The purpose of the Ultimate Strat Baseball League (USBL) is to be the most complete and realistic simulation league. The USBL shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions set forth in these bylaws and rules. The USBL shall consist of 30 Major League franchises and Minor League systems. The teams shall be divided in 2 leagues and 3 divisions in each league. Players shall receive salaries and may be signed to multi-year contracts.

FORMAT

Game will be played using the most recent CD-ROM version of the Strat-O-Matic computer game. All games are to be Net Play or HAL. Net Play in encouraged, but not required. Computer managers are to be received by the league by the first of the each month. The inability to Net Play games could result in removal from the league.

BALLPARKS

Each USBL franchise must reside in a MLB ballpark. No two franchises may reside in the same ballpark. A ballpark will become available when a franchise receives a new owner. If more than one franchise request an available ballpark, the ballpark will be awarded to the franchise whose owner has the most seniority in the league.

SCHEDULE

The league will play a 162-game balanced schedule. There will be no interleague play. The schedule will be broken into six blocks, which will be played from April to September.

PLAYOFFS

Each divisional champion will participate in the league playoffs. In addition, one wild-card team from each league will qualify for the playoffs. The League Division series is a best of five series. The League Championship Series and the World Series are a best of seven series.

REVIEW OF POOR PERFORMING FRANCHISES

Any owner who fails to win 50 games will be reviewed by the EC. If the EC feels the owner does not have what it takes for the league based on skill or effort he will be removed from the league.

SECTION 2. LEAGUE OPERATION

All provisions of these bylaws and rules shall be enforced by the league Executive Committee (EC), as required and/or deemed necessary and appropriate. The EC shall consist of four core members and the Commissioner.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (SALARY $2,000,000)

The Commissioner shall appoint the Executive Committee. Their duties include:

· soliciting owners for any rule change ideas

· writing any rule proposals they deem in the best interest of the league

· ruling on any rule interpretations when the Commissioner asks for help

LEAGUE COMMISSIONER (SALARY: $5,000,000 per year)

The Commissioner has the authority to rule on all aspects of league operations. He has the final say on who joins the league, whoever stays in the league and rules on any dispute that may occur. The League Commissioner may solicit the EC for their opinion on any issue.

His duties include:

· appointing all members of the EC

· receiving and validating all trades reported

· keeping an up-to-date listing of all the league's player rosters, player contract status and team finances

· providing periodic roster and bank account updates

· providing a monthly trade report

· reviewing the newsletter before publishing and requesting changes to content he considers to be mean-spirited

· maintaining an owner information list

· maintaining a backup owner list

LEAGUE STATISTICIAN (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

His duties include:

· tabulating all league statistics upon receipt of monthly data files from each team

· creating and updating roster files, including making all roster changes that result due to in-season trades

· E-mailing updated roster files that will have up-to-date statistics, rosters, league leaders, and standings, monthly

LEAGUE REPORTER (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

His duties include authoring and publishing a newsletter to the web site, by the 7^th of each month. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

· trade examinations

· analysis of free agent signings and drafts

· hot-stove type summaries

· season preview and reviews

· monthly recaps

· playoff series preview and recaps

WEB SITE DIRECTOR (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

His duties include designing, updating and maintaining the league web site. The web site will provide the league with features such as:

· up-to-date standings

· trade wires

· historical records

· newsletter

DRAFT CONDUCTOR (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

His duties include:

· coordinating and conducting the Amateur and Rule 5 drafts

· determining the draft format (mail draft, chat room draft or combination of both)

· keeping the draft moving and making the decision when a manager’s pick should be skipped

· creating a time schedule that is clear, fair, and timely

· send a drafting report to the Commissioner for publication and for updating the roster file

FREE AGENCY CONDUCTOR (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

His duties include:

· handling every aspect of the free agency process

· being ready to get going as soon as the real MLB season is finished

· compiling the arbitration table

· notify all managers of the Type A and B free agents by October 14^th

· receiving all arbitration offers from managers by the October 31^st deadline

· doing all the calculations necessary to determine the winning bids

· making a full report of the winning bids and Type A, B and C free agents to the Commissioner for inclusion in the newsletter

· sending out the results of arbitration to the membership by November 5^th

USAGE AUDITOR (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

His duties include:

· After the draft and auction, create a list of available AAAA players. These are players with two seasons at the AAA or above, not on any USBL roster.

· After the April league file is sent out, check each for a total of 6300 PA and at least 650 for each position.

· Immediately after the July stats are out, re-evaluate each team based on their current usage.

SECTION 3. SCHEDULE OF LEAGUE EVENTS

OFF-SEASON DEADLINES

After the season, league business does not stop. It is less frequent, but the business conducted is very important.

The chart below lists our off-season deadlines.

09/30 - Dues payment for the next year due to the Commissioner.

09/30 - Rule Change Proposal deadline. Proposals are due to the EC.

10/07 - Rule Change Proposal Ballot sent out by EC.

10/14 - Free Agency Conductor sends out Arbitration Table

10/14 - Free Agency Conductor sends out list of Type A and B free agents.

10/31 - Contract signing deadline.

10/31 - Arbitration offer deadline.

10/31 - Rule Change Ballot deadline.

11/05 - List of released players sent out for Waivers.

11/12 - Waiver claims deadline.

11/15 - Waiver results sent out.

11/15 - List of Rule 5 eligible players sent out.

11/20 - Rule 5 Draft begins.

12/01 - Tier 1 and Tier 2 Free Agency begins

12/15 - HOLIDAY BREAK

01/05 - Free Agency resumes.

02/21 - Free Agency ends.

02/26 - 40-Man rosters set.

