LEAGUE RULES

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These rules are set in place so that everyone participating in the league, including the spectators, can enjoy the league for a time of fun and fellowship.

SECTION I.

GENERAL RULES

I. In the event that the Commissioner is unavailable to be at a game or is unreachable by phone, then the Board of Directors shall, in order of position, have full acting responsibility of Commissioner to make any and all rulings that are needed at the time of incident.

II. The grace period for a game shall be as follows: if it is the early game (i.e. 6:00 pm start time), there will be a fifteen (15) minute grace period to get all players to the game and a thirty (30) minute grace period for the second game. The later games have NO grace period in which to delay for waiting on players.

III. All protest games will have a fee of one hundred ($100.00) dollars to protest any given game and the money will not be refunded whether the decision goes for or against the protesting team. The money will be paid directly to the GCRA for the protest.

IV. All Church teams participating in the GCRA League must turn in prior to the first game all Participation Waivers. These waivers, whether for the City of Goodlettsville or for the Church gym, protect everyone and the sponsors involved. These waivers help keep league fees low. If Waivers are not turned in prior to the first game, the Church Team will not be allowed to take the court of play.

V. All Church teams participating in the GCRA League must turn in prior to the first game all Team Rosters. These Rosters must be signed by either the Pastor of the Church, Elder, Deacon, or Activity Coordinator. If Rosters are not turned in prior to the first game, the Church Team will not be allowed to take the court of play.

VI. All Church teams participating in the GCRA League must turn in prior to the first game all Team League Fees. These fees pay for our insurance, the use of fields or courts, the officials for games, and official scorekeepers. If Fees are not turned in prior to the first game, the Church Team will not be allowed to take the court of play.

VII. All Church teams participating in the GCRA League must turn in prior to the first game a Rules Of Participation Contract. This Contract must be signed by every player that is listed on the Roster and by the Coach of the team. If the Contract is not turned in prior to the fist game, the Church Team will not be allowed to take the court of play.

VIII. When a game is stopped or delayed because of rain, existing conditions (outs, base runners, # of pitches, elapsed playing time, etc) shall be recorded. When the game is restarted, it shall be started under the same conditions in which said game was stopped or delayed. This applies unless both head coaches agree to end said game at the point of interruption, at which time the existing score serves as the final recorded score.

IX. Rainouts will be re-scheduled at the earliest possible date.

X. At the end of each game (basketball or volleyball) where there is a court borrowed at one of the participating Churches in the GCRA League, the teams that are vacating the floor will clean-up any and all trash around their bench.

XI. At the beginning of the night’s game, the first two teams to play will help in the set up of the gym for play. (i.e. setting up tables, chairs, score tables, spectators seating, etc) Any team that fails to help in this process (as needed by the gym staff and GCRA) will forfeit that night’s game.

XII. At the end of the night’s games, the last two teams to play will help in the cleaning up of the gym and the break down of tables, chairs, picking-up trash, etc. Any team that fails to help in this process (as needed by the gym staff and GCRA) will forfeit their next game.

SECTION II

CONSEQUENCES TO RULES

If the following rules are violated by Coaches or Players, consequences shall be as follows:

I. First Time = 1 game suspension

II. Second Time = 3 game suspension

III. Third Time = Banned for remaining season

Coaches may appeal the First Time (only) suspension within 24 hours of the infraction of the rule. It must be presented to the Commissioner with any stated facts that should be considered. The Commissioner and if necessary the Board of Directors shall institute a suspension of zero, ½ game, or 1 game based on heard statements.

SECTION III

TEAM SPECIFIC PARTICIAPTION RULES

The following rules are subject to the above listed consequences should anyone deem it necessary to conduct themselves in any of the behaviors listed.

Deliberate hassling leading to fighting between two players. The team starting the harassment shall be subject to the above listed sanctions. The team on the receiving end of the fight shall receive sanctioning deemed fit by the Commissioner and / or the Board of Directors.
Fighting between two players whether they are on the same team or different teams. IF there is no obvious reason for the fight and clear blame cannot be placed, then BOTH players will be subjected to sanctioning whether they are on the same team or different teams.
Foul or Offensive Language (see also sport specific rulings).
Harassment of Officials, GCRA, Spectators, and other Players will not be tolerated.
Deliberately trying to injure a player or team.
Sexual harassment of any kind.

