League News

The BASICS Of Processing A Schedule Transaction Through The Website

Since 2009, it has been a requirement of ENYTB membership that teams process ALL schedule updates through the website via their online schedule. Various kinds "schedule transactions" are available and certain rules apply to each. (These rules are summarized below for the four most common types of allowable schedule transactions.)

One of the most important rules common to all valid schedule transactions is timeliness. Each type of schedule transaction has a time limit associated with it. Some require that action be taken prior to the event e.g., at least 3 days before for non-weather postponements (NWP) and no harm, no foul cancellations (NHNFC) and some require action after the fact e.g., no more than 7 days for weather postponements (WP) and scoring of games played as scheduled. Once the opportunity for a schedule update has expired due to lack of timeliness, no schedule change is allowed.

W/o limitations on schedule changes, schedule reliability would suffer and the league would lose all control over the rescheduling process. Teams would be free to cancel/postpone games at the last minute and/or teams would just not show up for games and later claim it was due to a misunderstanding by their opponent. Team's W-L records would be in error, as would be the The standings would be wrong and teams would be awarded NCTS berths that did not deserve them. How do we know this? That is how it used to be in this league before implementing our current system that automatically enforces the league's rules on schedule changes. Three times the ENYTB membership has voted by more than a 90% majority that it did not want to be that kind of league.

The key to automatic enforcement is that ALL schedule changes must be processed through the website. This avoids the endless "he said, she said" disputes between members.

For some unknown reason, teams choose to bypass the league's automatic enforcement system by not processing their requests for schedule changes and other schedule updates through the website. Instead they make informal agreements with their opponent. Then they get fined for non-compliance. Then they come forward to say they made an agreement with their opponent in violation of the time limits allowed for such changes. This is a recipe for disaster yet every day of the season one or more teams walks themselves into this predicament.

Every day League Navigators are fielding numerous complaints from members (mostly teams 13U and older) about schedule changes, updates and/or fines. In all cases, these disputes have arisen because the team requesting the schedule change has NOT processed the request for a schedule change or updated their schedule via the website.

There are various excellent FAQ on every aspect of this subject, yet team managers and in some cases, club GMs, remain oblivious to them, intentionally or not.

This news article is yet another attempt to get through to those who are not following procedure.

Here's what you need to do to process a transaction for a schedule change through the system:

Generic Procedure For Processing A Schedule Transaction (5 Simple Steps):

(1) Team A contacts Team B and asks for a specific type of schedule change.

General types of discretionary schedule transactions include: NWP and NHNFC.

NOTE: Games between non-local opponents (red car on game listing) are not eligible for NWP or NHNFC.

NOTE: All schedule transactions are defined at the top of the page on your online schedule page.

NOTE: Other requests for schedule changes e.g., WP and AC, go to league admin for approval.

(2) Team B informs Team A that it will approve/deny its request for a schedule transaction.

Most teams get this far and then go off the track.

(3) If Team B approves the request, Team A enters the transaction request to the website. This is a crucial step in the process.

NOTE: By ENYTB Rule, NWP and NHNFC requests must be entered to the website at least 3 days BEFORE the scheduled date of the game. Once the 3 day window closes, all games MUST BE PLAYED AS SCHEDULED OR FORFEITED. The website will not accept a NWP/NHNFC transaction within 72 hours of the game's start time.

(4) Team B is officially notified of the pending request via auto-email and is directed to go to its online schedule to indicate whether they had approved the specific transaction that was entered.

(5) Once Team B confirms its approval of the transaction online, the website automatically makes the schedule change to both team's schedules and informs all parties of the consummated transaction.

So, what what happens if:

A - Team B denies approval of request?

Game must be played as scheduled or forfeited. Or teams can re-negotiate the schedule change if time permits.

NOTE: If team A fails to forfeit the game online, team B may do it for him (two forfeit switches).

B - Team B approves request but Team A fails to enter the transaction to website before 72 hours prior to game time?

Website will not accept the transaction request.

Game must be played as scheduled or forfeited.

NOTE: If team A fails to forfeit the game online, team B may do it for him (two forfeit switches).

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So, to get a schedule change, team A must do two things:
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(1) Team A must get its opponent's (Team B) approval; and,
(2) Team A must enter its request for a discretionary schedule change to the website more than 3 days before game time. (Discretionary means your opponent has the right to say no.)That seems simple enough.

If you do (1) but not (2) ---> no transaction.

Why does the league require teams to process ALL schedule changes/updates through the website?

Because in three league-wide votes, more than 90% of ENYTB teams voted that they wanted their opponents to be required to provide a minimal notification period on discretionary schedule changes (reduced this year from 7 to 3 days). They also voted that they wanted to reserve the right to deny such requests. Keep in mind that most leagues don't even offer their members teh possibility of discretionary schedule changes.

Why so many teams are unable to follow these two simple rules on reschedules is unclear.

Often it is because they want to avoid the fine for a forfeit even though, by ENYTB rules, they have forfeited the game. However, w/o (1) and (2), PLAY GAME AS SCHEDULED OR FORFEIT are the ONLY remaining options i.e., the opportunity for a discretionary change is lost because the request is not timely.

When teams fail to follow these two rules they get fined. The offending team then often complains it has been somehow wronged, that id did not forfeit the game, they just didn't follow our rules for processing the change through the website. Sorry, by definition, that is a forfeit.

