1. WELCOME Welcome to the 2016 DIAA/NFHS Softball Rules Clinic

2. DIAA STAFF - Kevin E. Charles Executive Director -Thomas E. Neubauer, CMAA Coordinator of Officials/Events -Tina M. Bates Secretary The DIAA Staff consists of only 3 people. If you need information, Please use the websites shown in this Clinic first. Then if you still need Help; Coaches contact your Athletic Director. Officials contact your Association President or Interpreter. If they cannot help you, they will call our office. Please do not call or email the office directly, we just cannot handle all of these calls. Thank You

3. Clinic Handout All websites covered tonight are listed on the Clinic handout

4. DIAA: Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Very Important Websites #1 = DIAA http://www.doe.k12.de.us/diaa Your starting point for ALL DIAA information and related Links

5. DIAA website Handbook link Important Links

6. DIAA: Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Per Regulation 1008/1009.4.1.3. The Spring Sports Season begins On MARCH 1

7. NFHS Website The Resource Site for Playing Rules and NFHS information Click on the Activities & Sports link Click on the name of YOUR SPORT All of the resources for YOUR SPORT will be posted

8. 2016 NFHS Softball Rules and Case Book as E-Books  Electronic Versions of the NFHS Softball Rules and Case Book are now available for purchase as e-books.  Apple users can visit iTunes for available books.  Apple, Android and Kindle users can buy e- books from Amazon.com and view them through the Kindle app.  Price: $5.99 each  Visit www.nfhs.org/ebookswww.nfhs.org/ebooks for more information.

9. DIAA: Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Very Important Websites: Arbiter Sports https://www.arbitersports.com The starting point for all Officials’ Information; Assigning, Testing, Training Resources

10. NFHS Officials Association Central Hub www.nfhs.arbitersports.com www.nfhs.arbitersports.com Contains  Sport information  Rules information  Rules library  Searchable rules book and case book  Video content on officiating sport, competition situations and interpretations

11. DIAA: Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Very Important Websites: Your School Site WebSites4Sports.com The most important site for Coaches and A.D.s to keep updated and accurate information

12. websites4sports Coaches & A.D.s need to keep your schedule page up-to-date, with accurate schedule information and contest results posted as soon as possible after each contest. This makes the Tournament Committee work much easier and more accurate. THANK YOU

13. DIAA: Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Very Important Websites: NFHS Learning Center NFHSLEARN.COM The essential site for ALL NFHS Course work

14. www.nfhslearn.com

15. Free Courses on NFHSLearn.com Heat Illness Prevention Concussion in Sports REQUIRED FOR ALL COACHES & OFFICIALS Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment Coaching Pole Vault NCAA Eligibility Engaging Effectively with Parents Positive Sport Parenting Sports Nutrition Coaching Unified Sports Sportsmanship Sudden Cardiac Arrest Strongly Recommended

16. Interscholastic Officiating www.nfhslearn.com www.nfhslearn.com  Introduction to skills and concepts used as an official  Ideal for new officials or those in first few years of officiating  30-45 minutes to complete  Topics include: basics of becoming and staying an official, science of officiating, art of officiating, how to combine these skills for successful officiating  Course is FREE to any NFHS Officials Association member  Non-members course is $20  Contact NFHS Officials Department for details (317.972.6900)

17. Coaching Softball $50. Fee

18. DIAA Concussion Protocol 1- If an athlete Shows Signs or Symptoms of head injury a-Remove from play – by the Official or Coach b- MUST BE Evaluated by a Qualified Healthcare Professional [QHCP] 2- Qualified Healthcare Professional [QHCP] is defined as a MD, DO, School Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician’s Assistant or Certified Athletic Trainer 3- IF CLEARED BY QHCP THEY MAY RETURN TO PLAY

19. DIAA Concussion Protocol 4- If NOT cleared by QHCP CANNOT RETURN ON THE SAME DAY Then they must have “Written Clearance from a QUALIFIED Physician to return to practice or play. 5- Failure to comply = INELIGIBLE athlete 6- Parents and Athletes must read and sign PPE Concussion information sheet 7- ALL Coaches and Officials must take the NFHS Concussion Education Course [See the NFHS Learn website]

20. School Responsibility for SCA The Gracie Firestone Act recognizes the threat SCA poses to high school athletes. What does your School [& YOU] need to do? Please ensure that… -All students must have annual PPE & answer the 12 AHA approved heart history questions. -All Students MUST sign the SCA Fact Sheet [on PPE form] What is DIAA doing? -DIAA provides annual SCA awareness for Coaches. -DIAA has SCA information on our website. -ALL Coaches must hold valid CPR certification. STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE FREE NFHS SCA COURSE

21. Sudden Cardiac Arrest [SCA] SCA is the leading cause of death for high school athletes NEW!!!!! Free Course from NFHS Learn

