Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The Premier Travel League In Eastern Upstate NY

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What's New This Year (in the League)?

The Basics

Approximate Cost Of Fielding A Travel Team

Annual Timeline - ENYTB Participation

Annual Informational Meetings

New Member Orientation

The Club GM

Team Registration Part I - Team Activation

Team Registration Part II - Your Purchase

Team Registration - Part III - Other

Loopholes On Age Eligibility

Fines & Security Deposits

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Placing/Finding Team Ads For Pick-Up Games

League Playing Rules

Wood Bats

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Sanctioned Post-Season Play - What is it?

Last Man Standing Tournaments - What Are They?

Online Roster Management System (ORMS)

Roster Management Protocols

How ENYTB Regulates Player Movement Between Teams

FINDING UFAs Via enytb.com

Customized Scheduling - 101

How To Transact a SCHEDULE CHANGE

PROTOCOLS FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES

Schedule Management Protocols

    Schedule Management 101 - Rules For Schedule Changes & Updates

    Schedule Management 101
    Rules For Schedule Changes & Updates


    The following tables summarize everything you need to know re: ENYTB's schedule management rules and tools:
    1. CLICK HERE to view the General Framework for a Change-Of-Schedule Transaction;
    2. CLICK HERE to view the rules applicable to ADMIN CANCELLATION REQUESTS i.e., situations involving conflicts with certain school events and/or tournament play via ENYTB;
    3. CLICK HERE to view the rules applicable to NON-WEATHER POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS. NOTE: These changes are allowable for LOCAL games only!;
    4. CLICK HERE to view the rules applicable to NO HARM NO FOUL CANCELLATION REQUESTS (NHNFC). NOTE: These changes are allowable for LOCAL games only!;
    5. CLICK HERE to view rules and fines applicable to FORFEITS;
    6. CLICK HERE to view rules and fines applicable to PASSED GAMES;
    7. CLICK HERE to view other special change-of-schedule transactions permissible to home teams only.
    BACKGROUND

    The hallmark of a quality travel league, regardless of sport, is balanced competition and schedule reliability. Nobody wants to be in a league where games are lopsided most of the time and nobody wants to be in a league where teams frequently cancel games at the last minute. With its Gold, Hi Silver and Lo Silver Divisions, as well as cross-play options, ENYTB long ago mastered the art of providing teams with competitively balanced schedules, regardless of where they might fall on the competitive spectrum.

    Until quite recently, achieving a similar level of success with regards to schedule reliability was much more elusive. ENYTB identified several reasons for this shortcoming. First and foremost, it lacked the manpower resources to provide adequate manual schedule oversight and control. Second, even though ENYTB's rules governing schedule changes had evolved over many years, they were in need of further revision. Lastly, while fines existed on the books, they were not enforced. Since teams knew that schedule control and oversight was lax and that fines weren't levied, it should be no surprise that schedule reliability was poor.

    In the spring of 2011, RunMyLeague.Com (RML), the owner of the website solution used by ENYTB, added a new dimension to its website referred to as the "virtual" Schedule Referee (vSR). vSR was custom designed to ENYTB's specifications. vSR fully automates all schedule oversight and control functions in a comprehensive and integrated manner.

    During the fall/winter of 2010, ENYTB completely overhauled its rules governing schedule changes, including the incentives (fines) used to induce teams to play their games as scheduled whenever possible. RML used ENYTB's new rules in its initial set-up of vSR.

    ENYTB implemented the vSR system in time for the 2011 summer season. Members were told about the new system, including the modified rules, during the winter meetings and again via email just prior to its implementation. Thus, they knew that under the new system, they would be held accountable for their forfeits and PASSED games and responded accordingly as schedule reliability improved precipitously throughout the league. The results greatly exceeded expectations!

    vSR

    From a member's perspective, there is more to the in-season schedule management process than the vSR alone. In particular, there are two other important topics central to the re-scheduling process that need to be discussed prior to describing vSR in greater detail. They are:
    • What communication must take place between members BEFORE a schedule change is submitted to vSR; and,
    • What are ENYTB's current rules re: schedule changes.


