will be played and must meet the returning team requirement to maintain their berth. 04. Berth Distribution. Local association berths may be open to all USA Softball registered teams from any local association if the host State/Metro commissioner allows. Teams from outside the local association must have a national championship entry form and Championship roster signed by his/her local State/Metro commissioner or designee in order to participate. B. National Qualifiers. The association shall conduct national qualifiers in the following divisions of championship play. 01. Adult Slow Pitch National Qualifiers may be held in Adult Slow Pitch. The association hosting the tournament must use their local association berths. Teams that accept the berths must abide by the rules set forth by their local association to advance in championship play.

EXCEPTION: Men's Class C will have 64 allocated berths.

C. Regional Championships. Regional Championships may be held in any division and classification. D. GOLD Qualifying Tournaments. GOLD Qualifying Tournaments (NGQT) will be held in accordance with Article 313. E. National Championships Finals. National Championship Finals will be held in accordance with Article 314.

Article 309 DATES OF CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY. Regional Tournaments, National Qualifiers, and Gold Qualifiers must be scheduled to start no earlier than Friday and complete no later than Sunday. A. Local Association Tournaments. The dates for Junior Olympic Class A Championships must be scheduled to be completed at least twelve days prior to the start of the first game of their prospective Junior Olympic National Championship final. B. Regional Tournaments. The dates for regional tournaments shall be established by the commissioners within the respective region. Junior Olympic Gold and Class A Regional Tournaments must be scheduled to be completed a minimum of twelve days prior to the start of the first game in the Junior Olympic Gold Championship Final.

EXCEPTION: Gold Regional Qualifiers may be held during the week if agreed upon by the local associations in the region.