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2008 League Rules
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NORTH SHORE BASEBALL LEAGUE RULES
I. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
A. REGISTRATION
Communities may register up to four teams in any age bracket, two in the A division and two in the B division. However, when two teams are registered in the same division they must be divided equally. At the time of registration, communities may designate a preference for the A or B division. However, the NSBL will realign teams between divisions as it deems necessary to achieve competitive and scheduling balance.
B. SPORTSMANSHIP
1. Managing and coaching in the NSBL is a privilege and not a right. The NSBL reserves the right to remove, suspend or discipline a coach or manager for failure to follow the rules and/or conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.
2. Any manager or coach ejected from a game is automatically suspended from his team’s next NSBL game. A second ejection will automatically cause the immediate suspension of the offending manager or coach from all remaining NSBL games. The NSBL may suspend a manager or coach from any or all NSBL games or unsportsmanlike conduct at its discretion. There is no appeal from this rule.
3. Managers and coaches shall not agree among themselves to suspend or change the NSBL rules in any manner.
C. “DUGOUT” RULE
Once a game begins all managers and coaches shall remain in the dugout or on the bench with the following exceptions:
(i) first and/or third base coaches;
(ii) to attend to an injured player;
(iii) to visit or remove a pitcher; or
(iv) the manager only may approach an umpire to talk about a call or umpire’s decision.
For purposes of this rule a dugout includes any bench area behind a fence or within a fenced in area. Managers and coaches will be monitored by NSBL officials for compliance.
D. INSURANCE
All teams are responsible to insure all players, managers, coaches, umpires, and official scorekeepers with liability insurance. Each community must submit a copy of their certificate of insurance to the League Secretary before their team's first scheduled game.
E. FORFEIT RULE
Any team that forfeits a game for the second time during the season for any reason will result in that team being ineligible for the playoffs.
F. ROSTERS
1. All teams may roster a maximum of fifteen (15) players of legal age. Players may only be on the roster of one NSBL team. All rosters shall be considered final when submitted to the league president before the first game.
2. Players must play in at least five (5) regular season games to participate in the post-season tournament.
3. Team should have players’ birth certificates available for review at each game. If the birth certificate for any player is not available and unless the team managers agree otherwise a team requested to produce a birth certificate(s) has until the end of the game to produce them or his team will forfeit the game.
4. In the event a manager believes he will not have nine rostered players available for a game, he may play rostered players from that community’s next lower age team (e.g., 12 year old team calls up from 11 year old team, etc.). However, “A” teams in an age division may not call up from “B” teams in that same age division. However, when calling up a player from the next lower age division that player may come from an “A” or “B” team (e.g., a 12 B team may call up from an 11 A team). Players called up from a lower age division to fill out roster may not pitch or catch and shall bat last in the batting order. No player may be called up to fill out a roster for an older age team a second time until the remaining players from his team has been invited to play up.
5. Discovery of the use of an ineligible player shall result in a forfeit of that game. The manager and coaches of the offending team will be banned from coaching in the NSBL for the remainder of the year and the following year after which they may petition for reinstatement.
G. AGE REQUIREMENTS
LEAGUE AGE BIRTHDAY NOT BEFORE
Mustang 09 05/01/98
Mustang 10 05/01/97
Bronco 11 05/01/96
Bronco 12 05/01/95
Pony 13 05/01/94
Pony 14 05/01/93 OR 8th Grade during the '08-'09 school year
1. In the nine (9) and ten (10) year old divisions, all rostered players must be registered in their community baseball association during the regular season. In the event a player is registered in more than one community baseball association, the player must play in the NSBL for the community in which he resides.
2. All players can only try out for one NSBL team regardless if the player makes the team or not.
H. LIGHTENING RULE:
All teams should carry a copy of their community’s lightening rule and communicate it with your opponent before each game. The lightening rule governing each NSBL game shall be the most conservative of the two communities involved. If neither community has a lightening rule the suspension of play will be in the sole discretion and judgment of the umpire.
I. SCHEDULING
A. Games postponed due to weather conditions shall be rescheduled by the respective coaches and they shall notify their League President.
B. After the final schedule is printed, if a team cancels a scheduled game for any reason other than weather, it must be rescheduled by agreement of both teams or the canceling team will forfeit.
