Middletown Little League
PO Box 1491, Middletown, CT 06457
The Oldest Little League in New England, Est. 1948
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Charter Nos. 02070912 & 02070913
TIN: 52-1243174
Bylaws and Local Rules – 2009
(Last Updated February 8, 2009)
We, the Middletown Little League, have implemented the following Bylaws and Local Rules for the 2009 season. The Middletown Little League 2009 Bylaws and Local Rules are to be considered an “addendum” to the “2009 Little League Operating Manual” and the “2009 Little League Official Rules Regulations and Playing Rules”. Only rules that are eligible to be changed at the local level (as defined by in the “2009 Little League Operating Manual” and the “2009 Little League Official Rules Regulations and Playing Rules”) are reflected below. Any questions regarding our bylaws and rules should be directed to the league’s President or Vice-President(s):
A. League Boundaries
1. O’Rourke League
a. League Boundaries are from Middlefield/Middletown town line on Wadsworth Street to West Street, north on West Street to the Junction of Rt. 66/Washington Street, then following the Coginchaug River to the Connecticut River. The northerly portion of the limits of the City of Middletown are considered the boundaries of the O’Rourke League.
b. Middletown Little League (MLL) operates all leagues under the same set of bylaws. Any distinctions between the leagues are listed below.
2. Moose League
a. League Boundaries are from the Middlefield/Middletown town line on Wadsworth Street to West Street, north on West Street to the Junction of Rt. 66/Washington Street, then following the Coginchaug River to the Connecticut River. The southerly portion of the limits of the City of Middletown are considered the boundaries of the Moose League.
b. Middletown Little League (MLL) operates all leagues under the same set of bylaws. Any distinctions between the leagues are listed below.
3. Softball League
a. League Boundaries are the city limits of Middletown, CT. Requests for combining the O’Rourke and Moose leagues into one league for softball is requested by the MLL President at the start of the season to the District Administrator.
b. Middletown Little League (MLL) operates all leagues under the same set of bylaws. Any distinctions between the league are listed below.
B. League Divisions
1. Division Ages
a. T-Ball – League ages 5 and 6
b. Instructional – League ages 7 and 8
c. Minors – League ages 9, 10, 11, 12
· Typically 12 year old players are not allowed to play in the Minor League however if a player is determined to be a safety concern, they may be moved to the Minor Leagues. They may not pitch in that league. The decision to have a 12 year old player in the Minor Leagues is determined by the Player Agent, the Vice President (of Baseball or Softball) and the parent.
d. Majors – League ages 9, 10, 11, 12
e. Softball Juniors – League ages 13, 14, 15
f. Softball Seniors – League ages 14, 15, 16
g. Softball Big League – League ages 14,15,16,17,18
2. Advancement
a. T-Ball to Instructional
· If a player wishes to advance to the Instructional League prior to the league age of 7 years old, they may do so if they played one (1) year in T-Ball.
· A parent may request this advancement.
b. Instructional to Minors
· If a player wishes to advance to the Minor League prior to the league age of 9 years old, a minimum of two (2) years must have been played in the Instructional League.
· Advancement to the Minor Leagues must be approved by the Player Agent (of Baseball or Softball) AND the Director of the Minor League (of Baseball or Softball) AND the Vice President (of Baseball or Softball).
· Advancement requests are considered on a case by case basis. Parents are not allowed to determine this advancement.
c. Minors to Majors
· If a players wishes to advance to the Major League prior to the league age of 10 years old, a minimum of one (1) year in the Minor League must be played.
· Advancement to the Major League must be approved by the Player Agent (of Baseball or Softball) AND the Director of the Major League (of Baseball or Softball) AND the Vice President (of Baseball or Softball).
· Advancement requests are considered on a case by case basis. Parents are not allowed to determine this advancement.
C. Manager Selection and Responsibilities
1. Major/Minor Manager / Coach Selection / Responsibilities
a. The League Information Officer will submit a call for Volunteers by at least 2 medias consisting of the local newspaper, local cable station, the league website and/or the player registration form no later than the December Board meeting.
b. To be eligible for election as a Team Manager, interested volunteers must complete the Manager’s Resume form and submit it to the Director of the Major or Minor division of that league no less than eight (8) days prior to the January Board Meeting.
c. The appropriate Director will collect all forms and submit them to the League Secretary for distribution to all Voting Members no later than seven (7) days prior to the January Board meeting.
d. All interested candidates are invited to attend and speak at the January Board of Directors meeting.
e. The respective Director will formally nominate all eligible coaches to the Voting Members for election.
f. The League Secretary will submit a ballot containing all those coaches nominated by the director to the Voting Members for a secret ballot vote.
g. Votes are tallied and the majority votes are elected as Team Managers.
h. Term for all Team Managers is January through September 30.
i. Team Managers / Coaches are Non-Voting Members of MLL.
j. Team Managers are responsible for the selection of their coaches after the draft is completed and the teams have been assigned.
k. All Team Managers must adhere to the Job Responsibilities listed on the MLL website.
l. The Manager is responsible for clearing all the trash from dugouts after games.
m. All managers or coaches must attend a clinic sponsored by the District Administrator or Little League Baseball, Incorporated, or Middletown Little League prior to the start of the season. The vice president or director of each division is responsible for giving information on clinics to the managers and coaches.
n. A person can only manage one team at a time. This does not apply to coaching (assistant managers).