03/03 - Waiver List sent out

03/05 - Waiver claims deadline

03/08 - Waiver results sent out.

IN-SEASON DEADLINES

SECTION 4. LEAGUE FEES

League fees will be required to pay league expenses. The Commissioner will keep a revenue and expense ledger for each year. It should reflect all deposits and expenditures for the given year. A league member may ask to see the ledger at any time.

There will be no credit granted to members based upon labor or other contributions to the league.

The league fees are to be paid to the Commissioner. DO NOT send cash. Make the check or money order payable to the Commissioner, not the league.

If it is obvious that the fee payments are always yielding too much or too little money for the year, yearly fees will be adjusted accordingly.

The league accounting year runs from October 1^st to September 30^th.

NEW MEMBER FEES

Upon joining the USBL, new members shall make a payment of $20.

VETERAN MEMBER FEES

IF NEEDED the fee for veteran league members are $10, due by September 30^th.

LEAGUE EXPENSES

Fees will be spent on web site space, trophies and other essential supplies needed for the Commissioner to meet his obligation to the league.

REFUNDS

Departing members shall not receive financial reimbursement of league fees.

SECTION 5. RULE CHANGES

Any manager may suggest rule changes to the EC, but it requires the support of two EC members to request a vote on a specific proposal.

Rule change proposals must be worded as they would be included in the constitution.

Rule change proposals will be considered and acted upon according to a schedule determined by the Commissioner.

A quorum of 50% of the total number of league owners must vote, with a 2/3 approval for an approval to be adopted.

Any owner with one year in the league is eligible to vote.

SECTION 6. ROSTERS

ROSTER SIZE

Each franchise shall consist of 125 to 150 players.

40-MAN ROSTER

Each franchise will maintain a 40-man roster.

Minor players with M1, M2, M3, M4 or M5 contracts do not have to be placed on the 40-man roster to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft.

ACTIVE ROSTER

During the regular season, each team shall be limited to an active roster of 25 players, from their 40-man roster, for any given month. There shall be no additions to or deletions from the active roster during an individual month. The active roster must include a backup for each position. A player may serve as a backup for more than one position. Rosters will expand to 40 men on September 1.

Players with Free Agent contracts become free agents if removed from the Active Roster, after passing through waivers.

PLAYOFF ROSTER

Post-season rosters can be comprised of any 25 players from the team’s 150-man roster provided that each player selected was on a team’s 25-man active roster, for at least one month prior to September.

SECTION 7. TEAM FINANCE

This will be reviewed by the EC at the end of the each season.

A team’s yearly revenue will have two components. A divisional finish component and a number of wins component.

Any unspent money may be carried forward to the next season.

DIVISIONAL FINISH REVENUE

	2009	2010	2011
First Place	$42,750,000	$43,250,000	$44,250,000
Second Place	$42,000,000	$42,250,000	$42,275,000
Third Place	$41,250,000	$41,250,000	$41,250,000
Fourth Place	$40,500,000	$40,250,000	$39,750,000
Fifth Place	$39,750,000	$39,250,000	$38,250,000

REVENUE PER WIN FORMULA

2009 Per Win Revenue =

(Team Wins – USBL Least Wins)/(USBL Most Wins – USBL Least Wins) * $3,000,000 + $39,750,000.

2010 Per Win Revenue =

(Team Wins – USBL Least Wins)/(USBL Most Wins – USBL Least Wins) * $4,000,000 + $39,250,000.

2011 Per Win Revenue =

(Team Wins – USBL Least Wins)/(USBL Most Wins – USBL Least Wins) * $6,000,000 + $38,250,000.

BONUSES

Bonuses can be earned by:

Making the playoffs as a Wildcard team ($1,000,000).
Winning a playoff series ($1,000,000/playoff series).
Timely reporting of game results ($100,000/Month).
Timely distribution of monthly computer managers ($100,000/Month).
Writing articles for the Newsletter ($250,000).

The maximum amount of bonuses any team can receive in any season is $8,250,000. This includes league officials' salaries.

PENALTIES

Penalties can be earned by:

Losing 100+ games in a season $3,000,000.
Late reporting of game results ($250,000/Series).
Late mailing to the Commissioner or other league officials ($1,000,000/Incident).

Repeat offenses shall result in a higher fine. The number of offenses shall be a multiplier for the fine amount. On a team's third late mailing the team shall be fined $3,000,000. A fourth offense results in AUTOMATIC expulsion from the league.

Penalties can also be earned by exceeding player limits. (See Over Use Penalties)

CONTRACT DECISIONS

After the season, at a time set forth by the commissioner, teams will make contract decisions on their players.

The following salaries will be paid in full during contract decisions:

· All O, A and FA contracts

· M contracts on the 40-man roster

These decisions include:

· Contract refusal

· Contract insurance

· Contract buy outs

· Accepting optional years on a player’s contract

· Each team may sign one player with A5 or A6 status to a long-term contract

· Offering arbitration to former players who are now free agents

IN SEASON PAYROLL LIMIT

Only players on a team’s 40-man roster will count against its In Season Payroll Limit.

Each team’s monthly payroll must be between $55,000,000 and $110,000,000. These minimums and maximums are in place as an attempt to ensure teams have a minimum amount of major league talent and to ensure the team is fiscally viable if the current owner needs to step down.

Any month a team’s payroll drops below $55,000,000, during the season, the team will be fined 1/6 of the amount below $55,000,000.

A team’s payroll is not allowed to be over $110,000,000 any month during the season. If the team’s payroll is above $110,000,000, the commissioner will use his best judgment to decide how a team will get under $110,000,000.