    CARDINAL RULE Teams are NOT allowed to independently change anything on their schedule w/o first directly communicating the change to their opponent.

    Definition: Direct communication means in person or over the phone
    (NOT by email).

    Furthermore, with two exceptions, noted below, ALL allowable schedule changes begin in the form of a request from Team A (the requesting team) to Team B (the opponent being asked to approve the schedule change). IMPORTANT: Your opponent must agree to your request BEFORE you are allowed to submit your request via vSR.

    NOTE: IF your opponent does not agree to your request via direct communication, do NOT submit your request to vSR since the online process is designed only to verify that both parties have agreed to make the stated change. In other words, if your opponent tells you no, the process ends there, and you are stuck with a situation of playing the game as scheduled or forfeit.

    It should be clear at this point that submitting a schedule change to vSR, or in most instances, the request for a change, is the FINAL step in the rescheduling process, not the first. In fact, vSR will require you to confirm that your opponent has already approved your request BEFORE it accepts your request. (Where approval isn't required, substitute the word notify.)

    IMPORTANT: The league plays NO role in approving, disapproving or negotiating any DISCRETIONARY schedule changes e.g., non-weather postponements and/or no harm/no foul cancellations.

    Overview Of ENYTB's Current Rules re: Schedule Changes and Fines

    FORFEITS

    All teams are expected to play all games on their schedule as scheduled. To encourage this, ENYTB provides teams with a financial incentive for doing so i.e., teams are fined for all forfeits at a rate of $75/game.

    ENYTB recognizes, however, that occasions may come up when teams are unable to fulfill their schedule obligations. ENYTB distinguishes such occasions according to the length of notice provided.

    No game(s) can be changed inside of THREE days of the scheduled date of the game(s). In this case, the offending team is provided no option but to forfeit the game(s).

    NOTE: In all forfeit situations, the offending team should notify their opponent of the forfeit as soon as it knows it will be unable to play the game as scheduled. Then it should go to its online schedule and confirm the forfeit via the "virtual" schedule referee.

    If the offending team fails to submit the forfeit to the league via the schedule referee, the non-offending team may do so for him i.e., by selecting the protocol designated as "My Opponent Has Forfeited". It is important that the forfeit be entered BEFORE seven days have elapsed from the scheduled date of the game for reasons explained below.

    ENYTB rules allow for the possibility of "discretionary" schedule changes in certain situations and with certain restrictions if and only if the team seeking the change obtains his opponent's approval for the change and submits the change to the league via the vSR more than THREE days before the scheduled date of the game(s).

    IMPORTANT: An opponent is not obligated to grant a request of this kind, hence the term discretionary.

    ENYTB has identified two kinds of discretionary schedule changes:

    (A) Non-weather postponements (NWP); and,
    (B) No harm no foul cancellations (NHNFC).

    To qualify for the former, both teams must agree on a date, time and place BEFORE the request can be submitted to vSR. In the case of the NHNFC, if approved by the 2nd party, the game is removed altogether from both team's schedules.

    It is important to recognize that the league places numerous restrictions on both types of discretionary schedule changes. These limits are:
    • Teams are limited to two NWP and two NHNFC per season;
    • "Non-local" games are not eligible for discretionary schedule changes i.e., all non-local games are play as scheduled or forfeit;
    • Discretionary means they are only requests i.e., your opponent is not obligated to grant your request; and,
    • Perhaps the most misunderstood restriction is the simplest of all, there is a deadline applied to all such requests i.e., the opportunity for submitting such requests to the league via the vSR EXPIRES THREE days prior to the scheduled date of the game.


    TO REITERATE: By rule, as just discussed, discretionary schedule changes must be processed via the vSR at least THREE days prior to the scheduled date of the game. Once inside 3 days of the scheduled date of the game, all games MUST be played as scheduled or forfeited, unless they are postponed due to bad weather. League rules offer no other option.

    Obligation To Keep Your Online Schedule Current

    In addition to each team playing its games as scheduled, according to the rules outlined above, ENYTB also requires each team to keep its online schedule current at ALL times. This includes games played as scheduled as well as those that were not.

    PASSED Games

    Games must be brought to final status within seven days of the scheduled date of the game.

