2017 KINO BASEBALL LEAGUE FALL LEAGUE INFORMATION & TEAM REQUIREMENTS AGE DIVISIONS 9U TO 15U NARRATIVE The following is a list of entry requirements and policies that teams are to review before they decide if they wish to play in the 2017 Kino Baseball Fall League program. These policies and requirements are to ensure that the players, coaches and parents fully understand to what the expectations are for competing in the Kino Fall League. The Kino Baseball League reserves the right not to accept any team that does not meet these requirements. FALL LEAGUE DEFINITION The Kino Baseball Fall League is a competitive program for age divisions 9U through to 15U. The fall league is NOT a recreational or developmental type of league. The teams that participate in the league are mainly experience players and teams. Teams that have not played in a competitive environment may want to re-consider before entering the Kino Fall League. If you have a team that is looking for development then possibly the Little League Fall Training and Development (TAD) program may be best suited for your players. We wish to be assured that every young athlete has the opportunity to play at the skill level that they are comfortable with so as to enjoy the game. Nothing worse than having a team that needs further development playing in a division with teams that have more playing experience in a competitive setting. The results are never positive Teams that play in the Kino Fall League play for championships. TIME LINE REQUIREMENTS AUGUST 31 Coaches rules meeting mandatory. Team that does not have representative at this meeting, then the team is not placed on the league game schedule AUGUST 31 Deposit of $250 is to be paid SEPTEMBER 21 Team Certification. Roster, copies of players proof of birth, certificate of insurance, coach s certification and balance due on entry fee all must be submitted in order to receive game baseballs that the league provides each team and be certified to play in the league. SEPTEMBER 23 Season begins
2 DIVISIONS The Kino Baseball 2017 Fall League will consist of the following divisions: 9U Division 10U Division 11U Division 12U Wood Bat Division 13U/80 Division 15U Division There must be a minimum four (4) teams to sanction a league. FIELD SIZES 9U and 10U Divisions: 60 foot bases/46 foot pitching distance 11U Division: 70 foot bases/50 foot pitching distance 12U Wood Bat Division: 70 foot bases/50 foot pitching distance 13U Division 80 foot bases/54 foot pitching distance 15U Division 90 foot bases/60 foot 6 inch pitching distance PLAYER ELIGIBILITY Age Cutoff: May 1, 2018 PLAYER PROOF OF BIRTH: The coaches are responsible for collecting and submitting to the league at the September 21 team certification day copies of every player that is listed on the team roster proof of birth. ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF PROOF OF BIRTH INCLUDE: Certificate from the state, county or city bureau of vital statistics, United States passport, United State Naturalization Certificate. Certificate from another country is acceptable. Player is not eligible or certified to play in the league unless a copy of the proof of birth has been submitted to the league. CLARIFICATION: No proof of birth, player not eligible to play. Teams will be certified by the league on September 21, 2017.
3 DIVISION AGE LIMITATIONS 9U DIVISION: Minimum age is 7 year old. Player must turn age 7 prior to May 1, 2018. 6 Year old and younger not eligible for this division 10U DIVISION: Minimum age is 8 years old. Player must turn age 8 prior to May 1, 2018. 7 year old and younger not eligible for this division. 11U DIVISION: Minimum age is 9 years old. Player must turn age 9 prior to May 1, 2018. 8 year old and younger not eligible for this division. 12U WOOD BAT DIVISION: Minimum age is 10 years old. Player must turn age 10 prior May 1, 2018. 9 year old and younger not eligible for this division. 13U DIVISION: Minimum age is 11 years old. Player must turn age 11 prior to May 1, 2018. 10 year old and younger not eligible for this division. 15U DIVISION: Minimum age is 13 years old. Player must turn age 13 prior to May 1, 2018. 12 year old and younger not eligible for this division. There are no exceptions to the division age limitations. The league does not care if a parent or coach thinks the player is the next Bryce Harper or the likes and such a player needs to play up in a division. It is the philosophy of the Kino Baseball League that players play within their age group. TEAM COMPOSTION The maximum number of players on a team roster is 18. The team roster and players are certified prior to the season. Roster and copies of players proof of birth documents are required to be submitted to the league prior to the start of the season. October 1 st is the last day a team is permitted to add player(s) to the team roster. Addition to the team roster must include the player full name, address, phone number, date of birth. A copy of the new player(s) proof of birth is required at the time the player is added to the roster. No proof of birth, the addition to the roster is not approved by the league. Players are NOT PERMITTED to play on another team within the same age division. Players if they meet the age eligibility requirements are permitted to play in two age divisions. Very important for coaches to have as many committed players on the roster. No roster, and/or no proof of birth documents, the team does not get certified to play.
