UCSSL MEETING MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 4, 2015

The following is a summary of the league meeting of February 4, 2015:

27 were in attendance with 18 existing teams represented (D&K and Creative Too were not present).

Three umpires representing Union County ASA were present to advise us about the new umpire assignment program, "The Arbiter," that the organization is implementing this year as had been presented at the ASA meeting of this past Sunday. It was their position that our current system is more appropriate for our needs as a senior league.

Michael Schonberger and Ken Zeidner were present to make a plea for their acceptance as a 13th team in our 50+ Division this year. After much discussion, a motion was made to accept their team, Waxtel Construction, as a fifth B Division team with the stipulation that they must follow all current UCSSL rules -- including the January 31 deadline for player transfers. This motion passed overwhelmingly.

The commissioner will forward the player inquiry information he currently has, as well as future prospects, to this new team.

The schedule approved for the 50+ Division at January's meeting will only need slight modifications due to the odd number of teams: each team will play a 24 game schedule with 2 "open" nights; each team will play one game vs. each team in the other two divisions, A and C teams will play 5 games vs. teams in their own division, and each B team will play 4 games vs. each team in their division.

Bob Greco will become the new manger of Top Line Appliance this year. Paul Brody and David Levine will co-sponsor the team formerly known as Associated Auto Parts.

During a sparsely attended NJSSA meeting on January 17, league representatives were unable to decide on dates for the 2015 tournaments. Subsequent to that meeting, based on limited field availability, it was decided to schedule the 2015 NJSSA state tournaments in Linden on the following weekends:

50+ August 8-9,

60+ August 15-16

Managers recommended that the following tournament issues should be discussed at the next NJSSA meeting on March 7: there should be a meeting of managers of tournament teams prior to the start of the tourney; rules need to be specified well in advance of the tourneys, including strike mat dimensions and the number of defensive players in each division.

The long-awaited 65+ Division is coming closer to being a reality for 2015. Approximately twenty players have already consented to play and others are likely, especially if they need not commit to attending every game.

The discussion, tabled at our January meeting, regarding the appropriate way to recognize our players with 25 years of service, continued with several worthwhile suggestions. It was ultimately decided to honor players with 25 years of continuous league membership with a plaque -- similar to what was presented at the October banquet to the four men who have been in the league for all 25 years of our existence -- which will be presented each year at the year end league celebration, and to also grant these players status as our non-paid guests at that and all future banquets.

The 2015 UCSSL awards banquet is tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 2.

Two new ASA rules for seniors were discussed. Managers decided not to adopt the rule that "allows for seniors to choose not to run the bases on a Home Run or Four Base Award." UCSSL batters still must run the bases on all batted HR balls that clear a fence.

Managers also agreed to not adopt the "20 runs after 4 innings" mercy rule.

A request from the Morris County 50+ league to have our four A Division teams play games against their four A Division teams during the 2015 season led to much discussion but little interest.

In a separate 50+ Division manager meeting, a discussion of accommodations -- similar to what the "Super Seniors" initiated last season -- was discussed and tabled.

The 60+ Division managers agreed to continue to utilize the schedule format of 2014, which includes two 4 team divisions with modified schedules for the "bottom" A team and the "top" B team.

It was also decided to continue the accommodation which provides either an additional fielder or an additional run in each of innings 2 through 6, with the following adjustment: in 2015 this will apply to all games when any of the four A teams or The Office plays against Creative Too or Associated Auto.

Remaining winter meetings:

March 4 -- Discussion and possible revision of rules. Please review current league rules and begin preparing wording for proposals for change. Shirt orders due. Field selection, if possible.

April 1 -- Distribution of balls, rule books, scorebooks, umpire checks.