Please see below a list of the main changes or additions to be aware of for this season.

  1. Coaches and Junior Guidelines
    • The Handbooks have been removed for both Senior and Junior competitions. Guidelines will be in place to use as a reference for dates, grade structures and other events that will change each year. These will be made available in the next week. 
  2. No smoking between 1st and 3rd Base - including the dugouts.
    • This is to align with the best practice set out by Softball New Zealand and to improve the Health and Safety of all our members and spectators in these areas.
  3. Protected Players.
    • Premier One teams must name their protected players
    • Only 4 players
  4. Team Dispensations and Deferments
    • This is a new section in our By-Laws. This is to have the same rules across both Associations with these particular Intercity procedures.
  5. Players 13 years and under will need to apply for dispensation to play in the Under 18 grade. 
    • This is for Health and Safety reasons
  6. Transfers. 
    • Local transfers only need to be sent in if players have registered for another club in the past 5 years - not 7.
  7. Zero Tolerance Policy
    • This has been added into our Playing Rules and By-Laws.

The following changes or additions will take affect and monitored from next season.

  1. All teams must register a minimum of 9 players
  2. Teams can have up to 15 players registered in teams for any grade. However, teams exceeding 15 will be charged an additional $20 fee per player.
  3. Any changes to to Team Registrations after the closing date will need to be in writing and will incur a $20 administration fee.
  4. Premier Grades shall not exceed 8
    • This has been amended from 10 to align with the grade numbers we are consistently having registered.
  5. Regrades
    • All players must apply for a regrade if wanting to do so if they have already registered for a higher team in that season.
    • All Premier One players wanting to play down a grade will need to apply for a regrade. This is to ensure the players understand the needs of the grade they are wanting to play in.

Code of Conduct

a) Disciplinary action may be taken against any player, member or team while either playing in the local competition or representatively, from reports or complaints of unacceptable behaviour received by the Wellington Softball Association.

b) All players and officials shall take positive steps to maintain the high reputation of the game of Softball.

c) The Code shall apply to persons from the Wellington Softball Association whilst associated with or playing in any Wellington Representative teams or any teams affiliated to the Wellington Softball Association.

d) Unacceptable behaviour includes any conduct in breach of the following rules:

i. Players must not assault, or attempt an assault or otherwise threaten any player, umpire, official or spectator.

ii. Players must not abuse or dispute, as distinct from question, an umpire's decision, or react in an obvious provocative or disapproving manner following an umpiring decision.

iii. Players must not use abusive language.

iv. Players must not use crude or abusive hand signals.

e) Note: Before reporting any player for the above type of behaviour an umpire, acting either on his/her own volition or on a complaint from another player, would be expected to have first cautioned the player and to have advised that player's captain of his/her concern. A player, before reporting any other player, would be expected to have firstly lodged an initial complaint with the umpire.

f) Smoking and drinking alcohol on the field of play is always prohibited and this applies to player/umpires whilst they are officiating.

g) Players must not engage in public acts of misconduct or unruly public behaviour whilst representing Wellington or their Club.