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GUIDELINES FOR GAME DIRECTORS AND TEAMS ENTERING THE DIVISION I SOFTBALL SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT

1. The sectional games will be Friday, May 16. Schools may mutually agree to play the sectional earlier than the schedule date. The sectional winners shall advance to the central tournament site, May 20-23, at the Murfreesboro Sports Complex and McKnight Fields in Murfreesboro, TN.
   If the established starting time of a sectional contest between two schools conflicts with the previously scheduled Commencement Exercises of one of the schools, and that school has Senior roster player(s), then at the request of the affected school, the contest will be rescheduled for a mutually agreed upon time and site that falls within the playoff timeline established by the TSSAA. In the event the two schools do not agree on a rescheduled time and site, the TSSAA office will designate a starting game time and site.

2. Teams participating in the state tournament will be able to pick up their team packets from 12:00 PM CST Monday, May 19, until 6:00 PM CST Monday, May 19, at the BlueCross SpringFling Headquarters. The BlueCross SpringFling Headquarters will be located at the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame Building on the campus of MTSU. The Kennon Sports Hall of Fame Building is located behind Murphy Center and can be accessed through the Greenland Drive Parking Lot. After 6:00 PM CST on Monday, May 19, team packets must be picked up the gate of where the team's first game is to be played.
3. Please refer to the "Tournament Softball Regulations" in your 2007-08 TSSAA Official Handbook. Please make a copy of the regional bracket which shows which teams will be the host team and which teams will travel.

4. In the sectional games and in the championship series, the umpires shall be assigned by the state office.

5. In the sectional games, it shall be the responsibility of the host school to set the time of the game. It is the responsibility of the host school to notify the visiting team of the game time and game site.

6. Tournament squads are limited to a maximum of 18 people. Players in uniform, coaches, and bat girls are admitted free.

7. Coaches should have their line-up written out and ready to be given to the scorer and the umpire when going over ground rules.

8. After game expenses have been paid in the sectional games, the remaining receipts shall be divided 1/3 going to each participating team and 1/3 to TSSAA.

9. Video taping or filming is permitted as long as the taping or filming is for private use or use by the two schools involved and not for public or commercial use. Video taping or filming must be done from the individual's seat. Individuals will not be allowed to use tripods. A school taping or filming its own game may use a tripod. A school will not be allowed to tape or film a game unless its team is involved in the game. All taping or filming by the school may be approved by the local Game Director, and the Game Director shall assign space, when available, from which to tape or film.

10. Suspended games during the tournament are to be picked up from the point of suspension, at the next earliest opportunity to play. Tournament games do not have to go the full 7 innings. Coaches, plus the umpire-in-chief, can mutually agree to terminate a game early and a winner declared. Coaches must also mutually agree to the 10 run rule after 4½ (with the home team leading) or 5 innings.

11. The principal of the host school shall be the Game Director. If additional facilities are secured other than those of the host team, the Game Director must be approved by the TSSAA state office. It shall be the duty of the Game Director to handle all financial arrangements for the game and to make financial reports to the state office and participating teams.

1. In sectional softball games, the umpires shall receive $60.00. Umpires shall receive 15¢ per mile, round trip when an umpire lives outside the county for two person crew. The fee for a three person crew shall be $55 per game. Umpires shall receive 10¢ per mile, round trip when an umpire lives outside the county.

2. Tickets and Passes:

1. At the sectional, admission will be charged. All tickets are $6 and everyone must have a ticket.

2. Game directors shall furnish tickets for the sectional.

3. Admit 18 players from each participating team, plus coaches and bat girls.

4. Admit working press and radio

5. The 2007-08 Championship Event Card will provide complimentary admittance for the sectional softball game. Each member school received two event cards. This card admits ONLY ONE PERSON PER CARD and replaces the use of the TSSAA Directory for school's complimentary admittance. This is the ONLY acceptable card/pass for complimentary admittance to the sectional softball game.

3. Arrange for scorer, ball girls, ticket sellers and takers.

4. Make arrangement for concessions. Profits from the concession will go to the host school or to those appointed by the host school to handle them.

5. Purchase softballs. The cost of these balls shall be part of the game expenses. The unused balls should be divided between the participating teams after the game is completed. The Optic Yellow Worth "K-Master" softball (COR .47) will be used in the state tournament.

6. Financial Report:

1. Please make a copy of the financial report form. This is for the Game Directors that host sectionals. The Game Director will issue checks for all expenses.

2. After game expenses have been paid in the sectional game, the remaining receipts shall be divided with 1/3 going to each participating team and 1/3 to TSSAA.

3. In sectional games, the umpires and administrative cost shall be paid first. If receipts are not sufficient to pay the umpires and game expenses, the host team and TSSAA shall share these costs, and no team expenses shall be allowed.

4. Team expenses for sectional games are outlined below:
   Teams within the county where the game is being played shall receive no expense allowance. Visiting teams shall have a mileage of 40¢ per mile round trip. Teams within 150 miles of a game site will receive mileage and $4 per person for food for a maximum of 18 people. Teams over 150 miles from the game site and who spend the night will receive mileage, $6 per person for food for a maximum of 18 people and $5 per person for lodging for a maximum of 18 people for one night.

5. Necessary local expenses will be paid from gate receipts. Other expenses such as officials, stadium costs, etc., shall be determined by the local game director and TSSAA.

6. All checks for district, regional, and sectional tournaments and playoffs must be distributed within 10 business days of the completion of the tournament or game. Failure to do so will result in a $100.00 late fee to be paid to TSSAA and is to be used in the A.F. Bridges sportsmanship program to go to schools or students receiving awards. Failure to distribute funds within 20 business days will result in an additional $200 late fee (total $300.00). Failure to distribute funds within 40 business days will result in an additional $200.00 late fee (total $500.00). The school may not host any tournament or playoff until the principal or athletic director appears before the Board of Control to explain their reasons for not distributing the checks within the required time frame. The Board would then determine whether the school can host tournaments or playoffs in the future.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

It is important that the coach of the team winning the Sectional game contact the TSSAA Office immediately following the game to report the score and the winner of the game. This information may be faxed to (615) 889-0544 or e-mailed to tssaa@tssaa.org.