2. Instructional/T-Ball Manager/Coach Selection / Responsibilities
a. The Voting Members of the Board of Directors will approve all candidates for Instructional and T-Ball teams no later than the March Board Meeting or the meeting prior to the Coaches Clinics, whichever comes first.
b. If there are more volunteer managers than teams for these divisions, a secret ballot vote with a majority of votes will determine the managers.
c. If there are an equal or less number of volunteer managers for the teams, the Voting Members may opt for a show of hands. A 2/3 majority is required for approval.
d. In the event that teams are added to either division after the March board meeting, the Director of the respective league may select the Managers from the pool of volunteers.
e. If the responsibilities of the additional Team Manager are required to begin prior to the next schedule board meeting, the President of MLL may appoint the Team Manager without a majority vote. The Voting Members will then vote on the new Team Managers at the next Board of Directors meeting.
f. Term for all Team Managers is January through September 30.
g. Team Managers are responsible for the selection of their coaches after the draft is completed and the teams have been assigned.
h. All Team Managers must adhere to the Job Responsibilities listed on the MLL website.
i. The Manager is responsible for clearing all the trash from dugouts after games.
j. All managers or coaches must attend a clinic sponsored by the District Administrator or Little League Baseball, Incorporated, or Middletown Little League prior to the start of the season. The vice president or director of each division is responsible for giving information on clinics to the managers and coaches.
k. A person can only manage one team at a time. This does not apply to coaching (assistant managers).
3. All-Star Manager Selection / Responsibilities
a. The method for selecting Tournament (All-Star) Team players and coaches will be the same as the method suggested in the Little League Tournament Rules and Guidelines for the current year except as follows:
· For the 9/10, 11 and 11/12 year old all-star teams, only coaches (manager or assistant coach) who coached a Major or Minor League team will be considered.
· Coaches interested in managing an all-star ream shall submit their names in writing using the All-Star Manager Form to the President of the League no less than 8 days before the June Board Meeting.
· The League Secretary will issue all applications for All-Star Managers to the Board of Directors a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the June monthly board meeting.
· All applicants for the All-Star Managers positions are allowed and encouraged to attend and speak at the June Board of Directors Meeting.
· A secret ballot vote will be cast by the Voting Members at the League. A majority vote wins.
· All-Star Managers will determine who the assistant coaches are for their applicable team.
D. Player Selection
1. T-Ball Division
a. 8-10 (start with 7 per team and add late registrations) players per team with as many teams as needed based on registration.
b. The Player Agent (Baseball or Softball) and/or the Director of T-Ball (Baseball or Softball) will divide the teams for this league. They will give priority to requests and geographical location.
2. Instructional Division
a. 12-14 (start with 10 per team and add late registrations) players per team with as many teams as needed based on registration.
b. The Player Agent (Baseball or Softball) and/or the Director of Instructional (Baseball or Softball) will divide the teams for this league. They will give priority to requests and geographical location.
3. Minor Division – Baseball
a. 12-14 (start with 10 per team and add late registrations) with as many teams as needed based on registration.
b. The Player Agent will rate all eligible 9-11 year olds who attended try-outs and were not selected for a Major League team and will utilize those rates to equally divide talent amongst the Minor League teams. The rated players will be divided equally amongst all teams ensuring equally talented teams. All those not rated will be divided geographically or based on the previous seasons Coaches evaluation, or roster carry over.
c. Parental requests for placement on these teams are not allowed.
d. The Player Agent and/or the Director of the Minors will determine the team rosters.
4. Minor Division – Softball
a. 12-14 (start with 10 per team and add late registrations) with as many teams as needed based on registration.
b. The Player Agent will rate all eligible 9-11 year olds who attended try-outs for majors and were not selected for a Major League team. They will also rate all players who attended the Minor League Try-outs to equally divide talent amongst the Minor League teams. The rated players will be divided amongst all teams ensuring equally talented teams. All those not rated will be divided geographically or based on the previous season Coaches evaluation or roster carry over.
c. Parental request for placement on these teams are not allowed.
d. The Player Agent and/or the Director of the Minors will determine the team rosters.
5. Major Division
a. 12 players per team with as many teams as needed based on registrations.
b. Players are selected to the Major League based on the draft. The Draft Method is listed in the Bylaws.
6. Try-outs
a. Try-outs will be conducted for the Major League (Baseball and Softball and the Minor League (Softball Only). The try-outs will be conducted in the following manner:
· Try-Out drills are run by the Training Director or his/her designee.
· The Player Agent will determine all player eligibilities and will convey them to the League Secretary. The League Secretary or his/her designee will man the registration desk and assign each player a try-out number.
· Managers will receive a player evaluation from with the names and ages of the players trying out.
· The Player Agent must evaluate all players at the try-out.
· The Major League Managers are invited to attend the try-out. Only 1 representative from each team is allowed to evaluate the players.
· Evaluations of each player will be taken by the team representative and used for drafting purposes only.
· Evaluations by managers are not to be shared with any one other than the Player Agent.
· The League will make every attempt to ensure the draft is held on the same day of the try-outs. If that cannot occur, the following procedures will apply: