Updated 11/23/2010

ASA RULE CHANGES

Click here to download a PDF with the 2010 ASA rule changes with comments.

FAQ's

What is the difference between a Travel Team and a Recreational League Team ?
A travel team competes at ASA tournaments against other travel teams from Massachusetts and other States. Recreation League Teams play a set schedule of games against the same teams from one or more towns.
Recreational League Teams are usually governed by a Board of Directors in charge of the entire league whereas a Travel Team usually is governed by one coach.


What is the Official ASA Roster ?
The Official ASA Roster is the ASA form that the MAJOASA along with other ASA states use to verify a team's roster in order to play in a tournament. The roster must be completed on both sides and then signed by
a Deputy JO Commissioner, Local ASA Commissioner or the State JO Commissioner. Once the roster is signed, players are now officially on that team's roster and cannot move to another team at the same age level and
classification without approval from the coach. In order for the roster to be signed, a copy of each player's birth certificates must be included.

Can a player move to another team during the same season ?
The answer to this can be complicated. It depends if the roster has been signed by an ASA official or not. So long as an ASA official has not signed the roster, the roster is NOT official and players are allowed to move
at will. Once the roster has been signed, the team must follow ASA Code in regards to roster moves. Here are the highlights:

    A player can move from one team at the same age level and classification to another team with consent from the first team. A note or e-mail must be attached to the rosters of both teams stating the move.
    Teams cannot pick up players from teams that are still eligible to play in Championship Events (National Qualifiers, States, Regionals, or Nationals).

    A player can play up in age classification and return to the original age classification in the same season. I.E. A 14A player can play for a 16A team and then return to the 14A team

    A player cannot play down in age classification even though they are age eligible. I.E. A 14A player that is 12U eligible cannot play down to a 12A team.

    A player can play up in team classification but cannot return to the original team classification. I.E. A 14B player can go to a 16A team, but cannot return to the 14B team for the remainder of the season.

What is the process to add a player to the roster ?
If the roster has not been signed by an ASA official, the player can be added in the same way you filled out the roster to begin your season.
If the roster has been signed, you will need to complete an ASA Pick-Up Player Form and have it signed by an ASA Official. You may only add three players once the roster has been signed.

What is the format for the State Tournaments ?
State Tournaments follow the three game minimum format as set by the ASA National Bracket Book. Teams will be drawn onto this bracket via a blind draw.

Can I request not to play Friday night for the State Tournament ?
NO. Since this tournament leads to the New England Regionals and thus is classified as a Championship Event, a blind draw of all teams must be held. All teams must have an equal chance to play Friday night.
Please understand however if the number of teams is small, the tournament may be limited to Saturday and Sunday only.

Are there berths available to the ASA Nationals ?
Yes. Massachusetts receives berths to the ASA/USA Nationals based on its previous year's registrations. If you wish to go to these events, please contact me.
Massachusetts can also send teams to the Eastern Nationals in PA & VA. These Nationals are for teams in the Eastern Region of the country. Again if you are interested in attending, please let me know.

What are the classifications under ASA & MAJOASA ?
ASA has two classifications for travel teams, Class A & Class B. The ASA allows each State Association to determine how it classifies teams within its association. The MAJOASA classifies travel teams as follows:

Class A:    Players come from other states and the team is not affiliated with an ASA Recreational Softball League
                Also if a Class B team wins the Class B State Championship, the team will be reclassified as Class A the following season
                Also if a Class B team dominates play in Class B tournaments will be reclassified as Class A

Class B:    A team that has 100% of its players from the same city or town and play within the same ASA Recreational League.
                Also the players must continuously compete in a minimum of 51% of the ASA Recreational League games as verified by the League President or designee
                (Please note that teams that fit this classification may still be classified as Class A as the MAJOASA has final decision on classification and may use other guidelines other than those listed herein)

Unclassified:
                A team that does not want to be classified as Class A or Class B and does not want to compete in ASA Class B Championship Play (States, Regionals, or Nationals)
                Also a team that doesn't complete the necessary Class B Registration forms or is submitting a waiver form or an appeal of their classification

What is an MAJOASA Class B Waiver ?
Teams that do not meet the conditions for Class 'B' status may submit a Class B Waiver form to the MAJOASA office. This form will then be submitted to the local JO Commissioner for classification. (Exception, if the local JO Commissioner is a coach on the team submitting the waiver or is a league official affiliated with a team requesting a waiver, the MAJOASA will appoint another local JO Commissioner to make the classification)
The team has 48 hours after the classification to appeal the decision to the MAJOASA Reclassification Committee. Once they make the classification, the team has one final appeal to the State JO Commissioner, whose decision is final.

What reasons can a team appeal their classification ?
Teams can only appeal their classification if new information can be provided on the team that wasn't previously submitted. Appeals may also be allowed if the team can show an error was made in the classification. The decision of the MAJOASA is final when deciding on whether to grant an appeal.