22. Emergency Action Plan [EAP] Coaches/A.D. -Have an ACTION PLAN and PRACTICE it 1. Call 911 2. Start chest compressions [CPR] 3. Get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) 4. Turn it on and follow the voice prompts -Sample Plan on DIAA websiteDIAA website Plan Books were distributed to ALL member schools

23. Practice Policies DIAA Regulation 1008/1009-4.2 These are in effect for ALL practice days (school day and non-school day): -One day of no activity per seven day period -A minimum of 21 calendar days of practice prior to the first competition date [3-22-16] -Student must practice at least 7 calendar days prior to participating in a contest

24. Practice Policies DIAA Regulation 1008/1009-4.2 [Practices] These are in effect for NON-SCHOOL days -A limit of no more than 2 practices with physical activity -No practice can be longer than THREE (3) hours in length -A Grand Total of FIVE (5) hours of physical activity daily -When having 2 practice sessions in a day; there MUST be a one hour minimum cooling period between the two practice sessions - Heat Index requirement must be adhered to**

25. PPE – Medical Card [page 4] COACHES: You MUST carry every athletes’ Medical Card with you at ALL times. PRACTICES & GAMES This is page 4 from their Physical Forms [DIAA PPE]

26. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES GAME EJECTION PROCEDURE - INCIDENT REPORT FORM Found on either Website, MUST be sent to Incident Chair by next morning [ASAP] If you Eject someone the DIAA Office/Incident Chair MUST be notified by noon of the next day !!! So the School A.D. can be notified too.

27. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES All documents can be found in the DIAA Forms Section When sending Ejection Reports by email, Please use abbreviations or punctuations marks for profane words. Most firewalls [especially the state’s] will block emails containing spelled out profanity. E.G – S$%T, F#$K etc.

28. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES APPEAL OF GAME EJECTION For NON-SPORTSMANSHIP related removals or disqualifications. This is only to be used when TECHNICAL violations occur, [there are not many of these] not Sportsmanship related incidents.

29. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES BENCH PERSONNEL RULE -Players DO NOT leave the Bench (or playing area) to enter playing area to get involved in a confrontation. ( PRACTICE what to do) HEAD COACH ENTERING PLAYING AREA DURING ALTERCATION -Only the HEAD COACH may enter unsolicited to break up an altercation.

30. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES Coaches’ Cumulative Unsportsmanlike Conduct Policy = One Game Suspension Softball Three (3) bench confinements

31. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES Lightning Policy - Have an Emergency Plan ready - Get under cover, wait 30 minutes to resume. NO HEROICS – If you see it, If you hear it STOP & Get Under cover !!!

32. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES PROHIBITION AGAINST USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS -Very Simple – DON’T SMOKE, DON’T CHEW DON’T DIP Special Accommodations Requests - Medical, Religious, Other follow procedure NFHS Marked VARSITY Game Balls - Must have NFHS branded logo - Dudley SB12L

33. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES * MOUTH GUARD RULE * Must be worn by ALL who have METAL braces. Must cover top brace and separate biting surfaces. Must extend to shield lower Braces. Guard must have color in it, can’t be all clear or white

34. DIAA POLICIES & PROCEDURES Recommended Contest Assignment Guidelines -Read the Code of Ethics -Read and Follow the Hand Out Guidelines -Do NOT put yourself in a situation where your Integrity, Ethics and Character are questioned – Avoid them.

35. DIAA Rules Adoptions/Modifications of NFHS Rules Refer to the DIAA website Sports link, DIAA Approved Polices and Procedures

36. NFHS Network “Live” Web streaming Of ALL DIAA Semifinal & Final Events

37. Student Broadcast Program The School Broadcast Program is available to high schools nationwide. The program allows schools to leverage PlayOn! Sports extensive and proprietary technology, services and support to build their school’s digital network on the NFHS Network. Schools can produce and distribute high quality events throughout the year including regular season sports, graduation, band, cheer events, as well as other school activities. Broadcasting these events is a great way for a school to showcase their students and activities while strengthening the connection with parents, coaches, players, boosters and the community. Fans can watch all the events on the school’s branded portal on the NFHS Network. The School Broadcast Program has several options for participation to fit a school’s needs. Schools can participate in the License Fee Model, providing free fan access to streamed events, or join one of the new no-cost options (Subscription or Franchise Model) and partner with the NFHS Network to optimize ad sales and viewer subscriptions to support school programs. For more information on the program and to find out which option best matches your school’s needs, please contact the School Broadcast Program at sbp@nfhsnetwork.com or visit www.nfhsnetwork.com/sbp sbp@nfhsnetwork.comwww.nfhsnetwork.com/sbp

38. Please Support our Officiating Sponsor: Kevin Hawkins 19 Crown Circle Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone (302) 588-4877 SOUINC@Comcast.net

39. State Interpreter Diane Carden