SECTION 8. PLAYER CONTRACTS

The rules governing Player Contracts are subject to EC review each off-season, for minor tweaking to ensure a realistic salary structure.

When a player is drafted he receives an M1 contract. For every year a player is not added to the Active Roster his M contract status shall increase by one. Minor league contracts are designated M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 and MR5. Players under M contracts, with 110 PA, 5 GS or 15 IP in the Majors, during one season, automatically become O1’s.

Players will be given an O1, Option contract, immediately upon placement on the Active Roster. Option contracts are designated O1, O2 and O3. Players on Option contracts will automatically move one contract level at the end of the season. Players on Option contracts must remain on the 40-man roster. The only option a team has to remove him from the 40-man roster is to place him on waivers. Once the player clears waivers he may be placed in the minors.

Entering his 4^th season on an Active Roster a player becomes arbitration eligible. Arbitration contracts are designated A4, A5 and A6. Players on Arbitration contracts will move to the next contract level at the end of the season, if they spend one day on the Active Roster, including in September when the Active Roster expands to 40. The only option a team has to remove him from the Active Roster is to place him on waivers. Once the player clears waivers he may be placed in the minors.

Players on Option or Arbitration contracts cannot be offered a contract less than their previous year’s salary.

Once a player has completed 6 full seasons he becomes eligible for free agency. The players are designated as playing under an "FA" contract. The corresponding number on the contract indicates the final year of the contract. Thus a player designated as FA2007 will become a free agent AFTER the 2007 USBL season.

MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS

Players with Minor League contracts on the 40-man roster cost $100,000.

OPTION CONTRACTS

Players on option contracts will receive a salary established by the Arbitration Chart according to the following procedure:

· O1 players receive a salary of $375,000.

· O2 players receive 20% of their market salary, with limits of $387,500 and a $625,000.

· O3 players receive 30% of their market salary, with limits of $400,000 and a $1,250,000.

ARBITRATION CONTRACTS

Players who are arbitration eligible contracts will receive a salary established by the Arbitration Chart according to the following procedure:

· A4 players receive 40% of their market salary with a $412,500 minimum.

· A5 players receive 60% of their market salary with a $425,000 minimum.

· A6 players receive 80% of their market salary with a $450,000 minimum.

Each team may sign one player with A5 or A6 status to a long-term contract during contract decisions. Long term contracts will be giving according to the following procedure.

· A5 players will receive a 4-year contract at 80% of their salary as established by the Arbitration Chart.

· A6 players will receive a 3-year contract at 100% of their salary as established by the Arbitration Chart.

Long-term contracts will be designated as FA contracts since the player will become a free agent after the contract.

FREE AGENT CONTRACTS

The maximum length of a Free Agent contract is 5 years with a team option for a 6^th year.

There shall be a minimum salary requirement for all Free Agent contracts based on the number of years offered in the contract;

1 year no option minimum salary shall be $500,000.
1 year with option or 2 year no option minimum salary shall be $1,000,000 per season.
2 year with option or 3 year no option minimum salary shall be $1,500,000 per season.
3 year with option or 4 year no option minimum salary shall be $2,500,000 per season.
4 year with option or 5 year no option minimum salary shall be $4,000,000 per season.
5 year with option minimum salary shall be $6,000,000 per season.

UNRESTICTED FREE AGENT CONTRACTS

Any player signed after the “official” end of the free agency period shall be signed to a pro-rated 1 year, league minimum contract, on a first come, first served basis and shall be considered an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA). If the player is released before the end of the season, the owner will be refunded for any remaining salary. UFA players shall not receive any free agent compensation if signed by another team the following year.

ARBITRATION CHART

By October 14^th the league will issue the Arbitration Chart, which will set salaries for O1, O2, O3, A4, A5 and A6 players. It also sets the minimum for free agents offered arbitration. The Arbitration Chart is constructed as follows:

· Players at each position are ranked in order according to their win shares earned in real life during the past two seasons.

· The salary for all players at each position during the previous USBL season will then be listed in descending order.

· The average salary for a player of that quality will then be calculated as the average of the two salaries above the player, the corresponding player's salary and the two salaries below the player.

· If this average is below the player's current actual salary, his current actual salary will be used.

CONTRACT BUYOUTS

A team may release a player with a guaranteed contract by paying the player full value of his remaining contract. The team may elect to pay off the contract all at once or over the remaining years of the player’s contract.

If a player signed to a guaranteed contract retires early the team will be allowed to reduce the annual salary for the player by 50% for the remainder of the contract length or exercise a contract buyout of the remaining years (cap room permitting). The buyout would be 50% of the remaining contract value. The buyout option will be available every off-season until the contact has expired (no buyouts will be allowed during the season). In the event a player who has retired is able to make a comeback and has not been bought out by the team holding his contract, his original contract value will be re-instated for the duration of the contract length.

CONTRACT INSURANCE

If a player signed to a guaranteed contract misses the entire MLB season, due to injury, the team will be allowed to pay only the 20% premium on the insurance policy. The player is placed on the 60-day Disabled List and does not need to be on the 40-man Roster.

CONTRACT REFUSAL

Since Option and Arbitration contracts are formulaic and automatic, teams have the option of refusing any contract of O1, O2, O3, A4, A5 or A6 players.

Any player that has his contract refused shall go on waivers; if unclaimed he shall become a free agent.

SECTION 9. FREE AGENCY PROCESS

Any player with A6 or FA status, whose contract has expired, becomes a free agent. Any player not drafted in the most recent major league draft, with MLB experience may also be bid upon during the free agent auction, even though they were not under contract for the previous season.

