Competitive Division Play

GEMSA Competitive Division

2024 Season - League Play

2024 Format: GEMSA U17/U19 Competitive Division

Creation of two divisions

• Open Division: This division will be a combination of the U19 A/B teams and the top U17A teams.
• U17 Competitive Division (A/B):
• Tiering Tournament
  • For the 2024 season GEMSA will be offering 2 categories for the 2024 U17/U19 Competitive Division, these divisions will be formed via a Tiering Tournament.
  • Tiering tournament will occur May 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th
  • Each team will play 5 games.

Tiering Tournament Special Rules:

• Games for the Tiering Tournament Only will have a time limit of

      -No new innings after 1 hour and 45mins

      -Drop Dead time limit of 2 hours

• Mercy Rule:
  • 15 runs or more after 4 completed innings.
  • 10 runs or more after 5 completed innings

Once the tiering tournament is completed a review will be conducted by the GEMSA board, 2 Divisions (Open and Competitive) will be created within 24-hours of the completion of the Tiering Tournament. The GEMSA Board will review both divisions at the end of May, which at that time teams may be re-tiered to create more competitive balanced divisions.

Season Overview:

• Each team will play one game per week (Competitive will play Tuesday Nights, Open will play Wednesday nights)
• Season will begin April 30^th, 2024, and will end tentative June 24^th with the completion of GEMSA Finals
• Season will consist of 5 Tiering games, 8 League games, GEMSA Championship Weekend (weather permitting
• Each team will be required to supply a “Home Diamond” to GEMSA for their team’s home games to be played on. Diamond needs to be a fenced diamond. Each team will receive approx. 4 home games.
• All teams will be expected to participate in GEMSA Finals Weekend, finals weekend is currently scheduled for June 21^st to June 23^rd in Leduc (Championship Format will be announced)
• A $200/game no-show/forfeit fee will be in place to cover the cost of the game and potential makeup if a team no shows or does not have 8 players to start a game. GEMSA needs to be notified of any rescheduled games. If there is no notification BOTH Teams will be charged $200.00.

Rules: 

• Games will be played under Softball Canada Rules unless otherwise stated.
• Each weekday game will be in 2 hours in length, the games will be played with unlimited innings, as well there will be no mercy rule in place. The game is complete once the time limit is completed. If the game is mid-inning at the expiration of time limit, the inning will be completed.
• There will be 7 run rule max per half inning.
• $200/game no-show/forfeit fee to cover the cost of the game and potential makeup if a team no shows or does not have 8 players to start a game. GEMSA needs to be notified of any rescheduled games. If there is no notification BOTH Teams will be charged $200.00.
• Unlimited Defensive Substitutions. Teams can choose to bat their whole lineup or bat a “Starting 9”
• If teams begin the game with “Starting 9” it can not change batting order format (Change to full team batting) Offensive Substitutions rules will be in effect.

Equipment:

• Metal Cleets will be allowed during game play.
• Facemasks are recommended for all infielders but are not mandatory during gameplay.
• Pitcher must wear an approved facemask during gameplay.
• Only approved bats by Softball Canada will be allowed.