WINTER PARK BABE RUTH

Transcription

1 WINTER PARK BABE RUTH Junior (15U) Division Local Rules of Play Home Team and Visiting Team Responsibility The home team is determined by the official league schedule. The home team is responsible for the following: 1. Supplying three (3) new baseballs to the Head Umpire. 2. Providing an Official Scorekeeper, for record keeping purposes and keeping the pitch counts. 3. The lights are on a schedule set by the City. If the game (or practice ends early or is cancelled), text the Division Commissioner so the lights can be turned off. 4. If the lights need to be turned on or if there is a problem with the lights, the Division Commissioner or the VP of Baseball are the only ones authorized to have the City turn the lights on. Managers are not allowed to call the City to have the lights turned on. 5. Following a League game, the visiting team is responsible for making sure the mound and batter s boxes are properly raked. If there is tarp available, the visiting team is also responsible for covering the pitcher s mound and securing the tarp. If it is an interleague game, the WP home team is responsible for mound and plate duty. Park Rules The field lights are set by the City and are currently triggered to go off at 9:15 PM on game nights. (Practice nights are per the schedule). If a game is going to continue past the end time, the Commissioner must be called with enough time to have the light time extended. If the game start time is delayed, it is advisable at that time to notify the Commissioner of the potential for an extended game time. No game must continue past ten o clock. The League has provided a lightning detection system for the safety of all participants. In the event the horn sounds, the yellow light over the concession stand will activate. YOU MUST GO TO YOUR CAR OR SEEK SHELTER OUTSIDE THE PARK. There is NO LIGHTNING PROTECTED STRUCTURE IN THE PARK. When the horn sounds twice and the light goes off, play may resume. It shall be the responsibility of Managers and Coaches to instruct Parents and Players to seek shelter in their vehicles. DO NOT WAIT IN THE DUGOUTS or in the stands or under the concession stand awning, doing so puts the safety of players & parents in jeopardy. Failure of a Coach or Manager to direct his/her team to seek shelter shall result in actions by the Board of the League against that person. Time Limit of Games All weekday games shall start at 6:30 P.M. or sooner provided both teams mutually agree they are ready and the umpire is present. To facilitate the consistent start and stop of games, and to provide equitable playing time to all teams the following time limits will be observed. No new inning will start 2 hours and 20 minutes after the game has begun. In the event a game ends due to a park curfew (10 P.M.) the score will revert back to the last completed inning. This will determine the final score of the game, if the game is official as defined below. If this results in a tie then the game shall continue at a later date, arranged by the home team in the manner herein defined. The umpire is responsible for keeping the official time

2 Official Games Games shall be seven (7) innings. A game shall be considered official when one of the following conditions is met. If terminated for any reason after reaching this point, the game results will be officially recorded. Spring and Fall Season: 1. The completion of 5 innings if the visiting team is winning, or 2. The completion of 4 1/2 innings if the home team is winning, Any game that is stopped due to rain or other reason that has not reached the required number of innings is considered a suspended game and must be played to its completion at a later date. Suspended games that have reached one full inning shall begin from where they left off. Player Requirements to Start a Game For the Spring season each team must have a minimum of nine (9) players at the "official start time" for a game to begin. In the event the minimum cannot be met, the game is considered a forfeit and the win goes to the team that has the required number of players. In the event both teams cannot field the minimum number of players, the game shall be declared a double forfeit. For the Fall season, the minimum requirement is eight (8) players. If a forfeit occurs, both managers may petition the VP of Baseball and the Division Commissioner to reverse the forfeit and reschedule the game. Upon unanimous consent of ALL four parties (VP of Baseball, Division Commissioner, and both team Managers) the game may be rescheduled, played, and counted in the standings. Once the game is started a team may continue to play if the number of players falls below nine (9) but the minimum to continue play is eight (8). If a team cannot field at least eight (8) players, that team shall forfeit the game. If a team cannot field the minimum number of players for a scheduled game because it was scheduled on a recognized religious holiday or school function, the game may be canceled and re-scheduled without penalty, provided notification is submitted to the Division Commissioner at least 48 hours prior to the game date. Games cannot be rescheduled for any other reason. Players Arriving after the Start of Games If a player arrives after the start of the game shall be allowed to play. Rescheduled Games The following rules shall apply to all games to be completed, or made up for lack of players or weather. It shall be the responsibility of the Home team manager to arrange rescheduled games by collecting available dates, coordinated with the League schedule, from the visiting team and presenting them to the Division Commissioner. The Division Commissioner, and ONLY the Division Commissioner, will

