BY-LAW 1: League Philosophy
1.1 The League philosophy is to be a “fun” league encouraging fair play and equal playing time.
1.2 Every player that takes a position in the field must bat. Likewise, every player that bats must take a position in the field during the game.
BY-LAW 2: Conduct
2.1 All members (players, coaches, managers, umpires etc.) shall uphold, observe and conform to the League By-Laws and such regulations / amendments as adopted by the League Executive.
BY-LAW 3: Membership Eligiblity
3.1 Membership into the League shall be filled based upon the following criteria:
A) Returning members of the League (in good standing) will be given first priority if they apply by the registration date.
B) A player on the previous year’s Spare / Waiting List of the League (in good standing) will be given second priority if they apply by the registration date.
C) Ex-members of the League (in good standing) will be given third priority if they apply by the registration date.
D) Oakville residents will be given the first priority for any vacancies, then residents in the surrounding areas. Age priority is to be set at the Annual General Meeting.
3.2 Grandfather rights and play-off eligibity: a minimum of 2/3rd’s two-thirds (66.7%) of scheduled games must be attended or 2/3rd’s two-thirds (66.7%) of the eligible games for new League members.
3.3 No player is to participate in any scheduled League game without first completing a registration form and having paid all applicable fees.
3.4 All new players to the League must be rated through League tryouts (dates to be set by the League Executive). Players registering and attending rating tryouts will have priority for team placement over those not attending tryouts. All new players to be placed by the League Executive or draft - no team requests will be accepted. Spousal placement in the Co-Ed Division will be given a priority. Each year all Men’s teams will be selected by a player draft.
BY-LAW 4: Membership / Sponsorship Fees
4.1 Membership / Sponsorship fees shall be set by the League Executive.
4.2 Fees collected shall be used to cover the operating costs of the League.
4.3 Termination or withdrawal of Membership does not entitle the member to any refund of membership fees.
BY-LAW 5: Election of League Executives
5.1 League Executive otherwise known as “Officers”, shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. No person may accept a nomination for a position on the Executive if this would create a conflict of interest between divisions. No person shall hold an Executive position and also be a Manager as one of the teams in the League. An officer can hold a lesser post on a team, such as Assistant Manager.
5.2 Elected Executives will be elected according to positions of each vacancy at the Annual General Meeting.
5.3 The League Executive will consist of:
A) President
B) Vice-President
C) Treasurer
D) Secretary
E) Convener(s) - one for each division, elected by members of that division
5.4 Terms of the elected shall be for a period of two (2) years scheduled so that at least two (2) positions will be elected every year.
5.5 Incumbent League Executives may be re-elected. No maximum term in office.
5.6 Conflict of Interest: Any League Executive who develops a conflict of interest must resign.
5.7 The League Executive must fill any vacancy created on the League Executive until the next Annual General Meeting. This position will then be vacated and filled through League election procedures.
5.8 Sergeant-at-Arms shall conduct the election of Officers at the Annual General Meeting and may appoint scrutineer(s) if deemed necessary for voting procedures.
5.9 Candidates must be in attendance at the Annual General Meeting to be nominated or there must be a written letter signed by the candidate stating that he or she will stand for the nomination.
BY-LAW 6: Appointments
6.1 The Sergeant-at-Arms, Umpire-in-Chief, and a Discipline Committee Chief shall be appointed to the League Executive by the League Executive Board.
6.2 Appointments are not considered to be voting positions during League Executive Meetings.
BY-LAW 7: Meetings
7.1 Other meetings designated by “Special Meetings” may be called at the discretion of any League Executive Board member. The League Secretary or League President shall send out advance notice of at least two (2) weeks. An advance agenda should be sent to all League Executives.
