1. Refund Policy
2. Import Policy
3. Player Release
4. Player Evaluation Process
5. Evaluations and Scoring
6. Team Selection
7. Underage Policy
8. Overage Policy
9. Roster Size Guidelines
10. Uniform and Apparel Policy
11. Coaching Certification and Requirements - Reimbursement Policy
12.Late Registration Policy
13.AGM Attendance Policy
14.Recreational League (House League) Specific Policy
15.Competitive B Specific Policy
16.Weather Policy
1. Refund Policy: Refund requests prior to the registration deadlines are subject to a $25.00 administration fee. Refund requests after the registration deadlines will only be granted where deemed appropriate by the BMB Executive (eg. moving away, season ending injury, etc.). If a tryout fee has been built into the registration fee, the tryout fee is non-refundable once the tryouts have commenced. Refund requests that are approved will be refunded on a prorated basis.
2. Import Policy: A Player is considered an Import Player if they meet any of the following conditions
a. They reside outside of the Town of Blackfalds in a community with an active and equivalent level (e.g., U13A/B) Softball Program.
b. They reside outside of Zone 4.
Every Import player must be in compliance with the Softball Alberta Player Transfer Policy and any other relevant Softball Alberta policy.
a. Please refer to the Softball Alberta Handbook Article II, A.4, page 13 (available at https://www.softballalberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-Han dbook-website.pdf)
Import Players are responsible for completing the relevant year’s Softball Alberta Player Transfer form (available at TRANSFERS - Softball Alberta) and obtaining the required signatures from the releasing organization and providing this to the Softball Coordinator.
3. Player Release: A release is not required for players in age categories U17 and up. The board will not provide pre-approval for transfer requests. Transfer requests will not be considered until registration is completed for the current year.
A player in U15 and under seeking a release from BMB may submit a Softball Alberta transfer form to the BMB division coordinator once the form is available from Softball Alberta, however requests will not be reviewed or considered by the board until registration is completed for the year in which release is being requested.
The request should be accompanied by any relevant rationale as to why the request should be granted. As per Softball Alberta, player transfers are only applicable in the year of issue, so players of BMB will need to apply on a yearly basis for continued release.
The Board will determine on a case-by-case basis if the release will be granted. Decisions will be final, and appeals can be made directly to Softball Alberta. All appeals will follow Softball Alberta guidelines.
The following are some of the guidelines that will be used in assessing the request and determining whether a release shall be granted:
a. Whether the player has received an offer for the same age category but higher-level team with another association. (i.e., Player is offered B with our association but A with another)
b. Whether or not there is a viable team for the player to play on.
c. Whether the player’s release would have an impact on the viability of a team for remaining BMB players
Any transfer forms received will be responded to within 7 calendar days of receipt with the application review beginning after registration is completed of the year in which release is being requested.
A player who is offered a spot on an BMB team but chooses to accept a position on a same level team (e.g., 13A, where level is based on the intent for team at time of formation) with another association may request a release from BMB as soon as the form is available from Softball Alberta by submitting the completed form to
blackfaldssoftball@gmail.com. This situation will be an exception from BMB standard review date and BMB will review and respond to these requests within 7 days of receipt. Should the release be granted, the player will not be eligible to return to BMB in that current season. This will also apply to a player who does not request a formal release.
Any exceptions to this policy and the process for releasing players as indicated in this policy must have board approval. Exception requests can be sent to blackfaldssoftball@gmail.com.
4. Player Evaluation Process : “B” Competitive Program Player evaluations for teams (normally U13/U15/U17/U19) will be held in late summer at ID camps.
Player Evaluation Process - “C” or “D” Recreational (house) Program Player Evaluations will be held at the beginning of each season (normally February) based on the registrations received.(U11/U13/U15/U17/U19).
5. Evaluations and Scoring: All players will be evaluated by a combination of their overall skills and abilities as softball players.
Parental and family commitment and support for the sport, league, program, and team may be considered in the overall evaluation score where the score of players is similar.
Players that choose to be evaluated for a Pitcher and/or Catcher position will receive separate scores with respect to these positions.
Evaluators must be objective and cannot have any familial or personal ties to the level they are evaluating.
Evaluators must provide fair and consistent evaluations of players within the group.
Evaluators recognize the sensitive nature of the player evaluations and will not discuss the player evaluations with any other individuals other than those directly involved in player evaluations.
Evaluation scores will be confidential
6. Team Selection: B Levels will be based on prior demonstrated playing skills, game sense, and coach input.
In C/D levels, where multiple teams exist, the Evaluations Director and the Softball Coordinators will strive to form the teams based on balancing the skill level amongst the teams.
7. Underage Policy:
Competitive B 11U/U13/U15/U17/U19 divisions: BMB accepts requests to move underage players up a division based on the following criteria:
The individual must be a second / last year player (based on year of birth) in their age appropriate division.
Underage players must register in their appropriate age division and then contact in writing (email, letter) the Directors of both the division they are registered in and the one they would like to tryout for, informing these Directors of their request to move up / tryout in the higher division.