SECTION IV

PLAYER SPECIFIC PARTICIPATION RULES

These rules also are subject to the above listed consequences found in Section II:

Deliberate hassling leading to fighting between two players. The team starting the harassment shall be subject to the above listed sanctions. The team on the receiving end of the fight shall receive sanctioning deemed fit by the Commissioner and/or the Board of Directors.
Fighting between two players whether they are on the same team or different teams. IF there is no obvious reason for the fight and clear blame cannot be placed, then BOTH players will be subjected to sanctioning whether they are on the same team or different teams.
Foul or Offensive Language (see also sport specific rulings).
Harassment of Officials, GCRA, Spectators, and other Players will not be tolerated.
Deliberately trying to injure another player or team.
Sexual harassment of any kind.

SECTION V

SPORT SPECIFIC RULES

I. BASKETBALL

1. Team Play

A. The following rules shall apply to ALL teams.

1. Any team playing in a game in which the game is called by the officials for misconduct will receive a 2 game Forfeiture for their next games.

2. Any team found to be deliberately harassing any other team while on the court of play will receive a 1 game Forfeiture for their next game. (This ruling is determined by the referees of the sporting event.)

3. Any team found to be deliberately trying to injure ANY player or coach on any other team or their own team will receive a 3 game suspension thereby Forfeiting those games to the opposing team.

2. Individual Player

B. The following rules shall apply to ALL players.

1. Any player receiving one (1) Technical foul in a game in which they are playing will receive a warning from the Commissioner and a 15 minute suspension from the game. Each half of the GCRA game time is 20 minutes in length. If the infraction occurs with less than 20 minutes left on the clock, then the suspension carries over to the next half even if means that the suspension is carried over for the next game.

2. Any player receiving more than one (1) Technical foul in a game in which they are playing will receive a 2 game suspension for their next games.

3. Any player found to be deliberately harassing any other team, specific player, coach, referee or any other type of official while on the court of play will receive a 1 game suspension for their next game.

4. Any player found to be deliberately trying to injure ANY player or coach on any other team or their own team will be suspended for the rest of that season, and before being allowed to play on any other team in any other sport with the GCRA shall have to appear before the Commissioner and Treasurer for re-instatement into the League.

C. Rosters and lineups for a team will be:

1. Rosters shall be turned in no later that one week before the start of the season.

2. Line-ups for a game shall be turned in 20 minutes before the start of the team’s first game.

II. SOFTBALL

1. Team Play

A. The following rules will apply to ALL teams.

1. ALL Teams must turn in a Roster to the Official Score Keeper at least 20 minutes before the start of their First game.

2. IF the teams are to play a Double Header, then the roster for the 1^st game shall be the starting roster of the 2^nd game, UNLESS at the beginning of the 2nd game the roster is changed within the 2 minute delay that will be provided by the umpire to make any changes. The changes must be made with the official scorekeeper, the umpire and the opposing team.

3. If a player is missing from the team, but is expected to be at the game to play then that player MUST be listed on the first Roster that is turned in.

4. Substitution for a missing player may be made up until 5 minutes before the start of the game.

5. If the coach does not change the lineup with the Official Scorekeeper within the time frame, then NO SUBSTITUTIONS will be allowed and when that specific player comes up in the lineup an out will be taken.

6. During the game, a substitution may be made thus:

a. At the top of an inning only. If you are the home team, then the player that is to be substituted in MUST play the field in the inning in which they are to bat. If you are the guest team, then the player may bat, but MUST take the field for play in the same inning in which they bat.

b. A courtesy runner of the same sex (specific to Co-Ed League) made be allowed ONLY if the Roster is deep enough to allow for it. A runner will NOT be allowed as a Courtesy if that player is batting in the lineup or has batted in the lineup in the same inning in which they are being asked to run.

c. A pinch runner (same sex) may be allowed, whether in the lineup as a batter or not, in the event that the batter/runner is injured in the field. The runner must not be about to come up to bat within the next 3 batters after the player for which the Pinch runner is running.

2. Individual Player

B. The following rules shall apply to ALL players.

1. Any player found to be using inappropriate language during the game shall receive a 1 game suspension for their next game.

2. Any player found to be deliberately harassing any other team, specific player, coach, referee or any other type of official while on the court of play shall receive a 2 game suspension for their next games.

