Lyndon Recreation Association: League Rules

These rules have been drawn up in accordance with the purposes and aims of Lyndon Recreation Association as set forth in its charter, and have as their basis the development of the ideals of good sportsmanship and fair play. There has never been a set of rules that are completely without so-called “loopholes”. When it is apparent that an individual or team is basing a protest or defense on merely a minor technical point or loophole which is contrary to accepted practice, fair play or good sportsmanship, the spirit of the rule will be considered as well as the letter of the rule.

For any violation of the rules in this booklet, or for any other unruly or unsportsmanlike conduct, the general manager or any board member has the authority to impose a suspension of one week or until the next meeting of the Board of Directors, whichever is less, provided that the individual imposing the suspension is not involved in the dispute as a manager, coach, or umpire. Suspensions for longer than one week can be imposed only by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Rules Committee will determine an appropriate penalty for rules violations if no penalty is specified within these rules.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Lyndon Recreation Association is organized to help provide enjoyable recreation for all concerned. Managers, coaches, players, umpires and spectators play an important part in the results obtained. Profanity, equipment abuse, and other displays of poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. Violations can result in ejection, game forfeiture and/or a personal suspension of up to one year.

1. No verbal abuse or harassment will be directed to an umpire, opposing team, or player. An effort must be made by the managers to control their players, coaches, and fans.
2. All disputes must be handled between the manager and the umpire in a quick, courteous, and orderly manner. Only one coach or manager from each team will be allowed to converse with the umpire at any one time. Under no circumstances shall a manager allow any players to enter into any dispute.
3. Unnecessary physical contact will not be allowed in any league. As a minimum, any player who is obviously engaging in unnecessary contact will be called out. At the umpire’s discretion, based upon the severity of the situation, the player may be ejected from the game.
4. The umpire, league chairman, general manager, or any board member is empowered to eject a manager, coach, player, or spectator for unruly or unsportsmanlike conduct, provided that the individual imposing the ejection is not involved in the game as a manager, coach, or parent of a player.

Ejection from a game of any manager, coach, or player will automatically carry a penalty of suspension of such participant from the next official game played.

The second ejection or suspension of any manager, coach, or player will result in automatic suspension of such participant until the next meeting of the Board of Directors, at which time the Board will decide on any additional penalty.

An ejected individual must remove himself immediately from whatever area is stipulated by the individual imposing the ejection. Failure to do so will result in a forfeiture of the game and/or forced compliance by the Louisville Metro Police. If it becomes necessary to call the police in order to enforce the ejection of an individual, that individual will be automatically suspended for the remainder of the season, including post-season tournament play.

PLAYER REGISTRATION & TEAM ASSIGNMENTS
LEAGUE ORGANIZATIONS

1. Player registration for the summer program is conducted during February. Registration dates for fall leagues will be announced during the summer season. Late registrations can be made through the general manager. The registration card of a player under eighteen years of age must be signed by a parent or guardian of the player. Tee Ball registrations will close on May 31. For all other leagues, registrations will close at the end of the first week of league play, unless a player has just moved into the community. Players moving into the community may register through May 31. In the event that all leagues for which a player is eligible are already full at the time of registration, his/her name will be placed on a waiting list and then assigned to a team if a vacancy occurs on or before May 31.

2. All players must pay their fee in full at the time of registration unless other arrangements are made through the general manager. Registration fees are not refundable for any reason.

3. All players who did not play in the Lyndon Recreation program the previous year must show proof of age at the time of registration.

4. For the purpose of league assignment, a player’s age is determined as of April 30 of the current year for tee ball and baseball leagues, and December 31 of the previous year for girls’ softball leagues. A player may play in a league one year ahead of his/her actual age, but only if their intention to do so is declared at the time of registration. The age groupings of the various leagues are as follows:

• Tee Ball (Boys & Girls), 4-5
  
• Baseball – Peewee (Coach-pitch), 6-7; Rookie (Machine-pitch), 8-9; Junior, 10-11; Intermediate, 12-13; Senior, 14-16; Senior, 17-19.
  
• Girls’ Softball – Peewee (Coach-pitch), 6-7; Bantam (Machine-pitch), 8-9; Junior, 10-11; Intermediate, 12-13; Senior, 14-17; Open, 17 & up.

5. Girls’ Senior and Women’s Open rosters will be limited to a maximum of 14 per team. All other rosters will be limited to a maximum of 13 per team.

6. Team managers will be selected by the league chairmen. If a team’s previous manager will still be affiliated with the team, a new manager can be named only with approval of the general manager (The intent of this provision is to prevent situations in which a new manager is named for the purpose of having a player automatically assigned to the team, when in fact someone else will actually manage the team.). Each manager may then name one official coach, if the team’s former official coach no longer has a child or grandchild on the team. If a team with a returning official coach has a new manager, the league chairman together with the general manager may authorize the naming of a new official coach. If a manager does not have a child or grandchild on the team, then he/she is allowed to have two official coaches. A manager cannot name an official coach after the league draw has taken place. An official coach can be named only with the approval of both the manager and the person named as official coach. The children or grandchildren of both the manager and official coach(es) will be automatically assigned to their team.

