UCSSL MEETING MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2016

 

The following is a summary of our league meeting of February 10, 2016

 

27 were in attendance, with 20 teams represented (Waxtel Construction was not).

 

Farlan Alusik reported on the proposal for changes to the 50+ state tournament as presented at the NJSSA meeting of February 6.  The possibility of scheduling the event closer, perhaps in Middlesex County, was also discussed.  Six UCSSL teams expressed an interest in the new format.  Other county leagues will also have the opportunity to discuss the proposal prior to the next NJSSA meeting which is scheduled for March 5.

 

The 60+ Tournament, scheduled for Linden on August 27-28, will continue with the same format as in recent years.

 

The annual ASA umpires meeting will be held on February 28.  It is expected that our dues and umpire fees will remain unchanged this year.  At this meeting, the commissioner will make known his frustration due to the inability of the tech people at "The Arbiter" (our new umpire scheduling program) to correct a problem wherein he was no longer able to see our game schedule online after mid-season last year.

 

Umpires and our umpire assigner will need to be reminded that our 50+ games on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Linden now have the later start time of 6:30, not 6:15 like all of our other games.  This, and all our rules, will need to be updated on the Union County ASA website.

 

A proposal to allow players of league age 70 or older to use "senior bats" in all UCSSL league games was discussed and approved overwhelmingly.   The commissioner will create and maintain a list of eligible players prior to the start of the season.  Managers will need to be vigilant, including notifying the umpire and the opposing manager of each such player prior to the start of each game.  Bats will need to be marked (perhaps with red tape) in an effort to avoid any unintentional use by a player not "old enough" to use a senior bat.  An ineligible player unintentionally using a senior bat will be declared out but not ejected from the game.

 

A proposal to increase each team's maximum roster size from 20 to 22 was also discussed and approved by a substantial margin.

 

 

After a review of last year's scores in games between A and C teams, in a near unanimous vote 50+ Division managers agreed to adopt the same accommodations as have been used recently in the 60+ Division for all games between "stronger" and "less strong" teams for each game between an A Division team and a C Division team, with the additional provision that the C team may use an 11th fielder AND get 5 additional runs in the game.

 

60+ Division managers agreed to continue with the same Rule 11 accommodations for games between "stronger" and "less strong" teams, with the following modification: the two least strong teams can "catch up +6" but the 5 strongest teams can only score 6 runs per inning, even if behind in the game.

 

Remaining UCSSL 2016 meetings (each is a Wednesday):

 

March 9 -- Discussion and possible revision of rules.  Please review current league rules and begin preparing wording for proposals for change. Email the commissioner with any proposals for change in advance of the March 9 meeting.  Shirt orders due.  Field selection will take place, if possible.

 

April 6 -- Distribution of balls, rule books, scorebooks, and umpire fee checks.