St. John’s Fast Pitch Association Senior Division
BY-LAWS
1) The Senior Division shall be made up of a maximum of six teams in any season. The current membership consists of the following teams:
- 3Cheers Pub Bud Light (3CPBL)
- Kelly's Pub Molson Bulldogs (KPMB)
- Kelly's Pub Junior Canadians (KPJC)
- NTV Hitmen (NTVH)
- The Bigs (TB)
Each team will be entitled to three delegates at all Association meetings, however only one will be permitted to vote on matters pertaining to the senior division.
Any new teams must submit their intention to play in the Senior Division by February 28. The new team must present a roster and formal letter of request to play. The new team must be voted upon by the executive of the St. John’s Fast Pitch Association. The new team shall not be formed due to the detriment of a roster to a previous team in the association.
2) The Executive Committee shall determine where all regular and playoff season games will be played. The Executive Committee may approve a game to be played at an alternative venue upon written request to the secretary/treasurer from an affiliated team.
3) At the discretion of the Executive, players may be permitted to play in both Senior and Intermediate. Players must make a written request to the secretary/treasurer for such actions.
4) When a player is drafted by a senior team he remains the property of that team until such time as he is released by the team or the Executive Committee of the Association.
5) When a senior player signs to play with a team he may be granted his release by team Management or The Executive Committee up to July 15th of each year to play with another team that season.
6) No player will be permitted to play unless his registration has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Association. It should be noted that this means a player will require a release before joining another team.
7) Registration will be strictly enforced. The registration form must be in the hands of the secretary/treasurer before a player can participate in any game.
8)
a) All players registered in the St. John’s Fast Pitch Association, shall be expected to play for the Newfoundland Entry at the National Championships if required by the coaching staff. The coaching staff must make request to it's official playing roster by December 31st. If contact is not made, players have the choice to play for another provincial entry at the National Championships as an import player. To be implemented at the end of the 2009 season.
b) A package is to be prepared by the executive committee before the end of the 2009 season.
9) An Intermediate Player called up to play on the same Senior team for 3 Official Games (played in the game as an offensive or defensive player) shall become the property of that team for the remainder of the season.
10) Only the top four teams in regular season play will qualify for the playoffs in any year, with the fifth place finisher and beyond being dropped. All semi-finals will be best of five and finals will be a best of seven series.
To be eligible to play in the playoffs a player has to be registered with the Association by the final registration date of August 7th of each year and have played in at least ten games with no specified plate appearances or have played in five games with ten plate appearances.
The home game advantage will alternate with the highest place finisher having this privilege to start each series. If there are only four teams in the League the fourth place team could be dropped from the playoffs under article thirty-seven of the senior by-laws. If one team is dropped, the second and third place teams will meet in the semi-finals, with the first place finisher having a bye into the finals.
11) A playoff game that is tied and is stopped due to weather or for any other reason and five complete or more innings has been played, the game will be declared a no contest and replayed. All statistics will count. The International Tie Breaking Rule will not apply to a game five (Best Of Five Series) or game 7 (best of seven series) of the Association Championship Series. For all other games it will.
12) The start times for regular season games will be 6:00 P.M. & 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday and Thursday and Sunday 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. Playoff Games will be Monday to Sunday with times to be determined by the Executive Committee.
13) Schedule to be drawn up by Association Secretary-Treasurer on a monthly basis. Teams requesting change dates must advise the scheduler by the 15th day of the preceding month. Secretary-Treasurer will make the final decision on all change requests.
14) Postponed games will be re-scheduled at times available. No scheduled games will be changed in order to make room for any postponements.
15) A regular season game that is tied after seven innings of play the International Tie Breaking Rule will apply. However should a game be stopped due to weather or any other reason, and five complete innings has been played, then the game shall be declared a tied game and each team awarded a point. All statistics will count. This rule does not apply to special playoff or championship series play.
16) The length of the league Schedule shall consist of as many completed rounds as possible. However no regular season games will be played after August 31st, of each year. The final standings to be determined on winning percentage for all games played to August 31st.
17) Following the forfeit of a game a $100.00 fine to be imposed. The second time a team forfeits a $200.00 fine will be imposed as well as the matter been reviewed by the Executive Committee for possible suspension. All fines are due and payable before team’s next game. Each team will be permitted a fifteen-minute grace period before a game is awarded by forfeit.
18) In the interest of safety, the Association will have a Bat Review Committee and bats they consider unsafe for play will be banned Association. A full-approved bat list will be provided at the start of each season. The Association reserves the right to remove any bat from the approved list throughout the season if it’s in the best interest of Association play.
