NYC Government Softball League
(Last Rev. 3/29/19)
NYCGSL SOFTBALL
LEAGUE BY-LAWS
I.
Purpose
II.
Bank
Account
III.
Registration
and Teams
IV.
League
and Playing Rules
V.
Behavior
VI.
Playoff
Rules
VII.
Tie-Breakers
For Regular Season Seeding And Playoffs
VIII.
Protests
IX.
Weather
Conditions
X.
Makeup
and Game Information
I Purpose
To offer a well-organized
sports program that promotes sportsmanship and provides enjoyment and fun for
each and every participant. Herein these by-laws only cover those games
sponsored by the New York City Government Softball League (NYCGSL).
II BANK
ACCOUNT
League
Bank account is at Ally Bank. Please
Remit ASA fee $40 by April 5, 2019. Please remit permit fees (undetermined
amount) by June 14, 2019. Payments to be made to Ally Bank at [email protected] or [email protected]
III Registration
and Teams
1.
The New
York City Government Softball League (NYCGSL) is a softball league formed by players
from agencies and departments of the City of New York.
2.
The NYCGSL
administration will be composed of one (1) or two (2) members of each team represented
and playing in this league. Each representative will have full rights as a
member of the NYCGSL with voice and vote when deciding league matters.
3.
Each NYCGSL
team is formed by players from an agency or a department within the agency.
4.
Each
team may have a nickname. Team nicknames that the NYCGSL administration feel
are vulgar or suggestive will not be permitted.
5.
There
are sixteen (16) teams in the league.
City
Council |
NYCC |
LegiStars |
City
Planning |
DCP |
Overlayers |
Manhattan
DCAS |
DCAS |
Bombers |
Department
of Education |
DOE |
Skolars |
Department
of Finance |
DOF |
Greenbacks |
Fire
Department |
FDNY |
Chiefs |
Health
+ Hospitals |
HEALTH |
Cyclones |
Human
Resources Administration – FIA |
HRA |
Heavy Hitters |
HRA
- Office of Legal Affairs |
OLA |
Bad News
Barristers |
HRA
- Management Information Systems |
MIS |
Metros |
Dept
of Information Technology & Telecomm. |
DoITT |
Hackers |
Mayor’s
Office |
MAYORS |
Bears |
NYC
Employee Retirement Systems |
NYCERS |
Tier Ones |
NYC
Housing Authority |
NYCHA |
Skyliners |
Office
of Management & Budget |
OMB |
Budgeteers |
Department
of Transportation |
DOT |
Road Warriors |
6.
The
League is split into 2 Divisions Leaders & Legends:
a.
The 8
Teams in the Leaders Division for the 2019 Season are: DOT, HRA, OLA, DOE, DCP,
MO, NYCC, OMB.
b.
The 8
Teams in the Legends Division for the 2019 Season are: DOF, DCAS, NYCHA, MIS,
FDNY, DOITT, NYCERS, HPD.
7.
Teams
can have up to four (4) “Non-Employee” (NEP) players (Players with no
affiliation to the agency) and 3 “Grandfathered” players (Players who used to
work at that Agency and no longer work there). These players must be included
and indicated on the teams’ rosters.
8.
Team rosters must
be submitted to the NYCGSL administration to have players registered in the
league. There will be no maximum or minimum amount of players in these rosters.
Teams can add and/or remove employee or grandfathered players from the roster
until June 1. NEP players can only be
added to the initial roster at the beginning of the season and, if having a
total of four NEPs, cannot be replaced during each successive season. Persons not on the roster are ineligible to
play official league games. Managers shall send roster changes/updates to the
Commissioner’s email address. Changes will be accepted up to two hours before
the game. The deadline in which to make changes to the roster is June 1. All players must play in at least 4 games to
be eligible for the playoffs.
9.
Team
rosters MUST contain at least two female players.
10.
Transfers:
Once employee players are included on a team roster, they cannot be transferred
to other teams during the season unless they have changed agencies to that
specific team and wish to transfer to that specific team. The player has the
sole discretion to stay on their current team for that season as an employee
player and be “grandfathered” the following season or join their new agency
team the following season.
11.
Free
Agency: If a Player (Employee, NEP, Grandfathered) who played on a current or
former team during a season, that player is ineligible to join another team
during the season as a free agent. However, after the current season is
concluded a Player may choose to leave their current team and join another team
as an “Employee”, “NEP” or “Grandfathered”. The Commissioner shall have final
approval of all Free Agency moves.
12.
Trading:
There is absolutely no trading of Players in the NYCGSL.
13.
Team
rosters should include basic player information:
a)
Last
Name (Required)
b)
First
Name (Required)
c)
E-Mail
(Optional)
d)
Jersey
Number (Optional)
e)
NEP
(Y/N)
f)
Grandfathered
(Y/N)
IV League and Playing Rules
1. Games consist of seven innings of play.
Team that scores most runs wins.
2. NYCGSL games will be umpired, and teams
must contribute their equal and apportioned share for the cost ASA membership
and of umpires.
3. Team uniforms, although encouraged, are
not required.
