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Friday, February 20
ARTICLE I
IDENTITY
The East Penn Fastpitch Softball League (EPFSL) is an organization of fast pitch softball teams, players, managers and owners in the Lehigh Valley area.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES
The members of the East Penn Softball League have a common interest in promoting the game of amateur softball by conducting monthly meetings to stimulate interest of the league. The major interest of the league is in the promotion of the best fastpitch softball wherever/whenever possible.
MEETINGS
Meetings will be held at 7:00 PM the 3rd Wednesday from January through October. No meetings will be held in November or December. No scheduled games or re-scheduled game on meeting nights, with the exception of a game starting after 8:45 on a lighted field. A $50.00 fine will be levied after two allowed missed meetings.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
Each EPFSL team’s representative shall be known collectively as the board of directors of the league. To carry out its best interests, the board of directors elects on a yearly basis, at the January meeting, the following officers to perform the following duties.
President - Presides at all meetings of the board of directors. He directs the policy of the league and supervises the performance of all other league officers or representatives. The President will be responsible for appointing all committees. He will also cast a tie-breaking vote when necessary.
Vice-President - Presides in the place of the President when he is unavailable. He chairs the League Competition committee.
Treasurer - He is the financial manager of the league. He keeps a current account according to accepted principles of Bookkeeping or all monies received, retained, or expended by the league. He disburses league money in accordance with directives from the board of directors. The treasurer is to receive a salary of $25. In addition, he shall chair the finance committee and be in charge of the trophies.
Secretary ? He is to keep minutes of all league meetings. He will chair the by-laws committee.
Statistician ? He is the EPSFL media liaison. His duties include keeping the standings of the entire league. He will present these stats at each league meeting and place them in the local newspaper throughout the year. He also will record the contracts of teams in the league and keep track of league publicity.
Assigner - His duties to include scheduling, re-scheduling, contacts with the umpire assignor, official schedule for the local newspapers and corrected schedules throughout the year. The assignor will receive a salary of $50.
The EPFSL?s officers will be known collectively as the Board of Governors.
COMMITTEES
League Competition TBA, Assigner, Statistician
Protest ? President, Umpire Representative, TBA
Rules Enforcement Board of Governors
Bylaws ? Secretary
Finance ? Treasurer
Hall Of Fame / Buddy Hahn Award President, TBA
ARTICLE IV
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
At any time the president may remove any member of any committee existing in the EPFSL. The president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, statistician, assignor of the league may be impeached at any meeting of the board of directors. A majority of 75% of the votes of all the team representatives in the league is necessary for removal from office. On removal from office, the board of directors shall at the same meeting, elect a successor to serve the un-expired term.
ARTICLE V
BY-LAWS
A. A regulation approved by the board of directors is a by-law. The by-laws meeting is to be held the month of January for discussion of proposed or recommended changes. Approval of changes to be voted upon at the February meeting. Three-fourths of the board of directors must be present and an approval of three-fourths of the board of directors must be present and approval of three-fourths of the teams present at the vote is necessary to change the by-laws. Teams must have their previous year’s fees and fines paid up in order to have a vote.
B. The bylaws shall be ratified by the approval of a simple majority of the members of the East Penn Softball League board of directors. Approval shall nullify all the provisions of the previously existing constitution and by-laws of the East Penn Softball League congress. A majority vote with no dissenting votes is required to make change during the year after ratification has been approved.
C. All deadlines listed will count as the stroke of midnight. USPS postmark, email timestamp, or personal delivery will govern.
ARTICLE VI
UNIFORMS
A. All participating team players, including managers and coaches, shall wear matching color uniforms at all games.
B. Uniforms shall consist of a full baseball or softball type uniform (pants, shirt and cap). Exceptions must be brought before the league for ruling, with no exceptions allowed after June 15.
C. Caps must be worn at all times, with the exception of the catcher, while on the field defensively.
D. No shorts allowed of any sort.
ARTICLE VII
PLAYER CONTRACT
A. All participating team members must be listed on an East Penn Softball League contract before being eligible to play in the league. This contract must be submitted in triplicate and distributed as follows:
1. League Statistician - original copy
2. President - copy
3. Team manager (this copy must be carried to all games)
B. Not under any circumstances will a team be allowed to sign any players after June 15th. Team rosters not exceeding 25 players must be completed by that date.
C. For ease of handling the original player contract listing will be turned into the league statistician 48 hours before the player’s team’s first game. Failure to comply will result in a $20.00 fine.
