Midwest Suburban League Rules
Rules of the league concerning all aspects of the games played.  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document.  If your computer doesn't already have this plug in, you can download it here for free.

Midwest Suburban League Bylaws

 A.     The organization shall be known as: Midwest Suburban Baseball League, an Illinois non-profit and federal tax-exempt corporation under IRS Code 501 (c)(7)(League).

 2.      Notification

 A.     The League's official mailing address shall be:

Midwest Suburban League (MSL)
831 Beaumont Drive, #201
Naperville, IL 60540

 B.     The Registered Agent and Registered Office to be filed with the Secretary of State of Illinois shall be:

 Lawrence Kolcz
831 Beaumont Drive, #201
Naperville, IL 60540

 3.      National Affiliation

 A.     The League shall be affiliated with the national organization:

 Men's Senior Baseball League, Inc.
One Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 3NO7
Mellville, NY 11747

 4.      Principles and Purposes of the League

 A.     To provide the opportunity to play organized baseball for those 18 years of age and older.

 B.     To promote a competitive environment and playing schedule.

 C.     To encourage good sportsmanship among its players.

 5.      Eligibility

 A.     Any team shall be eligible for affiliation if, and only if, all of its rostered players are at least 18 years of age by January I of the current year.

 B.     The manager shall determine and assure the league that all his team's players are eligible.

 C.     Provided it is still eligible and in good standing with the league, a team that was affiliated with the league in the prior year shall retain its affiliation for the current year.

 6.      Termination of Eligibility

 A.     The manager shall have the authority to discipline players who demonstrate poor sportsmanship or compromise the principles and purpose of the league.

 B.     Additionally, the Board of Directors, by a 2/3's vote of those present, shall have the authority to discipline, suspend, or terminate the eligibility of any team, manager, or player. If the team, manager, or player is the subject of a complaint, the party shall receive notice of the complaint and be permitted to attend the meeting and respond to the charges.

 C.     If a manager suspects an ineligible player, he may protest by notifying the Board of Directors within 24 hours of a completed game.  If the player is found ineligible, the game just played, and any other games played by that player, will be forfeited.  Additionally, the player will be suspended for at least one additional season.  If the manager was aware of the violation, he too shall be suspended for the remainder of the season plus one additional season.

 D.     A player's eligibility is terminated when:

·        He is removed from his team roster by his manager or by a 2/3's vote of the Board of Directors.

·        His team's affiliation is terminated by 2/3's vote of the Board of Directors.

·        His team resigns its affiliation.

 7.      Expansion

•  A.     Any eligible team may apply in writing for affiliation with the league.

•  B.     New teams cannot use a team name that is currently being used by a team already affiliated with the league.

•  C.     The application shall be on an appropriate form provided by the league and will include signatures of nine eligible players.  An application fee in the amount of $200 will also be attached.

 D.     If the application is:

• Approved -- application fee will be credited toward the total team participation

• Rejected -- application fee will be fully refunded.

• Withdrawn by the new team -- application fee is forfeited.

A.     Team applications for affiliation shall be approved by a 2/3's majority vote of the Board of Directors.

8.      Board of Directors

 A.     The Board of Directors shall manage the league's affairs control its property, be responsible for its finances, and have government and policy-making responsibilities.

 B.     The Board may establish reasonable compensation for the service of the Directors, and may authorize reimbursement for reasonable expenses related directly to Board activities.

 C.     The managers shall elect the Board of Directors. No team shall have more than two members serving on the Board.

 D.     Directors shall take office, and retiring Directors shall leave office, at the conclusion of the meeting at which new Directors are elected.

 E.      There shall be five members of the-Board of Directors.

 F.      All major policies will be voted on by the managers.

9.      Elections, Vacancies, and Removal

A.     Contested elections shall be by secret ballot.

 B.     Players shall select and annually reaffirm a manager to represent them and their team in all league matters for the following year.

C.     A manager may designate an alternate team member to be the team's representative at one or more meetings.  The alternate shall have full voting privileges for his team.

D.     The managers may elect the Board at the year-end meeting.

E.      A Director who does not comply with assigned responsibilities described by the by-laws and other assignments by the Board, may be relieved of office by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 10.  Meetings

 A.     The league shall have at least two general meetings each year and one at year-end.  The meetings shall be opened to all interested parties.

 B.     A nominating committee shall prepare candidate recommendations for the Board of Directors elections.

 C.     A quorum is:

·        for a Board meeting -- three directors

·        for a general meeting -- majority of teams in good standing.

 D.     The act of managers, directors shall be majority of those present and authorized to vote at the respective meeting.

 E.      Each manager shall have one vote at the respective general meeting in which they are in attendance and have authority to vote.

 11.  Duties and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors manages the MSL and their responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

A.     Establish a budget for league activities

B.     Collect fees from teams to fund the budget

C.     Arrange for facility usage by its league membership

D.     Obtain insurance coverage

E.      Schedule league activities

F.      Provide a schedule for baseball team competition

G.     Provide for umpires to officiate scheduled games

H.     Coordinate the purchase of equipment for league operations

I.        Administer and enforce all rules and policies set forth in this publication

J.      Convene to hear all grievances, protests, and appeals

 12.  Duties and Responsibilities of the Managers

A.     Serve as an elector of the Board of Directors.

B.     Develop a team roster.

C.     Develop a team budget.

D.     Solicit team sponsorship.

E.      Collect fees from players and forward to the league.

F.      Represent players at league meetings and functions.

G.     Determine and administer team policies.

H.     Communicate and enforce league rules and regulations.

I.        Schedule and supervise practices.

J.       Obtain equipment and team uniforms.

K.    Field management during and after games.

13.  Disqualification

 A.     If a team has not paid it's team participation fee by the second weekend in April, or any extension granted by the Board, the team shall be disqualified for play in the current year.

 B.     The Board of Directors, at its sole discretion, may reinstate a disqualified team. To be eligible for reinstatement, the team must, prior to the start of the first regularly scheduled game, pay all team participation fees due plus a reinstatement fee of $500.

 C.     If a team is disqualified, all application and team participation fees paid through the date of disqualification shall be forfeited.

 14.  Rosters

 A.     Each roster will include the following information:

•     First and last names

•  Residence street address, city and zip code

•  Day and evening telephone numbers

• Date of birth

• A player waiver form for each player

 B.     The manager will deliver a preliminary roster by the second weekend in April.

C.     The manager may add or delete eligible players to the roster by notifying any Board Member not less than 48 hours before a scheduled game.

D.     The roster in effect at the end of August 1 is the final roster in accordance with League Rule 3.2.

E.      After August 1st, a manager may add a player to the roster. This addition of names is subject to 48-hour prior notification and approval by the Board.

F.      No player shall be eligible for post season play unless he has been rostered before August 1^st and is compliant with the League Rule 3.3.

15.  Amendments

A.  The By-Laws may be amended by 2/3's vote of the managers attending the meeting.

 B.   Copies of the proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Directors not less than seven days before the meeting.

 16.  Dissolution

 A.  The managers, by a 3/4's majority vote of all managers, whether present or not, may dissolve the league.

 B.   If the league dissolves, remaining assets after the satisfaction of all obligations of the corporation shall be distributed within the scope of Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(7), or subsequent amendments.