HAAA Rules
Player Eligibility & Drafting Rules
(Baseball & Softball)
25 February 2010
Approved 17 February 2011

The primary objective in the formation of teams is to provide balance within each level. At the lower levels, this is most easily accomplished by placing children randomly on teams. A "draft" system is used to form teams at the upper levels. This system is most effective where different skill levels are more readily apparent and where play becomes progressively competitive. Success in creating balanced teams via a draft system is usually very good when children attend and demonstrate their true capabilities at tryouts, when parents do not try to influence the selection outcome, and when coaches refrain from making commitments to player candidates before teams are formed.
 
The general format for establishing teams at each level is outlined below. Specific procedures are prepared for each level before teams are selected since the number of teams and returning players vary each year.

The HAAA Board of Directors shall appoint a three-member League Rules Committee, one for each Baseball and Softball. The committee will consist of three Area Coordinators each. The committee will be responsible for overseeing the adherence of these draft rules and will impose applicable penalties for violations to the established rules. This committee shall oversee all decisions regarding all player eligibility for playoff and/or championship games. This committee will decide protests in these games immediately.

Each team is comprised of a manager, a coach, and an assistant coach with the agreement of the Board of Directors. Managers are responsible for all aspects of the team, including players, coaches, parents, equipment, uniforms, and teaching the game of softball. Coaches have a narrower range of responsibilities since they tend to focus more on the players and teaching the game of baseball. Assistant Coaches provide assistance as requested under the direction of the Manager and Coach.
 

There shall be no recruiting for individual teams.

The process for selecting HAAA teams depends on the number of registrants. When a member area forms more than one team from within an offered age group, these teams are to be formed via a draft system, with managers drawing lots to determine the order in which they draft.

Once a draft has been completed, the area’s Coordinator or the HAAA Softball/Baseball Coordinator can only add a new player to a team’s roster via placement. If the new player resides within the area’s geographically established boundary, then the new player is added to a team’s roster by the area coordinator.

The HAAA Softball or Baseball Coordinator will place any new players residing outside of an area’s boundary on a team. The coordinators have the discretion to place these players on whichever team they feel will best suit the objectives of the area and the league as a whole. The coordinators shall give consideration to teams that are short of players, current skill level amongst teams, and the division of age equality. Designated pitchers may be assigned to a team by the coordinator in order to keep all teams competitive. Placement of the new players may be made regardless of which team is next in the serpentine order established for the draft. The HAAA coordinators reserves the right to place any new player from outside the leagues established boundaries on any area’s team, regardless of the area in which the new player originally registered. In this event, the new player must re-register in the new area, in accordance with the new areas procedures.

If in the event that at least three or more new players become eligible for an area’s team after the draft has been conducted, then a new draft shall be conducted in accordance with the draft procedures established herein.

Pitchers or those wishing to pitch, or those players taking pitching lessons must identify themselves as a potential pitcher prior to the draft. The League Rules Committee will make final decisions of eligibility.

It is important that each team try to maintain a minimum roster of twelve players throughout the season. 

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:     
A new player must play for the area in which they reside or the area that is closest to their residence.  Any player wishing to play in a different area must get a release from their Area Softball or Baseball Coordinator. The Area Softball/Baseball Coordinator must act upon any request for release within thirty days. If the Area Softball/Baseball Coordinator will not release the player, then the player can submit a written request to HAAA, and the Board of Directors will make the final decision to release the player. Once a request is received, the Board of Directors must disposition the request within thirty days.

Established players that have played for one area within the league, and later moves out of that area to another area, within or outside the established league boundaries, may option to remain an eligible player for the area in which the player first resided and previously played for. If this player relinquishes this option, then that player will be obligated to the area in which they now reside. Established players are those defined as players who participated in at least half of the games for the team, which has claimed them during the 2007 regular playing season. All other players are considered to be new players and must play for the area in which they reside, or obtain the proper release from that area.

No players can be added to the rosters after the cut-off date identified in the League Playing Rules. 

Initial and Final Rosters are to be submitted to the league coordinator by the cut-off dates identified in the League Playing Rules.