C. No games may be rescheduled after July 4th for any reason other than a weather-related reason. Home team must provide a field which is available for use for a minimum of two (2) hours of play. Teams not able to do so may not schedule home games and will forfeit any game stopped before two (2) hours due to field unavailability.
J. LENGTH OF GAMES
1. MUSTANG:
a. Regulation games shall be six (6) innings.
b. Except as otherwise provided herein, if game is called for any reason after four (4) innings, (or 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead), it shall be considered a complete game.
c. If a game is called for any reason before the completion of four (4) innings (or 3.5 if the home team is leading), it shall be considered a suspended game to be resumed from the point of the curtailment at a time agreed upon by both managers or scheduled by the League President.
d. In the event of a suspended game if a team cannot field the same players who were in the original game at the point of suspension other rostered players may be inserted into the lineup. Players attending the suspended game who were not at the original game may play in the completion of the suspended game at the discretion of the manager and will be added to the bottom of the batting order.
2. BRONCO AND PONY:
a. Regulation games shall be seven (7) innings.
b. Except as otherwise provided herein, if game is called for any reason after four (4) innings, (or 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead), it shall be considered a complete game.
c. If a game is called for any reason before the completion of four (4) innings (or 3.5 if the home team is leading), it shall be considered a suspended game to be resumed from the point of the curtailment at a time agreed upon by both managers or scheduled by the League President.
d. In the event of a suspended game if a team cannot field the same players who were in the original game at the point of suspension other rostered players may be inserted into the lineup. Players attending the suspended game who were not at the original game may play in the completion of the suspended game at the discretion of the manager and will be added to the bottom of the batting order.
K. PROTESTS AND PENALTIES
1. No protests will be considered, except in post-season play as set forth below.
2. In post season play, a protest may only be based on interpretation of the rules. The objecting manager must, at the time the play occurs notify the head umpire (plate) and opposing manager and present the rule book or "Supplemental Tournament Rules". The umpire shall reserve the right to reverse his decision if he/she is convinced an error was made.
3. Any team manager 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 the game.
4. All post-season protests must be in writing and delivered to the league president within twenty-four (24) hours of the protest. All protests must be accompanied by a check in the amount of fifty ($50.00) dollars payable to North Shore Baseball.
5. If the protest is denied the check will be forfeited to North Shore Baseball. In the event that the protest is upheld the check will be returned to the protesting team.
II. PLAYING RULES
A. PLAYING RULES
The "Major League Baseball Rules" with the exceptions and the variations contained in the following supplemental rules, shall govern the playing rules of the NSBL.
B. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HOME TEAM
1. The home team shall be responsible for:
a. providing and setting up the playing field;
b. providing two new NSBL game balls;
c. providing qualified umpire(s); and,
d. notify the opposing manager as soon as possible if weather conditions cause the fields to be unplayable.
2. Failure to properly maintain the playing fields may subject a community to probation or expulsion from the league. If any manager or coach has a concern about the condition of a team's playing field he/she should report this to the league president and/or the NSBL Director.
C. UMPIRES
Each home team shall provide one (1) umpire. In the nine (9) - twelve (12) year old divisions games, the umpire shall be a minimum of sixteen (16) years of age and in the thirteen (13) and fourteen (14) year old divisions the umpire shall be a member of or affiliated with an independent umpire association. No managers, coaches, parents or relatives of the team members may be used as umpires, no exceptions.
D. EQUIPMENT
1. Metal cleats are allowed in the Pony division only.
2. Batters, base runners, and on-deck hitters are required to wear protective head gear.
3. All male players must wear protective cups.
4. Players are allowed to use any style, size or make of baseball bat (not softball).
E. OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER
1. Each team shall be responsible for providing their own scorekeeper.
2. The home team will "hold" the official game book.
3. The winning team is responsible for reporting the score and pitch counts for both teams within twenty-four hours of a game’s end. Failure to report pitch count information will result in a suspension of the manager.
F. TIE BREAKERS
At the end of the regular season, a point system will be used to determine the standings for the playoffs.
Win =2 Tie= 1 Loss=0 Forfeit=-1
Extra innings must be played to determine a winning team. Ties are permitted only if circumstances prevent playing extra innings to determine a winner. All games must be played or else the game will be considered a loss in the standings. If a team forfeits two or more games, that team will be ineligible to participate in the playoffs.
If a tie in the standings remains after points have been allocated the tiebreaker will be:
(i) head to head results;
(ii) runs allowed in head to head games;
(iii) total runs allowed in all league games;
(iv) a coin-flip conducted by the League President.
G. MINIMUM PLAY RULE
1. MUSTANG - Each player present in uniform at the start of the game must play at least three (3) innings defensively in a regular six (6) inning game. With the exception of the pitcher, the teams are allowed free substitution on defense. Each player present in a uniform at the start of the game is part of his line-up. Each team shall bat its entire lineup.
2. BRONCO - Each player present in uniform at the start of the game must play at least three (3) innings defensively in a regular seven (7) inning game. With the exception of the pitcher, the teams are allowed free substitution on defense. Each player present in a uniform at the start of the game is part of his line-up. Each team shall bat its entire lineup.
3. PONY - Each player present in uniform at the start of the game must play at least three (3) innings defensively in a regular seven (7) inning game. With the exception of the pitcher, the teams are allowed free substitution on defense.
4. The penalty for not complying with the minimum play rule is an automatic forfeiture of the game.
H. SUBSTITUTION
1. MUSTANG, BRONCO
a. At anytime, a courtesy runner may be used for the player that will be the next catcher the inning in the field. The runner must be the player who made the last out.
b. Late arriving players will be entered at the end of the batting order (that is, as batter #12, etc. in the score book).
c. A team must have eight (8) rostered players present to start the game. After the game has started a team may continue to play with no less than seven (7) players.
2. PONY:
a. Each player present in a uniform at the start of the game is part of his line-up. Each team may elect to bat its entire lineup or have a batting order of nine (9) players and substitute other players by entering them in one of the nine (9) spots in the batting order and removing the starting player(s). A starting player may re-enter the game in the same spot which he/she started the game and the substitute player will be removed from the game. Once removed from the game, substitutes may not re-enter the game. If a team elects to play with a nine (9) player batting order with substitutes it may not switch to a continuous batting order once the game begins and it must comply with the minimum play rule stated above.
I. MERCY RULE
MUSTANG, BRONCO, PONY
If a team is leading its opponent by at least twelve (12) runs after four (4) or more equal innings have been played,
OR
if the home team leads after three and one half (3.5) innings
the game shall be declared to the winner.
J. BASE RUNNERS
1. MUSTANG ONLY:
a. Bases shall be 60 feet apart.
b. Runners may steal bases, however, may not leave the base until the pitched ball has reached the catcher.
c. Once the pitcher has stepped on the rubber, runners who leave the base before the pitched ball reaches the catcher shall be called out and the pitch shall be considered a dead ball.
d. On the walk, the batter only gets first base. The runner may not "pickle" or continue to any other base.
e. "BOWLING OVER" at any base is prohibited. The runner shall make a reasonable effort to avoid contact with the fielder. Sliding into a base shall be considered a reasonable effort to avoid contact.
f. A player may not steal home. At no time may a player advance to home plate as the result of an overthrow at any base unless the play began with a batted ball. If a player steals home he is allowed to go back to third base without penalty.
g. No player shall slide headfirst into home plate for any reason or under any circumstance. Any player that does so shall be called out (whether or not there is a play).
h. Fielders may not fake a tag on a base runner; doing so, is an immediate ejection.
i. The first baseman holding a runner on may not straddle the base.
2. BRONCO:
a. Bases shall be 70 feet apart.
b. No player shall slide head first into home plate for any reason or under any circumstance. Any player that does so shall be called out (whether or not there is a play).
c. The runner shall make a reasonable effort to avoid contact with the fielder. Sliding into a base shall be considered a reasonable effort to avoid contact.
d. Fielders may not fake a tag on a base runner; doing so, is an immediate ejection.
e. The first baseman holding a runner on may not straddle the base.
3. PONY:
a. The bases shall be 80 feet apart.
b. The runner shall make a reasonable effort to avoid contact with the fielder. Sliding into a base shall be considered a reasonable effort to avoid contact.
K. PITCHING RULES
Pitchers shall be limited in the number of innings that may be thrown in a game and the number of pitches that may be thrown in a week and in a game. Further, there shall be a minimum period of rest required between pitching outings depending on the number of pitches thrown.
