Middle Essex Softball League 2012

This page was last updated on May 20, 2012 at 9:30PM

The annual meeting of the league was held on Sunday evening.  We had a nice turn-out and some good discussion about softball.  I'm off to Nature's Classroom with my students for a few days.  This means folks can have until Friday to turn in late requests for teams and complete forms where information was lacking at this time.  I will begin my work Friday.... Also, I will have limited access to email, so just keep sending me your documents and I'll work through the pile as time allows.  I will update the rest of this page over the weekend. Thank you!

Last year we had many teams drop out after the schedule was created.  This caused a lot of disruption and effected the over-all quality of the schedule and can not be tolerated.  If your program had one of those teams, you'll be required to pay the registration fee at the time of enrollment.  Registration fees will be non-refundable after June 1.  Please be sure you have a SOLID COMMITMENT from your players!

It is important that coaches attend the annual meeting.  Coaches who do attend have a better understanding of the league rules, policies and procedures.

GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS:  The league registration fee will remain the same as last year at $475 per team.  The mandatory ASA fee for individual insurance will increase this year to $11 per person.  As you know a player only has to pay this fee once per calendar year.

Proposed rule changes for 2012:  Last year we seemed to have a higher than usual number of coaches who were ejected from games by the umpire.  This sets a bad example and I would like to double the penalty from a single game suspension to two games for any player or coach who is ejected from a game.

Also, I would like to tighten up the language around roster violations.  Since playing by the rules creates a level playing field, any game in which a team uses an illegal player must result in a loss by forfeit.  The coach of any team that has used an illegal player would receive a two game suspension.  The roster rules are pretty cleared spelled out and this new sanction would only impact those who choose to violate the rules.

Next, I would like to change the percentage of games a team must complete in order to be considered for league championships.  The present rule of 85% (11 games) is not fair to those who work hard to account for each game.  I would like to move this to 100% and strictly enforce the "either play by the schedule or take a forfeit" rule that is already in place.

If anyone has any suggestions for additional rule changes, please send them to me for consideration.  Also, please feel free to comment on the above proposals.

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In the HANDOUTS section of the website you will find:  A power point presentation created for teams who might like to join the league, a Team Registration Form for 2012, the meeting notice,  a copy of our League By-Laws and our umpire assigners list from 2011 (I'll update this before the season starts).