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Dear NEPL Members,
I am writing to you today to inform each coach, player, organization official, umpire and parent how the beginning of our 30th year second half has started out; not too good!
In the last 10 days or so I have been working hard with Bill Tees NEPL Athletic Director and Bob Newman NEPL Baseball/Softball Commissioner on many issues which I would like to share with you. Here are some of the low lights.
· 7/8 coach cursing an umpire
· 9/10 coaches from two different teams (same game) confronting an umpire on judgment calls
· 15/16 player throwing an elbow in an attempt to injure another player then after being thrown out for his actions throws equipment
· 13/14 parent arguing calls with an umpire
· 9/10 coach arguing over an appeals play
The list continues with more but I don’t want to make this a long list of issues but a reminder of our Standards and our Code of Conduct. So to quote a segment from our rules “The N.E.P.L. has been, presently is, and will always be concerned about the lack of discipline and the negative conduct at the league’s sporting events. The League will hold the representative(s) of the respective clubs responsible for the Code of Conduct Policy. Forfeiting a game, suspension of a team member, suspending the entire team for the season, and suspending the team’s organization from future participation in the League’s sporting events are possibilities that will be considered by the League Officials.” So yes we are at that point with many coaches, players, organizations and parents.
Bob Newman stated at each and every coach’s meeting that “we would not accept any person confronting our umpires in a negative way to the point where you are asked to leave the game”. I want to reaffirm to each and everyone that this is the NEPL, a league which prides itself on being an instructional league, which believes in fairness, having fun and learning without the “must win at any cost” attitude. We are here to teach and play sports, not to discipline folks who do not comply with league rules.
If you have any issues or concerns please feel free to contact me at francis.connelly@temple.edu or 215-906-6968.
Thank you
Frank Connelly
President Northeast Peanut League
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