JEFFERSON COUNTY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION 2018 RULES

Transcription

1 JEFFERSON COUNTY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION 2018 RULES Brian Brull Commissioner Derek Aldrich Vice-president Ryan Chew Secretary Jason Klotz Treasurer Please Note: No phone calls to officers between 10:00 pm and 8:00a.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION 2018RULES GENERAL RULES: These rules apply to all leagues, unless an exception is noted under a subsequent section. 1. Official rules of the A.A.B.C. will be used by the league. However, some changes and modifications are necessary to make them more applicable to league conditions. Teams will decide on an individual basis if they want to join the A.A.B.C. at $40.00 per team. They have to join to qualify for state play. 2. League fees are $60.00 per team at any level. 1 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

2 Tournament fees will be as follows: PWA & PWB $ LLA, LLB $ Tournament fees will be collected on or before March 29th, County Baseball Association board will contact town contacts with the registration due date for the current year. Initial roster must be turned in, on or before that date. NO EXCEPTIONS! Rosters must include player s name, birth date, and grade. Late league fees should be sent to league treasurer. Late rosters should be sent to league secretary. Failure to comply with the above rule will cause entry fees to double and, if not turned in by the time games start, the offending team will forfeit until they comply. 4. Any player not originally on the roster must be added at least 48 hours before participation in a game. Players are added to the roster by contacting the league secretary and providing the appropriate information. Coaches are required to carry a copy of their roster and grade proof with them prior to game time and may be checked by league official or umpire. 5. All teams will recognize school boundary lines as their area for recruitment of players. Situations that do not fit this rule will be directed to the local town contact and decided by the league commissioner on an individual basis. 6. A player may be rostered with (1) age division within the Jefferson County Baseball Association. Pee Wee and Little League are each one division. The Jefferson County Baseball Association groups players according to their grade level in school, not age. A player may not be rostered up more than 1 league. Grades are as of the school year. To be eligible for: The player must be: LITTLE LEAGUE Division LLA Division LLB PEE WEE LEAGUE Division PWA Division PWB 2 P a g e 3 / 1 1 / th, 7 th & 8 th grade 4 th & 5 th grade 2 nd, & 3 rd grade Kindergarten & 1 st grade

3 A player may be used on a team in a higher league provided he is needed to field a team for that particular game. This applies to both regular season and tournament games. Using a younger player when a player of the current age group is available will constitute a forfeit and coaches may be suspended for remainder of the season. 7. To be eligible for tournament competition within each league, the player must have played in the following number of games. If deemed fair and special circumstances are present, the board can require no games played to be eligible for tournament play. This will be on case by case situation(s). Pee Wee 2 Little League 4 8. Win/Loss records must be turned in to the appropriate board member within 24 hours of your last game. Include total runs scored and total runs allowed. Forfeit games will count as 10 runs scored. Little League teams are to call league president. Pee Wee teams will be required to call league vice president. Failure to turn in record could result in coach suspension, $50 fine to the coach, and/or starting the tournament with a 0-0 record. Teams will be seeded in the tournament based on their percentage of wins and losses. If a team has not been able to complete all of their games by the meeting, they will be given a ½ win ½ loss for each game not played, providing each team has made an honest effort to make up the game. An honest effort is described in rule #9. 9. Valid reasons for rescheduling games: A). Weather/Field conditions B). Home field schedule conflicts due to overlap to softball/baseball usage C). School sponsored activities Invalid reasons for rescheduling games: A). Work or vacation schedules for coaches, players, etc. B). Not enough players due to camps (4-H, basketball, football, etc.) Procedure for rescheduling: Visiting teams may provide input, but the home team establishes date, time and location of make-up games. Exception- the visiting team already has a scheduled or make-up game on that day. The date, time, and location must be reasonable. Weeknights after 6:00 p.m., Saturday after 10:00 a.m., and Sunday after 1:00 p.m. are reasonable. A 48-hour notice is to be given, unless both teams agree to a shorter notice. The following steps should be followed when rescheduling games: 3 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

4 a). The coach must try to contact the opposing coach by phone. Personal contact must be made. This means that you must talk to the coach. b). If 2 contacts have been attempted and no contact has been made and/or phone messages have not been returned the coach attempting to establish contact must contact the city baseball official of the opposing coach. (See contacts below) The city baseball official will then try to establish contact. c). If 2 contacts to the city baseball official have been attempted and no contact has been made and/or phone messages have not been returned the coach attempting to establish contact must contact the Jefferson County Baseball Association Commissioner. (See contacts below) d). If the commissioner is unable to make contact the opposing team will forfeit. The winning team from a forfeit will be awarded 10 runs with the win. CITY BASEBALL OFFICIALS CONTACTS: HOME CELL Easton Jason Barnes Effingham Brian Brull JCN Vern Kraxner McLouth Dale Williams Jeff West Kelly Midgley Oskaloosa Brandon Kessinger Perry Tim Hetherington Lecompton Ryan Rush Royal Valley T odd Breckenridge Valley Falls Trent Coleman All batters and runners must use some type of protective helmet. If the umpire observes a violation of this rule, he shall direct the violation to be corrected. In the umpire s judgment, if the violation is not corrected in a reasonable time, the player shall be ejected. Players in the Pee Wee league are required to wear chinstraps. All home plate umpires are required to wear a face mask, chest protector, and shin guards for all kid pitch games unless otherwise approved by the League Board of Commissioners. 11. No metal cleats may be worn. 12. Wood, aluminum and bats of other primary materials may be used by all teams, provided the bat does not violate any Jefferson County Baseball Association rules. 4 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

5 13. A runner may not INTENTIONALLY CRASH into a defensive player. To help prevent injuries, the runner must slide if a PLAY is being made on him. At the discretion of the umpire, if a player intentionally runs into a player, the runner shall be called out and may be ejected if the violation is deemed to be flagrant. Defensive players shall not fake a play being made. If done, runners on base will advance one base. 14. Any PROTEST will be made immediately upon infraction. Protesting managers shall notify the umpire and the home team scorekeeper that the game is being played under protest before the ball is put into play and the next pitch is made. All protests will be made in writing to the Commissioner stating page, section, rule number and all other details relating to the protest after the completion of the game. The game will be completed after the protest has been placed in the official scorebook stating the batters name, ball and strike count, any runner(s), position(s), the number of outs and the inning. If the protest is upheld the game will be replayed from the point of the protest. The chief umpire and the two head managers shall submit a written report within 48 hours of incidence. A protest fee of $50.00 is to be filed with the protesting coach s written account. This fee will be forfeited if the protest is denied. 15. A player, coach, or umpire who is bleeding or who has blood on his uniform or equipment shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment can be administered. If medical care or treatment is administered within a reasonable length of time according to the umpire s judgment, the individual will not have to leave the game. Uniform rule violations will not be enforced if a uniform change is required. The umpire shall: A). Stop the game and allow treatment if the injured player would effect the game. B). Immediately call a coach, trainer, or other authorized person to the injured player. C). Apply the rules of the game regarding substitution, re-entry, and shorthanded player is necessary. D). Confirm that no fresh blood remains on the injured player if necessary. 16. At the beginning of each Little League game, a manager may elect to use an Extra Hitter (EH). The EH will be designated as position 10 and appear anywhere in the batting order. A team must start with 9 or 10 players. A team may continue a game with 1 less player than it started with provided: A). The player causing the shorthanded situation leaves the game for any reason other than ejection. 5 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

6 B). If the player leaving the game is a runner, he shall be declared out. C). When the batting position of the player who has left the game is scheduled to bat, an out shall be declared for each turn at bat. D). The player who has left the game can not return to the lineup for the remainder of the game. Exception: A player who has left the game under the Blood Rule # 15 may return. 17. The home plate Umpire shall give one bat warning per player for a thrown bat. If the same player repeats the offense, he shall be declared out. This applies to all leagues. A thrown bat is the uncontrolled release of the bat. 18. At no time is a player allowed to play in an age group he is too old for. Penalty #1: The offending team is ineligible for tournament play and all games the over age player played in are forfeited. Penalty #2: The coach is to be suspended for the remainder of the year and all of the next year. Exception: The offending coach brings it to the attention of the commissioner. 19. Tiebreakers for league standings and tournament standings: 1. Head to Head 2. Fewest runs allowed for season 3. Most runs scored for season 4. Coin flip 5. As determined by the commissioner 20. All tournament meetings will be held at a site, date and time as per the Commissioner. 21. The league commissioner has the right to suspend any coach, player, scorekeeper, and umpire. 22. The Jefferson County Ball Association will sponsor 3 teams in the NE Kansas Little League World Series. The age group are 16 and under, 14 and under, and 12 and under. An all-star team or an individual team is eligible. 23. The use of alcohol and or tobacco products is prohibited within the confinement of the playing field including the dugouts. No smoking within the visual area of the teams, by any coach, player, scorekeeper, helper, or umpire that are involved in the game being played. Failure to comply will result in ejection of the person at fault. 6 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

7 24. Scorebooks must contain the player s last name and first initial, and shirt number. (NO NICKNAMES) Failure to list the player s names and shirt numbers in the scorebook properly will result in player ineligibility. Use of an ineligible player in a game will result in forfeiture of the game. 25. A team representative must bring scorebook to tournament meeting that they are involved in. Failure to comply will result in a forfeit of tournament play. 26. Coaches that are ejected from a game must contact and meet with the commissioner as soon as possible. A second ejection during the season will result with a suspension of that coach for the remainder of the season for all games coached, in all leagues. 27. Jefferson County Baseball will follow KSHSAA guidelines for lightning safety. Will no longer rely on lightning meters. KSHSAA GUIDELINES FOR LIGHTNING SAFETY 1. IF CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS SEEN OR THUNDER IS HEARD, THE STORM IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO POSE A RISK OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE. SUSPEND PLAY AND TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. 2. ONCE PLAY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED, WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES FROM THE LAST SOUND OF THUNDER HEARD OR LIGHTNING WITNESSED BEFORE RESUMING THE ACTIVITY. 3. ANY SUBSEQUENT THUNDER OR LIGHTNING DURING THE 30 MINUTE WAITING PERIOD RESETS THE CLOCK, AND A NEW 30 MINUTE WAITING PERIOD BEGINS. 4. If a game cannot resume within an hour of the first delay, the game will be rescheduled and follow reschedule procedures listed in these rules. Any following games will start at the beginning of these lightning safety guidelines. (example, a little league B game was delayed and after 1 hour, was set to reschedule. The little league A game that is scheduled to follow the little league B, will begin with the first steps above to determine if that game can begin). ANYTIME LIGHTNING CAN BE SEEN OR THUNDER HEARD, RISK IS PRESENT! 28. The following is an approved baseball for league play. Only this approved baseball is allowed: Pro Nine NFHS 29. Both teams scorekeepers shall sit next to each other behind home plate for the entirety of all games. Scorekeepers shall confer during and after each inning and notify the home plate umpire of all pertinent information involving both teams this will be in effect for both the entire regular and post season. 7 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

8 30. No time limit shall be imposed in any tournament championship game. All run rules are in effect. 31. ** ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY** A) This rule is now in effect at the start of the 2009 season. The zero tolerance policy will be strictly adhered to at all times by all involved in the Jefferson County Baseball League to include all, but not limited to the following: Board Members, Game Officials, Coaches, Scorekeepers, Players, League/Town Representatives, Game or Tournament Staff, and anyone in attendance at any and all Jefferson County Baseball League functions, be it games, meetings or any official league governed gathering or activity scheduled by the league s board of directors. The league s Board of Directors reserves the right to make any and all determinations involving persons who fall under this rule and may take what is believed to be appropriate disciplinary action based on case by case situations or incidents. B) The Zero Tolerance Policy is defined as Anything of a severe nature deemed inappropriate by the Jefferson County Baseball League Board of Directors, whether it be in verbal, physical or written form. C) Discipline any physical violence or written/ verbal threats will be treated seriously. Such acts shall carry an immediate suspension for the remainder of the current season and a lifetime ban on any position being held within the Jefferson County Baseball League. D) The Jefferson County Baseball League Board of Directors reserves the right to review, investigate and discipline anyone involved in any unacceptable behavior, be it minor or severe at their discretion. 32. All umpires for the 2018season will be sanctioned or attend one of the clinics we are offering this year. This is a protest able offense, so make sure anyone who plans on umpiring this year gets to a clinic. 8 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

