By Laws to Colonie Little League Constitution I. Teams A. The League will operate Minor and Major levels of play as follows: Ages Division 4-5 T-Ball 6 Jr. Pees Wee 7-8 Pee Wee 9-11 Intermediate 9-12 Majors 5-18 Rita Murphy Challenger Upon parental request and in consideration of the ability of the player, the Player Agent is authorized to: 1. Assign 5 or 7-year-old players to a Jr. Pee Wee team, 2. Assign 6 or 9-year-old players to a Pee Wee team, 3. Assign 12-year-old players to an Intermediate team (approval from District 13 Administrator is required). 4. Assign players older than 18 to the Challenger division. B. Number of Players on a Team. 1. All major teams will be assigned a minimum of 12 players unless a lesser number is approved by the Board of Directors. 2. All minor teams will be assigned a minimum of 10 players. 3. Tee Ball teams will be assigned a minimum of 7 players. 4. Number of players on the Challenger teams will be determined by the Challenger Division Coordinator C. Managers and Coaches 1. Each team will have a manager appointed by the President as approved by the Board of Directors. 2. The team manager will select coaches. 3. The team manager and coaches of all major division teams must be members of the Board of Directors in good standing. Managers of all minor division teams must be members of the Board of Directors in good standing. 4. Only members of the Board of Directors with a minimum of two years as a Board of Directors member may be appointed a Major s manager. The President may waive the two-year requirement for Major managers. 5. For the Major division, members must notify the President of their intention to seek a Major manager s position prior to the final Board of Directors meeting each year and specify which team(s) manager position they seek.
6. At the finala Board of Directors meeting for the yearprior to the draft each year, the President will conduct a vote of all members present to determine who the Major division managers will be for the following year. 7. The Board of Directors will then vote to approve the managers and the The President will appoint those approved by the Board of Directors. 8. Team managers are required to attend no less than 80% of all team practices and scheduled games. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disciplinary action by the President including rescinding a manager s appointment and approving a replacement manager. Rescinding a manager s appointment must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors at a duly constituted meeting. II. Player Registration A. An annual registration fee for players must be approved by the Board of Directors. The approved registration fee will be posted on the Colonie Little League web site. B. Parents unable to pay the registration fee, due to financial issues, can be exempted from the full fee as determined by the President. The President has the authority to apply conditions to the exemption (such as serving additional concession stand duties). C. Registration fees must be paid by March 1 st of each year. Failure to pay the fee by March 1 st will result in a $20 late payment fee. D. The Player Agent will hold at least two open registration events each year after January 1 st and prior to March 1 st. However, players may register prior to January 1 st. E. Any player registering after March 1 st of each year will be accommodated if player openings exist in the division in which the player is eligible to participate. E.F. The President, with Board of Directors approval can waive the registration fee for any player. III. Player Fundraiser A. The League will conduct one player fundraiser each year as determined by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. B. All registered players must participate in the fundraiser. C. In the event a player does not participate in the fundraiser, appropriate action (which may include releasing the player from the League) may be taken by the President. The Board of Directors must approve the release of any player due to nonparticipation in the fundraiser. IV. Fields A. The League will maintain a baseball field for each division of play except for the Challenger division. B. The Challenger division games will be played on the Major division field. C. The League fields have been designated as follows: 1. Tee Ball Kopach Field 2. Jr. Pee Wee Pocaro Field 3. Pee Wee J.T. Garry Field 4. Intermediate Westfall Field 5. Major Field Bergbold Field
V. Schedules
A. The League Secretary will prepare schedules annually for each division based on the number of teams in the division. B. Games may be played each day of the week except Sundays. However, cancelled or postponed games may be rescheduled on Sundays or other days of the week. C. Starting times all games will be determined by the Board of Ddirectors each year: D. At the discretion of the Vice President of Operations, starting times may be changed to accommodate special situations. E. Cancelled, postponed or incomplete games will be scheduled on dates and at times as determined by the Vice President of Operations. F. The number of games scheduled each year for each division will be determined by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. VI. League Championships A. Each year a League championship series will be scheduled for each division, except Tee- Ball and Challenger, after completion of the regularly scheduled games. B. The format for the Major division championship series will be determined by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors C. The format for other division League championship series will be determined by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. VII. Player Achievement Awards A. Every player will receive a trophy, certificate or memento at the end of the season in recognition of their participation in the League. B. Any of the following Annual Special Achievement Awards may be authorized by the Board of Directors as follows: 1. Pee Wee Division Sportsmanship awards for up to two players from each team as selected by the team manager. 2. Intermediate Division a. Sportsmanship awards for up to two players from each team as selected by the team manager, b. Most Valuable Player Award as selected by the Intermediate division managers c. Outstanding Pitcher Award as selected by the Intermediate division managers, d. Home Run Title Award for the player(s) with the most home runs for the regular season, e. No-Hitter Award for players pitching a complete game no-hitter during the regular season. 3. The process for determining award winners is at the discretion of the President. 4. Major Division a. Sportsmanship awards for up to two players from each team as selected by the team manager, b. Outstanding 12-Year-Old Award, c. Most Valuable Player Award, (may not receive an award as listed in paragraph (b). d. Home Run Title Award for the player(s) with the most home runs for the regular season,