    What constitutes final status?

    A final score is the most obvious example. This indicates the game was played to official length and declared completed. Another example is a FORFEIT entry. Still another, a suspended game i.e., a suspended game is declared and an interim score is entered. Lastly, a weather postponement (WP) can be a final status as well unless both teams agree to make-up the game.

    NOTE: Both the home and the away team have the capability to WP the game.

    If a game is WP in reality but the status of the game on the website is not updated to WP within the 7 day period, the WP option shall expire and both teams will be fined for a PASSED game.

    NOTE: Making up games postponed due to bad weather is optional. If both teams wish to do so, they have to reschedule the WP game within the same 7 day period. The status of any weather postponed game not rescheduled on the website within 7 days of the scheduled date of the game will be reclassified as an IMPASSE. There is no fine for an IMPASSE. If teams decide to "make-up" the game at a later time, they can do so by using the Add Game function to add it to their schedule as a new game.

    Failure to "finalize" any game within 7 days of its scheduled date shall result in an expired game or what we call a PASSED game. Once a game is PASSED, the status of the game is final and can not be changed. Both teams are fined $75 per PASSED game. It does NOT matter whether the game was actually played as scheduled or not. The game will NOT count in the standings and both teams shall be assessed a fine of $75/game.

    The "Virtual" Schedule Referee (vSR)

    ENYTB schedules more than 3,000 games each year.

    We simply don't have the resources to hire and train sufficient manpower to monitor, on a daily basis, the status of 3,000 games and to be the middle man of hundreds of transactions involving schedule changes.

    The vSR allows teams to execute their own change of schedule transactions to the extent such transactions are consistent with the rules of the league.

    First and foremost, it provide members with an interface for confirming their schedule changes with their fellow members and the league. For changes that require opponent approval, a methodology is used that eliminates the possibility of any misunderstanding between the parties as to the terms of the transaction. This methodology is very similar to that used by the NFL in confirming draft pick trades on draft day i.e., the two teams negotiate a trade with each other and then each team conveys the terms of the trade to the league office. If both sides report the same trade terms, the trade is approved by the league. Otherwise, it is not. vSR works in a similar fashion with regards to schedule changes. The teams negotiate a "deal" (transaction). Team A submits the transaction to vSR. vSR checks the transaction to ensure it complies with all league rules. If it does, it shares the transaction with Team A's opponent (Team B) and asks Team B to confirm that it has approved the deal. If Team B confirms its approval via vSR, the transaction is official and vSR updates the schedules of both teams for the change and sends emails to all affected parties notifying them of the change.

    NOTE: While ENYTB provides the framework, the rules, the apps, and the FAQs in the process whereby schedules are changed/updated, league personnel do NOT play an active role in the process other than in approving Weather Postponements and Request For Admin Cancellations.

    As just mentioned, prior to accepting a transaction from a team, vSR ensures that all schedule changes comply with the league's re-scheduling rules whether or not the member is aware of those rules i.e., the vSR will automatically inform the member if he is in violation of a rule when he submits his request for a schedule change.

    The vSR also monitors every scheduled game 24X7 for schedule infractions and automatically assesses fines for both PASSED games and FORFEITS. These fines are reported at the top of each team's online schedule and on each club's consolidated invoice. It also develops a special summary report for League Admins detailing all fines as well documenting their payment status.

    NOTE: Fines are expected to paid within 72 hours and failure to do so can result in a member's suspension from the league until the fines are paid. All fine money is returned to league members at large in the following year in the form of lower post-season fees.

    NOTE: The vSR also issues email alerts to members 48 hours BEFORE a
    game becomes PASSED.

    Q. Could you explain more fully the interface used by members to confirm their schedule changes with their fellow members and the league?

    vSR provides users with a set of re-scheduling "apps" for implementing every possible change in the status of a game. Through a short series of yes/no questions, each app easily guides the user through the ENYTB rescheduling process, subject to the league's re-scheduling rules. Each app does all the rules checking in the background. If the requested change would violate an ENYTB rescheduling rule the user is informed of the rules violation by vSR (in the form of an on-screen message) and the app self-terminates. Thus, vSR enforces all ENYTB rescheduling rules all the time i.e., it is impossible for a team to make a scheduling change on the website that would violate an ENYTB rescheduling rule, provided the user answers each question honestly. Members need only to choose the correct app, enter the correct game info (where required), and honestly answer a few simple yes/no questions.