7. Unless requested otherwise, a player returning to the same league will be automatically assigned to the team on which he played the previous year. If reassignment is requested, the player will be assigned to the player pool. If the player is drawn by the same team on which he played the previous year, he must be returned to the pool and drawn by another team. Brothers or sisters will be assigned to the same team unless requested otherwise.

8. Prior to team assignment, a player may designate one team for which he/she does not wish to play. If drawn by the designated team, the card must be returned to the pool.

9. EXCEPTIONS FOR GIRLS’ SENIOR SOFTBALL: Last year’s teams will be disbanded and managers will be allowed to form their own teams with a core group of up to 7 players. 13-year-olds will be allowed to play in the league, but cannot be among a team’s core group unless as a daughter of a manager. The remainder of a team will be filled through a draw of players that sign up without being included in a team’s core group.

RULES 10-11 DO NOTAPPLY TO TEE BALL, GIRLS’ SENIOR OR WOMEN’S OPEN SOFTBALL.

10. (a) After returning players and the children or grandchildren of the managers and official coaches have been assigned to their teams, all other players will be assigned through a blind draw by the team managers. This draw shall be prepared by the league chairman and reviewed by the general manager prior to the league meeting. The draw shall be prepared in such a way as to maximize the balance of the ages and skill levels of players on all teams. Depending on the ages and known skill levels of players within the league, a league chairman should utilize some form of “rating system” in an effort to equalize the distribution of skilled players. All managers shall be given reasonable notice of the date and time of the draw. There shall not be any visible notations or identifying marks of any kind on cards to be included in the draw. An opposing manager shall draw for a team with which the league chairman is affiliated. The name of each player shall be recorded on a team roster at the time the card is drawn.
(b) No trades are permitted.
(c) Players who sign up after the initial draw will be assigned to teams by the general manager. Returning players who sign up after the initial draw will be treated as new players. 11. No coach or parent shall move from one team to another to become an official coach in the same age group, regardless of reason, and have his child automatically reassigned to the new team. If a change is desired, the player will return to the player pool.

1. Each team must have a signed sponsorship contract or the team must pay a sponsorship fee prior to the first official game. If not, games will be forfeited until a contract has been obtained or the sponsorship fee has been paid.

2. Each player must meet the minimum standard for fund-raising projects, as established by the Board of Directors, in order to be eligible for participation in league play.

3. Each team will be required to furnish volunteer workers for the concession stands at least one time during the season. Any team without the required number of workers in the concession stands at all times on a scheduled date will forfeit their first victory of the season from the league standings.

4. All players must wear all articles of uniform furnished by the Association. Catchers must wear all articles of catcher’s equipment furnished by the Association. Any player not wearing proper uniform will not be allowed to participate in league play. Exceptions to this rule can be made by the general manager or his representative.

5. Except for Senior Baseball, Senior Softball and Women’s Open Softball, metal spikes or cleats are not permitted.

6. All baseball and fast-pitch softball leagues: When a batter assumes a natural batting stance, the strike zone is that space over any part of home plate between the batter’s armpits and the top of the knees.

7. A player may use a bat other than those furnished by the Association, provided that the bat conforms to any applicable league restrictions. Metal, composite and ceramic bats are acceptable.

8. In all baseball and softball leagues for ages 8 & up, the batter and all baserunners must wear batting helmets. In the softball leagues, the helmets must include a face mask and chin strap. If a player intentionally removes the batting helmet while batting or running, the player will be called out. The ball becomes dead, and all other runners must return to the last bases they had legally attained at the time of the infraction. This rule shall not apply if a helmet is removed at a time when the ball is already dead, or following a walk in a league which doesn’t allow stealing.

9. All leagues: If a runner fails to touch a base or fails to tag up after a fly ball is caught, and for such failure is not put out by the defense during the same playing action, such runner will be declared out by the umpire at the end of the playing action.

10. All baseball and fast-pitch softball leagues: At the option of the offensive team, substitute runners may be used for the pitcher and/or catcher of record. If a substitute is used, the sub must be the last previous batter not currently on base.

11. A batter who is injured during his turn at bat may be removed from the lineup and the next scheduled batter will assume the ball/strike count. If an injury necessitates the removal of a baserunner, the substitute runner shall be the last previous batter not currently on base. An injured player may reenter a game provided he/she does not miss his/her next scheduled plate appearance following the injury.

12. A player arriving late may be added to the bottom of the batting order, provided the leadoff batter has not begun his/her second turn at bat.

13. The fitness of the grounds for play before the game will be determined by the general manager or his representative. After a game has started, the umpire may temporarily suspend the game but may not cancel the game without the approval of the general manager or his representative. All rained-out games will be rescheduled by the general manager.

