Softball Advisory Committee

Minutes
September 3, 2003 • 10 a.m.
FHSAA Headquarters
Gainesville, Florida


The Softball Advisory Committee met on September 3, 2003 at 10 a.m. The following members were present: Matt Lewis, Jennifer Mitchell, Catherine Beebe, Sallie Scudder, Jeff Lang, George Coffey and David Wilson. FHSAA Staff present: Cecelia S. Jackson, Gary Pigott and John Stewart.

The meeting was called to order and members were introduced along with instructions for completing travel vouchers. Cecelia Jackson reviewed the responsibilities of an advisory committee. Committee was reminded that the FHSAA Board meets on September 28-29, 2003 to consider current recommendations and that new recommendation would be posted on the web site for the required one year.

George Coffey was selected as the chairman. The following are the minutes and recommendations for the September 28-29, 2003 FHSAA Board Meeting.

Current FHSAA Softball Manual: The committee discussed the correction that needed to be made in the current FHSAA Handbook to reflect the correct number of games permitted during the week with tournament competition. A team may play in no more than five (5) total games, inclusive of both regular season (1) and tournament games (4), or no regular season game (0) and five (5) tournament games in a week.

After reviewing the changes made by the Board of Directors in February changing the FHSAA Calendar year and region play-off schedule, the committee recommended that the following recommendations (1 & 2) be fast-tracked to the Board in September.

Recommendation #1 – regional playoff format: Re-instate the softball region play-off format back to the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday schedule (Week 44) and move the state championships to Week 45. (Motion by Scudder, Second by Lewis)

Rationale: The previous advisory committees fought hard to get this play-off format
and the Board approved it. The FHSAA does not have a current contract for the state softball tournaments so the re-instatement of the play-offs format or date for the state tournament does not affect any contract.

SAC Vote: 7-0

Recommendation #2 – State Tournament Schedule: Recommend that the same format used for state baseball tournament in the scheduling semi-final and final games be used for the state softball tournaments. Semifinals: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Championship games: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (Motion by Lewis, second by Mitchell)

Rationale: Changing the format allows only one game to be played and spectators would not have to choose as they do currently when more than one game is being played at the same time.

SAC Vote: 7-0

Review of 2003 FHSAA Softball Finals state tournament: Committee would like to see improvement of the state tournament site since the current contract has expired. Venue should be of the caliber secured for other sports (baseball specifically) to showcase the state softball tournament. The committee would like for any of its’ members to view the proposed sites for input prior to FHSAA selection and confirmation by the FHSAA Board.

Recommendation #3 – Request NF Experiment to move the pitching rubber to 43 feet: The committee discussed some of the reasons why this distance is not in effect for the high school program. Request for an experimental year from the NF would allow Florida to present data to the NF why the change should be made. It has been on the NF agenda for the past four years and has not been approved for implementation. The committee would like this placed on the NF softball agenda. (Motion by Scudder, second by Lang)

A survey data sheet would be prepared and data submitted to the NF after the experimental year.

SAC Vote: 7-0

Recommendation #4 – National Federation Rule on facemask to be made mandatory: The current National Federation Rule permits placing a facemask on a batting helmet if approved by the company that makes the batting helmet. The committee recommendation to the National Federation is to change the rule to require that the facemask be attached. Under the current provision that the company approves of the facemask to be attached or makes the batting helmet and face mask combination. (Motion by Lang, second by Lewis)

SAC Vote: 7-0

Rationale: Change the rule for protection of the batter.

Discussion of National Federation new rule changes for 2004 season and the update from the ASA on banned bats. Schools should go to the ASA web site (www.asasoftball.com) to make sure that players have legal bats.

Sportsmanship: The number of ejections for softball is increasing. Discussion of the “no tolerance policy” on profanity was included in the discussion. The committee will be sent a
breakdown of the ejections as soon as it is available.

Discussion items by the Committee: Discussed concerns regarding the increase of pitching injuries in fast pitch throughout the state and the country. The concerns from the NF Medical Committee dealt with players having injuries and continuing to pitch without being given to time to heal. Therefore causing a longer
time frame for the injury.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

We wish to thank all members of the softball committee for taking time away from their busy school schedules to serve the students of this Association. A special thanks to those committee members whose terms expired with this meeting.