BSPSL Policy Manual

BERKELEY PREMIER LEAGUE POLICY MANUAL

REVISION DATE:  OCTOBER 19

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PREFACE and REVISION DATE…………………………………….………Page 2

 

POLICY 1 - STRUCTURE……………………………………………………...Page 3

 

POLICY 2 - LEAGUE REQUIREMENTS……………..…….……………..Page 5

 

POLICY 3 – SCHEDULING………………………….……………………. .…Page 7

 

 

ABOUT THIS LEAGUE

The Berkeley Township Senior Premier Softball League BTSPSL) is organized to play recreational softball for any senior’s aged 55 and older.   Board of Directors consists of Managers for the respective teams.  A player who is not manager can be appointed to the Board of Directors only by the commissioner.  A Commissioner, elected by the Board of Directors is responsible for the administration of the League’s softball polices, playing rules and other activities. The Commissioner is can add or replace Board member.  The Commissioner will form an Executive Council which includes, but not limited to, assistant commissioner, league administrator and treasurer.  Executive council does not have a vote, all voting is conducted by the Board of Directors.  Executive council main responsibility is to ensure league integrity, league policy and playing rules are adhered to and plan and conduct league meetings

 POLICIES

Over time, the League has developed certain policies and rules to organize and manage the Leagues softball activities and to provide a safe environment for the senior softball players. The policies, which are mainly inherent in the BTSPSL Rules, have been enumerated herewith for clarification.

 

 

BERKEKELY PREMIER SENIOR LEAGUE POLICY MANUAL

REVISION DATE:  February 6, 2021

 

 

POLICY 1 - STUCTURE

 

  1. BOARDS
  1. Executive Board
    1. Commissioner
    2. Assistant Commissioner
    3. Treasurer - League Administrator
    4. Assistant League Commissioner
    5. Senior Advisor
  2. Board of Directors
    1. Team Managers
    2. Person other than a team manager picked by the Commissioner

 

  1. EXECUTIVE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS SEPARATION OF POWERS

1.      Executive Board

  1. The role of the Executive Board is to oversee and maintain the integrity of the league
  2. Checks and Balances:  The Executive Board has the power to accept and deny any addition, modification or deletion to a policy or rule submitted by the Board of Directors
  3. Breaks all Board of Directors tie votes.  Only an odd number of Executive Board Members can vote, if the Executive board is comprised of even number of members one member will defer and an odd number will vote.

2.      Board of Directors

  1. The role of the Board of Directors is to communicate policy and playing rules to the players
  2. Request for additions, changes and modifications to policy and playing rules is obtained via a motion at a board of directors meeting
  3. Board of Director members votes for approved motions
  4. Board of Directors sends approved policy and rule changes to the Executive Board for approval

 

  1. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
  1. Commissioner
    1. Chairs all meetings
    2. Evaluates players trades between teams that they represent equal value swap.  Commissioner will authorize trades. 
    3. Chairs all disciplinary hearings such as, but not limited to, participants game ejections.  Has the authority to recommend necessary correctable action and penalties to the Board of Directors.  Overrule the recommendations from the Board of Directors regarding penalty assessments.  Over ruling Board of Directors penalty assessments are based on the interest of the league.
    4. Commissioner can make on and off field correctable action without consulting the Board of Directors if it is in the best interest of the league.
    5. An impromptu meeting can be called by the Commissioner to discuss misconduct by a Board of Director member.  If the Board of Directors votes to disbar one of their members, that member has 48 hours to appeal the decision.
    6. Accept or reject a team roster at the April Board of Directors meeting
  2. Assistant Commissioner
    1. Assume the roles and responsibilities in the absence of the Commissioner
    2. If the commissioner is absent for a short period of time he can restrict full power to the assistant commissioner and allocate specific roles and responsibilities to the assistant commissioner
  3. Treasurer - League Administrator
    1. NOTE:  Commissioner can, at his discretion, separate the Treasurer and the League Administrator into two separate positions.
    2. Establish and maintain a BSPSL checking account
    3. Provide General Ledger at Board of Directors meetings
    4. Responsible for the summer and fall league budget
    5. Oversee annual picnic financials
    6. Creates schedules and playoff bracketing
    7. Administrator for the league website
    8. Responsible for coordinating league schedule with the umpire association
    9. Responsible for the communication of game changes to the teams and umpire association, board of directors and executive board. 
    10. Responsible for collection registration fees for the Fall league
    11. Purchases awards
    12. Complete administration assignments that are requested by the commissioner
  4. Assistant League Administrator (Secretary)
    1. Responsible for meeting agenda and minutes
    2. Email meeting minutes to the members of the board of directors and executive board
    3. Assist league administrator in any overlapping duties they see fit
    4. Assistant website administrator
  5. Senior Advisor
    1. Appointed by the commissioner
    2. Past president or executive board member
    3. Purpose:  Offer experience and history of the league
    4. This is an optional position

