|
|
|
 Rules |
|
Wednesday, May 31
CMSRBR Rules - 2006
1 League
The League will consist of a maximum of sixteen teams. There will be two divisions, North and South. Any town wishing to join the league must petition the Executive Board of Directors of Central Massachusetts Baseball Inc. by February 1. The petitioning town will provide a list of fifteen committed players and a check for $250 (the League Entry Fee), which will be non-refundable, should the team withdraw.
2 Code of Conduct
A. During the game all players unless warming up or actively involved in the game must remain on the bench or in the bench area. No one will be allowed on the bench except the players, coaches, or bat boy/girl.
B. Misconduct of any kind will be dealt with by the umpires or a protest will be filed with the Board. Examples of misconduct are: using profanity, profane gestures, and taunting, and will not be tolerated. This Code of Conduct is enforced before, during and after the scheduled game time. Penalties can be as severe as expulsion from the League. All teams must require that each player and coach sign the League Code of Conduct letter (see page 10). All League members must adhere to the Leagues Code of Conduct at all times.
C. Prior to each game the manager is responsible to reiterate to the umpires that we have a zero tolerance for misconduct. Specifically, the use of the most offensive profanity, if heard by the umpire (no matter how audible), will result in the ejection of that person from the game. There is no judgment on the tone, level of frustration, or if others heard it, if the umpire clearly hears it, then the person is ejected. The umpire is to quietly with no major gesture, report this to the manager, and the manager WILL remove that player from the game, with no protest and then report this issue to the Board as required.
D. Managers and coaches also need to follow this rule and set the example for their team. You may remove a player from a game (without a game suspension) if you hear or see any infraction to our Code of Conduct.
3 Umpires
The League will furnish and the home team will pay for two certified umpires in uniform. Every attempt will be made to provide the highest quality umpiring possible. Any complaints or comments on the quality or partiality of the umpiring should be reported in writing to the Executive Board. Failure of the umpires to show up will result in the teams rescheduling the game. This should be reported to the League Vice President and President immediately. It can initially be called in, but needs to be followed up with an email or letter. If warranted, the President and/or the Vice President will discuss the issue with the Umpire in Chief.
4 The Playing Field
All fields used by the League should be maintained in good playing condition. The grass areas should be mowed, the dirt areas raked and leveled, and batters boxes, foul lines, and out-of-bounds lines freshly lined for each game, if possible. This will be the ultimate responsibility of the team managers.
5 Equipment
5.1 Balls
The official ball for the League will be the Diamond D1-Pro. The home team will provide for the plate umpire before each game four new baseballs of League quality and have one dozen new balls on hand if needed due to loss or wetness.
5.2 Protective Headgear
Protective Headgear shall be worn at bat and while running bases during practice and all games. Such headgear must cover the top of the head and have extended earflaps that cover both ears and properly fit the player wearing it. If a player refuses to wear headgear he shall be removed from the game. Ball/bat boys/girls must wear helmets while out of the dugout or bench area (in the play area) in both local League and Tournament play.
5.3 Catcher's Mask and Throat Protector
Any player warming up a pitcher at home plate or on the sidelines shall wear a mask. A throat protector is considered part of the catcher's mask. Many of the masks have extended caging that protects the throat, this is considered acceptable. If the catcher refuses to wear this equipment he shall be removed from the game.
5.4 Protective Cup
During practice and all games, the catcher must wear a protective cup that fits properly. If the catcher refuses to wear this equipment, he shall be removed from the game.
5.5 Bats
Bats must be wooden and meet the standard Babe Ruth rules for length and weight. Pro-lites are acceptable; however, wood composite bats are not acceptable.
6 Rosters
Each team must present to the League a completed team roster with no less than fifteen players prior to the first League games. Rosters will be submitted on official League forms only. These will be mailed or handed out by the League at least two weeks prior to the first scheduled games. Final rosters must be submitted by game three (3). Failure to submit final rosters on time will lead to forfeiture of games until the final roster is filed. Roster adjustments of up to two (2) players will be allowed between games three (3) and seven (7).
6.1 Team Composition
There will be a maximum of twenty players, one manager, and two coaches listed on the official team roster. Changes in the rosters cannot occur after the season begins without the full knowledge and approval by majority of the Executive Board of Directors.
6.2 Age Limits
Any player in the affiliated towns or qualifying towns, under the age of 19 by the first of May of each year will be eligible to play in the League. A player in the affiliated towns or qualifying towns must be 15 years of age by the first of May of each year to be eligible to play in the League.
EXCEPTION: Each team will be allowed two (2) league age 14-year-old players as part of the 20-person roster with prior approval from the Executive Board of Directors. Any 14-year-old player must have played on a high school team (Freshmen, JV, or Varsity) prior to the start of our season.
6.3 Proof of Age
Every player must provide a copy of a valid Massachusetts drivers license or permit to his respective manager prior to the first scheduled League games. If not available, a certified copy of his birth certificate and school identification will be accepted. The document must be submitted to the League office prior to the start of the season.
6.4 Boundary Limits
A. A team may draw players from within its town boundaries, plus any directly abutting towns that are not participating league members, providing there are no more than a total of five (5) players on the team roster from abutting towns.
B. Any town wishing to draft players from another participating town must obtain permission from the manager of that town.
C. If a player doesn't make the resident-town roster, the abutting town may come to the Board for permission to draft that player.
6.5 Roster Violations
Any player who is not on the official team roster that is held by the League or is found to be in violation of the age restriction causes a forfeiture of the game in which that player participates.
7 Schedule
Each team will play every other team in their division twice (home and away) and each team once in the other division. Games that cannot be played per original schedule must be rescheduled within a seven-day period. Cancellation of games requires 48-hour notice other than cancellations due to inclement weather. Coaches must contact each other 2 HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THE GAME for weather cancellations. The home team must also contact the league coordinator and the umpire-in-chief.
8 Regular Season Games
8.1 Start Time
All evening games will begin at 6:00 P.M. promptly. All night games will begin at 7:00 P.M. promptly unless otherwise specified. Any team that is not able to field a team of nine players within fifteen minutes of the scheduled starting time will forfeit the game. The forfeiting team will not get a game played credit for any of the players on the roster at the time of that game. However, the team that received the forfeited win will receive a game played credit for all players present for that game.
The home team will take infield/outfield practice starting thirty minutes prior to game time for ten minutes. The visiting team will take infield/outfield practice starting twenty minutes prior to game time for ten minutes. The remaining ten minutes prior to game time will be used for team meeting, further warm-up, and review of the local ground rules. Once the game begins the decision to suspend or terminate play for weather conditions or darkness will be solely in the hands of the Home Plate Umpire.
8.2 Major Rules
The games will be played according to the Official Rules of Baseball. Each manager should have a current set of these rules available at each game. The following exceptions to the Official Rules will apply:
A. All League games will be seven innings. To qualify as an official game, 4.5 - 5 innings must be completed. In case of a tie game (called by the umpire), each team will receive one point in the League standings. A win equals two points. If a game is called before 4.5 - 5 innings, the game must be replayed as a new game.
B. Team standings will be determined by the total points. In the case of a point tie the order of determining factors will be:
1. Divisional record
2. Head-to-head
3. Head-to-head total runs
C. No protest shall ever be permitted based on judgment decisions by the umpire. On a rules interpretation dispute, the game should be temporarily halted and the Official Rules of Baseball and the League Rules brought out and every attempt made to resolve the dispute amicably on the spot and complete the game. However, if this is impossible the game may be completed "under protest". In such cases, an official protest must be filed in writing with the League Protest Committee within 24 hours of the occurrence. If the protest is upheld, the game will be resumed according to the Official Rules of Baseball and the League Rules.
D. There will be no pitching limitations at this age level. However, it is imperative that all coaches use good judgment and prudence in this regard in order to protect and keep from injury the arms and shoulders of the League pitchers (especially since there may be 14 or 15 year old players in the League).
E. If the starting pitcher is removed from the game because of a second trip in the same inning, he may re-enter the game in any position with the exception of pitcher.
F. A Designated Hitter (DH) will be allowed, but cannot play the field.
G. An Extra Hitter (EH)/Designated Player will be allowed to play the field in any position.
H. The Re-Entry Rule will be used.
8.3 Sliding
The Baseball Sliding and Collision rule will follow the MIAA guidelines.
8.4 Re-Entry
Any of the nine or ten starting players may withdraw and re-enter once, provided that the player occupies the same batting position whenever he is in the line-up. The pitcher is governed by the provision of Official Baseball Rule 3.05. A substitute who is withdrawn may not re-enter.
Note: If a player re-enters illegally as a pitcher, fielder, or runner, there is no penalty except that he must be removed from the game immediately when discovered. If he re-enters illegally as a batter, such illegal re-entry is penalized according to Official Baseball Rule 6.07 - Batting Out of Order.
The following list provides interpretations of the re-entry rule:
1. This rule applies to League and Tournament play.
2. Each of the nine or ten starting players may be withdrawn from the game and re-entered once. This rule also applies to the extra hitter if it is used.
3. The starting hitter, when re-entered, must occupy the same batting position as he occupied when starting the game. That is, a starting player and his substitute cannot be in the game at the same time.
4. A starting pitcher who has been withdrawn from the game may re-enter immediately or at any time thereafter if he was withdrawn as a batter or base runner. If a starting pitcher is withdrawn while he is on the mound pitching, his substitute must fulfill Official Baseball Rule 3.05(b) before he is permitted to re-enter the game.
5. All other starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered immediately at any time, at the discretion of the manager.
6. A substitute who is withdrawn from the game can never re-enter the game.
7. A substitute may replace a substitute and the starting player may still re-enter for the substitute. That is, if starting player Jones is replaced by substitute Smith and substitute Smith is replaced by substitute Clark, then starter Jones is eligible to replace substitute Clark.
8. A starting player who is withdrawn from the game more than once cannot re-enter.
9. Withdrawal and re-entry take place only when a player has been removed from the game.
9 All-Star Program
A. There will be an All-Star Team selected from the North and South Divisions. Two (2) players from each team will be selected and one (1) additional from the top two teams in each division, based on the standings at the time of selection.
B. The manager of each Division All-Star Team will be determined by the team with the highest standing in each Division by a predetermined cutoff date. If the manager of the leading team cannot or will not accept the position, it will be offered to the manager of the next team in the standings and so on until a manager accepts. If no manager accepts, then the President will appoint a manager for the Division All-Star Team.
C. The All-Star manager of each Division will appoint two assistant coaches.
D. Each League team manager will designate the players.
E. Each player will wear his own team uniform. The manager, coaches or players will wear no jackets or warm-ups on the playing field with the exception of the pitcher who is on base as a runner.
F. Each player must be on the team roster, and he must have played in one half of all its team's games by the time of the beginning of the All-Star game. This will be verifiable by scorebook examination upon request.
G. The games will be eight innings or a time limit of three (3) hours. No inning begins after 10 PM. A continuous batting order will be applied. Substitutions are allowed for all players. Any starter or substitute player may re-enter the game as many times as the coach chooses.
H. The town hosting the All-Star Game will be responsible for obtaining three umpires for the game, the cost of which will be reimbursed by the League. The League will provide the baseballs for the All-Star Game. The Host will provide a public address system for announcing the players. The Host will provide for the playing of the National Anthem prior to the start of the game.
I. All other normal League Rules apply to the All-Star Game as well as the Official Rules of Baseball.
J. Every player participating in the All-Star Game will receive an award to be determined by the Awards Committee and approved by the League.
10 League Tournament
A. To be determined annually.
B. Players need to play in a minimum of fifty (50) percent of the league games their team played in order to qualify for Tournament play. Each manager will provide a list of non-qualified players to the Board prior to the beginning of the tournament. If any player is challenged, the Board reserves the right to review the scorebooks of opposing teams to insure the playing time of that individual. If a player is found to be in violation, that team will forfeit any game(s) that he played in.
C. Umpires: the two teams in each game up to the finals will share the cost of umpires. In the finals, the League will pay the umpires.
