2009 By-Laws
1.
ORGANIZATION
1.01 Salem
Little League shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of a
president, three vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, and league directors.
1.02 General
meeting of the entire membership shall be held on a monthly basis or as deemed
necessary by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors shall meet as deemed necessary by the president. The president shall be responsible for
notifying all board members of any such meetings.
1.03 League
directors shall address issues in their own league. Managers who are in need of assistance shall
request it from his director first. If
he is unavailable, he shall contact his vice-president. If he is unavailable, he shall contact the
president.
1.04 All
managers are expected to attend regularly scheduled meetings and serve on a
committee. Managers failing to live up
to their responsibilities in this area on a regular basis shall be subject to
disciplinary action by the Board, which may include revocation of voting rights
or dismissal. Before any manager is
dismissed, he is entitled to a hearing before the board. Any manager unable to attend a meeting is
urged to send a representative in his place.
This representative, however, will not have voting rights unless he
qualifies as a member.
1.05 A
quorum for a regularly scheduled meeting shall be as follows: 50 percent of the
membership OR 75 percent of the
Board of Directors.
1.06 A
member of Salem Little League is defined as anyone who has attended more than
one half of the previous year’s meetings.
Anyone satisfying this criterion will be declared a member with full
voting privilege for the upcoming year.
A year is defined as October thru September (2008). The outgoing president shall have a one-year
exception. After one year, past
presidents must abide by the same attendance rules as general members.
2. ELECTIONS
AND VOTING
2.01 The
Board of Directors will be elected annually by a majority vote of the members
present (see 1.06 for definition of a member).
2.02 The
league secretary will keep attendance records at meetings.
2.03 All
members are eligible to hold office (see 1.06 for definition of a member). It is preferred, but not required, that the
office of President shall be a non-manager.
A manager can run for President only with the board’s approval. (2006)
2.04 A
manager may not be a director in these leagues (Minor and Major Baseball, Major
and Senior Softball). (2008)
2.05 Nominations
for all offices shall be held at the first meeting in September (2004). A member will run for a specific position on
the board (2009).
2.06 Elections
will be held the first meeting in October. (2004)
2.07 In
the event of the resignation, illness or death of a member of the Board of
Directors, the balance of the board will elect a replacement member. The process for this shall be to open the
office to the general membership for nominations at the next regularly
scheduled meeting and remain open for two weeks. If an existing board member is nominated to
the vacant position, he must first resign his present position to be eligible
for the vacancy, forfeiting all rights as a board member. The Board of Directors will then elect the
new members by a majority vote at their next meeting. The president may call a special meeting for
this purpose.
2.08 In
the event of the resignation, illness or death of the League President, the
office shall be opened to a current member of the Board of Directors, and
elected by a majority of the membership at the next regularly scheduled general
meeting. The most senior vice president
will assume the duties of president until a replacement is elected.
3. LEAGUE STRUCTURE
3.01 Salem
Little League will consist of two leagues, American and National, each with
their own charter. Within each league,
there will be a Major League, Minor League, Farm League, T-Ball and Girls
Softball. (2007)
3.02 The
city will be divided geographically by the Draft and Registration committee in
accordance with Little League rules with the approval of the district
director. Geographical divisions may be
changed to compensate for development of certain areas and school
enrollments. The Draft and Registration
Committee is responsible for annually delivering to the membership, a copy of
the current boundaries. The current
boundaries are as follows: American League (Wards 1, 4 and 6), National League
(Wards 2, 3, 5 and 7).
3.03 No
baseball leagues shall have less than four teams. Softball depends on the numbers but we would
like to have a minimum of four teams. (2008)
3.04 All
leagues will accommodate as many teams as necessary to accommodate the number
of registrants.
3.05 Clinics
for Tee-Ball will be established to accommodate younger players (ages 5-7) each
season.
4. COMMITTEES
4.01 All
committees, with the exception of the rule’s committee, shall be appointed by
the Board of Directors. Each committee
will have one chairman selected by the Board of Directors.
4.02 The
chairman of each committee shall make a report during the league’s monthly
meeting.
RULES (2005)
4.03 Proposals
for new rules will be accepted at the September & October meetings.
4.04 Minor
Baseball, Major Baseball, Major Softball, and Senior Softball will each hold a
meeting to discuss and vote on all proposals including new proposals brought up
at the meeting by a manager. (2006)
4.05 Any
rule for T-Ball, Farm Baseball, or Minor Softball will be discussed and voted
on by the Board of Directors as well as rules which pertain to league policy.
