2013 CT American Legin Baseball Rules (Updated Rules as f March 16, 2013) American Legin Baseball (bth Junir and Senir Legin Teams) shall be played in accrdance with rules adpted by the Natinal Americanism Cmmissin f The American Legin and as authrized by the Cmmissiner f Majr League Baseball. Changes t the Official Baseball Rules may be made by the Natinal Americanism Cmmissin and are nted in Rule 1 f the American Legin Baseball rules. These rules generally pertain t matters f safety, equipment and insurance and are made with the welfare f the players in mind. These rules may be further mdified by the Cnnecticut department (may be mre restrictive) fr regular seasn play nly and cannt cnflict with natinal rules. All natinal turnaments will fllw rules established by The American Legin s Natinal Americanism Cmmissin. Bth Junir and Senir teams shall fllw these rules with a few exceptins fr Junir Legin Baseball, which shall be nted. Senir American Legin Baseball shall be a 19 and under prgram. Junir American Legin Baseball shall be a 17 and under prgram. New rule changes fr the 2013 seasn are underlined. PLAYING REGULATIONS - RULE 1 A. Bat Rule. Each prgram will be required t vte each year by previus September 1st t determine its bat chice fr the fllwing regular seasn. In any seasn when 60% f the prgrams vte t use wd bats fr the regular seasn, all regular seasn and the entire state turnament fr that seasn will use nly wd bats. If less than 60% f the prgrams vte fr wd then metal bats will be allwed fr bth the regular seasn and the State Turnament. Our definitin f wd bats will include all thse regular wd bats that meet Majr League Baseball specificatins and BBCOR apprved cmpsite wd bats. T review the mst current list f apprved cmpsite wd bats, please Ggle Washingtn State University, then NCAA Apprved Bats. Any questins cncerning whether f nt a cmpsite wd bat is legal shuld be addressed t the Cnnecticut State Directr. Please nte that any material r substance, unless it is cnsidered dangerus by the umpire, whse purpse is t imprve the grip (i.e. adhesive tape, pine tar, etc ), can be added t the first 18 inches f the bat measured frm the handle. Please nte that fr the 2013 seasn ver 75% f the prgrams vted fr wd, all regular seasn and state turnament games will use nly wd bats. B. Bld Rule. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 B) C. Catcher s Equipment. (Same as Natinal Rule 1) -1-
D. Caches. - Only thse players and caches listed n the team s Natinal Registratin Frm #1 r thse apprved by the Zne Chairman and/r the State Directr are permitted n the caching lines. N team can play a game withut ne f these caches present n the field r in the dugut. E. Cllisin Rule. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 F) F. Designated Hitter Rule. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 G) G. Frce-Play-Slide Rule. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 H) H. First Aid Kit Rule. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 I) I. Games 1. N team shall be required t play mre than tw games in ne day. Games can nly be played n July 4 th if bth teams agree. 2. Twilight games shall be seven (7) innings. Starting time f twilight games n weekdays shall nt be later than 6 PM n unlighted fields. Starting times may be changed nly with prir agreement by bth team managers and the zne chairman. 3. Saturday, Sunday and hliday games played under the lights may be seven (7) r nine (9) innings at the discretin f the zne teams. Dubleheaders shuld be seven (7) inning games. 4. N make-up games can be rescheduled as a dubleheader during the last weekend f the seasn unless pstpned during the last week. Each zne will determine a make-up day. If a team plays in a turnament (r ges away n a trip) all missed games must be made up by eight days after cnclusin f the turnament trip. Their zne schedule must reflect the rescheduling f these games. The zne chairman must be ntified if any scheduling prblems ccur. Failure t cmply with the abve rules will result in a frfeit by ne r bth teams. 