19) A team must be dressed in full uniform including coaches. The uniform must be of the same design and colour, with the type of footwear being optional. Rule 3, Section 8 of the Softball Canada Rule Book.
20) Final registration date will be August 7th, of each year.
21) A minimum of one new softball, two umpires and a scorekeeper to be provided for all Association games. The official softball is the Worth K-Master F120WH. Umpires are encouraged to rotate the balls in a consistent manner. Time will not be permitted for pitcher’s to wait for out of bounds ball to be returned.
22) The Secretary-Treasurer is the Association’s League’s official statistician and is responsible for all questions on statistics.
23) The wearing of a double ear flap helmet is mandatory for a batter and a base runner. The helmet worn by a catcher may be the scull type without the ear flaps.
24) No infield or outfield warm up are permitted before any regular season or playoff games. Game balls will be provided prior to the start of a game.
25) An illegal pitch will be called for any pitcher who does not have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber, does not pause and does not stay within the confines of the 24 inch shoot. Umpires will not permit any digging out for back foot.
26) In all St. John’s Fast Pitch regular and play-off games, an illegal pitch will result in a ball on the batter and no base runner advances.
27) The BATTER’S BOX is the area within which the batter must take a position when taking a turn at bat.
a) Any player who removes the lines of the batters box will be ejected from the game without warning.
b) When there are no lines drawn, the plate umpire shall give a warning to the batter if they judge that they are not standing in the batters box. The player must correct their stance (the batters back foot must not exceed 36 inches from the back corner of the plate).
c) The batter is OUT when his foot is completely outside the lines of the batter’s box and touching the ground, or any part of a foot is touching home plate when he hits the ball fair or foul (The ball is dead, runners must return to last base touched at the time of the pitch).
28) When a player is ejected from the game, he/she must leave the dugout area immediately. Failure to leave with-in a minute or reasonable amount of time will result in the team forfeiting the game. The player may remain in the park, however they are not to be involved in any way to the game. If the person continues to disrupt or become engaged in the game in a negative manner, the game will be forfeited. A player/coach ejected from a game will not be permitted to sit on their team’s bench; this also applies to suspensions.
A. Every ejection shall be reported on a Disciplinary Form
Standard Ejection Report (No appeals to be accepted)
·Swearing or Using Vulgar Language – No warning to be given
·Disputing the Umpires Judgment (warning may be given, but doesn’t need to) examples:
a) Balls/Strikes
b) Safes/Outs
c) Showing up Umpire (drawing a line in sand)
d) Kicking Dirt on Umpire
e) Throwing Equipment (inside diamond)
Consequence of Action:
1st Offence: Removed From Game, No Further Penalty
2nd Offence: Removed From Game, One Additional Game
3rd Offence: Removed From Game, Referred to Disciplinary Committee
B. Disciplinary Ejection Report (Appeals)
·Throwing Equipment – Equipment leaves the playing area (over the fence) (2 Games)
·Excessive Abusive Language towards an umpire, player, coach, or spectator (3 Games)
·Fighting with a player of the opposing team (4 Games)
·Throwing Equipment in the general direction or strikes a Player/Coach or Umpire (4 Games)
·Assault of an Umpire (Verbal or Physical).
All physical assaults are to be reported to police.
- May be Threatening Remarks that Warrant Assault Minimum 5 Games
- Intentionally Throwing Equipment Striking an Official Minimum 20 Games
C. Disciplinary Committee shall oversee disciplinary matters:
·Two members of the Executive
·Two members appointed by the Executive
·An Umpire appointed by the Executive (Note: If the appointed umpire filed the report on the player/coach involved, then the executive shall appoint an the report on the player/coach involved, then the executive shall appoint an umpire that was not involved in the situation)
D. Discipline Committee
Meet/discuss before the player/coach plays their next scheduled game to make a ruling on the ejection. (Exception: If the individual was removed due to inappropriate language, and it is their first offence, the player shall be given a warning by the executive). The player/coach shall not play in their next game if the committee has not ruled on the ejection. If said player is awaiting an appeal, the player shall play until a final decision is made by the committee. Once the ruling is made the Discipline Committee is to notify both the player/coach involved and the president of Metro on their recommendation.
29) Appeal Process
Any player/coach may appeal the decision of the Discipline Committee. Appeals should be heard at the local level first. The individual shall present a letter to the Discipline Committee of the appeal. A hearing involving the player/coach and umpire(s) involved in the game shall be presented to the Discipline Committee. After the hearing, the decision of the committee is final.
30) Appeal Procedures
·All ejections shall be reported on a Disciplinary Form and passed to the scorekeeper after the game.
·An ejection of any player/coach (except on the first offence of inappropriate language) shall be heard before the player/coaches next scheduled game.
·A record of all ejections shall be maintained by the executive.
·When a player is ejected for the third time, the disciplinary committee shall determine that player’s status from that point forward.
·Suspensions shall carry over to all leagues, tournaments, etc…
Example - If the player is suspended for 3 Intermediate Games, they are to miss their next 3 games. The player shall not play any organized sanctioned softball until the three intermediate games are served. Note: This includes senior, tournaments, including SNL provincials.
·No team shall select a player from the stands that is not on the team’s roster to replace a player that was ejected
·If said player is awaiting an appeal, the player shall play until a final decision is made by the committee.
A Player, Coach, or Team Official ejected from a game for the second time in a season will receive an automatic one game suspension. If further ejections are received in a season, a one game suspension will apply for each additional ejection. This rule in no way curtails the Executive Committee from taking further action for any or all ejections. A Payer, Coach or Team Official ejected from a game more than three times in a season must have his case reviewed by the Executive Committee.
31) The Executive Committee may appoint a Committee to look after all aspect of running a St. John’s Fast Pitch All-Star Team.
32) The seven run rule only to apply after five innings for all League games including playoffs.
33) The Association in consultations with SNL under normal past practices will be represented by the Provincial Championship Team from the previous season at the Canadian Senior Mens Championships (intent must be filed with Association Secretary-Treasurer by December 31prior to next years Canadians) unless at the annual general meeting a decision is made to be represented by an all star team. In the event this decision is made it shall not affect the current year representatives but will come in effect the following season. If Provincial championship team isn’t prepared to represent the Association at the Canadians the Association will decide on an appropriate representative for the current year.
34) All protests on rule interpretations must be done at the time of the occurrence. A $100.00 deposit will be required to check the rule interpretation. The umpires shall stop the game, leave the field and check the rule book for the correct rule interpretation. Should a protest be upheld the deposit will be refunded. The monies shall be submitted to the executive within seven days.
35) All other protests must be submitted in writing within twenty-four hours of the completion of the game in question accompanied with a $100.00 deposit. All protests will be ruled on by the Executive Committee within seventy-two hours of receipt. Should a protest be upheld the deposit will be refunded.
36) All graduating Juniors and Players from a disbanded team will be placed in a disbursal draft. Selection will be in reverse order from previous years finish for all games played including tournaments. A player not drafted is eligible to play with a team of his choice.
37) When necessary, teams with more than two pitchers on their roster who are classified as an "A" Pitcher or has pitched fifty (50) or more innings the past season will be required to release one of their Pitchers. The player released would then enter into a draft, along with any graduating Junior or Intermediate.
a) A team which does not have two "A" pitchers will have a draft process for the selection of an additional pitcher based on standings from the previous season (last place to first place).
b) If any pitchers are remaining after clause (a), remaining teams will enter into a draft based on standings from the previous season (last place to first place).
38) Where possible the Association will honor Players for the following accomplishments:
39) The Association will have its own Logo and Web Site.
40) St. John’s Fast Pitch Association Officers will oversee the Senior Division Awards
Awards will be known as:
- First Place (Don Johnson Trophy)
- League Championship (Terry Trainor Memorial Trophy)
- Individual Awards (Molson Awards)
41) In a four team league to qualify for the playoffs the fourth place finisher must accumulate a winning record as per the following formula:
WINS BY 1st PLACE TEAM WINS REQUIRED BY 4th PLACE TEAM
10 to 11 4
12 to 13 5
14 to 16 6
17 to 18 7
19 to 21 8
22 to 23 9
24 to 26 10
27 to 28 11
29 to 30 12
42) To break a tie in the final standings the following will apply:
a) First Place Best winning record in games played between teams tied Or the best Plus Minus Percentage in these games.
b) Second or Third Place Best winning record in games played between teams tied Or the best Plus-Minus Percentage in these games.
c) Fourth Place Special Playoff Game.
43) For all games a Team must start and finish with a minimum of 9 players.
44) Statistics: for a player to be considered for the batting title the following calculation shall be used: 2.5 plate appearances X number of games the team was scheduled to play.
45) Each senior team prior to the opening of the season must name ten players to its official playing roster for the season. Players named are not eligible to play in the Intermediate League.
Approved: April 16, 2012