BYLAWS OF THE DANBURY INDUSTRIAL SOFTBALL LEAGUE

 

February 1968

REVISED:

March 10, 1976

January 24, 1977

March 13, 1978

March 2, 1979

April 16, 1981

March 15, 1989

March 13, 1997

March 10, 2000

March 13, 2003

March 15, 2004

March 1, 2006

March 2, 2016

February 18, 2019

March 17 2025

 

ART. 1: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. The Danbury Industrial Softball League (“DISL” or the “League”) shall operate as a division of Danbury Softball Leagues, and will be subject to the following Bylaws.

 

Section 2. Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be read or posted. Such proposed amendments will be ratified upon a majority vote by all Team Representatives and Board Members present at the subsequent general meeting.

 

Section 3. The League’s objective and purpose shall be:

“To stimulate a greater interest in the game of softball, and to further sportsmanship, collaboration, and competitive spirit between the various industrial plants and organizations within the City of Danbury.”

 

Section 4. The League will be co-ed; and as such, any language that is gender-specific applies broadly to all, and should not be construed as exclusive to such.

 

ART. II: GOVERNANCE

Section 1. The League will be governed by an Executive Committee (or “Board”) comprised of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These positions will be decided by election at a general meeting. Additionally, the Executive Committee, at its own discretion, may appoint Board Members onto itself to further assist with the League’s management.

 

ART. III: ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Candidates for office may be placed in nomination by any Team Representative at a general meeting prior to the start of a season. The nomination of a candidate must be seconded by another Team Representative to be eligible for the general vote.

 

Section 2. The nomination for President and Vice President shall be made jointly as a slate, and accordingly, shall be voted on as a slate. Nomination for the office of President and Vice President shall not be made separately, unless a vacancy arises.

 

Section 3. The election shall take place at a general meeting that is open to all Team Representatives. This meeting shall be held prior to the start of the regular season.

 

Section 4. Votes may be cast orally, by secret ballot, or any method that the reigning Executive Committee deems fit. Every team is entitled to one Team Representative who may case a single vote at the general election. Those not in attendance will not be able to cast votes retroactively.

 

Section 5. Candidates for each of the four elected positions will require a majority of the general vote to succeed (greater than 50%). The failure to obtain a majority by all parties vying for a position may be resolved in several ways: either by re-voting, or any other efficient method which the current Executive Committee deems appropriate.

  

ART. IV: TERM OF OFFICE

Section 1. The term of each elected office shall be for one year. All other Board Member appointments by and to the Executive Committee are discretionary and, as such, have indeterminate term lengths.

 

ART. V: DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, IN GENERAL

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall determine the League’s annual budget, dues, and fees, and define the structure of the League as to its organization, the number of games, and the number of teams that can be admitted each year.

 

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall appoint an Umpire in Chief to oversee the assignment and management of umpires. However, the Umpire in Chief may not override any of the decisions or prerogatives expressed by the Board. The Umpire in Chief is a discretionary appointment and may be removed with or without cause, by the board.

 

Section 3. All disbursements by the Board, on behalf of the League, shall be made by check. Section 3. No member of the Executive Committee shall receive monetary compensation for his

services to the Board or League, or while acting in his official capacity as a Board Member.

 

Section 4. Any decision by the Executive Committee on the foregoing shall require the support of two-thirds of the Board to be binding.

 

Section 5. The Executive Committee is not liable for any civil actions taken against the League. The Board is required to pay for an insurance policy. Individual members of the Board are not civilly liable for any tort or contract violations.

 

ART. V: DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SPECIFICALLY

Section 1. The four elected officers of the Executive Committee are subject to the following duties, rights, and obligations:

1. President: shall preside over all general meetings and Board meetings. The President shall oversee the operation, actions, and decisions undertaken by the League. The President may also countersign any disbursements made by the League.

2. Vice President: shall operate as a lieutenant of the President. The Vice President shall assume all the duties of President in his absence, and will be elevated to the position of President upon a permanent vacancy. The Vice President may also countersign any disbursements made by the League.

