Overview Southwest Washington Adult Baseball League - Official Rules These Southwest Washington Adult Baseball League (SWABL) rules have been ratified by the SWABL Executive Board. The Executive Board has instituted these rules in the best interest of the SWABL and its membership. They are intended to supplement the Official Baseball Rules ( pro rules ). Where there are inconsistencies, these SWABL League Rules shall apply. Each team manager should have a copy of the official SWABL League Rules with him/her at every game. The Executive Board recommends that each manager go over these rules with their team prior to the start of the SWABL season. The Fundamental Rule: Sportsmanship! The SWABL subscribes to the highest level of sportsmanship. This means showing respect for umpires, opposing players, teammates, fans, and the fields on which we play. Fighting, leaving the bench or your position during an altercation (for any reason), throwing equipment, deliberate efforts to injure another player and excessive profanity are examples of poor sportsmanship, and are not tolerated. Players, managers, and others who fail to meet this standard of sportsmanship are subject to ejection from games and suspensions, or any and all of the above, as well as banishment from the SWABL. 1. Equipment League Rules 1.01 Uniforms All players, managers, and coaches must wear full baseball uniforms to be eligible to participate in a game. A full uniform is considered to be a baseball jersey, baseball pants, and a cap. Players out of uniform will not be allowed to play. Borrowed players may wear their team s jersey. 1.02 Helmets All batters, on-deck batters, and runners must wear helmets. Helmets with ear flaps facing the pitcher are required for batters. Catchers are required to wear a protective helmet when they are catching. Helmets are recommended for base coaches. 1.03 Bats Players may only use wood or composite-wood bats. 1.04 Footwear Players may wear baseball (metal) cleats, softball (rubber) cleats, and other types of non-cleated athletic shoes, subject to field specific rules (Example: no metal cleats at Luke Jensen Sports Complex) 2. Fields 2.01 Care of Fields The following rules apply to the care of fields used by SWABL: 2.01A. After each game, the home team is responsible for raking the infield, the mound area, the home plate area and replacing any tarps as needed. Rake dirt out of and away from the grass. 2.01B. Dugouts shall be cleaned and all trash shall be properly disposed of at the end of each game. http://www.swabl.com/league-rules.html Page 1
2.01C. Warm-ups, running, stretching, and pepper games shall always be in the outfield, and not on the infield or in front of the dugouts. If time permits each team will be given five minutes of infield with the home team going last so the game can start on time. 2.01D. On deck batters shall warm up on the dirt or designated surface, depending on field specific rules. On deck batters may not warm up on the grass. 2.01E. All special rules that are posted or in effect for particular fields on which SWABL may play shall be observed. 2.02 Alcohol and Tobacco No beer or other alcoholic beverages shall be permitted on the premises where games are played. No player will be permitted on the premises under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal drugs. Note: All tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, etc.) are prohibited on school property, including all school fields and parking lots. 2.03 Personnel on Field and in Dugouts For the safety of all concerned, as well as compliance with insurance requirements, only roster listed players shall be permitted on the field or in the dugouts during a game. Friends, kids, and family are expressly prohibited. 3. Length and Completion of Games 3.01 A Regulation Game A regulation SWABL game is seven innings (seven turns at bat) for each team unless the home team is ahead after six and one-half innings. In the case of a tie game after seven innings, additional (extra) innings may be played within the constraints of the time limit. If weather, darkness, or any other condition (thunder and/or lightning for example) interferes with play so that the game is called (ended) by the umpires, it is a regulation game if five full innings have been played or four and one-half innings with the home team ahead. 3.02 Time Limit No new inning will start after two hours and thirty minutes have elapsed. Any inning started before the time limit elapses will be completed. If the time has not elapsed and the game is tied after seven complete innings, additional (extra) innings may be played to determine a winner, but once the two hours and thirty minutes have elapsed no new inning will be started. If the game is still tied at the completion of the inning that started before the time limit elapsed the game shall be considered a tie game. There will be NO time limit for playoff and championship games. 3.03 Official Start Time (OST) The OST will be the scheduled game time (10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, etc.). Umpires, managers, and players need to be ready to start the game at the OST. The time limit clock, kept by the umpires, starts at the OST. The plate meeting, eight warm up pitches by the home team pitcher, infield and outfield warm ups should be completed prior to the OST. If the start of the game is delayed through no fault of the players or managers (poor field conditions, late arrival of umpires, etc.) then the OST will be when the umpire says Play ball! http://www.swabl.com/league-rules.html Page 2
