Teams,
Over the past few weeks I have gotten many questions about player eligibility for District Championships and State Rosters. After speaking directly with ASA of PA state classification committee chair, Bob Ream, I drafted guidelines to help our teams understand the rules governing rostered and pick-up players for advanced play and had them reviewed by the ASA of PA State Rep for approval to post on our message board.
Any team or player knowingly violating these eligibility rules submit themselves to possible suspension in ASA of PA softball.
All of the rules below are in effect for all classifications!!!
1. Only lower class or same class players can be used as pick-up players for your district championship/state rosters.
2. Once you play up a level in advanced play you can no longer go back down a level unless you have submitted an appeal to the state and it has been approved (ie. Play for a D2/D1/C team at any district championship in the state and then go away with an E team to states is not allowed).
3. "E" teams can have 3 "D2", "D2" can have 3 "D1", and "D1" can have 3 "C" classified players on their roster for districts and states however for any player to then go to states for a higher level team a letter must be submitted to the state specifying that the players first team is done with championship play for the year. (Letters can be sent to me and I will forward to the state office.)
Ex: So if your team goes to "E" state and qualifies for Nationals, any "D2" players on your roster can not go to "D2" states unless the "E" state team, forfeits its ability to go to Nationals. Also please note that there is very short time period between each of the state tournaments so the letter must be sent to the State immediately after the conclusion of state tournament you are competing in.
4. At the conclusion of District/State/National Championships the highest level team you play for will be your classification for the following year. (ie. You play Sundays for an "E" team but go away to "D1" states you will classified at whatever level that team finishes championship play at. If the team gets moved up to "C" then you become a "C" player.)
This is true except for the following:
1. a player who plays down one level. Example a "C" class player plays with his D1 team only at D1 Advanced Play. He will not be classified "D1" at the end of advanced play he will stay a "C" classified player until he has an approved appeal from the state.
2. Anyone who is a pick-up player for a higher class team
***As you think about where and who you will play for during the championship time of year please also remember there is a new rule for teams that get moved up. Once a team is moved up a classification they are restricted for a year. This means no player/team can appeal to move down unless there are mitigating circumstances, and even then there are no guarantees.
5. Players can only sign 1 Championship Roster and 1 Pick-up Player Form in the same year. So a player can not play in the E's, D2's and D1/C's all in the same year.
Once a player signs a pick-up player form they can not play for anyone else that year. This is important especially for players who play for different leagues on teams that have different classifications and might have multiple teams going away or not.
Say you play in West Chester and Millennium Sunday this season. Your West Chester team is classified as class "C", and your Millennium Sunday team is Class "E". Your "C" team is going away, but your "E" team is not. If you sign as an "E" pick-up player you will no longer be able to play for your "C" team.
If you sign a pick-up player roster for a lower level team that is the only team you can play for at advanced play
If you have any questions please email me.
Best of luck to all teams in advanced play.
Andrew Ruhf
ASA of PA District 6 - Delaware County Men's Slowpitch Player Rep
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