Expanded Senior Slo-Pitch Association Spare Player Management

Spare Player Registration

You can register to be a spare on the web site or by mail. See the Registration section on the main web page.

If you become a full-time player at some point during the season, you must pay the Association fee (which will be pro-rated if a significant part of the season has already past).

Spare Player Management Process

Objective

• To support the Association teams with comparable caliber spares when required.
• To evaluate the spares to align with the Association ratings.
• To provide playing time to those signed up as spares.
• To maintain a minimum batting order of 11 players to keep teams as balanced as possible.
• To maintain full teams during peak vacation periods or in the event of injuries.

Definition of a Spare

• Spares MUST register with the Association to be a spare (see above).
• Those players who know they cannot play full time during the season and want to participate in and support the Association.

Spare Player Evaluation

• Spares will be evaluated at the yearly Rookie Evaluation Camp.
• As new spares are added, they will be contacted by the Association Spare Administrator to set an evaluation date and time (this could happen in a game).
• Spare evaluations will be done by 3 Captains and/or Association Board of Directors members using the Association evaluation criteria.
• Spares will be assessed in three rating categories for flexibility:
  • SA -- 16-20 rating points
  • SB -- 9-15 rating points
  • SC -- 4-8 rating points
• Spares that can be pitchers, will also have a 'P' designation for assignment.

Spare Player List

• When the spares list has a large number of participants:
  • Spares will be listed alphabetically based on their Spare Rating; this list will be a rolling list, so all spares are asked to play in rotation.
  • As new spare players are added, they will be a priority assignment player for one week before being added to the alphabetical list.
• When the spares list is smaller:
  • Spares will be contacted based on their rating / availability and the similar rating of the missing player.
  • If ratings are different, access to the full-time player list of any team(s) sitting off that day may occur.

How to Request a Spare Player

• Team Captains must notify the Association Spare Administrator at least 24 hours prior to game time to be assigned a spare player.
• Captains will provide the name of the missing player.
• Captains will indicate if they will be missing one of their pitchers.
• Captains can indicate that a spare will be required for multiple games but cannot expect to receive the same player for the multiple games. Each game will be assigned the next available spare.
• Captains must ask for spares when their team will field less than 11 players.
• If a team does not request a spare for a missing player, then an out will be scored in sufficient batting position(s) to reach 11 players in the playoff rounds.
• If no spares are available in the regular round-robin part of the season, teams may play short, and/or ask the other team for help; out(s) will not scored in the batting order to reach 11 players.
• If no spares are available in the playoff rounds, teams will play short and out(s) will be scored in sufficient batting position(s) to reach 11 players.

Assignment of Spare Players

• The Association Spare Administrator will contact a spare based on the following criteria:
  • Registered spares have first priority to be assigned as spares; full-time players from any team(s) sitting off who have indicated they are willing to spare will then be assigned as spares.
  • If a pitcher will be missing, those spares who can pitch will be contacted.
  • Captains may request a spare able to play a specific position; the Spares Manager will take this into account when assigning a spare, but with no guarantees.
  • Spares added to the Association within the last 7 days must be evaluated, and receive a priority ranking for one week.
  • An attempt will be made to contact spares based on their rating and the rating of the missing player.
• The Association Spare Administrator will contact the spare player via text and/or e-mail Sunday for a Monday game, Tuesday for a Wednesday game, or when the information becomes available.
• If the spare does not confirm by 7 PM Sunday/Tuesday, then another name on the spare list will be contacted.
• Every effort will be made to supply an equivalent spare to the team missing a player.
  • During the regular round-robins, any spare from any category may be assigned if demand exceeds the number of spares available.
  • During the playoff qualification round the spare must be rated at or below the numeric rating of the player being replaced.
  • Spare usage in the playoff qualification round, semi-final or final requires agreement of the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and Spare Administrator.
• A Spare Activity Report will be provided to the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and team Captains by 8 AM game day.
• Last minute emergencies may be taken into consideration and changes made after the Spare Activity Report has been sent.