Younger players may be brought up during the season as fill-in players on a game-by-game basis when teams do not have full rosters. A player of either age in the next youngest age group can move up to the next older age group as a fill-in player if the team in their area needs a player to have enough to play their game. Fill-in players may be used to fulfill a team’s allowed number of ten (10) players.  If that team ends up having enough of their regular players to play the game, then the fill-in player can play no more than 2 innings in the field. The fill in player must bat no more than once or must remain in the continuous batting order throughout the completion of the game.  Once a player serves as a fill-in player for a team in the next older age group, she cannot play with any other team as a fill-in player. All fill-in players must be a permanently rostered player from within the area in which they are rostered. The team manager who determines eligibility and selection to a team makes such arrangements. Since the first commitment of players brought up is to their team, it is important that the same player not be brought up on a regular basis. They are not allowed to play in a game if it conflicts with a game at their own level. It is also important that players and their parents understand that being asked to play on an older team does not mean that they will be drafted to that team the following year, regardless of how many times they play on the same older team.

Eligible high school players must identify themselves prior to draft. This is an effort to keep all teams in the league competitive.

To be eligible to play in playoffs, the player has to have played in at least half of the regular season games unless an injury occurred. In the event of an injury, the player must still be present at game time. The injured player’s manager must obtain written concurrence from the opposing manager, providing evidence that the injured player attended the game in question. It is solely the managers’ responsibility to obtain this concurrence. If written concurrence is not possessed, then credit for this game will not be awarded. 

PLAYER RELEASES:

a.  HAAA would like to limit releases and keep more of our baseball and softball players remaining in their local recreation areas that they are residing in.  Area coordinators must abide by the following criteria before accepting a player from outside their area.

b.  Both the releasing and receiving are coordinators will be in agreement of the release.  If no such agreement can be made then the player is not released.  Player releases can be appealed in writing or in person to the HAAA Board.  All releases must be approved no later than the last HAAA meeting prior to the beginning of the playing season.

c.  All releases for the playing season will be annotated by the HAAA boys and girls coordinators on a player release sheet that will be kept with the team rosters for the baseball and softball leagues.  If a release is not obtained the player must play for the area in which he/she resides or disciplinary action may result for the area coordinator, coach, and or player involved.

DRAFT PROCEDURES:

All candidates for league play shall be assessed to the greatest extent possible to determine the player’s skill level. Try-outs are not recommended or mandatory when age groups are assessing player skill levels. Player history can be used to determine a candidate’s skill level. A common rating sheet can be given to each Manager prior to the draft indicating the rank sort from top to bottom of all eligible players participating. Teams shall be drafted in a serpentine fashion. Managers shall draw numbers to establish the order of selecting players.  For illustration, the Manager drawing number one makes the following player selections:  1st choice in round one, the last choice in round two, the 1st choice in round three, and so on.  The Manager drawing the last number (determined by the number of teams) makes the last choice in round one, the first choice in round two, and so on until all rounds are completed.

A serpentine method shall be used, and the Managers shall draft in order from all eligible candidates beginning with round one and ending with the last round. Players of the older age within the age group shall be drafted prior to proceeding to the younger aged players. No team shall complete its draft without having drafted the same number of players in each age group as the other teams participating in the draft. A maximum difference of two oldest-aged players from the age range between teams may be allowed if necessary. This maximum difference will also apply to the younger-aged players in the age range as well.

Managers may submit “Options” on a maximum of three (3) players only.  Options must be in writing and submitted to the Area Softball Coordinator at least seven days prior to the draft for the following circumstances: 

Options on: Daughters/Sons and sisters/brothers of Managers. 

Options on: Siblings of a player currently on roster.  If parent specifically requests different teams, options may not be placed.  There will be no guarantee made to parents that subsequent siblings will be placed on the same team. 

The limit of three Options per Manager/Team does not preclude that Manager from drafting a Player who, because of the request of Parents, is to be drafted along with a sibling.  Every attempt will be made by the area to honor the following Parent requests:

If both (all) siblings are selected then they must be on the same team.

If both (all) siblings are selected then they must be on different teams. 

Either (all) sibling must be placed on the same team or neither (no) sibling will play on the same team.   

Placement of optioned players shall occur after the order of draft is determined.

Exercising Options.   Keeping in mind the rules regarding draft rounds, the exact round in which Optioned Players shall be placed shall be according to talent. The placement process for daughters and siblings shall be in accordance with written procedure to achieve consensus.