5. Nn-Legin Endrsed Games and Turnaments - The Baseball Cmmittee must apprve participatin in Legin turnaments during zne play. Practice games, hwever, are encuraged. N team may reschedule a zne game (nce the final zne schedule is prvided t the State Directr r nce the seasn starts, whichever happens first) fr any reasn withut the apprval f the Baseball Cmmittee. All teams playing in turnaments must abide by the rescheduling rule. Any team that is nt eligible t play in the state turnament may cmpete in a nn American Legin turnament nce their seasn is ver. 6. Frfeitures - In case a visiting team fails t arrive within the designated time, the team n the field will win by frfeit after waiting fifteen (15) minutes beynd the time the game is scheduled t start. An appeal may be made t the zne chairman (and nt unreasnably withheld) in the case f unfreseen circumstances such as an accident in rute t the game, unusually heavy traffic, r bad directins t the hme field. The hme team must be ready t play at the scheduled time withut exceptin. The hme team has n such grace perid and wuld frfeit the game if they are unable t field 9-2-
players at the time the game is scheduled t start. In the event f a duble header and the traveling team frfeits the first game, the scheduled time fr the next game will be 15 minutes after the cmpletin f the first game. (example: A team is traveling fr a duble header fr a 1pm game and des nt have enugh players t start the game. The game is fficially ver after the 15 minute grace perid at 1:15pm. The next game nw starts at 1:30pm and wuld be subject t a frfeit at 1:45PM). The hme team again has n grace perid and wuld frfeit the secnd game at 1:15PM. In all frfeit situatins, the umpire shall place the eligible team n the field, have the pitcher thrw ne pitch and then fficially declare that team the winner. Any team that frfeits a game fr nt having 9 players eligible t start the game will be required t pay a $100 fine t the ppsing team. This fine is in additin t the hme team s respnsibility t pay fr the umpires. If a team frfeits games n tw separate days because f its inability t field nine eligible players at the start f a game the team will be disqualified t participate in any further American Legin games. With this seasn ending situatin all games played will stand and all subsequent games will result in lsses and further discipline frm the State Baseball Cmmittee. The Cmmittee may als elect t suspend the team's fr the next seasn r permanently depending n the severity f the issue. The Cmmittee may use prgressive discipline in rder t get the desired change in behavir pssible ptins include suspending r remving caches, making a team ineligible fr the State Turnament, etc Amng ther things, while the cmmittee is cncerned abut the use f ineligible players, the cmmittee is especially cncerned that teams may use players knwn t be ineligible in rder t avid frfeitures f games due t lack f players, as specified in the previus paragraph. If the presence f an ineligible player determines whether a team can field nine players fr a game (see previus paragraph), the subsequent frfeiture f thse played game(s) upn discvery f the ineligibility f that player will first be evaluated in accrdance with the previus paragraph, and nt nly the played games will be frfeited, but the team may be disqualified frm further play fr the seasn. If a disqualified team wants t return t American Legin play the next seasn it must pay a $500 nn-refundable penalty fee plus the regular registratin fee. The zne chairman shall immediately ntify the state directr with the names f teams that frfeit games during the seasn. a. When it is necessary t change a field fr a scheduled game, the fllwing applies: 1. The visiting team manager shall be ntified frty-eight (48 hurs) befre game time 2. If the game must be pstpned, it shall be played depending upn field availability by ne f the 2 teams n the next mutually pen date (previus cmmitments t turnaments, trips, & reasnable end f the year schl related functins are kay but nn-zne games must be cancelled). N team will be required t have games scheduled n mre than 6 days in a rw r be scheduled t play mre than 1 dubleheader in that 6 day perid. The hme team wuld still be respnsible fr paying fr the umpires. Teams may need t give up their hme game t cmply -3-
