RGSL By-Laws 2018

Age Structure

The Rotterdam Girls Softball League, Inc shall consist of a:

• T-Ball Division for girls ages 4,5 and 6

• Mini-Minor Division for girls ages  7 and 8 (6 if one year T-Ball experience)

• Minor Division for girls ages 9 and 10 (8 if prior Mini-Minor experience)

• Junior Division for girls ages 11,12 and 13

• Major Division for girls ages 14,15,16, 17

  Divisions are determined by age of the player January 1 of the playing year (Effective in the year 2000)

   

• T-Ball division teams shall consist of not more than 13 players each and will play all league games at Eunice O. Esposito Park.

• Mini-Minor division teams shall consist of not more than 13 players each and will play all league games at Eunice O. Esposito Park. 

• Minor division teams shall consist of not more than 13 players each and will play all league games at Eunice O. Esposito Park. If the league has 4 teams there will be no travel required in the Division.

• Junior division teams shall consist of not more than 13 players each and will play all league games at Eunice O. Esposito Park.   Some travel maybe required.

• Major division teams shall consist of not more than 13 players each and will play all league games at Eunice O. Esposito Park.  Some travel maybe required

   

   

  Schedule

   

• The playing schedule approved by the Board of Directors and available to all managers in all divisions no later than April 15^th.

• There will be a mandatory meeting, by Division, for all managers and coaches at the beginning of each season, and one during the season.  There must be Board representation at this meeting

   

   

  Team Assignment

   

• The best available adult, regardless of gender, will be given the opportunity to manage.  If the best Manager and coaches are males, a woman must assume the responsibility of team representative and must be present at all practices and in the dugout for all games.

• Prospective players who were on a waiting list during the previous season will be eligible for preregistration

• Any applications received after the walk-in registration will be placed on a waiting list.  Players will be assigned to teams on a first come first, serve basis.

• Players will be re-drafted each year except in the T-Ball and Mini-Minor Divisions.  Team composition in the Major, Junior and Minor Divisions shall be determined in accordance with the draft policy adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Each team should have an equal number of players from the respective age groups as determined by the Registrar prior to the draft

• The order of draft selections shall be determined by the Board of Directors prior to the draft

• The team manager and one coach may request and be allowed to fill player positions on their team with their children and children of the same household without regard to the draft process.  If a position is available, each team is allowed a maximum of four (4) lock-ins that include the Manager and Head Coach children ONLY.  A lock-in is defined as a sibling and/or children of the same household.  The sibling can play on the same team.

   

  The player pool shall consist of an equal number of players per age and will be categorized as follows:

   

              Major Division Draft

• Pitcher

• Catcher

• Travel Player

• Equal number of 14 year olds

• Equal number of 15 year olds

• Equal number of 16 year olds

• Equal number of 17 year olds

   

  Junior Division Draft

• Pitcher

• Catcher

• Travel  Player

• Equal number 11 year olds

• Equal number of 12 year olds

• Equal number of 13 year olds

   

  Minor Division Draft

• Pitcher

• Catcher

• Any 8 year old with 1 year of Mini-Minor experience

• Equal number of 9 year olds

• Equal number of 10 year olds

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Players

   

  All players must wear the official league uniform and the League uniform will consist of black pants and uniform shirt and socks (shirt and socks provided by the League)

   

  To be eligible to play, each player shall at the beginning of the season, sign and abide by a Code of Conduct as prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.  The Code of Conduct shall include, but not be limited to the following:

• Players shall show respect to umpires, manager, coaches and other players and spectators at all times

• Players shall show respect and care for property of the league and other players

• Players shall not engage in inappropriate conduct, language, or behavior at any time

• Players shall make every effort to attend regularly scheduled practices, games and/or other league sponsored functions

• Players shall abide by the RGSL player dress code

• All players must wear the official league uniform at all games.  All uniforms shall be worn by players in a proper manner including, but not limited to, only hats and visors provided by the league, t-shirts being tucked into pants.  Managers and coaches shall wear official RGSL shirts.  Managers and coaches may wear RGSL hat.  Players will not be able to play the game if not in proper uniform.  Managers, coaches and board members are responsible for monitoring adherence with this policy.

• Safety helmets with attached face masks are mandatory and chin straps are optional must be worn by all batters, on deck batters, and base runners.  All catchers must wear complete catchers equipment including throat protector.  Long hair must be tied back.  Watches and jewelry are not to be worn.  Combs and other hard objects should be removed from player’s pockets

• Players shall not use alcohol, tobacco or drugs

• Players shall abide by the RGSL playing rules for the respective divisions.

