2 sections to this page: General Guidelines (below); Team Eligibility Age Policy ( Click here to skip ahead to this section)


Glen Ridge Athletic Association (GRAA) Baseball Guidelines

I. Name
The program shall be known as “GRAA Baseball.” The program is a subsidiary for the Glen Ridge Athletic Association.

II. Purpose
The overall purpose of GRAA Baseball shall be to
(1) Promote fair play and sportsmanship
(2) Establish an environment of learning, enjoyment and competition
(3) Develop the player’s skills to prepare them for the GRHS baseball program

We will achieve our purpose by

• Organizing and supervising the playing of baseball under specialized rules and regulations
• Developing and maintaining policies and procedures for an effective baseball program
• Providing safe and sound coaching and training to the players
• Running the program at a zero cost to overall GRAA umbrella
• Identifying and obtaining the use of suitable playing facilities and equipment for these purposes.

These guidelines are to be used in the oversight of both the GRAA In-Town Baseball and Travel Baseball programs.

III. Membership
Any boy or girl residing in or attending school in Glen Ridge is eligible to participate in GRAA Baseball. Players and parents or guardians of active players, and active volunteer adult leaders shall be considered members of GRAA Baseball. For purposes of this provision, “active” shall mean actual participation and fee payment during the prior season. GRAA Travel Baseball may invite children from surrounding towns to play GRAA Travel Baseball in the event there are not enough Glen Ridge children to field a team.

The League shall not discriminate for any reason.

IV. Policies

A. Welfare of Young People
It shall be the policy of GRAA Baseball to conduct its activities so that the physical and moral welfare of the young people for whose benefit it is organized shall remain paramount and all matters of policy shall be determined on that basis.

B. Conflict of Interest
No person who is a member of or who is employed by or who is any way connected with GRAA Baseball shall receive any personal financial benefit therefore beyond the reasonable value of services in carrying out the purpose for which the program has been organized.

C. Coaches & Players
All coaches and players shall promote and maintain good sportsmanship at all times, including at all practices, games and any additional functions. Coaches, Players and Parents shall comply with the GRAA Baseball Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Guidelines set down by the Executive Committee.

V. Annual and Special Membership Meetings
There shall be an annual membership meeting in September of each year, the time and place shall be determined by the GRAA Baseball Executive Committee. Notice of such meeting shall be made upon at least ten (10) calendar days notice, the manner of such notice to be determined by the Executive Committee in their sole discretion. Such notice may be in the form of email. The Executive Committee may call special membership meetings from time-to-time with notice.

Only those persons who are members of the Program (see “Membership”) and personally present at a membership meeting shall be eligible to vote at that meeting; there shall be no proxy voting. A majority of those present and eligible to vote at a membership meeting shall be required to conduct business, including the election of Executive Committee members. There shall not be any quorum requirements for a membership meeting, either annual or special.

VI. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the GRAA Baseball program, hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”, shall be drawn from existing members of the program and elected by the membership at the annual meeting for the terms and in the manner provided for as follows:

The Committee shall consist of five (5) positions: ·

• Commissioner
• Field Operations Coordinator
• Player Operations Coordinator
• Treasurer
• Secretary

The Commissioner is appointed by the GRAA Board of Directors. The term for each Committee member, elected at the annual Baseball meeting, is two (2) years. All members of the Committee shall be eligible for reelection for a maximum of two consecutive terms for the same position. The election of the Committee shall be staggered with the Field Operations Coordinator and Secretary being elected in even years and the Player Operations Coordinator and Treasurer in odd years.

A quorum for the conducting of all business, except as specifically otherwise set forth herein, shall be at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the Committee.

The Committee, in its discretion, may remove any Committee member upon the affirmative vote of 75% of the Committee sitting at the time such issue is brought before the Committee for vote. The Committee may fill any vacancies on the Committee at any regular Committee meeting by a majority vote thereof.

The Committee shall meet at least quarterly or as often as needed to handle league business. The time and place for such meetings shall be determined by the Commissioner and shall be made known to all members of the Committee upon at least 3-day’s notice, oral, telephonic or written.

Any active member may request to attend an Executive Committee meeting to discuss any issue; however, membership participation shall be at the discretion of the Committee.

Committee members may carry written proxies for non-attending Committee members for specific votes. The Committee shall have full authority and discretion to make all policy, set budgets, and implement the on-going business consistent with the bylaws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall have the power to: ·

• Appoint, remove or suspend volunteers and determine their duties
• Appoint, remove or suspend hired individuals and determine their duties and compensation
• Determine the composition of sub-committees
• Determine who shall be authorized on behalf of the Committee to sign bills, notices, receipts, acceptances, endorsements, checks, releases, contracts, and any other instruments. Without any further action by the Committee, the President and Treasurer are so authorized
• Suspend, discharge, bar or otherwise discipline any member, manager, coach, player, parent, league official, umpire as well as other related people as needed without refund whose conduct is considered detrimental to the best interests of the program (see Disciplinary Guidelines)
• Set registration fees
• Generally do all such lawful acts and take actions as may be necessary and proper

VII. Financial Policy
The Committee shall decide all matters pertaining to the finances of the league, bearing the responsibility to conduct the financial affairs of the league in a prudent business-like manner. The Committee shall institute policy relative to the preparation and acceptance of an annual budget, and periodic and annual presentation of financial reports, and an annual internal audit of the books. No Committee Member shall be permitted to expend, on any particular item or task, more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) without prior Committee approval.

