Constitution
As Amended April 21, 2005
The control and management of the league rests with the Executive Committee, which is composed of a Past President, President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Stats and Media Director, Social and Fundraising Director and one representative from each team. The Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Stats and Media Director and Social and Fundraising Director are elected positions. The Vice-President is elected for a term of two years; the Secretary/Treasurer, Stats and Media Director and Social and Fundraising Director are each elected for one-year terms, by vote of team representatives commencing with the first annual meeting of the league. The President and Past President both serve for a two-year term.. The previous President will fill the Past President position and the previous Vice-President will fill the President position. The President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer , Stats and Media Director and Social and Fundraising Director will be exempt from paying the Annual Membership Fee.
1. EXECUTIVE Committee QUORUM
A meeting of the Executive Committee requires that 10 of 18 be present to constitute a quorum.
2. VOTING
At each meeting of the Executive Committee, each team is entitled to one vote on any matter brought before the meeting. The Past President, Vice-President, President, Secretary/Treasurer, Stats and Media Director and Social and Fundraising Director are also voting members of the committee. In the event of a tie, the motion will be considered defeated.
3. TEAM MEMBERS
New members
must be male residents of Durham Region. Each member must be at 30 years of age or older at some point
in the current calendar year.. A team will consist of fifteen members and each
member must partici
4. MEMBERSHIP FEE
The Executive Committee will set the membership fee prior to each season. This fee will be payable in full by the date stipulated by the Committee. The Committee may, at its discretion, impose a late payment charge. Player/sponsors not registered and paid by the date stipulated will not be eligible to play in the league until they have paid their fees including the late payment charge. Teams fielding a player/sponsor or player/sponsors that have not registered and/or have not paid the required fee prior to playing will default the game(s) automatically.
5. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
Funds obtained from membership fees shall be used in their entirety to meet the general operating expenses of the league. Any deficiency in funds shall be overcome by a levy against each member.
In the event that a player/sponsor or umpire dies either the team representative or a member of the executive will inquire from the family as to what charity the league can make a $25 donation on their behalf.
6. RULES AND CONSTITUTION Committee
The Rules and Constitution Committee is responsible for reviewing the previous year’s rules and constitution, and making recommendations to the league representatives of amendments for adoption where necessary. This committee should be comprised of three team representatives and at least one member of the elected officers.
7. SCHEDULE/TOURNAMENT Committee
The responsibilities of this committee include the drawing up of the schedule of games for the regular season and playoffs. The league will consist of two divisions for scheduling purposes. The previous year’s final league standing will be used to determine divisional teams for the season. The bottom two teams in the first division will be moved down to the second division. The top two teams in the second division will be moved up to the first division. For the regular season, the schedule, by division will be developed on a team number basis with the specific teams assigned to the number by means of a draw after the schedule has been accepted. For the playoff schedule, the final placing in the regular season will be used to determine home team, with the higher placing team being the home team in each game. A winner will be declared in each division.
This committee is also responsible for organizing and running all league tournaments and playoffs. They shall coordinate the setting of tournament rules with the Rules and Constitution Committee.
8. DRAFT
Committee
The
Draft Committee will be comprised of three people including at least one of the
executive officers. The draft list will be comprised of returning
player/sponsors changing teams, new recruits that have not played in the league
before and those player/sponsors that were recruited after all teams are
advised that the draft list is zero. The committee will be responsible for
obtaining up to date team rosters from the representatives, manage the draft
list, collect registration fees and allocate new members as follows:
1. Draft picks will be made according to the previous year’s standings beginning from the last place team and progressing to the first place team. Picks are made one at a time and the progression is repeated as necessary.
2. On the first round reps from the last and second last place teams in the previous year’s standings optionally and respectively may select a specific player/sponsor from the draft list.
9. EQUIPMENT Committee
This committee is responsible for the purchase of all equipment required by the league and the dispersal of such equipment to the league teams.
10. STATISTICS AND MEDIA Committee
This committee is responsible for the maintenance of the official record of the results of all league games, including wins, losses, and ties, as well as runs scored for and against. Also the committee is responsible for reporting league standings and results to the media.
League standings will be determined on a point basis with a team awarded two points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss.
In the event teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the following order shall be used to determine final standings.”
a) Team with the most wins shall be placed higher.
b) Team with the best record during games between the teams concerned.
c) Team with the most runs scored during games between the teams concerned.
11. SOCIAL Committee
This committee is responsible for all league social functions, including the annual banquet. Also the committee is responsible for getting prizes and awards for the functions and banquet.
12. AUDIT Committee
This committee is responsible to review the records of receipts and expenses from the previous year of operation. League registration forms will be kept for five years. The committee will report its findings at the second meeting of the year.
