The NAWSL will consist of 24 teams divided into two separate sub-leagues with two divisions of six teams within each sub-league. Placement of teams into sub-leagues will be on a first come basis. Members will be limited to owning one team and may not have a team in each sub-league. Teams will participate in inter-league play on a limited basis. The Championship Prize will be the next version of Strat-o-Matic Computer Baseball with game card option and player cards, about $65.00 with shipping. After the first year, only the teams from the sub-league that does not win the Championship will have to pay the $5 fee. Teams from the sub-league that win the Championship will not have to pay the five dollars.

Each NAWSL team will play a 162 game season. The NAWSL will play a balanced schedule as follows:

• vs. Division - 18 games X 5 teams = 90 games (9 home & 9 away games each)
• vs. League - 8 games X 6 teams = 48 games (4 home & 4 away each)
• vs. Cross league (one division) - 4 games X 6 teams = 24 games (2 home & 2 away each)

The season will be divided into six segments.

Each Division winner plus two wild card teams will qualify for post-season play. These teams will be seeded 1 - 4 with the two division winners being seeded 1 & 2 and the two wild card teams being seeded 3 & 4. The first round of the playoffs will be a seven game series with a 2-3-2 format. Winners of the wild card series will play a best of seven with a 2-3-2 format for the league championship. Then the two league champions will face each other in a best of seven series to decide the league championship in a 2-3-2 format. Home teams for all series will be based upon high regular season winning total unless team with better record is wild card team then the home field advantage will go to the division winner.

If at the end of the regular season, two teams have identical records, a one game playoff will determine the league winner or wildcard berth. This game will need to be played face to face, over the phone, or via the net. A coin toss by the commissioner will determine who is home team. If three teams are tied then a series of tiebreakers will be used until one team is declared the winner. If three are tied for the regular season league title, the tie breaker will determine the champion and then the other two will play the one game playoff to determine home field advantage. (There will be one days rest lost for the starting pitcher if a playoff game is needed before the start of the wild card playoff series).

Each team shall be permitted to designate one (1) pitcher that has "STARTER" ONLY on his card to have the additional capability of "RELIEF" throughout the playoffs. The designated reliever is set once for the entire post season. The pitcher will then be considered to be a "STARTER/RELIEVER" and will be subjected to the rules in section "I" (Playing Rules) as far as rest between starts/relief appearances is concerned. (A starter being used as a reliever will automatically be given a point-of-weakness rating of three (3).

If three teams are tied for the final wildcard spot the tiebreaker system will be used until a loser is determined and then the other two will have a one game playoff.

If it so happens that four or more teams are tied, the tiebreaker system will be used until enough teams have been eliminated to have a playoff game.

Tie Breaker rules to determine winner:

1. Best Record Head to Head
2. Best road record
3. Best record head to head with all tied teams if more than two
4. Most runs scored in head to head games
5. Fewest runs allowed in head to head games
6. Coin toss

Tie breaker rules to eliminate a team:

1. Worst record head to head
2. Worst road record
3. Worst record head to head will all tied teams
4. Fewest runs scored
5. Most runs allowed
6. Coin toss

To be eligible for play in the NAWSL, players must be carded players by Strat-O-Matic for the season in play and meet the following requirements. Players must have a minimum of 50 at bats and pitchers must have a minimum of 30 innings pitched.

There are no limits to roster size during the season as they can vary due to trading. After each season and before each draft teams will be required to cut rosters to 18 or fewer active players. Teams who have players on their roster who do not qualify for play the following season may retain the rights to up to 2 of these players without penalty to their roster size for reduction purposes only, these players will count toward their overall roster total of 35 (36 if a manager has earned their bonus pick, whether it was traded or not).

Some players are issued more than one card from Strat. Only their combined stats card will be utilized and the others will be discarded.

During the first five segments teams will be allowed to have only 25 active players on their roster, the others will be placed on the in-active roster and will not be eligible for play until the next segment. During the sixth segment, all players will be eligible for play that have not met or exceeded their limit for the season.

Each member will be responsible to update their roster via the website before each segment. Members will be required to logon to update their rosters.

One week before the scheduled draft all teams must reduce their roster to 18 players or less. This will not include any non-carded players the owner wishes to keep. All players released will be placed with free agents and new player cards and become available in the draft.

Regular Season Usage:

Players - Are limited to actual number of Plate appearances (AB's + BB's) unless unlimited.

