Fall 2025 Meeting Minutes
8/14/2025
Women’s Softcourt League of BirminghamFall General Meeting
August 14, 2025
The Women’s Softcourt League of Birmingham held the Fall General Meeting on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 10:00 am at Pinetree Country Club. (Level coordinators held a short meeting at 9:45 to review their responsibilities.) All Club Representatives were present. All Level Coordinators were present except Andrea Warren, 2.5 and Cheryl Collat, 3.5 was not present. All Officers were present. There were 27 Members in attendance for the formal meeting including officers.
President, Samantha Ebert, welcomed everyone to the meeting, introduced the officers and called the meeting to order. Jane Miller called roll and asked if there was a motion to approve the minutes from the Spring Meeting as posted on the website. Motion made to accept minutes by Samantha Ebert, seconded by Kelly Ray and approved unanimously.
Treasurer, Emily Key, presented the financial report. We began the Spring Season with $11,991.07. Income from fall fees was $8,560.00. Total expenses were $10,485.65 - executive planning/meetings $99.50, prizes $6,394.35, printing/supplies $38.74, website/Google $398.66, board meeting $804.40, and LETT donation $2,750.00. Cash balance as of 8/14/2025 is $10,065.42. Motion to accept Treasurer’s report by Kim Hobbs and seconded by Kelly Ray and approved unanimously.
Samantha Ebert, President, announced winners and the runner’s up for the Spring 2025 season. Prizes were delivered at the meeting.
Singles: 4 made stats 2nd court, 5 made stats as a blend, 11 first court only, 20 total players, 5 of 9 made from clubs who move up 2nd court
Doubles: 8 made stats 2nd court, 1 stats as a blend, 25 stats first court only, 34 total players, 4 of 9 made from clubs who move up 2nd court
50 different people made stats in Spring 2025, 11 players staying down and must play court 1 or sit.
2.5 Carly Hawkins made stats at 2nd court singles and 1st court doubles
4.5 Ann Wade Shreve made stats at 1st court singles and 2nd court doubles
5.0 Abby Nevins made stats as second court singles (one match at court 1) and first court doubles
3.0 Mary Beth Walls made stats at second court for singles (1 match at first court) and doubles.
New Business
● Meg Sullivan, Vice-President, reported that we have 106 teams, 1,254 players, 4.0 level has 2 divisions. . The season will begin the week of September 1st.
Meg reminded club representatives that strength rosters must be in by midnight August 31st, even if the team's first week is a Bye. Everyone on the team roster must be on the strength roster; every court must have players listed on them (minimum of 2 per doubles court.) Failure to comply will result in the first set of each court forfeited for each match played until strength roster is entered. Captain must provide a strength roster and score sheet every match. Level coordinators need to remind teams that Team Forfeits will NOT be allowed. Position forfeits are allowed. Please review forfeit rules in rule book. LC’s encouraged to remind captains how rescheduling works and consequences.
Samantha reported 25 approved MDR’s for Fall 2025. A few notes about MDR’s. The Officers act ask the WSL Ethics Committee and receive the MDR’s from the President with no name attached. We do not move down an entire team, we review MDR’s on an individual basis. But reasons for moving down do not include 1. staying with friends 2. pregnant or 3. work schedules. If the player is playing Court ½ and winning, then it is hard to justify approving an MDR.
Fall 2025 MDR’s are due 2 weeks prior to the start of the season per the rulebook which is August 19th.
Rules and Policy Changes
Current Rule Book: Move Ups 7a: “A player who plays court 1 singles and wins 13/16 sets (8 scheduled matches) or 11/14 sets (7 scheduled matches) will be notified to move up to the next level. A player who plays court 2 singles and wins 14/16 sets (8 matches) or 12/14 sets (7 matches) will be notified to move up to the next level. A player making her singles stats on first or second courts the first season may remain at that level the next season but must play the #1 position. After making stats for the second consecutive season, the player must move up to the next level. An exception to this rule- the singles player may sit out the next season after making stats 2 seasons in a row.”
“A player who plays court 1 doubles and wins 13/16 sets (8 scheduled matches) or 11/14 sets (7 scheduled matches) will be notified to move up to the next level. A player who plays court 2 doubles and wins 14/16 sets (8 matches) or 12/14 sets (7 matches) will be notified to move up to the next level. A player(s) making her doubles stats on first or second courts the first season may remain at that level the next season but must play the #1 position. After making stats for the second consecutive season, the player(s) must move up to the next level. Exceptions to 8 this rule- the doubles player(s) may sit out the next season after making stats 2 seasons in a row or may split up and remain at the same level playing only courts 1 and 2.”