VIII. Duties of Committee Members
The Committee shall have the following responsibilities:

A. The Commissioner shall:

• Serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the program
• Preside at all meetings of the Committee
• Represent the program at any meetings of other organizations, including the GRAA Board, Glen Ridge Borough Council or Board of Education Meetings
• Supervise the annual registration of all players, tryout sessions and distribution of players among teams in accordance with the GRAA Baseball policies
• Supervise the annual registration of all Head Coaches and Assistant in accordance with the GRAA Baseball policies
• Oversee Coach evaluation throughout the season in accordance with the GRAA Baseball policies
• Oversee the annual registration, coach selection and coordination of the GRAA In-Town Baseball program
• The Commissioner may appoint members to assist with any of their duties at his / her discretion
• Perform such other duties as are normally associated with the position.

B. The Field Operations Coordinator shall:

• Perform such duties as may be assigned by the Commissioner
• Otherwise assist the Commissioner in the performance of his/her duties
• Preside or represent the Committee at any meetings in the absence of the Commissioner
• Coordinate Umpires for the season, including but not limited to:
  • Obtain suitable umpires for the Program as directed by the Committee
  • Assign umpires for all program games
  • Arrange for payment to the umpires
  • Consider all complaints relative to umpires and make suitable recommendations to the Committee
• Coordinate Fields (Schedule & Maintenance) for the season, including but not limited to:
  • Maintain master game/practice schedule for program
  • Provide the Borough of Glen Ridge field schedule and check list required for each game and practice
  • Be point of contact for coaches regarding field preparation and maintenance issues (lines, rake, drag field, mounds, etc) with borough
  • Coordinate purchase of any equipment (mounds, line markers etc) to be kept at the fields
• The Field Operations Coordinator may appoint members to assist with any of their duties at his / her discretion

C. The Player Operations Coordinator shall:
Duties include but not limited to

• Coordinate Leagues - assessing the performance of travel programs to ensure playing in correct league (i.e. A league, B league)
• Coordinating Game Schedule – Set master schedule
• Coordinating Training – Both within Travel and In town programs identify training options, costs, needs. Provide analysis to Committee and Coaches to determine appropriate decisions. Coordinate implementation to ensure all savings opportunities
• The Player Operations Coordinator may appoint members to assist with any of their duties at his / her discretion.

D. The Treasurer shall:

• Receive and disburse all funds with the approval of the Committee
• Keep an accurate account of all funds received and disbursed for the program
• Submit a financial report at all regular meetings and at such other times as may be requested by the Commissioner
• Compile an annual report of programs finances
• Transmit all records and correspondence to any person elected to succeed him/her in that office
• Coordinate Financial Aid requests in accordance with the GRAA Financial Aid Policy
• Coordinate Fundraising and Sponsorship efforts for the GRAA Baseball programs
• The Treasurer may appoint members to assist with any of their duties at his / her discretion

E. The Secretary shall:

• Coordinate the purchase of uniforms each season, including but not limited to the following
  • Work with Fundraising Committee in determining sponsors, names and uniform colors for each team
  • Coordinate the ordering of uniforms from the uniform vendor as directed by the Committee
  • Pick up uniforms from the uniform vendor and distribute them to the team coordinators
  • Work with the teams and the uniform vendor to correct uniform problems
  • Coordinate the Opening Day picture schedule with the picture vendor
• Coordinate the program equipment for each team each season, including but not limited to the following:
  • Empty and clean all equipment bags, and take an inventory of the equipment during the off-season
  • Obtain any required new equipment as directed by the Committee
  • Provide equipment as required for the player tryout sessions
  • Fill and distribute equipment bags for each team each season
  • Distribute balls as required for all home games to the team coordinators
  • Collect all equipment from team at the end of the season
  • Organize a beginning of the year equipment swap for player’s personal cleats, bats, helmets, etc. Any unused swapped equipment will be donated
• Coordinate Communications
  • Be accessible to players and parents to answer questions and provide information
  • Have custody of the Articles, Bylaws, minutes and all other records of the League, except financial records
  • Keep an accurate record of the meetings and other activities of the program and the Committee
  • Be responsible for all correspondence on behalf of the program through email, website and other means
• The Secretary may appoint members to assist with any of their duties at his / her discretion

F. GRAA Review Committee

• The GRAA Review Committee’s purpose is to provide a neutral, arbitrary group to review issues related to GRAA Guidelines and Policies including but not limited to the Team Selection, Team Eligibility and Disciplinary guidelines
• Any member of the GRAA Baseball program (see “Membership”) may request a meeting of the review committee by contacting in writing/email the GRAA Board of Director President

IX. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the GRAA Board of Directors from time to time, subject to applicable law. The initial fiscal year shall run from June 1st to May 31st .