All bids for free agents shall be submitted as “open bids” on the Internet site set up for the purpose of FA bidding. Bids will be ranked using the evaluation spreadsheet (formula included on roster spreadsheet), and only bids higher (in total value per the spreadsheet formula) than the previous bid will be accepted.

The EC shall provide the entire league membership with a copy of the spreadsheet, which contains the formula and may be used to determine the total value of the contract offer prior to bid submission. Members are strongly encouraged to use this spreadsheet in determining the value of their bid proposal.

Free agent contract bids must include the number of years; salary per year, and if desired a one-year team option.

The value of free agent contracts shall be of a fixed cash value from one season to the next, and may not feature an escalating or descending sliding scale.
Free agent bids with a one- year option are considered to hold less value than a bid for the same amount of money over the same set number of years that does not include the team option for renewal.

There shall be a simultaneous two-tier process for signing free agents. The first tier shall consist of the Top 15 free agents as determined by the EC. The second tier shall be the rest of the available free agents.

Any players not signed during the free agent process will remain free agents until such time they are signed.

T1 FREE AGENT PROCESS

The highest rated Free Agent of the Top 15 shall be bid upon first.

One (1) Tier 1 Free Agent will be posted for bidding per day, in an order determined by the free agent auction conductor.

Each Tier 1 Free Agent will be posted for three days.

The bid determined by formula to have the highest value shall result in the submitting team signing the player. Bids will be entered into the website. The winning bid on the web site will be binding to the team bidding.

During free agency, if the team that a Type A free agent is leaving has the winning bid, they will receive a 5% discount off the value of the contract offered. This is called a “hometown discount”.

T2 FREE AGENT PROCESS

Each designated day for bid submission teams submit one “initial bid” on a free agent who is not part of the T1 bidding. This submission will be made directly to the Free Agency Auction Conductor, either via email or on the web site (if available). This “initial bid” is binding, if it is not outbid.

Players will remain available for bidding for three (3) days, during which time any team with available funds (as monitored by the web site) can bid on these players. If a team is outbid, any funds committed to that player are freed up for bidding on another player, if desired.

The T2 free agent signing tier shall continue until all teams pass on nominating a player with an “initial bid”, or until a deadline date set by the FA Auction Conductor.

All contracts awarded to free agents are guaranteed and are counted against a team’s payroll.

There is no Home Town Discount for T2 Free Agents.

FREE AGENT COMPENSATION

The former Club of a Player who (i) becomes a free agent and (ii) ranks as a Type A or B player as defined below, shall be entitled to receive compensation. Such compensation shall be awarded in the Draft of Unaffiliated Players succeeding the Player's election of free agency.

A Type A or B player shall be a Player who became a free agent and who ranks as a Type A or B player under the statistical system of ranking Players set forth in the document entitled "Arbitration Tables," using a statistics based on a two-year average for each respective position group.

Type A Players: A Type A Player shall be a Player who ranks in the upper twenty percent (20%) of his respective position group.
Type B Players: A Type B Player shall be a Player who ranks in the upper forty percent (40%) but not in the upper twenty percent.

A Type A or B Player shall be subject to compensation only if he is offered salary arbitration by his former Club during salary decisions.

For such Type A Players, compensation to the Player’s former Club shall be a draft choice (“Regular Draft Choice”) of the signing Club and an added draft choice (“Supplemental Draft Choice”) in the Unaffiliated Player Draft. For such Type B Players, compensation to the Player’s former Club shall be a Supplemental Draft Choice in the Unaffiliated Player Draft.

If the signing Club is among the first half of selecting Clubs, then the choice to be assigned for the highest ranking free agent Player signed by such Club shall be its second choice, with choices in the next following rounds to be assigned as compensation for the signing of the other Players in descending order of ranking. If the signing Club is among the second half of selecting Clubs, then such compensation shall begin with the Club’s first choice.

The Supplemental Draft Choices shall be additional draft choices to be made immediately following the first complete round of the draft and preceding the commencement of the second round. Clubs that have lost a Type A Player shall receive the first selections, in the reverse order of their won-lost percentage in the preceding season. Following these selections, Clubs that have lost a Type B Player shall receive selections, in reverse order of their won-lost percentage in the preceding season.

FREE AGENT ARBITRATION

Any Free Agent may be offered arbitration. By offering the player arbitration a franchise is guaranteeing a player a minimum salary in Free Agency.

Players who are offered arbitration will receive a minimum salary established by the Arbitration Chart

Any team may offer the player a contract above the arbitration value during the Free Agent periods, including his previous team. The player is run through the Free Agent process like all other players.

If no one offers the player a contract higher in value then the Arbitration chart value the original team gets the player for a one-year contract.

SECTION 10. DRAFT OF UNAFFILATED PLAYERS

NUMBER OF ROUNDS

A 20 round draft of eligible unaffiliated players shall occur after the World Series.

ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Eligible players for the USBL draft of unaffiliated players shall be limited to:

All players drafted in the previous MLB draft.
Any professional minor league player who has been under contract with an MLB affiliated franchise, but is not currently on another USBL team’s reserve roster.

By definition a minor league player, is a player who has played, at least part of one season in the minor leagues, while never having played in the major leagues. Once a player has played one games in the majors he become a major league player for USBL purposes.

MINOR LEAGUES

Appalachian
Arizona
California
Carolina
Eastern
Florida State
Gulf Coast
International
Midwest
Northwest
NY-Penn
Pacific Coast
Pioneer
South Atlantic
Southern
Texas

Dominican Summer
Venezuelan Summer

Arizona Fall
Hawaiian

DRAFT PROCESS

The order in which teams shall select players in the draft will be in reverse order of the previous USBL season final won-loss record. In the event of identical records by two or more teams the order of those teams shall be determined by the final standings of the involved franchises the season prior.