3.04 Mercy Rule There is NO mercy rule in SWABL. Note: In a blow out, if both managers agree to ending the game any time after five innings have been completed, that will be considered acceptable and a regulation game. 3.05 Five Run Limit A team is allowed to score a maximum of five runs per half inning. The seventh inning or the final inning as determined by the umpires will be open. Open means that it is unlimited as far as how many runs may be scored. Exceptions: If a home run over the fence or a ground rule double that bounces over the fence forces more than five runs to score, then those runs will count. Examples: 1.) Second inning, four runs scored, runners on first base and second base, the batter hits a home run over the fence; three more runs score for a total of seven runs. 2.) Third inning, four runs scored, bases loaded, the batter hit s a ground rule double that bounces over the fence; two more runs score for a total of six runs. More than five runs will not be scored in any other way except during the seventh or final inning. 3.06 Pace of Play Since we pay to play, and live within inevitable time limits, every reasonable effort should be made by both teams and the umpires to speed up the pace of play between innings and between pitches. 4. Pre-Game 4.01 Home Team The home team is assigned the first base dugout. 4.02 Number of Players; Forfeits Teams must have a minimum of eight players for a regulation game to begin or proceed, and may borrow a ninth player from an opposing team with the opposing manager s consent. Players may also be borrowed from teams playing games prior to or after the game in question. The borrowed player will bat and pay defensively for the team borrowing him. The borrowed player may NOT pitch. If the team s ninth player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player returns to this original team or drops out of the game id he is not on the opposing team. If, at any time during the game, a team falls below the required eight players, the game shall be declared a forfeit, and the team without the required number of players loses the game. The first time a team must forfeit due to NOT having at least eight players, a warning will be issued by SWABL and they will be considered to be on probation. A second forfeit for not having at least eight players will prohibit the team from being in the playoffs. 4.03 Lineup Cards Lineup cards specifying the starting offensive lineup and other available players, and indicating no more than three non-runners will be given to the home plate umpire at the plate meeting prior to the start of the game. Players arriving late may be added at the bottom of the lineup or substituted under normal (traditional) rules 4.04 Scorekeeping While both teams are encouraged to keep score, the home team is responsible for keeping the official book. If the home team does not have enough personnel to keep the scorebook, the managers may agree to have the visiting team keep the official scorebook. It is the responsibility of both teams to see that their scorebooks match (at least in total runs scored per team per inning). http://www.swabl.com/league-rules.html Page 3
5. Play of the Game 5.01 Line Ups and Substitutions The following rules govern line ups and substitutions 5.01. A Minimum Line Up The starting offensive line up can have nine or more hitters (eight if the team has only eight players and is not loaned a ninth player per Pre Game Rule 4.02. The lack of a ninth player will not result in an automatic out when the ninth spot in the order comes up. 5.01. B The offensive line up can be expanded by adding players at the bottom of the order. If a player cannot continue and the team has no available substitute, that player s spot in the lineup will NOT result in an out. Exception: A player ejected by an umpire will cause his/her team to be assessed an out each time that player s spot in the batting line up is reached, if his removal causes the line up to drop below nine. 5.02 Runner Substitutions Before the game, each team may designate up to three players to have courtesy runners and must inform the other team and plate umpire via the lineup card. That designation cannot be transferred to another player. The courtesy runner for any player so designated is the player who was the last batted out who is not already acting as a courtesy runner or the on deck batter. If the batter due up is at one of the bases as a courtesy runner, that courtesy runner shall bat, and the next courtesy runner will assume the previous runner s place on the base. No out is taken when this transpires. 5.03 Catcher Courtesy Rule (optional) The game may be conducted using the catcher courtesy rule. This means that if the catcher is on a base at any time (two outs NOT required), he may be substituted from the base with the last batted out so that he can expedite putting on the catcher s gear for warm ups after the third out. The failure to avail itself of the use of the catcher courtesy rule in a given inning does not waive a team s use of said rule later in the game. 5.04 Slide or Avoid Base runners must slide straight to a base, within the normal path, which includes the inside or outside corner of the bag, or plate, to avoid collisions at all bases including home plate. Runners not sliding must peel away from the base path in a direction as to not interfere with any defensive play. If no attempt to avoid a collision is made in these circumstances, the umpire may declare the base runner out. If no attempt to avoid a collision is made and a collision results which the umpire considers intentional, he may, at his discretion, eject the base runner. If a fielder is not in the vicinity of a base, or is obstructing the base path without attempting to make a play, he/she is not protected by this rule and bears equal responsibility for avoiding collisions. Note: It is strongly encouraged that this rule be specifically discussed at all pre game plate meetings to understand the umpiring crew s interpretation of the rule. 5.05 Pitching 5.05. A. Intentional Base on Balls An intentional base on balls may be given by the defensive team by having its catcher or manager request the umpire to award the batter first base. This may be done before pitching to the batter or on any ball and strike count. The ball shall be declared dead before making the award. http://www.swabl.com/league-rules.html Page 4
