UCSSL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL
5, 2017
The following
is a summary of our league meeting of April 5, 2017
33 were in
attendance with all 22 teams represented.
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 early
April." These are needed so teams
can be informed as to what registration materials have not been received, and
so a thorough check can be made on things such as too many
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.
The
few outstanding sponsor checks are due ASAP.
Softballs
-- each team received 2 dozen Tattoo 52/300 softballs at the March meeting and
will receive two more Tattoo softballs tonight.
These 26 balls will cover each team's games through their first two
playoff games, as usual.
Bats
-- officers will create a schedule for bat testing based on the location of
fields as selected later this evening.
Officers will be testing as many teams as possible on each of these
nights early in the season.
Bats not
tested on the designated date for their team will need to be made available at
a later time/place.
The deadline
for the completion of 2017 testing will be determined by officers, after which
only those bats with a label may be used in UCSSL games.
Bats that
pass the test will receive a RED pre-printed (with "UCSSL 2017")
"tamper evident" label.
Senior bats
will also be tested and will need to meet the same slightly less stringent
compression threshold as last year to pass.
These will receive a SILVER "UCSSL 70+ 2017" label.
Please
understand that it is possible that ASA approved bats can develop a very low
level of compression due to extensive use; these bats will fail the compression
test -- which is unfortunate -- but these bats do present a safety concern which is the primary
reason for the bat testing program.
We expect to
complete bat testing no later than the first week of May, before final rosters
are due.
The
link to the ASA website's "Non-Approved Bat List" will again be
emailed to managers, who are encouraged to print a copy of this list to put
together with the team's UCSSL Rules and ASA Rule Book.
Pitcher
protection (another safety concern) -- pitchers are again encouraged to wear a protective mask in
all UCSSL games. To that end, UCSSL
agreed beginning last season to 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.
Please
understand that many leagues require the use of pitchers' protective gear or
have mandated the use of a protective screen in front of pitchers. It is possible that one of these may
eventually (perhaps before long) become an ASA requirement.
For
now, we believe we have taken sufficient safety
measures through bat testing, the use of the ball deemed safest by ASA, and the
recommendation that pitchers wear a protective mask.
Another safety measure we instituted a few
years ago is UCSSL Rule 2.6 BATTER’S
[If not already drawn]
Before play begins the umpire will draw two batters boxes 3’x7’ at the
positions as specified in the ASA rule book. These lines will be redrawn if
they become indistinguishable during the game. Any batter completely stepping
outside these lines and making contact with a pitched ball shall be
called out.
The
expectation is that with the increased fees paid to umpires this season and the
cooperation we have been promised by the new ASA District Commissioner, this
rule will be emphasized and enforced by our umpires in 2017.
We
also expect the umpire assigner to be responsive to our requests for assigning
outstanding umpires more frequently and not assigning umpires we find to be
deficient.
League
awards banquet TBD, probably a Friday
in early October.
Some
reminders and notifications:
1.
Items you received recently (or will receive soon) via email:
2017 UCSSL
Rules (make special note of our new rules), 2017 Managers/Officers Listing,
2017 Schedules for both 50s and 60s, 2017 Field Permits, and links to ASA
Approved and Non-approved bat lists.
2. Game day reminders:
Home team
supplies bases, strike mat, pays umpire $45 cash; 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. I will coordinate with them, and
emails will be sent as soon as a determination has been made on rainouts. The county website is not always updated and
early morning times usually are merely the previous day's final status.
Managers will
likely be given access to The Arbiter, our online umpire assignment software,
where you can see updated info. on the umpire assigned to your game. You may be needed to advise your ump in the
event of a postponement.
3. Items you should bring and be giving to us, if you have not already done so:
Your
sponsor's fee, remaining player registration forms and fees (please be sure
that checks are payable to UCSSL, or are endorsed to UCSSL), your
preliminary 2017 roster. (Any of
these items you did not bring to the meeting will need to be delivered -- email
or otherwise -- to my 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. Items you will be getting at tonight's meeting:
A check for umpire fees in the amount of $585.00 to pay for 12 regular season home games plus one playoff home game. Note that the fee has increased to $45 per game this year. Two more softballs, an ASA Rule Book and a scorebook.
Shirts may be available Good Friday, April 14.
Managers selected fields for their home games.
"Let's play ball and have fun!"