(As approved by the Board of Directors on Saturday, January 27^th, 2007.) 

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

 Section 1.01 – Establishment of Classification Code: In accordance with the AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA’s (hereinafter referred to as the ASA) Code, as adopted on January 27, 1977, and as amended from year to year, SOUTH FLORIDA YOUTH ASA (hereinafter referred to as the SFYASA) hereby establishes a SFYASA Championship Play Classification Code (hereinafter referred to as the CPCC) for the determination of team and/or player classification.

 Section 1.02 – Classification Board: The Classification Board (hereinafter referred to as the BOARD) shall, upon written application, review the Commissioner’s (or designee’s) determination of a team and/or player classification.  Should it be determined that a team/player is not compliant with the CPCC, the BOARD shall have the authority to change the classification.  Furthermore, the BOARD has the authority to make changes from time to time of the CPCC based on the majority vote of the BOARD. 

Section 1.03 – Championship Play: The term “Championship Play” means one or a series of tournaments or competition from which the winner or other selected teams may advance to higher levels of play of the ASA, with the ultimate competition being the National Championship Tournament.  A team must be classified in accordance with the ASA Code’s division and classification. 

Section 1.04 – ASA National Office: A copy of the CPCC shall be filed with the ASA.

 Section 1.05 – Website: A copy of the CPCC shall be posted to the South Florida ASA website.

 Section 1.06 – Conflict: If there is a conflict between the CPCC and the ASA Code, then the ASA Code will rule.

ARTICLE II

CLASSIFICATION BOARD

 Section 2.01 – BOARD Members: The BOARD shall be made up of the following individuals: 

1. President of SFYASA;
2. Commissioner;
3. Deputy Commissioner; and
4. Junior Olympic (hereinafter referred to as the JO) Commissioner.

 Section 2.02 – Chairperson: The Chairperson shall be the Commissioner.

 Section 2.03 – Meetings: The BOARD shall conduct meetings as follows: 

1. Whenever needed during the calendar year as called for by the Chairperson of the BOARD.

ARTICLE III

APPEALS

 Section 3.01 – Appeals: Teams classified in accordance with the ASA Code and the CPCC has the right to appeal their classification after participating at the higher classification.  The team must: 

1. Submit in writing to the Commissioner an appeal to reclassify the team to a lower classification;
2. The Commissioner shall evaluate the information of the appeal presented and forward the appeal with the Commissioner’s recommendation to the Chair of the National Classification Committee;
3. The National Classification Committee shall review the information provided;
4. If the appeal is granted, the team’s roster shall be frozen for the balance of the year; and
5. If the team adds a player to their roster, except “Pick-Up” players, the appeal is nullified and the team is reclassified to at least the next higher classification.

 Section 3.02 – Appeal Date Deadline: All appeals must be postmarked by June 15^th of the calendar year.  Any appeal postmarked after June 15^th of the calendar year will not be considered.

ARTICLE IV

TEAM CLASSIFICATION

 Section 4.01 – Guidelines: The criteria that follow will be used as a guideline when evaluating teams.  The Commissioner will make the final determination as to what classification the team will be placed in based on the level of play where the team will be competitive.

 Section 4.02 – SFYASA Classification: The Commissioner (or designee) may classify teams and/or players within SFYASA in accordance with the CPCC.

 Section 4.03 – Team Classification: A team who has been classified in any division of play during the previous year will remain in the same classification during the current season until reclassified by the BOARD.  However, if a team voluntarily moves up in classification, no review will be required.  If a team is subject to the ASA Mandatory Classification Rule, the new classification is effective immediately.

 Section 4.04 – Recreational League (Non-Championship) Play: A recreational league team shall not be classified in accordance with the ASA’s Code for Junior Olympic play.  Accordingly, a recreational league team is not eligible to play in Championship Play.  A recreational team has few skilled players.  Offense and defense is limited and inconsistent.  Pitcher(s) do not control the game.  Players are not checked out, measured, tested, or required to demonstrate their athletic ability.  All players who wish to play are welcomed.  Play is strictly recreational in nature, allowing players time to participate in other activities and not devote a large amount of time to softball.  The recreational league team is not allowed to travel to any ASA events outside of the SFYASA area.  The roster of a recreational league team does not require the signature of the Commissioner (or designee).