D. A new player (not a released player) addition to the original roster must have his contract turned into the League statistician and secretary a minimum of 48 hours before he is eligible to play his first game,
E. A player may not sign a contract with another East Penn League team until such time that a release has been secured on or from the original or prior contract or contracts.
F. Either the managers or players copy or copies must be in the league office before the team who is receiving or re-signing the released player plays their next league game.
G. A released player will not be eligible to participate with a new team signed with until that team has participated in two official league games after date and time of prior manager’s release.
H. When a manager releases a player, he is to write, on the release, the date of release and also the time of day of the release.
I. Any violation of the player contract by-law shall be presented to the by-law enforcement committee for ruling. Any ruling upheld shall result in the forfeiture of each game played under the violation.
ARTICLE VIII
HOME TEAMS
A. Both teams must submit one new ball. A new ball must be used to start the game. Used balls must be accepted by the umpire and home team responsible for extra balls needed. All submitted balls shall be the official ball of the EPFSL. The official softball for the East Penn Softball League shall be approved by the board of directors each year at the February Meeting
B. Responsible for field to be proper playing condition.
C. Responsible for lining of field and placing of bases and flags.
D. Manager (or contact person) of the home team is responsible for notifying the visiting team, League assignor, and the umpire-in-chief in case of rain by 5:00 PM. A rained out game from the original league schedule must be rescheduled within 2 weeks of the rained out game. If the game is not rescheduled by then, the league assigner will reschedule the game (hardships will be considered).
E. All league games must be made-up within a 7 day period of time starting with the day after the last regular scheduled game was to be played. Any decision on games that are not completed within that seven day period of time will be at the discretion of the league office.
F. The home team manager is responsible for notifying the league assigner, the opposing team and the umpire assignor of the make-up date.
G. Responsible to see that umpires are introduced to the visiting team manager and ground rules are discussed and line-up cards exchanged at least 5 minutes before game time.
ARTICLE IX
PLAYERS
A. Uniformed players shall not sit in the grandstand during games in which their team is participating.
B. Players are not to drink intoxicants on the field or play or come to a game intoxicated. A player intoxicated will be suspended for at least one ball game and penalized as per the guidelines in Article VII Section C.
C. No players shall be allowed to play with any other team in the league who has in his possession any property of any prior team played with in the league.
D. Player Age: Players 16-18 need verification of age (Drivers license). Players younger than 16 need a parent's signature on the EPFSL roster.
E. Possible suspension or expulsion is the penalty for abusive language, rude behavior, or threats to anyone associated with the EPFSL.
ARTICLE X
OFFICIAL SCORER
A. Responsible to keep accurate and concise account of the game.
B. All official protests shall follow the A.S. A. rules with the following addition: the manager lodging the protest will file a report of his own and send it to the league office within 48 hours. This report must include a score sheet and be accompanied by a $20.00 fee. The fee is refundable if the protest is upheld. Otherwise, the fee will go into the league treasure,
C. The winning team is to notify the Allentown Morning Call on the outcome of the game at 610-820-6558.
D. Any winning team covering up a forfeit will be charged with a $20 fine (deducted from league dues)
ARTICLE XI
GAME
A. An official game shall consist of 7 innings, except in the case of rain or darkness.
B. Darkness/Act of God
1. Games stopped due to darkness or ?act of god? (weather, power failure, etc..)
a. Incomplete inning ? reverts to previous full inning.
b. Official Game ? 5 innings / 4 ½ innings if home team is winning.
c. Non-Official Game Regular Season: replay entire game / Playoffs- Game will be picked up at exact point of suspension. Mutual termination will be permitted.
C. Winning team will receive two standings points. Losing team will receive no standings points. Forfeit loss will be -1 standings point.
D. Tie Games through 8th inning play standard. After that point, the game is over and both teams receive one standings point.
E. Game Times:
a. 6:15 Start of season through first two weeks of May / from first Monday of August through end of playoffs and 6:30 the remainder of season.
b. Intra-league games @Pates: First game starts at 6:30 Inter-league games @Pates: First Game starts at 7:00
F. Teams allowed fifteen minutes before forfeiture of game, after official game time.
G. Visiting team to have field 15 minutes before game time when a single game is played. There will be no practice before any second or third games scheduled on any field. (Five minutes before game time, managers meet at home plate to discuss ground rules and exchange line-ups.) In the event of double or triple-headers, the next game will start 15 minutes after the conclusion of the previous game, but no game shall start after 10:30PM.
H. Ball shall be in play until it leaves playing field or is declared unfit for play by the umpire.
I. An eight-run spread rule will be used in every league game including all playoff games except for the final playoff series games (Mutual termination after eight-run rule is in effect will be permitted). The game will end immediately when the spread reaches eight runs provided the losing team has batted a minimum of 5 times with the mercy rule.