14. The home team must provide the official scorekeeper. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture of the game.

15. Each manager must present a lineup to the scorekeeper and the opposing manager prior to the game. The lineup must show the uniform numbers of all players and the positions of the starting defensive players. All players must bat in the order in which their names are listed on the official lineup. The official lineup shall be the one presented to the official scorekeeper. Each player must play on defense a minimum of: one full inning during any regulation game of 2 or 3 innings; two full innings during any game of 4 or 5 innings; and three full innings during any game of 6 or more innings. Violations of the minimum defensive playing requirement will result in forfeiture of the game.

16. If neither team can field the required number of players, both teams will be charged with a loss.

17. In the event of a tie and the full number of innings and/or time limit has been reached, one additional inning shall be played.

18. All softball and baseball leagues: If a manager or coach makes a second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning, the pitcher must be removed from the position of pitcher. If it is the first time during the game that he/she has been removed as pitcher, then he/she may be put back as pitcher later in the game. The substitute pitcher must continue as pitcher until he/she completes facing one batter or until the side is retired. At the time a pitching change is made, either at the beginning or during an inning, a manager or coach is not charged with a “trip” for the new pitcher.

19. Players, managers, and coaches of both teams shall confine themselves to their teams’ benches unless actually participating in the play or preparing to enter the game, or coaching at first or third base. No one except players, managers, coaches and bat boys shall occupy a bench during a game.

20. The use of tobacco products is prohibited at all times on the playing fields or in the dugouts or team benches.

21. In tee ball, coach-pitch, and machine-pitch games, each team will be allowed a maximum of three one-minute time outs during each game. In all other leagues, time outs will be limited as follows: Each team when on defense may be granted not more than three charged one-minute time outs during a game. Time granted for an obviously incapacitated player shall not constitute a charged time out nor shall a time out be charged whenever the pitcher is removed as pitcher. PENALTY: For any charged time out in excess of three in a game, the pitcher must be removed as pitcher for the duration of the game. Each team when on offense may be granted not more than one charged one-minute time out per inning to permit the coach or any of that team’s personnel to confer with baserunners and/or the batter. The umpires shall deny any subsequent requests for time outs.

22. A five-inning game which is called for any reason prior to the time limit will be official if the losing team has had three full at-bats, or if the score is tied after each team has had three full at-bats. A six or seven-inning game which is called prior to the time limit will be official if the losing team has had four full at-bats, or if the score is tied after each team has had four full at-bats. If a game is called before it has become an official game, the umpire shall declare it “No Game.” The score of an official called game is the score at the moment play is terminated. EXCEPTION: If the game is called while an inning is in progress and before it is completed, the game becomes a suspended game if any of the following situations occurred during the uncompleted inning: (1) The visiting team has scored one or more runs to tie the score and the home team has not scored. (2) The visiting team has scored one run to take the lead and the home team has not scored. (3) The visiting team has scored two or more runs to take the lead and the home team has not retaken the lead. A suspended game will be rescheduled and resumed from the point of interruption.

23. League standings will be determined by the point system:

• For a win One point
• For a tie One-half point
• For a loss Zero

24. In order for a protest to be considered, the manager must indicate his intent to file a protest at the time of a disputed ruling. All pertinent information such as inning, outs, players on base, player at bat, ball/strike count, etc., must be recorded and agreed to by both managers and the umpire at that time. Protest forms are available at the information room for this purpose. A written protest must be submitted to the general manager within 24 hours after the end of the game. The protest must include a $50.00 deposit which will be refunded if the protest is upheld. The general manager will schedule a protest hearing which must be attended by a minimum of five members of the Rules Committee, the protesting manager or his representative, and the umpire. If the protesting manager or his representative is not present within five minutes of the scheduled meeting time, the protest will be automatically denied. Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the Rules/Protest Committee the violation adversely affected the protesting team’s chances of winning the game. It should be noted that a judgment call cannot be protested.

25. All players must attend each game and each practice called by the team manager or his representative. Any player who misses two games or two practices without a good reason will be subject to disciplinary action by the manager. The maximum penalty will be dismissal from the team. The manager must obtain the approval of the league chairman prior to applying any suspensions or dismissals.

26. Any player who shows up late twice or misses one official game due to playing in some other league can be dropped from participation in Lyndon Recreation.

27. Players must participate in at least 50% of league games to be eligible to play in tournament games. Exceptions can be made by the general manager.

28. Each field’s batting cage is reserved for the teams preparing to play on that field for the hour preceding the scheduled game time. The visiting team will have use of the cage for the first 25 minutes of the hour. The cage is reserved for the home team from 35 minutes prior to game time until 10 minutes prior to game time. The visiting team shall conclude their infield practice no later than 5 minutes prior to game time. The home team must be prepared to begin taking infield 5 minutes before game time and ready to start play at the scheduled time.