Dixie Boys/Majors Baseball Umpires: 2012- 2013 Rule Book

Sentences found highlighted represent rule changes for the 2010-2011 program.

Rule 1.01 would apply to both programs
Rule 1.01DB would apply to Dixie Boys only
Rule 1.01DM would apply to Dixie Majors only

The intent of some rules has been added to assist officials in settling protests.

The League and League Organization

0.01 The league shall be the smallest unit of organization and shall be governed by those active in the program who make up the managing personnel, such as elected officers, executive committee, team managers, volunteer umpires, sponsors and player agents, serving as the volunteer operating personnel. The community aspect of the program should be the goal and be maintained.

0.02 · A league shall be composed of not less than two (2) teams or more than (10) teams depending upon the conditions within a particular community.  EXCEPTION: The State Director can approve a one-team league on a one year basis if recommended by the District Director following a complete investigation which determines that not enough qualified candidates are available for more teams.

0.03 New leagues franchising in the territory of any existing league must have the approval of the district and state director and the concurrence of the Dixie Boys Baseball Commissioner. The state director shall decide territory and player distribution. Territory redistribution disputes are appealable to the National Board.

0.04 A franchise fee will be assessed on a yearly basis and will be determined by the National Board of Directors. The franchise deadline is May 15 of each year.

0.05 Each league or group of leagues shall adopt a set of rules and regulations for the league or leagues, subject to the approval of the State Director.

0.06 In communities having two or more leagues, it may be advisable to have one set of officers and adopt the same rules and regulations. This, however, is optional and will be determined by the various leagues. The operation of more than one league with the same officers must be agreed upon by the managers of the various leagues.

0.07 The franchise certificate is issued annually to each league by the Commissioner, subject to the following conditions. (1) The Commissioner shall have the authority to withdraw or refuse membership for just cause, and shall give written notice to the presiding officers of the league as indicated by the current franchise application on file. (2) The league franchise does not imply that in future seasons a new league cannot make application for operation within a portion of the present boundaries of the league, but only that no other league shall be permitted to operate within the boundaries established for the current season. (3) The league franchise expires at the conclusion of the actual play of the season for which it has been granted and is subject to renewal upon application and re-examination of the following year.

0.08 Leagues are required to adopt and carry out policies for the prevention of serious infectious diseases. This policy will be included in the materials sent to each league and is provided to greatly reduce the possibility of any transmission of a blood-borne pathogen such as Hepatitis B or HIV, if the individual who is bleeding has such a disease. Participants removed from games under this policy are subject to the regular substitution rules of Dixie Boys Baseball, Inc.

Boundaries

0.11 League boundaries shall be determined by the officers and executive committee of the league, but are subject to annual approval by the district and state director.

0.12 A map clearly indicating the current boundaries of the league shall be on file with the State Director, and District Director, and shall be replaced upon request.

(a) Unless specifically stated otherwise, the center of the street shall be considered the actual dividing line when streets are used as boundaries.

(b) Maps must indicate specific boundaries, such as streets, railroad tracks, etc., or school districts, postal zones, city limits, or similarly specified areas. A definition of boundaries such as "five mile radius" or power lines is not acceptable.

0.13 The district director, based upon the recommendations of the state director, reserves the right to adjust boundaries in the event of overlapping of territorial request or because of inequitable conditions.

(a) Though boundaries are not specifically restricted by population or area, both will be considered when boundaries are submitted to the district director for approval.

0.14 Boundaries for Dixie Boys, Dixie Pre-Majors, and Dixie Majors need not be identical.

0.15 Two or more leagues may operate within the same boundary, but all managers must have equal opportunity in the selection of players, i.e, an equitable system of rotating all team through a single draft process to assign players to teams. This regulation specifically disallows teams in League A selecting players before League B, League C, etc., select any players. Also disallowed is any program that registers a select team or league, thereby leaving the remainder of players to play in their local recreation program. Failure to meet the "Equal Opportunity" requirement in the selection of players allows a league to gain unfair advantage over other leagues. Violation of this rule could result in forfeiture of tournament rights or loss of franchise.

