COMPLAINTS & PROTESTS
INFORMATION

Complaints

1. Complaint: means a complaint in writing by an individual or organisation that a member of WSA and/or a member of any of WSA’s Clubs, or any person for whom a member is responsible for, has;

i) breached, failed, refused or neglected to comply with a provision of the Constitution, the Disciplinary Rules, the Code of Conduct, the Playing Rules and By-Laws, and any other rule, regulation, bylaw, policy, resolution or determination of the Executive Committee or any other Committee;

ii) acted in a manner unbecoming of a member or prejudicial to the interests of WSA; and / or

iii) brought WSA or the sport of softball into disrepute.


All complaints must be in writing using the WSA Complaint Form available at the WSA Office and the WSA Website.


Please refer to the full judiciary and complaints policy  as this overrides any inaccuracies that may be identified above.  Our code of conduct is located here

Protests

1.   In accordance with the SNZ Playing Rules, protests that shall be received and considered include matters of the following types:

a) Misinterpretation of a playing rule;.

b) Failure of an umpire to apply the correct rule to a given situation;

c) Failure to impose the correct penalty for a given violation.

2.   Protests relating to point 1 must be made before the next pitch, or before all infielders have left fair territory or, if on the last play of the game, before the umpires leave the playing field. After one pitch has been thrown (legal or illegal), no change can be made on any umpire’s ruling.

3.  Protests made regarding the eligibility of a team roster member must be submitted to the WSA office (not the umpires) and may be made at any time. Refer to the eligibility rules in the WSA by-laws.

4.  The official written protest must be filed within 48 hours of the date noted on the team card.

5. The protest form on the WSA website should be completed and be lodged with the WSA Office accompanied by the scorebook and a $50 protest fee.

6. A Protest Committee consisting of the chief umpire and a member of the WSA Executive shall review and decide upon the outcome.

7. The decision made on a protested game must result in one of the following

a) The protest is found invalid and the game score stands as played.

b) When a protest is allowed for misinterpretation of a playing rule, the game is replayed from the point at which the incorrect decision was made, with the decision corrected.

c) When a protest for ineligibility of a team roster member is allowed, the game shall be forfeited by the offending team and penalties may be applied.