4.06 For
a rule to pass it must be approved by a majority of the managers. Managers who can not attend the meeting may
still vote on any rules proposal brought up at the September and October
meetings, but not any new rules brought up at the meeting by a manager. (2006)
4.07 Those
eligible to vote must have either managed a team in the league the previous
year or has been newly appointed as a manager for the upcoming season.
4.08 Approved
rule changes can only be overturned by the Board of Directors if it is
determined to be detrimental to the league.
FINANCE
4.09 The
finance committee shall accept proposals from the general membership and shall
submit, as soon as possible, at the end of each fiscal year a program for
raising funds for the coming year. The
program is to explain in detail the means and methods used in raising the
funds.
4.10 All
members shall support the finance committee in the implementation of all
programs. Investment of Little League
funds other than day-to-day expenditures must be approved first by the finance
committee and then by the Board of Directors.
EQUIPMENT
4.11 The
Equipment Committee shall keep an inventory of all equipment and issue adequate
amounts to the managers of each team.
Managers must sign for all equipment, in and out.
4.12 At
the end of the season, the committee will inspect all equipment for needed
repairs and/or replacement. All requests
for repair or replacement will be made to the Finance Committee and orders will
be placed as early as necessary.
4.13 All
equipment used shall fit Little League specification. Any bat or glove may be used, regardless of
whether it says “Little League Approved.”
As long as it falls under the Little League guidelines.
4.14 Players
are responsible for returning uniforms at the end of the season in good
condition allowing for normal wear and tear.
Players who do not return uniforms or who do not make payment for lost
or damaged uniforms will not be allowed to play in the system the following
season.
DRAFT AND
REGISTRATION
4.15 The
draft and registration committee shall be responsible for setting league
boundaries, setting dates, and conducting registrations, tryouts, and drafts.
4.16 All
players, including players who have played in the system the previous year,
must register during the times set forth by the draft and registration
committee. The Board of Directors has
the authority to make exceptions to address issues such as illness, new
residence, or a lack of adequate advertisements of registration dates.
4.17 New
applicants must present a copy of a birth certificate. Donations will be solicited and accepted, but
no applicant may be refused for failure to make a donation.
4.18 Tryouts
are mandatory for all draftable players in all leagues. The draft and registration committee shall
schedule enough tryout dates to give all players ample opportunity to
attend. It is recommended that tryouts
be held over two consecutive weekends.
4.19 Prior
to the tryouts, drafting managers shall be provided with a list of all
candidates. All new sign-ups eligible to
be drafted into the Major League must attend tryouts for the Major League.
(2006)
4.20 Managers
shall be provided with appropriate player evaluations. Minor Baseball, Farm Baseball, Minor
Softball, and Major Softball, at the close of the season, review the ability
and attitude of the players for whom they were responsible. Players shall be graded according to a system
prescribed by the draft and registration committee and a written report shall
be filed with the League Directors. No
information shall be given out to any persons outside of Salem Little League.
4.21 Annual
registrations will be conducted in January, February, and March. An attempt will be made each year to conduct
fall tryouts, along with regular winter tryouts. (2006)
PUBLIC
RELATIONS
4.22 The
Public Relations Committee will be responsible for liaison between Salem Little
League and the local community. Press
releases must first be approved by the president of Salem Little League.
4.23 The
Public Relations Committee, or an official designate, shall be responsible for
keeping standings and prepare publicity reports for local newspapers, using the
names of sponsors whenever possible.
4.24 Public
Relations Committee also is responsible for parade day and the annual
team/individual pictures.
CONCESSION
STAND
4.25 Responsible
for buying and stocking of food and supplies, working the stand, massive
cleaning of the stand at the beginning and end of the season, and getting paid
or volunteer help during the course of the season.
5. GENERAL RULES
GRADUATION
JACKET REQUIREMENT
5.01 All
12 year olds will be fitted for a jacket when they register. Jackets will be handed out sometime in
April. Note: Jackets and other awards
are presented to players at the discretion of the board of directors each year.
(2006)
MANAGERS
5.02 Refer
to the Little League Operating Manual for the process of selecting the managers
every year (2009). Preference among
qualified candidates will be given to existing Little League volunteers. A resume will be required for all applicants
who are not presently Little League volunteers.
5.03 You
are only allowed to manage one team during the regular season. This does not include tee-ball. (2001)
5.04 The
home team manager will be responsible for keeping a complete and accurate
official scoring book.
PITCHING
5.05 A
pitcher who hits three batters during his stint on the mound must immediately
be removed as pitcher.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
5.06 Each
Major League or Softball player will participate in the field each game for a
minimum of three innings and bat at least once.
Each player must remain in the batting order for three full innings.
