Capitola Recreation Adult Sports Athletic Code & League Rules

LEAGUES

1. The Sports Coordinator is the League Director and has final authority to make decisions pertaining to league rules and regulations.
2. The number, variety, and types of leagues will be determined by the Sports Coordinator. Teams may request a particular league placement or day preference when they register, and the Sports Coordinator will attempt to accommodate those requests.
3. Teams must play at the time, date and place specified by the Sports Coordinator. No changes will be made after the schedule has been established.  
4. No refunds will be made after the schedule is established.  

MANAGERS AND PLAYERS        

1. The manager will be considered a member of his/her team whether or not s/he actually plays. He or she will be the official team representative unless another player is designated as team captain prior to the start of the game.
2. Managers are to be the exclusive contact for the team and the office. Individuals are not to contact the office on team business.
3. Managers will be held responsible for the actions of their players and spectators.
4. All players must conform to all rules & regulations, including the Athletic Code, League Rules and SANCRA “Player Code of Conduct.” If these guidelines are violated, the entire team may be subject to the designated penalty. A player or team suspended by one public agency will automatically be suspended in other area recreation leagues.

TYPES OF PROTESTS

1. Protests based on an official’s judgment will not be allowed.
2. Player Eligibility Protests:  In all sports, a team may protest if they think the other team is using an illegal player. An illegal player is someone who is not on the team’s roster or who is playing under another (legal) player’s name. The protest must be made before the conclusion of the game, that is, before the players have left the field or court.
3. Protests Involving the Misinterpretation/Misapplication of a Rule (Softball Only): A manager may protest an umpire’s call if s/he feels the rule has been misinterpreted or misapplied by the umpire.  This type of protest must be made immediately following the infraction, before the next pitch, or the protest will not be allowed.

TO MAKE THE PROTEST

1. Approach the scorekeeper and inform him/her that you want to protest the game.
2. The scorekeeper will announce the protest to the officials and the opposing team’s manager.
3. If the protest involves a player’s identity (if it is based on an illegal player playing under a legal player’s name), s/he will be asked to produce identification. If s/he supplies it, the situation will be resolved on the spot.
4. If the team admits the player is illegal, the game will immediately be declared a forfeit.
5. If the situation is not resolved by the player producing identification, the scorekeeper will fill in the “player eligibility protest” section on the form.  If it involves the misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule, the officials will complete that section of the form at the end of the game.
6. Sign the bottom of the form and make sure the opposing manager and the officials have initialed that they have read an understand the basis of the protest. The game then continues.
7. The completed protest form will be given to you along with an “Information for Managers on Lodging Protests” sheet.
8. Submit the written protest with a $20 filing fee to the Capitola Recreation Office no later than 4 p.m. the first working day following the game under protest. The $20 fee will be returned to you if the protest is upheld. Late protests will not be accepted.
9. Both teams will be notified within 5 working days of the decision of the Sports Coordinator.

LIABILITY

1. Persons or players participating in activities sponsored by the City of Capitola Recreation Department are not covered in any way for personal liability or property damage. Players competing in the programs assume all the responsibility in case of accident or injuries suffered while participating in the League. All players must sign a release form and conform to the rules and the “Player Code of Conduct.”
2. First aid supplies are not available at any of our athletic fields or facilities and the Capitola Recreation Staff is instructed not to perform any type of first aid on injured players. Teams are encouraged to bring their own first aid supplies.

TEAM & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. Players must be 18 years of age. No high school student will be eligible to play
2. Teams may have players from a higher division on the roster as long as their combined skill levels are no greater than two skill levels above the division the team is registered under. Example: a “C” team may have two “B” players (two higher positions) or one “A” player (two positions). A “D” team may have one “B” player (two higher positions), but may not carry an “A” player (three higher positions). This rule applies only within each league.
3. Roster requirements vary per sport. New players may not be added after the established deadline on the league schedule. NOTE:  If, in the opinion of the League Director, a player is too exceptional in ability to participate in a given league, said player will be dropped from the team roster.
4. Once a player signs a contract with a team, s/he must be released by his/her manager before playing on another team.
5. Managers who lose players through the season due to injury or employment transfers may petition for permission to replace the player. Proof of the above must be submitted with the petition.
6. When proof of residency is required, any player who gives incorrect information regarding residency status will be ruled ineligible. Teams using  ineligible players will be subject to forfeiture of all league games played; the ineligible player will be suspended for a minimum of one season.
7. Teams using ineligible players in playoff games will have those games forfeited immediately.
8. Teams which drop or are dropped lose:  any playoff rights, priority for registration, and the right to reclaim any part of their entry or non-resident fees.
9. The League Director has the authority to make special exceptions regarding eligibility and roster requirements.

FORFEITS

1. No schedule changes are allowed. If a team has a special problem in regard to game days or times, the manager should note the problem on the League Entry Form at the time of registration. Every effort will be made to make adjustments before the schedule is established.
2. If a team is not ready to start, as noted in the rules of that sport with the designated number of players (see League Rules), the game will be forfeited to the opposing team and will be regarded as a loss. In the event of a double forfeit, both teams will receive a loss.
3. Teams that forfeit one game will be subject to a fine, payable prior to playing their next game. If the fine is not paid prior to the next league game, that game will also be forfeited. Teams which forfeit 2 games are subject to loss of playoff rights, priority registration for next season and being dropped from the current league.
4. Any team that sees a conflict with their scheduled game time and notifies the League Director and the opposing team’s manager 48 hours in advance that they can’t play, will be given a loss but not a forfeit.  Playing in another League’s game is not considered sufficient reason to forfeit. This procedure may be used once by any team in one season without imposition of the forfeit fee.