Softball Advisory Committee

Minutes
August 22, 2005 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida


The Softball Advisory Committee met on Aug. 22, 2005 at 10 a.m. The following members were present: Michael Davis, Escambia HS (Pensacola); Matt Lewis, Clay HS (Green Cove Springs); Jennifer Mitchell, DeLand HS; Gary Greer, Belleview HS; Jeff Lang, George Jenkins HS (Lakeland); Mark Schusterman, Gulliver Prep (Miami); and George Coffey, Osceola HS (Kissimmee)/FACA. FHSAA Staff present: Cecelia S. Jackson, Sonny Hester and John Stewart.

Agenda Items

The meeting was called to order and members were introduced along with instructions for completing travel vouchers. E-mail addresses were given out and confirmed.

Cecelia Jackson welcomed the committee and gave a brief statement regarding the responsibilities of the committee and an update on the FHSAA Strategic Plan. Also, a reminder to the committee that the FHSAA Board of Directors meets on Sept. 25-26, 2005 to consider current recommendations and any new recommendation would be posted on the web site for the required one year.

The committee selected George Coffey to serve as chairperson. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved by unanimous vote (Motion by Schusterman, Second by Lang).

Recommendation #1-2005 State Tournament Schedule: The 2006 FHSAA Softball Manual will reflect the new format for the state softball tournaments that was approved by the Board. Hillsborough County will host the state tournaments for the next two years at Plant City Stadium, Plant City, Fla. Dates are listed in the 2005-06 FHSAA Calendar.

Recommendation #2-2005 - Request to the NF to experiment with the pitching distance at 43 feet was APPROVED Florida to experiment one year at the distance of 43 feet for varsity level/junior varsity level - 2006 season. As part of the experiment, FHSAA will collect data during the season to submit to the NF Softball Rules Committee June 2006. Coach will have access to the form via the FHSAA web site.

Discussion-FACA Recommendations: George Coffey (FACA Chairperson) had no additional agenda items for the committee to review.

Review of 2005 State Tournament: Hillsborough County again did an outstanding job in hosting the tournaments for 2005. Games were exciting and we had one weather delay during the entire tournament. We thank Hillsborough Parks and Recreation and Hillsborough County Softball Officials for their contributions during the tournaments.
Discussion of National Federation new rule changes for 2006 season. Facemasks with a NOCSAE stamp are requirement for batting helmets by Jan. 1, 2006. Other changes and editorial changes for rules clarification was discussed by the committee. The Committee asked that a memorandum be sent to all softball officials’ associations clarifying the huddle rule and helmet requirement for pitchers warming-up down the foul lines inside the field of play. Again, a reminder that each school must provide a list of the ASA approved bats to the UIC prior to each game.

Sportsmanship: The committee was made aware of the new sportsmanship program with State Farm as the new FHSAA sponsor. The committee discussed the unsportsmanlike conduct recommendation that was proposed in the June Board of Directors meeting. The committee supported the recommendation and agreed that the penalty should be more restrictive (on the third ejection) for gross unsportsmanlike conduct in a sport to be suspended for the state series.

Discussion items by the Committee:
1. Letter regarding violation of admission charges for state series game in softball -Palm Beach Gardens.
2. Unanimous supports for the baseball recommendation to allow double elimination tournaments in district (top 4 teams), region (4 district winners), and state (4 teams).
3. Committee supported the recommendation for 3 double headers (each count as 1 play date) and tournaments (counts as 2 play dates). The original FACA recommendation included softball in both recommendation but was not submitted to the softball advisory committee as an agenda item.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m.