ELECTRIC BOAT ATHLETIC CLUB
INTERDEPARTMENT SOFTBALL LEAGUE

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
1ST SHIFT-2002

REVISED: 28 May 2002

ARTICLE 1

The name of the organization shall be the Electric Boat Athletic Club (EBAC) Interdepartment Slow-Pitch Softball league.

ARTICLE 2

Its objective shall be to create interest in and to promote interdepartment softball for members of the EBAC and also provide competition with outside leagues and organizations whenever possible.

ARTICLE 3

Duties of the commissioner:

  1. He/She shall call league meetings and preside at each.
  2. He/She will be a non voting officer of all committees and the league
  3. He/She will serve as executive director of the league and in such capacity will be responsible for the enforcement of the Constitution.
  4. He/She will provide umpires and scorers for each game.
  5. Any or all of the above duties may be delegated to the Assistant Commissioner.

ARTICLE 4

Governing rule: All league games shall be governed by the Official Softball Rules as published in the official guide of the Amateur Softball Association for the current year, with the exception of rules decided on by the league (2/3 majority is needed).

ARTICLE 5

Eligibility of teams:

  1. All teams composed of members of the EBAC shall be eligible to enter.
  2. The following fees are required prior to the start of the league:
    1. A $300.00 per team entry fee which is non refundable.
    2. An $84.00 forfeit fee which will be assessed at $42.00 for each forfeit. This fee is refundable at the end of the season at the Softball Banquet.

ARTICLE 6

Composition of the league: The Commissioner shall determine the league breakdown after the team representatives have submitted a request for entrance to the league.

ARTICLE 7

Rosters and players:

  1. Rosters may be comprised of any number of players (no minimum or maximum number of players).
  2. All team rosters must be submitted to the commissioner prior to the start of the league season. Rosters will be open to add additional players throughout the season.
  3. No player shall play a league game for more than one team during the season. If a player's name appears on more than one roster, such a player shall become a bona-fide member of the team he/she has played with first. During the season, a manager may r elease any player from his/her roster to another team, with the permission of the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner, prior to competing with the new team (such decisions could be brought before the board).
  4. A team's roster is not confined to its own department. Open yard recruiting is permitted.
  5. Any member of the EBAC is eligible to participate in this program, regardless of any outside league in which he/she may be playing.
  6. The Commissioner and active EBAC league umpires may play in the league. The umpires may only umpire in the division he/she does not play in.
  7. If a player terminates from the Electric Boat Division, he/she is no longer eligible. Due to layoffs or school, a player is eligible to play until employed elsewhere.
  8. Regardless of what shift a player works, he/she can play the shift of his/her choice.

ARTICLE 8

Player's pool:

  1. A member or members of a disbanded team may continue to play in the league provided they notify the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner. (This could be brought before the board).

ARTICLE 9

Termination of players and/or Team:

  1. New membership after the season has started shall be limited to a withdrawal or termination of one or more teams. In such an event, the new team shall except the league record of the team withdrawing or terminated, besides conforming to the requirements of the league.
  2. The protest board shall have the power to terminate the membership of any league team or member, if such action is in the best interest of the league. The board shall hold such hearings considered necessary before taking action. The team or team members involved shall have the right to be heard before the board.
  3. Two-thirds of the majority of the board will be necessary to terminate the membership of any team or player. You must be present to vote.
  4. In the event of individual or team misconduct during any game, the game's umpire-in-chief shall inform the scorer, and document the incident in the official scorers book, and then present it to the Commissioner for further action or review before the protest board.
  5. The consumption of alcoholic beverages on the playing field, or in the dugout, is not permitted at any time. There will be a one game suspension enforced for any offender.
  6. A team that forfeits two games in one season will not be allowed to further play, unless another full forfeit fee is received by the Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner. The same rules will apply to the second forfeit fee.
  7. Any team found to have used players who are not members of the EBAC will forfeit all games in which these players participated. (This also should be brought before the board)

ARTICLE 10

Qualified league umpires and scorers shall be appointed by the Commissioner. The umpire-in-chief shall be in complete charge of all league games. The official scorer's decision shall be the official report.

The game:

  1. A league game shall consist of seven innings, weather conditions permitting, of which the umpire shall be sole judge once the game has started. In the event that the games don't go seven innings, the ASA Official Guide shall apply. A legal game shall consist of five innings due to the time limit that is set upon us by the park's Commissioner.
  2. The starting time for games will be given in the schedule provided to the teams prior to the start of the season. Game completion times shall be governed as follows:
    1. NO INNING MAY START AFTER 10:45 PM.
    2. All games are played Monday through Saturday, with the following times:
      1. 1st game will be 4:30 PM
      2. Last game is not to be started after 10:00 PM
  3. In case of a disputed call, only the coach or the assistant coach can discuss the call with the umpire.
  4. In the event of that a team does not have at least 9 players present at the scheduled game time, the umpire-in-chief shall grant a waiting period of 10 minutes, from the scheduled game time, before declaring a forfeit of that game.
  5. Pinch runners: Each team will be allowed a maximum of 4 instances per game where pinch runners can be used. Runners may be used strategically or as substitutes for injured players. Each instance must be recorded with the scorer prior to being used, and the opposing team made aware of the use of the pinch runner. Any player on the roster may be used as a pinch runner. A pinch runner whose turn at bat comes while he is on base will be out and will be removed from the base and come to bat. A pinch runner may not run for an existing pinch runner, except due to an in-game injury. After 4 pinch runners have been used, no further pinch runners will be allowed, with the exception of rule g.
  6. A legal slow pitch game may begin with 9 players. The 10th and/or the 11th player can be added to the game prior to batting through the order.
  7. If an injury occurs during the game, the coach has the option to substitute for the player. If you don't have a substitute, you may bypass the spot in the order, with no outs occurring (as long as the team has at least nine men to finish).
  8. Due to an ejection during a game, the coach has the option to substitute for the player, or an out will occur every time the spot comes up in the game. The team must have at least 9 players to continue playing after the rejected player has left the game.
  9. Shoes will have rubber spikes only. No metal spikes are allowed.
  10. Extra player
    1. The "EP" must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game.
    2. If an "EP" is used, all eleven must bat and any ten can play defense. Defensive positions can be changed, but the batting order must remain the same.
    3. The "EP" may be substituted for by notifying the scorer prior to batting. The substituted player then becomes the "EP". The substitute must be a player who has not yet been in the game. The starting "EP" can re-enter at a later time.
    4. A "DH" can be used in lieu of the "EP". If so, you can only bat 10 batters.
  11. If a team is ahead by 12 runs after the completion of five innings, or 20 runs after one complete inning, the game will be stopped by way of mercy.
  12. It shall be mandatory to slide at 2nd, 3rd or home if a play there is imminent. Failure to do so will result in an out being called on the offender. It shall be the umpire's decision as to whether or not a slide was necessary. Plowing into any player will not be tolerated at any time. Such action shall be brought before the board for review.
  13. Any bat considered multi-wall or enhances performance will not be allowed in any game. A list will be provided to the league captains.

ARTICLE 12

Protests: The protest board shall be made up of 5 volunteers each division. Each board will decide protest for a division other than their own (2/3 majority is needed).

  1. Only protests in accordance with rule 9 of the ASA Official Guide shall be recognized.
  2. The manager of the protesting team may file protests in writing, within 48 hrs with the commissioner or the assistant commissioner. If the protest involves a Friday game, the deadline is noon the following Monday.
  3. If the Commissioner and/or the Assistant Commissioner judge the protest legitimate, he/she will call a meeting of the protest board. Protests shall be closed meetings with only the board members and such persons as they deem necessary. The decision of the protest board is final. In the event of legal protest where replays are necessary, the protest board shall so vote and reply.
  4. If an official throws a player out of a league game, he will be suspended from league play for his next scheduled game. The protest board will determine if any further action is required.

ARTICLE 13

Postponements and Rescheduling:

  1. It will be the duty of the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner to postpone any game due to weather conditions. He/she shall notify the scheduled team managers and game officials of the decision. At game time, the umpire shall be the sole judge of the playing fields condition, and shall use his or her discretion as to play or postpone.
  2. All postponed games and replays of tie games shall be rescheduled by the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner.
  3. In order to postpone a regular scheduled game, a coach must inform the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner at least 1 week in advance. All teams are responsible for rescheduling all games they can't make. When a game is rescheduled, the manager that initiates the change must inform the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner ASAP.

ARTICLE 14

Post-season play:

  1. In order to participate in any play-off game, a player must have 18 plate appearances in an 18 game schedule, or 16 plate appearances in a 16 game schedule.
  2. Play-off arrangements will be decided on by the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner.
  3. In the event of inclement weather, post-season games already underway will be resumed, from the point of postponement by the umpires, at a later date agreed upon by all parties.

ARTICLE 15

Trophies:

  1. Trophies for team and individual performances will be supplied by the EBAC. The number of trophies will depend on the budget set by the EBAC officials. NOTE: The following are the requirements for the highest batting average and the MVP awards:
  2. Qualifications for the batting title will be 2.3 times at bat multiplied by the number of games scheduled for the regular season.(forfeit games will grant 3 at bats for each player listed in the official scorers book)
  3. The MVP award will be voted on by the team managers at the end of the regular season. NOTE: You can not vote for anybody from your own team.

ARTICLE 16

Amendments: This constitution shall take effect on opening day of the 2002 season and will not be amended during the season unless deemed necessary by the board for the good and welfare of all the teams and the league. All amendments to this constitution must have 2/3rds majority of any league member present at the meeting for any changes.


IMPORTANT: IF ANYONE IS INJURED DURING THE INTER-DEPARTMENT GAME, HE/SHE MUST REPORT IT TO AN
EMERGENCY ROOM AT A HOSPITAL WITHIN 48 HOURS, AND NOT TO THE ELECTRIC BOAT CORPORATION YARD HOSPITAL.