If a team has a pick skipped the team will be allowed to make up the pick at any time prior to the end of the current draft day, but any players selected before the pick is made will be ineligible for the team to draft.

If a team that has had a pick skipped has not made the pick by the time its next pick is up, the subsequent pick will be immediately skipped and a notice will be sent.

At the end of each draft day teams with missed picks will receive default picks. Default picks will be the next available player from the previous MLB Amateur Draft, regardless of whether they signed or not.

SECTION 11. WAIVERS

ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Any player with an O1, O2 or O3 contract released during the off-season
Any player with an A4, A5, A6 or FA contract removed from the Active Roster
Any player removed from the 40-man roster during the regular season

WAIVER PRIORITY CRITERIA

Off-season waiver priority shall be granted to the team with the lowest winning percentage during the previous full season.
In-season waiver priority shall be granted to the team with the lowest winning percentage at the time the player is waived.
In the event of identical records by two claiming teams, waiver priority shall be granted to the team that plays in the same League as the waiving team.
In the event of identical records by two or more claiming teams from within the same League, waiver priority shall be granted to the team with the best "League Timeliness".
In the event of identical records by two or more claiming teams from within the same League and equal "League Timeliness", waiver priority shall be granted to the team with the lowest winning percentage during the previous full season.

WAIVER PERIOD

The waiver period shall begin when the EC notifies the league of any players being placed on waivers.

Off-season waivers shall last 7 days.
In-season waivers shall last 48 hours.

WAIVER PROCESS

All teams with room on their 40-man roster are allowed to submit a claim on all waived players during the waiver period. The claiming team with the highest priority is awarded the player.

In the event that a player is not claimed during the waiver period he will remain on waivers until a team claims him, or the Free Agency period begins, at which time he becomes a Free Agent.

Once the initial period has passed claim players will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

In the event a player is declared a Free Agent, the waiving team is responsible for the player’s salary for the remainder of the season, as well as any future guaranteed years remaining on the contract, regardless if the player is signed to a contract at a later date by another team.

The cash value and the length of any contract already in place shall be binding between the waived player and the team making a waiver claim.

TRADE WAIVERS

A team may place up to 7 players on Trade Waivers.

Teams may make up to 5 claims on the players during a 48 hour window.

If no one claims him, his team is free to trade him to any team.

If a player is claimed, the team that placed him on waivers has three options.

· Pull him back onto the 40-man roster. If the team pulls him back they can't trade him until the end of the season.

· Work out a trade with the team that claimed him. Any player involved in the trade who is on a 40 man roster must have gone through waivers first.

· Dump him and his salary on the team that claimed him, getting no player in return.

If more than one team places a claim on a player, the winning claim is awarded to any team in the same league first based on worst record.

SECTION 12. DISABLED LIST

Each team will be allowed to have up to five (5) players from their 40-man roster on the Disabled List during each playing block. These should be A4, A5, A6 and FA contract players that the team can not fit on their Active Roster.

Players who were injured all season will be assigned to the 60-day Disabled List and do not need to remain on a team’s 40-man Roster. Players on the 60-day Disabled List, however, do count towards one of the five allowed DL spots.

SECTION 13. RULE 5 DRAFT

NUMBER OF ROUNDS

The Rule 5 draft will continue until all teams’ 40-Man rosters are full or they have elected to pass.

ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

All players not on a franchise’s 40-Man roster are eligible.

INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Minor players with M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5 contracts are ineligible.

RULE 5 DRAFT PROCESS

If a team has a pick skipped the team will be allowed to make up the pick at any time prior to the end of the draft, but any players selected before the pick is made will be ineligible for the team to draft.

If a team that has had a pick skipped has not made the pick by the time its next pick is up, the team will be considered not to be participating.

COST

The drafting team must pay $50,000, to the player's former team.

ACTIVE ROSTER REQUIREMENTS

All players must remain on the team’s Active Roster, DL and post-season Active Roster, unless the new owner obtains permission, via trade or cash deal. Without such permission, if the player is dropped from the Active Roster he must pass through waivers and then be offered back to the team that lost him for $25,000.

The player must on the Active Roster for at least two months during the regular season.

SECTION 14. GAME PLAY

The USBL will use the latest Strat-O-Matic computer version.

STRAT-O-MATIC GAME SETTINGS

All league games will be played using the following Game Rules:

· Main Rules - Maximum Level

· Stealing - Super Advanced Stealing System

· Miscellaneous - Use Miscellaneous Rules

· Injuries - Use Injuries

· Groundball A - Allow GBA on Pitchers Cards

· BP/Weather/Clutch - Ballpark Effects, Weather Affects and Clutch Hitting

· Strategy - Super Advanced Strategy Charts

· Closer - Use Closer Rules

· Pitcher Fatigue - Use SADV Pitcher Fatigue and Pitch Counts

The following Maximum Rules will be used:

· Improve statistical accuracy

· Bunt for base hit

· Improve out distribution

· Improve base running realism

· Starting pitcher clutch

· More base running decisions

· Doubles/Triples options

· Realistic throwing errors

· Pitch-Around option

· Robbing HR Rule

· Correct Game Board Excesses

USBL GAME PLAY RULES

The USBL will use the following additional rules:

· Injuries are only extended though the end of each road series. Prior to beginning a new series the home team must reset rest for both teams.

· You may only pinch hit for the last player at a position if you are losing in the 9^th inning or later.

· No player may play a position he is not rated to play unless he is the last option as an injury replacement or he is replacing a player pinch hit for when losing in the 9^th inning or later. Use SOM guidelines when playing infielders and catchers out of position.