with this rule. Teams that d give up hme games may switch a later away game t their hme field. Games nt made up n the next pen date, as described abve, will result in the game cunting as a frfeit fr bth teams. 3. The zne chairman shuld be cnsulted by the hme team manager fr apprval f the schedule change. J. Helmets. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 K) K. Insurance Rule. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 L). Every (bth Junir and Senir) American Legin Baseball teams must purchase bth grup liability and accident insurance frm The American Legin s agent f recrd (S.A. Van Dyk, Inc.). Cverage must be purchased when registering with the Department Baseball Cmmittee thrugh the new Natinal Online Registratin Prcess prir t the team s first tryut, game, team activity, r March 15 th whichever cmes first. Prf f such cverage must be submitted t the Department Baseball Cmmittee at the time f registratin. Vilatin f this rule will result in the disqualificatin frm any further cmpetitin. In additin starting with the 2013 seasn, each cach, general manager, and ther required vlunteer must pay fr and prvide all requested infrmatin, s that a yearly backgrund check, cnducted by the natinally selected cmpany, can be cmpleted n them by the natinally required deadline. Anyne failing this review will nt be allwed t be part f any American Legin Baseball Prgram. L. Natinal Senir Turnament Rules. M. On Deck Equipment. (Same as Natinal Rule 1 M). N. Batting Practice Apprpriate safety screens (fr example, L-Screens) are required. O. Pitching Refer t Natinal Rule 1 O) Senir Legin N player may pitch mre than 12 innings during any cnsecutive three-day calendar perid. All Jr and Sr Legin innings and all innings pitched in nn-legin games are cunted when calculating ttal innings. N player may make mre than fur appearances as pitcher during this perid. Junir Legin N player may pitch mre than a ttal f 10 innings during any cnsecutive three-day perid. N player may make mre than three appearances as a pitcher during any cnsecutive three-day perid. Penalty fr bth Senir and Junir: Game shall be frfeited if prtest is filed with the umpire in chief befre the last ut f the game. Prtests invlving playing ineligible players during regular seasn games, including pitchers, must be filed when the team finds ut abut the infractin, must be in a timely manner frm the time f the alleged infractin, and must be befre midnight n the last day t play regularly scheduled games. Please nte that even thugh legal by natinal rules (12 innings in 3 days fr senir players and 10 innings in 3 days fr junir players), the Cnnecticut State Baseball Cmmittee asks all its caches t use prper discretin t help limit any veruse injuries by its pitchers. We recmmend but can nt mandate the fllwing limits 10 innings in 4 days fr senir players and 8 innings in 4 days fr junir players. Clarificatin Visits t the Pitchers Mund. Any pitcher may be remved frm the mund as pitcher and remain in the game at anther defensive psitin. Hwever, if that player is reinserted as pitcher that same inning and is remved again that same inning, he must leave the game. -4-
O. Tbacc/Alchl Rule. N tbacc is t be used in any frm by players, managers, caches and r umpires n the playing field. Failure t cmply with this rule shall be suspensin fr that game plus the next 2 games (minr infractin). Fr this rule, the duguts, batting cages, seating areas, and refreshment stands are cnsidered part f the playing field. N alchlic beverages are t be sld r cnsumed at any ballpark during American Legin baseball games, and further, any agreement fr the use f any facility fr Department American Legin baseball must cntain a "N Alchl" beverage clause. Any player, cach, r teamaffiliated member fund drinking alchlic beverages at the ballpark befre, during r after a legin baseball game wuld be suspended. N advertisements fr alchlic beverages shuld appear n any unifrm. In cases where a ballpark is used by mre than just the American Legin team, these rules shall nly apply t American Legin events (Legin teams shuld nt be discuraged frm attempting t gain use f minr league and majr league facilities where pssible this rule is nt intended t preclude such usage f facilities that sell alchl at prfessinal games). P. Ten (10)-Run Rule. All Senir American Legin Regular Seasn and Turnament games shall use a 10-run rule after five and seven innings respectively, unless the hme team is ahead by 10 runs r mre after 4 ½ and 6 1/2 innings at which time that game will be halted. a. Junir Legin Ten (10) Run Rule. All Junir American Legin Regular Seasn and Turnament games shall use a 10-run rule after five innings, unless the hme team is ahead by 10 runs r mre after 4 1/2 innings at which time that game will be halted. Clarificatin if the visiting team leads by 10 r mre runs after 6 ½ innings in a Senir Legin game r 4 ½ innings in a Junir Legin game, the hme team must cmplete its turn at bat befre the game can be ended by this rule. Q. Unifrms. (Same as Natinal Rule 1S) R. Baseballs All teams