J. The league will adhere to the catch and carry rule at all fields used by the league.
K. A line-up card must be presented to the umpires at the time of the pre-game coaches meeting at home plate by both coaches, if not presented at this time, a reasonable waiting period of not more than 5 minutes will be allowed to turn in a line-up card or the game will be forfeited.
L. Pitchers may choose either ball to start the half innings except at the beginning of the game when the new ball must be used by the home team pitcher.
M. For those rules not specifically covered by the EPFSL rules, those of the official A.S.A. rule book will automatically be instituted to apply in all official league games.
N. Lights will be turned on at the beginning of an inning, or when deemed necessary by the umpires.
O. Progressive base running rule - when a base runner is in the act of advancing, he may either continue to advance or return to the base. When the pitcher has the ball in his possession within the vicinity of the rubber at the moment of possession of the ball. If the base runner stops his advance, he must return to his base immediately. If he stops or jockeys, he shall be called out. Once having returned to the base he cannot leave until the ball has left the hand of the pitcher. If, however, the pitcher throws to a fielder in an attempt to make a putout on the runner, the runner is relieved oh is obligation to go either way and may go in any direction his safety depends.
P. The pitcher will be eligible to re-enter under the re-entry rule (see A. S .A, rule book for re-entry rule).
Q. The EPFSL does not adhere to the official circle of 8 feet in radius.
R. The EPFSL will adhere to the A.S.A. designated hitter rule.
S. The EPFSL will adhere to all A.S.A. equipment rules including the banned bat rule (as of the April meeting).
T. Extra hitter rule - Teams will be allowed to use an extra hitter as defined in the A.S.A. rule book (under slow pitch extra hitter rule). The extra hitter is optional, but if used, the team will have 10 offensive players in the starting lineup. The extra hitter cannot enter the game defensively. :
U. Courtesy runner for pitcher or catcher with two outs in an inning. Person who made previous out will be runner. If the catcher made the previous out then the player who made the previous out to the catcher will run.
ARTICLE XII
INTERLEAGUE PLAY
A. Unless an agreement is in place, the home team will take care of all expenses (umpires, ball, etc). Expenses for games played on neutral field will be shared equally.
B. Interleague play: 8 run spread rule will be used.
ARTICLE XIII
UMPIRES
A. Responsibility of the umpires is set forth in the A.S. A. sponsored rule book, titled 'the international joint rules committee on softball, when not in conflict with those of the EPFSL.
B. Umpires shall report to the league office, within 24 hours, any misconduct of any player, manager or coach.
C. Only the team manager and a designated team representative may approach umpires with questions or appeals. Any player, manager or coach who directs profanity at an umpire or who displays any unsportsman like conduct, shall be ejected from that regular season or playoff game, and is suspended from the next game. A second offense will result in ejection from the game and the player, coach or manager will be suspended for the next three league or playoff games. A third offense by a player, coach or manager will result in ejection from the game and the player, coach or manager will be suspended for the remainder of the year with a minimum suspension of 10 games subject to review by the by-law enforcement committee. It may be possible that a first, second or third offense by a player, coach or manager will have the suspension running into the beginning of the following year.
D. Any player, coach or manager who asserts any form of intentional physical violence upon an umpire or other player shall be ejected from the ball game and be barred from any further play until a full investigation by the by-law enforcement committee. The rules enforcement committee will then prescribe the length of suspension of the opposing party.
E. Refer to yearly umpire's contract for information relating to rate schedules and other pertinent information.
F. Ejection from a game because of a technical reason such as the failure of a player to report into a game- will not require any penalty other than his ejection from the current game as an ineligible player. He will not be required to sit out any additional games.
G. The league requires that the umpires be paid when the starting lineups are turned in. Each team pays one umpire. Home team-Plate. Visiting - Base.
H. Both Mgr's are responsible to report the ejection of any players, coaches or managers to the EPFSL statistician. who will keep records of each ejection and call the next team they play.
ARTICLE XIV
GAME FINANCES AND RECEIPTS
A. All gate receipts will be retained by the home team except during the playoffs when gate receipts will be split equally between the two teams.
B. Each team will pay 1 umpire home team lighting fees except during the playoffs when these fees will be split equally between the two teams.
C. All fines and forfeit fees shall be placed in the league treasury to defray expenses of the league.
ARTICLE XV
FRANCHISES
A. If a team drops from the league for any reason after June 15th, team members shall not be eligible to participate with any team in the EPFSL for the remainder of the season.