· An outfielder may play another outfield position not listed on his card, according to SOM guidelines.

· The DH will not be used. All players without a position on their card will be rated 1B 5e30 and/or LF 5e16 (+3). The player must have played in the outfield in the last three years to get the LF rating.

· A position player may not pitch.

· Road managers may not select "Do Not Let HAL Remove" when playing by CM.

USBL STRATBALL RULES

The USBL will use the following additional rules:

· Teams will only be allowed to pitchers as a pinch hitter a total of 20 times.

· No pinch running for a pinch runner.

· No trying to make outs to conserve PA (Pinch hitting a weak pitcher for a batter falls in this category, unless for a key sacrifice).

Owners attempting to bend or work their way around the rules will be fined $5,000,000 for their first offense and will be dismissed from the league on their second offense. Owners in the USBL must play with integrity and respect to remain a part of this league.

SECTION 15. PLAYER USAGE

Pitchers who are not asterisked starters must rest, at least four days between starts. Asterisked starters may start on three days’ rest.

Players with multiple cards will use their combined card.

Every player with more than 50 PA, 4 GS or 15 IP must spend at least one month on the Active Roster.

USAGE LIMITS

The following are the player usage restrictions:

· Batters are limited to 105% of their actual plate appearances.

· Starting pitchers are limited to 105% of their actual games started.

· Relief pitchers are limited to 105% of their actual innings pitched.

· Any pitcher that both starts and relieves in the USBL is limited to 105% of their actual innings pitched.

Owners may petition the EC for extra playing time for players who’s OPS+ or allowed OPS+ is 15% worse than the MLB average.

· Players will be limited to 125% of their actual plate appearance, innings pitched or games started.

· Players will be paid a bonus of 25% of their yearly salary with a $250,000 maximum/player.

· The players must be approved unanimously by all EC members from outside the players division.

Once a player has reached his usage limit, he will be removed from his team’s roster for any remaining blocks. He will be returned to his team’s roster at the end of the season, if the team reaches the playoffs.

CARDED MINOR LEAGUER

Players may request to have a Minor League card created, using all AAA and Major League playing time. Rule 5 players are exempt and also receive all A and AA time. Each team may use up to 5 carded minor league players per season. Owners must submit this petition to the league office prior to the transaction period for the block in which the player is needed. The league office will use the following criteria to card the player. Statistics must be 15% worse than the MLB average.

BATTERS

Batters shall receive their actual PA's. (AAA/MLB only, except for Rule 5 players)
All injury settings will be set to a roll of 2 or 12.
Multiply 1B, 2B, 3B, HR, BB and SB by 0.80, 0.65 and 0.50 for AAA, AA and A respectfully.
Divide K and CS by 0.80, 0.65 and 0.50 for AAA, AA and A respectfully.
Running rating will be set according to minor league stolen base totals:

§ 0-4 steals = 10

§ 5-9 steals = 12

§ 10-24 steals = 14

§ 25+ steals = 15

Steal ratings shall be determined by the following formulas using adjusted numbers:
Good Lead % = (SB + CS)/((1B + BB)/3)
Good Lead Safe Rating = SB/(SB+CS)
Poor Lead Safe Rating = 5 or 0, whichever is greater and below his Good Lead Safe Rating.
Range and throwing arm ratings will be determined by committee. Range ratings must be no lower than 4 and throwing arms may be no lower than +1.
Error rating will be determined by dividing errors by 0.80, 0.65 and 0.50 for AAA, AA and A respectfully, then pro-rating the over 1458 innings played.
Players who play 2B, 3B or SS will be rated at all three positions. If a player did not play the position he will receive a rating of 2B5e48, 3B5e44 and SS5e56.
Players who play CA will also be rated at 1B with a rating of 1B5e30.
Players who play 1B will also be rated at LF with a rating of LF5e19(+3).

PITCHERS

Pitchers shall receive their actual IP and GS. (AAA/MLB only, except for Rule 5 players)

Divide hits, walks and homeruns by 0.80, 0.65 and 0.50 for AAA, AA and A players, respectfully. Multiply strikeouts by 0.80, 0.65 and 0.50 for AAA, AA and A players, respectfully.
Pitchers ERA are calculated using a formula based off of hits, walks, homeruns and strikeouts.

OVER USE PENALTIES

Penalties can be earned by exceeding player limits.

· Each PA over the limit will cost $25,000.

· Each IP over the limit will cost $75,000.

· Players who are overused by more than 2 IP or 5 PA may be ineligible for the playoffs.

If a road manager uses a player when instructions said not to, his usage will be ignored for the purpose of limitation, as long as the commissioner is quickly informed of the misuse.

The restrictions on player usage are to be followed as strictly as possible. It is not, however, the intent of the league to punish a manager for an occasional slight misuse of personnel. Some things, like starts for starting pitchers, can be absolutely controlled. Others, like at bats or innings pitched cannot, unless we are to force unrealistic demands upon ourselves. It will not be considered occasional slight misuse if a team has multiple players with small amounts of misuse.

The Commissioner has the right to grant a player free agency or force a guaranteed 1-year contract, at market or current value, whichever is higher, if the Commissioner feels player limits were exceeded intentionally to gain an unfair advantage or out of neglect of the player usage rules.

SECTION 16. TRADES

All trades must be reported to the Commissioner, by the teams involved in the trade.

Any owner, submitting a trade, may request to have his trade be reviewed by the Trade Advisory Board. This should be agreed upon by both owners and the commissioner should be notified by email of the trade and the intention to have the trade reviewed by the review board.

A new owner must have his trades reviewed by the Trade Advisory Board for recommendation for one calendar year.