Players to have unlimited status must meet all the following:

1. Batting Average at or below .265
2. Slugging & OBP combined not over .650
3. Is not rated a 1(one) at any position for defense

Outfielders may play any outfield position, even if not on their card, using standard Strat-o-Matic rules for fielding ratings.

Pitchers - Any pitcher that is used strictly as a starter (excluding relief appearances caused by HAL if they CMI is properly set up) will be limited to 110% of their actually innings. This replaces the rule of being limited by starts. All other pitchers are limited to 100% of their actual innings unless there ERA is over 4.99, in which case they are unlimited.

Example #1 - Pitcher A is listed as a Starter/Relief and pitched 151 innings. It will be the manager's choice to use him as a starter and in relief or to use him for relief only or to use him as a starter only. This pitcher may pitch up to 166 innings (151 times 110%) if he is used as a starter only and never comes in for a relief appearance (except as noted above).

Example #2 - Pitcher B is listed as a starter only and pitched 188 innings. The pitcher may pitch up to 207 innings (188 times 110% rounded).

Pitchers to have unlimited status (no limit on starts or innings pitched):

1. Have an ERA of 5.00 or higher

Playoff Usage (All totals are per series)

• All: Players unlimited during the season will be unlimited in the play-offs.
• All: Usage beyond 10 innings in an extra inning game will not count towards total usage in the play-offs.
• Players: All players will be limited to 10% of their actual plate appearances
• o Starting Pitchers: (10% limitation removed) Starters with the * may pitch on three days rest others require 4 day rest. Starting pitchers must have a minimum of 50 innings pitched on their cards in order to start a playoff game.
• Relief Pitchers: 10% of innings pitched.

Playoffs will begin 2 days after last game of the regular season with all teams scheduled to play the same days. If there is a playoff game to resolve regular season ties, then the team winning the playoff game will not have a day off before the first playoff series. Only one day off will be given between each playoff series and no rest shall be given to players via the "days off" button in the game setup once the playoffs have begun. Proper rest must be given to pitchers during each series and if a team advances. Chances are that a pitcher who pitches game 7 of a series will be tired if he tries to pitch game one or two of the next series. Any series that does not go the full 7 games will have the advantage of extra days of rest. Example 1: Team 1 wins his series in 4 games he would get 5 days of rest for his pitchers (game 5, travel, game 6, game 7, travel). Example 2: Team 2 wins his series in 6 games he would get 2 days of rest for his pitchers (game 7, travel).

• DH - Yes in both leagues
• Super advanced stealing system
• Use miscellaneous rules
• Do not use injuries (playoffs or regular season)
• Allow GBA on pitchers card
• Ballpark and clutch hitting - yes
• Weather - no
• Super advanced strategy charts
• Use closer rules
• Use SADV fatigue rules
• Use the MAX rule settings with the following options checked: Improve Statistical accuracy, Bunt for base hit, Improve Out Distribution, Improve Base running realism, More Base running decisions, & more realistic throwing errors

Line and usage options

• Lineups set to primary
• No scheduled days off
• Minor leaguer's ineligible
• No auto swap
• Ignore over usage
• Use super "HAL" Bullpen
• Use super "HAL" subs

Game Preferences

• Entry mode - Dice Mode
• Results & Options - User preference
• Play by Play - User preference
• Computer Manager - Visitor turned on
• Teams have the option of NET play or face to face

Player usage is discussed in section 5.

Starting pitchers who are designated with a starter rating (*) from Strat-O-Matic may pitch on three days rest between starts. All other starters must have four days rest between starts.

Pitchers may not start and relieve in the same segment. Any particular pitcher may only start or only relieve.

Pitchers listed as starter only are not eligible for relief under any circumstances.

The designated hitter will be allowed for the pitcher only.

The Strat-o-Matic ballpark ratings will be utilized for ballpark hits and home runs. Each owner will decide what the ratings will be for their park before the initial draft. Each rating may be as low as 4 and as high as 17 but the two combined may not add up to more than 32 or less than 12.

Owners may want to have a "short porch" for lefties so the homeruns for left handed hitters would be a higher number than for right handed hitters. If this is the case, the same requirements will apply for the ratings. To determine if the design fits the regulations, add the higher of the HR and the higher of the singles to see if it is less than 32 or add the lower of each to see if they are lower than 12.

Once the ratings are set for home runs and singles, this may not be altered until roster cuts are due following the season. Then an owner may adjust the settings plus or minus 4 in both categories as long as they still meet league guidelines.

Each owner may choose any major league park to play their games in even if another team is using the same backdrop. With the individual settings, it will not make much difference and since this is for fun, why not play in the stadium of your choice. Feel free to name your stadium also.