B. In order to retain a franchise, owners or the team governing body must keep a $100.00 deposit on file in the league office and must maintain an active team in the league schedule. In the event either of the above conditions are not met, the franchise becomes void and all players who are involved may then, according to the routine regulations, be signed to a new contract with any EPFSL team, until and including June 15th.
C. The East Penn Softball League reserves the right to revoke the league franchise by a majority vote of the league's board of directors. The league also reserves the right to dispense a franchise's monies for payment of bills and fines as the league board of directors deems necessary.
D. Each league franchise will be assessed annual dues of $175 each year for the expenses incurred by the league,
ARTICLE XVI
FORFEITS
A. Any team which forfeits a game will be fined $25 for each instance. Any team forfeiting the third game will automatically be dropped from the league.
B. Any team which postpones regularly scheduled East Penn League games for any reason other than rain will automatically forfeit their league game. Any exceptions other than rain must be submitted to the league president 48 hours before scheduled game time. The president has the right to override the forfeit rule if the exception promotes league or fastpitch softball.
C. The team that forfeits the game will be responsible for payment of umpire fees.
D. A game which is officially started and is declared a forfeit due to rule interpretations or technical reasons will stand as a forfeit, but the team will not be fined the $20.00 nor will the forfeit count toward the 3 which may cause a team to be suspended from the league.
E. If a team forfeits or drops out of the league, only full rounds will count (in order of completion) , the remaining games will be eliminated and will not count in the final league standings.
ARTICLE XVII
LEAGUE BUSINESS
A. No member of any team, other than the recognized board member (the individual who signs in as the team representative, one per team) is eligible to conduct any business or to approach any league official (at a league meeting) on matters of league policy or procedure.
ARTICLE XIII
PLAYOFFS
A. All league teams will be allowed to enter the playoffs.
B. All league teams will submit to the league statistician their playoff roster no later than one day after completion of the regular season. Only players on that list will be permitted to play. All EPFSL teams will receive the other teams? playoff rosters. If any team wants to challenge playoff eligibility, they must do so before the start of the playoffs. If a challenge is made, the challenged team will immediately supply the league with a list of the games played by the challenged player. No challenges will be permitted after the start of the playoffs.
C. All regular season by-laws will be in effect for the playoffs with the exception of being automatically dropped from the league because of forfeiting a playoff game.
D. The playoff schedule will, be decided yearly by the league. The number of games played will be determined by the number of teams in the league. All playoff series will be three game sets. Playoff pairings and dates will be scheduled by the assigner.
E. All final series playoff games must go 7 innings. In case of tie, all other series games could end with the eight-run spread mercy rule.
F. All playoffs must be at a lighted field. The home team and home field for the first and third games will go to the team that has the best league record. In the event of identical records, the criteria specified in Article H below will be used to determine the home team. Each playoff games' costs and income will be divided equally between both teams in each series. If both teams agree to time and place, playoff games on non-lighted fields will be allowed, providing said games begin no later than 6:15 PM with the grace period included in this game time.
G. Players must play five games with present team to participate in the playoffs. An exception to the 5-game rule may be allowed for a player incurring a severe injury, or work transfer. To be eligible, the manager must report the injury at a league meeting as soon as the injury occurs. A Board of Directors vote will then be taken as to whether an exemption will be granted.
H. Seasonal and Playoff trophies will be presented at the October league meeting. Play off champion and playoff runner up will receive a trophy. Trophies presented to the league by outside organizations will be presented when they are received if the above timetable cannot be followed.
I. Two new balls will be started for each playoff game. Each team will supply one new ball per game.
J. In the event of a tie for the first, second, or final playoff spot, a one game playoff will decide the position. All expenses will be evenly divided with the home team decided by flip of a coin. All remaining playoff positions will use the following criteria if a tie exists. In the case of a 3 way tie for a trophy position, these same criteria will be used to determine which of the three teams gets the 1st game bye and which two teams will play the 1st game.
1 .Record vs. each other,
2. Run differential between teams
3. Flip of a coin (teams call flip by alphabetic order).
K. Five minutes on infield will be allowed by both teams before a playoff game. No batting practice will be allowed on the field.
ARTICLE XIX
INSURANCE
A. Each league franchise holder, manager, or sponsor is to notify each player under East Penn contract that the league, league officers, field owners, or umpire association have not liability or responsibility for any injury or claims resulting from any participation in the East Perm League or its activities.
B. The East Perm League does not require individual or team insurance, but recommends that each team be aware of the individual coverage of its contracted players.
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