You may trade ballparks if you wish. You may trade them even up or in combination with money or players.

Trades may not involve the following:

· Players to be named later, whether the trade is announced as such or arranged as part of a future trade.

· Loans of players.

· Cash not on hand.

· Draft Picks

· Players with an M1 status

Trades may be reviewed by EC and potentially overturned if it makes the team insolvent financially or if it will leave a team's roster without enough playing time to complete the season.

TRADE ADVISORY BOARD

The Trade Advisory Board (TAB) has been established to provide a completely objective opinion from five experienced USBL owners about a given trade. The point of the TAB is not to make any judgment about the motives or behavior of coaches participating in a trade. Rather it is to provide an objective opinion about the components of the trade and how the trade in question may affect the participating teams. After the opinions of the TAB are provided to both coaches, the coaches may continue or stop a trade by their choice. This process should take 48 hours from the time the commissioner is notified of the trade.

TRADE DEADLINES

· In-season trades must be reported by 9:00 PM EST, on the 23^rd of the month in order to have it take effect in the following month.

· Off-season trades must be reported as soon as they are made.

· Players on the 40-man roster may be traded, without Trade Waivers in effect, until 9:00 PM EST July 23^rd.

· Post-season eligibility lists are established at 9:00 PM EST August 25^th.

TRADE FINANCIAL DEFAULTS

A traded player's new team takes on financial responsibility for all remaining months and years of his contract. Use the table below to determine what percentage of the current year's contract for which you would be liable if you acquired a player during given points in the league's accounting year.

· All off-season deals (October 1 - March 15) teams pay 100% of current year's salary.

· If a trade takes effect for May games, teams pay 83.33% of the current year's contract.

· If a trade takes effect for June games, teams pay 66.67% of the current year's contract.

· If a trade takes effect for July games, teams pay 50.00% of the current year's contract.

· If a trade takes effect for August games, teams pay 33.33% of the current year's contract.

· If a trade takes effect for September games, teams pay 16.67% of the current year's contract.

These are the default contract liabilities. Trading teams may negotiate different contract payment arrangements.

APPEALS OF UNFAIR TRADES

An appeal may be made to the Executive Committee, within 48 hours of the trade announcement, if any non-Executive Committee owner thinks a trade should be nullified because it is unfair.

The Executive Committee has five days to unanimously to overturn a trade and should only overturn a trade that will absolutely not benefit one owner in either the present or future.

SECTION 17. PLAYOFFS

Each divisional champion and one wild-card team will participate in the league playoffs. The wild-card team will be the non-winner with the highest won-loss percentage.

Two-way ties for playoff spots shall be decided by a sudden-death one-game playoff. Ties among three or more teams for playoff berths shall be broken by a round-robin playoff, with teams playing a single game with each opponent. Play continues until the tie is broken at the end of a round. Such playoff games are regular-season games. All players active on the September roster can be used in such games without regard to usage restrictions.

Playoff games should be Net Played if at all possible. If this is not possible and the managers of the teams involved cannot reach a mutually acceptable arrangement, the commissioner and/or his designee[s] shall play playoff games.

Teams will not receive “15 days Rest” at the end of a series or when switching cities. They will receive only the number of days off on the playoff schedule and any non-played days due to a series ending early.

Injuries will be used in the playoffs, but they will be for the “Remainder of the game” only.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Home field advantage shall be awarded based on the following criteria:

· Division winner

· Current season record

· Head-to-head record

· League timeliness record

· Previous season record

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Final game of regular season

Off day (also used to settle possible sudden death playoff situations)

Divisional – Game One

Divisional – Game Two

Off day

Divisional – Game Three

Divisional – Game Four (if necessary)

Off day

Divisional – Game Five (if necessary)

Off day

LCS – Game One

LCS – Game Two

Off day

LCS – Game Three

LCS – Game Four

LCS – Game Five (if necessary)

Off day

LCS – Game Six (if necessary)

LCS – Game Seven (if necessary)

Off day

WS – Game One

WS – Game Two

Off day

WS – Game Three

WS – Game Four

WS – Game Five (if necessary)

Off day

WS – Game Six (if necessary)

WS – Game Seven (if necessary)

RESRICTIONS

ROSTERS

Post-season rosters can be comprised of any 25 players from the team’s 150-man roster provided that each player selected was on the team’s 25-man active roster for at least one month. This playoff roster may be changed prior to each series.

BATTERS

These charts show the number of games a player may play in a given series.

Five Games Series
USBL PA	Game Allowed
375+	5
300-374	4
225-299	3
125-224	2
50-124	1
25-49	0
0-24	Ineligible

Seven Game Series
USBL PA	Games Allowed
400+	7
350-399	6
300-349	5
250-299	4
200-249	3
125-199	2
50-124	1
25-49	0
0-24	Ineligible

Important note -- only appearances before the seventh inning count toward the above restriction and appearances as a pinch hitter or pinch runner do not count as a game played. For example, if a player pinch hits in the 6th inning and leaves the game when the team takes the field defensively, this is not a game played with regard to this restriction. In this example, if the player remains in the game defensively, then this is a game played.

PITCHERS

Rest requirements for pitchers for all playoff games carry over from the regular season

Starting pitchers may pitch in relief with a R(2/N) rating. These charts show the number of starts and innings pitched a player may play in a given series.

USBL GS	Series GS
36 +	3
19-35	2
10-18	1
0-9	0

USBL IP	Series IP
40 +	Game requirements
20-39	2
10-19	1
0-9	0

History of Changes

12/27/06 – Deleted Section 1.2. This required all teams to use Major or Minor League franchise names.

