Mississauga Girls Softball Association: Proposed Constitution Changes
2009 Propsed Constitution and By-Law Changes
Proposed By Ed Zeagman (MNBA):
|
1) By-Law 3H
Amend to allow late arriving players still to play. Even if teams have batted around. Player to be added to bottom of order.
Reasons- It's house league and we want them to play. Distances and traffic are at times pretty bad. If a player is consistently late, and it appears to be more than a one off issue, team coach can deal with it.
2) Amendment to Article 3z - All umpires working game to file report on any ejections on form provided by league within 48 hours. Umpires failing to report shall not be allowed to umpire another MGSA game until report received and reviewed by Disciplinary chair.
Reasons- Coaches are volunteers and hard to find. Current system is not working. Umpires are paid officials and it is their reasoning for ejections that is most important.
|
Proposed by Paul Carriere (Erindale):
1 - Constitution Article 6f : Approved 10/27
Add sentence to end: “Are not permitted to convene in divisions in which the play or coach, without prior approval of the Executive”
Rationale: Avoids potential conflict of interest issues.
2- Constitution Article 6: Approved 10/27
Add new elected position: Registrar. Duties shall include collection of outstanding proof of age and team rosters. Maintains list of outstanding proof of age. Provides President with copy of all rosters. Distributes rosters to convenors for playoffs. Advises association reps of respective outstanding proof of age. Keep Executive updated on all outstanding proof of age. Maintains a year to year list of all players.
Rationale: Formalizes a position of which is currently done by others.
3 -All By-Laws – Change naming from “Article” to “By-Law”.
Rationale: This will differentiate them from the Constitution Articles
4- By-Law Article 4 Playoff Rules:
Current:
2. The team highest in the standings at the end of the regular season will have home team advantage for all playoff games except the Championship Game. The home team for the Championship Game will be decided by a coin toss. The home team has the third base dugout, unless indicated differently at the park. A team playing a double header will not have to switch dugouts between games. FP 5-1
Amend to read
.... The team highest in the standings at the end of the regular season will have home team advantage for all playoff games except the Championship Game. The home team for the Championship Game will be the undefeated team in a double knockout format or the higher placed team in a round robin or other format. The home team has the third base dugout, unless indicated differently at the park. A team playing a double header will not have to switch dugouts between games. FP 5-1
Rationale: Rewards the undefeated team
5- By-Law Article 4 Playoff Rules
Current:
2o) All Bantam and Midget playoff games will be seven innings with no time limit. Mite, Squirt and Novice playoff games will be timed except for the semis and final which will be complete games. In timed games no new inning will start more than 1:45 after the first pitch. Time limits may be imposed or changed at the discretion of the division convenor or alternate if games are delayed due to weather or other reasons
Replace with
... All Bantam and Midget playoff games will be seven innings with no time limit. Mite, Squirt and Novice playoff games will be timed, with no new inning starting 1:45 after the first pitch.. Championship games will be complete games (Mite = 5 innings, Squirt = 6 innings, Novice, Bantam & Midget = 7 innings), unless amended by the convenor or President, due to circumstances beyond our control.
Rationale: Eliminates the verbage "semi final" which was confusing in a double knockout scenario
5- By-Law Article 4 Playoff Rules:
Current:
2 bb) Both teams must record any game ejections and/or protests in writing on both team’s score sheets as well as report them to the Division Convenor or designate, copied to the MGSA e-mail (current rule 3y) prior to the start of the offending team’s next game but no later than 48 hours of the scheduled game start. PENALTY: One (1) game suspension to the manager of the offending team.
Amend to read
... prior to the start of the sooner of either team’s next game but no later than 48 hours of the scheduled game start in which the ejection occurs.
Rationale: Closes loophole that allowed one team to not report ejection, while continuing to play, if team with ejection was eliminated from playoffs
6 - New by-law under article 4: 3.
A team trophy will be awarded to the winner of each playoff series. These shall remain the property of the MGSA and must be returned to the League President by July 1 of the following season. A $50 fine per trophy outstanding will be assessed to the offending association. If a trophy is not returned or is damaged then the association will be responsible for repair or replacement.
Rationale: Stronger "encouragement" to get trophys back on time and without damage
7- By-Law Article 3 Regular Season Rules:
Current:
3r - A game is to be considered valid and over as soon as one team is ahead by 15 runs or more after four or more complete innings in Novice, Bantam and Midget divisions. There is no per game mercy rule in Mite and Squirt divisions, with a maximum run differential of 15 used in the standings. (See MGSA Per Game Mercy Rule Bulletin for an in-depth rule interpretation) FP 5-6 h.
Proposal:
A game is to be considered valid and over as soon as one team is ahead by 15 runs or more after three or more innings in Mite or Squirt and four or more complete innings in Novice, Bantam and Midget divisions. In Mite and Squirt divisions, teams are to continue playing until time has expired or the maximum number of innings have been played. Recorded game score is that score when one team attains a mercy, or the score when time expires, or the score at the end of maximum legal innings, whichever comes first. In all divisions, the maximum recordable run differential will be 15.(See MGSA Per Game Mercy Rule Bulletin for an in-depth rule interpretation) FP 5-6 h.
Rationale: Closes loophole that allowed one team to run up score
8- By-Law Article 3 Regular Season Rules
Current:
3f -Batters’ and baserunners’ helmets must have chinstraps, which shall be worn properly under the chin. (Applies to Mite, Squirt and Novice divisions only) FP 3-6 e.
Append to article: Players are permitted to wear approved facial protection attached to batting helmets, or those worn for facial protection when pitching or on defense. Helmets are not to be modified to accept facial protection.
Rationale; Formalizes approval for protective equipment new to game
Current:
1d -Proof of age is required by birth certificate and sent to the convenor along with the team roster. Failure to provide proof of age by July 1st will result in the player(s) being ruled ineligible to participate in league playoffs. Players registered with MGSA in a previous season are exempt if proof of age is already on file.
Append to article:
Teams in violation are subject to a $25 fine each, due and payable prior to that season’s playoffs
Rationale: Allows for consequences if not complied with.
10- By-Law Article 3 Regular Season RulesCurrent:
3g - Uniform requirements: Identical shirts. Uniform pants or shorts are optional. Caps are optional but if worn, must be worn properly. (Note: all other provisions of FP 3-8 regarding uniforms still apply.) FP 3-8
Proposal:
Uniform requirements: All players on a team shall wear uniforms alike in colour, trim and style. Players, for religious reasons, may be permitted to wear specific headwear and apparel that does not conform to the standard uniform requirements without penalty. Caps are optional but if worn, must be worn properly. Any player not conforming to the foregoing uniform standards shall be levied a penalty . PENALTY: A $25 fine will be levied to the Association for each violation. (Note: all other provisions of FP 3-8 regarding uniforms still apply.) FP 3-8 All coaches must be neatly attired in a league issued collared shirt, including the wearing of suitable footwear, or dressed in team uniform. If a coach wears a hat, cap or visor, it must be approved headwear. Any coach not conforming to the foregoing uniform standards shall be levied a penalty . PENALTY: A $25 fine will be levied to the Association for each violation. FP 4-1b
Rationale: Brings by-law to Softball Canada rule, and allows for consequences if not followed.