e. No-Hitter Award for players pitching a complete game no-hitter during the regular season. f. Batting Title Award as determined by official batting statistics (minimum of 40 at bats) for the regular season as maintained by the Vice President of Operations or another official designated by the President. C. The process for determining award winners as listed in paragraph 32(b) 32(c), 4(b) and 4(c) above is as follows: 1. Each team manager can nominate up to two players from the team for each award, 2. A secret ballot for each award will be conducted. 3. Each manager and senior coach will be allowed to vote for a first, second and third choice for each award, 4. The player agent will collect the secret ballots, 5. The player agent will score each ballot: five points for each first choice, three points for each second choice and one point for each third choice, 6. The player(s) with the most points will win the award. 7. Results must be confirmed by the President or his/her designee. 8. All awards must be approved by the Board of Directors. D. Awards will be presented as determined by the President. VIII. All Star Teams A. Major Division (11-12-Year-Old Team) 1. An 11/12-Year-Old All Star team will be selected to participate in the Little League Baseball, Inc. authorized tournament. 2. Any Major division manager or senior coach can volunteer to manage the allstar team. If more than one person volunteers, an election conducted by the Board of Directors will determine the manager. 3. The manager will select the players to participate on the team. The number of players selected must be in accordance with Little League Baseball, Inc. rules and regulations. The President must approve the manager s selection of players. All selected players must meet Little League Baseball, Inc. requirements for participation in all-star tournaments. 4. The manager will select coaches for the team. B. Major Division (10-11 and 9-10-Year-Old Teams) 1. For the 10/11-Year-Old All Star team and the 9/10 Year-Old All Star team, the manager/coach selection and player selection process will be the same as noted in paragraph A(3) abovedetermined by the President. However, Aall players selected as all-stars must have played in the Major division and participated in at least 60 percent of his/her team s regular season games. An exception for 10- year old all-star may be approved by the President. C. Other Tournaments. 1. Colonie Little League teams may choose to participate in other Little League approved tournaments. However, Colonie Little League will not be responsible for any costs associated with these tournaments. Teams will be allowed to use Colonie Little League equipment, uniforms and fields for these tournaments. D. Minor Division
1. Each year the League will select at least one 7/8-Year-Old All Stat team and at least one 8/9-Year-Old All Star team. 2. Any Minor Division manager or coach can volunteer to manage these teams. If more than one person volunteers, the Board of Directors will conduct a vote to determine the manager. 3. The managers will select coaches for the teams. All coaches must be approved by the President. 4. Selection of players will be done by the manager and approved by the President. E. Managers 1. All managers will be appointed by the President and must be approved by the Board of Directors. IX Tournaments A. The 9/10, 10/11 and 11/12 All Star teams will participate in the Little League Baseball, Inc. sponsored tournaments each year. Additionally, they may participate in other tournaments as approved by the President. Participation in tournaments that include non-little League teams must be approved by the District 13 Administrator prior to participation. B. Minor division All Star teams will participate in District 13 sponsored tournaments each year. Additionally, they may participate in other tournaments as approved by the President. Participation in tournaments that include non-little League teams must be approved by the District 13 Administrator prior to participation. C. Funding a. Each year the League may provide financial assistance to Major Division All-Star teams participating in Little League Baseball, Inc. tournaments as follows: Registration Fees b. Up to $40 per day for each player if the tournament location New York Sections 3 or 4 c. Up to $30 per day for each player if the tournament location is in New York Sections 1 or 2 and at least 120 miles from Colonie Little League. X. Board of Director Member Duties. A. All members of the Board of Directors are required to attend Board of Directors meetings, assigned scheduled work days, and contribute to the management of the League operations and facilities as directed by the President unless excused by the President or Secretary. Failure to attend meetings or assigned schedule work days may result in disciplinary action as follows: 1. Any Board of Directors Member that misses three monthly Board of Directors meetings within the League s fiscal year may have their Board membership suspended for the remainder of the year or another period as determined by the President. Other disciplinary action may be taken as deemed appropriate by the President. 2. If a Member misses three monthly Board of Directors meeting in two consecutive years, the President, with the Board of Directors approval may suspend the individual for a period of time as determined by the President or terminate the individuals Board membership with Board of Directors approval. Other disciplinary action may be taken as deemed appropriate by the President.
3. Members may be excused from meetings by notifying the Secretary or President prior to the meeting. The Secretary or President must provide approval of the absence. Such absence will not be counted as a missed Board of Directors meeting. B. Additionally, all Members are required to work a duty shift at the park each week, unless exempted. Each non-exempted Member will be assigned a weekly duty shift by the Secretary. The Secretary will also assign duty shifts for any All-Star games hosted by the League. Failure to show up and work the assigned duty shift may result in disciplinary action as follows: 1. First offense verbal warning 2. Second offense warning letter, suspension or other action as determined by the President 3. Third and subsequent offenses suspension, termination or other action as determined by the President. Any suspension or termination action will be taken in accordance with Article 11 and 12 of the Colonie Little League Constitution. If a Member is unable to work their duty shift, they are responsible for obtaining a substitute to work the shift. C. Members exempt from the duty shift include the following: 1. President 2. Executive Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasure 5. Player Agent 6. Safety Officer 7. Vice President-Finance 8. Vice President-Operations 9. Umpire-in-Chief 10.9. Vice President-Community Affairs, sponsorship and Fundraising 11.10. Officers with over 10 years as a Board of Director Member 12.11. Members in good standing of the Parent s Auxiliary D. The President with the approval of the Board of Directors may exempt additional members. XI. Conduct of Players, Mangers, Coaches, Parents/Guardians and League Officers A. All officers, managers, coaches, players and parents/guardians must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the requirements of Little League Baseball, Inc. B. The League President shall have the power to temporarily suspend any officer, manager, coach or player. The Board of Directors, by a two-thirds vote of the membership at any duly constituted meeting, shall have the power to terminate any officer, manager, coach or player when the conduct of such person is considered detrimental to the best interests of the League or Little League Baseball, Inc.
C. Conduct considered detrimental to the best interests of the League or Little League Baseball, Inc. shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Use of obscene or indecent language, 2. Verbally or physically attacking, or threaten to attack, another person, 3. Smoking or consuming alcoholic beverages on the playing fields during scheduled activities, 4. Use of illegal drugs or other substances on Little League property, 5. Demonstrate, or incite others to demonstrate, unsportsmanlike conduct especially in relation to an umpire s or scorekeeper s judgment call, and 6. Being at the League facilities under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during a scheduled Little League game. D. Conduct detrimental to the best interests of the League or Little League Baseball, Inc. will result in the immediate ejection of the offender from the facilities of the Colonie Little League. Furthermore, if the offender is a manager, coach, or officer, the infraction shall be reported to the League President, within 24 hours. The League President shall investigate the incident, including conducting appropriate interviews. If it is determined that misconduct occurred, then the following disciplinary actions may be taken: 1. First Offense: The League President will temporarily suspend the manager or coach for their next game and give a written warning that a second infraction may result in a recommendation to the Board of Directors that the manager or coach be suspended for the remainder of the playing season and all post-season games. For a League officer the written warning will also indicate that a second infraction will result in a recommendation from the League President that the officer be removed from the Board of Directors. The President must make a full report to the Board of Directors at the next scheduled meeting. 2. Second Offense: A manager, coach, or League officer will be removed from their respective assignment(s) for the remainder of the regular Little League season and all post-season games. If the offender is a League officer, the Board of Directors may terminate the offenders membership. A terminated League officer may apply to the Board of Directors for reelection to the Board of Directors for the next or subsequent years. E. Lesser disciplinary action may be imposed for a first offense within a five-year period if approved by the Board of Directors. F. In the case of a player, the Board of Directors shall give notice to the manager of the team of which the player is a member. Said manager shall appear, in the capacity of an advisor, with the player and his/her parent or guardian before the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may take appropriate disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension or revocation of such player's right to future participation in the Colonie Little League program. A player who is suspended may return to the team roster after the suspension is served. A player that is revoked or terminated may request reinstatement for the next year and be reinstated with the approval of the Board of Directors.
