Youth Leagues Competition Rules

Transcription

1 Youth Leagues Competition Rules Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 1 of 8

2 1. OBLIGATIONS OF TEAMS OR CLUBS PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUES If not otherwise foreseen in the specific competition rules, the obligations of the Clubs participating in a MABS competition are as follows: (a) To subscribe by use of the specific form within the term established for each competition. (b) Pay at the prescribed time the fees related to participation, which correspond to each competition. (c) Each Club will register its players following these rules. (d) The Home Team will be obliged to have the field setup at least 30 minutes prior to game time and will be responsible for the field after the game is over. In the case there are two games scheduled back to back, it is the home team of the first game to setup the field and the home team of the second game will only mark the batters boxes prior to the start of the game. The home team of the final scheduled game of the day will be responsible for the field at the end of the final game. (e) If a team has to play two games in a row, a 15 minutes break should be taken before the second game is played. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS (a) There are no restrictions on the number of non-maltese players allowed on each team. (b) There are no restrictions on the number of non EU players allowed on each team. (c) The following are the age restrictions for Leagues: U13 Baseball League (Player Pitch) Date of births (for league games from October - December 2017) * Date of births (for league games from March - May 2018) * *Players who are 13 years of age during the season may participate, however may not be allowed to pitch. U15 Baseball League (Player Pitch) Date of births (for league games from October - December 2017) * Date of births (for league games from March - May 2018) * *Players who are 15 years of age during the season may participate, however may not be allowed to pitch. (d) All players must be registered in accordance with these regulations. 3. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS FOR COMPETITIONS (a) All teams must be registered clubs with MABS. (b) The MABS TEAM REGISTRATION FORM (TRF) must be submitted by the stipulated date as established by the League. Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 2 of 8

3 (c) The MABS PLAYER REGISTRATION FORM is obligatory for all players participating in the official MABS competitions. (d) Each year the Teams will send, at least 10 days before the competitions, the forms together with payment of registered players for their team to the League Treasurer. (e) Failure to register a Club/Team/Players with MABS in accordance to the deadlines provided will result in forfeited games which have been played after the deadline. (f) The participating teams will fill out the forms clearly (typed or printed letters). (g) A player may during the course of the season decide to register with another club. Upon payment of a 2.00 transfer fee to MABS the player may transfer to another team so long as this is done within 55 days from the first game of the regular season for that particular league. (h) Teams may keep registering new players up till 5 days prior to their last regular season game for that particular league. No new registrations for the current season will be accepted after this time. (i) All players are released from their obligations to their clubs 30 days after the last game of the season for the league they have been playing in. 4. PROTESTS (a) (b) (c) (d) Protests regarding the status of a player, who is to participate in the Competition, must be made to the Umpire in Chief during a game or League President at the moment the irregularity has been discovered or no later than the end of the regular season. In the case a team fields an unregistered player then they will forfeit the game. By fielding we mean when a player takes his turn at bat or when a player takes his position on the field during defence and the first pitch from the moment he entered the game is thrown. Protest relating to the aspects of the game, should be made to the Umpire in Chief quoting the relative rule in the rulebook and will be judged in accordance with the Official Rules of Baseball of the previous year and these Competition rules. Should a decision by the Umpire in Chief not satisfy the team making the on field protest, then a responsible official shall make any protest in writing in English or Maltese addressed to the League President accompanied by a guarantee payment of The guarantee sum will be forfeited if the protest is rejected. In case of protest relating to the Technical aspects of the game over a misapplication or misinterpretation of the official rules, the protest shall be made immediately to the umpire in chief. The written protest, mentioning the number of the rule related to the protest, must be received by the League President with the guarantee sum, no later than 7 days after the game. The decision taken by the League President on the application of the rules will be final. Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 3 of 8

4 5. EJECTIONS AND PENALTIES List of the penalties to be imposed: (a) Player, coach or technician sent from the field for having insulted another player or technician: - first time in the season suspension of one game - second time in the season suspension for two games and fine of third time in the season - suspension for the rest of the season (b) Player or technician sent from the field for having insulted an Umpire, a MABS official or the public: - first time in the season suspension of one game - second time in the season suspension for two games and fine of third time in the season - suspension for the rest of the season (c) Player or technician sent from the field for attempting aggression (with no physical contact) towards another player or technician: - first time in the season suspension of one game plus fine - second time in the season suspension for the rest of the season. (d) Player or technician sent from the field for aggression with physical contact towards another Player, Technician, Umpire, a MABS official or the public: - any time of the season suspension of eight games plus fine (e) Any suspension that cannot be executed during the present season will remain valid and will be executed in the next season the player is registered for. 6. TROPHIES AND AWARDS (a) (b) For all Leagues: MABS will award only the 1 st place team of each league winner. Individual player awards will be decided on a league by league basis. Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 4 of 8

5 7. TECHNICAL ASPECTS (a) Competition venues: All competition venues and installations will have the requirements established by MABS and a MABS Technical Commission will control the playing ground where the games will be held. (b) Ground rules: Ground rules related to field(s) will be approved by the MABS Technical Commission. These rules shall be distributed to all teams and umpires. (c) Bat boys/girls: For all games bat boys/girls must wear uniforms and double earflap helmets. Infraction may result in ejection of the bat carrier. Minimum age of the batboy/girl must be 9 years. (d) Cameramen and photographers: No Cameramen and photographers shall be allowed to enter the playing field when a game is underway. Cameramen are allowed to enter the playing ground only when opening and closing ceremonies are held and before and after the game is played. A special section shall be reserved at the field for the Cameramen. (e) Spectators: Spectators must not enter the dugout area or any area designated as part of the field. Therefore ALL spectators must remain behind the fence or backstop at all times. (f) Managers shall file a tentative line-up with the official scorer at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the game. This shall include the name, uniform number and field position of each player in the starting batting order plus the pitcher. All other players on the approved roster will be considered as possible substitutes for all the games. The official Scorer shall have a copy of the approved roster of each team. The official line-up will be given to the umpire in chief at the meeting at home plate just prior to the start of the game. Three copies are required; one for the Official Scorer, one for the Umpire in Chief and one for the opposing team Manager. The Line-up must be presented on the MABS Official Line-up form. A team failing to provide three copies of the Line-up on the Official Line-up form shall be fined (g) Forfeited games: A game won on forfeit shall have the final result X-0 where X is the number of innings to be played. All statistics (except winning and losing pitcher) up to the point that caused the forfeit shall be valid for that game. Pre-game practice procedure (If the field is available) If the field is not in use or previously booked with substantial time - Two hours before first game (only) of the two competing teams: - Home team 45 minutes batting practice - Visiting team 45 minutes batting practice Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 5 of 8

6 - Home team 10 minutes infield practice - Visiting team 10 minutes infield practice - Field maintenance and Umpire/Coaches meeting Additional games of the day: No additional inning shall start after 80 minutes have been played. However in any case, an inning which has already started, must be completed. The same two teams competing playing the second game of the day (doubleheader) have a 15 minute break before the start (first pitch) of the second scheduled game. Equality (ties) of games: If the case of a tie game occurs within the full amount of innings of play (less than 1hr 15mins of finishing), the game will end in a tie. 8. COMPETITION REGULATIONS (PLAYING RULES) (a) Number of Innings and Time Limits: The number of innings played for each game are 5 innings, however no new inning shall start after 80 minutes of play. In this case the preceding game shall end 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the following game. If the last inning has started before the 80 minutes elapsed, that inning shall be completed. There will be a 4 run limit per inning enforced for both leagues. (c) Dug-outs: Home team is to be located at 3rd base dugout and the visitors in the 1st base dugout. Only persons permitted by rules and registered on the roster are allowed to stay in the dugout. It shall be the responsibility of the 1st and 3rd base umpire or if only two umpires or less the Umpire in Chief to make sure that unauthorised persons do not occupy the dug-out and that the players and the coaches stay in the dugout during the game. (d) Suspended Games/ Rain Outs: 1. A game becomes official when at least 4 innings are played (3.5 innings if home team is in the lead). If the game has been suspended before the above mentioned, the game will start from the 1st inning score 0-0. If the game still has no score or tied after 4 innings are played (3.5 innings if home team is in the lead), the game will resume at the same situation as when it was stopped (runners on base, number of outs, batter s count etc). 2. It is the decision of the home team to decide whether the game should be postponed/ suspended/delayed until the time of the first pitch of the game. Once the first pitch is Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 6 of 8