Hempfield Area Athletic Association
Player Eligibility Rules

A new player must play for the area in which they reside or the area that is closest to their residence.  Any player wishing to play in a different area must get a release from their Area Softball/Baseball Coordinator. The Area Coordinator must act upon any request for release within thirty days. If the Area Coordinator will not release the player, then the player can submit a written request to HAAA, and the Board of Directors will make the final decision to release the player. Once a request is received, the Board of Directors must disposition the request within thirty days.

Established players are those defined as players who participated in at least half of a given team’s games during the previous year regular playing season. Established players that have played for one area within the league, and later moves out of that area to another area, within or outside the established league boundaries, may option to remain an eligible player for the area in which the player first resided and previously played for. If this player relinquishes this option, then that player will be obligated to the area in which they now reside. All other players are considered to be new players and must play for the area in which they reside, or obtain the proper release from that area.

Players may only be rostered on one team in the league, regardless of age group. No players can be added to the rosters after the cut-off date identified in the League Playing Rules. 

Initial and Final Rosters are to be submitted to the league coordinator by the cut-off dates identified in the League Playing Rules. After Initial Rosters are submitted to the league, the HAAA Softball and Baseball League Rules Committees must approve any roster revisions that involve players from outside the area’s established geographical boundary (See HAAA Draft Rules – 1, Item #4 for more on this rule).

Younger players may be brought up during the season as fill-in players on a game-by-game basis when teams do not have full rosters. A player of either age in the next youngest age group can move up to the next older age group as a fill-in player if the team in their area needs a player to have enough to play their game. Fill-in players may be used to fulfill a team’s allowed number of ten (10) players.  If that team ends up having enough of their regular players to play the game, then the fill-in player can play no more than 2 innings in the field. The fill in player must bat no more than once or must remain in the continuous batting order throughout the completion of the game.  Once a player serves as a fill-in player for a team in the next older age group, she cannot play with any other team as a fill-in player. All fill-in players must be permanently rostered players from within the area in which they are rostered. The team manager requesting the fill-in player, who determines her eligibility and oversees her selection to the team, makes such arrangements. Since the first commitment of players brought up is to their own team, it is important that the same player not be brought up on a regular basis. They are not allowed to play in a game if it conflicts with a game at their own level. It is also important that players and their parents understand that being asked to play on an older team does not mean that they will be drafted to that team the following year, regardless of how many times they play on the same older team

Eligible high school players must identify themselves prior to draft. This is an effort to keep all teams in the league competitive.

To be eligible to play in playoffs, the player has to have played in at least half of the regular season games unless an injury occurred (team plays in 15 games, player must have played in 8 games). In the event of an injury, the player must still be present at game time. The injured player’s manager must obtain written concurrence from the opposing manager, providing evidence that the injured player attended the game in question. It is solely the managers’ responsibility to obtain this concurrence. If written concurrence is not possessed, then credit for this game will not be awarded. 

Hempfield Area Athletic Association
Draft Guidelines

The general format for establishing teams is outlined below. Specific procedures should be prepared before teams are selected since the number of teams and returning players vary each year. 

Each team is comprised of a manager, a coach, and an assistant coach with the agreement of the Board of Directors. Managers are responsible for all aspects of the team, including players, coaches, parents, equipment, uniforms, and teaching the game of baseball or softball. Assistant Coaches provide assistance as requested under the direction of the Manager and Coach. 

The process for selecting softball or baseball teams depends on the number of registrants. When a member area forms more than one team from within an offered age group, these teams are to be formed via a draft system, with managers drawing lots to determine the order in which they draft. 

Pitchers, or those wishing to pitch, or those players taking pitching lessons should identify themselves as a potential pitcher prior to the draft, or they may be ineligible to pitch during the season. The Area Coordinator will make final decisions regarding pitcher/player eligibility. Equal division of pitching talent will aid in achieving team parity. 