 Section 4.05 – Championship Play Classification “B” (if applicable): A “B” team is a team consisting of recreational league “All Star” players from that recreational league.  The “B” team has some skilled offensive and defensive players.  Pitcher(s) may be skilled but do not control the game.  Players may be checked out, measured, tested or required to demonstrate their athletic ability, but many are selected via a draft or as “All Stars”.  The “B” team plays in SFYASA invitational events and/or the SFYASA local Championship Play “B” Tournament.  The “B” team is eligible to play in the Southern Region Championship Play “B” Tournament only if they participated in the SFYASA local Championship Play “B” Tournament (if conducted).  Any “B” team that earns a berth into the South ASA Championship Play “B” National Finals Tournament will be allowed to attend.  If a “B” team and/or player(s) participate in an “A” Championship Play, the “B” team and/or player(s) will automatically be reclassified as a Championship Play “A” team for the remainder of the calendar year and shall not be eligible to participate in the Championship Play “B” competition.  A “B” team must be made up of players who participate in the same Recreational League (Non-Championship Play).  The roster of the “B” team must be signed by the Commissioner (or designee) prior to playing in any Championship Play “B” tournament(s).

 Section 4.06 – Championship Play Classification “A” (if applicable): An “A” team is a team consisting of competitive players with consistent ability.  Players are skilled both offensively and defensively.  Pitcher(s) are capable of controlling the game.  Players are selected via tryouts or recruited.  The “A” team may or may not be affiliated with a youth organization.  The “A” team may have college or university students on the roster.  The  “A” team plays in Invitational tournaments, often traveling outside of the SFYASA area.  The “A” team is eligible to play in Championship Play “A” tournaments anywhere they wish as long as there is no SFYASA local Championship Play “A” Tournament.  Only the “A” teams that participate in the SFYASA local Championship Play “A” Tournament (if conducted) will be allowed to advance to other Championship Play “A” events that provides a berth into the Championship Play “A” National Finals Tournament.  If an “A” team and/or player(s) participate in a Championship Play “GOLD” tournament, the “A” team and/or player(s) will automatically be reclassified as a Championship Play “GOLD” team for the remainder of the calendar year and shall not be eligible to participate in the Championship Play “A” National Finals Tournament.  The roster of the “A” team must be signed by the Commissioner (or designee) prior to playing in any Championship Play “A” tournament(s).

 Section 4.07 – Championship Play Classification “GOLD” (if applicable): A “GOLD” team is a team consisting of highly competitive players with all players having consistent ability.  Players are skilled both offensively and defensively.  Pitcher(s) are capable of controlling the game.  Players are selected via tryouts or recruited.  The  “GOLD” team may have college or university students on the roster.  The “GOLD” team plays in Invitational tournaments, often traveling outside of the SFYASA area.  The “GOLD” team is eligible to play in Championship Play for the “GOLD” classification anywhere they wish.  The roster of the “GOLD” team must be signed by the Commissioner (or designee) prior to playing in any Championship Play “GOLD” tournament(s).

ARTICLE V

PLAYER CLASSIFICATION

 Section 5.01 – Player Classification: Once a team enters Championship Play, all players on the team are classified with the team.  Once a team is no longer eligible for Championship Play, the player(s) may be “Picked-Up” only by a team from the same or higher classification during the same calendar year. 

Section 5.02 – “GOLD” Classified Player: A “GOLD” classified player is only eligible to play on a “GOLD” team within the Southern Region, and is only eligible to be “Picked-Up” by any “GOLD” team within the Southern Region. 

Section 5.03 – “A” Classified Player: An “A” classified player is only eligible to play on a SFYASA “A” team, and is eligible to be “Picked-Up” by another SFYASA “A” team or any “GOLD” team within the Southern Region.

 Section 5.04 – “B” Classified Player: A “B” classified player is only eligible to play on a SFYASA “B” team, and is eligible to be “Picked-Up” by another SFYASA “B” team, another SFYASA “A” team, or any “GOLD” team within the Southern Region. 

Section 5.05 – “Recreational” Player: A “Recreational” player is eligible to be “Picked-Up” by any team, but must be an eligible roster member selected from an ASA registered team in the team’s own local recreational league.