At the end of each series played, the home manager will be required to send out the correct game files to the league director, league statistician and to their opponent. These files include two game stat files (not subsets), found in the export sub-directory, and a box score, found in the print\2007nw sub-directory, for each game played. The game will be set up to include the PAC and scoresheet content and the game story in the box score file. If there are any questions, please ask!

Each manager is responsible for posting their CMI on the league website within 1 week of new league files being posted. Failure to do so may result in a warning or other penalty. If there is a problem please let someone in the league know. You may also post a generic CMI on the website for emergency use. Managers may also post specific CMI's each segment for use against specific teams.

Each manager will utilize the computer manager for road games and send out instructions to each opponent for that segment and to the league director, statistician and their league president in a timely manner so all games may be played at a semi-casual pace. The only additional instructions allowed are player limitations such as AB's or Innings pitched. Instructions of this nature are not allowed for players with unlimited usage. It is not the responsibility of the home manager to make defensive or pitching changes for the visiting team.

Managers do have the option of playing face to face or over the net or over the phone as long as both agree. If this is the case, CMI's still need to be sent to the statistician in case games are not played by the deadline.

When CMI's are sent, the starting rotation will be updated in the Starter Schedule portion of the computer manager. Any pitcher not to be used in relief shall be listed in the computer manager as a starter in the Pitchers section with Never in the relief column or will be inactive in the roster list.

This is a play by email league, so everything is based on the honor system. However, fines and penalties will be given for being late with reports or other violations.

The following is a list of occurrences that could cause a warning, fine, or penalty or even being removed from the league.

• o Late in making roster reductions prior to the start of each year – forfeiture of bonus round pick. If the bonus pick has already been lost or traded the team will lose one protected roster spot for the upcoming season. If the roster reductions are not made within 2 days after the initial penalties are assessed, the team will lose a regular roster spot for the season(35/34;etc). If the roster reductions are not made within 4 days after the second penalty, stricter fines may be imposed, including possible expulsion from the league.
• Late in distributing Computer Manager - First time a warning if not more than one week, second time if late by even one day, team will forfeit their bonus round pick. If the Bonus Pick has already been lost then the team will lose one roster spot for the upcoming season. Third offense - first round draft choice or if there is not a first round draft choice available, the team will be forfeit one of their eighteen protected spots at the time of roster cuts reducing the total players protected to 17. Fourth Time - Roster reduction by one - the team will be forfeit one of their eighteen protected spots at the time of roster cuts reducing the total players protected to 16. Fifth time - possible expulsion from league.
• Late in Turning in Roster for segment - Same as above
• Late in turning in results - Same as above
• Rotation violation - First offense - forfeiture of game, Second offense - forfeiture of game, Third offense - Loss of Bonus Pick. If bonus pick has already been lost the there will be a roster reduction by one for the upcoming season and forfeiture of game. Fourth offense - first round draft choice will be lost, Fifth offense - Loss of roster spot. Sixth Offense - Public Flogging - Member will be privately asked to leave the league but may stay on if they choose to do so. If a manager decides to stay any future violation will result in strict fines and may result in immediate expulsion from league.
• Playing inactive players or pitchers - same as rotation violation
• Exceeding player and pitcher usage - overuse will result in loss of player and a roster reduction (as described above) for each offense up to two. Player/s will be placed into draft for following season. More than two players of gross overuse will cause a review by the Commissioner and could result in other fines up to and including expulsion from league. Overuse will be as follows: more than 15 plate appearances for players with 300 or plate appearances and more than 10 plate appearances for players with 299 or less plate appearances. Pitchers overuse will be as follows - 4 innings pitched for any pitcher unless pitcher is a designated starter who will then have no inning limit as long as total starts does not exceed actual starts.

An annual draft will be held about three months before the start of each season and will include rookies, players released and free agents from the previous year. Un-carded players or players that do not meet league requirements will not be eligible for the draft. The draft will be conducted via NAWSL web page with each manager being assinged a 20 minute time slot to make his/her pick. They may pick ahead of the time slot if all pick previous to theirs has been made. If no pick is posted by the manager, either directly or from a list, the draft will continue with no selection being made for that team. The owner will be able to make his/her pick from the remaining players as soon as they are able but may not select a player that has been picked by another team since his skipped turn.

The draft will last as long as necessary to allow teams to reach their 35-player limit (36 if a manager has earned their bonus pick, whether it was traded or not).