3. Treasurer: shall maintain accounting records, collect all monies due to the League, and issue receipts for the same. The Treasurer shall make available for each Team Representative, a full balance sheet due prior to the start of the season. The Treasurer may also countersign any disbursements made by the League.

4. Secretary: shall keep minutes of all general meetings and Board meetings. The Secretary shall conduct correspondence of the League to any parties as deemed fit by the President. Upon request, the Secretary shall distribute copies of all prior general meetings to any Team Representative. This provision does not apply to minutes of Board meetings.

5. Board Member: shall operate in any capacity as deemed appropriate by the President.

ART. VI: RULES OF THE GAME

Section 1. DISL games will adopt the 2025 Official Rules of Softball as published by USA Softball, notwithstanding the following exceptions:

1. The waiting period of one week shall be waived for approving amendments to Art. VI.

2. Teams may include a minimum of 9 players to a maximum of 12 players in their batting lineup. However, only 9 to 10 players can play in the field at any given time. Any player

   included in the lineup can be used interchangeably as fielders or designated hitters.

3. Once the game begins, the batting order must remain the same.

   a. If a player leaves the game for any reason, his spot in the lineup becomes an out for the remainder of the game, unless a legitimate roster substitute is present.

   b. If a player is ejected, his spot in the lineup becomes an out for the remainder of the game and no substitutes may be installed in his place.

   c. A team cannot play if they are unable to field a minimum of 9 players.
   d. If a coach declares that they are fielding a team of 9 players, then they will not

   incur an automatic out. However, if a coach declares that they are fielding a team of 10 players and any of those players are not present, their place in the lineup will be called an automatic out until that player arrives.

   e. After the game starts, late arrivals or legitimate substitutes can only enter the game in the lineup position that designated for them on the lineup card. A late 10th player must check in with the scorekeeper and umpire before entering the game. 11th and 12th positions cannot be added retroactively.

4. Players are required to use only rubber cleats or all-purpose shoes or sneakers. The use of metal or vinyl-covered metal spikes, and/or street shoes will result in ejection of the user and potential fines to the team as determined by the Board, or in the event that such are imposed by the City of Danbury against the League.

5. Runners may not leave their bases until the ball is hit by the batter or they will be called out. Accordingly, if a runner leaves while the batter swings and misses, he will be called out. This does not apply to dead balls or any other instance when there is contact with the ball and the batter has left the base.

6. First base shall function as a breakaway double-safety base. The batter-turned-runner must touch the orange part of the base when a batted ball remains on the infield, regardless of whether a defensive player touches it. If the umpire determines the batter- turned-runner failed to comply with this rule, then he will be called out. The only time in which a batter-turned-runner may touch only the white part of first base and a hit ball remains on the infield, is to avoid a collision. Similarly, the only time a fielder may touch the orange part of first base is to avoid a collision.

7. Each team may use up to 3 courtesy runners per game. Any player in the batting order can be used as a courtesy runner. If the courtesy runner is still on base while their turn in the lineup is ready, they must either take an automatic out or if another courtesy runner is available, the coach may substitute him in.

8. Foul balls on two strikes shall result in a strikeout.

9. Mercy Rule: If a team is losing by 12 or more runs at the conclusion of the 5th inning, the

   game shall be awarded to the team ahead. 

10. Regardless of the offender, the first ejection for a team is its player-coach. This position is designated prior to the start of the game and should be made aware to the scorekeeper and umpire. Any subsequent ejections will apply to the offender as circumstances dictate. Ejected personnel will be subject to a suspension for the next 2 games, including playoff competitions. Ejected personnel must leave the playing area within 5 minutes of ejection.

11. Teams may submit up to a 12 player roster for playoff-eligibility reasons if they are being given a win by a forfeited team.

12. Once rosters are locked for the season, no new players can be added to your team. When you hand in your lineup 10 mins prior to your Scheduled game time, the scorekeeper will be checking players names to match the roster on the website. If the player is not on the roster he will be deemed ineligible to play, meaning he won't be allowed to play in that game. We will have all rosters on each field to cross check. 

