Rules and Regulations

A. Drafting
1. Roughly every four years as decided by the commissioner, the NSAL will conduct a keeper-style draft. Each roster will be permitted to protect four position players and two pitchers. However, this policy is subject to change if the commissioner feels the league needs a more urgent redistribution to promote parity. This can include a complete redraft. [Amended 2013 Apr 7]
2. In the event that league members are removed (see item C), the commissioner reserves the right to reshuffle vacant rosters to promote parity.
3. Should the league have a change in population size, the commissioner reserves the right to conduct an expansion/contraction draft as he sees fit (see C3).
4. The draft order is established at random by a drawing of names. [2013 Apr 7]
5. The draft is conducted in a snake format (i.e. 1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1, etc.). [2013 Apr 7]
6. The next redraft is scheduled for 2015. [2013 Apr 7]

B. Vetoing trades
1. Acceptable grounds for a veto motion
a. Suspicion of collusion
b. Gross lack of parity
c. Suspicion one league member was coerced into accepting a deal
2. Prerequisites for a successful veto motion:
a. A league member, who is not one of the two involved in the trade, must formally declare a motion for a veto in the form of a league post. This motion counts as the first vote in said veto.
b. Two-thirds of the league members must vote in favor of a veto. If members abstain from the vote, they must declare their abstention in the form of a league post. The remaining votes should be counted as if the abstainers are not members of the league. No motion will be recognized without a minimum of six voters, four of which vote in favor of a veto. Example: In a twelve-person league, seven vetoes (7/10 = 70%) would be necessary for a successful motion. (The two owners making the trade are not counted.) Should an owner decide to abstain, then only six vetoes would be required (6/9 = 66.7%).
c. The league commissioner reserves the authority to rescind immediately any trade he believes violates the league’s competitive spirit.
d. The league commissioner reserves the right to block any veto he sees unfit unless it involves his own franchise. [amended 2007 Jan 20]

C. Changes in the League Population
1. Adding a new league member: League members are added at the discretion of the commissioner.
2. Removing a league member
a. Only the commissioner may begin the proceedings for dismissal of a league member. [Amended 2010 Oct 7]
b. Any motion for dismissal requires a majority vote. A minimum of one half of the league members must take part in the vote.
c. The member under consideration for dismissal is ineligible to vote, and he is not considered a league member in calculating the total vote percentages. Abstention rules as described in the vetoing section apply.
3. Changing the number of league owners
a. Only the commissioner may motion for expansion in the number of league members.
b. Any motion for change requires a majority vote. A minimum of one half of the league members must take part in the vote. Abstention rules as described in the vetoing section apply.
c. A successful motion for expansion will follow the expansion rules described below.
d. A successful motion for contraction will follow the contraction rules described below.
4. Expansion: The commissioner establishes expansion rules on a case-by-case basis.
5. Contraction: The commissioner establishes contraction rules on a case-by-case basis.

D. Waiver Wire and Free Agent Rules
1. Establishing Waiver Priority for the Beginning of a Season: Waiver priority is established annually based on the final standings. The bottom six waiver slots are awarded to the six playoff teams in inverse order of regular-season finish. Thus, the regular season champion has the last waiver slot. For those teams who fail to qualify for postseason play, waiver priority is awarded in order of consolation-bracket performance. Thus, the consolation bracket winner will be awarded the first waiver slot.
2. Changing Waiver Priority: The commissioner reserves the right to change a team’s waiver priority.
3. Players Representing Other Players: Ideally, this situation should be avoided. However, in circumstances in which a player is chosen to represent another, the owner must exhaust his waiver priority to claim the player represented. Should the owner decline to do so, the player in question then becomes fair game for all owners to claim as a free agent.

E. Disciplinary Actions
1. Roster lock: The commissioner reserves the right at any time to lock a roster from making trades and/or roster changes if he believes it in the best interests of the league. For instance, signs that an owner has become disgruntled and may cut his team to sabotage the league would warrant a full roster lock. Also, attempts at post-deadline trades through the waiver wire, or any other means, may result in roster lock.
2. Muting: The commissioner reserves the right to rescind, without explanation, an owner’s right to post on the message board at any time.
3. Dismissal from the league: see B2
4. The commissioner reserves the right to introduce any other disciplinary action as he sees fit. [Added 2010 Oct 7]

F. Wagers: The North Shore Animal League assumes no responsibility for any wagers made between league members.

G. Trading Deadline
1. The date chosen for the deadline is always the latest date allowed by the league’s host site.
2. Any attempt at “gentlemen’s agreement” deals initiated after the deadline will result in disciplinary action.
3. Owners may discuss trades over the off-season, but no such deal will be recognized until it has been processed officially on the league site.

H. Postseason Roster Lock: Once an owner’s team no longer can benefit from roster additions, add/drop privileges will be frozen. This usually occurs on the final day his team competes in postseason play.

I. Team Name Lock: The commissioner will prevent team name changes on opening day. Name changes after that time must be cleared by the commissioner.

J. Annual Awards
1. Campaigning publicly or privately for a league award is not permissible and may result in disqualification from awards for that season.
2. Votes are cast in the final week of regular-season play, and the ballots are kept secret to all except the commissioner.

K. Statistics [added 2007 Jan 20]
1. Statistics that will count as categories for competition are the following
a. Batting: (1) runs, (2) hits, (3) doubles, (4) home runs, (5) RBI, (6) stolen bases, (7) walks, (8) strikeouts, (9) batting average, (10) total bases
b. Pitching: (1) wins, (2) losses, (3) saves, (4) holds, (5) complete games, (6) strikeouts, (7) walks, (8) total bases, (9) ERA, (10) WHIP
c. Note that for pitching, shutouts has been replaced with holds effective for the 2007 season.
d. In the event of a tie in the postseason, the first tie-breaker will be ERA as per Yahoo fantasy baseball rules. The match will be recorded as a tie in league records, but the team with the lower ERA will advance.

Note: This document is subject to change by the commissioner at any time without warning.