Additional Information for 2008:

"Upper Class" Players / "One Class" Drop Rule

A North Texas team can pick up and use three (3) upper class players for play in both local and State/National/World tourneys. However, we are going to continue to enforce the "one classification drop" rule that we used in North Texas last year, with the exception of the "C" class noted below.

Men's "A" Players Playing in "C"

Class A "C" team can pick up one (and only one) player from an "A" team in the Conference USSSA program. A "C" team cannot pick up a player from a Major team in the Conference USSSA program. If a "C" team picks up more than one "A" player, they will be immediately be classified as a "B" team. It doesn't matter whether the player was a starter or a reserve, if he's on an "A" or "Major" roster at the end of last year (2007), that's his status for 2008. A "B" team can have a total of three (3) "upper class" players, including one (1) player from the Major Players List. If we have any "B" teams in North Texas in the 2008 season, all "C" tournaments will be played as "B/C" tournaments, using an equalizer rule as we did last season.

Rosters Begin "Freezing" on May 1

We will not begin "freezing" a team's roster when they win a tournament (except for an NIT) until any tournaments beginning in May 2008. April 1 was the date used last year. For the Mixed program, we will not be 'freezing" rosters until June 1.

NIT Berths Won/Berths Passed Down

Any team that wins an NIT tournament and the accompanying World berth or has an World berth "passed down" to them will immediately have their roster frozen at that time, regardless of whether they accept the berth or not.

Any team that accepts a World berth must, with seven (7) days, pay a $300 deposit to North Texas USSSA that guarantees that your team will, in fact, be attending the World tournament. In the past, we've had teams that have accepted the berth and, for whatever reason, decided, at a later time, not to attend the World tournament. Our host parks have already paid the National office for this berth. This fee will not be refunded by the National office to the various host parks. This is an attempt to help your local parks and park directors retain a portion of their expenses. If a team attends the World tournament, this deposit will be refunded upon their return from said World tournament. Failure to pay this deposit within seven days will forfeit the berth and will pass it down to the next team in the tournament. However, the team's roster will stay "frozen."

Mixed "E" Program

A new program was created at this year's national convention in the Mixed program. The Mixed "E" program will allow ONLY Men's D and E players and Women's C, D and E players to compete in this new classification. Any and all homeruns will be considered an "out" and an "offensive ejection." That position will be considered an "offensive ejection" for the remainder of that game.

We will further regulate that a Mixed "D" team will only allow Men's C, D and E players as well as Women's B, C and D players to compete in the Mixed "D" program. Any homerun in the Mixed "D" program will be considered an "out" only. A Mixed "D" team will be allowed three (3) Mixed "C" bumps from the 2007 season on their 2008 roster.

In addition, the Mixed "C" program will allow Men's B, C, D and E players to join Women's A, B, C and D players to compete in the Mixed "C" program. A Mixed "C" team will be allowed three (3) Mixed "B" bumps from the 2007 season on their 2008 roster.

Other Rule Changes

Ejected Player

Last year's rule: If a team starts a game with ten (10) players and one (1) player gets ejected, if the team doesn't have a substitute for the ejected player, the team forfeits the game.

This year's rule: If a team starts a game with ten (10) players and one (1) player gets ejected, the team can continue with nine (9) players and take an "out" in the ejected player's position in the batting order.

Walking a Player to Get to the Automatic Out

In the past, if a team was playing with nine players and taking an automatic "out" in the tenth spot in the batting order, teams would walk the ninth batter in the order to get the out and, hopefully, if that player did not touch first base, would get him called out for the third out of the inning and start the next inning with an out in the leadoff spot of the inning.

This year, that 'loophole' has been closed. If a team walks the ninth batter to get the out, the tenth batter is considered out and any appeal on the ninth batter touching first base is prohibited.

Inning-ending Out (Men's D and E)

This rule will stay the same as last year's rule.

Offensive Ejection (Men's E)

This rule will stay the same as last year's rule.

Teams/Players Being Bumped and Sitting Out a Year

There is a new rule that was adopted nationally that says a team, if bumped, cannot sit out a year and then come back at whatever classification they desire. If a team is bumped, for example, to "C" for the 2008 season and sits out the entire 2008 season, then whenever that team decides to return to competition they will be classified at whatever classification they were BEFORE they decided to sit out a year.

We will also adopt that rule in North Texas as it pertains to a player being part of a team "bumped" to a new classification. If he/she decides to sit out a year, then that player, at the time he/she decides to resume his/her USSSA "career," will be classified as to the level they were at the time of their "retirement"' In other words, if you're on a "D" team that is bumped to "C" for 2008, you cannot sit out 2008 and be a 'free agent' in 2009. You would still be a "C" player until you attempt to compete at the "C" level.

Softballs

Beginning in 2009, USSSA will ONLY use in tournament play the Men's "Major" ball (40COR). In an attempt to help "correct" the altered/shaved bat situation that has become the Association's biggest problem, this is the solution they have come up with. So you need to use your supply of "Distance" and "Elite" balls that you have accumulated during the 2008 season.

Names on Rosters

It was also voted on that a player's name on a roster must match the name on his/her driver's license. I read that to say that if your name, for example, is James Edward Smith, your roster needs to have either James or Edward Smith on it and not Jim, Jimmy, J.E. or some other combination.

I do know that this will cause a problem with a player's history. We will be attempting to go into the USSSA system and make changes that will combine a player's multiple names and history into one. If your "correct" name in 2008 is different than it was on a 2007 roster, it is your responsibility to contact the State Director in writing (e-mail is preferred) and inform him that your name is different.