 

 

 

 

  1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    1. Directors are appointed by the commissioner.  Typically a team manager.
    2. Board of Directors members are the voting body for policy, playing rules, events and other miscellaneous items that require a Board of Directors vote for implementation of policy and rules.
    3. Members of this board are required to attend and or have appropriate representation at a board of directors meeting
    4. Members of this board are allowed only one voted for approved motions

 

  1. TEAM MANAGERS SUMMER PREMIER LEAGUE

1.  Summer league

  1. League Managers and Assistant Managers must shown on the team roster sheets and the website roster database
  2. Managers and Assistant Managers can be changed with the approval of the Commissioner and the Board of Directors
  3. A temporary manager or assistant manager is permitted during a transition to obtain a new manager

2. Fall League

  1. Managers are recruited by the league director
  2. Commissioner can reject a recruited manager

 

  1. EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTIONS

1. Time Frame

  1. Elections will be held at the September Board of Directors meeting
  2. Present Executive officials must declare their continuance of termination at the August Board of Directors meeting
  1. 2. Notification
    1. League Administrator is responsible to notify all league participants regarding the September election
    2. League Administrator will socialize the requirements of each Executive Board Position to all league participants

 

POLICY II - LEAGUE REQUIREMENTS

 

A.   AGE

1.  Minimum Age

  1. 60
  2. Turn 60 in the calendar year of the League Season
  3. Players who have played in 2021 or previous years and are not 60 years of age are grandfathered and are eligible to play

 

B.  RESIDENCY

1, None

 

 

C.  INELIGIBLE PLAYER

1. Penalty

a)        Result is a forfeit in all games the ineligible player participated in

2. Protest

  1. Ineligible player protest must be submitted to the Executive Board
  2. An Ineligible player is not the umpire’s responsibility to remove the      player from the game  because the umpire has no way of knowing if the player is ineligible
  3. There is no time limit in submitting a protest regarding ineligible

players

  1. The Commissioner will conduct a hearing with the Board of Directors

         regarding a ineligible player protest

 

D.  TEAM ROSTERS

1.   Roster forms

  1. Available on the league website www.leaguelineup.com/berkekeyssl 

Select FORMS drop down menu on the welcome page, then select

League forms.  Form is available in DOC and PDF file

  1. Roster forms must be completed by April Board of Directors meeting.

       If the tryouts are held after the April meeting, any players drafted can

be emailed or text to the League Administrator.   A copy of their driver”s license and email address are required.

 

E.   SAFETY

1.   Pitchers

  1. Pitchers are required to wear a face mask (shin guards optional)

2.   Batting Practice

  1. A hitting screen is required during batting practice to protect whomever is pitching batting practice

 

F.    PARTICIPANT AND TEAM CONDUCT

1,.  Unsportsmanlike Conduct

a) Disqualified Participant

1)  A player removed from the game for a rule violation.  A disqualified player can remain in the team dugout.  Example, player is found using metal cleats, the player is disqualified from participating in the game.

2) If a disqualified player is found playing in the game, the game is forfeited

b)  Ejected Participant

1)  Ejected participant must leave the grounds and have no contact with the umpires and participants in the game.  Effect:  Participant who does not leave the playing area or continues contact with other participants or umpires will result in a forfeit.  Any ejected participant will be reported by the umpire using the umpires’ association incident report.  Umpire must submit the report within 24 hours of the incident.   The incident report will be forwarded to the league commissioner by the umpires’ association .   Note:  if a participant is ejected in the first game of a double header, the ejected participant is AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED FOR THE SECOND GAME. 

