Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth League Operating Policies ARTICLE 1.0: LEAGUE COMPOSITION 1.1 The League for 2016 will consist of the following regions divided into teams and divisions as the CCSBR Board of Directors sees fit: Barnstable (including Nantucket) Martha s Vineyard Sandwich Upper Cape Team Cape Cod Yarmouth-Dennis Lower Cape (Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Truro, Eastham, Chatham, Wellfleet, Provincetown) 1.2 New teams will be welcomed into the league in accordance with Article VI of the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth By-Laws. New teams are required to place a $500.00 deposit by April 15 th to be eligible for play in the upcoming season. All teams will need to have their balances paid before they will be allowed to take the field for their 1 st game. Teams with outstanding balances will not be "in good standing" and will not be allowed to participate in league play until payment is made. 1.3 The Tournament Committee shall be composed of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Tournament Committee Chairman and shall bear the responsibility for selecting the Tournament Team Managers. The appointed Tournament Team Managers will select tournament team coaches, but their appointments will be subject to ratification by majority vote of the Tournament Committee. 1.4 Rosters must be submitted to the President two weeks before the first scheduled game. Rosters may be changed in accordance with National Babe Ruth policy during the season by submitting the changes to the President. No player will be eligible to participate in league play until that player is officially registered with National Babe Ruth. No player can be removed from a roster except for injury, disciplinary reasons, or by mutual consent between player and manager. Any and all disputes involving rosters will be settled by the President. 1.5 Only players and coaches on the Official Rosters are allowed to participate in games. The official rosters will be listed on the league s web site. Players and coaches must participate in at least 50% of their teams regular season league games in order to be eligible for playoff and All- Star competition. The president will have the authority to grant exemptions. 1.6 Any player at the A level can be reassigned to the B level as long as both coaches and the player agrees. The player needs to initiate this request in writing to his A level coach. If both coaches approve this request it will then be forwarded to the league president for final approval. 1.7 Each year by June 23, prospective players must choose to play either Babe Ruth or American Legion baseball for that calendar year. This means Legion players are specifically excluded from both the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth Summer and Fall seasons if they have played in any American Legion game after June 23 of that year. 1
ARTICLE 2.0: SCHEDULE and STANDINGS 2.1 Each team shall play a regular season schedule as determined by the President followed by single elimination league playoffs involving all teams. 2.2 After the schedule is completed, approved, and issued, no changes can be made without the notification and approval of the League President. 2.3 All games shall be completed except as provided in Article 2.4 2.4 League standings shall be determined by awarding two points for a win, one for a tie, and none for a loss. Ties shall count only if a game is called on account of darkness and/or inclement weather after having achieved legal game status as to number of innings completed. Suspended games will be completed immediately before the next scheduled meeting of the two teams regardless of the location. Also note Article 7.2c 2.5 The teams with the highest number of points in the A & B Divisions shall be awarded top seeds in the post season Championship Playoffs and be declared regular season champions. The winner of these Playoffs shall be deemed League Champions. For seeding, in case of a regular season tie between two teams, the higher seed shall be determined by the results of head to head competition between the teams involved. If a tie still results, the least number of runs given up in the head to head competition will be the determining factor. As the playoffs progress the highest remaining seed will always play the lowest remaining seed. 2.6 Managers or local team representatives will inform the League President of all results and scores within 48 hours of the games completion. He will compile such results and standings as seem appropriate and provide the press with a status report at least once per week. Managers and/or local team representatives are encouraged to publicize game results via the local media. 2.7 In the case of inclement weather, it is the responsibility of the home team to ascertain the condition of the playing field and, in case of unplayable conditions, notify the Umpire in Chief and opposing manager at least two hours prior to scheduled game time of the need for cancellation. Rescheduling of all postponed contests must be approved through the office of the President. See Article 2.2. If the opposing coaches are unable to agree on a make-up date then the president will intervene. ARTICLE 3.0: FORFEITS & DISQUALIFICATION 3.1 Any team which fails to field an official team within thirty (30) minutes after the scheduled start of that contest shall lose by forfeit. A manager who wins by forfeit has the right to decline the forfeit and play the game at a later date subject to the approval of the league President. The President will not give approval if, in his judgment, replaying the game interferes with the league schedule or is cost prohibitive. In any case forfeit fees will still be assessed (See Article 3.5) 3.2 Any forfeiture resulting from the failure of a team to appear at the appointed hour for a game shall be subject to immediate review by the President to estimate the probability of any recurrence of the problem. 2
