Softball Memo #2 - Thursday June 11
It has been raining all day at our offices in West Des Moines, and I am guessing many of you are experiencing similar conditions and are either rained out for the night or are furiously working to get your field dry in hopes of playing today. Regardless, this seems like a good time to share an updated memo. The season is zipping along, as we are already two weeks away from regional pairings being released. Below are a few important reminders and updates.
Regional Pairings: Regional pairings for all classes will be released on Thursday, June 25. As we have done with our other sports, the IGHSAU will produce a pairings release video that is tentatively scheduled to be posted at 3:30 that afternoon, with brackets posted on the IGHSAU website at 4:00 p.m.
Updating Stats & Scores on Bound: With games being played almost every day, keeping stats updated in Bound can feel like a full-time job. However, timely updates are required. Please update team statistics within 24 hours of each game whenever possible. Also, review your roster information to confirm that all fields, including year and position, are complete. All statistical categories in Bound, including fielding, are expected to be filled in.
Sportsmanship in the Dugout: I appreciate everyone’s commitment to keeping things positive with chants in the dugout. I hesitate to mention it for fear of jinxing things, but I have not received a single complaint about derogatory cheers. However, I have received correspondence asking whether it is considered unsporting for players to pound on the dugout walls or fencing to distract opponents. It is.
Making noise with the intent to distract or rattle opponents is unsporting conduct. You do not see bench players pounding on their chairs to distract opponents at the free throw line during a basketball game. Softball should be no different.
Site Availabilities: An updated list of schools that have made their fields available for postseason hosting consideration has been posted. Please review the list and submit any changes, or apply if you have not filled out your application, before June 19. You can check this list by clicking here.
Umpire Memos: I have been sending coaches the umpire memos that have been put out by our umpire coordinator, Cathy Creighton. Another was posted earlier in the week and can be viewed by clicking here..
Dealing with the Heat: Now that we have a year with the wet bulb globe thermometer under our belt, there should not be as much confusion as there was last summer. Just as a reminder, the softball-specific heat guidelines can viewed on the IGHSAU website or by clicking here.
Contracts: I am sure that this has happened to everyone at some time or another, but it is frustrating when game contracts are broken by other schools, especially when it occurs during a weekend tournament. I understand that circumstances arise at times, but dropping out of tournaments because you do not believe your team will be competitive in them is not a viable reason to withdraw. This puts the tournament organizers in a tough spot, and the remaining teams do not get the allotted games they were planning to play. At the very least, if you are going to drop out of a tournament, find a school to take your place.
Thanks for reading. Best wishes for a great rest of the week.
Jason Eslinger
