National Pro Fastpitch Winter Meetings Recap
NASHVILLE, TN - The National Pro Fastpitch wrapped up its annual Winter Meetings last week with representative from all teams coming together to discuss the upcoming season. Along with generating the 2017 season schedule, the meetings also serve as a time to yield policy changes and approve or adjust rules.
“Our Winter Meetings are a time for us to come together and make the league better from season to season”, commented league Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “I am proud of our group of team owners and GM’s in continuing to make changes that not only fit the elite level of competition housed in NPF, but lead the way in making the game better overall for players, fans and teams.”
Highlighting this years results are an increase in team salary cap, a shift from NCAA rules to WBSC rules for pitchers, and an increase in roster size. Below you can see the changes to expect in the upcoming season.
Roster limits increase from 23 to 26. However, only 23 players can be active during any given game. Active players, in total 23, will be presented, on the official lineup card, to the home plate umpire at the beginning of every game. The Active Players list may change from game to game but is not allowed to be changed during the game for any reason.
Team salary cap increases from $150,000 per team to $175,000 per team. Further, a re-defined policy stating the only paid amount that currently applies to the salary cap is the salary itself, eliminating signing bonus’s, performance incentives, improved living conditions, et al.
Established a Minimum Salary amount of $3,000 on all future Player contracts.
Amendment to Franchise Player Tag Article, will allow “tagging” team to negotiate beyond the designated “Player Value”, if so desired. Prior to this adjustment, there was no inter-team negotiation allowed.
Amendment to Retirement Status to extend the rights of the team which player is contracted with at time of retirement, to “permanent”.
Clarity in wording (but not intent) of existing Retirement Status Article to state that any Player who assumes Retired Player Status, must spend a minimum of one full season out of competition.
Player age requirement will be amended to state Player’s age must be 21 “at time of competition”, rather than former version of “by January 1 of competition year”.
Removed minimum travel expense reimbursement amount. Change wording to allow reimbursement for “reasonable pre-approved expenses paid out of pocket…” Previous expense limitation was $600.00 total.
Ban of bats that are not supplied by an Official Supplier of NPF, regardless of whether or not logos and labels are visible. Bats allowed for NPF competition must come from an official supplier of the NPF and must be current in the product line. A comprehensive list of particular bats will be circulated to all players, teams, manufacturers and umpires.
Approved modification of pitching rules to mimic WBSC rules, rather than NCAA.
Approved new rule stating that an “illegal pitch” will result in a ball on the batter only, and will not advance the baserunner automatically.
Autograph sessions will remain a hallmark of NPF, but individual teams will continue to place player safety as well as autograph efficiency, as priorities.
Amendment to 8th inning NPF tie-breaker to include all double headers, improved from previous wording of “regularly scheduled” double headers.