3 schedule an Umpire for the rescheduled game. NO GAME MAY BE RESCHEDULED WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE DIVISON COMMISSIONER. A GAME PLAYED WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE DIVISON COMMISSIONER SHALL NOT BE OFFICIAL AND BOTH TEAMS PARTICIPATING SHALL REFLECT A LOSS ON THEIR SEASON RECORD. EVERY EFFORT SHALL BE MADE (INCLUDING DOUBLE HEADERS) TO RESCHEDULE GAMES ON THE DAYS WHEN NORMAL LEAGUE PLAY GAMES ARE HELD. Run Rule In the Junior Division all games will end when the game is official (as defined above) and either team has a ten (10) run lead and has had equal times at bat or the home team is leading. The game may continue after declaring a team the winner by run rule, at the option of both Managers. If the game is continued the scoreboard shall be turned off. Pitchers/Pitching Any pitcher that has been removed from the mound on the manager/coaches first visit or between innings may return to the mound that inning or subsequent innings, provided the player is not removed from the game. Only one return of a pitcher removed is allowed per game. On a manager/coach's second trip to the mound, in the same inning, to the same pitcher, the pitcher must be removed from the mound and cannot return to the mound during the game. A pitcher may pitch seven innings per calendar week [Fall: A pitcher may pitch a maximum of 4 Innings per game], including re-scheduled and make-up games. If a pitcher delivers one pitch, that constitutes an inning pitched. The Babe Ruth calendar week is Monday through Sunday. A pitcher must have 2 full calendar days rest between pitching assignments if he or she pitches more than two innings in any one game. For example, if a pitcher pitches more than 2 innings on Thursday, he or she cannot pitch again until Sunday. If a pitcher pitches more than 2 innings on Saturday, he or she cannot pitch again until Tuesday. An inning pitched is defined as any pitches thrown in an inning regardless of whether the inning is completed. A game in which an ineligible pitcher is used is declared forfeited. An unofficial game does not count towards the weekly pitch inning count. In the event of a double header, more than 2 innings pitched in a day requires 2 calendar days rest and more than 70 pitches in a day (to a max of 85) requires 3 calendar days rest. It is permissible for a pitcher to pitch up to 2 innings in the first game and pitch again in the 2 nd game as long as all other pitching limitations and rest requirements are met. In addition to the inning limitations and rest requirements above, pitchers are also subject to a pitch count maximum. For the Junior Division, this is: Maximum Number of Pitches per Day: 85 A pitcher that delivers more than 70 pitches in any one game (or in the event of a double header 70 pitches in a day) shall be required to rest an additional day (3 full calendar days) regardless of the number of innings pitched. For example, if a pitcher throws 70 pitches in 1 inning on Saturday, he or she cannot pitch again until Wednesday. Should a pitcher reach this maximum during a player's at bat, this pitcher is allowed to continue pitching to this batter until his at bat is complete.

4 This pitch count does NOT include pre-game warm-ups or warm-up pitches between innings. Tournament Pitching Rules Rules These pitch count limitations will apply to all tournament games played in District, Area, State, Regional and World Series competition and will completely replace Tournament Regulation Rule 11.05, Paragraph 4 (innings pitch). There are no limitations on the number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a tournament (bracket or pool play) game subject to the following pitch count limitations: Daily Maximum pitches in a Game/Day - 95 Pitcher throws 1 to 45 pitches no rest required; Pitcher throws 46 to 75 pitches one (1) full calendar day of rest regardless of number of innings pitched; Pitcher throws 76+ pitches two (2) full calendar days rest regardless of number of innings pitched. Batting/Running All players will be placed in the CONTINUOUS batting order. However, only nine (9) defensive players will be used, with this arrangement, defensive substitutions may be made at any time. Intentional Walks Intentional walks are allowed and counted against the pitchers pitch count in the Junior division. Minimum Playing Time Rules For the Spring season, each player will play a minimum of two defensive innings (defined as 6 recorded outs ) and have at least one at bat per official game (has herein defined). For the Fall season each player shall play three defensive innings (9 recorded outs) and have one at bat per official game. This is the Must Play rule of the Junior division. It is the responsibility of the manager to ensure compliance with this rule. Failure to comply with the rule is grounds for a protest and forfeit of the game. Players who arrived after the first defensive inning of the game are exempted from this rule. Managers are not exempt from this rule as a result of a game ending after 4 innings and/or the run rule. Protest In the event of a protest condition, the following procedures must be followed: 1. The protesting manager must call time out before the next pitch is delivered. A protest that occurs on a game ending play or condition must be made by noon of the following day to the Division Commissioner. 2. Notify the Home Plate Umpire and the Official Scorekeeper, who records the protest in the scorebook, and the opposing manager, stating the reason for the protest. 3. At this point the game continues under a "protest condition'. Discussion over the validity of the protest will not occur at this point.

