2011-2012 AAA Handbook - Arkansas Activities Association

Limitations - Softball
the second seeded team. If more than two teams are to
advance to the state tournament, further elimination play
would be conducted for third and fourth seeds.
Rule 4. LIMITATIONS FOR REGULAR SEASON EVENTS
A. A member school shall be limited to twenty regular season
events and two invitational tournaments or eighteen regular
season events and three invitational tournaments.
B. Senior high schools are allowed one additional match in
week #17 only when the state tournament is played in week
#18 to avoid conflict with an ACT testing date.
C. Middle schools that have a separate AAA membership may
play in one tournament that does not count against the total
number of allowable tournaments for a junior high.
No middle school athlete may compete in more than three
total tournaments including junior high and middle school.
D. One benefit event for the AAA Catastrophe Insurance Fund
may be played between varsity teams only during weeks #7
through #16.
E. In order to facilitate travel or scheduling, a team may play
two events on the same day if, in doing so, there is no
violation of the rule concerning AAA sanction of events.
Such events may also be scheduled on a Saturday.
However, only for dual contests (not tri-meets) may the
school schedule two events on the same weekday.
Rule 5. EVENTS DEFINED
A. Dual-Contest between varsity and non-varsity teams of two
schools, or between varsity teams only.
B. Tri-Meet- Round-robin event involving only varsity teams
from three schools. Each match counts separately toward
the season limitations.
C. Jamboree-A full or partial round robin event involving more
than three varsity teams with no player playing in more than
five (5) games. Within this limitation a jamboree counts as
one event.
D. Tournament – An event where teams are placed in a
bracket through which an eventual champion is named.
1. Tournaments can include preliminary games for the
purpose of seeding teams into bracket play. Up to six
teams per seeding group are permitted, and each team
can play the others two games to 25 points (capped).
2. A play day/jamboree in which no awards are given but
which exceeds the maximum play for one regular
season event shall be considered an invitational
tournament.
3. In out-of-state tournaments, Arkansas teams may
follow the designated tournament format.
SECTION 13. SOFTBALL
Rule 1. CLASSIFICATION. Classification of Schools for
basketball shall be as follows -
7A — 16 largest schools by ADM
6A — The second largest 16 schools by ADM
5A — The next largest 32 schools by ADM
4A — The next 48 largest football schools by ADM plus the
basketball-only schools falling within these numbers
3A—The next largest 48 football schools by ADM plus the
basketball-only schools falling within these numbers
2A — The next largest 48 schools plus all Class 1A schools
playing football
1A — The remainder of schools
Page 44 - 2011-12 AAA Handbook
CONFERENCES
7A — Two with eight schools
6A — Two with eight schools
5A — Four with eight schools
4A — Six with no fewer than seven and no more than nine
schools
3A —Eight with no fewer than six and no more than ten
schools
2A — Eight with no fewer than four and no more than ten
schools
1A — Number of conferences based on participation
Rule 2. CERTIFYING TEAMS TO REGION AND/OR STATE
TOURNAMENTS.
A. Certifying teams to the region or state tournaments shall be
determined by the number of conferences.
B. The AAA Board of Directors shall be responsible for the
organization and administration of tournaments and is
authorized to formulate procedures not otherwise provided
for in conducting softball tournaments.
Rule 3. LIMITATIONS. A student who is a member of a
school’s team may not try out for, practice with or otherwise
participate with a non-school team during the school’s
season, except she may try out for or practice with a nonschool
team on days when the school team does not
practice or play.
NOTE: This only allows players to try out for or practice
with the non-school team on a limited basis. Practice is an
activity involving the players of only one school’s team.
Rule 4. SEASON - Begins in week #37 and ends upon
completion of the state softball tournament.
Rule 5. SUSPENDED GAME. During conference, district,
regional and state play any game suspended without the
required number of innings played to be considered a
complete game shall be resumed at the point of interruption.
Rule 6. NUMBER OF EVENTS
A. Each varsity softball team may play a maximum of 22
regular season games with two invitational tournaments.
B. Games played in a double header shall count separately
against the season limitations.
C. Middle schools that have a separate AAA membership may
play in one tournament that does not count against the total
number of allowable tournaments for a junior high.
No middle school athlete may compete in more than three
total tournaments including junior high and middle school.
D. Pre-tournament games such as games leading to
placement in a tournament bracket shall be counted against
the regular season event limitation.
Rule 7. SOFTBALL TIEBREAKING PROCEDURE
A. If two teams are tied from regular season conference play,
tiebreaker procedures will be:
1. Head to head in regular season conference play.
2. If the two teams have split, margin of victory between the
two teams, with a maximum of five runs per game.
3. If the two teams are still tied, all winning conference
game runs, with a maximum of five runs per game.