0.16 The BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL, INC., reserves the right to continue any player:

(a) Whose residence changes after becoming a member of the league.

(b) Who lives outside of the league's boundaries because of a revision of such boundaries even if the boy then resides in the territory of another league.

Teams

0.21 Each team may consist of a maximum of 16 uniformed players in Dixie Boys and a maximum of 18 uniformed players in Dixie Majors with a maximum of 3 coaches. All players shall be registered with the league president not later than 5 days prior to the first regularly schedule game of the league season.

0.22DB · It is recommended that no team have on its roster more than eight (8) players of league age, fourteen (14) years, unless approved by the District or State Director. There is no limit on the number of 13-years-olds on a team roster.

0.22DM It is recommended that no team (Dixie Majors-15 through 18) have on its roster more than twelve (12) players who are of league-age sixteen (16) through eighteen (18). It is recommended that no team (Dixie Pre-Majors-15 through 16) have on its roster more than eight (8) players of league-age sixteen (16). Any differences from above must be approved by the District Director and State Director.

_0.23 Complete playing rosters (including dates of birth) shall be mailed by June 1 or prior to leagues first scheduled game, to the District Director and State Director and a copy retained by the local league president.

_0.25 Each team must have a team picture turned in at District level play.

Legal Players

0.31DB Any boy whose thirteenth birthday falls before May 1 of the current year, and any boy whose fifteenth birthday falls on or after May 1 of the current year is eligible to compete in and complete the current Dixie Boys baseball season. No player under league age 13 may participate in a Dixie Boys League.

0.31DM Any boy whose fifteenth birthday falls before May 1 of the current year and any boy whose nineteenth birthday falls on or after August 1 of the previous calendar year shall be eligible to compete in and complete the current Dixie Majors baseball season. Also any boys who plays baseball for his school and whose fourteenth birthday falls before May 1 of the current year is eligible to compete in and complete the current Dixie Majors Baseball season. Any eligible boy whose fourteeenth birthday falls before May 1 of the current year and any boy whose seventeenth birthday falls on or after May 1 of the current year shall be eligible to compete in and complete the current Dixie Pre-Majors baseball season. No player under league age 14 may participate in a Dixie Pre-Majors/Majors league.

0.32 Birth Certificates are defined as being official registrations of birth issued by the state. Also approved are: Photostatic copies of the official registration, baptismal certificates, hospital certificates, military identification cards, Dixie Youth Baseball Certification of Birth forms and valid driver's licenses. Date of birth of all players shall be submitted to the local league official prior to the leagues's first regularly scheduled game. Each state shall adopt a standard birth certificate record which will be used for all ages. Responsibility for verification will be at the District and State Director levels.

0.33 Only players of proper age whose residence, as determined by the residence of their parents or legal guardians, is within the approved league boundaries shall be considered "LEGAL" players for league and tournament competition except when exempt by other rules. Immediately upon the discovery by a league that it has a player registered who is the property of another league as shown in Rule 0.35, the improperly registered player shall be directed to the proper league for any further participation in Dixie Boys or Dixie Majors baseball.

0.34 Players must reside within the boundaries of the league. "Reside" means bona fide continuous habitation and not merely establishment of a legal address of voting residence except in those cases specified in 0.35. DM: A Dixie Pre Majors and Majors franchise can be granted and a school based team formed as long as all players on a submitted league roster attended a specific school system during a current year. Eligibility status of player & coach shall be in accordance with prevailing rules of the State High School Athletic Association of the state in which the player lives. The franchise must have the approval of the District & State Director.

0.35 No player who resides in a franchised league's territory, shall be allowed to participate in another league's program unless he applied for and is granted a release. A League Release Authorization must be submitted and signed by the parent or legal guardian, and the releasing league president. The release must be approved by the State Director who will send a copy to the Commissioner's Office and District Director. All releases must be made before June 15 of the playing season. Player, after securing release will be obligated to play with the league that accepts him for the remainder of his eligible years unless allowed to transfer under proper Dixie Boys/Majors regulations. These releases will be given only if a player is not accepted or assigned to a team after attempting to register. Players may be released only to leagues boundaries nearest that of the releasing league. Any player in violation of this rule will be ineligible for all tournament play. Any league in violation of this rule can be declared ineligible for tournament play and local league play by the Commissioner of Dixie Boys Baseball. No release will be required if the area in which a player resides has not franchised by June 1.