5 4. The protesting manager must submit, in writing, the conditions which he/she deems Is a valid protest. The report must document the specific issue in enough detail for the Protest Committee (all baseball Division Commissioners for the league) to rule. 5. The written protest and Committee ruling will be presented at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting or sooner if the committee can be convened. A protest request will only be considered if it is in reference to a rule interpretation. A judgment call by an umpire cannot be protested. If a protest is dismissed the game s outcome stands as played. If the protest is upheld the game is replayed from the point of the protest. Dress Code The League furnishes each player with a hat, shirt. Every player must wear a complete and matching uniform for all league games. This includes matching pants. A player not in uniform must sit on the bench out of the game until such time as his or her uniform is complete. If a player has started the game and is not in uniform, upon notification to the player's manager by the opposing team manager, the manager must remove the player from the game until proper attire is attained. If the player is not removed by his or her manager, the game is declared a forfeit. It is the responsibility of the opposing manager (and no other person) to notify the offending player's manager and the umpire. If the game is completed without notification, the game is considered an official game. Shirts (jerseys) must be tucked in and hats worn with brims forward, while on the field. The board may take action against managers or players who continually disregard the League dress code. Exposed jewelry such as wristwatches, bracelets, large or loop style earrings and neck chains, or any other item judged dangerous by the umpire, may not be worn during the game. Medical alert bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry, but if worn must be taped to the body. Managers and Coaches Authority for team direction, strategy, and leadership rests with the team manager. Team direction, strategy and leadership during a game must come from the manager and coaching staff present on the field. Parents may not "coach from the stands" in the form of giving signals and calling plays, pitches, etc. Adult coaches may coach 1 st base and 3 rd base provided a third coach always supervises the dugout. An adult must remain in the dugout even if that means that a player has to coach a base. Important Notes on Ejections and Forfeits While the published league bylaws state that an ejected player or coach must serve a next game suspension, the league s board has adopted the rule that can be found in the Babe Ruth League rulebook. The Babe Ruth League rule states if a player is ejected from a game, the league president shall decide if additional penalties, such as serving a game s suspension, will be imposed. The player ejected will, as a minimum, be suspended from the next game as well. Should any manager or coach violate the herein defined Must Play rules (those rules that mandate atbats, play time, and infield play), then that game shall be declared a forfeit. The Manager also may face additional penalties as determined by the league board.

6 IT IS THE MANAGERS RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN HIS PLAYERS, PARENTS AND HIS OWN DECORUM. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OR MAINTAIN DECORUM SHALL RESULT IN SANCTIONS AGAINST THE MANAGER. ANY MANGER OR COACH EJECTED FROM A GAME BY AN UMPIRE SHALL IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE PARK AND NOT RETURN FOR TWO SUBSEQUENT GAMES. IF A MANGER OR COACH IS EJECTED A SECOND TIME IN THE SAME SEASON (INCLUDING TOURNAMENT PLAY) HE WILL NOT RETURN FOR FIVE GAMES AND SHALL BE REMOVED FROM CONSIDERATION FOR COACHING ANY ALL STAR TEAM. THE USE OF ANY AUDIBLE PROFANITY SHALL BE GROUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE EJECTION. TOURNAMENT A tournament will be played at the end of the regular season. The Format OF THE TOURNAMENT SHALL BE DETERMINED by the Board of Directors AND MAY CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME. Regular season playing rules will govern all play in the tournament with the following exceptions: All tournament games must complete at least five (5) innings to be official. There is no time limit to the game, except for City curfew at 10:00. If the game will continue past 9:00 PM, please let the Site Director know so that they can communicate with the City to make sure the automatic field lights stay on. Games that have not completed five (5) innings (4½ if the home team is ahead) and cannot be completed due to weather, darkness, or reasons beyond normal control, shall be continued from the point of suspension as directed by the DIVISON COMMISSIONER, through seven (7) innings (unless extra innings are required).