12/29/06 – Added fines for teams going below $50,000,000 in payroll during the season.

12/30/06 – Added “Any player with an A4, A5, A6 or FA contract removed from the Active Roster” to players eligible for waivers.

02/04/07 – 2006 Rule Changes

Carded Minor Leaguers

· Players with 50 PA/15 IP/4 GS or less of Major League playing time may request to have a Minor League card, using all A, AA, AAA and Major League playing time.

· Indy league players shall be treated as A players for the purpose of Carded Minor Leaguers.

· The players will receive their actual number of PA/IP/GS that they accumulated in real life.

· Error ratings will be determined by dividing errors .8, .65 or .5 for AAA, AA and A respectfully. Then pro-rating the error number over 1458 innings.

· Range and throwing arm ratings will be determined by committee. Range ratings must be either a 4 or 5. Throwing arm ratings may be no lower than a +1.

· Players who play 2B, 3B or SS will be rated at all three positions. If the player did not play the position he will receive a rating of 2B5e48, 3B5e44, SS5e56.

· Players who play CA will also be rated at 1B with a rating of 1B5e30.

· Players who play 1B will also be rated at LF with a rating of LF5e19 (+3).

· Injury setting will be set to a roll of 2 or 12.

· Statistics must be 15% worse than the MLB average, at the player’s position.

· Allow each team to card 5 minor leaguers during the season. All 5 may be active at the same time.

Usage Limits

· Eliminate rounding up of GS, PA and IP

· Eliminate limiting GS to 36

· Goes strictly by Strat 105%

Option/Arbitration Contracts

· Remove (1), (2), (3) and (*) from O contracts.

· Players on Option (O1, O2, O3) contracts will move automatically 1 contract level at the end of the season.

· Players with Arbitration contracts will move to the next contract level, every year the player is on the Active Roster for at least 1 day.

· Players under ML contracts, with 130 PA, 50 IP in the Majors, automatically become O1’s.

Penalties

· Change the late reporting of game results from $500,000/Month to $500,000/Series.

· Change the late mailing to the Commissioner or other league officials from $1,000,000/Month to $1,000,000/Offense.

· Reduces fines for each PA over the limit to $25,000.

· Reduces fines for each IP over the limit to $75,000.

· Add “or out of neglect of the player usage rules” to The Commissioner has the right to grant a player free agency or force a guaranteed 1-year contract, at market or current value, whichever is higher, if the Commissioner feels player limits were exceeded intentionally to gain an unfair advantage “or out of neglect of the player usage rules.”

· If a road manager uses a player when instructions said not to, his usage will be ignored for the purposes of limitation, as long as the commissioner is quickly informed of the misuse.

· The restrictions on player usage are to be followed as strictly as possible. It is not, however, the intent of the league to punish a manager for an occasional slight misuse of personnel. Some things, like starts for starting pitchers, can be absolutely controlled. Others, like at bats or innings pitched cannot, unless we are to force unrealistic demands upon ourselves. It will not be considered occasional slight misuse if a team has multiple players with small amounts of misuse.

· Players who are overused by more than 2 IP or 5 PA may be ineligible for the playoffs.

3/15/07 – Added Disabled List Section

10/14/07 – Rule Corrections

· Added “if unclaimed he shall become a free agent”, to the refusal of option contracts.

· Made M4 contracts ineligible for the Rule 5 draft.

· Corrected which players salaries are calculated by the Arbitration Charts.

12/30/07 – Corrected Free Agent Auction to represent current procedure.

01/11/08 – 2007 Rule Changes

· Added Section 1.5 Review of Poor Performing Franchises

· Added Section 15.3 USBL Stratball Rules

· Added 2009 financial and contract information.

· Added changes to Section 16.2, Carded Minor Leaguers.

01/11/08 – Rule Correction

· Added Unrestricted Free Agents

04/13/08 – Rule Clarification

· Teams are allowed only 25 active players per month.

· There must be a backup for each position.

04/13/08 – Rule Correction

· Removed home field advantage and force daily injuries from the Strat-O-Matic game setting.

07/07/08 – Rule Change to be Consistent with MLB.

· Added M5 players to those ineligible for the Rule 5 draft.

· Changed Type A and Type B FA to Top 20% and 21%-40%, respectfully.

· Changed Type B FA compensation to a supplemental first round pick.

10/31/08 – 2009 Rule Changes

· 50% quorum, with 2/3 vote.

· Any player with MLB experience, except recent Rule 4 draftees are eligible for the Auction.

· Added Usage Auditor.

· Added extra playing time.

· Added 60-Day Disabled List.

· Added Trade Waivers.

· Deleted Ineligible Players from the Draft of Unaffiliated Players.

· Added the definition of a minor league and major league player.

· Any player with MLB experience will now be in the Auction, unless they were in the most recent MLB Amateur Draft.

· Starting pitchers with asterisks are no longer limited to not starting on three days’ rest on consecutive starts.

· Starting pitcher with 36 or more starts may start in 3 games in a playoff series.

· Teams will be awarded revenue based on their divisional finish and number of wins.

02/21/09 – Rule Clarification

· Teams are allowed to use 5 carded minor leaguers per season.

12/12/09 – Rule Changes

· Changed the hometown discount to a straight 5%.

· Modified stats needed for automatic O1 contract.

· Eliminated M6 and MFA contracts and add MR5.

· Remove overused players from Strat game roster.

· The creation of the Trade Advisory Board.

· The hometown discount is extended to all Type A free agents.

· Playoff injuries are now only for the remainder of the game.

· Allow Contract Buyouts to be over the length of a player’s contract.

· Remove the restrictions on playing time for being allowed a minor league card.