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All teams whose classification is E and higher; All teams that have merged that have multiple player classifications; Newly formed teams that have multiple player classifications; Teams that are requesting to add a player who is wanting permission to drop down more than one classification; and any team that is requesting to add more than one player from a team that was reclassified by the National By-laws, must turn in a roster to the Classification Committee prior to their first tournament.

Any team that falls into one of the above categories that does NOT get their roster approved prior to entering their first tournament, may be asked to play at one classification higher than they feel they belong, until the committee has ample opportunity to make a decision on their team.
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Anyone that has knowledge of a team that is exceeding one of our guidelines and is playing at a level that they do not belong at, should contact us with that team information.  We will do our best, but we need your help in policing classifications.  We cannot know every player of every team.  We need your help.

REMINDER:
Please understand that all reclassifications were based on the records from the previous season and the roster that we have on file at the end of the year. We do make mistakes and are willing to listen to any appeals that may be needed. If you feel that your team has been reclassified unfairly, please submit your appeal letter to the Classification Committee no later than March 1st. Include your entire roster and the reasons that you feel we need to reconsider your classification.

If your team is required to submit a roster to the Committee, and you enter a tournament prior to doing so, you will be required to play one classification higher than we now have you listed for. Please give us at least 14 days to review your roster, and any appeal.

If a new team is formed, and we feel that the roster is compiled of more players than are allowed to participate at the level you have chosen, then we reserve the right to reclassify your team immediately.

If you enter a tournament OUTSIDE of Washington, no matter what classification, you must receive a classification from the State of Washington USSSA/GSL. Failure to follow this procedure may result in immediate suspension from any further participation in all USSSA/GSL events.

Classification Guidelines for USSSA/GSL Washington:

“B” TEAMS:

Any team that is classified as “B” for the current season will be allowed to add three (3) players from teams that were classified at a higher classification the previous year or that were reclassified to “A” by the National By-Laws. There are no other restrictions on the number of additions that were members of a “B” team or lower the previous year, that were not reclassified by the National By-Laws.

“C” TEAMS:

Any team that is classified “C” for the current season will be allowed to add a maximum of three (3) players from a team classified as B.

“D” TEAMS:

Any team that is classified “D” for the current season will be allowed to add a maximum of three (3) players from a team classified as “C”.

“E” TEAMS:

Any team classified as “E” for the current season is allowed to add a maximum of three (3) players from a team classified as “D”.  The Classification Committee reserves the right to reclassify any team to a higher classification if in the committee’s opinion either the team’s new roster justifies the move, or the team demonstrates on the field that it belongs at a higher classification.

If you have your roster set, you can begin to send in your classification rosters or appeals after January 1st and by January 31^st, 2023.  All appeals will be dealt with after March 1st.  Any team that has been reclassified by either the NCC or our USCC (Washington State Classification Committee) cannot appeal until following the proper steps.  Only exception is that if your team will be traveling out of state prior to that.

Roster additions and player pickup rule for 2023 there will be a limit of four (4) changes per weekend (Max. of 3 pickups, Max. of 3 adds, or a combination of 4 between adds and pickups).  If you have MORE than four (4) roster adds/pickups, you MUST re-register for that tournament as a pickup team.

ALL teams must have their rosters online through the National website prior to participating in your first tournament of the year.  If your roster is not online your team will not be drawn into the tournament.  Also, without posting your roster on the National website you will not receive National points.
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PICK UP PLAYER RULE (All levels):

For NIT’s, State, Regionals, NIT and World tournaments ONLY roster additions (NO pickup players) are allowed. All roster additions that are approved for one weekend only must be added AS A GUEST PLAYER to a team’s roster by Thursday Night and then will delete Sunday night by the National Office.

All requests for roster Additions or Pick Up players must be done by the THURSDAY the week of the tournament by 6:00 PM.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  If you know you are having an issue, get a hold of me well in advance so I can help you.  Don’t wait until it is too late!

PICK UP PLAYER RULE: The Pick-Up Player Rule is a WA. rule and only allowed for WA registered teams.

This is used for the sole purpose so they can field a team for any given weekend.  The team will be allowed to do so by obtaining permission from the State Director.

The player to be picked up must NOT have played at a classification higher than the current team that he is a member of.  This roster move will not count against a person’s ability to make a move later in the season.

If a ‘pick-up’ player is kept for more than one tournament without returning to his original team, he will not be allowed to go back to his original team.  This needs to be done no later than Thursday by 6:00 PM prior to an event. (There is no pickup players for NIT, State, Regionals or World tournaments.

There is a limit to three (3) pick-up players per team, for a tournament.  If a team wants more than three pick-up players, they can have them, but will need to register ($25) as a pick-up team, cannot put the roster online and will NOT get any points for the tournament.

INFORMATION:
Being A Guest Player (Pick-Up): You are eligible to play your personal PRV or higher.

Any team that wins two (2) tournaments with 12 or more teams, must play their NEXT tournament one classification higher than their classification.  This will be the responsibility of the coach to know this and adhere to this rule.  Any exception to this rule must be approved by the State Director. Failure to get this approval may result in forfeiture of all berths and a reclassification to the next level of play.  With today’s technology, there will be no excuses accepted for not knowing this rule.

Classification Guidelines:
In the spirit of cooperation and commitment, the state of Washington will be working together on classification for teams that meet the following criteria.  Any team that has (3) or more players from a state other than the one they are registered in, will have to submit a roster to both State Directors, who will then, together, decide the classification that the team will be allowed to participate at.  In the case of any disagreement between the Directors, the Divisional VP and the State Director that the team is registered in will make the final determination.

Teams classified at the “B” level or higher will be classified by the State Director of the State that has the majority of the players on their roster.

Example:

1) A Washington team that has three or more players from Idaho or Oregon will need to provide a classification roster to WA, OR and ID for their classification.

2) An Idaho or Oregon team that has three or more players from Washington will need to provide a classification roster to WA, OR and ID for their classification.

Players from states other than Utah State will be dealt with on an individual basis.

WASHINGTON USSSA/GSL DOES NOT CLASSIFY LEAGUES.

USSSA does classify individual teams, in leagues, for tournament play. The class definitions establish a point, or guideline, which is used by the classification committees to evaluate teams. The main criteria are:

• Past history of the team.
• Tournament results.
• League results.
• Amount of participation last year.
• Results of State, N.I.T., National, and World tournaments.
• Offensive power.
• Defensive skills.
• Determination of the ability of the players that have been picked up for the coming year.
• Home run capabilities.
• Team roster. CLASSIFICATION APPEAL PROCEDURE
  Appeals must be submitted, in writing, to the appropriate Program Classification Committee Chairperson (see below). Absolutely no information will be taken over the phone. Any coach has the right to appeal a decision made by a Program Committee or Program Director, in writing, to the Executive State Director of Washington. The information needed that must be furnished in the letter is:

1. Date, name and location of USSSA or GSL tournaments played.
2. Classification participated in (example: ‘D’ only, ‘B’-‘C’ equalizer, etc.).
3. Tournament record.
4. Names of teams played against and scores of the games.
5. Roster additions or deletions. (Where player previously played).
6. Results from any tournament prior to the March 1st and after Labor Day will not be considered for appeal. (Men’s Program only).

The program classification committees conduct periodic reviews of the team’s classification and have the authority to reclassify and require any team to play up at the next highest level at any point during the season. If a team has reason to believe that it has been misclassified, it may send an email (using the appeal process spelled out above) to the Washington State Director. Teams may play up, in a higher classified tournament, but may not play down in a lower classified tournament.