G. In the case of a parent/guardian or other person who is not a member of the Board of Directors, conduct considered detrimental to the best interests of the League or Little League Baseball, Inc. will result in the immediate ejection of the individual from the League facilities. In addition, the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may impose additional penalties. XII. Arbitration Procedures for Manager/Coach and Parents/Guardian Conflicts A. It is desirable that all conflicts involving managers/coaches and parents/guardians be resolved quickly between them. However, when these conflicts progress to the point where they cannot be reasonably resolved then this situation must be brought to the attention of the President. B. Under the direction of the President, a panel may be appointed to provide a forum for the manager/coaches and parents/guardian to resolve conflicts involving interpretation of Little League Rules and Regulations and/or grievances against the League or League volunteers. C. The Panel appointed by the President will consist of the following: 1. A Board of Director Member not involved in the division in question 2. A Major division manager/coach not involved with the team in question. 3. A manager/coach from another division not involved in the conflict 4. A parent from the division involved in the conflict other than a manager or coach and not from the team involved in the conflict. 5. Others as determined by the President. D. The panel will be empowered to hear complaints involving discrimination (such as sex, race, and national origin), acts by League volunteers beyond granted authority, interpretation of Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations, League rules and policy and other issues as determined by the President. E. The primary objective of the panel is to assist managers, coaches, and parents/guardians in resolving disputes and to ensure that the affairs of the League are administered according to established policies and operating procedures of the League. F. The panel is not authorized to make or change existing rules, regulations, policies or bylaws of the League. Its only role is to hear all sides of the issue (referred to them) and attempt to settle differences between the parties involved. G. At the conclusion of the discussions between the parties, the panel will recommend appropriate action to the President. The President will determine the action to be taken after taking into consideration the panel s recommendation. XIII. Player Try-Outs and Draft Each year the League will may conduct a player try-out and draft for the Major division and may conduct a try-out and draft for the Intermediate division. The Player Agent or their representative will be responsible for conducting the try-outs and drafts including setting times and dates and preparing and distributing a list of players electing to try out. For the Major division try-out, all 9, 10, 11 and 12-year-old players are eligible to participate. For the International try-out, all 9, 10, and 11-year-old players are eligible to participate. All players
B.A. Managers for the major division will redraft its team each year immediately following the tryouts for new major players. The draft procedure must be in accordance with Little League, Inc. rules, regulations and policies. The following rules will be in place for this draft: 1. The order of the draft will be determined by the seeding from the previous year beginning with the lowest seeding and ending with the major champion (i.e. the 6 th seed will choose 1 st, the 5 th seed 2 nd, etc.). In the event of a tie, a toss of a coin will be the tie-breaker. Teams involved in a tie, will alternate selection order for each round of the draft. Seeding is determined by the teams league record. 2. All players participating on a major team from the previous year must be drafted. 3. Unless approved by the District Administrator, all 12-year-old players must be drafted by a major team 4. Before the draft begins, each manager will be given an opportunity to declare an option for their daughter or son. The son/daughter must be drafted in the round based on the player s age as follows: I. Age 9 or 10 Round 5 II. Age 11Round 4 III. Age 12Round 3 5. Brother(s)/Sister(s) Option If two or more siblings are eligible to be drafted, a declaration is required at the time the manager drafts the first sibling. If the option is exercised, the other sibling must be drafted in the next round. 5.6. The President may establish additional rules with the approval of the Board of Directors C.B. Managers or coaches may not conduct, participate in, or attend private player try-outs. Failure to abide by this rule will result in the suspension of the manager/coach for the upcoming season. D.C.After the draft, the team roster may not include more than eight players in any age group unless approved by Little League Baseball, Inc. E.D. If conducted, the Intermediate division draft will be held following the Intermediate team try-out and will be conducted by the Player Agent or their representatives as follows: 1. All 9, 10, and 11-year-old players not selected for a major team are eligible for the tryout and draft. This includes those players that participated on an International division team the previous season. 2. Twelve-year-old players approved for Intermediate division play by the President with the concurrence of the District 13 Administrator are eligible to be drafted. 2.3. Eight year old players may try out with the approval of the President. 3.4. The Player Agent will prepare and distribute a list of players eligible to be drafted to each manager prior to the draft. 4.5. Draft order will be determined by a random draw supervised by the Player Agent. 5.6. Players eligible for Intermediate division play that elect not to try-out are eligible to be drafted. 6.7. Any other issues related to the Intermediate division try-out and draft will be addressed by the President in consultation with the Player Agent and other