3. Any player found to be deliberately trying to injure ANY

player or coach on any other team or their own team will

be suspended for the rest of that season. This rule applies to

pushing, running over, cleating (slide with the cleats faced

up into another players legs so as to cut or break the legs),

or fighting. Before being allowed to play on any other team

in any other sport with the GCRA shall have to appear

before the Commissioner and Treasurer for re-instatement

into the League.

3. Equipment

C. The following rules shall apply to all teams regarding equipment:

1. Co-Ed League catchers need to wear a facemask behind home plate, but it will be up to the discretion of the catcher.

2. There is to be NO Metal cleats or metal tip cleats worn in the GCRA League. ANYONE caught wearing metal cleats in this league will be suspended until other cleats are purchased and shown to the Commissioner or Umpire.

3. (CO-ED Division ONLY) All BATS must be ASA certified.

All bats made since 2000 are typically DOUBLED WALLED, however, the ones that specifically states on the side DOUBLE WALLED are made of composite materials that make the bat very dangerous on the slowpitch field of play. Please use these bats with great caution.

Please remember that there are many who play Co-Ed that are there to play recreationally.

III. VOLLEYBALL

1. Team Play

A. The following rules shall apply to ALL teams.

1. Any team found to be deliberately taunting or harassing any

other team while on the court of play will receive a one (1)

game forfeiture.

2. Any team found to be deliberately trying to injure ANY

player or coach on any other team or their own team will

receive a 3 game suspension thereby Forfeiting those games

to the opposing team.

2. Individual Player

B. The following rules shall apply to ALL players.

1. Any player found to be using inappropriate language during the game shall receive a warning from the Commissioner and a ½ game suspension.

2. Any player warned about language for a second time within the same game or in another game shall receive a one (1) game suspension.

3. Any player warned about language for the third time will be suspended for the rest of the season.

4. Any player found to be deliberately harassing any other team, specific player, coach, referee or any other type of official shall receive a 2 game suspension for next games.

5. Any player found to be deliberately trying to injure ANY

player or coach on any other team or their own team shall

be suspended for the rest of that season. Before being

allowed to play on any other team in any other sport with

the GCRA shall have to appear before the Commissioner

and Treasurer for re-instatement into the League.

SECTION VI

ROSTER LIMITATIONS AND RATIOS /

ADDITION OF PLAYERS TO ROSTERS

SUBSECTION I

ROSTER LIMITATIONS AND RATIOS

A roster limit will be set to twelve (12) players for Basketball and twenty (20) players for Softball and Volleyball to a team. If there is more than the previous prescribed numbers, then the formation of a second team must be considered.

SUBSECTION II

ADDITIONS OF PLAYERS TO ROSTERS

Once the season starts there has been major controversy to the addition of players to the Roster. The following will give ruling as to whether an addition will be legal and accepted by the League.

Additions to the Roster will be considered legal thusly:

1. Players still in College at the beginning of a season, but will be home in time to have playing time must be listed at the beginning of season on original roster. Waivers must be turned in at least 1 week prior to their first game. The Commissioner must have the waivers, Participation Contract and any subsequent fees for players on file 1 week prior to the players taking the field.

2. If there are high school players that want to play on the team, but due to TSSAA ruling can not be listed on the roster as officially being part of the team, then on a second copied roster the names of the high school students must be listed and when they will become part of the Official Team Roster.

3. If a team has players that have quit and the team is within danger of not filling the roster, then as soon as it becomes apparent there is a need then the coach has a right to fill the roster to capacity. The Commissioner must be notified IMMEDIATELY. ALL waivers and Participation Contracts must be signed ASAP and turned in. The ONLY condition to rule is ALL Rosters, Waivers, and Participation Contracts must be turned in one (1) week prior to the next regular scheduled season game.

4. In case of emergency. If a player(s) has to leave the team dropping the team below the required number of players (male to female ratio in Co-Ed) due to illness, injury or death within the family, then the Coach has a right to present a request to introduce a replacement player. This can be done the day of the scheduled season game. The addition to the team must be approved by the Commissioner, Referee/Umpire, and the Coach of the Opposing Team. However, if one does not agree to the addition, majority will rule if the others agree. This rule is set for EMERGENCY situations ONLY! This is only to bring a roster up to play a particular game, where there is not enough either men or women to fulfill the requirements of players on the field. (This allows for a Church to borrow a player from any other GCRA League teams’ rosters for one game.)

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