2) The commissioner will review the incident report.  Commissioner can interview any individual that was involved or witnessed the incident

3)  Participant ejections evolve via different criteria; hence, the commissioner has the sole responsibility to determine what penalty will be assessed to the ejected participant.   A board of directors’ vote is not required during the penalty phase; however, the commissioner can call a board of directors meeting to discuss the incident and allow the board to vote for the suggested penalty. 

2.   Banned Substances

a)   Alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs not permitted within the field

area during game time.  This rule affects participants, umpires,

scorekeepers and anyone associated with playing the game

b)   Umpires can eject a participant who violates the Banned Substance

Rule

                         c )  Banned Substance violations must be reported to the

commissioner and the board of directors

 

POLICY III - SCHEDULING

 

A. REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

1. Scheduled games played on Tuesday and Thursday morning

2. Total season games are based on season start and end dates

3. Game start time is determined by the board of directors; however, start

time must be coordinated with Public Works field maintenance department. 

The field crew needs ample time to manicure and line the infield.

4. Board of Directors will approve the schedule

5. League administrator creates and uploads the schedule to the league

website

6. League administrator is responsible to notify the board of directors when

the schedule has been uploaded to the website.

 

B. PLAYOFF SCHEDULING

1. Board of Directors votes on the playoff format

2. League Administrator, based on the voted format, creates playoff schedule

3. Board of Directors will approve the date and time schedule

 

C. FALL LEAGUE SCHEDULING

1. Season game allotment is determined by the league director

2. Game time is determined by the league director.  Item POLICY III-A-3 may

apply if the Maintenance crew is authorized to maintain the infield for the

fall season

3. Policy III, A,4,5 and 6 apply to the Fall league

 

D. PLAYOFF SEEDING FOR SUMMER AND FALL LEAGUES

1. Based on the final regular season standing

2. Tie breakers chart

  1. Head-to-Head
  2. Run differential between the tied teams
  3. Run differential all games played within the division
  4. Coin flip
  5. If more than 2 teams are tied after the first tie is broken, the remaining teams start over with head-to-head.

 

E. INCLEMENT WEATHER

1. Prior to 8:00 AM, the decision to play, delay start or postpone is the

responsibility of the league commissioner

2. After 8:00 AM and before the start of a game, team managers will

decide to cancel prior game time.  Both managers must agree.  Managers

must keep the league administrator advised of the circumstances. 

League administrator will coordinate with the umpire association.   If the

league administrator and or assistant league administrator are not

available and if practical, the umpire association should be notified by

the managers.   If the umpires are at the field the league is responsible to

pay the game fee regardless if the game is started or canceled.

3. Canceling a game while in progress due to inclement weather is the

Umpire’s decision

4. Official game

a) Official game is defined as 4 innings if the home team is behind, 3 and one half innings if the home team is ahead 

 

F. PROTESTED GAME

1. A protested can only be official is there is a violation of a playing rule. 

Team protesting must make the call prior to the next pitch legal or illegal.

2. The following is required when a playing rule is being protested:

  1.  The date, time and venue of the game
  2.  The name of the umpires and score keepers
  3.  The USA rule (ask umpire) and/or the Premier league rule under

which the protest is being made

  1.  The information, details and conditions relevant to the decision to

protest

  1. All essential facts concerning the matter protested

3.  Team protesting must file the protest to the Commissioner within 48

hours from the time the game was completed.

4. The Commissioner, upon receiving the written protest, will contact the

Umpires’ association and discuss the protest.  The umpire association will give their recommendation.   If the commissioner is not in agreement

with the umpires’ association ruling, then the board of directors will be

asked to convene and vote on the protest ruling.

 

G. IMCOMPLETE SEASON

1.  If a team departs the league prior to the end of the season, any benefits

 will be forfeited.  Refunds for sponsorship and or team assessment fees

are not refundable.  A Team can appeal to the commissioner and in turn

the commissioner can convene the board of directors to discuss the

appeal and the board of directors can vote on the appeal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                           

 

 

 

        

 

 

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