13. DISCIPLINE Committee
This committee shall be composed of the Past President, President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer. It shall be responsible for all questions of discipline arising from the conduct of play during league-endorsed games or from conduct of members arising from team activities. The committee is responsible for assigning appropriate discipline.
14. TEAM NAMES
Each team shall have a team name and a set of sweaters consisting of colours and a name, which must be approved by the Executive in advance.
15. TEAM MEMBERS
a) If a player/sponsor resigns prior to or during a season, he is allowed a one-year period during which he is entitled to rejoin his original team provided that the team has an incomplete roster. If no vacancy exists, such a player/sponsor shall have his name placed at the top of the draft list of player/sponsors maintained by the league.
b) If a team picks up a player/sponsor to replace an injured player/sponsor the replacement player/sponsor is returned to the top of the draft list if the injured player/sponsor returns before the end of the season. If the replacement player/sponsor finishes the season the team may keep the player/sponsor at their discretion if there is a vacancy the following season.
c) A player/sponsor rejoining the league after an absence of more than one year may rejoin the team for which he last played providing the team has a vacancy and at the team’s discretion. Otherwise the player/sponsor is placed at the bottom of the Draft List.
d) The situation in 15a) supersedes 15b) and 15c). The situation in 15b) supersedes 15c)
e). If the team the player/sponsor played for no longer exists the player/sponsor must be placed on the draft list. Any remaining players from a team that is dissolved due to contraction of the league will be place at the top of the draft list in the year of contraction.
16. TEAM MEMBERS (SPONSOR)
A team needing
a sponsor may upon representation
and approval of the League Executive, request exemption from the normal draft
procedure in order to obtain a sponsor who wishes to play for the team to be
sponsored. The individual must be a resident of
17. TEAM MEMBERS (CHANGE OF TEAM)
If an existing player/sponsor wishes to change teams at the end of the year, his name will be put onto the Draft List as it is received. The player/sponsor will be drafted, except that his previous team may not draft him and if he chooses not to play for the new team he will not be re-placed on the list that year. If in the future he wishes to play again in subsequent years, he will be accepted back on the Draft list and treated in the same manner as a new player/sponsor.
18. TEAM MEMBERS (LOSS BY A TEAM DURING SCHEDULE)
If a team
loses a player/sponsor for the b
19. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended at any time provided that any amendment is duly voted upon and receives the affirmative vote of at least 10 of the 18 league representatives. These representatives consist of the League Executive and one representative from each team.
20. PICK-A-FRIEND RULE
In years when the players on the draft list are not sufficient to fill out the rosters of the teams in the league the executive may hold a vote to invoke the ‘Pick-up-a-friend’ rule. The intent of this rule is to introduce NEW players to the league and therefore, anyone that has previously played in the league can not be picked up as a friend.
League Rules
The rules as laid down by the Executive Committee apply to all members with no exceptions and will be enforced by the Executive Committee.
1. Slo-Pitch
2. A roster of all team members must be submitted to the Executive Committee before the first game of the playing season. The roster must include the name, address, phone number and signature of each returning player/sponsor. Completed New Player/sponsor Registration Forms must be submitted for each for each new player/sponsor. . Games will be defaulted by a team fielding any player/sponsors with incomplete registrations and/or unpaid fees.
3. In order to avoid forfeiture of a game, a team must start the game with no less than 9 player/sponsors, of which 7 must be registered player/sponsors from that team. A team with 7 or 8 player/sponsors may pick up 1 or 2 registered player/sponsors from any other team within the current season to a maximum of 9 player/sponsors. Only one player/sponsor may be from the opposing team. One player/sponsor must play catcher and the other can play any position other than pitcher. They both must bat at the bottom of the batting order. The player/sponsor from the opposing team must play catcher and will be considered an automatic out when it is his turn at bat. If any registered team member arrives before the completion of the batting order once, he must replace the 9th and then the 8th player/sponsors respectively.
4. After team rosters have been established for the season any additional player/sponsors required must be obtained through the Draft List held by the Draft Committee.
5. All registered player/sponsors present for a game must be entered in the line-up and play both offensively and defensively. A team shall consist of a maximum of ten player/sponsors on defense at one time. While only ten (10) player/sponsors constitute a full defense, all player/sponsors entered in the line-up must take a regular turn at bat. All player/sponsors must play at least two full innings defensively; the penalty for violation of this rule is forfeiture of the game.
6. A player/sponsor must
partici
7. The winning team is responsible for calling in the score to the Statistics and Media Committee, who will keep this record on hand for reference. Each team must have a competent scorekeeper. The home team is responsible for keeping the official score of the game.
8. The Statistics and Media Committee shall be responsible for the rescheduling of rained out games and games cancelled due to lighting failure. The home team shall advice the Committee at which time a date will be selected. The Committee will be responsible for advising the other team of the rescheduled date.
9. The home team has the responsibility to set out the diamond including the placement of mats and bases.
10. No metal or plastic spikes are permitted during the game, either on offense or defense. Non-metal soccer cleats are acceptable.
11. No body contact is allowed. The umpire will resolve any disputes, which arise during a game. If the contact is considered to be deliberate, the umpire shall eject the player/sponsor from the game. If any altercation arises during a game, the umpire may, at his/her discretion, eject any or all participants in the altercation. In any event, the umpire shall submit a written report on any such incident to the League Executive. The report will be reviewed by the Discipline Committee, which will decide what further action, if any, is required. As part of their review, the Discipline Committee may require representations to be made by the player/sponsors involved before making a decision.
12. For each game, the home team will supply a new ball and the opposing team will supply a second ball.
Unless otherwise designated only Grey Dot 40 balls will be used.
13. Courtesy runner, a team may use a maximum of three (3) courtesy runners per game. The courtesy runner must be a roster player/sponsor. The courtesy runner must be announced to the umpire at home plate before he takes his place on the base. If the courtesy runner is due up to bat the team may substitute with another courtesy runner. However, if this cannot be implemented (e.g. all three courtesy runners have been utilized) the courtesy runner due up is out but remains on base and the next batter in the line-up is due up.
14. Carded Slo-Pitch
15. Games will be 1 hour and 25 minutes. If a game is not complete in 1 hour and 25 minutes the score will revert back to the last complete inning. Umpires are required to announce the starting and end times of the game to both team reps/coaches at the beginning of the game. Games cannot exceed their scheduled end time regardless of how many minutes have been played. Games scheduled to start at 5:00pm must end at 6:25, 6:30pm games at 7:55pm, 8:00pm games at 9:25pm, 9:30pm games at 11:00pm. Again, if a game is not completed by this time the score will revert back to the last complete inning.
16. If after fifteen (15) minutes past the starting time, a legal team cannot be fielded; the game shall be defaulted.
17. In the event that you are aware you will not be able to field a team, notify the opposing team representative and the Statistics and Media Committee at least 48 hours prior to the game. This will be considered a cancelled game, still a 7-0 loss, with no financial penalty to the team, which cancels.
18. Each team is allowed a maximum of one default game (less than 48 hours notice) with no financial penalty. Subsequent default games will cost the defaulting team $40 per default, payable to the Whitby Men’s Slo-Pitch League. All owed money must be paid prior to the playoffs; otherwise the team will not be permitted to play in the playoff championship tournament.
19. Alcoholic beverages will not be consumed before, during, or after any games on park premises. Player/sponsors found drinking on park premises and reported to the League Executive are subject to an immediate and automatic suspension as follows:
a) First offense - suspended for the next 5 consecutive games on the team schedule.
b) Second offense -
suspended for the b
c) Third offense - life suspension from the Whitby Men’s Slo-Pitch League.
These offenses are cumulative from one year to the next. In each case the individual involved may appeal the suspension, however, if the appeal is not successful, the suspension will stand.
20. Offensive and defensive player/sponsors will obey the following:
Commitment Line - A line in foul territory drawn 21 feet from the back of home plate and perpendicular to the third base line. When a runner crosses this line by touching the ground beyond the line but does not reach home plate, he shall be called out when a defensive player/sponsor in contact with home plate legally holds the ball. Runners, who have not crossed the line or who cross the line but must tag up on a caught fly ball, may return to third base with liability to be put out.
Safe Line - A line drawn in foul territory starting at the top left-hand corner of home plate perpendicular to the third base line. A runner attempting to reach home must do so by touching the ground in foul territory on or beyond the SAFE LINE. Sliding into home plate is not allowed. The runner is out if he touches home plate or the mat whether or not a play is being made. A runner is not out if the plate is touched in an attempt to avoid a collision.
21. The only acceptable jewelry is a Medic Alert and a wedding band otherwise the player/sponsor is not allowed to play offensively or defensively.
22. Home run rule: The league has a 2-plus home run rule. This means once a team has hit 2 home runs they cannot hit another until the opposing team hits one. If the opposing team has not hit one and the team with the home runs hits a ball over the fence it will be considered a single. Balls deflected over the fence by a fielder is considered a 4-base award and not a home run and therefore would count toward the homerun total and would not be a single if applicable.
23. Team bats must comply to the American Softball Association standards and must appear on the legal bat list as posted on their website. Standard slo-pitch rules apply to players using illegal bats.