Article 1 - Organization and Participation

1.1 Introduction

a) Softball Canada will organize and supervise Canadian Championships in categories determined by the Annual Meeting provided that a host organization is found to execute the championship.

b) Provincial/territorial associations in good standing with dues paid are eligible to send teams to a Canadian Championship.

c) Provincial/territorial associations must confirm their participation in the Canadian Championships by June 7th of the year of the event and must submit the registration fee for each registered team no later than June 30th.

1.2 Canada Summer Games

In the year of the Canada Summer Games, Softball Canada will not host a U21 Men’s (U23 effective 2018) or Women’s Canadian Championships.

1.3 Participants

a) Team Representation

i) Canadian Championship events will be hosted ranging from five to seven days, with the maximum number of teams dependent on the host capacity.

ii) If the number of teams intending to participate exceeds the host’s capacity, entry will be awarded as follows:

(a) Initially to each province/territory in good standing, a host team and the previous year’s champion when applicable.

(b) On a pro-rata system based upon provincial/territorial registrations in the respective categories.

iii) A host city team is eligible providing the team originates in the city or town in which the championship is held. Said team must have participated (as a team) in the provincial/territorial competition played to determine the provincial/territorial representative to the Canadian Championship.

iv) If there is more than one team eligible to represent the host committee, the applicable provincial/territorial softball association shall determine the manner in which the host committee team is to be decided.

v) In all Canadian Championship categories (excluding U14 and U16), the previous year’s champions are eligible to attend their respective Canadian Championship, subject to the following:

(a) They are responsible for all of their own expenses.

(b) At least eight (8) players from the championship roster are still on the current roster and in attendance except for the U21 (U23 effective 2018) level of competition where it is acceptable for seven (7) players to have been on the championship roster and the U18 (U19 effective 2018) level of competition where provincial/territorial bodies can declare a Defending Champion if the previous champion does not have seven (7) returning players.

(d) They must compete in the Provincial/Territorial Competition which determines representation to the Canadian Championships for the current year. Applicable to Provincial/Territorial Associations without All–Star status.

b) Managers and Coaches

Managers and coaches are eligible to participate in Canadian Championships under the following provisions:

i) They are signed to the current Softball Canada or Provincial/Territorial Team Registration Certificate of his/her team.

ii) One of the registered coaches or manager must be fully certified Level II – softball (theory, technical, practical) or Competition – Introduction Certified in the National Coaching Certification Program and must be in attendance at all games and on the team’s bench.

iii) If neither of the coaches, managers nor players are fully certified and in attendance at all games and on the team’s bench, they will not be allowed on the field or in the coaches box at a Canadian Championship. If one of the coaches or the manager are certified and in attendance at all games and on the team bench then the coaching staff (coach, coach and manager) may go on the field.

a) A province/territory sending a team to a Canadian Championship without one fully certified coach/manager will be fined $2,500. (Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars).

iv) Managers and coaches may not participate as players unless they are so registered.

c) Playing Rosters

i) Roster Size

Team roster sizes will be as follows:
Minimum Maximum
Players (including pick-ups) 11 17
Coaches and Managers 1 4

ii) All–Star Rosters

a) Provinces/territories participating in Canadian Championships may
be represented by an All–Star team provided the previous Annual

Meeting has so ruled.

b) The following provinces/territories have been allowed All–Star
status in all categories:

1. Newfoundland & Labrador
2. Nova Scotia
3. New Brunswick
4. Prince Edward Island
5. Quebec
6. Manitoba
7. Saskatchewan (except U18 (U19 effective 2018) category)
8. Nunavut
9. Northwest Territories
10. Yukon
11. Ontario (Senior, and U21 (U23 effective 2018) only)
12. British Columbia (Senior, and U21 (U23 effective 2018) only)
13. Alberta (Senior, and U21 (U23 effective 2018) only)

iii) Affiliated Team Representatives
When no designation occurs, representatives must use their affiliated rosters.
iv) National Team Player Additions

A provincial/territorial team representative may add players to replace National Team athletes who are unable to participate due to National Team activities providing that:
a) Players have signed a Softball Canada or Provincial/Territorial Team Registration Certificate by the registration date with the province/ territory seeking to pick them up.
b) Approval to pick up these players is received from their provincial/ territorial association.
c) The players are eligible for Canadian Championship play.
d) The pick-ups are made by the end of the coaches/managers meeting at the Canadian Championship and have Provincial/Territorial written approval.

v) Player Additions
A provincial/territorial team representative may add up to 3 players providing that:
a) Players have signed a Softball Canada or Provincial/Territorial Team Registration Certificate by the registration date with the province/ territory seeking to pick them up.
b) Approval to pick up these players is received from their provincial/ territorial association.
c) The players are eligible for Canadian Championship play.
d) The pick-ups are made by the end of the coaches/managers meeting at the Canadian Championship and have Provincial/Territorial written approval.
vi) Coaches Additions
A provincial/territorial representative may add a coach or manager providing that:
a) Coaches/managers must have signed a Softball Canada or Provincial/ Territorial Team Registration Certificate by the official registration date within the province/territory seeking to pick them up.
b) Approval to pick up these coaches is received from their provincial/ territorial associations.
c) The coaches are eligible for Canadian Championship play.
d) The pick–ups are made by the end of the coaches/managers meeting at the Canadian Championship and have Provincial/Territorial written approval.
e) The total number of signed coaches and managers does not exceed
four (4).
vii) Additions Due to Injury
In the event that a player is injured while participating in a Softball Canada National Team activity and unable to participate in a Canadian Championship, the province/territory so handicapped will be allowed a replacement or pick-up subject to the following considerations:
a) Where applicable, the injured player must have been on the roster of the provincial/territorial championship team.
b) The replaced player will not be eligible for any of the Canadian Championship.
c) The player picked up must meet all existing eligibility requirements.

1.4 Penalties for Non–Participation and Late Entry

a) A province/territory withdrawing a team(s) after the June 7th deadline will forfeit their registration fee and be fined an amount equal to $1000.00 (minus their registration fee). This penalty will be equally divided between Softball Canada and the Host.
b) A province/territory withdrawing from a Canadian Championship before completing their schedule will be fined $1000.00 that will be equally divided between Softball Canada and the Host.
c) A province/territory registering a team after the June 7 deadline will be assessed a late fee of $500.00 to be paid immediately upon notification.
d) Failure of a team to appear in any Canadian Championship game shall result in that team being suspended for the remainder of the championship and will be assessed a $1,000.00 fine and disciplinary action reviewed by the Directors of Softball Canada.
e) Host to receive their portion of fines no later than September 30 of the year of event.