Softball NL Provincial Team Eligibility Policy
This policy outlines the process of Softball Newfoundland and Labrador (Softball NL) for determining representation on Provincial All Star teams.
1. Softball Newfoundland and Labrador Board of Directors:
Softball NL shall determine how the province will be best represented at Eastern Canadian and National Championships each year. Softball NL will also decide whether or not it is appropriate to send multiple teams from a division (where permitted by Softball Canada). Softball NL reserve the authority to decline sending teams in any division whereby suitable representation from the Province is not possible.
2. Head Coach:
The head coach shall be a member in good standing with Softball NL. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the process for appointment to any head coaching position shall be:
i. Softball NL Coaching Committee will advertise the head coach position for the particular team;
ii. Softball NL Coaching Committee will make a recommendation to the Softball NL Board of Directors an individual to be appointed as head coach (note: Softball NL Board of Directors reserve the right to re-advertise any position if a suitable candidate is not found);
iii. Where a suitable candidate does not apply the Softball NL Board of Directors may solicit suitable candidates to fill such coaching positions.
The appointed head coach for an Softball NL Provincial All Star team must remain in contact with the Coaching Committee and provide regular updates on the progress of the team.
The head coach must prepare the following in advance of tryout process:
i. List of coaching staff members and name of team manager to be approved by Softball NL Coaching Committee/Board of Directors. All team staff members (including team manager) must be members in good standing with Softball NL and hold the appropriate level of NCCP coach certification for the age group and level of competition as determined by Softball NL /Softball Canada. Softball NL Board of Directors reserve the right to refuse the involvement of any individual deemed inappropriate to fill a role within the Provincial program;
ii. Certificate of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector documents of all team staff members and team manager (Softball NL Minor All Star teams);
iii. Seasonal plan for team and player development;
iv. Timeline for tryout and team selection notice;
v. Team budget and financial plan;
The head coach must ensure that all athletes trying out for the Softball NL Provincial All Star team (minor – adult) meet eligibility requirements including,
i. are members in good standing with Softball NL; and
ii. meet the age requirements for the category for which they wish to participate. Note: athletes must try out within their own age category to be eligible.
The head coach must immediately inform Softball NL in writing the names of ineligible athletes who attend try outs or have expressed an interest in trying out but do not meet either/both of these criteria. Athletes determined by the Softball NL Board of Directors to be ineligible are not permitted to have involvement with any (Softball NL) Provincial All Star team.
Final roster selections (including pickups, where applicable) must be approved by Softball NL Director responsible (Minor or Adult) and/or Softball NL President.
Within 30 days of the conclusion of the team’s competitive season, the head coach must provide Softball NL Coaching Committee/Board of Directors with a financial statement of revenue and expenditures. NOTE: any funds remaining after all expenses have been covered must be placed in trust with Softball NL. It is not permissible to distribute remaining fundraised money to athletes, parents, coaches, or other individuals once all legitimate expenses have been paid.
3. Athletes:
A. Athletes must be members in good standing with Softball NL to be eligible to attend try outs for any Softball NL Provincial All Star team (minor – adult).
B. Athletes must try out within their own age category for the Softball NL Provincial All Star team. Exception: an athlete is identified and invited to try out by the head coach of an elite level Provincial All Star program. In this case, the head coach of the elite program would have the option to:
i. retain the athlete to compete at the higher age category;
ii. recommend the athlete play at their own age category to further skill
development; or
iii. recommend athlete play at both age categories if he/she would benefit
and if feasible.
C. Athletes selected to represent the Province as a member of any Softball NL Provincial All Star team must commit to the goals of the program as determined by the head coach and act in a manner that not only supports team success but also individual skill development and performance. This shall include (not limited to):
• regular attendance of team training, competition, and other important team
functions;
• meeting financial obligations for training, competition, and travel;
• conducting behavior in a manner that supports the entire team and act as an ambassador for Softball NL at all times;
• accountability for all other team obligations and personal actions in relation to the team.
D. Where a Softball NL Provincial All Star team has chosen to enter an invitational tournament or other competition that is also open to other club teams, athletes must play with the Softball NL All Star team unless otherwise approved by Softball NL. If an athlete chooses to not play with the all Softball NL Provincial All Star team he/she will forfeit their roster position on the all star team for the remainder of the season.
• NOTE: The coach/manager of the club team does not have the right to prevent the individual athlete from participating as a member of the Softball NL sanctioned All Star team or to penalize in any way a player who is unavailable to the club team due to All Star commitments.
E. To be eligible to try out for a Provincial Developmental team, an athlete must:
i. Be a member in good standing with Softball NL; and
ii. Have previously tried out unsuccessfully for the Provincial All Star team in his/her age category.
NOTE: In the event that an athlete does not meet the above noted criteria (E) and still wishes to try out for the Provincial Developmental team he/she may make written representation including all relevant information to Softball NL to consider.
F. Athletes shall have the right to refuse trying out or playing at own age level, but once an athlete has declined to try out or has rejected an offer to play at own age level for any reason he/she shall not be eligible to participate with any other Softball NL Provincial All Star teams during that season.
Note:
i. The coach/manager of club or other Softball NL All Star team does not have the right of refusal on behalf of the player/athlete;
ii. Where applicable to the team selection process, tryouts will be advertised on the Softball NL official website (www.softballnl.ca) and through a variety of other print and electronic media so that all eligible athletes have the opportunity to be informed. An athlete will not be excused because he/she claims they “did not know” about tryouts within their age group;
iii. Any coach/ manager/athlete not following the above outlined process for Softball NL Provincial All Star team participation may be subject to disciplinary action through Softball NL;
iv. Any athlete may appeal the above process to the Softball NL Director responsible (Minor or Adult) if he/she can show reasonable evidence that an exception should be made in the individual athletes situation. No other coach or manager may appeal on the behalf of the athlete.
