Prior to the season: It is your job to confirm your schedule that is on our website. If you see a mistake, point it out. I suggest doing this at the beginning of every week as well. If there is a mistake there, the umpire will not arrive. The home team will have to pay $50 to compensate an umpire that is sent to the wrong time or location.

How to report a mistake or to reschedule: Email me at shcyosoftball@gmail.com with this information in this specific format, I am handling over 60 teams plus my own program. I cannot take the time to play detective and figure out your shorthand.

How to report a cancellation: Send me the game being cancelled in the below format. CC the opposing coach. If it is within three hours of game time, text me as well at 609 304-7598.

NEW Umpire payment guidelines:

• Cancel via proper channels results in no payment.
• Cancel within two hours of game time without advance warning at prior to two hours: $25 travel charge.
• Cancel within arrival of umpire (within ten minutes to game start): $50 game fee.

Guidelines for safety:

• The season is for those who want to be out there. If anyone is uncomfortable at any time given the current climate, they should have the ability to stop participating immediately.
• At any point that the State or other authorities change their stance in any way regarding game play, the UGSA will likewise make appropriate changes.

• Home coaches should make opposing teams aware of any additional guidelines prior to arrival.
• All Games are 90 minutes, finish the inning.
• At 70 minutes, the home team must call for unlimited runs in subsequent innings.
• The home head coach is in charge of maintaining all guidelines on and around the field of play. Coaches will sanitize equipment after each game.
• Each field must adhere to the current social gathering limit
• All fans must remain 6 feet apart. All non-players are asked to wear a mask.
• Coaches should have a mask at all times to be worn whenever possible.
• Any individual with a family member showing any known or suspected symptoms of COVID must not attend. Players should be screened for symptoms including a fever just prior to attending the game.
• All PLAYERS SHOULD BRING HAND SANITIZER, and sanitize or wash hands each inning
• No sunflower seeds or spitting or handshakes after the game
• No sharing of equipment between players from team to team.
• The dugouts and the bleachers are CLOSED. Players will utilize the first and third base fences to set up.
• Fans must stay at least 20 feet away from the players and may not go behind home plate. Spread out along the outfield to watch.
• Pre-game rules may be gone over from a socially distant space. All scoresheets should be traded virtually. Take a picture with your phone and text it to the other scorekeeper.
• Each team will provide their own game balls for use in the field.
• Umpires are advised not to touch game balls to minimize contact.

• Venmo payments should be used whenever possible in lieu of cash. Download this app and set it up now.
• Umpires will adhere to same pre-game standard of symptom check, including temperature screening prior to getting out of their car.

Guidelines to follow if someone around your team feels ill:

• Any illness is a presumed positive until they get a negative test or clearance from a doctor.
• If a child/coach on your team falls ill, they should get a rapid test to be sure. If that child had contact within the last 72 hours with the team, All team activities must cease until they are cleared.
• If a parent or family member of a team falls ill, that child will be removed from team activities until the family member tests negative.
• If a child tests positive, the entire team will be quarantined for 14 days from the last team event that child attended.
• If a family member of a team tests positive, that athlete must be quarantined for 14 days.
• It is not our job to spread the word of a positive test. It is just our job to keep everyone safe and follow CDC guidelines.
• I spoke with doctors at CHoP for clarification on this. Any further degrees of separation does not have to go reported.

It is important to note that 98% of all tests in NJ come back negative. So let’s be smart, but not alarmist.

UGSA

PO BOX 324

Maple Shade, NJ 08052

PayPal: United Girls Softball Association: veryluckydave06@yahoo.com

We will utilize the USA softball approved bat list. The link is below. 8U will still not allow any composite bats at any time.  Any team found in violation knowingly will be fined $50 to be paid before their next game.

https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/~/link.aspx?_id=015F4358A30B44368FC142350D112FFF&_z=z

Rule 6A, Section 1C: Both feet must be on the ground within the 24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate. The shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases. The pitcher shall take a position with their pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and their non-pivot foot in contact with or behind the pitcher’s plate. Comment: Allows female pitchers to start with one or two feet on the pitcher’s plate. This aligns the male and female pitching rule as it relates to foot placement.

Rule 6A, Section 1E: The pitcher shall bring their hands together for not less than one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball. A backward step may be taken before, simultaneous with or after the hands are brought together. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate at all times prior to the forward step. Comment: Allows female pitchers to take a backward step from the pitcher’s plate, before, during or after the hands are brought together. This aligns the male and female pitching rule as it relates to stepping back from the pitcher’s plate.