0.36 Any player, after becoming a legal player in a league, as defined in Rule 0.33, remains the property of that league as long as he remains eligible by age, unless he applied for and is granted a release.

a) Rule 0.36 will be interpreted to mean that any player after becoming a legal player in a Dixie Baseball organization (Dixie Youth, Dixie Boys, Dixie Majors) remains the property of that league or organization as long as he remains eligible by age.

c) b) Example: A player participating in League "A" in Dixie Youth and later changes his residence has the option of remaining in League "A" as a 13-14 year old. If he chooses to join League "B", at his new residence, he must remain with that league throughout his eligibility (Dixie Boys and Dixie Majors).

c) c) Exception: Any player who is granted a release and participates in another league shall have the option, the following year, of registering to participate with the league in whose boundary he/she resides.

___0:37 A player having no place to play in the area he resides, whether franchised or not, is eligible to participate in Dixie Boys Baseball in the nearest franchised area. He may not “cross over” any franchised boundary. The Commissioner shall develop a form to be filed with the State Director by league officials for any player participating in a franchised program in which he does not live explaining why he is playing in that franchise.

Selection of Players

0.41 Each league shall determine its own system of selection. However, whatever system is used shall be under the direction of a "player agent" who shall see that all teams have an equal opportunity in the selection of players. Much care should be taken in the selection of this position. Dixie Boys Baseball, Inc. will furnish suggested player selection systems upon request.

0.42 A boy who does not register in time to participate in the player selection system will be ineligible to participate unless he is sick or injured (confirmed by a notarized doctor's affidavit) or was a new permanent resident of the community. Boys who become new residents following the selection of players may be assigned to a team provided the player agent gives his approval and the league president gives his written consent. Any boy who applies after registration has closed may be accepted if approved by the player agent and the league president gives his consent and if a vacancy exists on a team roster. Managers may not drop players in order to sign a new player. A violation of this rule will make the player ineligible for tournament play and local league play.

0.43 Dixie Boys (13-14) and Dixie Majors (15-18) players may participate in other amateur baseball programs, subject to local league approval. It is important that dual participation will not in any way interfere with a player's responsibility to Dixie Boys and Majors Baseball. The intent of dual participation is to provide opportunities for individual players to participate in other organized programs. The intent is not to pre-select an all-star team or designate only certain players for the sole purpose of creating a travel team. No league in the Dixie baseball program may pre-select all-star teams or create opportunities for only a select group to participate on a travel team.No player, under any circumstances, shall be permitted to play on another amateur team once the Dixie Boys/Majors tournament play begins.    Clarification of Commissioner: A team is considered as having entered Dixie Boys/Majors tournament play at the time of the first pitch of the tournament in which the team first participates. (I.e. district, regional, zone, state, World Series). Prior to any player or team participating in any play outside of Dixie Boys Baseball it is advisable to first consult with the appropriate Dixie Boys/Majors State Director. Failure to adhere to the rule will result in a player or a team being declared ineligible for further tournament participation.

0.44 A franchised Dixie Majors League (15 through 18), at the conclusion of its local league, may choose to select a Pre-Majors, (15 and 16) tournament team and/or a Dixie Majors tournament team for tournament play. Leagues may franchise a Pre-Majors (15 and 16) league or Majors (15 through 18) league if they choose to do so.

The Schedule

0.51 It is recommended that all teams play a minimum schedule of fourteen (14) games per team per season, preferably at the rate of two (2) games per week per team.

0.51DM Dixie Majors teams must play at least 10 games to be eligible for tournament play. A minimum of five (5) of these games must be against other Dixie Majors franchised teams. Schedules should be submitted to the district director prior to the season. Any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the district director.