D. Baseballs: the home team up to the finals will supply the baseballs. The League will supply the baseballs for the finals.
E. Host: All items governing the Host for the All-Star Game apply to the Host for the League Tournament.
F. Games: Every League Tournament game will be a seven-inning game.
G. Rules: All League Rules governing regular season play will apply as well as the Official Rules of Baseball.
H. Protest Committee: The same stipulation concerning the regular season play will apply to the League Tournament.
I. Awards: An award for every player on the roster (twenty maximum) and the manager and his assistant coaches will be given to the winning team and the runner-up. These awards will be determined by the Awards Committee and approved by a majority vote of the League.
11 Violations
Any manager, coach, player or fan who is removed from a game by the umpire will be suspended for one additional game, which will be the next scheduled league game. The second offense will result in suspension for the season. If a player is removed from any game, it must be reported to the League within twenty-four hours. All further disciplinary matters will be decided upon by the League Protest Committee, which will contain no directly interested parties. The decision of the Protest Committee will be final. Failure to do so will lead to forfeiture of subsequent games.
12 Cancellations Due to Weather
It is the responsibility of the home team manager to contact the visiting team manager two hours prior to the start of a game (4:00 P.M., 5:30 P.M., or 8:30 A.M. as the case may be) in the event of inclement weather or unplayable field conditions. The home team manager must contact the visiting team manager and arrange a mutually agreeable date to play the game that has been canceled. The make-up game must be scheduled and completed within one week of the cancellation and the rescheduled date called in to the League Scheduling Chairperson. If the date cannot be mutually agreed upon, the League President will reschedule the game prior to the end of the season.
13 Suspended Games
There will be no suspended games. All games that have progressed far enough to be considered a regulation game (Rule 8.1.A) will be considered complete regardless of the score; ties count in this league. If an inning can not be completed then we will revert to the last completed inning for the final score.
For play-offs, all games must be played to completion. The following rules will apply:
A. If a game is suspended, the game will resume if one or more full inning(s) were played. In the case of a game not completing at least one inning that game will be restarted.
B. The game is continued just as if there was no time delay incurred.
C. At the start of the suspended game, it will be played at the same location as started with the same umpires.
D. It is not necessary to resume the game with the same players on the field. A player must have been on the start of the games line-up card to be eligible to play in the resumed game.
14 Forfeitures
A forfeit is typically caused by a team not having the correct number of players to start a game. Any team causing a forfeit will be fined $75 per game, and pay the umpires.
FORCE-PLAY-SLIDE RULE
(Copied from the Official Rule Book)
SECTION 4. The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule.
Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.
a . On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases.
E x c e p t i on A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.
( 1 ) On the ground means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground.
( 2 ) Directly into a base means the runners entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.
A.R. 1 If a runner goes into a base standing up and does not make contact or alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.
A.R. 2If the runner goes into a base standing up and is safe or out, but makes contact with or alters the play of the defensive player, interference shall be called.
b . Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the r u n n e r :
( 1 ) Makes a legal slide directly to the base, or
( 2 ) Is on the ground at the time of contact and the fielder moves directly down the line between the two bases to attempt a play.
( 3 ) Makes a legal slide and makes contact with a defensive player who is on or over, but not beyond, the base.
A . R . When the base runner slides beyond the base, but does not (1) make contact with, or (2) alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.
c . Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:
( 1 ) The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the f i e l d e r ;
( 2 ) The runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder;
( 3 ) The runners raised leg makes contact higher than the fielders knee when in a standing position;
( 4 ) The runner goes beyond the base and either makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder;
A . R.Beyond the base means any part of the offensive players body makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder beyond the base.
( 5 ) The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg;
( 6 ) The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.
PENALTY for 1-6( 1 ) With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out
and no other runner(s) shall advance.
RULE 8-4/BASE RUNNING
(2 )With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
( 3 ) If the runners slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest.
A . R.If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.
Note: On a force play, with a two-man umpiring system, if the plate umpire does not have a potential play at the plate, he should move toward the base to observe the runner going into second or third base. In this situation, the base umpire must follow the throw and may not see the true effect of the lead runners action.
|
|
