UCSSL MEETING MINUTES FOR ARPIL 6, 2016

 

The following is a summary of our league meeting of April 6, 2016

27 were in attendance, with all 21 teams represented.

 

Ken Zeidner was introduced as the manager of "Bad Brains," the new name for the team formerly sponsored by Waxtel Construction.

 

Managers were reminded that a registration/waiver form must be signed prior to a player engaging in any team/league activity, and all registration materials must be received before a player participates in league games.

 

Managers were also reminded that "preliminary" rosters are due by league rule "before the scheduling meeting that is held in mid-April."  Because our final pre-season meeting is early this year, and the season begins in less than 2 weeks, managers will have until Monday April 11 to submit their initial roster, using the NJSSA form in either WORD or Excel format.  This is one week prior to our season openers.  These are needed so the commissioner can inform team leaders as to what registration materials have not yet been received, and so a thorough check can be made on things such as too many OOC players on rosters, and so a list of 70+ players eligible to use senior bats can be created.

 

Final rosters are due on or before May 15, following four full weeks of league play.  This should be more than enough time to finalize rosters and gather all completed registration materials.  Sponsor checks are due ASAP. 

 

Softballs -- each team received 2 dozen SB-12s at the March meeting.  These are to be used in 22 regular season games and the first two playoff games.  Managers received two Tattoo 52/300 softballs tonight to be used in 2 games against 2 different division rivals in early June.  Those games will be announced in the meeting notes (and you will be reminded as we approach those dates).  Be careful to use the appropriate ball in each game!

 

Dates will be shown on our schedule (games between teams of comparable strength):

            50+ = June 2 and June 7 (and 11 vs. 6 on June 14)

            60+ = June 6 and June 13

 

Bats -- officers met last week and established clear guidelines for bat testing.  Teams of 2 officers each will be testing all teams within the same division on the same night early in the season.  Teams on one field will be tested prior to the game and until done during the early innings, with teams on the other field to be tested beginning after our testing team arrives at that field and concluding when those bats have all been tested.  Bats not tested on the scheduled date for a team will need to be made available at a later time/place.

 

The deadline for the completion of 2016 testing will be determined by officers, after which only those bats with a label may be used in UCSSL games. If we can avoid rainouts we expect to be done by mid-May, at the same time when final rosters are due.

Officers will also determine if testing will be done annually or every other year.

Bats that pass the test will receive a Blue pre-printed (with UCSSL 2016) "tamper evident" label that is affixed at the end of the bat overlapping the end cap.

Bats that test outside the safe range will be designated failures and will have a silver tamper evident label affixed to the bat with a red "X" placed across the label in permanent marker.

 

Bats that have a blue sticker or have not yet been tested may be used until the testing deadline, bats that fail testing may not.  After the deadline, only bats with a blue UCSSL 2016 sticker may be used.

 

Senior bats will also be tested and will need to meet a slightly different threshold to pass.

It was emphasized that bats that fail the testing present a safety concern which is the primary reason for the bat testing program.

 

Managers were encouraged to go to the ASA website's "Non-Approved Bat List" and print a copy to put together with their UCSSL Rules and ASA Rule Book.

 

Pitcher protection (another safety concern) -- pitchers are encouraged to wear a protective mask in all UCSSL games.  To that end, UCSSL will reimburse pitchers (one per team) for the purchase of a mask, up to a maximum of $40.  The mask will remain the property of the league, held by that team.  We will also reimburse pitchers already owning a mask, but only if that mask then becomes UCSSL property.

 

The 2016 league awards banquet will be scheduled for a Friday in early October with the expectation of avoiding known conflicts.

 

Some reminders and notifications:

 

1.  Items managers received recently (or will receive soon) via email: 

 

2016 UCSSL Rules (make special note of our new rules, including the accommodations for when weaker teams play A Division teams in both 50+ and 60+ Divisions), 2016 Managers/Officers Listing, 2016 Schedules for both 50s and 60s, 2016 Field Permits, and links to ASA Approved and Non-approved bat lists.

 

2.  Game day reminders:

 

Home team supplies bases, strike mat, pays umpire; each team supplies a new ball.

 

Speed-up rule is in effect the first two weeks on unlighted fields – no infield, only two warm-up pitches after first inning.

 

Paying umpires if a delayed rainout -- pay them $10 "show up" fee if umpire must call the game before a pitch has been thrown.

 

Do not play games on fields that are closed.  The county has final word on their fields; Ed Kushner has the final word on Linden fields.  Gary Moran and I will coordinate with them, and emails will be sent as soon as a determination has been made on rainouts.  The Union County website is not always updated and early morning times usually are merely the previous day's final status.

 

3.  Items managers need to give to us, if they have not already done so:

 

Team sponsor's fee, remaining player registration forms and fees (please be sure that checks are payable to UCSSL, or are endorsed to UCSSL), and a preliminary 2016 roster.  (Any of these items not brought to the meeting will need to be delivered -- email or otherwise -- to the commissioner's home prior to the start of the season.)  Players may not participate without a signed waiver form!  Rosters should be emailed as an attachment.

 

4.  Managers received a check for umpire fees in the amount of $494.00 to pay for 12 regular season home games plus one playoff home game.

 

Managers selected fields for their home games.

"Let's play ball and have fun!"