TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS . Rule Changes for 2016 Manual ..4-5. Preface ..6-7. The Fundamentals of Good Sportsmanship ..8-13. GRPA Sportsmanship Statement ..8. Guidelines for Behavior: What Your Fellow Players Expect of YOU!..9-10. Guidelines for Behavior: What Your Fellow Community Members Expect of YOU!..11. Guidelines for Behavior, Recreation Staff and officials : Acceptable Behavior Expected of YOU!..11. Would You Want Your Mama to See You Acting Like That?..12. Penalties for Unacceptable Behavior ..13. Code of Conduct ..13. Notes of Interest ..14-17. Age Control Dates and Roster Limits 14. GRPA 2016 Board of Trustees .. 18. 2016 State Athletic Committee ..19-21. Chairs of the State Athletic Committee .. 22. GRPA District Map .. 23. 2015 GRPA State Tournament 2016 GRPA State Athletic Championship Calendar .. 28. Agency and Forfeit Withdrawal Fees .. 29. Fees for State Tournament and State Hosts.

2 30-31. Calendar for District/State Tournament Competition ..32-33. GRPA Youth and Adult State 33. 2016 State Tournament Hosts ..34-39. Sample: GRPA Pre-tournament Coaches/Staff Meeting .. 40. Rule I: Participation Requirements ..41-56. Article I: Eligibility of Agencies; Article II: Eligibility of Individuals and Teams;. Article III: Official Rosters and Acceptable Birth Records; Article IV: GRPA Tournament and Playoffs;. Hosting State Events Rule II: Regulations and Standards ..57-63. Article I: Violations; Article II: Awards; Article III: officials for GRPA Competition;. Article IV: Type and Number of Required officials and Personnel Rule III: Athletic Classification ..64-70. Article I: Purpose; Article II: Limitations; Article III: Method of Classifications;. Article IV: Appeals; GRPA State Agency Classifications List; Census Sheet Rule IV: Youth and Adult Basketball.

3 71-74. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards;. Article V: officials and Participants; Article VI: Protests and Appeals; Sample Pool Play Brackets Rule V: Track and Field ..75-83. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Meets and Awards;. Article V: officials ; Article VI: Protests and Appeals; Article VII: Defaults Rule VI: Youth and Adult Tennis ..84-89. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Meets and Awards;. Article V: officials ; Article VI: Defaults; Article VII: Protests and Appeals Rule VII: Youth Baseball ..90-104. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards;. Article V: officials and Participants; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule VIII (A): Slow Pitch Softball.

4 105-113. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards;. Article V: officials and Participants; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule VIII (B): Fast Pitch Softball ..114-123. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards;. Article V: officials and Participants; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule IX: Youth Swimming and Diving ..124-132. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Facility/Equipment/Timing;. Article IV: Meets and Awards; Article V: Disqualifications and Protests;. Article VI: officials and Their Duties; Swimming Order of Events GRPA Athletic Manual TABLE of CONTENTS , continued Rule X: Youth and Adult Golf ..133-136. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Tournaments and Awards.

5 Article V: officials ; Article VI: Defaults; Article VII: Protests and Appeals Rule XI: Youth and Adult Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards;. Article V: officials and Participants; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule XII: Youth Soccer ..140-145. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards;. Article V: officials and Participants; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule XIII: Youth Football .. 146-152. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards;. Article V: officials and Participants; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule XIV: Flag Football ..153-155. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Protests and Appeals;. Article IV: Equipment; Article V: Flag Football Tournament Format Rule XV: Youth Cheerleading.

6 156-160. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Meets and Awards;. Article V: officials ; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule XVI: Youth Lacrosse ..161-163. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Equipment; Article IV: Games and Awards Article V: officials ; Article VI: Protests and Appeals Rule XVII: Gymnastics ..164-165. Article I: Eligibility; Article II: Regulations; Article III: Games and Awards GRPA Casebook ..166-170. Form: Tournament Bid for 2017 ..171-172. Form: Proposed Athletic Committee Rule Changes for 2017 .. 173. GRPA Official Roster Dispersement .. 174. Form: Official Roster ..175-176. 3. GRPA Athletic Manual RULE CHANGES/2016 ATHLETIC MANUAL. The athletic manual is available online at under the Athletics tab All Sports: Added - The use of audio or visual recording devices, including a cell phone, is not permitted in changing areas, rest rooms, or locker rooms.

7 The use of audio or visual recording devices is not allowed in resolution of protested matters. Added - The use of drones of any type is not allowed during any GRPA events. Added Increased the forfeit fee to $375 with $125 of that fee going back to the state host Added - Any team that abandons their position in a GRPA tournament/event will be subject to suspension pending an investigation by GRPA State Athletic Committee. Swimming: Added - Mix gender relays (freestyle and medley) to all age divisions Clarified - No other youth sports organization patches will be allowed on uniforms/swim caps in GRPA tournaments. Penalty- Swimmers who fail to comply will be subject to USA. swimming rules and will be barred from competition until they comply but are not subject to disqualification. EXCEPTION: THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SWIM SUITS. Clarified - However, if and individual swims up in an age division for one relay (example - free), they must also compete up an age division if entered in second relay (example - medley).

8 Swimmers cannot compete in different age divisions for different relays. Added - The practice of Deck Changing is prohibited at all GRPA events. Swimmers participating in deck changing would be in violation of the USA Swimming Rule concerning deck changing and could be subject to removal from further competition in the meet. Clarified - For 1500+ agencies, custom relay times will be allowed for state relay entries provided that the individual event times used to make the custom relay times were swam at the qualifying meet. If individual event times are not available from the qualifying meet, the relay must be entered in the state meet as No Time (NT). Clarified - All participating agencies are required to attend one of the statewide swim meetings or webinars to cover the rules and regulations for the state swim meet. Agencies that do not attend must pay a fine of $200 to the GRPA office.

9 Added American Red Cross Safety Training for Swim Coaches in conjunction with any nationally recognized life guard certification program as an acceptable certification Baseball/Softball: Added In Mite Live Pitching and Midget Traditional divisions, it is now illegal for a batter to square to bunt, draw back the bat, and swing away at the pitch. (Commonly called the Butcher Rule ). Added Flea Coach Pitch division in both baseball and softball Page 4. GRPA Athletic Manual Youth Tennis: Added There will now be two (2) Divisions in Youth Tennis Recreational and Open (USTA rules ) Recreational All youth rules as outlined in the manual. USTA Divisions - all playing rules , court dimensions, racquet sizes, and balls must abide by USTA. Youth Soccer: Changed The number of players needed to finish games in the younger age groups and the field/goal dimensions. Adult Softball: Added Increased the team entry fee to $275 per team and changed tournament format to a three (3) game guaranteed bracket.

10 Added The state tournament will be advertised as a qualifier to a ASA World Tournament. Page 5. GRPA Athletic Manual PREFACE. The GRPA State Athletic Committee is charged with the responsibility of the organization, conduct, supervision, and evaluation of an athletic program for Georgia residents on a statewide basis for its members and affiliated groups. Authority for the committee is found in the CONSTITUTION AND. BY-LAWS of the GEORGIA RECREATION & PARK ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED. The State Athletic Committee, mindful of its function and the authority vested in it by the members of the Georgia Recreation & Park Association, has set forth rules and regulations of which the objects and purposes are as follows: 1. To unite one organization in all competitive athletics conducted by agency members of GRPA;. 2. To promote and maintain high standards of athletic competition and sportsmanship in Georgia.