Tri-City Little League

By-Laws

Revised and Approved by the Board on 12/05/23

Table of Contents

1. Mission Statement 1

2. Local Rules 1

3. Membership 1

A. League Officers 1

B. Executive Board 1

C. Administrative Board 1

D. Member 1

4. Registration 1

5. Fees 2

6. Managers and Coaches 2

7. Player Assessment 3

8. Team Selection 3

A. T-Ball and Coach Pitch 3

B. Minor, Major, Junior and Senior League 3

9. All-Star Manager and Coaches 4

10. All-Star Selection 5

11. Player Pool 5

12. Concession Stand 6

13. Ethics and Conduct 7

14. Disciplinary Action 7

1. Mission Statement

To promote, develop, supervise and voluntarily assist in all lawful ways, the interest of those who will participate in Little League Baseball and Softball.  Through proper guidance and exemplary leadership, the Little League program assists youth in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being.  By espousing the virtues of character, courage and loyalty, the Little League Baseball and Softball program is designed to develop superior citizens rather than superior athletes.

2. Local Rules

The rules described herein are intended to supplement, not replace, the rules and regulations of Little League Baseball, Incorporated and the Tri-City Little League (hereafter referred to as Tri-City) Constitution.  These rules may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

3. Membership

1. League Officers

The Executive Board, along with the Administrative Board, will compromise the Board of Directors, hereafter referred to as the Board.  

1. The Board shall make sure that these rules are adhered to.  

2. All Board Members shall serve a one-year term and may be re-elected.

2. Executive Board

Will be compromised of the President, Vice President of Baseball, Vice President of Softball, Vice President of Instructional, Player Agent, Secretary, and Treasurer

3. Administrative Board 

Will be compromised of the Safety Officer, Coaching Coordinator, Umpire in Chief, Information Officer, Equipment Manager, Field Maintenance Manager, Fundraising Manager, Concessions Manager, Uniforms Manager, Signs Manager, and three (3) Members-at-Large. 

4. Member

1. Members in good standing may only vote at General Membership Meetings.  

2. In order to be in good standing, Members shall:

   1. Volunteer 25 hours per year

   2. Attend 60% of General Membership Meetings per year.

3. All Members must submit to and pass a background check.
   
   

4. Registration

1.  Registration dates shall be determined by, or at, the December meeting.

2. The Player Agent shall be responsible for scheduling the dates, times and advertisement of registration.
   
   

3. Registration shall occur, at a minimum, on two Saturdays and one weeknight.
   
   

4. Registration after the last sign-up date for minor league and up is not allowed, however, the Executive Board may waive this if there are roster slots available.
   
   

5. Registration of T-Ball and coach pitch players are accepted up to Opening Day.  Uniforms may not be guaranteed due to late registration.
   
   

5. Fees

1. Registration fees for each division shall be determined each year prior to sign-ups.
   
   

2. Family Discount

1. A family discount shall be given for children of a family that live in the same household.

2. A $10.00 discount shall be given to each additional child with a $20 maximum discount allowed.
   
   

3. Refund Policy

1. A 50% refund will be provided up to the week of tryouts. 

2. After teams are selected, no refund will be provided unless otherwise approved by the Board.
   
   

4. Tri-City wants to encourage all eligible children to participate in Little League Baseball and Softball.  Financial aid may be provided to a player whose family is unable to meet the financial obligations of Tri-City.  Financial aid must be arranged prior to registration and approved by the Executive Board.
   
   

6. Managers and Coaches

1. All interested managers' names will be collected and submitted to the board after the last day of registration.

2. All managers must complete and pass a background check. 

3. The league will hold a meeting after the last registration and before tryouts to vote on managers.  All managers must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board each year prior to tryouts. 

4. Each manager is allowed to select two coaches.

1. Only one coach may be selected before tryouts and must be named before tryouts.

2. All coaches must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board each year. 

5. Duties of a manager

1. Lead practices and games.

2. Communicate appropriately with all players, parents, other coaches, and vice president of the league.

3. Managers are responsible for the safe keeping, maintaining in good condition and preventing loss of all equipment issued to them. It is the responsibility of the manager to request the replacement or additional equipment from the Equipment Manager during the season. 

4. Managers will be required to sign out equipment prior to the beginning of the season. 

5. Managers must return all equipment issued to their team at the time and place designated by the Equipment Manager. Failure to return league property may result in suspension from the league and further action if necessary. 