4 COACH CERTIFICATION It is required that the team manager and minimum 3 assistant coaches per team have the following certifications: o National Federation High Schools (www.nfhs.org) o Concussion Management o Introduction to Pitch Smart o Heat Illness Prevention o Sportsmanship These on-line courses are free. Upon completion of all three courses, a copy of certification for each course is required to be submitted to the league on/or before September 21st PENALTY: The manager or coach not meeting this standard will not be permitted to be in the dugout or on the field of play during a league game until the certification standard has been met. SCHEDULE The Fall season will run from September 23 through to November 5 th. Depending on the number of teams that enter a division, the season could be shorter or it could go to the max date of November 5 th. Number of games: 10. Days of play: Saturdays and Sundays Game Times: All day games, but due to weather, make up games could be played during a weeknight or on a weekend evening. The league understands that in the fall there are school breaks and some teams may have committed to play in a tournament, but it must be understood that playing in the Kino Fall League is a priority and not secondary. Therefore, the following policy is in place: o o o Teams will be permitted ONE black out weekend. If a team requires more than one black out weekend it places a burden on the other teams in the league when it comes to the game schedule and therefore the league reserves the right not to accept a team if they require more than one black out weekend. Depending on the number of entries in a division the league the league cannot accommodate special game times for a team to play. EXCEPTION: The league understands that during the fall season many players also play in the local youth football league. The league in the past, and will once again work with those teams that such a situation when it comes to the game schedule. But it must be understood that these teams are held to the same standard with only ONE black out weekend permitted. The league does not schedule around UA games. It is extremely important that the coaches meet with parents to find out any dates team cannot play before they commit to playing in the league.
5 SCHEDULE POST-SEASON: The format to be determined by the league prior to the start of the season depending on the number of teams that have been certified to play. Understand that the format may not include every team in a division be eligible to play in a division post-season championship tournament. There are no scheduling accommodations for post-season tournament play. Once the game schedule becomes official there are no mid-season changes permitted. If you cannot make a scheduled game it will be deemed a forfeit. It will not be rescheduled and there are no refunds. GAME SITES Games will be played at various city, county and school fields throughout Tucson. Some travel may be required to fields outside of Tucson. (Nogales) Fields are prepared prior to each game by league field crew technicians. They will line the field and put out the bases, and at the games conclusion the field techs will collect and put away the bases. Teams will not have to do field duty. This is a cost that is included in a team s entry fee. Teams are required after a game has been completed to collect and throw away all debris and trash generated during the game. The league does not clean up dugouts. If a dugout is not cleaned up after a game, the league will fine the team $50.00 for not meeting this standard. Spectators are expected to clean up and remove debris and trash in their seating area before they leave a park. UNIFORMS Players must be in full baseball uniform that includes pants, cap and matching colored jerseys with a uniform number on the back. Coaches are to dress professionally and neat and must wear a baseball cap when on the coaching lines or anytime they go onto the field as part of respect for the game.
6 INSURANCE For the Fall season, every team that participates must provide the league with a Commercial General Liability certificate of insurance that names the Kino Baseball League as additional insured. Resources for sports insurance policies include: o Chappell Insurance (www.chappellinsurance.com) 1-800-447-6797 o USSSA Baseball (team needs to register with USSSA in order to be eligible to purchase insurance). o K+K Insurance (www.kandkinsurance.com) 1-800-637-4757 Liability Insurance with limits of not less than: o Each Occurrence $2,000,000 o General Aggregate $2,000,000 Team will not be certified to play in the league unless a certificate of insurance is submitted to the league prior to the start of the season. The league has liability insurance that covers all the participating teams and the city, county and school fields that games are played on. There is NO medical/accident insurance provided by the league for the fall league teams. If a player or coach gets injured during a practice or game, or in vehicular accident while going to or from a practice or game, and requires medical treatment they do so on their own health care insurance and medical providers. BAT SPECIFICATION 9U-10U-11U,13U Bats with the 1.15BPF certification stamped on the bat is permitted. Barrel sizes can be either 2 ¼ or 2 5/8. NOT PERMITTED 2 ¾ barrel diameter size. Maximum length is 33 inches. Full composite, any drop bats permitted as long as it has 1.15 BPF certified stamped on the bat. 15U Division bat standard are those bats certified and marked BBCOR.50. Maximum barrel diameter is 2 5/8. Maximum length is 34 inches. NOT PERMITTED is aluminum/alloy bats. 2 ¾ barrel diameter bat is NOT PERMITTED at any level of Kino Baseball League.
