Operating Rules
1. The maximum number of players on a team, Mite through Bantam, will be fourteen (14), subject to registration and Executive discretion. Midget teams may consist of a maximum sixteen (16) players, subject to registration and Executive discretion.
2. All players will be encouraged to play within their own age group whenever possible. After a written request is received by the Executive, a committee comprised of the Coaching Director, the Player Development Director and the President or his/her designated representative will determine if a player plays outside of his/her age group. The basis of a player "playing up" will be his/her overall ability. Any player playing up for any reason will do so for one season only and must gain permission annually.
3. The practice of moving players up will not be considered under any circumstance if it means displacing a player of the proper age in that level or age group.
4. All teams within Langford Fastball will play in navy blue and white uniforms, in a style as supplied by the League. Teams wishing to play in a style not supplied by Langford Fastball will submit a request to the current Executive for approval. No league funds will be used for this venture. Any minor team playing within a senior league may play in sponsor supplied uniforms, providing the name Langford Minor Fastball Association appears in a prominent location on the uniform.
5. All team jackets and merchandise representative of Langford Fastball must be approved by the Executive.
6. Langford Minor Fastball may send two representatives, as decided by the President, to the Softball BC AGM. Expenses will be paid as decided by the Executive.
7. All players shall play as close to equal playing time as possible during practice games, league games, exhibition games and tournaments to ensure equitable playing time. This does not include District playoffs or BC Championship games. When a coach sits out a player for disciplinary reasons, he/she must contact he President or his/her designated representative and the player's parent(s) or guardian(s) and inform them of the reason.
8. All players on Squirt "C" teams and below shall receive equitable playing time at infield and outfield positions during practice games, league games, exhibition games and tournament games. Where possible, players should alternate infield and outfield positions on a per game basis. This rule does not apply to District Playoffs or BC Championship games. No player will be forced to play on the infield if he/she has made his/her desire known to the coach.
9. Players will be placed on teams according to their ability. A rating system will be utilized to assist coaches in evaluating players for team assignment. Team assignment will not be based solely on ratings. Except in extenuating circumstances, all players must show up for player evaluations and will not be considered on a team until they participate in a minimum of one session. Prior to player notification, team selections must be approved by the Executive or their designates(s). Unclassified representative teams shall consist of those players selected following specified tryouts.
10. At team selections the sequence of picking teams will be: the "A" coach, then all the "B" coaches, then all the "C" coaches. There will be only one "A" team in any gender/age group, but there may be any number of "B" or "C" teams as the Executive or their designated representative(s) sees fit.
11. Once a player is selected to a team, the player's primary commitment will be to that team for all District playoffs, Provincial Championships, Western Canadians and National Championships. Any player not abiding by this bylaw will have Article 1, Section 9 strictly enforced.
12. Players will not be forced to play on any team, but must attend a minimum of three practices before any consideration will be given to moving a player to another team. To move a player from team to team, a written request must be submitted to the President and signed by the parent(s)/guardian(s), giving what the Executive feels are valid reasons for the requested move.
13. No player, parent or guardian may be contacted by a coach regarding moving from team to team or division to division until approval from the Executive has been obtained.
14. Teams travelling to BC Championships must ensure that each and every player plays a minimum of one offensive and one defensive inning during the tournament.
15. Langford Minor Fastball will pay, at the discretion of the Executive, tournament entry fees. No team shall receive funding for more than two tournaments. At the discretion of the Executive, Langford Minor Fastball will reimburse coaches for entry fees for District Playoffs provided they attend.
16. Subject to Executive approval, Langford Minor Fastball will reimburse coaches for the N.C.C.P. Theory Coaching Clinic. Receipts must be submitted to the 1st Vice President at the start of the season.
17. Each team within Langford Fastball must have a team representative attend each General Meeting as well as the Coaching Meeting. Any team failing to do so will not be entitled to league funding or travel money.
18. Any team traveling to out of town games must have a chaperone the same gender as the players in attendance at all times, both on and off the field.
19. If funds permit, league teams in good standing will qualify for travel allowance to go to BC Championships, Western Canadians and Canadians. Minimum funding will be as follows:
$500.00 if out of District on Vancouver Island
$750.00 if in Lower Mainland area up to and including Hope
$1,000.00 if outside the Lower Mainland area
$1,500.00 if outside BC
Amounts may be amended annually at the discretion of the Executive.
Langford Fastball will pay entry fees for Mites to the Burnaby-Squint Lake Invitational Tournament.
20. Coaches having been certified by Softball BC as level one or two may be given preference, at the discretion of the Executive as to which team they wish to coach.
21. Teams will be considered in good standing if they participate in league activities as decided by the Executive i.e.: meetings, work parties, concession staff, P.R. activities, fundraising, etc.
22. Sponsorship fees will be decided yearly by the Executive. Each sponsor may pick which team or age group they wish to sponsor, with the returning of a team having first choice regarding last year's team.
23. Any sponsor fees will be deposited into General Revenue to purchase league equipment and uniforms.
24. All coaches, managers, regularly scheduled adult umpires and Executive members must submit to a Criminal Record Search annually. All costs associated with the Criminal Record Searches will be borne by the Langford Minor Fastball Association, subject to Executive approval.
25. Any player registering after advertised dates will be charged a late fee as decided by the Executive.
26. Individual team fundraising events must be approved by the Executive. Requests for approval must be made in writing and approval received prior to the fundraising event.
27. At the discretion of the Executive, the league will undertake to sponsor a first and second year Junior Team. One boys team and one girls team each year, funds permitting. Any team sponsored must meet the following requirements:
a) Must consist of a minimum 50% ex-Langford Fastball players who were in good standing at the time of leaving the Minor system. These players must have played in the Langford system for a minimum of the two previous seasons prior to leaving.
b) The coach must have coached within the Langford system for a minimum of the two previous seasons prior to leaving, and must have been in good standing at the time of leaving.
Sponsorship will consist of:
a) 1st year - use of League equipment providing existing stock is sufficient and the team percentage of bingo funds from two League bingo nights.
b) 2nd year - use of League equipment providing existing stock is sufficient.
Sponsored teams will not play on League allocated fields or use League owned uniforms. These teams will not be entitled to any funding other than the above mentioned.