Proposal Rulebook: 7. Move ups - a. Singles: A player who plays 75% of the season at Court 1 and wins 85% or higher overall (makes her stats) will be notified to move up to the next level. A player making her singles stats the first season may remain at that level the next season but must play the #1 position. After making stats for the second consecutive season, the player must move up to the next level. An exception to this rule- the singles player may sit out the next season after making stats 2 seasons in a row. Doubles: Players who play 75% of the season at Court 1 and win 85% or higher overall (make stats) will be notified to move up to the next level. Player(s) making her/their doubles stats the first season may remain at that level the next season but must play the #1 position. After making stats for the second consecutive season, the player(s) must move up to the next level. Exceptions to 8 this rule- the doubles player (s) may sit out the next season after making stats 2 seasons in a row or may split up and remain at the same level playing only courts 1 and 2.
Rule change was proposed by Susan Filippini, motion by Annemarie Wilson and 2nd by Laveda Bradford. Motion passed with 18 votes.
Current Rulebook: Move ups 8: “Consecutive Team Wins - Any 2.5 to 5.3 team that wins first or second place 2 consecutive seasons will be subject to review by the ethics committee. The ethics committee has the right to require a minimum of 4 players to move up to the next level.”
Proposal Rulebook: 8. Consecutive Team Wins - Any 2.5 to 5.3 team that wins first or second place 2 consecutive seasons will be subject to review by the ethics committee. The committee along with the club pro will decide what should be done.
Rule change was proposed by Nancy Pratt, motion by Nancy Pratt and 2nd by Annemarie Wilson. Motion passed with 22 votes.
Current Rulebook:c. Special circumstances - …5.0 USTA players are required to play at the #1 or #2 position.
Proposal Rulebook: 5.0 USTA players are required to play at the #1 position.
Rule change was proposed by Laveda Bradford, motion by Kim Cosgrove and 2nd Laveda Bradford. Motion did not pass.
Current Rulebook:Skill Level c. Players with a 5.0 USTA rating must notify the Softcourt President of her rating. 5.0 USTA rated players will be allowed to play courts 1 and/ or 2 in singles at the 5.5 Softcourt level. A maximum of 3, 5.0 USTA rated players may play on courts 1 and 2 in doubles. Either a 4.5 or 5.0 player may be allowed to play courts 1 and/or 2.
Proposal Rulebook:Players with a 5.0 USTA rating must notify the Softcourt President of her rating. 5.0 USTA rated players will be allowed to play court 1 in singles and doubles at the 5.5 Softcourt level.
No Motion to vote therefore not approved.
Current Rulebook: 3. Substitutes – A Player affiliated with the club, not playing at the same level (except 2.5). Subs may play for both teams of the same level at her club. A sub from a lower level may play 3 times for any team at a higher level. Any player who subs for one team more than three times becomes a member of that team but will forfeit all sets played to date on the higher-level team as a consequence of violating the sub limit rule. Substitutes may not play the #1 position. They should be listed at the bottom of the score sheet on match day. a. Clubs that field 2 teams at the same level may not interchange players listed on the original strength roster. Exception to this rule is at the 2.5 level and line-up must be played according to the Strength Roster position of the substituting player. Substitutes may not play the #1 position.
Proposal Rulebook: A Player affiliated with the club, not playing at the same level (except 2.5 & 3.0). Subs may play for both teams of the same level at her club. A sub from a lower level may play 3 times for any team at a higher level. Any player who subs for one team more than three times becomes a member of that team but will forfeit all sets played to date on the higher-level team as a consequence of violating the sub limit rule. Substitutes may not play the #1 position. They should be listed at the bottom of the score sheet on match day. a. Clubs that field 2 teams at the same level may not interchange players listed on the original strength roster. Exception to this rule is at the 2.5 and 3.0 levels and line-up must be played according to the Strength Roster position of the substituting player. Substitutes may not play the #1 position.
No Motion to vote therefore not approved.
Announcements
For CR’s- If submitting a player to be added or moving clubs, submissions need to come from the Club Rep or Club Staff.
Please remind teams that they cannot play a sub at 1st court.
Remember that if a Softcourt player is an employee or the wife of an employee of her club the player will need a letter each season from that club’s manager/owner verifying that the player has club/membership privileges.
We will be enforcing strength roster penalties. Players are allowed to move up or down one level. Defaults will be enforced for players playing out of strength roster without prior approval from LC or President.
Door prizes were distributed.
The meeting was adjourned.