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Polices and Procedures

This page outlines specific policies and procedures for the USSSA Baseball Program in Maryland, Delaware, and central and western Pennsylvania. It includes information on the Player Release, Heat Policy, Berth Procedures, and Code of Conduct.

Guest Player Policy

Teams in USSSA tournaments nationwide (except certain state and national events) can utilize guest players of comparable classes for events in which they are participating. This means teams that are short a player or two for an event have a standardized way to bring on guest players for specific events.

As this system is the same in all states, it will improve roster transparency, and anyone can see approved guest players for an event or teams within that event. Additionally, the system will no longer allow a player to be rostered with more than one team.

The system is intuitive and works through the coach’s login at usssa.com. We have also created a series of help documents for you to use to help in your orientation to the new system. They include:

Players Release

If you would like to participate in East Coast Events USSSA tournaments, please complete the download Player Release form by clicking the button below.

Before this form can be validated, the following MUST be completed.

  • It must be filled out completely and signed by all requested parties;
  • It must be received in the State Youth Office on or before Thursday before a weekend’s event;
  • It must be accompanied by the $15 player transfer fee, made payable to East Coast Events and delivered to East Coast Events, 8343 Seamore St, Pasadena, MD 21122;
  • The player must return all team uniforms, equipment, etc., as outlined in the USSSA Roster Procedures

PLAYER RELEASE FORM

USSSA Heat Index Policy

The following heat index policy guidelines have been established to ensure the safety and welfare of all baseball players, coaches, and umpires involved.

HEAT INDEX ACTIONS

  • 80° – 89°: Use caution; Monitor athletes carefully for necessary action.
  • 90° – 104°: Use extreme caution; Ensure water breaks are allowed as needed; Ensure that all individuals drink fluids and that uniforms are modified to ensure the coolest level available.
  • 105° – 114°: Games will be shortened in duration to allow a more extended break between games for all involved; Alter uniforms where feasible;
  • 115° & Above: All activities will be suspended until the heat index is below 115.

The on-site Directors, UICs, and the USSSA State Office will watch the Heat Index. The Heat Index Policy will be implemented and enforced by the State Office. The State Office will attempt to reschedule games as needed to complete the schedule. The above standards comply with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and local counties.

Revised Date: December 2020.

Berth Procedures for USSSA Program

  1. Regardless of classification, any team qualifying for a World Series (WS) berth must participate in the USSSA State Tournament to validate that berth. A team’s failure to participate in the State Tournament will result in their berth being rescinded. If a team forfeits all of its games in the State Tournament, they have not fulfilled the participation requirement. EXCEPTION: If USSSA limits entries in the State Tournament due to a maximum number of teams being reached, then a team is deemed to have fulfilled the participation requirement if it registers for the tournament and is willing and able to participate if a spot would open up within two weeks of the tournament. To participate in a World Series, teams must a) play in the state tournament and b) secure a berth by either finishing high enough in a qualifying event or participating in two additional tournaments.
  2. A minimum of four teams must participate in order for a WS qualifying tournament to offer any berths.
  3. Teams intending to participate in the World Series must submit their entry fee online to the national office. Each team’s State Director will approve all eligible teams registering for the World Series.
  4. Teams must have available at the World Series a copy of their current official USSSA roster with appropriate signatures, up-to-date insurance certificates, and birth certificates for all rostered players. Teams are also responsible for handling all other paperwork associated with the WS (eg, housing forms, admission passes, T-shirt orders, etc.).

East Coast Events Conduct Code

The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) aims to offer our members a quality product in all aspects of the program. This begins with the service and cooperation they receive from our State Office and ends with their experience on the playing field. To this end, we are committed to making their tournament experience a positive one, both in terms of competitiveness and the comfort they experience in bringing their coaches, players, parents, and sponsors to our many venues. To ensure that all of our tournaments are an enjoyable experience for everyone involved and that nothing which occurs during the operation of those tournaments reflects negatively toward the USSSA, its members, the park staff, or host towns, the following rules will serve as our conduct code at all times.

The team manager must have full control of him/herself and all team personnel (i.e., players, coaches, family members, etc.) at all times, both on and off the playing field.

In the event of a disputed play or decision, only the team manager or captain(s), as designated at the start of the game, may consult with an umpire or tournament official. Other coaches, players, and spectators are to remain in the team’s designated area and not participate in the discussion unless called upon by an umpire or official.

Smoking and the use of other tobacco products are prohibited on the playing field as well as the players’ bench area.

Managers are to report any unsportsmanlike conduct or derogatory acts to the tournament director or site director, whether committed by someone from the manager’s team or another. This allows the director to prevent adverse situations from further developing into something detrimental to the tournament or its participants.

Any substantiated report by hotel/park/town management regarding a USSSA registered team’s destruction or abuse of hotel/park/town property or failure of that team to pay any financial obligation to said hotel/park/town are grounds for permanently barring that team from all future USSSA participation.

Failure to adhere to these or any other rules and procedures as outlined in an USSSA-sanctioned event may result in actions against the team or individual held responsible. Such penalties include reprimands, fines, probation, suspension (game, event, year, or multi-year), or permanent expulsion from USSSA-sanctioned events.

USSSA has a reciprocal agreement with other softball organizations to uphold penalties and sanctions levied by those organizations against team personnel for unsportsmanlike or fraudulent conduct. In return, other organizations have also agreed to honor and enforce penalties and sanctions imposed by the USSSA in their events. This agreement is an outward expression of our intolerance toward gross misconduct among our participants.