    FAQs to Review/Enhance Information Presented Above

    Where will I find these rescheduling apps?

    They appear as icons on your online schedule. Since they are game specific, they are located in a tray just above each game. To see what change in game status a particular icon will perform, simply place your cursor on the icon. These "smart" icons are the tools by which teams manage and keep current their online schedule throughout the season.

    What is meant by the term "smart" icons?

    By "smart" icons we mean icons that include logic to turn themselves on and off conditional on the game's current status, where on = visible and off = not visible. For example, every scheduled game begins with an initial set of re-scheduling icons, representing each of the possible protocols applicable to a currently scheduled game. Every time a protocol (rescheduling app) is exercised, the status of the game changes. The set of visible icons adjust (turn on/off) according to the game’s new current status i.e., only the icons defined as potentially applicable for this particular game status would be visible. This means, for example, that the set of visible icons for a currently scheduled game would be somewhat different from those for a weather postponed game.

    Depending on the game’s current status, the home team and away team also may have different sets of icons visible. However, do not assume that any rescheduling app is not equally available to both the home and away teams. Any time a fine would result for the away team if the home team were not to update its schedule in a timely manner, the away team is given the option to do so on behalf of the home team e.g., forfeits, weather postponements, etc.

    Similarly, when a team initiates an online request for a discretionary schedule change, the options visible to it will change as will the options available to their opponent. The requesting team sees an icon with a person waiting for a reply while his opponent sees an icon with a person replying to a request. When the request has been acted on, the set of visible icons will adjust once again. Any request not acted upon within 24 hours of the date of the scheduled game will be automatically granted by the vSR, consistent with ENYTB rescheduling rules i.e., the so-called "you snooze, you lose" rule.

    Each rescheduling app has its own FAQ (Quick Guide) that includes all rules and regulations associated with that particular app. All such FAQs are shown at the top of every team’s schedule page. In addition, once an icon is selected, its FAQ is highlighted on-screen. If you are unfamiliar with any of these rescheduling apps, it would be prudent to read the FAQ before exercising it the first time.

    GENERAL PROTOCOL SUMMARY

    1 - ALL schedule changes, be they requests that require opponent approval or declarations that require only that you notify your opponent of the change, must be communicated directly to your opponent. This is ALWAYS Step 1.

    2 - With two exceptions, ALL allowable schedule changes take the form of a request to your opponent. IF your opponent does not approve your request, you are stuck in a play the game as is or forfeit situation. There are limits on the number of non-weather postponements (NWP) and no harm no foul cancellations (NHNFC) a team is allowed. Once a team has been granted two of either it is no longer eligible to make further requests of that type e.g., if your team has been granted two NHNFC the vSR will not allow anyone from your team to ask for another.

    NOTE: The two schedule changes that do not take the form of a request are: (a)weather postponements; and, (b) game time changes of two hours or less, by the home team only. The HOME team must inform the visiting team of a weather postponement as soon as that determination is made i.e., they are a "declaration" by the home team. As soon as possible, the HOME team should update their schedule for the WP. However, if the home team fails to enter the WP on the website, the visiting team can do so once the scheduled date of the game has passed. (This prevents the away team from being fined for a PASSED game in the event the home team fails in its obligation to update its online schedule.)

    Game time changes of two hours or less by the home team don't require an opponent's approval but such declarations must be communicated to the visiting team AND entered to the website at least 72 hours before the scheduled date of the game.

    3 - All schedule changes must conform to ENYTB's rescheduling rules. These rules include various time restrictions. If your request is in violation of what our rules allow, you will not be able to enter your request on the website i.e., you will be stuck with a play the game as is or forfeit situation. For example, if you want to request a non-weather postponement, our rules require that the request be entered to the website more than 3 days before the game. If not, you are stuck with a play the game as scheduled or forfeit situation. Another example, all non-local games (marked on your schedule with a car icon) are play as scheduled or forfeit i.e., you or your opponent can not have a no harm no foul cancellation or a non-weather postponement of a non-local game.