6. No Tri-City equipment is to be used in any other baseball program, club baseball or recreational league.

7. The manager shall deposit all concession stand money within 48 hours of the completed game.

8. The manager shall notify the concession manager of the amount deposited and when deposited.

D.  The home team manager is responsible for the field of play which includes:

1. Lining the field and batters boxes before each game.

2. Dragging the field after each game.

3. Policing of fields, dugouts, concession area and stands for trash.

7. Player Assessment

1. Player assessments should be scheduled by the Board no later than the January meeting.
   
   

2. Players in Minor, Major, Junior and Senior Leagues are required to attend assessments.
   
   

3. All players are to be evaluated on running, throwing/pitching and hitting to help determine skill levels so that teams can be competitively balanced.

4. Only Board Members, those assisting with running the assessments, managers, and one named coach from the appropriate age divisions are permitted inside the tryout facility.  If the possibility of an extra team arises an extra manager will be permitted in the tryouts if he/she is later needed to manage a team.
   
   

8. Team Selection

1. T-Ball and Coach Pitch

1. Tri-City will do its best to keep players within these divisions on the same team each year.  However, due to the number of players and teams, as well as player age and skill level, it may not be possible to keep players on the same team each year.

2. T-Ball and Coach Pitch teams will be determined by the player agent and/or V.P. of Instructional.

3. T-ball teams shall be a minimum of 6 players and a maximum of 9 players.

4. Coach pitch teams shall be a minimum of 9 players and maximum of 13 players.

5. Coach pitch and Tball players signed up by opening day are guaranteed a roster slot.

2. Minor, Major, Junior and Senior League

1. After determining the number of eligible players, the number of teams shall be determined.

2. All teams shall consist of a minimum of 10 players and a maximum of 15 players.

3. Managers will draw numbers to determine the draft order.

4. Teams will be determined using the Serpentine draft method.  

Example:  in a four team league, the manager with the first selections receives picks 1, 8, 9, 16, 17, 24, 25, etc.; The second manager selecting receives picks 2, 7, 10, 18, 23, etc.; The third manager selecting receives picks 3, 6, 11, 14, 19, 22, etc.; The manager picking fourth receives pick 4, 5, 12, 13, 20, 21, etc., until selections are complete.

5. Managers may name one coach prior to the start of the draft.  If that coach has an eligible child playing in that division, the child must be the managers first round draft selection.

6. The members who are permitted to be present during the draft include League president, Player Agent, VP of baseball/softball, approved managers. Named coaches are not permitted to be part of the draft. 

7. If the manager has an eligible child playing within the division, then that child is to be drafted in the round according the baseball and softball chart as shown in Little League Official Regulations, Playing Rules and Policies.

8. Sibling Option

1. In the event of multiple siblings in the same division, the second and subsequent siblings shall automatically be considered the next round pick(s) of the manager selecting the first sibling.

2. Parents may request before the draft that their children not be automatically drafted by the same team.

9. Trades

   1. Any trades must be completed immediately after the conclusion of the draft.

   2. All trades must be approved by the majority vote of the Player Agent, Vice-President of the Division and President or their designated representative.

10. A final roster will be recorded and signed by all members that participated in the draft before leaving the draft.
    
    

9. All-Star Manager and Coaches

1. Only regular season managers and coaches are eligible for manager and coaches of All-Star teams.

2. The Board shall ask all managers and coaches if they are willing and able to manage and/or coach an All-star team and compile a list of all potential manager and coaches.

3. The VP will nominate interested allstar managers.  The Executive Board shall approve a manager by a majority vote.

4. The Manager shall name two coaches.

1. The manager must name at least one coach that was a manager or coach of an opposing regular season team.

2. All coaches must be approved by majority vote of the Executive Board.

10. All-Star Selection

1. All players who participated in at least 60% of their teams regular season games are eligible for All-Star selection. This should be a minimum of 8 regular season games as indicated in the team’s official score book. 

2. Players, in either baseball or softball divisions, who play up a division during the regular season:

1. Shall be eligible to play in that divisions All-Star age group.  

Example, a 10 year old who plays in major league during the regular season shall be eligible to play on the 10-11-12 year old All-Star team.

3. VP’s will convene a meeting with managers from each division. In this meeting all regular season managers will share a list of players who are available and interested in playing in All Stars. Managers will use statistics from regular season games to nominate the players they feel should play be eligible.