Board of Directors members as deemed appropriate by the President. XIV. Replacements (Majors)
A. When a player is lost to a team after the annual draft is conducted for any of the following reasons the manager of the team losing the player shall promptly advise the Player Agent. 1. The player moves to another city or state too distant to commute for practice or play, 2. The player is injured and will not be able to return to play before the fourth game after the date of injury, 3. The player for personal reasons has decided to terminate his/her association with the League, or 4. Any other justifiable reason reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. B. The Player Agent shall notify the League President before the teams next game. The manager shall select a replacement player from the Player Agent s list of eligible Intermediate players. The player selected will become a permanent member of the team. The manager or coaches will not be allowed to discuss possible selection of a player with that player or his/her parents/guardians until such time as the player accepts the assignment to the major team. The Player Agent will communicate such selection to the player and his/her parents/guardians and assign the selected player to the team. The player must begin play by the fourth game after a loss of player. C. For a player loss associated with paragraph A(2) above, the manager must notify the Player Agent of the player injury before the team s next game. If the player is unable to return to play before the fourth game after the injury, the manager must select a replacement player from the list of eligible Intermediate players maintained by the Player Agent. The Player Agent will notify the selected player and his/her parents. The manager or coaches will not be allowed to discuss possible selection of a player with that player or his/her parents/guardian until such time as the player accepts the assignment to the major team. The Player Agent will communicate such selection to the player and his/her parents/guardians. The replacement players will become a permanent member of the Major division team. C.D.The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may make exceptions to this Section. D.E. Failure to comply with this Section XII will result in the President convening a special meeting of the Board of Directors to impose the following penalties: 1. Beginning with the fourth game, the major team manager will be "suspended" two games for each game played without a selected replacement player in the line-up. The manager may not attend any team practices or games during the period of suspension, and 2. The player agent will be requested to select and assign a replacement player at random and without prejudice or influence from anyone else. 3. If the Player Agent determines all eligible players refuse the assignment as a Major division replacement player, the team will play the remainder of the season with its current roster. E.F. This Section does not apply to players lost in the last three games of the season. F.G. This section does not apply if there are no eligible players willing to be assigned to a major team. F. Managers, with approval of the Board of Director s, may release players for justifiable reason(s) between the conclusion of the regular playing season and seven (7) days prior to the Major teams draft. In the event that a player is released, the President shall send October 1, 2015 Page 10
a letter of release to the player and his/her parents/guardian. Such notice of release October 1, 2015 Page 10
shall be given in sufficient time for the player to qualify for and attend tryouts and selection to another team. A justifiable reason will be determined by the President. H. Players or their parents/guardians may also request the player be released during the playing season for justifiable reason(s). A justifiable reason will be determined by the President. The released A player released from a major team has the option of requesting placement on an Intermediate division team roster if an opening exists, or not play at all during the balance of the playing season. The player is eligible to participate in the Major or Intermediate try-out and draft for the following season. If the player selects the option for placement on an Intermediate team, the player will be placed on an Intermediate team as determined by the Player Agent. The President and Player Agent will determine the status of a player released form an intermediate or minor team. Formatted: Numbered + Level: 2 + Numbering Style: A, B, C, + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.86" + Indent at: 1.11" Formatted: Right, Indent: Left: 1.11", No bullets or numbering XV. Issues Not Addressed by the Constitution or By-Laws A. The President has the authority to develop Colonie Little League policy to address issued not addressed by the Colonie Little League Constitution or By-Laws. The President may also rescind previously developed policies. XVI. Certification We have reviewed this copy of the By-Laws to the Colonie Little League Constitution and we certify that this document is true, accurate, and approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. Signature: Print Name: Secretary, Colonie Little League, Inc. Signature: Print Name: President, Colonie Little League, Inc. Date: October 1, 2015 Page 11