must use Rawlings CT-AL baseball S. Suspended Games - Regular seasn games will fllw Pr Rules 4.12, with the fllwing exceptin: all nn-regulatin games will be picked up frm the pint f stppage. The fllwing examples shuld clarify this rule: a. any game cancelled prir t becming a regulatin game in the 5 th inning, will nw be cntinued frm the pint it is stpped b. nce a game is a regulatin game (hme team winning after the visiting team has hit in the tp f the 5 th inning r either team winning after the hme team has hit in the bttm f the 5 th inning), and weather r ther cnditins frce the game t be stpped, it is ver unless the visiting team ties r takes the lead in a subsequent inning and the hme team desn t have a chance t bat. In that case, it is a suspended game and must be cntinued frm that pint at a later time. T. Lineups Teams shuld list all eligible starters and substitutes n their lineup card prir t the start f the game. Players mitted frm the lineup card wh are listed n the fficial team rster Natinal Frm 1 that have eligibility can participate in the game withut penalty t the team. u. Umpires all umpires are required t be members in gd standing f the Cnnecticut State Bard f Apprved Baseball Umpires. -5-
v. Champinship and Tiebreaker Frmats (CT Adpted) - A zne champin and final rder f finish will be determined frm regular seasn results first by head t head recrd, secnd by recrd against the next highest ranked teams, and lastly by cin flip. All zne psitins must be determined by results f regular seasn games, fr the Senir Legin znes by Thursday, July 18, 2013 and the Junir Legin znes by Mnday, July 22, 2013. Please nte that t cunt in the standings, all senir games n Thursday, July 18, 2013 must start at r prir t 6PM and game results must be reprted t bth the Zne Chairman and the State Directr by 9:30PM r immediately after the game, whichever is earlier. Senir Sectinal Turnament will start n Saturday, July 20th and the Junir Sectinal Turnament will start n Saturday, July 27 th. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS - RULE 2 A. Senir Legin Baseball Players Age. Senir American Legin Baseball cmpetitin in 2013 is pen nly t players brn n r after January 1, 1994. Clarificatin fr Senir Legin Baseball Any player brn in 1993 is nt eligible t play American Legin Baseball. Junir Legin Baseball Players Age: Junir American Legin Baseball cmpetitin in 2013 is pen nly t players brn n r after January 1, 1996. Junir Legin Baseball shall be limited t ages 17 and under. Clarificatin fr Junir Legin Baseball Any player brn in 1995 is nt eligible t play Junir American Legin Baseball. Since infrmatin n all players must be registered ver the internet, as a result f Federal Laws pertaining t sharing infrmatin abut yung children ver the internet, any player brn in 2001 r after are nt eligible t play American Legin Baseball in 2013. B. Player s Dmicile (Refer t Natinal Rule 2 B) C. Prfessinal Baseball Cntract (Refer t Natinal Rule 2 C) D. Amateur Rule (Refer t Natinal Rule 2 D) E. Birth Certificates (Refer t Natinal Rule 2 E) PLAYER RECRUITING PLAN A - RULE 3 The Plan A Natinal Recruiting Rule gverns all American Legin Baseball in Cnnecticut. (Refer t Natinal Rule 3 in the American Legin Baseball Natinal Rule Bk. In additin, the Cnnecticut Baseball Cmmittee has adpted the fllwing mdificatins t the Natinal Rule: A. It is the plicy f the Cnnecticut American Legin Baseball Prgram that waivers nly be granted t eligible players - wh tryut and/r make themselves fully available t the team and are nt selected fr a particular team subject t the fllwing clarificatins: -6-
B. A legin player may be waived t anther team within his state zne r t an adjacent zne nly if the adjacent znes enrllment average is 2,500 r less. C. A legin player must first tryut and make himself fully available fr the team whse territry is clsest t his parent s r curt rdered legal guardian s hme. If he is nt selected fr that first team, he can ask t be cnsidered fr the next nearest team t that hme. This team may r may nt require him t physically tryut. If nt selected by this 2 nd team, he wuld have the ptin t ask t play fr the next nearest team. Again they may r may nt require him t tryut. If he is nt selected by this third team, then he will nt be able t play American Legin Baseball fr that seasn. This will be calculated by MapQuest Prgram (using shrtest driving distance), as mandated by the Natinal Rule 4. Fr Cnnecticut, we will cmpare the parent s address t the lcal