7 CONDUCT Adult coaches set the example for their team when it comes to how they conduct themselves during a game. Debating calls with umpires is part of the game, but there is a way such debates are to be conducted that is respectful and professional. Using profane language, doing damage to equipment, kicking dirt, physical contact with an umpire, non-stop talking to the umpires about balls/strikes and judgment related calls, unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind is cause for an individual getting ejected from a game The policy of the Kino Baseball League regarding conduct is as follows: Umpires can restrict an individual to the bench for the remainder of the game. The restricted individual is not permitted to participate in any aspect of the game. If the restricted individual continues to argue with the umpires, then the individual is ejected from the game. Manager or coach that is ejected from a game, they must immediately leave the field and go directly to the parking lot. Failure to leave the playing field immediately will result in further disciplinary action taken by the league. Player that is ejected from a game is restricted to the bench for the remainder of the game. If the parent(s) of ejected player is in attendance, they may take their player and leave the park. The ejected player is not permitted to sit in the bleachers with parents and spectators. SUSPENSIONS: The league will review the umpire ejection report to determine if suspension is required. The league will assess game suspension(s) based on the ejection report that outlines the behavior of the ejected individual. o Individual that gets ejected more than once during a season will receive an automatic minimum a one game suspension. Further game suspension will be determined by the league based on the umpire s report. o Manager or coach that is suspended is not permitted to be at the park for the team s next scheduled game. Stay home. o Player that is suspended is required to be in attendance and sit on the bench with his teammates at the team s next scheduled game. If the player does not attend the team s next game, the suspension carries over to the next game and so forth until the suspension requirement has been met. Any physical altercations with any individual or team whether it be on the field or in the parking lot will result in the individual(s) involved to be terminated from the league for the remainder of the season. Ejected individuals are not to waste their time calling or emailing the league to complain about an ejection. Umpires are in charge of the game and they have full authority to control the individuals that are participating and if in their judgment an individual conduct is not above reproach they will get ejected from a game. The league will communicate with the ejected individual via email and text messaging regarding suspension. Failure for an individual to check their e-mail or text message is not a reason not knowing about the league action of suspension.
8 FORFEITS Teams must start and finish with minimum nine (9) players. Team that does not have nine (9) players at game time will forfeit to the opposing team. There is no grace period granted. Forfeit fine: $150.00 payable to the league prior to the team s next scheduled game. When a game is forfeited, the umpires leave the field. They do not stay and do scrimmage games between the two teams. Team that has a player get injured or ejected and the team is left with 8 players and there are no eligible substitutes available, the game is forfeited at that point. There is no forfeit fine assessed. Team that cancels a game during the season for whatever reason, the game will not be re-scheduled and the team forfeits to the opposing team and is assessed $150 fine by the league that is payable prior to the team s next schedule game. ENTRY FEE Deposit of $250 required to be paid on/or before September 7, 2017 to gain a slot in a division. The balance of the entry is to be paid in full on September 21, 2017. There are no payment plans. Payment is either cash or one check. Check can be money order or cashier check. Check is payable to: Kino Baseball League Payments can be mailed to: PO Box 89304, Tucson, Arizona 85752 No individual parent checks towards the entry fee payment is accepted League does not take debit/credit cards towards payment in the fall. Refund Policy: o 100% of deposit refunded prior to September 21, 2017 o Zero refund after September 21, 2017 Contact the league for the entry fee for your division.
9 TIMELINE SUMMARY AUGUST 31 6:30 PM Doubletree Hotel 445 S. Alvernon Coaches rules and policy review meeting Entry Fee Deposit $250 required. Any black out weekends are to be submitted at this meeting. Failure for a team to be represented at this meeting will result in the team not being accepted to play in the league and will not be placed on the league game schedule. Time and location of meeting to be announced. SEPTEMBER 10 Game schedule to be announced and become official. SEPTEMBER 21 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Doubletree Hotel 445 S. Alvernon Team Certification night Team roster and copies of players proof of birth to be submitted Coach certifications from NFHS to be submitted Certificate of Insurance to be submitted Balance of entry fee paid in full No payment plans. Team will be issued 2 dozen game baseballs and line up cards if they meet the above requirements. Time and location of certification meeting to be announced. SEPTEMBER 23 Fall season begins Revised 7/11/17