If it is determined at any point during the season that it is not in the best interest of the player (eg. safety, skill set, cognitive ability, emotional ability, etc.) to play in the higher division, the player shall be moved to a team in their age appropriate division for the remainder of the season.
8. Overage Policy: Please see Softball Alberta for overage policy.
9. Roster Size Guidelines:
The recommended minimum / maximum roster sizes for BMB are:
Min / Max
9U(Rookie): 7/10
11U: 11/ 13
13U: 11 / 13
15U: 12 / 13
18U: 12 / 15
Head Coaches can apply to the BMB Executive (through the appropriate Division Director) if they would like to decrease / increase the minimum / maximum roster size for their team. The application must be in writing (email, letter) and justify the reason for wanting to decrease / increase the number of roster spots allowed for that season. Competitive teams roster will be based on the ability of the players able to play at the level, not to max out a roster.
10. Uniform & Apparel Policy: The BMB Executive has developed the Uniform & Apparel Policy to assist all of our teams in taking advantage of bulk order pricing, consistent apparel selection, consistent colors, etc.
U9 Division will be provided with jerseys. Proper footwear and ball pants are required and not provided by BMB.
U11/U13/U15/U17/U19 Divisions: The following requirements are for all players.
Players will all dress in matching colors of the following and are not provided by BMB:
- Black ball pants for the black uniform, white pants for the white uniform.
- Black/Yellow/White ball socks.
- If a long sleave shirts will be matching with the uniform
- Infield mask - required for infield position
- Pirates Hat
Jersey: BMB is responsible for providing a set of jerseys to each team at all levels. No other jerseys are to be used by BMB teams unless approved by the BMB Executive. In order to minimize the wear and tear on BMB jerseys they are not allowed to be worn at practices. A jersey deposit will be collected from each player, to be returned at the end of the season when the jersey is returned.
Coaching shirts will be provided by BMB for the coaches to keep.
Hats:
The BMB will work with local businesses each season to provide a variety of apparel choices with Pirates Baseball logos. These will include jackets, hats, shorts, short and long sleeve shirts, etc. Players and coaches are not required to purchase any of the apparel with logos, they are able to purchase non-logo’d apparel as long as it meets the criteria listed in the Uniform & Apparel Policy. For example, a player may choose to purchase a logo’d t-shirt through the business that BMB has contracted to provide logo’d apparel or they may choose to purchase a blank black t-shirt from any business. The BMB will communicate via email when the logo’d apparel is available and how members can go about ordering items. This option allows parents / guardians, siblings, grandparents, etc. to also order logo’d Pirates apparel.
11. Coaching Certification and Requirements - Reimbursement Policy: The BMB will reimburse coaches that submit proof of the following documents and
applicable receipts to the appropriate Division Director that they are coaching in that season.
· National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) - Softball coaching certification
· Respect in Sport - Leader certification
· Criminal Record Check (CRC) and Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSC) - These documents can be obtained from a local RCMP detachment.
Coaches Code of Conduct - There is no fee related to this document but it is required to be signed, dated and submitted to the appropriate Division Director by anyone coaching in the BMB.
Criminal Record Check (CRC) & Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) Policy: A Criminal Record Check (CRC) / Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is required for all coaches.
12. Late Registration Policy: There will be a $30.00 late registration fee applied to any registration that occurs after the registration deadline established for each division and caliber (A, AA, etc.). Late registrations will only be accepted if there is room within the division and caliber the individual wants to register in. Individuals wanting to inquire about registering after the applicable registration deadline will need to contact the appropriate Division Director. If an individual is registering late, but their registration is required to create a team or fill the minimum required as per the BMB Roster Size Guideline, the late fee will not be applied.
13. AGM Attendance Policy: Prior to each season, BMB holds their Annual General Meeting (AGM). Everyone in attendance (based on the completed attendance sheet) will receive a discount on their registration fees (per child) if they register within 1 week of the AGM and this discount is determined by the BMB Executive prior to the AGM. Registration after the 1 week period, even for individuals that attended the AGM, will be at the regular registration fee.
14: Recreational League (House League) Specific Policy: Games are to be scheduled on your slotted time at the annual scheduling meeting at the beginning of the year. Umps cost are covered in your registration fees. All other tournaments/provincials/team events will be covered by the team.
15: Competitive B Specific Policy: Any exhibition games will be scheduled on your slotted diamond time and are booked by the team. League play (equal to GPLS cost from 2023) is covered in the registration cost along with your provincial entry cost.
16. Weather Policy: Blackfalds Minor Ball, including Blackfalds Softball follows the Baseball Alberta Weather Policy.
LIGHTNING AND SEVERE WEATHER: When thunder roars, go indoors. You can determine the approximate distance of lightning from your area by counting the number of seconds between the flash and the first sound of the thunder and dividing by three (3). This will give you the distance in kilometers from your location. The problem lies in that people need to be in a safe location (not a dugout!) before the count reaches 30. For instance if one counts 35 seconds, people should be finding a safe location to shelter in.
AIR QUALITY: AQHI of 7 or higher means that play will be suspended immediately. Host locations must monitor AQHI levels and notify umpires when levels are 7 or higher to suspend the game.