twn hall address fr the twn the team is named after (Bristl, Middletwn, Trringtn, etc ) if the team is nt named after just ne twn (Tri-Twn, RCP, etc ), yu will use the twn hall address fr the twn where the team played a majrity f its hme games during the 2008 seasn. These addresses are included n ur website and will be permanent unless changed by a majrity vte f the State Baseball Cmmittee. Starting with the 2013 seasn, all waiver requests will g directly t and must be apprved by the Assistant State Directr. D. The player, the manager f new senir legin team, and the manager f all senir legin team(s) that are waiving him must sign the waiver (Natinal Frm 76). E. All waivers are just gd fr ne year. All players waived must try ut fr their hmetwn team again the fllwing year. Cllege students (nn-high schl students) can nt be waived. All releases signed and apprved prir t the end f the 2011 regular seasn will fall under the prir natinal rules and are final fr that player s senir legin career. Returning age eligible cllege players (nn-high schl students) are permitted t return t the team they played fr in 2012. These players must have appeared n the 2012 rster. Returning cllege players are nt eligible fr waiver. (A player wh graduated in 2012 must return and play fr their previus team; 2012 graduated players are nt eligible t play fr any ther American Legin team). F. Senir legin team may accept new waived players frm nly 1 team territry each year. G. The manager r cach must waive any player brn in 1994 r 1995 that is nt selected fr their team and meets the criteria listed abve. In situatins nt cvered by the abve rules cntact the Assistant State Directr fr clarificatin and directin. H. New Prgrams - Players previusly rstered n a Legin team, wh have been designated t a new team because f plan realignment, have a ne time ptin t either participate with the new team r remain n the ld team. The zne chairman shall ntify affected players that they have this ptin. The player is required t fill ut an Optin Release Frm (btained frm the Assistant State Directr via the Zne Chairman) and return it t the Assistant State Directr prir t the start f the seasn. This ptin decisin will be in frce fr the player's remaining years f eligibility. -7-
I. Absence f a Junir Team in a Player s Hme Senir Territry (Applies fr the 2013 Seasn) Players wh are eligible t play in a twn/prgram that nly has a Senir Prgram, (n Junir Prgram) can tryut fr the Junir team whse brder is clsest t their parent s hme. (See Rule A.2. abve fr further explanatin abut hw this is determined). If this junir team cannt select this player because they can nly select players frm ne ther twn/prgram in the same year due t Natinal/State enrllment rules, r if they will nt select players frm anther twn/prgram, player can tryut fr the next junir team clsest t his player s parents hme. If player is cut, they wuld fllw the same rules as apply t Senir Waivers (please see previus explanatin). PLAYER RECRUITING PLAN B - RULE 4 Nt applicable fr CT American Legin Prgram PROTESTS - RULE 5 Prtests shall be subject t Natinal Rule #6 "Prtests." In case f a prtest, the zne chairman shuld be ntified immediately, fllwed by a written reprt n Frm #4 (available n the state website http://www.ctalbb.cm) delivered t the Zne Chairman within frty-eight hurs f the end f the game being prtested. A cpy f Frm #4 shall be sent t the state directr. Prtests shall be delivered by hand, fax, e-mail, r certified mail. All prtests must be accmpanied by a certified check (delivered by hand t the zne chairman regardless f hw the Frm #4 is submitted) in the amunt f ne hundred dllars ($100) made payable t the Baseball Cmmittee. If a prtest is upheld the zne chairman will return the check t the prtester. If a prtest is denied, the zne chairman will deliver the check t the State Cmmittee Treasurer fr depsit. The zne chairman shall decide all prtests unless he disqualifies himself, in which case the State Directr shall make the decisin. Any team adversely affected by a prtest can appeal any decisin made by the Zne Chairman t the State Directr r his designee. When made aware f player eligibility infractins, prtests regarding such issues need t be made within a reasnable time. All regular seasn prtests must be made and decided prir t the fficial start f the State Turnament. All prtests will include: 1. Cmpletely filled ut Frm #4 2. Names and addresses f bth (all) umpires indicated n Frm #4 3. The umpires written r ral reprt appended t Frm #4 4. A $100 check Decisins regarding all prtests reslved by the zne chairman shall be summarized in a written reprt frm the zne chairman t the prtesting team manager, with a cpy t the state Directr. -8-