• A player, manager, coach may be dismissed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at any time “for the good of the league”.  The individual/parents facing such action shall have the opportunity of personally appearing and discussing the circumstances before such a vote may be taken.

• Smoking, drinking and profane language by players, managers, and coaches are strictly forbidden in the dugouts and on the playing field

• No registration refunds will be made after the draft

   

  The following violations of the rules of conduct and/or dress code shall result in the sanctions as set forth:

1. Player ejection from game – the player shall be benched for the next scheduled game she attends.  The player must be present and attend in full uniform during the game that she is suspended from

2. A player’s physical abuse of any umpire, manager. Coach, player or spectator shall result in the ejection from the league

    

    

    

    

   Managers/Coaches

    

   To be eligible to manage and/or coach, each manager/coach shall at the beginning of the season sign and abide by the Code of Conduct as described by the Board of Directors from time to time.  All managers and coaches are required to do a background check prior to the start of each season.  The manager/coach Code of Conduct shall include, but not be limited to the following:

• Managers and/or coaches must be 18 years of age or older

• Managers and coaches are to be approved by majority vote at a duly constituted meeting of the Board of Directors

• Managers/coaches shall show respect to umpires, managers, coaches, players and spectators at all times

• Managers/coaches shall show respect and care for the property of the league and other players

• Manager/coaches shall not engage in inappropriate conduct, language or behavior at any time

• Manager/coaches shall make every effort to attend all regularly scheduled practices, games and or other league sponsored functions

• Manager/coaches shall abide by the RGSL manager/coaches dress code

• Managers/coaches shall not use alcohol, tobacco or drugs

• Managers/coaches shall abide by the RGSL playing rules for the respective divisions

• Managers/coaches shall refrain from any inappropriate touching, contact or other behavior towards the players

• Substitute Coaches – each team will be allowed one substitute coach.  The person is only allowed to substitute when either the manager or coach are not present.  The substitute coach will be allowed to take the field during games.  The substitute coach may be a substitute coach for one team only and may not be affiliated with any other team in the Division as a manager or coach.  Substitute coaches are to be approved by a majority vote of a duly constituted meeting of the Board of Directors and are subject to the same rules of conduct and dress as managers and coaches

• Whether a violation of the rules of conduct, and/or dress code for players, managers/coaches has been violated shall be determined by the Board of Directors.  The player/manager/coach shall have the opportunity to be heard before the Board and have the opportunity to present whatever witnesses, statements and/or other proof that they desire in their behalf.  In the event that the player/manager/coach is found to have violated the rules of conduct, and/or dress the appropriate sanction shall be solely within the discretion of the Board of Director and may result in a warning, suspension and/or ejection from the league, except as herein after set forth:

   

1. Manager/coach ejection from game – suspension from the next scheduled game that he/she would have been able to attend.  The manager/coach shall leave the park grounds upon ejection from the game, and shall not be allowed on park grounds during the game from which he/she is suspended

2. Manager/Coach physical abuse or inappropriate touching of any umpire, manager, coach, player or spectator shall result in ejection from the league

3. Manager/Coach use of tobacco on the field or use alcohol or drugs shall result in ejection from the league.  Players use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs shall result in ejection from the league.

    

   (The minimum sanction proscribed for managers/coaches/ player ejection from the game is no way precludes the Board of Directors from exercising its discretion in imposing a more severe sanction.  i.e. suspension for more than one game or ejection from the league if in their discretion the same is appropriate.)

   (In the event that the Board of Directors determines that a manager/coach has violated the playing rules of a particular division, and the violation has affected the result of the game, the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to direct that the game be replayed from the point of the violation to its conclusion.  The decision to replay the game shall be in sole discretion of the Board of Directors giving consideration to the possible effect that the rules violation may have had on the outcome of games decided on the field of play as opposed to the inappropriate actions of manager/coach

    

    

    

    

   Field/Game Responsibilities

    

• Home team is responsible for preparing the field prior to the game and The Visitor team will clean up after the game has ended.  Preparing the field must be completed at least ½ hour prior to the start of the game and shall be done by at least the manager and one adult representative from each team, as designated by the manager at each game.    No infield practice by either team shall be held until the field is properly prepared for the game

• The home team is to provide two  parents for concession stand duty as described in Concession Policy or game will not start or continue

• Home and visitors teams are responsible for clearing the field and returning all equipment to the assigned storage area

• Both teams are responsible for litter, etc from dugouts, filed and surrounding area after that game

• No practice session shall be held on any game field within one hour prior to the start of a scheduled game

• There will be no scheduled practice sessions on Field Clean up day

   

  Amended 2/04

  Revised 11/04 (pep)

  Amended 3/06

  Amended 7/108/1/2010

  Revised 11/15

  Revised 12/15