4. Rubber or plastic cleats will be allowed
on any field. METAL CLEATS will not be
allowed at any time.
5.
Forfeits
a)
The
minimum number of players to start an official game is nine (9).
b)
Games
should start at the indicated time scheduled by the NYCGSL. At the consent of
the team manager with a sufficient number of players, the start of the game may
be delayed to allow the other team to field a team
with a minimum roster, however, no game can be started more than fifteen
minutes after the scheduled game time.
c)
If a
team can’t provide the minimum of 9 players, they officially forfeit the game. The game can be played with borrowed players
from the other team, but the result of this scrimmage
game will have no effect on the standings.
d)
Team will
forfeit a game if it refuses to continue playing after an argument or call once
the game has started.
6. Hitting and fielding practices will only
be allowed before the scheduled game time.
7. Pitching style will be defined as “3’-6’
Arc”. It will be a lobbed pitch ball.
The ball after leaving the pitchers hand should reach a minimum height of 3
feet from the release point and not travel higher than 6 feet from the ground. NO FLAT PITCHING. NO FAST PITCHING. ALL
FLAT OR FAST PITCHES will be considered BALLS.
8. Home teams will provide two (2) softballs
per game. Brand new softballs are preferable, but reasonably good, playable
condition softballs will be allowed.
9. Games will be played with a soft “Clincher”
ball.
10. Casts or braces made from hard plastic or
metal materials are not allowed to be worn while participating in the game.
11. Each
coach or manager, prior to the start of the game, must complete the official
lineup/scorecard with the correct date, team name, and full names of all his/her
players. Managers must also corroborate the official lineup/scorecard, checking
that the score is listed correctly after completion of each inning.
12. At the end of each game Managers will
photograph teams’ scorecards (where feasible). The scorecard should have names
of each player, jersey #(if applicable), position
played, with final score as well as HRs. Managers will
send a photograph of the scorecard to the Commissioner.
13. A game will be considered an official game
if five (5) innings have been played (4 1/2) if the home team is winning. If a
game is stopped before it is an official game due to weather or other event,
the entire game may be replayed at a later date.
14. Extra-Innings rule: Games tied after seven
(7) innings, will continue to be played until a team is ahead after a complete
extra-inning of play or the home team scores the winning run in the
extra-inning. Both managers should agree when to stop the game due to weather
conditions or darkness. If the game has to be stopped by managers’ decision, it
has to be at the completion of a complete inning. Game will continue be played
the next time both teams meet again. If the game has to be stopped due to rain
in the middle of an extra-inning, continuation of the game will start at the
beginning of the extra-inning.
15. Players attempting to reach a base should
slide or give themselves up if a defensive player is in the act of making a tag
(with the ball in their glove) or catching the ball. Base runners should
attempt to avoid contact with the defensive player and give themselves up if
the out is imminent. If contact does occur and excessive force or intent to
make contact with a defensive player is made, the base runner will be called
out.
16. Stealing bases is not allowed. Baserunners may only leave base after the bat
crosses the plane of home plate during a swing. Base-runners will be called out by umpire if
caught leaving the base ahead of time. If the batter swings and misses, the
base-runner has to return to the base.
17. Each team must play at least two (2) women
AT ALL TIMES.
a)
In
event a team cannot field two (2) women, but rather only one (1) woman, that
team is limited to having only eight (8) men and that one (1) woman on the
field. For the batting lineup, that team
is limited to having only nine (9) batters in the lineup (8 men and 1 woman)
throughout the game. There will be an
automatic out at the end of the lineup (#10th batter in the lineup).
In event of the late arrival of the second woman, that woman cannot play in the
field until she has her first plate appearance; additionally, the batting
lineup is limited to ten (10) batters once the second woman arrives.
b)
If a
team has no women, that team shall forfeit.
18. There is no
lineup limitations except as stated above in 5 and 17 above. The only exception
is that both your women hitters must hit in the top 11 of your lineup.
19. Courtesy-runners will be treated as
pinch-runners. The batter must reach base safely first. A courtesy-runner will
be any player on the bench that is not
in the lineup (if applicable). A team is allowed ONE courtesy-runner per inning. A Second courtesy-runner maybe granted upon the opposing managers
approval and in case of injury. If the batting order goes around during this
inning, the courtesy-runner will occupy the at-bat of the original batter for
that inning. If this happens, the courtesy-runner should play at least one
inning in the field before he can be replaced by the original batter in the
platoon.
20. Mound distance: Mound distance is 43ft
(except for McLaughlin). Women pitchers are allowed to pitch anywhere between
40ft and 43ft.
21. The pitcher must pitch from the pitching rubber.
The pitcher shall take position with at least one foot on the pitching rubber.
The pitcher must pitch the ball towards home plate once motion has begun. There
will be no faking or hesitation pitching allowed.
22. Balls & Strikes: Umpires will call
pitches either balls or strikes; pitches crossing the plane of homeplate at or above the batter’s knees but at or below
the chest (strikezone) will be called strikes. The only deviation from standard softball
rules regarding balls and strikes is that a batter is allowed one (1) courtesy
foul when s/he has two (2) strikes; therefore, no batter will have more than
four (4) swings for each plate appearance, unless the umpire determines that a
“do-over” for any play is appropriate.
