April 8, 2009

APPEALS PROCESS

MASA BYLAWSARTICLE XIII, SECTION 13.01

CLASSIFICATION APPEAL BOARD

ESTABLISHMENT AND APPEAL BOARD. There shall be a Classification Appeals Board consisting of the MASA Executive Director or his designee, who shall be the chairperson and a minimum of two ( 2 ) designees selected by the ASA Commissioner / MASA Executive Director. The Classification Appeal Board shall consider and rule upon all classification appeals properly presented. decisions of the Classification Board shall be final.

MANDATORY CLASSIFICATION.

1. MOVE-UP TEAM ( S ). A team which has five or more players on a roster, including Pick-Up Players, from a team or teams that are subject to the MASA Move-Up Rule, must play in at least the next higher classification for their next MASA tournament-playing season.
2. RESTRICTED CLASSIFICATION TEAM ( S ). A team that wins two or more games, excluding forfeits, in MASA State Championship play may not participate in a lower classification in the same division of championship play during the following season. A team which has five or more players on a roster, including Pick-Up Players, from such team or teams shall be considered the same classification at which the team participated.
3. Any and all appeals involving teams that are subject to the ' MASA Mandatory Classification Rule ' must be submitted to the MASA Board of Appeals.
4. RIGHT OF APPEAL. All MASA teams shall have the ' Right of Appeal ' regardless of whether they are subject to the ' MASA Mandatory Classification Rule ' or not.

PLAYERS will assume the same classification as the team for which they participate. If a player or team plays in more than one league, they will assume the higher classification if the teams are not classified at the same classification.

CLASSIFICATION APPEALS

ALL MASA TEAMS have the right of appeal.

Any team making an appeal must complete the MASA Team Classification Appeal Form stating the basis for their appeal. Your league roster must be included with your appeal form.

All Classification Appeals must originate at the district level between the team entering the appeal and their respective District Commissioner ( s ). Every effort should be exhausted to resolve the appeal at this level.

If an equitable solution can not be reached, the decision of the District Commissioner can be appealed to the Classification Appeals Board who's decision will be final.

All information presented at the district level must be available for consideration by the Classification Appeals Board.

NOTE: Any appeal allowing a team required to move up by the MASA Move-up Rule, that would allow a team to remain at the lower class, must be approved by the MASA Classification Appeals Board.

DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFICATION APPEALS AND VOLUNTARY MOVE-UPS

APPEALS and VOLUNTARY MOVE-UPS. All Classification Appeals and Voluntary Move-Up Teams must be submitted to their respective District Commissioner no later than July 12, of the current year. Voluntary Move-Up teams are limited to moving up a maximum of two classes. 

Exception: Men's and Women's Fast Pitch ( Class C and above ). All Classification Appeals and Voluntary Move-Up Teams must be submitted to their respective District Commissioner no later than June 20, of the current year.

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

The onus or burden of proof is on the manager of the team making the appeal. It is his responsibility to prove his case.

REMINDER

The MASA Team Classification Appeal Form must be completed in its entirety stating the basis for the appeal. Your league roster must be included with your appeal form.