• Due to multiple requests, we plan to offer 2 separate platforms for 12U play. We will be offering a division for play on the traditional size little league field and for the first time, we will also be offering a division for play on the 50/70 field. A team can only be entered in one division or the other. If a town is entering multiple teams, you can choose to enter teams in either division. There here will be no play between these divisions and there will be separate schedules and playoffs for each. Based on our discussions with a number of towns, we do expect to proceed with both divisions; however, a final decision will be made once we determine that there are enough participating teams for each format. Rules for the 50/70 league will be finalized before the league meeting and your input is welcome in this regard. NOTE: The use of Big Barrel Bats in the NPGL 12U 50/70 will be prohibited.
• For the first time this year we are also offering play for a new 15U division. Due to the success of our 14 year old age group last season, we feel that there is enough interest to create a league to let our young athletes who want to continue to play but who might not be ready to compete in America legion play, even if they are currently on a high school freshman team. Any town which participated in the 2008 14 year old division is eligible and teams from other towns will be considered on a first come, first serve basis. High school rules will apply to this age group.
• This year, we will once again be asking that registrations be made using our new “League Registration Application”. This form can be found on our website: www.NewProvidenceBaseball.com . It will be available by May 5th. You can use a single form to enter multiple teams. No team application will be considered valid without a completed form. We ask this in order to cut down with the confusion that always surrounds the registration process.
• This year we will once again be using a “point system” to determine the playoff seedings and the division champs. Points will be awarded for wins and losses, thus rewarding teams that play all of their games. Further details will be available at the league meeting.

For those of you who are new to the league, its purpose is to allow communities to field additional teams during the summer travel season and thus allow more children to play summer baseball. Due to the fact that so many towns are now embracing this concept, we have seen a large increase in the number of teams entering the league. We are proud to offer this opportunity to the young athletes in your town and we are confident that all participants will continue to exhibit the sportsmanship and collegiality that have been a hallmark of The Green League. 
 

In order to keep the league true to its mission and thus allow for a balance of competition, we will be implementing several changes in league policy for this season. Examples of this are as follows: 
 

• All teams should be sponsored by their town’s baseball organization. Exceptions to this rule will be made on a case by case basis. However, in order to adhere to our “B” team requirement, independent teams are unlikely to be admitted to the league.
• For each team entered, the town should have a team in the same age group playing in a league recognized as a higher level of competition than the NPGL.
• The NPGL has adopted the April 30^th age cut-off date which is now used by most youth baseball organizations. A player must not be older than the team age as of April 30^th, 2008.
• Rosters will need to be submitted to the league for all teams entered.
• Coaches will be required to carry copies of birth certificates for all players.
• Regarding the 13 and 14 year old divisions, if a team has mixed roster of both ages, they will most likely be placed in the older division.
• Registrations will not be accepted over the telephone. A registration form will be available shortly that will need to be completed for each team. Until then, you can notify the league of intent to enter a team via e-mail.

The NPGL will offer leagues at the 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 year old groups. Leagues may be split up into divisions based on the number of teams entered. In such cases, divisions will be created based on competitiveness.

The general time frame for the league is as follows:

Sunday May 24th, 2009 - Deadline for receiving entries. 
Sunday May 31, 2009 – (subject to change) League Meeting. Schedules distributed, rule questions answered. 
Friday , June 12, 2009 – Friday July 17, 2009 (subject to change) Regular Season and Round Robin games 
Monday, July 20, 2009- Wednesday, July 29, 2009- Single Elimination Playoffs. 
 

The exact start date will be determined once we know the number of teams entered. 
 
LEAGUE MEETING:

The league meeting will be held on Sunday, May 31st^t at 7:30 pm. at the Murray Hill Inn, corner of Central and South Avenue, in New Providence. At least one representative from each town should attend. It is also strongly encouraged that all coaches who are new to the league, including the 9 year old coaches in particular, attend as well. Schedules and league rules will be distributed at the meeting and rule questions will be discussed and answered. Due to space limitations, we ask that no more than 1 attendee per team. 

SCHEDULING OF REGULAR SEASON, ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT, AND PLAYOFFS:

There will be a 12 game regular season followed first by a round robin tournament and then by single elimination playoffs. Regular season play will commence on or about Friday, June 12th and will conclude Thursday, July 17th. The round robin tournament will be held starting July 11th. The single elimination playoffs will be held starting July 20^th and will extend until completion, not to be later than July 30^th... Often in the past, rainouts have caused for the regular season to be extended by a week. However, it is our intention that all league play be concluded by July 30^th and the schedule will be adjusted to insure this.