23. Walk Rule: If you walk a man intentionally
by either pitching four (4) consecutive balls to start an at bat or designating
an intentional walk to the umpire before the start of an at bat to get to a
woman hitter, that woman hitter has the option of also taking a walk or taking
her at bat as scheduled.
24. Pinch-Hitters: Players who are pinch hit
for may re-enter the game, and the pinch hitter cannot re-enter the game. If a
player is pinch hit for 2x they are removed from the game.
25. Mercy Rule: A game must go a full 5 innings.
Once a team is up by 15 runs the game is over (Home team has option of playing
bottom of the 5th inning if up by 15 in the 5th inning). Teams may scrimmage
after the game. This rule is not applicable for the Playoffs.
26. Items that are not specifically addressed
in the by-laws are left to the discretion of the NYCGSL administration.
IV Behavior
1. Threats or assaults toward any member of
the league during a game will result in that person being ejected from the
game.
2. Profane or abusive language directed at an
official or arguing in an abusive manner with an official during a game will
not be tolerated. Such actions will result in the player being ejected from the
game. Players that have been ejected must immediately leave the field.
Continued use of profane language after ejection will result in the possible
suspension of the player.
3. Fighting among players before, during or
after a NYCGSL sponsored event will result in the players involved being ejected
from the game. Profane or abusive language between players may result in the
offender(s) being ejected from the game.
4.
Umpires
have complete control of the field and surrounding area(s) and also have the
power to remove any player(s) who exhibit any of the above behavior.
V Playoff Rules
1. There is a four-game minimum requirement
for players to be eligible for the playoffs. Players must be listed on the team’s official
roster by the end of day on June 1.
2. All playoff games will be seven innings. Playoff
games cannot end in ties and will be played until a winner is determined.
3. Playoff schedule will be determined by the
Commissioner.
4. There is no Mercy Rule in the Playoffs.
VI Tie-breakers
for regular season Division seeding and Championship Seeding
Should any teams have identical win-loss
records during the regular season, the team rankings/seeding for post-season
play will be determined as follows:
Two
(2) Teams with Identical Records:
1. Head
to Head Tiebreaker Scenario:
Two teams, same record having played against each other during regular
season: Head-to-head record determines tiebreaker. If there is still a tie (played
Division Opponent 2x or a cancelled Division game) the following Tie Breakers
will be used:
1. Division
Record
2. Run
Differential
3. Coin
Toss
Multiple
Teams with Identical Records:
1. Multiple
Teams Tiebreaker Scenario:
More than two teams, same record, all having played against each other during
regular season: The Following tie
breakers will be used.
1.
Head-to-head record;
2.
Division Record;
3.
Run Differential;
4.
Coin Toss.
2. Once a multiple tie break is settled the
remaining teams go through either the Head to Head or Multiple Teams Tiebreaker
Scenario until all tiebreakers have been resolved.
CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME Home field advantage
If the Championship teams have an
identical win-loss record during the regular season, the team that will receive
home field during the Championship game is determined as follows:
1. Head
to Head:
2. *Common
Opponents (Common Opponents will only be used in the event there is an even
amount of games played between the teams and the Common Opponents)
3. Run Differential (Regular Season)
4. Coin
Toss
VII Protests
1.
Protests
will be considered during the Playoffs only. Protests will be heard by a 3 person panel made up of the Commissioner and both
Assistant Commissioners of the league Currently the panel is David Miller, Juan
Ripoll, and Jeremy Weinstein. If a protest occurs during the game of one of the
panelists then they will be substituted by one of two Alternates Allyson
Gill-Lambert and Juton Hortstman.
2.
Protests
will be submitted within 24 Hours of the occurrence. Both Teams involved and the umpire must submit via e-mail, the
occurrence under protest and how it effected the
final outcome of the game.
3.
The
panel will either deny or uphold the protest. Panel decisions are final. How
the panel votes is strictly confidential. If the panel denies the protest no
written decision is needed. If the panel upholds the protest a written
explanation will be delivered to the league 24 HRS after receipt of the
protest.
VIII Weather
Conditions
1. Before the game starts, only managers can
cancel a game. Once the game starts only the umpire can cancel a game.
2. Managers, their designees and the umpire should
contact each other two (2) hours before game time to confirm if the game is on
or if it will be cancelled.
3. If no announcement has been made or after
a game has started, all decisions to cancel due to weather and field conditions
will rest with the umpire assigned to the game.
4. A game can be postponed due to darkness.
ix Makeup and game information
1. If a game is postponed due to weather or
field conditions then the NYCGSL administration will reschedule games at the
end of the current schedule or on any available date to finish the season. If
numerous rainouts occur, the NYCGSL administration reserves the right to cancel
games.
2. MAKEUP SCHEDULES WILL BE SENT VIA E-MAIL.
3. Access game schedules, team standings, and
other league information at the NYCGSL website http://www.nycgsl.com.