NHPA Official Rules Change Proposals for 2009
Requirement 4, Section B (found on page
30)
Currently reads:
Section B - Divisions
A World Tournament shall include separate Championship Divisions for Juniors,
Open Men, Open Women, Seniors, and Elders. If Class, pitching performance is
used as a "qualifier" for determining who will advance to
Championship Division play, the Championship rounds shall be assigned a
separate sanction number and both Class and Championship play shall each count
as a separate tournament.
Change to read:
Section B - Divisions
A World Tournament shall include separate Championship Divisions for Juniors,
Open Men, Open Women, Seniors, and Elders. If Class pitching performance is
used as a "qualifier" for determining who will advance to
Championship Division play, the Championship rounds shall be assigned a
separate sanction number and both Class and Championship play shall each count
as a separate tournament.
Note: Qualified Alternates in Championship Divisions - Unless the tournament
director has been contacted, contestants who have not checked in by the
prescribed deadline shall forfeit all games and be replaced by a qualified
alternate. For Championship Divisions, alternates are determined by the results
of Class Play and their names will be announced at the awards ceremony.
NHPA Official Rules Change Proposals for 2009
Rule 1, Section E * change #1 (found on
page 8)
Currently Reads:
Section E - Elder Men (become eligible to pitch in the Elders Division at any
time during the calendar year that they become seventy (70) years old)
1. Elder Men may pitch
from any place on either the extended or full-distance platforms, and shall
observe the twenty-seven-foot (27') foul line. Elder Men must notify their
Charter secretary, in advance, of the date that they intend to begin pitching
from this shorter distance. Once a member declares himself a short distance
pitcher, he must remain a short distance pitcher for that entire calendar year.
Note: See RULE 11, Section D.1 for additional information about rqualifying.
2. Physically Challenged Men
- Physically challenged, male pitchers lesss than seventy (70) years old may be
given permission, by their governing Charter, to move onto the extended
platforms in the Elders Division and observe the twenty-seven-foot (27') foul
lines. The prior completion and approval of a Medical Exemption Form (available
from Charter Secretaries) is required. At the World Tournament and at State
Championship Tournaments, they shall compete in the Elders Division.
NHPA Official Rules Change Proposals for 2009
( Continued from previous page )
(The term "Elders" also appears in Req. 3, Sec.A.1, Req. 4 Sec. B,
and also in the table of contents under Rule 1 Sec E on page 8)
Change to read:
Section E - Men's Short Distance
(become eligible to pitch in the Men's Short Distance Division at any time
during the calendar year that they become seventy (70) years old)
1. Short Distance Men
may pitch from any place on either the extended or full-distance platforms, and
shall observe the twenty-seven-foot (27') foul line. Men's Short Distance
pitchers must notify their Charter secretary, in advance, of the date that they
intend to begin pitching from this shorter distance. Once a member declares
himself a short distance pitcher, he must remain a short distance pitcher for
that entire calendar year. Note: See RULE 11, Section D.1 for additional
information about re-qualifying.
2. Physically Challenged Men
- Physically challenged, male pitchers lesss than seventy (70) years old may be
given permission, by their governing Charter, to move onto the extended
platforms in the Men's Short Distance and observe the twenty-seven-foot (27')
foul lines. The prior completion and approval of a Medical Exemption Form
(available from Charter Secretaries) is required. At the World Tournament and
at State Championship Tournaments, they shall compete in the Men's Short
Distance Division.
(This title change will also be made in Req. 3, Sec.A.1, Req. 4 Sec. B, and
also in the table of contents under Rule 1 Sec. E on page 8)
Reasoning: The term "Men's
Short Distance" has a more distinguished sound to it, and also would more
accurately describe all pitchers in that division. Pitchers in this division
under a medical exemption may be much younger, and the term "Elders"
is not accurate. Also, men switching pitching distances should be required to
remain at their new distance for the entire calendar year because it creates
confusion and extra work for the Natstats director.
NHPA Official Rules Change Proposals for 2009
Rule 1, Section E *
change #2 (found on page 8)
Currently Reads:
Section E - Elder Men (become eligible to
pitch in the Elders Division at any time during the calendar year that they
become seventy (70) years old)
1. Elder Men may pitch from any place on either the extended or full-distance
platforms, and shall observe the twenty-seven-foot (27') foul line. Elder Men
must notify their Charter secretary, in advance, of the date that they intend
to begin pitching from this shorter distance. Once a member declares himself a
short distance pitcher, he must remain a short distance pitcher for that entire
calendar year. Note: See RULE 11, Section D.1 for additional information about
re-qualifying.
Change to read:
Section E - Elder Men (become
eligible to pitch in the Elders Division at any time during the calendar year
that they become seventy (70) years old)
1. Elder Men may pitch
from any place on either the extended or full-distance platforms, and shall
observe the twenty-seven-foot (27') foul line. Elder Men must notify their
Charter secretary, in advance, of the date that they intend to begin pitching
from this shorter distance. Once a member declares himself a short distance
pitcher, he must remain a short distance pitcher for that entire calendar year.
Alternately, if a member starts the year as a short distance pitcher, he may
change to the Open men's division, but must remain in that division for that
entire calendar year. Note: See RULE 11, Section D.1 for additional information
about re-qualifying.
NHPA Official Rules Change
Proposals for 2009
(
Continued from previous page )
Reasoning: Men switching pitching
distances should be required to remain at their new distance for the entire
calendar year because it creates confusion and extra work for the Natstats director.
NHPA Official Rules Change
Proposals for 2009
The NHPA Executive Council has the
authority to grant temporary or permanent waivers for court specifications
under II Specs, Section D.
The following change to the RGS book is
needed to document the action taken by the NHPA Executive Council at the winter
board meeting on January 18, 2009. There will be a vote to accept this council
action at the 2009 convention. To be clear, there would need to be a 2/3
majority vote against accepting this action to overturn it.
II - SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT LAYOUT,
Section D (found on page 38)
Currently Reads:
SECTION D - Court Sanction Waiver
Some Court sanction requirements may be waived by the Regional Director and/or
the NHPA Council under special circumstances (also see GUIDELINES, PART II, #5,
Section B, and Regional Directors Guidelines). Change to read:
II -
SECTION D - Court Sanction Waiver
1. Any portable or
permanent in-ground courts that measure less than 31" inside width, but
not less than 29", and were built prior to 2007, will be granted a
permanent waiver and considered conditionally sanctioned, provided they meet
the remainder of the minimum basic requirements. Should these courts ever be
refurbished, they must be modified to meet the original 31" minimum width
at that time. The sidewalls of these wavered courts are considered foul
territory, and any live shoes that come to rest touching them is considered a
foul shoe, regardless if it is within 6" of the stake.
2. Some Court sanction
requirements may be waived by the Regional Director and/or the NHPA Council
under special circumstances (also see GUIDELINES, PART II, #5, Section B, and
Regional Directors Guidelines).
Reasoning: There are many portable
pits in service that measure 29" inside because of the construction method
of getting 3 equal pieces from a standard 4' X 8' sheet of plywood. The narrow condition
has rarely, if ever, been an issue in sanctioned play.