UCSSL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 3, 2013

The following is a summary of our league meeting of April 3, 2013.

All teams were represented with 23 in attendance.

Additional registration materials and sponsor fees were submitted to the league treasurer; managers were again reminded that the remainder of these materials, as well as initial team rosters, are due before the season begins.

Managers were reminded that a registration/waiver form must be signed prior to a player engaging in any team/league activity, and all registration materials must be received before a player participates in league games.

Managers were again reminded that "preliminary" rosters are due by league rule "before the scheduling meeting that is held in mid-April." Because our final pre-season meeting is early this year, managers will have until Friday April 13 to submit their initial roster, using the NJSSA form in either WORD or Excel format.

Sponsor checks are due ASAP. The team formerly sponsored by Nicolina Pizza will be sponsored by Robin's Nest this year, and the new 60+ team will be sponsored by Backyard Grill.

Gary Wiese reported that shirts will be available on Friday, April 13 or Saturday, April 14.

The league awards banquet will be scheduled for a Friday evening in late September or early October.

In February managers voted to create a "secondary player" category of players that meet the same requirements of other players but are ineligible to play in any league games. After much consideration, officers set the 2013 fee required of these players at $27 – this includes the anticipated cost of a league shirt plus the NJSSA fee. After discussion it as agreed that the Union County residency limits would not apply to these players.

There are new ASA certification marks for all bats approved for 2013 and beyond. A bat must have the new sticker, OR have either the 2000 or 2004 sticker and NOT be on the "ASA Non-Approved Bat List with Certification Marks," which currently specifies nearly 30 bats with either a 2000 or 2004 sticker that are no longer legal.

Managers received recently (or will receive soon) via email: 

2013 UCSSL Rules, 2013 Managers/Officers Listing, 2013 Schedules for both 50s and 60s, 2013 Field Permits, and links to ASA Approved and Non-approved bat lists.

Game day reminders:

Speed-up rule in effect first two weeks on unlighted fields with no infield, only two warm-up pitches after first inning.

Alternate ball in use only in first inning.

Paying umpires if a delayed rainout -- pay them $10 "show up" fee if called after a pitch has been thrown before umpire calls the game.

Do not play games on fields that are closed. Check the field "hotline" numbers and/or the county website. Also check your email in the mid to late afternoon if weather conditions are questionable.

Items that are needed as soon as possible, if you have not already submitted them:

Your sponsor's fee, remaining player registration forms and fees (please be sure that checks are payable to UCSSL, or are endorsed to UCSSL), and your preliminary 2013 roster.  (Any of these items you did not bring to the meeting will need to be delivered -- email or otherwise -- to the commissioner's home prior to the start of the season.)  Players may not participate without a signed waiver form!  Rosters should be emailed as an attachment.

The following items were distributed to managers at the meeting:

ASA Rule Book

Scorebook

Softballs -- 26 per team (covers regular season games and the first two playoff games).

Checks for umpire fees that cover all regular season games plus the first two playoff games are as follows: $494 for 12 home games (of 24 games) + one playoff game.