4. All managers must be present and prepared to discuss their nominations and provide statistics from the regular season (batting avg., RBI’s, pitching stats, etc.).

5. The minimum amount of players is 12 and the maximum is 14. Senior League is able to have up to 16 players. 

6. All All-Star selections must be approved by the Player Agent, V.P. of the appropriate league and President or their designated representative.

7. Once selected to the All-Star team, all players are required to pay a $35.00 fee to cover the cost of their uniform.

11. Player Pool

1. In each division with more than one team, Minor league and above, a player pool shall be created before the start of each season.

2. All players are eligible for the player pool.

3. Each team shall submit a list of all players that want to participate to the player agent.

4. In the event a team does not have nine players for a scheduled game, the manager must contact the player agent to receive a pool player.

5. All pool player requests must go through the player agent.

6. In the event a manager requests a pool player and has nine players available to play, the pool player may:

   1. Not start the game

   2. Not play pitcher or catcher

   3. At a maximum, play two innings with one at bat

7. The player agent shall:

   1. Maintain a list of all eligible players for pool play

   2. Contact the first player on the list to see if they can play the designated game

   3. Continue contacting players down the list until a player is found

   4. The pool player chosen to play shall then go to the end of the list of available pool players

8. Any manager using a pool player without contacting the player agent shall forfeit that game and be subject to a two game suspension.

12.  Concession Stand

1. At the beginning of each season, the concession manager shall provide each manager with concession stand start-up money.

2. It is the responsibility of each home team to have at least two volunteers to run the concession stand.

3. At the end of each game, each manager, along with one concession stand volunteer from that game, shall count the money and both sign the cash sheet.

4. The manager shall deposit all concession stand money within 48 hours of the completed game.

5. The manager shall notify the concession manager of the amount deposited and when deposited.

6. At the end of each game, each player shall receive a free hot dog and bottle of water.

7. At the end of each game, each manager and coach shall receive a hamburger or hotdog and a bottle of water or soda.

8. Each team is required to have at least two volunteers available for all district and state tournaments that Tri-City hosts.  

9. For T-Ball concession stand, all rules above are followed except when there is a girls softball game at the same time, then:

1.  The home team shall supply one concession volunteer

2.  The softball manager is responsible for the start-up money and money deposit after the game.

13. Ethics and Conduct

    1. “If it’s not fun, it’s not Little League”. 

2. The purpose of our league is to build character and a positive self-image through baseball and softball. Therefore, it is necessary for players, coaches and parents to adhere to a code of conduct that will promote an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and encouragement. 

3. Be positive and encouraging in all that you say. 

4. Managers, coaches, players and spectators will conduct themselves in a manner that represents the ideals of Little League Baseball and Softball and Tri-City.

5. A player who argues with an umpire, league official, manager or coach will be immediately removed from the game by his manager.

6. All managers, coaches, players and spectators of Tri-City shall refrain from using foul language towards other players, umpires, opposing team personnel and spectators.

7. The use of all tobacco products is not permitted at any Tri-City venue. 

8. The use of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited at any Tri-City venue.

9. No pets are permitted on any Tri-City fields.

14. Disciplinary Action

    1. Any player, manager, coach or spectator ejected from a game shall immediately leave the field complex.  

1. In the event that the person is a players’ parent, they may wait in the parking area for the player

2. If at any time there is further unacceptable conduct from the ejected person, the game will be immediately called and that person’s team will forfeit the game.

2. Any person ejected will be, at a minimum, suspended from their teams next game played.

3. Any person ejected the second time in one season will be, at a minimum, suspended for the next three games played.

4. Any persons conduct that does not result in an ejection, but does violate the Ethics and Conduct of Tri-City or the Little League Code of Conduct for Parents, Coaches or Volunteers shall:

1. For the first offense, receive a reprimand and possible 1 game suspension.

2. For the second offense, receive a minimum one game suspension

3. For the third offense, receive a minimum three game suspension.

5. All suspensions and reprimands will be reviewed by the Executive Board, and depending upon the severity, may impose additional sanctions.

6. Those subjected to reprimand or suspension shall be given the opportunity to defend themselves before the Executive Committee before given any disciplinary action.

15. Local Game Rules

    1. The minimum number of players to play regulation games for minor league and up is 8 players.  If there are less players available the game will have to be rescheduled or canceled.

    2. Masks for softball infielders are strongly recommended