Ok folks...I know that we have all been subject to this recently but for those who have spent the week hard at work, organising teams, sorting personal stuff to make softball games.....I would like to understand if there are any suggestions on how to minimise forfeits from continually occuring or at least letting the other team know well in advance.

I understand that last minute call offs do happen but it seems to becoming more common place to leave teams turning up at 7pm or 6.30pm with no game!

Suggestions?


50pence

What's the official 'punishment' now? Is it just a 7-0 defeat?

You still have to pay £10 ump fees I believe. Do you have to pay the other team's tenner too? You should

The guest list is quite big now but maybe mobile numbers on there might help out. If it's last minute pull-outs then email isn't best. Maybe team captains could ask round their teams again to see if there's any more willing guests again. The longer the season goes / better the weather gets more people are (probably) up for more games

Final thought: the current rule is two guests maximum I think? How about if the teams who are about to forfeit are allowed to get in more in to field a team but the other team get more of a start e.g. 3 ringers = 7-0 head-start. Extra ringers could have to come from lower divisions? Or if a team needs 3+ ringers then the match is still forfeited 7-0 but they at least get a practice match and don't leave another team in the last minute lurch

I think the current regulations are fine, if you have a problem getting 8 folks from your team to play, along with at least 1 guest, then you have to take it on the chin & accept the consequences, apologizing to your opponents for the inconvenience (especially if it is last minute) & if acceptable try get a scratch game to try compensate them for wasting their time .....

If it happens on a regular basis however, I think you have to question continuing in the league, as being able to regularly field a team is, I would have thought, the prime goal of any ESL team.
If not applicable, then maybe a 'letter' of explanation to the other teams in your division, explaining your dilema & requesting leniency & time to resolve your (hopefully) short term resourcing issues - I'd better stop now before I dip further into the business/management cliche pit

I think the rules are fine but would suggest teams that are really struggling to get a team together forfeit at least 24 hrs ahead so people can make other plans. Having 17/18 people on hold until 4.30pm on the day or have teams turn up at 6.30 is just a waste of everyone's time.

I guess just using a little common sense is better than trying to gather a team together at the last minute....e.g. do you risk 18 players personal time for a 50/50 chance of one of your players turning up to make 9????

No need for fines but yes the other team should pay the ump £20 IMO. If a team continually forfeits then Admin et al will no doubt be having words but I don't know the thresholds of this

Forfeits are spoiling D1 a little at the moment and I hope that the sunny climate helps others come out to play.

Buzz - unlucky last night....I think you and the DNuts have done superb thus far.

Oh and well done to the extranuts, muttsnuts or plusnuts on their first win!!!


50pence

Well, another forfeit tonight, and it's the Throwbacks again. Just checked, that's their 4th forfeit this season. Something has to change.

A simple suggestion to the T'backs that could solve their problems, go on Gumtree and post an ad looking for players.

I'm sure you'll get enough response to allow you to field a full team each week.

That goes for other teams who struggle and have just enough players (or who purposely get guests to strengthen their teams). It's really easy.

No forfeits since Monday 16th......everyone gets a gold star!

Lets have a clean sweep next week and then you'll all be in my cool book.......

50 Pence

You have a cool book? How cool is that? Although I guess you can put it away again...

You speak wise words...

In any case, I just hope this thread has impacted on the rest of the season and that more games will go ahead.

Anyway...watch this space!


50 Pence

Looks like it was not to be.

Another forfeit to the Dodgers, 3 of the 6 wins are now down to forfeits! I'm starting to think no one wants to play us!

Berties wanted to play against us so much, they wanted to play 2 games rather than just the one game we were supposed to have (they even had to send the umpire to casualty, in order to make sure they got to play us twice). If they are so eager to play us surely the rest of the division might want to?

Please come and play! Us turning up and having a training session is ok. But playing a game is much more fun!

Forgers have/will play you & next time will try put up a better fight - having a bit of a roller coaster few weeks, but always up for a challenge !