Middle – Essex Softball League The Middle – Essex Softball League is the largest softball league in all of New England. In 2016 we featured nearly 200 teams across seven divisions. Visit us online: We’re also on Facebook www.eteamz.com/middleessex

Our Annual Meeting… Is held the Sunday before Memorial Day. This year it will be on May 21, 2017. Exact details will be posted on the website. Teams are expected to enroll at the annual meeting. League management will then process the paperwork and get everything ready for the season. We are driven by information…please supply yours when it is due so the process runs smoothly!

Divisions A players’ “Softball Age” is determined by how old she is on January 1, 2017. We offer play in the following age groups. 10U 12U 14U 18U Each age group has an “A Division” and a “B Division” We do not offer 16U, the reality is the 18B division is made up mostly of players in that age group.

Registration Process A Team Registration Form is posted in the Handouts section of the league website. Each team must submit a form at the annual meeting. You should give careful consideration to whether you’ll play in the A or B Division. If your town’s high school team is Div. I or II, you’re team should play in our A Division. Misplaced teams cause much frustration. Payment is accepted at the meeting, or any time before June 1st. There’s no such thing as a refund ;(

Registration Fees The fee to enroll a team in the Middle – Essex Softball League is $500. In addition, any player who does not already have individual insurance through the ASA must purchase insurance. The cost for insurance is $11.00 per player. Each team should insure at least one coach.

Your Registration Fee Covers… Umpire Fees One dozen Softballs Expenses related to our All Star Games A rule book and scorebook Costs related to the league website Administrative office expenses A per team fee for the President…plus one large bottle of Advil Give-backs for our Division Champions A college scholarship for a graduating senior

Our Season Play begins during the week of June 26, 2017 You play twice per week (typically one home and one away) for seven weeks. We do not schedule games on weekends. Game time is 6:15 PM. Games under the lights are allowed as well. Teams must play by the schedule…or take a forfeit. This strict policy solves more problems than it creates.

Forfeits Teams creating the forfeit must pay the umpire. If you forfeit three times in one season your team is out of the league. Forfeits are bad!

The Schedule Creating our schedule is a complicated process. It’s a full time job for about three weeks. The more home field availability your team has, the easier it is to fit your games into the schedule. You can reschedule rained out games up until the Tuesday after the end of the season. – This year it’s August 15th.

The ASA – Amateur Softball Association Is our governing body… We play by their rules. Our By-Laws contain several exceptions to the ASA rules. In that case, our By-Law takes priority. Insurance through the ASA’s Bollinger program is required of all participants. The ASA Commissioner and his staff serve as my consultants for protests and disputes. The league hires ASA umpires to work our games.

Umpires are your Friends Treat them well! Communication with umpire assigners is essential. Their information will be provided to you. You will receive a supply of checks to pay the umpires. Sometimes an umpire fails to show…Please recruit a knowledgeable volunteer to work the game and pay him or her for their efforts.

The League Website www.eteamz.com/middleessex The site is a great tool for your team and fans The league will provide your team with a website, based off the league’s main page. You must provide the league with one or two people who will manage your team’s website. The league will grant them Admin rights. Your site must display current contact information for your coaching staff. The winning team must post the score so our standings will always be up to date.

All Star Games This is our signature event. They are always held on the first Saturday of August Each team sends a certain number of players to the All Star Games. That number is determined the week before the games. Last year’s event featured over 475 players!! Detailed information telling how the process works will be posted on the website.

The Bottom Line… We hope you will join us this year. Once you provide your team registration form, detailing coaches contact information and field availability, you can focus on getting your team ready. We’ll do all the administrative work for you. During the season be sure to check the website often and keep your team’s info up to date. One last thought…

Sportsmanship… Playing and coaching in the Middle –Essex Softball League is fun. While the games are important…this is youth softball. There is NO REASON for anyone to lose his or her temper at a summer softball game. Violations will not be tolerated. Stay cool and applaud great plays on both sides of the diamond. Enjoy the friendly level of competition that has made our league so successful. Email any questions to league President Jeff Strong at middleessex@aol.com