DRAFT PROCEDURES:

1)        All candidates for league play shall be assessed to the greatest extent possible to determine the player’s skill level. Try-outs are not recommended or mandatory when age groups are assessing player skill levels. Player history can be used to determine a candidate’s skill level. A common rating sheet can be given to each Manager prior to the draft indicating the rank sort from top to bottom of all eligible players participating. Teams shall be drafted in a serpentine fashion. Managers shall draw numbers to establish the order of selecting players.  For illustration, the Manager drawing number one makes the following player selections:  1st choice in round one, the last choice in round two, the 1st choice in round three, and so on.  The Manager drawing the last number (determined by the number of teams) makes the last choice in round one, the first choice in round two, and so on until all rounds are completed.

2)       A serpentine method shall be used, and the Managers shall draft in order from all eligible candidates beginning with round one and ending with the last round. Players of the older age within the age group shall be drafted prior to proceeding to the younger aged players. No team shall complete its draft without having drafted the same number of players in each age group as the other teams participating in the draft. A maximum difference of two oldest-aged players from the age range between teams may be allowed if necessary. This maximum difference will also apply to the younger-aged players in the age range as well.

3)       Managers may submit “Options” on a maximum of three (3) players only.  It shall initially be assumed that a Player shall be “Optioned” in the round indicated by his/her ranking in the current skill level (e.g., if there are 7 teams and the Player is ranked, say, in the top 7 of all eligible candidates, he/she shall be considered a first round Option; if he/she is ranked, say, number 18, he/she would be considered a third round Option, and so on). Options must be in writing and submitted to the Area Coordinator at least seven days prior to the draft for the following circumstances: 

A)       Options on: Daughters/Sons and sisters/brothers of Managers. 

B)     Options on: Siblings of a player currently on a roster.  If parent specifically requests different teams, options may not be placed.  There will be no guarantee made to parents that subsequent siblings will be placed on the same team. 

C)      The limit of three Options per Manager/Team does not preclude that Manager from drafting a Player who, because of the request of Parents, is to be drafted along with a sibling.  Every attempt will be made by the area to honor the following Parent requests:

1)   If both (all) siblings are selected then they must be on the same team.

2)   If both (all) siblings are selected then they must be on different teams.

3)  Either (all) sibling must be placed on the same team or neither (no) sibling will play on the same team.   

4)   Placement of optioned players shall occur after the order of draft is  determined.  

5)    Exercising Options.   Keeping in mind the rules regarding draft rounds, the exact round in which Optioned Players shall be placed shall be according to talent. The placement process for daughters/sons and siblings shall be in accordance with written procedure (see below) to achieve consensus.
 

THE PLACEMENT PROCESS FOR DAUGHTERS/SONS AND SIBLINGS SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS: 

1)       For placement of Daughters/Sons of Managers: 

A)      Area Coordinator calls meeting of all Managers prior to the Draft; 

B)      Area Coordinator shall provide a list of all Players according to overall skill (for the current and the previous year, if available).  Area Coordinator shall also present any other data/information which would assist in the process; 

C)       It shall initially be assumed that a Player shall be Optioned in the round indicated by his/her ranking in the current skill level (e.g., if there are 7 teams and the Player is ranked, say, in the top 7 of all eligible candidates, she shall be considered a first round Option; if she is ranked, say, number 18, she would be considered a third round Option, and so on); 

D)      Parent/Manager of Player shall be asked to agree or make cogent argument of why Player should not be placed in the round indicated by the Player’s current skill level; 

E)      Remaining Mangers shall be asked to make cogent arguments of why that Player should or should not be placed in the round indicated by her applicable skill level; 

F)      Player shall then be placed by consensus decision of all Managers. If consensus decision cannot be reached, area coordinator shall make the decision based on all available information; 

2)       For Placement of Sibling(s) of Player currently on Manager’s Roster:  The process above shall be followed, except for the fact that the non-Manager Parent of the sibling shall not participate in the process. 

3)       For Placement of Siblings, neither of which are currently on a Roster:  If a Manager drafts a Player who is to be drafted onto the same team with his/her sibling(s), at their Parent’s request, then the sibling(s) automatically becomes that Manager’s draft selection in the round(s) as determined by the process in “2” immediately above -- that is the case whether either round is an “Open Draft Round” or a “Parity Draft Round”. Should the sibling’s “target” round already have passed, then the sibling shall become the Manager’s very next round selection 

The Area Coordinator shall announce the date and time at which managers may notify players of team assignment. Premature notification will cause the area’s board to take disciplinary action against the manager and/or coach involved.