Weekly pitch limit:
9 and 10 year old divisions 100 pitches
11 and 12 year old divisions 120 pitches
13 and 14 year old divisions 140 pitches
A week begins at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.
Per game pitch limit:
9 and 10 year old divisions:
1-19 pitches 1 full day rest
20-35 pitches 2 full days rest
36-50 pitches 3 full days rest
11 and 12 year old divisions:
1-19 pitches no rest required
20-40 pitches 1 full day rest
41-55 pitches 2 full days rest
56-70 pitches 3 full days rest
13 and 14 year old divisions:
1-19 pitches no rest required
20-40 pitches 1 full day rest
41-60 pitches 2 full days rest
61-80 pitches 3 full days rest
Per Game innings limit
9 & 10 year old divisions: 3 innings
11 & 12 year old divisions: 4 innings
13 & 14 year old divisions: 7 innings
*Note: One (1) inning equals three (3) outs
Examples:
I. Pitcher starts the ball game and completes the 1st, 2nd and 3rd inning (three innings/9 outs). The pitcher cannot continue into the 4th inning and has to be replaced.
II. Pitcher starts the ball game and has to be replaced with 1 out in the 2nd inning. The new pitcher can now pitch the completion of the 2nd inning (2 outs), the 3rd inning (3 outs), the 4th inning (3 outs) and face batters into the 4th inning until he/she completes the first out and then has to be replaced (3 innings equals 9 outs).
The minimum periods of rest carry over from week to week. To illustrate, a 14 year old pitcher who pitches 80 pitches on Saturday may not pitch again until Wednesday of the following week.
A pitcher may complete the batter to whom he/she has thrown either the one-half or maximum number of pitches per game and then be removed from the game without being deemed to exceed the pitch limit.
Each team shall be responsible for keeping the pitch count for all its pitchers. The pitch count for each pitcher shall be reported to the NSBL, as directed.
1. MUSTANG:
a. The dropped third strike rule will not be in effect.
b. Pitching distance shall be 44 feet from the front of the pitching rubber to the back of home plate.
c. Pitchers may not pitch deliberate curve balls. The plate umpire shall call each curve ball a "ball" and give notice to the pitcher. Persistent violation of this rule requires the umpire to remove the pitcher from the mound.
d. There are no balks.
2. BRONCO:
a. Pitching distance shall be 48 feet from the front of the rubber to the back of home plate.
b. Each pitcher is entitled to one balk warning after which balks will be called. There is no balk warning in the tournament.
3. PONY:
a. Pitching distance shall be 54 feet from the front of the rubber to the back of home plate.
L. Intentional Walks:
To intentionally walk a batter, a team shall so designate its desire to the home plate umpire and the batter should be allowed first base without a pitch thrown. Any pitch thrown before the intentional walk is designated counts against that pitchers pitch count.
III. TOURNAMENT RULES
A. During the season ending tournament the following League rules will apply to every team:
1. All fields must be prepared for play. This will mean that all fields will be lined from the batter box through first or third base into the outfield.
2. NSBL baseballs MUST be used for all play-off and tournament games. If the home team does not have enough baseballs available, the opposing team can then supply additional game balls.
3. The home team (or the NSBL for championship games and all games hosted at a common site) shall provide an umpire(s) from an independent umpiring association e.g. Fox Valley. Only one umpire from an independent umpiring association will be required. If the home team cannot provide umpire(s) from an independent association the visiting team shall be given the opportunity to furnish umpires including those from its community umpiring program at the expense of the home team. If the visiting team cannot furnish umpires the NSBL will provide umpires at a date, time and location at its sole discretion.
4. The NSBL reserves the right to change the location of any play-off or tournament game.
5. The season ending tournament for all divisions will be played the last weekend of July. Games will start on Thursday or Friday and championship games will be played on Sunday, July ___.
The weekly maximum and per game pitch count rules shall apply in the tournament. The minimum rest periods shall be as follows:
9 and 10 year old divisions:
1-35 pitches no rest
36-50 pitches 1 full day of rest
11 and 12 year old divisions:
1-40 pitches no rest
41-70 pitches 1 full day rest
13 and 14 year old divisions:
1-50 pitches no rest
51-80 pitches 1 full day rest
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