TEAM AND PLAYER CERTIFICATION - RULE 6 Clarificatin f Natinal Rule 6D (Dual Participatin fr Regular Seasn Games) Beginning after they have attended their first zne game, but nt later than June 17, 2013, players will be ineligible t play in further regular seasn zne and nn-zne games and the state turnament (bth senir and junir divisins), and must be immediately remved frm their rster, if they miss mre than 20% f their junir and senir teams scheduled zne games fr any f the reasns listed in the natinal rule including playing baseball fr anther team, ging t a baseball shwcase, etc Teams will be required t keep track f this in their wn manner and sign a statement prir t the beginning f the State Turnament attesting t the eligibility f their players t participate. This certificatin will be subject t prtest by the ther State Turnament teams. Nthing in this rule is intended t make smene ineligible fr, amng ther things, missing games due t injury, illness, wrk, r vacatin. PLEASE NOTE THAT PER NATIONAL RULES, ONCE OUR STATE TOURNAMENT HAS STARTED (WHICH INCLUDES ANY GAME AFTER THE REGULAR SEASON ENDS I.E. OUR CURRENT STATE SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT), ANY PLAYER THAT PARTICIPATES IN ANY NON-APPROVED (PER NATIONAL RULES) BASEBALL ACTIVITY WILL BE INELIGIBLE FOR THE REST OF THE STATE, REGIONAL AND WORLD SERIES GAMES. ANY TEAM PLAYING ONE OF THESE INELIGIBLE PLAYERS WILL, AT A MINIMUM, FORFEIT THAT GAME FOR USING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER. A. Signed Caches Cde f Ethics Frm - Prir t the start f the seasn all field caches and managers must read the Caches Cde f Ethics and submit a signed acknwledgement team cpy t their Zne Chairman. Failure t adhere t this rule may make a team ineligible t participate in American Legin baseball fr that seasn. Signed cpies must be returned t the respective Zne Chairman befre their first scheduled game. B. Pre-Seasn Rsters All teams are required t cmplete a pre-seasn rster frm prir t their first regularly scheduled game. This state generated frm includes DOB, schl and parent s hme address f all team members. The frm must be returned t the respective zne chairman befre the first scheduled game. A cpy f this frm must als be presented t the ppsing team befre each game prir t June 17, 2013. After this date teams will have finalized their team rster n Natinal Frm #1. Failure t cmplete a pre-seasn rster and failure t present it t ppsing teams befre submissin f the final rster may result in the team being ineligible t participate fr the rest f the seasn. This rule has been adpted t prevent any ptential frfeit situatins that smetimes ccur befre the submissin f final rsters. C. Teams must register, using the Natinal Website, paying all State and Natinal Registratin Fees and prviding required general infrmatin by February 15 th. The Natinal Website can be reached thrugh a link n ur State Website at www.ctalbb.cm. Any team that des nt meet the February 15th deadline will be charged a $100 penalty. This same prcess must be used t purchase team insurance by February 15 th (this includes the cmpletin f backgrund checks fr all caches, general managers and ther required vlunteers) r prir t their first tryut r practice whichever happens first and cmplete their Team and Cach Rster n the Natinal Website (ld Frm 1) by June 17, 2013. In additin, teams must still prvide birth certificates, Natinal Frms 1, 2 and 76, and cpies f insurance plicies t their zne chairman by June 15, 2013. The Rster is limited t eighteen (18) players. (Fr Bth Senir and Junir Legin Teams) -9-
D. The zne average appearing n the rster shall be determined by the State Directr, and shall nt exceed the ttal enrllment cunt as utlined in the Natinal American Legin Plan A Baseball Rules. E. Upn submissin f rsters t the zne chairmen (n later than Saturday, June 15, 2013), each zne chairman shall inspect and validate the submitted rsters frm his zne. Teams failing t submit their rsters by June 15, 2013 will be declared ineligible fr state cmpetitin, in which case they wuld frfeit all their remaining zne games. F. Imprtant infrmatin t be included in submitted papers: 1. Hme address f player s parents (Frms #1 and #2) 2. Players' signatures in prper place (Frm #2) 3. Player