    4 - Once a request has been approved by an opponent, entered to the website by the requesting team, and verified by the non-requesting team, the vSR will automatically update both teams' schedules accordingly and all affected parties, including the league office, will be notified of the scheduling change via email.


    Summary List Of Specific ENYTB Rules re: Schedule Updates/Changes
    1. All league games played as scheduled must be scored on the website by EITHER TEAM within 7 days of the scheduled date of the game or the result of the game doesn’t count and both teams are assessed a PASSED game fine.
    2. All league games not played as scheduled must be updated as to their current status by EITHER TEAM within 7 days of the scheduled date of the game or the game doesn’t count and both teams are assessed a PASSED game fine.
    3. No change of game status or request for a change of game status may be entered or initiated on the website unless the change or request has been agreed to beforehand by both parties. This agreement can be written (emails) or verbal (direct conversation between the individuals involved). (Certain actions below require proper prior notification only and are so noted).
    4. Requests for discretionary game status changes e.g., non-weather postponements (NWP) and no harm/no foul cancellations (NHNFC), must be initiated on the website at least 3 days BEFORE the scheduled date of the game.
    5. Each team shall be limited to two non-weather postponements and two no harm/no foul cancellations per season (grace period excluded).
    6. Non-local travel games i.e., those involving travel of 60 miles or more, are exempt from both types of discretionary changes. In other words, all long distance travel games are scheduled on a play as scheduled or forfeit basis, unless postponed by bad weather.
    7. Website requests for a discretionary change must be answered via the website no later than 24 hours before the date of the game. Failure to do so results in the request being automatically granted by the league/website.
    8. If an opponent declines your website request for a discretionary change you are required to reply back via the website, whether you will play or forfeit the game. This must be done no later than 24 hours before the time of the game. Failure to do so results in an automatic forfeit of the game.
    9. With proper prior notification (72 hours or more), home teams may move the start time by up to 2 hours in either direction w/o opponent approval.
    10. Changing a DH to a SG or vice versa, or to a 9 inning game (Fall Ball Only), requires opponent’s prior approval.
    11. With proper prior notification (72 hours or more), home teams may move the game to a different field w/o requesting approval from opponent provided distance is approximately the same (travel time not more than 15 minutes longer).
    12. All other changes in game status must be entered to the website no later than 7 days AFTER the scheduled date of the game. This means the game status of all games not played as scheduled, must be fully “resolved” on the website within 7 days of the scheduled date of the game or the game becomes PASSED. PASSED games don’t count in the standings and both teams are assessed a $75 fine. The website will alert teams 48 hours before a game will be PASSED.

  • Summary Of Penalties/Fines For Non-Playing Forfeits and Passed Games
  • Quick Guide re: Weather Postponements (Subject To League Verification)
  • Quick Guide re: Rescheduling Weather Posponed Games (Agreement Required)
  • Quick Guide re: Declaring An Impasse (Approval Not Required)
  • Quick Guide re: Requesting A Non-Weather Postponement (Discretionary Change - Must Include Make-Up)
  • Quick Guide re: Replying To A Request For A Non-Weather Postponement (Discretionary Change)
  • Quick Guide re: Replying To A Non-Weather Postponement Request That Has Been Declined (Discretionary Change)
  • Quick Guide re: Requesting a No Harm/No Foul Cancellation (Discretionary Change)
  • Quick Guide re: Replying To A Request For A No Harm/No Foul Cancellation (Discretionary Change)
  • Quick Guide re: Replying To A No Harm/No Foul Cancelation Request That Has Been Declined (Discretionary Change)
  • Quick Guide re: Changing Fields (Approval Not Required)
  • Quick Guide re: PASSED Games
  • Quick Guide re: Suspend Game
  • Quick Guide re: Continue Suspended Game
  • Quick Guide re: Change Start Time
  • Quick Guide re: Change Innings/Number of Games
  • Quick Guide re: I Am Forfeiting
  • Quick Guide re: My Opponent Has Forfeited

Standings Questions

After You Have Won A Berth To A Sanctioned NCTS

Contact Info

How Do I Change My Email Preferences

How Do I Enter My Scores

Lineup Cards - Mandatory (available Online)

Field Availability

INFORMATION re: ENYTB Fall League

JOE Tournament (ENYTB/ValleyCats Fall Classic)

ENYTB OPEN Tournaments

Help

  • How Do League Participants Retrieve Their Own Password?