BY-LAW 8: Committees
8.1 All committees shall be chaired by a member of the League Executive Board.
8.2 Each committee should have at least one representative from each division.
8.3 Adhoc committees shall be established as deemed necessary by the League Executive Board.
BY-LAW 9: Salaries
9.1 No salary shall be paid to any member of the League with the exception of the Umpire-in-Chief. The Umpire-in-Chief shall be paid an amount based on approval of the League Executive Board.
BY-LAW 10: By-Law Amendments
10.1 No amendments or alterations shall be made to any part of the By-Laws of the League except at the Annual General Meeting and only by a vote of simple majority of the votes cast. Notice of any proposed amendments or alterations must be filed with the League Executive in writing prior to November 1st of the current year. The League Executive Board shall then forward any amendments or alterations to the Annual General Meeting. Amendments to an amendment can be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.
BY-LAW 11: Treasury Withdrawals & Reports
11.1 The League Treasurer shall promptly approve all budgeted debts and ensure payment. The approved budget shall be considered as the authority to pay such debts.
11.2 Unbudgeted debts one hundred ($100.00) dollars and under must be paid by the Treasurer or his / her delegate.
11.3 Unbudgeted debts in excess of one hundred ($100.00) dollars, except as defined By-Law 11 section two (2) above must be approved by two thirds (2/3) vote of the League Executive Board. The League shall not be responsible for debts incurred by individuals not following this procedure.
11.4 Singing authority shall consist of any two (2) League Executive Board members.
11.5 An operating budget will be presented at each Annual General Meeting for approval by the membership.
11.6 The League Treasurer will mail a financial report to each member of the League Executive Board by December 31st of the current year. A detailed financial statement shall be submitted to the League at the League’s Annual General Meeting.
BY-LAW 12: Duties of the League Executive
12.1 President - Shall be the Chairperson of the League Executive Board. He / she shall serve as the chairperson of all open business meetings of the League. He / she shall act as a spokesperson of the League at all public gatherings. He / she shall oversee and supervise all operations within the League. He / she shall have the authority to call a meeting of the League Executive Board at any time provided each member is given adequate notice of such meetings, two (2) weeks.
12.2 Vice-President of Operations - Shall assist the League President, as needed, in ensuring that the League’s operations, divisions, and programs are run in accordance with procedures as set forth in this constitution. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the League President in the absence of the League President, or in the event of death, inability, or refusal to act, or for any other reason it is impractical for the League President to act personally. When so acting, he / she shall have the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions placed upon the League President. He / she shall have such further duties as may be set forth in the League Constitution. In addition the Vice-President shall be the League Executive representative responsible for overseeing and reporting on all League committees. The Vice-President shall ensure that all League activities are run in accordance with procedures as set forth in the League Constitution.
12.3 Treasurer - He / she shall receive and receipt all funds received. He / she shall deposit all funds in the name of the League in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated by the League Executive Board. He / she shall be responsible for payment of bills owed by the League in accordance with the approved budget authorization. He / she shall be responsible for supervising and maintaing an acceptable accounting system for the League. He / she shall upon request by the League President or Vice-President present a financial statement reporting the League’s activities at a League Executive meeting. He / she shall prepare and present to the League Executive an annual statement for approval and present it at the Annual General Meetings.
12.4 Secretary - Shall attend all meetings of the League and all meetings of the League Executive Board and League Executive Committee whenever possible. He / she shall record the official minutes and keep the same in the official records of the League. He / she shall distribute copies of such minutes in accordance with the policy of the League. The Secretary shall report directly to the League Executive Board. The League “hot-line” shall be the responsibility of the Secretary. He / she shall record all statistics as phoned in and ensure that team standings are available to all League members by publishing such in community newspapers.
12.5 League Convener(s) - He / she shall be the liaison between the individual division(s) and the League Executive. He / she shall report to the League Executive all problems, reports, and activities within their division. He / she shall record and distribute such player ejections to the Discipline Committee Chief and the League Secretary. He / she shall inform any players ejected from further play the results of their suspensions based upon the finding of the Discipline Committee. He / she shall attend all meetings of the League Executive whenever possible. The League Convener(s) report to the Discipline Committee Chief, and the League Executive Board.
