Jersey Shore National Adult Baseball Association: Rules

Player Eligibility:                                                                                                                                                                    All players must have a valid player contract on file with the league commisioner prior to playing in any game. If a team is found to be using ineligible players are subject to forfeiting any game that player participated in. Managers should use good judgement in this regard. Lets all play by the rules here.

Team Requirements - Uniforms:
Teams must be in uniform consisting of matching shirts with individual numbers and matching caps. They must also wear baseball pants which need not match. (Sweat pants, jeans, or shorts are not permitted.) After a three week grace period at season's start a fine will be imposed for teams in violation. ($15 for the first violation,$30 for the second, etc.)

Team Requirements - Balls:
Each team will supply the umpires with three game balls at the pre-game conference. Baseballs will be provided at the first managers meeting. Other than the Diamond baseballs the NABA will provide for managers, there are other brands of baseballs approved for the JSNABA. These will be listed in your rule book which will also be distributed at our first managers meeting.

Team Requirements - Lineup Cards:
Each team will supply the umpires and opposing team with a completed lineup card. On this lineup card they must list players by first initial, last name and uniform number. The lineup card must also list all eligible substitutes as well as the batting order. Defensive positions are not needed, except for the pitcher. In the event there are two players on a team with the same last name and first initial, list the players' full first name as well. If a player is not listed on the lineup card they are NOT eligible to participate in the game. 

Eight Player Start:
A team may start and finish a game with 8 players. The team starting with eight players must accept an out when the ninth spot in the order comes to bat until the ninth player arrives. If and when the ninth player arrives he may occupy the ninth spot in the order. However, if his team has begun their defensive half of the inning he must wait until the current batter completes his at bat before going to play the field.

Offensive Lineup:                                                                                                                                         A team may choose to bat as many players as they wish.They may also add to the bottom of their batting order during the course of the game, however they may never subtract from the largest number of batters in their lineup.

Defensive Lineup:
All teams have the option to substitute freely in all defensive positions except pitcher. Defensive substitutions (including pitcher) have no effect on the batting order. A pitcher can leave the mound for another position or the bench but may re-enter his position as pitcher only once.

Starter Re-Entry:
A starter in the batting order may be removed and a substitute may bat/run in his place. The starter may return to bat, but only in his original spot in the batting order.* Only a starter may re-enter a game and only once. A starter removed from the order for a pinch runner may not re-enter until that pinch runner or other legal substitute has batted at least once.

* except in case of injury; see injury substitution rule.

Non-Runners:
Two players per team may be designated as non-runners. When they reach base the manager has the option of letting a courtesy runner run for them. This option must be exercised immediately following the play on which they reached base. A courtesy runner must be the last recorded out (unless the last recorded out is the second non-runner.) This is not pinch running and has no effect on the batting order.

No Collision Rule:
A runner must either slide or attempt to go around a fielder who is in possession of the ball or who in the umpire's judgement is about to receive the ball. A runner who, in the umpire's judgement, collides with a fielder in an attempt to jar the ball loose or injure the player will be called out and ejected.

Injury Substitution:
A team unable to bat the original number of hitters in its lineup due to injury of a player, may re-use a player who is already "out of the game" in the injured player's spot. If a team has no more than the original number of players in uniform at the game at the time of the injury, then the game shall continue under the rules governed by the eight player start rule. An out will be recorded each time the injured player's spot comes up. It's the umpires' judgement whether or not a player can continue to play with an injury. If this rule is invoked the injured player cannot re-enter the game under any circumstances, even if he appears to have recovered.

Ejections:
If a player ejection prevents a team from placing nine defensive players on the field, or prevents a team from maintaining the number of batters it started with in its lineup the game shall be considered a FORFEIT. A team has five minutes to provide a substitute for its batting order.

*The five minute grace period is for the batting lineup only.

Mercy Rule:
There is a 10-run rule that takes effect at the completion of the seventh or any ensuing inning in a nine inning game. If the home team is ahead after 6 1/2 innings it is an official game. The same ten run rule applies at the end of fifth or any ensuing inning of a seven inning game. If the home team is ahead after 4 1/2 innings, the game is official.

Doubleheaders:
Scheduled doubleheaders consist of one nine-inning and one seven-inning game. The nine-inning game is played first.

Rainouts:
Home field manager may declare their field is unplayable. He must declare this 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the game.  The league commisioner will call the umpires and opoosing team to let them know of the cancellation. If visiting teams and umpires receive no notification of a postponement within two hours and fifteen minutes of game time, the field may be playable, and all parties must report to the field. If at game time, the field is deemed unplayable by the umpires, then the game shall be postponed. The umpires will receive a $15 travel fee from the league office.

Fields:
Its impossible to expect the field to be raked at the end of every game. However, cleaning out the dug outs and making the best effort to leave the field in the same condition it was before the game, is expected. We don't own any of these fields, taking care of them is our best way to secure these fields for a long time.

Makeup Games:
After a postponed game the league commisioner will send both teams a make-up date. This date will be based on both teams schedules and will try to be best for all parties concerned. If for some reason one of the two teams cannot play on the new date provided,  they must notify the league commisioner within one week. At this time, another date will be proposed to them. If one team continues to not agree to schedule a make-up game they will be at risk of forfeiting.

Reporting Scores:
All teams should keep an official score.The home team will be considered the official scorebook and should report the score to the league commisioner. If for whatever reason the home team can not provide an official score keeper then the visiting team will do so. Teams should communicate throughout the game so there are no issues about the score.