9 PEE WEE LEAGUE A & B 1. There will be an A team game consisting of 5 innings and a B team game consisting of 4 innings. All B team games will be played first beginning at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted on the schedule. 2. No Infield Fly Rule. 3. Distance between bases: 70 feet. Home to Second Base: 99 feet. 4. In Pee Wee A & B there will be double elimination tournaments. 5. Each team will provide a pitcher to pitch to its batters. The pitcher may pitch from any point on a line from the center of the pitching rubber at a safe distance from home plate. 6. Any batted ball that touches the offensive pitcher shall be ruled a dead ball and the play will be replayed. Any thrown ball during a legitimate infielder s play which touches the offensive pitcher in fair territory will constitute an immediate dead ball with all players returning to their preceding base. In the event the hitter has not reached first base, the play will be replayed. 7. The catcher has two options: A). He can take the normal position behind home plate if he wears full catching gear. B). He can take a position at a safe distance behind home plate wearing at least a mask, head protection and a chest protector. Umpire will decide a safe distance. 8. The batter must take a full swing at the ball. NO BUNTING! It is up to the umpire s sole discretion as to whether the batter has taken a full swing. 9. The runner cannot leave his base until the ball has left the pitcher s hand. Runners leaving early will be called out. If the ball is not hit, the runner must return to his original base. Play is dead. 10. Unlimited substitutions, as long as the player being removed from the game has played at least 1 complete consecutive inning. Substitutes will bat in the order of the player removed from the game. 9 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

10 11. The plate umpire must have completed 8th grade and has a good knowledge of the PEE WEE rules. Only one umpire is required at regular season games but two (2) umpires are required during tournament games. 12. Each batter will receive a maximum of 6 pitches. The batter will either strikeout or hit. There will be NO WALKS. The batter will not be retired if the 6 th pitch is fouled, unless it s caught in the air. The batter will be retired on any foul ball caught in the air. Any foul ball over the batters head caught by the catcher will be considered an out. 13. In case of an injury, play will be stopped immediately and all runners will be awarded (1) base, except in the case of the 9 th batter. In the case of the 9 th batter, he will bat again and all runners will return to the base originally held. The 9 th batter will get 6 additional pitches. 14. The defensive pitcher must stand with 1 foot in an 8 foot diameter circle which the center of the circle is 46 feet from home plate. 15. All coaches who are pitching to batters, after the ball has been hit, must move out of the play, retrieve the bat and move away from the field of play as quickly as possible. The home plate umpire will ensure this rule has been followed. 16. All 9 batters will bat in order, regardless of the number of outs. The home plate umpire will call time when all runners have stopped on a base. Hot boxes are allowed. 17. When the 9 th batter comes to the plate, the fielding team is to be notified. Play the 9 th batter as if there are two outs. Once the third out is made play is stopped. The inning may end in the following ways: A). By a caught fly ball, foul ball or line drive. No runs count. B). The 9 th batter fails to hit one of 6 pitches. No runs count. C). By a tag out. Play is dead. D). No runs can score after the 9 th batter is put out. A run cannot score if the 9 th batter does not reach 1 st base. When the 9 th batter hits the ball, he must have possession of 1 st base before a run can score. Example: The 9 th batter hits the ball to 3 rd base, the defense fields the ball and touches 3 rd base before the batter reaches 1 st base. However, if the 9 th batter is not put out directly, he will return to 1 st base the next inning. If play is called dead with the 9 th batter between bases, the 9 th batter will return to the last base touched before the play was called dead. 10 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

11 18. The 9 th batter and all runners will be awarded home plate if the defensive team impeded the 9 th batter or an unplayable overthrow occurs. 19. Only Pee Wee B teams are allowed a maximum of 2 coaches behind the outfielders, but not on the infield. If a ball hits a coach in the outfield it is a live ball. 20. On the 9 th batter, the defensive players must play in their original position. For instance, the infielders are not permitted to back up on the grass for the 9 th batter. (15 feet movement limit at the umpire s discretion) 21. There will be 2 balls furnished per game, each team will provide one new ball. The balls must stay on the field at all times. All Pee Wee A & B balls will be purchased from the league. 21. All Pee Wee tournament games will have a sanctioned umpire provided by the host town, at home plate. 22. Once a Pee Wee game, A or B is mathematically over, the scorebooks will be closed immediately. If both teams agree, the game may continue without official scoring or causing a delay to any game to follow. 23. In case of rain, regular season games will be considered completed after 3 innings played or after 2 ½ innings played if the home team is ahead. During tournaments, all games will be postponed to the next available time. If the game is not complete, when it is rescheduled the game will start where the game was called. Both scorekeepers should note in their respective books where the game was postponed and the umpire should sign both scorebooks. 24. The umpire will ensure that teams return to the field in a timely fashion. Teams need to return to the field within (3) minutes after changing from offense to defense. A warning shall be issued for the first infraction. Upon further infractions, the Umpire will start counting pitches. 25. There is NO TIME LIMIT in Pee Wee A or B games. 11 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

