UCSSL MEETING MINUTES FOR JANUARY 31, 2018
The following is a summary of our league meeting of January 31, 2018:
37 were in attendance, with all 23 teams represented.
Creative I will now be known as Yogi's Boys. New sponsors are being sought by the former Creative Too and
Gary Wiese reminded managers that shirt order forms are due no later than the March league meeting. Shirts and hats should only be ordered for those in need. Any equipment needs should also be indicated on the shirt order form.
Rich Grossberg reported that he has notified the county that because of the poor drainage that resulted in numerous cancellations at Unami it is unacceptable for us to use that field this season. He also expressed dissatisfaction and objection to their limited one day per week policy of lining fields. His letter has been forwarded to the county administrator. Meisel Baseball has been procured for Tuesdays. We may have Mondays as well.
Rich has also sent a letter to Scotch Plains Recreation thanking them for their ongoing support of UCSSL, with a request for additional time at Jerseyland or any other field. He is awaiting their answer.
Ed Kushner reported additional availability at
Tremley -- Mondays, Tuesdays,
Thursdays
Memorial #3 -- Tuesdays, possibly
Thursdays
On January
13, at the second NJSSA meeting in preparation for the 2018 season, the
following tournament dates were announced:
50+
Tournament July 28 Rain Date July 29 Linden
60+
Tournament August 18 Rain
Date August 19 OR
August
25 Rain Date August 26 Linden
70+
Tournament August 23
(Thursday) Warren Park, Woodbridge
In a meeting
of 60+ managers prior to the regular league meeting, the 7 options for a 2018
schedule in the 60+ Division were reviewed by the commissioner. After discussion, managers voted their
preference to adopt the following format for the 60+ Division for 2108 (and
beyond if it continues to be a 9 team league).
A
Division consists of 5 teams, B Division 4 teams. Schedule consists of 24 regular season
games. Each team plays every team in
their division 4 times, each team in the other division 2 times. B Division also plays two bumper games.
After a
lengthy discussion of the physics involved as identified by available
independent research as a comparison between the softball used last year
(Tattoo 52/300) and the ball used in prior seasons (SB-12 44/375), including
comments regarding the relative safety of each of the softballs under
consideration, managers voted 16-2 to use a 52/300 softball this year. Officers have been charged with considering
softballs from a wide range of manufacturers, comparing relative safety, cost
benefits and whether made in
After a
review by the commissioner of the 7 options under consideration for our
enlarged 14 team 50+ Division, and much discussion by managers, a motion to
also consider the possibility of a
two division configuration was proposed, passing by a vote of 8-5. Two division breakdowns of 8A/6B, 7/7 and 6/8
will be considered and presented to managers prior to the next meeting. Those scenarios, as well as the first four 3
division proposals, will be discussed and voted upon at the March meeting so
that our new 50+ schedule can be created in time for field selection at the April league meeting.
A few
possible rules revisions were discussed briefly and tabled until our annual
"rules meeting" in March.
In response to a request, officers will schedule a pre-season time to test any bats that have been purchased new since last season's bat testing. Bats previously approved in 2017 will be valid until the end of on-field testing this year; they will not be eligible for pre-season testing.
Remaining UCSSL 2018 meetings (each is a Wednesday):
March 7 --
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 7 meeting. Shirt
orders due.
April 4 --
Field selection. Distribution of balls,
rule books, scorebooks, umpire fee checks.