Managing Roster Approvals in USSSA: A Guide for State Directors
Introduction:
This tutorial from USSSA University focuses on the process for approving roster additions that require state director approval. This situation arises when a roster addition violates certain rules, necessitating a higher level of scrutiny. Currently, this approval process is applicable to baseball and fastpitch sports within the USSSA system.
Triggering Roster Approval Requests:
Roster approval requests are triggered under two main circumstances:
Re-adding Previously Released Players: If a player, once released from a roster, is being re-added to the same team.
Class Movement: If a player has participated with a higher classification team during the current season and is being added to a lower classification team.
To add such a player, a team manager will encounter a notification during the addition process that outlines the specific rule violation and necessitates state director approval.
State Director's Role in Roster Approvals:
Upon a manager submitting a roster addition that triggers an approval request, state directors receive an email notification detailing the player, team, and reason for the request.
Navigating to Approval Dashboard:
Log into the DC dashboard and access the 'Director Tools.'
Select the 'Director Approvals Dashboard' at the bottom to view pending approvals.
Reviewing and Processing Requests:
State directors can review each request, examining team and player history if needed.
Approvals can be granted by clicking the 'Approve' button, immediately adding the player to the roster.
Denials are similarly processed with a click of the 'Deny' button.
Communication and Resolution:
Upon approval or denial, an automated email is sent to the team, informing them of the decision.
Directors may encounter error messages for approvals if circumstances have changed since the request (e.g., the player joins another team, or roster classification changes). In such cases, the application is removed, and the team must resubmit the request.
Conclusion:
The roster approval process is a crucial function for maintaining the integrity of competition within USSSA. By carefully reviewing and managing these requests, state directors ensure that teams comply with classification and roster rules, fostering fair play across all events.