5.05. B. Hit Batters Umpires have the discretion to eject any pitcher who intentionally throws at a batter. If a pitcher is believed to have intentionally thrown at a hitter, the SWABL may take further disciplinary action up to and including banishment. Regardless of intent, if a pitcher hits four batters in a single game, he/she shall NOT continue pitching in that game. A pitcher so disqualified may remain in the game at another position. 6. Post-Game 6.01 Protests Protests must be lodged with the plate umpire prior to the next play. Protests may challenge the interpretation or application of a rule, but may not challenge a judgment call. A notation of the protest and circumstances shall be made in the official scorebook. The team lodging the protest must complete a protest form on the league s website within 48 hours of the game. If the time requirement is not met, the protest is waived. 6.02 Reporting Scores The winning team must report their game score via the league website within 48 hours. 7. Players 7.01 Player Age Players must be 35 years old or older to play in the SWABL. If a player has his/her 35 th birthday during the calendar year of the current season, then they are eligible to play on a SWABL team. 7.02 Minimum/Maximum Roster Size Each SWABL team must have at least 12 players who have paid the player fee as determined by their team manager and who have submitted both a signed player contract and a signed waiver form. This requirement must be fulfilled before a player participates in a regulation game. SWABL teams may NOT have more than 18 players on their rosters. Roster changes along with completed player forms must be emailed to the League President (Rich Vargo: richvargo@swabl.com). 7.03 Playoff Eligibility In order for a player to be eligible for the playoffs with a SWABL team, that player must be on the team s roster in good standing (i.e. paid up player fee, signed player contract and signed waiver), and must have been of such status with said team on or before August first of the same year. 7.04 Ineligible Players If an ineligible player is used in a game that team will forfeit the game (even if not protested by the opposing team) and a two game suspension will be imposed for both the manager and the ineligible player. Note: The ineligible player s suspension cannot commence until he/she has remedied the cause of the ineligible status. 7.05 Ensuring Eligibility It is the responsibility of the team manager to make sure that all his players are eligible. Team managers must submit a team roster of eligible players to the League President at least one week prior to the first game of the season. http://www.swabl.com/league-rules.html Page 5
8. Discipline and Ejections The following information represents the minimum standards or penalties for ejections and/or other disciplinary matters regarding SWABL members. Ejections are to be reported by the affected player s manager to the League President within 24 hours or prior to the team s next game, whichever comes first. 8.01 Ejections First ejection: A first ejection results in the ejected player missing the remainder of the game from which he was ejected and an additional one game suspension. Second ejection: A second ejection results in the ejected player missing the remainder of the game from which he was ejected and an additional two game suspension. Third ejection: A third ejection results in the ejected player missing the remainder of the game from which he was ejected and suspension for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. Note: Suspensions can be carried over from one season to the next. 8.02 Other Disciplinary Actions SWABL reserves the right to review and penalize any misbehavior which it deems detrimental to the welfare and reputation of the league. The SWABL Executive Board has the power to penalize misbehavior as it sees fit. 8.03 The Appeals Process For any penalty, the ejected player, manager, or coach has a maximum of 48 hours to notify the League President by telephone, fax, or email of their intent to appeal. No appeal can be made after this deadline. Once an appeal has been made, the player may continue to play until such time as his or her appeal is decided on. The League President will appoint a three member Appeals Panel made up of three players and/or managers from three different teams who were not involved in the incident whereby an appeal is being made. Either the League President or League Vice President will act as a non-voting chairperson. 8.03 Conducting the Appeal Once the appeal is filed by the appealing player, manager, or coach, the Appeal Panel will, as appropriate, set a hearing date. The Appeal Panel will request information from the appealing person, the respective managers of the teams involved and the league (including the umpire s report). Such information is to be collected as soon as practical. When collected, the Appeal Panel will provide this information to the person appealing. Once the appealing person has received the information, they will provide their response and any substantiating reports from supporting witnesses with five days of receipt of the information. For appeals of one game the Appeals Panel will render its decision as soon as practical following receipt of the information from the appealing person. For appeals of two games or more, the appealing person may request an in-person appeal hearing. The Appeal Panel will render its decision either 1) as soon as practical following receipt of the information from the appealing person or 2) immediately following the in-person hearing. Should the appealing person request an in-person hearing, they may have no more than two person advocates present or provide supporting statements during an appeals hearing. The SWABL may also be represented at the appeals hearing and provide input to the Appeals Panel on the appealing person s past record or provide data on past penalties for similar offenses. Only the Appeals Panel, however, may be present during deliberations. http://www.swabl.com/league-rules.html Page 6
8.04 Umpire s Report Unless it is found by the Appeal Panel that the umpire is obviously biased, great weight will be given to the umpire s version of the incident. 8.05 Past Record and History of the Player In considering a player s appeal of the facts of the incident and/or assessed penalties, the appeal panel may consider the player s past history in the SWABL. 8.06 Serving Suspensions A suspension is to be applied to the next available game(s) that the player s team is scheduled for and actually plays. This may include carry over into the playoffs and/or the following season or if the player changes team s part way through the suspension. While serving suspensions, a suspended player may NOT attend their team s games, sit on the bench or be present at the field where their team is playing. A player who quits part way through a suspension and then returns to the SWABL at a later date must still serve the remainder of their suspension. The League President will maintain a non-public list of suspended players. http://www.swabl.com/league-rules.html Page 7