0.52 Exhibition games are permitted but all pitching rules must be followed and permission granted by the league president or his delegated authority.

0.53 Under no condition can league officers set up a schedule of games which would require a team to play more than two (2) games in one day.

Team Sponsors

0.61 Dixie Boys and Dixie Majors Baseball teams should be sponsored by those organizations, firms, or companies whose activities or products are not detrimental to the welfare of youths. Specifically, no firm or company whose advertising reflects the sale of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products shall be permitted to sponsor, either locally or nationally, the Dixie Boys and Majors Baseball or be permitted to display any form of such advertising in connection with the program.

Miscellaneous

0.71 No player, coach, manager, umpire, or Dixie official is allowed to smoke, dip, or use any tobacco product while practicing, playing, or participating in the Dixie Boys/Majors program.

Penalties

0.81(a) Violation of Rule 0.00, or general failure of the league to comply with the concept of league organization and boundaries as defined in these Rules and Regulations may result in refusal to accept the league membership application, or the revoking of the membership status of the league if the violation occurs after membership for the current season has been granted.

(b) Penalty for use of illegal players shall be forfeiture of games in which illegal players participated, provided such games are protested by any of the league managers in writing to the league president within 48 hours of the game in question. The league president shall give his answer within seven (7) days from the date he received the protest.

(1) An illegal player is one who is not legally a member of the league because the player does not meet the requirements as to age and/or resident as stated in Rules 0.10, 0.30, 0.43, and 0.44.

(c) Penalty for the use of an ineligible player shall be immediate removal from the lineup upon appeal by the opposing manager (ineligible pitcher will be removed from the mound), notification by the official scorer or by league officers, provided the official score book or other league records verify the ineligibility of the player concerned. Such a player also becomes ineligible to play in the teams next game (ineligible pitcher cannot pitch in the next game he is eligible to pitch in).

(1) An ineligible player is one who is legally a member of the league, but who is ineligible to play or to pitch in a particular game or games because of the limitations set forth in these Rules and Regulations, or as the result of a previous rules violation or disciplinary action.

(2) For purposes of interpreting this rule, a player shall not be considered in violation of the rules until at least one pitch has been thrown after the point of violation.

(3) In the event the manager of an ineligible player refuses to remove player from the lineup (pitcher from the mound) when the appeal is made, and verified, the game is subject to forfeit.

(d) Illegal equipment shall be removed from the game.

(1) Players are not permitted to use an illegal headgear even if no other headgear is available. When proper headgear is not available, the game shall be delayed until the equipment can be obtained, or postponed and rescheduled by the league officers.

(2) Penalty for use of illegal shoes shall be removal of the shoes from the game, and, if no other legal footwear is available, removal of the affected player or players from the lineup.

(3) Players who do not wear complete conventional uniforms, protective headgear and catching equipment as required by these rules, shall be removed from the lineup.

(4) Players who intentionally in the judgment of the umpire discard their protective headgear while batting or running the bases, shall be removed from the lineup after completion of the play in progress at the time the violation occurs. Such action does not constitute an out, and such players are to be replaced as a batter or base runner, if appropriate.

(e) Pitchers in violation of any of the pitching rules shall be considered ineligible players, subject to the penalties stated for use of an ineligible player in this rule.

Protests

0.91(a) A protest based on a play which involves an umpires judgment is not permitted.

(b) When protests are based on an interpretation of the rules, the objecting manager must, at the time the play occurs, notify the head umpire that the game is being played under protest, and submit the protest in writing to the league president or secretary, or to the Decisions Committee, within 48 hours of the completion of the game.

(1) When protests based on the interpretation of a rule are upheld by the Decisions Committee, the game concerned shall be replayed from the point of protest.

(2) Umpires should make a public announcement to the crowd when a game is being played under protest. Umpire shall notify the official scorekeeper and opposing manager of protest.

(c) Any team manager, coach, or other adult leader who withdraws a team from the playing field under any circumstances prior to the official completion of the game shall forfeit all rights to protests as prescribed in this section.