The round robin tournament consists of two or three games to be played between teams close to one another in the standings. Thus, in a 12 team division, the top four teams will play in one tournament, the middle four teams will play in another tournament, and the bottom four teams will play in a third tournament. The purpose of the tournament is to provide teams with appropriate competition at the end of the season. The exact make up of this round will be determined by the league commissioners subject to factors such as the competitive balance in a division and weather conditions which affect the completion of the regular season. We will release the scheduling of the round robin games approximately 1 week before such games are to be played. 

Teams will be seeded for the single elimination playoffs. In larger divisions, two or more separate playoffs will be held. Make-up of these tournaments will be based on regular season records and will combine the different divisions in each age group. Playoff seeds will be based on games played as of a cut-off date and not the end of season records to allow for teams to schedule fields and umpires. 

Trophies will be awarded to regular season division champions and the winners of each single elimination tournament. 

Games will be scheduled from Monday through Friday. Games will not be scheduled on Saturday or Sunday, although teams may reschedule games on the weekend if they prefer. The league is aware that 
certain communities may be completing their in-town leagues during the first week of the season. Accordingly, the opening games of the season, and any other league games if both teams agree, may be freely rescheduled. Teams are encouraged to make up games as the regular season progresses since there are few available make up dates in the regular season schedule. Coaches are reminded not to overwork their pitchers when rescheduling games. 

Teams that enter tournaments during the NPGL season should do their best to not schedule conflicts with league games. Should a team cancel a game due to a tournament the cancelled game will be rescheduled at the opponent’s convenience. 
 
Coaches are encouraged to schedule scrimmages amongst themselves prior to the start of the season. 
 
HOME TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES: 

During the regular season, the home team is responsible for providing umpires and game balls. During the round robin and playoffs, both teams shall provide an equal number of game balls and the home team is responsible for scheduling the umpires with the cost of the umpires being divided evenly between the two teams. Carded umpires are encouraged but not required by the league. Based on prior experience, we strongly recommend that adult umpires be used for Green League games. 
 
13 AND 14-YEAR-OLD DIVISION:

The league will offer separate 13 and 14 year old divisions this year, provided there are enough 14 year old teams. The division will use regulation baseball rules with 90 foot base paths and a distance of 60' 6" from the pitching rubber to home plate. Bats with a maximum length of 34 inches, a maximum barrel diameter of 2 and 3/4 inches and a maximum length to weight differential of -9 (for 13 year old teams) and -8 (for 14 year old teams) will be permitted. Metal spikes will be allowed in this division. Interpretation of the balk rule will be left to the complete discretion of the umpire but hope that interpretation will be lenient and warnings issued before a balk is called. 

ELIGIBILITY:

As noted above, one of the league's goals is to allow more children to play summer baseball at an appropriate level of competition. For this reason, children who play on a town's tournament or "A" level team are not permitted to play without league approval. In the event that a team needs to use an "A" team player to fill in for absent players, it is the coach's duty to inform the opposing coach of the situation. Also, such a player is not allowed to pitch. If a town only fields 1 team per age group for summer baseball, please contact the Commissioner to discuss your entry into the league (contact information below). 
 
A player's age may not exceed his or her team's age group before April 30, 2009 (e.g., a player on an 11 year old team cannot turn 12 before April 30th). The league will, however, consider a waiver of the age eligibility rule to improve competitive balance provided player safety is not compromised. By way of example, the league would consider allowing an unskilled player or a child with a physical disability to play at a lower level of competition or allowing a town to group players of different ages in an age group in which the team is expected to be competitive.  

LEAGUE WEBSITE:  

The league operates a website that will be the main source of information for all participants in the league. It will also be used for reporting scores and notifying the league of rescheduled games. The winning team will report the score. We ask that this information be submitted within 24 hours of the completion or rescheduling of a game so that we may keep standings and schedule up to date. The website will also contain coaches' contact information so it is important to submit that information with your application. Each team is required to have an e-mail address for a coach, manager or responsible party since league announcements will be sent in this manner: 

http://www.newprovidencebaseball.com

LEAGUE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Please provide the following to the commissioner by Sunday, May 24^th, 2009: 
2. League fee of $250.00 per team, check made payable to New Providence PAL. 
3. List of coaches and contact information. 
4. Evidence of Insurance (1 copy per town). 
5. Directions to home fields via major thoroughfares. 

Failure to comply with these requirements could result in your team not being accepted into the league. 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Please provide all information and address all questions to: 
 
Lou Miele
108 Possum Way
New Providence, New Jersey 07974
LouMiele@comcast.net 

973-808-3132 work
908-672-7979 cell
908-508-1785 home 

Regards and best wishes for the upcoming season,  

Lou Miele
Joe Shema

New Providence PAL - Green League Commissioners