Bat Protest Update
The bat incident/protest from this season was reviewed. We were expecting representation from NSA to help clarify their position and policies, but he was unable to attend. We are still waiting on test results from the bat manufacturer, but initial testing suggested more in-depth testing was warranted.
Any diciplinary action will be determined once all test results are in.
Financial Report
We reviewed our Financial Statement for the 2010 season. Our preseason budget allowed for a loss on the season of just over $3000 while our end result showed a loss just under $2000.
Diamond rental costs remained consistent with previous years for the regular season, so it would seem the rental policy changes implemented by the City in regards to the diamonds (hourly per diamond instead of the previously discounted batch rentals) were successfully countered by our adjustment to our time policies. This was not the case for the Opening Tournament where we weren’t able to make any adjustments – but the difference appears to have been recouped with better than expected beer sales!
2011 Constitutional Proposals
- Divisional Reps
- Proposed: Have divisional representation on the League Executive.
- Note: These are currently written into the Constitution as “Directors” and are appointed on an as needed basis.
- Discussion:
- Masters 45 would like to have representation.
- Suggested – propose your own divisional rep within the division.
- Masters 45 will discuss and appoint someone.
- Any other division can do the same if they feel a need.
- Suspensions
- Proposed: GTCSPL and RCMSPL will honor each other’s player suspensions.
- Detail:
- If a player is suspended from RCMSPL play for a set period of time, he will be suspended from GTCSPL play until such suspension has been fully served – and vice versa. Any player who knowingly disobeys this rule will receive further suspension.
- This further includes honoring NSA, SPO & SPN suspensions. This is an insurance liability and no exception will be made.
- Any suspensions handed out by RCMSPL will be conveyed to NSA, SPO & SPN in order to make them aware of the suspension and the details surrounding it.
- Discussion:
- It would be unfair to be suspended from league play when suspended from Tournament play and vice versa.
- Insurance concern – if a player is suspended from an NSA Tournament, are there any insurance issues we need to worry about?
- Dwayne Scott – we had approximately 5 circumstances in Coed where a player was ejected and did not serve the 1 additional game that is stated in their constitution. The 2 leagues are separate but any ejection needs to be communicated to the UIC.
- Issue deferred to determine Insurance ramifications. Next Meeting.
- Bat Protest Policy
- Proposed: Let’s form a Committee to reword the existing policy.
- Executive proposal: 2 year suspension for owner of illegal or altered bat and disciplinary action in regards to the coach and the person swinging the bat at the time of the protest to be determined by a committee.
- Discussion:
- Reviewed Exec’s proposal.
- In tourny play they often have a compression tester. For the $600 investment this would be for the league, it would be more direct and with less administrative costs.
- A Committee has been formed with representaion from all divisions and they will work through email and conversation to revise our existing policy.
- Vote by Division
- Proposed: Playing Rules to be voted on based on separate divisions.
- Discussion:
- This goes for ALL Playing Rules.
- How does this affect teams migrating across divisions? – they will vote in the division that they are migrating to NEXT year.
- This willl impact the umpires if there are different rules across divisions.
- Deus Ex Machina:
- The Executive has created a new division open to ANY team that wants to participate – the “ELITE” division.
- All existing Division I teams qualify to play in this division – all other teams must apply.
- Rules:
- Existing bat rules will apply.
- Have to stick with existing 65′ base paths.
- Pitching – 6′ to 12′.
- Homerun Rule – 5 plus 1.
- Going to use an NSA ball (same as approved by Kitchener League).
- Hit-and-Sit homerun rule is in affect (player must touch 1st).
- Players can play in 1 division only.
- Minimum 4 teams to run.
- Teams will be required to voice their commitment to the Elite Division at the February Meeting (when Performance Bonds are due). 5 teams expressed interest at this meeting.
- Vote: Failed – we will vote as a league.
2011 Playing Rule Proposals
- Proposed: No Games on Holiday Mondays
- Due to diamond constrictions, this is dependent on the number of teams in the league and the Playoff Format employed for the given season.
- Option: 3 games may need to be scheduled for some teams during any given week.
- We will try to minimize and equalize scheduled games on long weekend Mondays.
- Vote: To avoid scheduling any games on Labor Day Monday with the chance of playing 3 playoff games in a week. PASSED – Scheduling Guideline will be updated.
- Proposed: No Time Limits
- Regular season has a time limit as a cost effective measure (City has started to charge hourly for diamond rentals).
- Playoffs DO NOT have a time limit (it’s already in the Constitution).
- Time limits will remain in effect for the Regular season.
- Dwayne will ensure umpires are fully aware of this rule.
- Proposed: use NSA Issued balls
- Constitution allows for 44 COR /400 compression balls.
- The League Executive has decided to endorse the NSA ball meeting this specification – it is the same COR as the Worth Gold Dot but we believe it has a better shell.
- VOTE: to switch to NSA ball. PASSED.
- Proposed: USSSA Bats
- Executive is strongly suggesting to keep current bat standard – USSSA is not conducive to league play and USSSA bat policy and standards are being changed for coming seasons.
- Discussion:
- If anything, we need to look at NSA bat rules (as our insurance will cover those bats).
- There exists some questionable bats allowed by NSA (“Jak’d”).
- Why not go NSA bat rule and talk about specifics? But that opens the door for USSSA and other bats we may not want in the league.
- “WE ARE A REC LEAGUE”. We need to exercise caution on behalf of our players, many of whom don’t have a lot of experience with bats.
- Existing bat policy was designed to be All Inclusive: in order to qualify for our league play, it basically needs to be OK’d by EVERYONE (and his brother!).
- VOTE: Stay with current bat rule as in place. PASSED.
- Proposed: Hit and Sit homeruns
- Executive agrees that they should be allowed, with the provision that the runner must touch 1st base.
- Discussion:
- Homerun Team MUST supply another ball.
- Runner will NOT be penalized for running the bases.
- Vote: “HIT AND SIT” – not necessary to touch 1st but HOMERUN TEAM MUST SUPPLY ANOTHER BALL. PASSED.
- Proposed: 6′-12′ Pitching Height
- It just wouldn’t be a league meeting without having THIS discussion!
- Vote: FAILED.
- Masters 45 Vote: 6′ to 20′. PASSED – Masters Guideline will be updated.
- Homerun Rule
- Proposed: change to “5 +1″ (currently “Match +2″).
- Discussion:
- Home team can NOT win on Match plus 2 homerun. What about 5 plus 1? Follow NSA views on 5 plus 1.
- Match plus 2 was introduced to balance teams when we started enforcing divisional movement.
- Vote: FAILED – will stay with Match +2.
2011 Executive
- President
- Jon Hebden
- Vice President
- Marc Bender
- Secretary
- Brad Mitchell
- Treasurer
- Bob Nelson
- Statistician
- Bob Nelson