X. Amendments
These Guidelines may be amended by a majority vote of the League members at the membership meeting.


Team Eligibility Age Policy

1. Purpose
Provide guidelines for the eligibility of players to participate in the Glen Ridge travel baseball program based on age (both spring and summer programs).

2. Age Appropriate Rule
All players in the program will be eligible to play for the team that corresponds to their age at the time they enter the program.

Eligibility to be placed on a team is based on the age of the player, not the player’s school grade

• Team eligibility will be based on the player’s age as of May 1st when they enter the program
• Team eligibility is independent from the player’s school grade

The Travel Baseball program complies with the Cal Ripken Little League rules and therefore implements the player age cutoff date for of team eligibility of May 1st. Eligibility to tryout for a team is based on age relative to the May 1st cutoff date, not the grade the player is in.

All players must submit a copy of their birth certificate when they first enter the program to determine the team that they will be eligible to play for, that will follow them throughout their time in the program.

The age appropriate rule May 1st cutoff date requirement will be applied to all new players entering the travel baseball program beginning August 2009, regardless of their age.

Example:

• 12 years old on May 1st , eligible to try out for the U12 team
• Will not turn 12 years old until May 2nd , eligible to try out for the U11 team

There will be no exceptions to the age appropriate rule for new players entering the program after August 2009.

Strict compliance to the age appropriate rule benefits the program and the player in the following ways:

• Safety – players will be competing with and against players of their own age
• Fairness of play – allow GR teams to compete as best possible against other towns that impose the May 1st age appropriate rule
• Balance of ability and skill level – ensures that all GR teams are as balanced as possible with regards to abilities and competitive baseball skills

3. Playing Grade Grandfather Rule
Starting August 2009, any new players entering the program or past players reentering the program must follow the age appropriate May 1st cutoff date to determine team eligibility. The grandfather rule only applies to the playing grade situation. Players participating in the program prior to August 2009, who are playing their grade as opposed to playing on their age appropriate team, will be able to continue to be eligible to play with their current team. The May 1st cutoff date will not be imposed.

Example – a 12 year old player in 6th grade born on June 1st played on the U12 team during the 2009 season, even though their age appropriate team was the U11 team. This player can remain with the same team when they move to U13. The player does not have to move down and play with the younger U12 team for the next season. They can continue playing their grade for their entire program career.

The existing program player who is playing their grade has the following two options prior to any tryouts:

• Continue to play their grade on the same team from the prior season
• Move down to their age appropriate team

The decision to move down to the age appropriate team can occur at any time during the player’s career in the program. However, once the player decides to move down to their age appropriate team, they must remain with that team for the rest of their program career. They cannot jump back and forth between their playing grade team and their age appropriate team. Their grandfather status will be lost once they move to their age appropriate team.

If a player voluntarily leaves the program for a full season (both spring and summer) and then wants to re-enter the program at a later date, their grandfather status will be lost and they must participate with their age appropriate team according to the age appropriate rule.

4. Definitions

Playing Down
Playing down is when a player participates on a team below their age appropriate level.

Example - a U12 age appropriate player playing on the U11 team.

Playing down is not allowed in the program

Playing Up
Playing up is when a player participates on a team above their age appropriate level.

Example - a U12 age appropriate player playing on the U13 team.

Playing up is not allowed in the program

Playing Grade
Playing grade is when a non age appropriate player (with a birth date after the May 1st cutoff date) is playing on a team with age appropriate players who are in the same school grade. This situation occurred because the May 1st age appropriate guideline was not enforced by the program prior to August 2009.

Example – a player in 6th grade, born on June 1, 1996, entered the program in January 2009. He played the 2009 season on the U12 team with his 5th grade classmates even though his age appropriate team was the U11 team.

Playing grade is not allowed in the program for players entering the program after the 2009 season.

New 2nd Grade Players
2nd graders, in order to participate in the Travel Baseball program and tryout for the U8 team, must have been born on or prior to May 1st 2002. If a 2nd grader was born after May 1st 2001, they are not eligible to play travel baseball this year. They must wait until 2011, when they are in 3rd grade and age eligible, to tryout for the U8 team. However, if there are not enough players who were born on or prior to May 1st 2001 to field a U8 team, the players born after May 1st will be eligible to tryout for any open roster spots. Please review the attached Team Eligibility Age Policy for additional details