5.07 No
player called up from a lower level will play more innings than a player on the
roster of that team or play in the infield (2007).
5.08 A manager wishing to issue a suspension may only do so with
the approval of the Board of Directors.
5.09 Any
player ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension. The suspension will be served on the team’s
next scheduled game unless the player makes an immediate appeal to the board of
directors. The board will then decide if
and when the suspension will take place.
PROTESTS
5.10 Protests
will be decided at a hearing consisting of the president, vice president of
that league, and the league director. In
the event of the unavailability of any of the above-mentioned officers, another
vice president may fill in for either the president or league vice
president. Another director may fill in
for the league director. In the event of
a protest that affects a playoff game the president will call an emergency
meeting of the board of directors to decide the protest.
5.11 A
manager wishing to protest a game must inform the umpire and opposing manager
at the time of the alleged infraction.
The umpire shall acknowledge the protest by signing each team’s score
book.
5.12 The
manager shall notify his league director of his action within 24 hours.
COMPLAINTS
5.13 Complaints
from outside sources concerning Little League personnel should be directed
either to the president or the appropriate league director. Upon evaluation of the complaint, either
party shall notify the Board of Directors for further discussion. No action, investigation or otherwise, shall
take place without the approval of the Board of Directors and without
notification of the person in question.
5.14 The
Board of Directors shall have the authority to discipline any volunteer they
deem detrimental to the Salem Little League Baseball program.
TROPHIES
5.15 Two
sets of trophies per league will be given out.
(Major and Minor Baseball, Senior and Major Softball) The regular season champion and the playoff champion
of each league will each receive a set.
If they are both the same team, then the playoff runner up will receive
the other set. (2005)
ADULT
COACHES
5.16 Two
adult base coaches shall be allowed but not required at all levels, as long as
there is a coach in the dugout. (2008)
5.17 At
all fields, each team is only allowed to have three coaches in the bench area
at one time. (2006)
SUSPENDED
GAMES
5.18 In
the playoffs in all leagues, all games must be completed. A halted game that has not gone enough
innings to be an official game must be restarted. A game that has gone enough innings to be
official must resume at the point that is was halted. All conditions of the game shall apply when
it is resumed as if the game had not been halted. One exception: Players not present for the
suspended game are eligible to play in the completed game. Rules for proper rest shall apply
accordingly.
INFIELD
PRACTICE
5.19 Infield
practice for all games will be allowed only if it does not delay the scheduled
start of the game. If infield practice
is allowed, both teams must be allowed the same amount of time. The home team can choose to go first or last.
FUND RAISERS
5.20 Individual
team fund-raisers are not allowed. Any
violation of this rule shall result in immediate disciplinary action by the
Board of Directors, which may include reprimand or dismissal.
TRADES
5.21 Trading
of players will not be allowed.
PLAYOFFS
5.22 Playoff
games shall be scheduled to allow all pitchers for both teams to be fully rested
for the playoffs.
5.23 All
leagues will use the following tie-breaking procedures:
1.) Head-to-Head
2.) Best record against 1st
and 2nd place teams in your own league
3.) Best record against teams in your
own league
4.) Best
record against 1st and 2nd place teams in the opposite
league
5.) A coin toss
5.24 The
tiebreaker may be used to determine positions among teams already qualified for
the playoffs by record. A team may not
be excluded from the playoffs on the basis of a tiebreaker.
5.25 The
president, with input from the league directors, shall establish the playoff
schedules. No team shall be required to
play more than three games in a week.
TOURNAMENTS
5.26 Salem
Little League teams shall participate in District 15 tournament play in accordance
with state and national regulations.
5.27 The
manager of the District team will be the manager whose team is currently in 1st
place as of June 15. If he doesn’t want
the team or if there is a different manager in place, the 2nd place
manager will have the option. (2009)
5.28 The
2nd place manager will serve as an assistant coach (2009). Additional coaches may be added at the
manager’s discretion, provided they are all managers in the league.
5.29 Tournament
players will be selected by a vote of the league managers with the league
director present.
5.30 Teams
in the District 15 10-year-old tournament will be managed by a Major League
manager chosen under the guidelines of Williamsport Rules.
5.31 Managers
of the District 15 11 and 12-year-old tournament teams may come from any
level. The only restriction is that they
are not already the manager of another tournament team. Priority will be given to a Major League
manager.
MANAGER OR
COACH EJECTED
5.32 Any
manager or coach ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension. This suspension will be served on the team’s
next scheduled game unless said manager makes an immediate appeal to the Board
of Directors. The Board will then decide
if and when the suspension will take place.
The manager can make an appeal to his/her League Director.
SWINGING
BUNTS
5.33 “Swinging
bunts” are not allowed. A batter who
attempts a “swinging bunt” shall be called out.
(This is a judgment call by the umpire, but the accepted definition
shall be any attempt by a batter to swing at a pitch with his hands together
after they had previously been separated in an apparent intention of bunting
the ball.)
MISCELLANEOUS
5.34 No
organized practice of any kind prior to the scheduled start date set by the
President.
5.35
If a team is
dropped, the existing players from the dropped team will be put into the
draft. All players must be drafted.
5.36 After
each game, the winning manager shall provide an account of the game to the
public relations committee or their designate that will record and file all
games played. Such files will become a
permanent record of Salem Little League.
5.37 The
secretary shall maintain a file containing rosters, team managers and coaches,
and annual won-lost records.
SPORTSMANSHIP
5.38 All
managers, coaches and players are to shake hands with the opposing team, at the
conclusion of every game.
DRESS CODE
5.39 All
players must wear equipment and uniforms properly during games. Manager and coaches should not wear tank tops
or cut offs and must wear hats properly.
5.40 Uniforms
and hats must be worn and shirts tucked in by all players.
DRAFT OPTIONS
5.41 A
manager may declare an option(s) on his son or daughter, or brothers and
sisters of present players on his team.
To do so, a manager must declare his option(s) prior to the draft. A manager may also declare an option on
available brothers and sisters of drafted players, but the manager must declare
that option immediately during the draft.
If a brother or sister is not taken, then he or she cannot be drafted by
another team. (2001)
5.42 In
all option cases, the league managers shall decide by vote the approximate
positions of that player in the draft based on the player’s talent. The player will then serve as that team’s
draft pick in the round agreed upon. In
the event of a tie, the higher of the two picks takes effect.
5.43 Prior
to the supplementary draft, options may again be declared on players not
previously protected. That option would
serve as the third pick.
5.44 A
new manager may take his own son or daughter off an existing team. That team would then receive a draft pick of
comparable ability to be determined by the Board of Directors.
5.45 Each
league manager will only be allowed to have one person to assist him or her at
the draft.
5.46 There
will be a coach’s option with the Board’s approval. The managers of that league vote as to where
the player would be taken. As long as
that player or any brother is on that team, that team will not be allowed
another coach’s option. (2003)
CELL PHONES
and SMOKING
5.47 Any
manager, player or coach who uses a cell phone or who is smoking (on or off the
field) during a game will be automatically thrown out and suspended for the
next game. (2004)
SCHEDULING
5.48 All
scheduled games must be played, if they affect, in any way, the overall
standing with regards to the playoffs.
It is strongly recommended that all scheduled games be played,
regardless of their significance.
5.49 If
a manager knows in advance that he will not be able to field enough players for
an upcoming game, he must contact his league director no later than 48 hours
prior to the scheduled game. Failure to
field a team without proper reason may result in a forfeit. The decision will be left to the Board of
Directors according to guidelines established by rule 4.16 of the Little League
rule book.
5.50 All
schedules shall be arranged so that games between teams of different leagues
shall be completed before the final two weeks of the season.
UMPIRES
5.51 Three
head umpires are responsible for all umpires.
They will appoint umpires for all scheduled games and, at their discretion,
hold clinics and meetings for managers, coaches, and league officials.
5.52 It
is recommended that all umpires pass an examination in order to be qualified to
umpire in Salem Little League.
5.53 All
umpires calling balls and strikes at
5.54 All
head umpires shall be under the supervision of the Board of Directors.
5.55 Umpires’
fees shall be as follows (Regular Season): (2003)
Minor
Baseball: Home plate
$25
Major
Baseball: Home plate
$35, base ump $20
Girls
Softball: Home
plate $35
5.56 No
manager will be assigned to umpire a game in a league that he or she is a
manager or coach. Exception: If no umpires arrive, the manager/coach shall
umpire their own game.
5.57 No
umpire will be assigned to do a game in which a member of his/her immediate
family is a member of the coaching staff or player of either team (if
possible).
EXPANSION
5.58 The
following methods shall be used for each league in the event that expansion is
necessary:
a) AAA: None
b) Major: In an expansion year, the
coin flip between the two last place teams in each league will be
eliminated. The following rule shall
apply. Before the draft starts, the
expansion team picks three players; these picks must be 12-year-olds. Following the expansion teams three picks, a
coin flip between the last place team and the expansion team will determine
first and second position. Protection of
one brother or sister automatically protects all remaining brothers and
sisters.
c) Softball: Follow Major League rules