signatures n Frm #2 must be the same name as n the birth certificate including full-signed middle name. Parent r guardian t sign the Emergency Infrmatin Frm 2. G. Duble Rstering with Senir Teams Fr the regular seasn, Junir teams may dublerster as many age eligible players as they wish with the Senir Legin prgram but they still must be in cmpliance with rster maximum limits at each level. Players will be able t participate in bth levels f the turnament subject t the fllwing. A psitin player that plays in mre than 50% f their senir zne games r a pitcher wh pitches mre than 20 innings in senir zne games, will nt be eligible t play in the Junir State Turnament. There will nt be any similar restrictin n playing time fr a junir player t play in the Senir Turnament. If at any time during the regular seasn a duble rstered player becmes ineligible fr the Junir Turnament (i.e. a pitcher wh pitches mre than 20 innings in senir zne games r a player wh plays in mre than 50% f their senir zne games), they wuld als immediately be ineligible t play (play in the field, pitch, bat, pinch run, etc ) in any mre regular seasn junir games. Teams will be required t keep track f this in their wn manner and sign a statement prir t the beginning f the State Turnament attesting t which f their duble rstered players will be eligible t participate. This certificatin will be subject t prtest by the ther State Turnament teams. In additin, if a player starts in mre than ne Senir State Turnament Game they will n lnger be eligible t play in either the rest f the Junir regular seasn r Junir State Turnament. Starting with the 2013 seasn, players fund ineligible t play in either the Junir regular seasn and/r Junir State Turnament because f Rule 6G will still be eligible t play in the Junir Reginal and Junir Wrld Series if applicable. H. Nn-American Legin (Outside) Spnsred Teams - An utside spnsred team is ne that is nt affiliated with any American Legin pst. If selected t participate in the prgram, the utside spnsred team agrees t abide by all American Legin state and natinal baseball rules. The utside spnsred team als agrees t assume all financial respnsibilities relative t the peratin f American Legin Baseball including, but nt limited t unifrms, baseballs, insurance and umpires. The admissin f an utside spnsred team t the state prgram is always subject t the apprval f the Baseball Cmmittee. -10-
I. Merger f an Outside Spnsred Team with American Legin Pst - Shuld an existing utside-spnsred team wish t affiliate with an American Legin pst r merge with an existing pst-spnsred team, such merger r affiliatin must be apprved and crdinated by the Baseball Cmmittee. In n case will an utside-spnsred team in gd standing, be required t merge r affiliate with a pst-spnsred team, be replaced by a newly frmed pst-spnsred team, r be taken ver by a pst. Teams wanting t merge must adhere t the rules gverning Cmbinatins see Rule 7. J. Cntrlling Organizatin Fr thse teams that are pst spnsred, the pst is the cntrlling entity and is respnsible fr the team managers, caches and ther n-field persnnel. Fr nn-pst spnsred teams, the prgram General Manager r cntrlling rganizatin (if applicable) is respnsible fr the team managers, caches and ther n-field persnnel. TERRITORIAL ASSIGNMENTS - RULE 7 New rules fr requested team cmbinatins, mergers, spin-ffs, territry re-alignment and reassignment, new teams, and ther changes t team territries (cllectively referred t as Territrial Assignments) take effect fr the 2006 baseball seasn, that need t be fllwed t have the State Cmmittee review and act upn yur request. See Appendix A fr the rules. SPORTSMANSHIP & CONDUCT - RULE 8 A. Cde f Ethics Prir t the start f the seasn, all field caches and managers must sign the Caches Cde f Ethics and submit t Zne Chairman. B. Cnduct - Any manager, cach r player wh in the pinin f the State Directr r his representative, cnducts himself in an unsprtsmanlike manner, r in a manner that discredits the American Legin Prgram, may be remved frm further participatin by the Department Baseball Cmmittee. The Baseball Cmmittee s Decisin will be final. Any team that has any cmbinatin f mre than fur players, caches r team fficials kicked ut f a games during the same regular seasn that team may be made ineligible fr participating in that seasn s State Turnament by the State Cmmittee. Any team made ineligible under this rule may be given the pprtunity t appeal this decisin t the State Directr r his designee. C. Disciplinary