All drafts following the initial draft will be a straight format. After the second round, the top 8 (lottery) picks will revert to order of winning percentage, picks 9-24 will remain constant throughout the draft.

1. The first eight spots will be occupied by the eight teams with the worst records. The order will be determined via a computerized lottery with the worst team getting 8 chances, the second worst getting 7, ... up to the eight worst getting 1 chance. The lottery teams will log into the NAWSL web site in the order of their records, starting with the worst, and use the lottery selection option to find out where their pick falls.
2. Draft positions 9 thru 16 will be the rest of the non-play-off teams in order of winning percentage.
3. Draft positions 17 thru 20 will be the first round play-off losers in order of winning percentage.
4. Draft positions 21 and 22 will be the second round play-off losers in order of winning percentage.
5. Draft positions 23 will be the loser of the finals.
6. Draft positions 24 will be the winner of the finals.

Tie Breaker rules to determine winner:

1. Worst record head-to-head competition.
2. Worst road record.
3. Worst record head-to-head amongst all tied teams (in case of more then two teams tied).
4. Smallest run differential (runs scored minus runs allowed).
5. Coin toss.

A bonus round will fall between rounds 2 and 3 of the draft. Only those managers with no infractions during the season will earn the bonus pick. Those managers earning the bonus pick will be allowed a roster size of 36 to accomodate the bonus pick.

1. Trading will be allowed year round. The league can close trading for short periods of time to prepare for drafts, etc. The trade deadline is August 31(final day of the 5th segment). If a trade occurs after that it does not become effective until after the playoffs are concluded.
2. All trades will not become effective until the start of the next segment if during the season. Otherwise it will be immediate. Specific dates will be given before the start of each season for trading deadlines.
3. All parties involved in a trade must report the trade via the NAWSL web site.
4. Teams may trade draft choices for the current and following seasons only.
5. No players to be named later will be allowed.
6. Any active manager may challenge any trade if he/she does not think it is in the best interest of the league or simply not a fair trade. If a manager makes a formal challenge the trade will be sent to a trade committee for approval or disapproval. If trade is rejected, members of trade committee will need to list reason/s why they came to their conclusion.

A trade committee will be established of five managers. Three of the five will be used for each trade challenge. Members on the committee will be for as long as they wish to serve. Every challenge will be sent to the members on a rotating basis.

All players released by teams and left un-drafted will be placed in a free agent pool. Players may be claimed from the free agent pool after the July segment to help with projected shortages of AB's and IP for the final two months of the season. Once the season is complete all free agents claimed will be automatically put back into the free agent pool for the upcoming draft. Free agents may not be traded.

Proposals should be made to the League Commissioner who will create the official ballot for discussion to be had on before voting. Voting will take place during the post season period and made final before the draft each year. All teams are required to vote on the proposals each year or suffer the following penalty: loss of Bonus pick for the upcoming draft; if Bonus pick is already lost or has been traded the team will automatically forfeit the next season’s Bonus round pick.

Members may suggest rule changes each year but may not suggest the same rule change every year. If a rule is defeated, it may not be brought up again for a period of two years. The league Commissioner, league presidents and secretary will decide if rules stay within the spirit of the league. In order for a proposal to become a new rule it must receive a 67% favorable vote from the league membership.

For example - If you have a problem with deep roster cuts each year, then find another league that lets you keep all your players. These cuts will create value in lower draft choices and give meaning to the draft each year.

All players released by teams and left un-drafted will be placed in a free agent pool. Players may be claimed from the free agent pool after the July segment to help with projected shortages of AB's and IP for the final two months of the season. Once the season is complete all free agents claimed will be automatically put back into the free agent pool for the upcoming draft. Free agents may not be traded.

The League Commissioner shall oversee the NAWSL league and be responsible for working with the League Statistician and League Presidents to see that the NAWSL runs smoothly. If penalties must be handed out it will be the responsibility of the League Commissioner to verify them with the League Statistician to see that they were correct and also to give the teams a chance to appeal. The League Commissioner shall also make constitutional rules changes that he/she deems necessary in the best interest of the NAWSL without having to get the 67% majority vote of the league. Those changes shall be reflected in the constitution in bold green. ANY CHANGES MADE BY A NAWSL LEAGUE COMMISSIONER CAN ONLY BE UNDONE OR CHANGED BY A CURRENT OR FUTURE NAWSL LEAGUE COMMISSIONER. The League Commissioner serves until he/she decides they no longer want to serve anymore or the league votes them out of office with a 67% majority.