3.3 Any team that forfeits two (2) games on two separate dates shall automatically be eligible for suspension from the League for the remainder of the season. The president shall have the authority to declare a team be suspended and have the authority to re-instate a suspended team. 3.4 Any team that knows in advance that it will be unable to field nine players must notify the league at least two hours before the scheduled start of the game to request a postponement instead of a forfeit. The manager must notify the President, the Umpire-in-chief, and the opposing team of the situation. If a team fails to provide two hour notice they will be responsible for umpire s fees. Such payment is due immediately to a league representative. (See also Article 1.2) Any team with 8 players will be allowed to start the game with 8 or borrow a player from the opposing team. If a player arrives to the game once the lineups have been exchanged that player will bat at the bottom of the order. 3.5 Any team that forfeits will be assessed a fine equal to the cost of two umpires game fees. Such payment is due immediately to a league representative. (See also Article 1.2) 3.6 Any player or coach disqualification, protest, improper conduct or forfeits must be reported to the President within forty-eight (48) hours of the completion of the contest for dispensation. Written reports need to be submitted to the President from both game managers, both game umpires, and the umpire in chief within 48 hours of any incident. The President s decision may be appealed. 3.7 In the event of an appeal the President will appoint a disinterested committee of three to resolve that appeal. Decisions reached by this Committee are final. ARTICLE 4.0: VIOLATION OF OPERATING POLICIES 4.1 Any infraction of the CCSBR Operating Policies and/or CCSBR Constitution and By-Laws when discovered shall be made known to the League President for action. ARTICLE 5.0: UMPIRE IN CHIEF 5.1 The Umpire in Chief will be recommended by the President and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. He will coordinate and supervise the League s umpires and also be responsible for the following: a. Assign umpires to all games involving any CCSBR teams b. Be responsible for notifying assigned umpires of cancelled games. c. Be responsible for punctuality, proper attire and conduct of all game field officials. d. Be certain that all umpires are familiar with protest procedures and other pertinent contents of this document. e. The Umpire in Chief will be a voting member of the Board of Directors. 5.2 The Umpire in Chief shall receive a stipend and the game officials shall receive game fees as established by a majority of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE 6.0: OPERATING RULES: 3
6.1 All league regular season and playoff games shall be conducted under the Official Rules of Babe Ruth Baseball. 6.2 Local Options: a. The league will use a twelve-run (12) rule (slaughter rule) for single games. The ten-run (10) rule will be in effect for both games of a double header. b. The league does permit the use of an Extra-hitter. For details see the official Babe Ruth rulebook. c. All playoff games will be played according to the Babe Ruth Tournament Rules with the exception of the "extra-hitter" which is allowed. d. The use of a DH (designated hitter) is not permitted. e. Before each contest lineup cards must be exchanged with opposing manager. The lineup must be legible and contain player s name, starting position and numbers. Subs should also be included on the lineup card. f. The second game of a doubleheader shall start 30 minutes after the conclusion on the 1 st game. g. Game day procedure; if a team is not ready they forfeit their right to take warm-ups. 7:00 game start procedure is in parenthesis 5:00 5:10 (6:30-6:40): Home team takes infield 5:10 5:20 (6:40-6:50): Visiting team takes infield 5:25 (6:55): Plate meeting, lineups exchanged (see rule 6.2.e) 5:30 (7:00): Game starts h. To be eligible for the 2 points assigned to the winner's standings, team must have started with full complement of 9 players. Game may proceed as an officiated 'scrimmage' if either team fields only 8 players; 'borrowing' a player is allowed. In the event that a team drops down to 8 players during the course of player (injury, ejection, etc.) the game continues with full eligibility for the win standing, but the missed batter counts as an out each time. 6.3 The following positions receive stipends in amounts designated by the majority vote of the Board of Directors. a. Umpire-in-Chief b. Webmaster c. Treasurer ARTICLE 7.0: MANAGERS, COACHES & LEAGUE OFFICIALS: 7.1 All managers, coaches and league officials serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors and must submit a yearly CORI for CCSBR league evaluation in order to participate in league activities. 7.2 Managers, coaches and league officials can be dismissed from CCSBR, with proper cause, after a hearing in front of the Board and by a vote to dismiss by 3/4 of not less than 2/3 of the voting membership. 7.3 All coaches must be in team uniform or team appropriate coaching gear. ARTICLE 8.0: RATIFICATION OF THIS DOCUMENT 4
8.1 The Board of Directors shall ratify this document each year. It may be amended by a simple majority of the Board of Directors. Revised: May 15, 2016 5