7 thrown, it is the decision of the umpire in chief to decide whether to postpone/suspend/ delay the game. 3. A game must first be delayed to start to a maximum of 1 hour if no other games are scheduled after the first doubleheader before being postponed to be played on another date. A maximum of 30minutes start delay will be allowed if another doubleheader/ game is scheduled after the one being delayed. (e) Pitching: 1. Pitchers are allowed to pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game. The amount of pitches within these three innings is subject to Little League rules. 2. The pitcher shall be allowed 8 warm-up pitches to start the first inning and on any pitching change, or 4 pitches between innings and the plate umpire shall ensure that the pitches are thrown without undue delay. Once a pitcher takes his position in the pitchers circle then any balls thrown by him will be considered his warm up pitches. 3. If a team fails to complete the warm-up pitches in a reasonable length of time, the umpire may terminate them and call Play Ball. Teams shall be directed to have a catcher ready to warm up the pitcher as soon as an inning is completed. There will be three free trips to the mound. These trips can be made either by a fielder or coach. (a free trip is one in which the pitcher is not removed from his position or the game). After the third trip, each subsequent trip to the mound must result in the removal of the pitcher from the mound (the pitcher removed can be utilised in any other position). If the game goes into extra innings, one additional trip shall be allowed for each extra three innings. 4. Two trips to the mound in the same inning, to the same pitcher, must result in the removal of the pitcher from the mound. Only one infielder can go to the mound when the coach does and if one infielder goes to the mound at the time this is also counted as a trip. (f) When a batter hits a home run, members of his team shall not be allowed to contact the hitter until he has passed on home plate. Failure to observe this rule will result in a warning and if it occurs again, the manager of the team shall be ejected from the game. (g) Bats and Balls: Legal bat 5. may be metal, plastic, graphite, wood, or ceramic *bat must be stamped "OFFICIAL BASEBALL" 6. may be angular, round, or three-sided 7. not longer than 34", not heavier than 38 oz. 8. not more than 2.25" in maximum diameter Illegal bat Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 7 of 8

8 1. exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges, dents 2. fungo bats 3. more than two layers of tape on the grip 4. electrician's tape or other slippery tape on the grip The balls used in the league games must be the official game balls provided by MABS received upon the club s registration. (h) Protective equipment/measures taken: 1. Double earflap helmets will be mandatory for the hitter and the base runners. 2. All the players must have the protective cup before entering the flied. 3. If any of the above are not respected, neither MABS nor the opposing team is responsible on what happens during the game. 4. Throwing of Bats - First offence a warning to the player, second offence by same player in the same game shall result in an automatic out in the inning. (i) Players allowed to play: The minimum players that should be present in the field by any of both teams competing is of 8 players. If a team doesn t have a minimum of 8 or more players the game should be forfeited and a win will be awarded to the opposing team. The umpire shall allow a maximum of 15 minutes for the 8th player to arrive before the forfeit is made official. Note: when playing with 8 players the 9 th batter should not to be considered a forced out. However, If a player must leave the game and there is no substitute available, when it is that player's turn to bat an out is declared. If a runner must leave the game and there is no substitute available, the runner will be declared out. 9. APPLICATION OF THESE RULES: The MABS Technical Committee shall decide any matters not provided for in these rules. The technical Committee consists of the League President and Director of Baseball/Softball. Youth Leagues Competition Rules Page 8 of 8