    Lost Password?

    enytb.com allows users to retrieve their own password at any time.

    To retrieve your own password:

    Go to the very top of the home page and click on the [Login] button. In the spawned modal, click [Lost Password?]

    Enter your ENYTB registered email address;

    Click the applicable user ID (if there is more than one).

    The system will instantly email your password to your registered email address.

    NOTE: If you get a message stating that you aren't a registered user, the system is telling you that it does not recognize the email address you have entered i.e., it is not of a valid email address/password pairing. This would happen if you have multiple email address and are entering a different email address from what you are registered under in the system. It could also mean you have typed in your email address incorrectly or that it was originally entered incorrectly to the system. If you believe it to be the latter, please contact your league navigator for assistance. If you don't know who your league navigator is, contact Ed Frye at 518-356-9089.

Custom Scheduling

ENYTB puts you in the driver’s seat in determining when and how much you team plays as well as who you play.
  • Have your schedule include the exact number of games you want week-by-week as well as in total;
  • Have your HOME games scheduled only on the dates/times your home field and team are both available;
  • Have your AWAY games scheduled only on the dates/times your team is available;
  • Automatically eliminate opponents outside your team’s competitive range; and,
  • Top priority given to scheduling games with specific opponents that you designate as most preferred. You can also block specific opponents you prefer not playing.

Schedule Reliability

Schedule reliability is the hallmark of every great league!
  • Teams are required to play all games as scheduled;
  • 100% enforcement via ENYTB website;
  • More than 90% of all ENYTB scheduled games are played as scheduled, excluding cancellations due to bad weather;
  • Games that aren’t played as scheduled (forfeits) can be made up at a later time by mutual agreement to avoid fine;
  • Fines are imposed for un-played or un-scored games;
  • ENYTB guarantees reimbursement for unavoidable out-of-pocket game expenses due to late cancellations.

Tournament Opportunities

Multiple tournaments for all ages!
  • Local tournaments hosted on premium fields, including Joe Bruno Stadium, home to the Tri-City ValleyCats, minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros.
  • Exclusive local tournaments for Members Only: Super 8, Summer Blast, Madness!, and ValleyCats Fall Classic. Each with a 2 game guarantee. Sign up available on team order form.
  • OPEN tournament: Last Man Standing. 3 game guarantee. Last weekend of July. All teams in the Capital District and beyond are welcome to join in this summer finale! Members sign up on team order form. Non-members sign up on-line through tournament menu.
  • Sanctioned National Championship Tournament Series are available to members at all ages via ENYTB affiliates: NABF; PONY; and, AABC. Sign-up available on team order form.

Nine ENYTB Teams Have Won Sanctioned National Championships. Can your team be the 10th?

Interested in Joining?

  • New members are always welcome - ENYTB continues to grow, having reached 225 teams in 2019
  • New teams are allowed to roster up to four players one year older than their team age (pre-2019 teams are grandfathered at five such players); and,
  • New teams are allowed a maximum of four players from active ENYTB teams, provided no more than three of those players are from the same team.
  • Players looking for a travel team to play for can go to Teams Looking for Players or go to Teams Hosting Tryouts.

For more information re: ENYTB membership you may contact ENYTB Executive Director, Andy Frye at (518) 545-0747 or by email at andy@enytb.com.

Interested in Joining?

  • New members are always welcome - ENYTB continues to grow, having reached 225 teams in 2019
  • New teams are allowed to roster up to four players one year older than their team age (pre-2019 teams are grandfathered at five such players); and,
  • New teams are allowed a maximum of four players from active ENYTB teams, provided no more than three of those players are from the same team.

For more information re: ENYTB membership you may contact ENYTB Executive Director, Andy Frye at (518) 545-0747 or by email at andy@enytb.com.