Play Ball!

Happy New Year

Jan03
2011 Written by Statsman

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the Christmas season.

My apologies for the lack of recent postings, but you may have noticed we weren’t playing any ball. Obviously some of you are feeling the urge, judging by the recent interest in our Free Agent listings.

There will be some changes made to the layout of the site over the next few weeks, but the content that you would expect to see in the off season will still be available. This includes the link to said Free Agents pages – one for each league.

If your interest is in playing Coed slopitch, then you should visit the link for the GTCSPL Free Agents.

If your interest is in playing Men’s slopitch, then you should visit the link for the RCMSPL Free Agents.

Anyone interested in submitting an entire team to either of the leagues should get in contact with the league Presidents:

Posted in SloPitch Central - Tagged ,

AGM Report – GTCSPL

Dec03
2010 Written by bully00

Thursday, November 23rd, 2010
Knights of Columbus

Teams In Attendance: Balls Deep, Bases Loaded, Bohica, Boston Pizza Wasted Talent, Boston Pizza Red Sox, CAW 1917, Connors Construction, CPA Cubs, Deep Cold, Dirt Squirrels, Gremlins, Hab/Hab Nots, Hackers, Jose’s Banditos, La Bats, Left Stranded, Lucky Mitts, Mortgage Architects, Nissan, No Pepper, Scared Hitless, Shockers, Shoeless Joe’s, SOX2BU, Team Awesome, The Roasters, Those Guys, Who’s On First, X

Regrets: None

Absent: BDO Blues, Bulldogs, Hartec, Jose’s Noodle Factory, Killawatts

Season Review

For the most part, the season went well. The top and bottom teams will move accordingly with exceptions made to teams wishing to stay up a division – this will not allow teams to stay down.

Some minor issues which will be dealt with going forward:

  • Respect towards players, fans and umpires.
  • Verbal and physical abuse will not be tolerated.
  • Umpires will be better instructed in how to deal with issues and suspensions.

On the table for clarification:
The Royal City men’s league and the Guelph Township Coed league will honour each other’s suspension lists. If you get suspended from a men’s game for a period of time, then you will be suspended from coed for the same period of time and vice versa. Players who knowingly disobey this rule will receive further suspension. Any suspensions given by the GTCSPL will be conveyed to NSA, SPO & SPN. They will be made aware of the details surrounding the suspension.

There are teams on our waiting list for next season already. Any teams not present will be contacted to determine their standing for next year, and the Executive will replace teams as it sees possible. Our top number under current diamond conditions with a 20 game schedule is 36 teams. We are at our maximum number of teams because of diamond availability unless the city helps us out. They seem to have no interest, so we are checking with the University to see if we can use more of their diamonds.

City Meeting

The City meeting was held at the same time as this meeting, so we will know in a few days. Expect no further plans, but an increase in fees is expected of 3% to 5%.

Note: we’re still waiting on a meeting report from this meeting.

Diamonds

CAW has offered to build a storage bin for GG7. They will also build others if needed, with the cost being shared with the men’s league. Bases will need some work as usual, and we are discussing with men’s league the feasability of changing the structures.

We are looking into magnetic bases for University diamonds and Marden in the future if warranted.

Umpires

There were a few games that were missing umps, and that has been dealt with. There were some concerns over rainout procedures (will be determined in the spring the best way of handling this situation).

For ANY form of harassment towards an umpire, player(s) will be thrown out for up to one year.

In the event an Umpire is a no show for a game, team reps should contact Dwayne and give him a heads up ASAP. He will attempt to get an umpire there for the duration of your game. We will discuss in the spring putting umpires names on the website.

Overall we were very happy with Dwayne and his crew and we will be staying with them again next year.

Statistician

No issues at all with the website – Bob does a great job and will be sticking around as this is a contract position.

Affiliation

We are currently checking out slopitch.com - they are putting a package together for us.

Banquet Review

The banquet was good this year - 230 people attended this year, 228 people last year and 92 the year prior.

Budget

The budget was presented – it was all pretty self explanatory. No questions or concerns were brought up.

There will probably be a decrease in next years fee for returning teams, while new teams will pay $1800.00.

A motion to accept the budget was proposed by Steve Cole and seconded by Crisalee Cathcart. Vote: All in favour, none opposed.

Constitution Changes / Rule Changes

Changes to the following rules were proposed:

Amend executive positions to state that “the incoming President must reside on executive for a minimum of 1 year prior to becoming President”.
Motion carried.
Should our opening tournament be continued even though there is no beer tent?
Costs are definitely a factor for running this event and security costs will put us out of budget.
Motion carried – we will continue the opening tournament without the beer tent.
Change opening and closing tournament to a double knock out or modified double knockout format.
Motion carried – Modified double knockout formula will be used.
Any team not attending tourney will be subject to forfeit fines (upon League Executive Approval).
Structure for late games when early game is cancelled.
How to deal with late game – are both games cancelled and how can the teams be notified?
Suggested umpires get contact list to call and cancel late games if needed.
Details will be reviewed over the winter and finalized in the spring.
Note: When the City closes all the diamonds, they are all closed other than Marden and University.
4-0 walk on a guy, a girl following has the option to hit or take base.
This is an NSA rule, but we did not adopt it in our rules.
This change was not accepted.
NSA rule states that it must be a male/female pitching/catching combination.
Our league has not adopted this rule.
This change was not accepted – this will be written into the Playing Rules as non-mandatory.
RULE 24. NEW 2010 – If a rostered player becomes injured during the season but is healthy to return on or before the closing tourney, the number of games MAY be waived by the Executive if justified.
Motion carried – Executive are to make decisions on all rosters.

Other Business

Bat Policy: ASA is the safest policy. NSA/USSSA are changing in the next 2 years and bats will become illegal. ASA has not indicated any changes yet.

Executive Elections

All current members are interested in continuing. The Secretary position was blended in with VP position this past year and it has worked well.
- Motion carried – Executive will remain the same.

It has been suggested that each division have a designated Division Rep. They would have the responsibility of relaying any information to the Executive from players or team reps. The Division Reps could change yearly.
- This was not accepted – No Division Reps.

Future Business

It was recommended that next year for League and/or Playoff Champs we could get embroidered prizing. We will look at putting that into the budget for next year. We will also look at doing our own brand of stuff to sell – if we sell clothing items to the teams, we could offset costs on prizes and our year end banquet. (Samples of clothing will be available at the meeting in the spring.)

2011 Dates
2011 season will start Tuesday, May 3rd and run until September 29th.
Tentative – Opening tournament will be June 3-4.
Closing tournament will be September 30th – October 1st.
Banquet date will be determined.
Posted in GTCSPL - Tagged ,

AGM Report – RCMSPL

Nov27
2010 Written by Statsman

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
Posted in RCMSPL - Tagged ,
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