12.6 Sergeant-at-Arms - Shall be appointed by the League Executive Board on an annual basis. He / she shall preside at all meetings to ensure that the rules of the order are followed by the League Executive Board, Executive Committee meetings, and the membership at large to state and pull all questions properly brought before the League Executive, to preserve order and decorum at meetings, and to decide all questions of order. In the absence of the Sergeant-at-Arms, the League President or a person designated by the League President shall assume this role. The Sergeant-at-Arms is a non-voting position on the League Executive Board.
12.7 Umpire-in-Chief - Appointed by the League Executive Board and shall hold the office for a period of two (2) years. He / she shall be responsible for clarifications or suggesting amendments to rules and to act as an advisor for rules and regulations. The Umpire-in-Chief will schedule umpires, oversee and police behavior, conduct and consistency, and to recommend changes to the rules of play. He / she reports to the League Executive Committee. The Umpire-in-Chief is a non-voting position on the League Executive Board.
12.8 Discipline Committee Chief - Appointed by the League Executive Board and shall be appointed on an annual basis. He / she shall be responsible for arranging the committee to decide on discipline action to be taken on all player ejections. He / she shall report findings to the League Executive Committee on a timely basis. He / she shall be responsible to oversee and police player behavior, conduct and to recommend setting guidelines regarding players’ actions and behavior. He / she shall report to the League Executive Board. The Discipline Committee Chief is a non-voting position on the League Executive Board.
12.9 All positions from 12.1 to 12.9 shall form what is to be known as the League Executive Committee, or League Executive Board. The League Executive will meet on a timely basis to discuss ways and means to further enhance the sport within the League. These positions shall attend all League Executive Board meetings whenever possible.
12.10 Any League Executive Committee, or League Executive Board member may be removed from the League Executive Board for non-performance of duties via a vote of the League Executive Board, with at least two thirds (2/3) voting in favor of the removal of the member from the League Executive Board.
BY-LAWS 13: Rules of Play
13.1 Rules of play appended to this By-Law, shall be describe the rules of play within this League and shall be deemed to be a By-Law of the League (unless otherwise so noted in either the League Constitution or By-Laws of the League).
13.2 Rules of play will be reviewed and updated, as required each year at the Annual General Meeting, in accordance with voting procedure.
13.3 Any rule / principal not specifically addressed in the Rules of Play or amendments will be as specified in the current year Slo-Pitch Ontario Association Rule Book.
13.4 The League Executive Board has the right to distribute players up to ten (10) games into the season to create a balanced division within the League. The managers in the affected division have input concerning the realignment of teams via a single meeting with the League Executive Board if balancing is necessary after the beginning of the season.
13.5 Fees, rules, game times, diamond locations etc. shall be as the League Executive decides based on availability.
BY-LAW 14: Behavior
14.1 At all times players, coaches, managers, League Executive etc. must conduct themselves in an appropriate manner to ensure to respectability and integrity of the League and its members. Disrespectful behavior or disrespectful language direct at another person shall result in disciplinary action as decided by the League Disciplinary Committee.
14.2 Any player, coach, manager, League Executive etc. who initiates a fight, an incident or altercation etc., will be ejected immediately from the game and will be suspended from further play indefenitely. The umpire will be required to write an incident report on each and every ejection. Each ejection will be reviewed by the League Disciplinary Committee to determine length and type of suspension. The term of suspension may be up to an including a permanent suspension. Any ejection from the first (1st) game of a double-header also applies to the second (2nd) game.
14.3 Any team using a suspended player, coach, manager, League Executive, or a non-roster player not on the division’s spare or waiting list etc., in any capacity relating to the playing of the game, will forfeit that game(s) and the team manager may be assessed further disciplinary action, which may include permanent suspension from the League.