As a condition of membership, each team has the responsibility to keep its online schedule updated and to either play all its games as scheduled or to forfeit them UNLESS they have execute a valid schedule transaction via the website. Once the time limit for making a vali8d schedule transaction expires, the team MUST PLAY THE GAME AS SCHEDULED OR FOREIT. There is no other option by design.

W/o these rules on schedule changes the league would be akin to the wild wild west. There would be no schedule reliability nor would the league have any control over the rescheduling process. Games would be canceled at the last minute and/or teams would just not show up and just claim it was a misunderstanding by their opponent. Also, as a result, the standings would be wrong and teams would be awarded NCTS berths that did not deserve them. Three times this league has voted by more than a 90% majority that it did not want to be that kind of league.

Club GMs are responsible for seeing to it that their teams follow the rules of this league. It is their job to speak to their managers and make sure they understand our rules pertaining to schedule changes. If the club GM is unsure of a rule, he should go to his League Navigator.

No leniency will be given on fines for unprocessed schedule transactions.

ENYTB Schedule Transactions - The Four BIGGIES

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ALL ENYTB games i.e., games between two ENYTB members and listed on both team's ENYTB online schedules, are MUST PLAY AS SCHEDULED OR FORFEIT with the following four exceptions:
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(1) WEATHER POSTPONEMENTS (WP) - As soon as the home team knows the game is unplayable due to bad weather, it must inform the visiting team.

(A) Each team has 7 days after the scheduled game time to update their schedule i.e., to enter a WP via the website.

Either team can enter the WP to the website.

Home team - can update to WP prior to or after scheduled game time.
Away team - can update to WP after game time only.

If neither team takes the time to enter the WP, both teams will received a PASSED game warning after 5 days. If both teams ignore this warning, at the end of 7 days from the scheduled game time, both teams will receive a PASSED game fine ($75/game). This is true for scoring a played game as well.

(B) Make-ups of WP are OPTIONAL - A make-up game is scheduled if and only if both teams want to make the game up. Otherwise the game is marked as an impasse after 7 days - no penalty.

(C) The website updates the schedule of both teams as soon as it is entered to the website. However, league admin must approve the WP before it becomes official. For example, if you are the only team to request a WP on a given date when the weather is good, the WP likely will be rejected.
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(2) ADMIN CANCELLATIONS (AC) - Conflicts with unknowable school baseball related events or ENYTB tournament play are eligible for this kind of cancellation. Requests need to be made as soon as conflict becomes known. All other school events e.g., school plays, choir, exams, proms, graduation, etc. are not eligible for AC. Those that are knowable in advance should have been blacked-out when you submitted your scheduling inputs. For those that weren't knowable or that you missed, teams may use their allotment of NWP (2) and/or NHNFC (2) (described below).
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(3) NON-WEATHER POSTPONEMENTS (NWP) - Any time a team can not field 9 or more players, it may request a NWP from its opponent IF AND ONLY IF:

(A) There are three or more days before the game's scheduled date; and,

(B) The requesting team has not used up its limit of NWP for the entire season (2).

(C) If your opponent agrees to the NWP, the requesting team must enter the schedule transaction to the website at least 72 hours before game time.

(D) The opposing team is officially notified of the request by auto-email and asked to confirm their approval of the schedule transaction via their online schedule. Failure to do so more than 24 hours before game time shall result in automatic approval.

Conditions A, B, C and D must be met or game is MUST PLAY AS SCHEDULED OR FORFEIT.

NOTE: Games between non-local teams (red car on online game listing) are NOT eligible for NWP.
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(4) NO HARM, MO FOUL CANCELLATIONS (NHNFC) - Any time a team can not field 9 or more players, it may request a NHNFC from its opponent IF AND ONLY IF:

(A) There are three or more days before the game's scheduled date; and,

(B) The requesting team has not used up its limit of NHNFC for the entire season (2).

(C) If your opponent agrees to the NHNFC, the requesting team must enter it to the website at least 72 hours before game time.

(D) Opposing team is officially notified of the request by auto-email and asked to confirm their approval of the schedule transaction via their online schedule. Failure to do more than 24 hours before game time shall result in automatic approval.

Conditions A, B, C and D must be met or game is MUST PLAY AS SCHEDULED OR FORFEIT.

NOTE: Games between non-local teams (red car on online game listing) are NOT eligible for NHNFC.
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FORFEITS - In the event a non-playing forfeit is necessary, the forfeiting team should enter the forfeit to the website at least 24 hours BEFORE the scheduled game time. If your opponent tells you he is forfeiting the game but does not enter the forfeit to the website himself, you have a forfeit switch to forfeit the game on his behalf. Forfeited games should be forfeited on the website BEFORE the scheduled game time. And the sooner the better. If the forfeiting team is AWAY, late notification can result in payment of umpire fees, field rental fees, and other possible game costs that are unavoidable. All parties are notified of the forfeit declaration as soon as it is entered to the system. The penalty for a no-show is much worse than the penalty for a forfeit ($75/game).

The ENYTB system for transacting schedule changes handles all schedule transactions in a simple manner w/o third party intervention. It automatically enforces all of the league's rules pertaining to schedule changes. Failure to submit a transaction to the website in a timely manner will result in a MUST PLAY GAME AS SCHEDULED or FORFEIT situation.