12 LITTLE LEAGUE A & B NOTE: All kid pitch teams (4th grade and up) will be required to use USSSA 1.15 BPF with a thumb print (see image), BBCOR, or wood bats. Bats will require visible stamp with these ratings. 1. A team games will be 6 innings. Teams will play double headers. Games will start at 6:00 p.m. Second game will start no later than 15 minutes after the first game. Second game can start as soon as both teams would like, they do not have to wait the 15 minutes No new inning may be started after 1 hour and 40 minutes from the official start of the game, unless a tie game exists. 2. B team games will be 5 innings. The game will start at 6:00 p.m. Teams will play double headers. Games will start at 6:00 p.m. Second game will start no later than 15 minutes after the first game. Second game can start as soon as both teams would like, they do not have to wait the 15 minutes No NEW inning may start after 1 hour and 40 minutes from the official start of the game, unless a tie game exists. 3. Little League A&B will have a maximum of 6 runs scored per inning, per team. At this point teams will change from offense to defense. 4. Pitching Distances: A Team= 50 feet, B Team= 46 feet. Distance between bases: 80 feet. Home to Second Base: 113 feet 1 5/8. 5. For each game each team will supply one new ball and the home team will provide an additional usable ball. These baseballs will be purchased from the league. 6. Both coaches should check pitching distances and base distances with the umpire before the first pitch is thrown. 12 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

13 7. The game is over if: A). The visiting team is ahead by 15 runs after 3 innings or 10 runs after 5 innings. B). The home team is ahead by 15 runs after 2 1/2 innings or 10 runs after 4 1/2 innings. 8. The will be (2) sanctioned umpire provided for each league game as well as for tournament games. To umpire Little League games, the umpire behind the plate must have completed 10th grade and the field umpire must have completed 9th grade. 9. There is unlimited substitutions, as long as the player being removed has played at least (1) complete consecutive inning, the player entering the game assumes the same place in batting order as the player coming out to the game and the player removed must sit for (1) complete inning. 10. During regular season games, in case of rain, the A team game will be considered completed after 4 innings played or after 3 ½ innings played if the home team is ahead. B team games will be considered completed after 3 innings played or after 2 ½ innings played if the home team is ahead. Tournament games will be postponed to the next available time. If the game is not complete, when it is rescheduled the game will start where the game was called. Both scorekeepers should note in their respective books where the game was postponed and the umpire should sign both scorebooks. 1. For all LLB games, base runners may not leave the base until the ball leaves the pitchers hand. 2. Base runners in all LLB games will not be allowed to steal home on a missed pitch. Advancement to home can happen with any errant throw back to the pitcher, play on any other runner, or play on the runner at third. 3. For LLB games only: On any 3 rd strike, the batter is to be called out. The batter is out whether the catcher catches the ball or not. The ball is live and all base runners may advance at their own risk. 4. For LLB games only: No Bunting rule is still in effect. BALKS LLB: Instructional during the regular season. Balks will be called during tournament. Each team will be allowed one warning per game of the tournament. 13 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /

14 LLA: Balks will be called during regular season and tournament. LIMITATION ON PITCHING These pitch count limitations will apply to all games and tournaments. There are no limitations on the number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a game, but are subject to the following pitch count limitations: League DAILY MAX (PITCHES IN GAME/DAY) REST PERIOD 1 Day 2 Days LLB LLA If the pitcher reaches the maximum pitch count limit while facing a batter, he may continue to pitch until the batter reaches base safely or is put out. Pitch counts can cross over from one double header to the next. Penalty shall be forfeiture of game in which violation occurs. Note/clarification: For the pitchers safety during regular season and tournaments, no pitcher shall pitch more than 65 pitch count for Little League B or 75 pitch count for Little Leage A, there must be a 2 day of rest between sessions. 14 P a g e 3 / 1 1 /