ART. VII: APPEALS PROCESS

Section 1. During the regular season, a team may not appeal game calls by the umpire. However, a team may be appeal decisions regarding the eligibility of a player or any observed non- compliance with the Rules by an opposing team. During the playoffs, a team can appeal a game calls by the umpire; but such appeals must be noted to the umpire, raised after the decision is made, and before the next legal pitch is thrown. This protest must be followed up by a written request and submitted to the Board, who will designate a committee of three disinterested members to adjudicate the merits of the appeal. Any remedies are vested in the Board’s discretion without the input of an interested party.

 

ART. VIII: TEAMS AND TEAM REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1. Danbury Rule: All teams must comply with the residency requirements codified by the policies set forth by the Danbury Department of Parks and Recreation. In effect, 80% of a team’s roster must be comprised of players whose primary residence or primary place of employment is located within Danbury, Connecticut. Teams must submit a roster and have each player sign an affidavit identifying their residential or business/employment address. Failure to comply with this rule may result in team expulsion, future bans, or hefty fines imposed against the League by the City of Danbury.

 

Section 2. Membership as a team of the League is open to all organizations and industrial plants, provided the Executive Committee accepts them. In rejecting a team’s application, the Executive Committee must have reasonable grounds to do so, and will not violate any state or federal civil rights protections. Reasonable grounds for rejection include but are not limited to: conflict of interest, promotion of hate speech, history of disruptive or illegal behavior within the League, or non-compliance with the Danbury Rule as outlined by Art. VIII, Sec. 1.

 

Section 3. Team rosters will be limited to 25 players. Rosters will close at midnight on the first Friday of June, and should comply with all the filing requirements prescribed by the Board.

 

Section 4. No player may be under the age of 16.

 

Section 5. Every team will designate a Team Representative. However, if such representative has not been formally identified, the Board will presume that a person who has been acting as a team’s coach or captain is its Representative for voting purposes. All Team Representatives are entitled to votes at general meetings, as described in Art. III, Sec. 4. This right is transferrable between all roster members of a team.

 

ART. IX: PENALTIES

Section 1. In the event of a forfeiture, a team will not be penalized on first offense. However, in the event that a team forfeits two games within a season, that team must pay a fine of $35 per game forfeited. Any subsequent forfeitures will result in a $60 fine per game forfeited. Failure to pay will render the offending team ineligible for their next game, and thus, an additional forfeit.

 

Section 2. If a team forfeits out of the League, the wins and losses it has already accrued will stand with respect to the results of existing teams. Any remaining scheduled games by the forfeited team will be awarded as wins to their remaining opponents. There shall be no reimbursement available to said opponents who would be subsequently effected.

 

Section 3. The Board reserves the right to impose additional penalties or disciplinary action in the interest of fairness and sportsmanship, or for any violation of the Bylaws.

 

ART. X: UNIFORMS
Section 1. All teams must adhere to the following uniform code:

1. Shirts of the same primary color must be worn by all players on a team.

2. Any style of softball/baseball pants is acceptable, as well as softball shorts or athletic

   shorts. The following are prohibited: dress pants, khakis, and jeans.

3. Caps/hats are optional.

4. Additional covering is available to those who are negatively affected by weather conditions pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, the umpire may require you to show possession of a proper uniform.

Section 2. Failure to comply with uniform code, may result in $20 fine to the offending team. 

 

Section 3. The uniform code is subject to a two-week grace period, wherein teams may deviate from the foregoing standards. After this period, the uniform code will be enforced.

 

ART. XI: EQUIPMENT
Section 1. All equipment must comply with the 2025 Official Rules of Softball as published by USA Softball. The League will determine the official ball, which will be the only one permitted in League play. The League shall supply two new game balls for each game. Additional balls must be furnished by the home team first, the away team second, and then alternate accordingly.

 

Section 2. In addition to the 2025 Official Rules of Softball, no team or player is permitted to use triple-wall, titanium or 100% composite bats. This does not apply to composite handles. Altered bats of any kind are not permitted. Failure to comply will result in ejection, forfeiture, and additional penalties at the Board’s discretion.

 

ART. XII: MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Any issues that arise within the League that go beyond the scope of these Bylaws, shall be resolved by a majority of the Executive Committee.

 

Section 2. There shall be no refunds for any fees paid, unless deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee.