Ipswich Men's Softball League 2017

Doyon 1 (front field) Doyon 2 (back field) Stephen M. Grimes Memorial Field

 

01. The Ipswich Men’s Softball League (IMSL) is a men’s softball league. The age requirement is 25 years old and players must turn 25 by May 1 of their first year of play. Eligibility guidelines to play in the league are as follows; you must meet one of these to qualify for league play:

 

A. Current or a former resident of Ipswich.

 

B. Work in Ipswich

 

C. Formerly have played in the Ipswich Over 30 League or any other Ipswich softball league.

 

D. Be a resident of Essex, Topsfield, Hamilton-Wenham or Rowley.

 

E. Be sponsored by a current player in good standing.

 

02. League Officers shall consist of a President, Treasurer, Secretary and Field Director; these are all one year elected positions. All officers’ positions will be filled by a current or past league member, except for Concessions Director

The Officers roles and responsibilities are:

 

A. President:

1. The President is the presiding officer and shall have the right to call a meeting at any reasonable time.

2. The President shall be responsible to ensure that new players meet the league’s guidelines.

3. The President is responsible for carrying out the league by-laws and acting on any recommendations of the executive committee.

4. The President will choose the selection committee each draft season, which will be four groups of two with in min d to commit parody of talent for the league success.

5. The President shall make up the league schedule in conjunction with the league officers.

6. The President is responsible to coordinate with league umpires on rain outs, scheduling and make up games if necessary.

7. The President is responsible to coordinate with the Ipswich Schools on field usage and field improvements.

 

B. Treasurer:

1. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate accounting of all league monies and expenses. He shall submit an Annual Financial Report to the IRS and league members. Any league member may ask to see the financial records.

2. The Treasurer will be responsible for collecting yearly dues and waiting list deposits.

3. The Treasurer shall have ready records for officers and/or executive committee meetings to allow cost-conscious decisions to be made.

4. The Treasurer shall pay all invoices using league funds.

5. The Treasurer shall keep records of all invoices and expenditures.

6. The Treasurer shall recommend changes to annual player dues to the League Officers.

 

C. Secretary:

1. The Secretary shall keep records of all meetings; this will include officers, executive committee or general league meetings. These records (as are most others) are open and available to any league member upon request.

2. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the master player list as well as the waiting and injured reserve lists. He shall also be responsible for verifying the age requirements of incoming players, phone numbers and email addresses when available.

3. The Secretary shall obtain weekly game summaries from each team. He shall prepare a weekly article to be included in the Ipswich Chronicle and post it to the IMSL website.

 

D. Field Director:

1. The Field Director shall ensure the fields are kept in playable conditions and that trash is cleaned up each week.

2. The Field Director shall recommend to any outside contractor services for field maintenance to the League Officers.

3. The Field Director shall ensure the fields are lined each week.
4. The Field Director shall arrange for a portable toilet to be on-site for each game.

5. The Field Director shall ensure adequate equipment is available for use at both fields. This includes a catcher’s mask, bases, 1st base safety bag and a first aid kit.

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E. Concessions Director:

1. The Concessions Director shall be responsible for procuring, transporting and serving all supplies, food and beverages.

2. The Concessions Director shall be responsible for ensuring all trash and recyclables are properly disposed of after the games are completed.

 

 

F. Players can nominate themselves for any League Officer position and will be added to the annual vote. League Officers will be elected at the last regular season game, by majority vote. League officer terms will start and end at the end of the playoff Championship Game.

 

G. Recommended changes to the by-law can be made by any member in good standing at the annual League Meeting. Changes will be made by majority vote.

 

H. In the absence of the President, a majority of the League Officers will have the right to call a meeting.

 

03. The IMSL will maintain a four-team league. This is determined by the League Officers and is predicated on the availability of active players.

 

A. Player’s dues are presently set at $90. Each player has until the second week of the season to pay. If not he does not provide payment, he will go back on the waiting list. A name will be drawn from the waiting list to fill the void.

 

B. The league will choose new teams every two years by a selection committee comprised of four team captains chosen by the League President. Officers may override selections.

 

C. Teams are to have 15 active players when possible with a maximum of 16; this is predicated on the available players. New players can be added to a team starting with the team with the smallest roster. Team trades may need to take place, at the Officers discretion, to balance team talent.

 

D. Players entering the league at any time of the first half of the season will pay full dues. Any player entering in the second half of a season shall pay half of the yearly dues. Any deposits will be deducted from either of these scenarios.

 

E. Any reserve or “waiting list” player who cannot join the league when asked may stay on the waiting list for another year; he will go to the bottom of the list.

 

04. The President shall appoint Team Managers at the beginning of each season. The assistant manager may be appointed by the Team Manager.

 

A. The team manager’s duties shall include the following:

 

1. Advise a league officer when he does not have a full roster.

2. His team is given a copy of the schedule and is ready to play when scheduled.

3. Ensure all players pay dues by the second week of the season.

4. His team is notified of any schedule changes.

5. He will ensure that all players wear a uniform or game shirt if provided by the league.

6. His team is represented at all official meetings.

7. He acts in the best interest of the league and his team.

8. He will get updated phone numbers and e-mail addresses from all players.

9. He will ensure that all his players are given a copy of the Playing Rules.

10. He will promote the use of the Web site to his team for updates and news.

11. He will submit a weekly game summary to the Secretary for the newspaper and website.

 

B. The team manager will ensure that his team picks up their bench area at the end of the day. Every team is responsible for the removal of trash in their own bench area.

 

05. It is assumed that each player in the league knows the basics of softball and will be given a copy of the Playing Rules and Ground Rules upon joining the League.

 

A. Each player is responsible for notifying his team if he will be unable to attend a scheduled week of play.

 

B. If four weeks of play are missed or three weeks in a row, the player will be dropped from the roster and forfeit his dues. The player may submit a written request to the league and request a waiver of this rule in the event of health reasons or a planned vacation.

 

C. All active players at the field must play (in the field) a minimum of 7 innings or the equivalent of one game. Any team failing to play all players 7 innings will forfeit both games. If a player is not available for playing two full games, he shall play a minimum of three ½ innings.

 

D. Players may remove themselves for injury, health or personal reasons without playing their innings; it is completely at the player’s discretion.

 

E. In a playoff best of three format when a third game is necessary all players must play a minimum of 3 innings.

 

06. The scheduled weeks of play may be postponed due to weather. All players are expected to show up regardless of weather and the President (with advice from the officers) has the final word on whether to play or call the games.

 

A. All games will start at 9 a.m. with a 15-minute grace period. Games may be delayed due to rain but no game may start after 10:00 a.m.

 

B. All rainouts are declared splits and the score will be recorded as 1-1. The decision will be made by at least one officer and one umpire at the field to ensure safety for all.

 

07. The IMSL master players list will be maintained in confidence by the league officers; the secretary is responsible for updating the list as required.

 

A. New applicants will go onto the Waiting List and will be chosen from that list in the order that they applied or at the discretion of the league officers. Once paid, the applicant’s on the waiting list can stay there indefinitely. There is no time limit for this list.

 

B. The league officers will be responsible for placement of all players onto a team. There are three lists, which a player may be selected from, and they are as follows and in this order Injured Reserve List and Reserve (waiting) list. The league’s main goal is keeping teams balanced and the officer’s reserve the right to select players from these lists to replace “like talent” when needed.

 

C. New applicants will be charged a nonrefundable fee of $10.00 to be placed on the list. This is applied to his dues when he is placed on a team.

 

D. Players may stay on injured reserve for one year. After a year, it is their responsibility to notify the league of their condition and intent. If no contact is made the league will assume they are retired.

 

08. Presently the league consists of four teams and all four teams will make the playoffs. All teams shall be seeded for the playoffs by their overall season record; 1st plays 4th and 2nd plays 3rd.

 

A. In the event of any ties for seeds, head to head record will be the first tie-breaker, followed by total overall run differential of all head-to-head matchups that season. In the event that there remains a tie, a one game playoff after the end of regular season play and on that same day.

 

B. It is the manager’s responsibility to assure that his team be notified of a possible third game and explains the possible playoff scenarios the prior week.

 

C. If a team is not ready or available to play on that day, it is a forfeit, no exceptions.

 

D. Both the semifinal round and the Championship shall be best of three series.

 

E. 1st versus 4th shall be played on Upper Field and 2nd versus 3rd on Grimes Field. The higher seed will be the home team for the first game and if necessary, the third game be determined by a coin flip

 

F. The Championship will be played on Upper Field (Doyon 1) and the higher seed will be the home team the first game and if necessary, the third game be determined by a coin flip.