AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL- WESTERN MARYLAND DISTRICT GENERALIZED RULES AND REGULATIONS

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1 AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL- WESTERN MARYLAND DISTRICT GENERALIZED RULES AND REGULATIONS SEASON: The league schedule will consist of 20 games (5 games against each team). League champion will participate in State Tournament PLAYOFFS: If the schedule is structured as one full season and ends in a tie, a best of three game playoff will determine District Champion. Third game if necessary will be played at a neutral site to be determined by the District Chairman. The umpires will be selected by the District Chairman and fees split between participating teams. A coin flip will determine the home team. If three teams are involved, the committee will meet to determine play and the bye team. Playoff dates will be determined prior to the season. All playoff games will be nine (9) innings or a completed official game (after 5 innings). If unforeseen circumstances arise, the final decision will be made by the District Chairman. SCHEDULE: All games must be played as schedule, unless postponed because of playing conditions. If a game is postponed, it is the responsibility of the home team Manager to notify the visiting Manager and the umpires at least three (3) hours before game time if possible. If a game is postponed, it must be rescheduled within seven (7) days after the postponed date. A game originally scheduled for nine innings must be rescheduled as a 1

2 nine inning game. If the teams involved cannot agree to play in this seven (7) day period, they must contact the District Chairman and he will determine the date that the game/games, are played. The District Chairman must be notified of all dates for rescheduled games, prior to such games being played. Each team must complete its schedule regardless of the standings. If these rules are not complied with, the team responsible will forfeit the game or games involved and must pay the forfeiture fee to the league. UMPIRES: Each team will use umpires from an Association of their choice, however all umpires are to be current with American Legion Baseball Rules. Each team will be responsible for contacting their own umpire at a cost agreed upon by them and the umpires association. It is the responsibility of the home team Manager to notify the umpires in the event the field is not playable or if the game is canceled for any other reason. Umpire coordination will be the responsibility of each team contracting with their particular association. GAME BASEBALLS: Only the Diamond D-1 ball will be used for District play. GAMES: Single games will be nine (9) innings. Doubleheaders will be seven (7) innings. The second game of a doubleheader will start within thirty (30) minutes after the completion of the first game. Night games will be seven (7) innings unless a rescheduled nine (9) inning game. Teams will be allowed a fifteen (15) minute grace period after the starting time to field a team or the game will be automatically forfeited. If a doubleheader, there will be a grace 2

3 period of thirty (30) minutes after the forfeiture of the first game. The home team will lead the American Legion Code of Sportsmanship before each game. PRE-GAME PRACTICE (WEEKENDS ONLY): Visiting teams may have the field one (1) hour before game time for a period of forty-five (45) minutes. Ground rules will be explained five (5) minutes before game time. The Legion Code of Sportsmanship will be recited by both teams before each game at the discretion of the home team. PRE-GAME PRACTICE (WEEKDAYS : Visiting teams use batting cage forty (40) minutes before game time for a period of twenty (20) minutes, then will take the infield. Home teams will use batting cage prior to visiting teams, then will take infield while visiting teams are using batting cage. THE GAME: There is a ten (10) run rule for nine (9) inning games after seven (7) innings; the ten (10) run rule is also in effect for both games of a doubleheader or any seven (7) inning game after five (5) innings. The District will abide by the rules and regulations as set forth in the American Legion Baseball book of rules and regulations If a team does not complete a game, it will be determined a forfeit. REPORTING: Reporting the results to the news media will be the responsibility of the home team. Remember, we need all the publicity we can get, so sent them in. OFFICIALS: Any time a team changes managers/coaches, it must notify the District Chairman, in writing, within seventy-two (72) hours of the change. 3

4 PROTESTS: All protests will be submitted in writing to the District Chairman within forty-eight (48) hours after the game has been officially protested. See rule in the American Legion Baseball Book of Rules and Regulations. A meeting will be held to discuss the protest. This meeting will consist of the managers (or another representative) of the teams involved; the umpires from the game in question; and the District Baseball Protest Committee, as appointed by the District Chairman. If the protest involves a rule interpretation, The District Chairman reserves the right to invite the President of the Umpires Association involved. Each team involved will have the right to state their case. A decision on the protest will subsequently be rendered by that Protest Committee. FORFEIT FEE: Each team will maintain a $ deposit with the District Baseball Treasurer. This deposit is to cover and team forfeiting games. This deposit may be returned at the end of the season, or leave it in the League Treasury for the next season. Any team forfeiting a game will be assessed a $50.00 fine to be deducted from the $ deposit. If the forfeit is a doubleheader, only the $50.00 fine will be imposed. The $50.00 will be put into the League Treasury. All umpire fees and travel expenses will be paid out of the remaining $ deposit. The $ deposit must be restored in the League Treasury within seven (7) days. If not restored, that team will not be allowed to participate in any further league competition. If a team forfeits two (2) playing dates that team will be assessed the proper fines and all games played removed from the opposing team s record and removed from the Western Maryland District Baseball League for the remainder of that season. Team may enter league the following year after having fulfilled all penalties and restoring the $ deposit. 4

5 LEAGUE FEES: Each team will pay $ league fee to cover the $ scholarship and pre season league banquet. INSURANCE: All teams must be covered by group accident and liability insurance for the entire year, by the American Legion agent of record. PLAYER EJECTIONS: Any player ejected from a District game will be suspended from the next District game. MANAGER/COACH EJECTIONS: Any manager/coach ejected from the game must leave the dugout area, for the remainder of the game and he/she will also be suspended from the next District Game. PLAYER ROSTER: Player rosters are due to the District Chairman before a team's first District game. A maximum of twenty-five (25) players may appear on the roster. Only eighteen (18) players can appear on the game line-up cards. District Chairman must be notified of any changes on roster. Information to be included on the player roster includes: Name Address School Attending Birth Date Jersey Number(s) Each team shall have a roster of all other teams in the western Maryland District. 5

6 NOTE: No rules herein shall in any way supersede the Department of Maryland, and/or National American Legion Rules. 6