Plicy - The CT American Legin Prgram has adpted the fllwing Disciplinary Actin Plicy. The prvisins f this plicy shall be in effect frm ne hur prir t the scheduled start f the game, thrughut the game, and ne hur after the cmpletin, suspensin r terminatin f the game. Only the head cach (r his assistant, designated befre the game with the right t replace him), will be allwed t leave his nrmal psitin t argue any calls r decisins made by the umpires. Penalty is the ffending cach r team fficial will be ejected frm the game and will be subject t the further penalties listed belw. Umpires may, at their discretin, warn the cach fr their first ffense, especially early in the seasn. -11-
1. MAJOR INFRACTION shall include, but nt be limited t: a. Nn-cnsensual r reckless physical cntact r attempting t make physical cntact r any threat f physical intimidatin r harm t include pushing, shving, bumping, kicking, intentinally spitting, thrwing at r attempting t make physical cntact with an umpire r ppsing player r fan. b. Spitting, thrwing r kicking anything at an umpire r any game participant. c. Participating in a physical altercatin. d. Cnduct therwise cnsidered a minr infractin that, by its nature, is judged t have included intent t incite a majr infractin. This rule is designed t prevent baiting. 2. MINOR INFRACTION shall include but nt be limited t: a. Undue use f prfanity twards any game participant b. Verbal abuse f umpires r any game participant r intentinally thrwing equipment d. Malicius cntact (as defined in Natinal Rule 1.E.2. Clarificatin) will be judged case by case by the umpires as t whether a MAJOR r MINOR infractin is t be assigned. e. Any cach wh criticizes an umpire in a public frum (defined as cmments r qutes in the media and public meetings. The individual name f an umpire des nt have t be included fr this penalty t be impsed). f. Any ther cnduct deemed by the umpire t be unsprtsmanlike and warranting this penalty. 3. Punishment Any player, cach, manager r bench persnnel fund guilty f a MAJOR infractin will be suspended fr a minimum f fur games and the suspensin culd be seasn-ending depending n the circumstance. If the persn incurs a secnd majr infractin he shall be suspended fr the remainder f the seasn. Any player, cach, manager r bench persnnel fund guilty f ne MINOR infractin will be suspended fr a minimum f tw games. The 2 nd minr infractin will result in a suspensin f a minimum f 3 games. If he receives a third minr infractin, he shall be suspended fr the remainder f the seasn. A player ejected ut at ne level f play (senir r junir), can t play fr the ther level f play n the same day they are ejected. Any player suspended fr the remainder f the seasn at ne age level is als ineligible at the ther age level. Please nte that nly the State Directr, r is designee, has the authrity t impse any punishment beynd these stated penalties. -12-
4. Implementatin f the Suspensin - Any player, cach r manager thrwn ut f a Zne game will sit ut the next Zne r Turnament games as punishment. If a player, cach r manager is thrwn ut f a regularly scheduled exhibitin game, he will sit ut the next regularly scheduled exhibitin game. If the expelled player, cach r manager's team has n exhibitin games left n their schedule, he will sit ut the next Zne games, turnament games r first zne games f next year, whatever cmes first. Caches f bth teams in the game invlving the expulsin must ntify the Zne Chairman immediately after the game. Suspensins fr either majr r minr infractins will cntinue int the next seasn if the suspensins cannt be cmpleted during the regular seasn r state turnament. Fr clarificatin, the suspended individual is nt allwed t: a. Cmmunicate with any team persnnel r umpires; b. Take part in any pre-game activities at the site f cmpetitin; r c. Be in the stadium, n the field, r within eyesight f the field nce pre-game activities have started. Appeal Prcess - Punishments can be appealed t the State Directr, r his designee, if first supprted by the apprpriate Zne Chairman. Affected players and caches must sit ut their next game(s) until a final decisin can be made. The State Directr will make a decisin wrking thrugh the Zne Chairman. Any decisin by the State Directr, including letting the riginal punishment stand because the apprpriate Zne Chairman did nt supprt a further review, is final. All appeals must be made within 24-hurs f the incident. N appeals will be accepted r heard after the 24-hur windw. Fr all appeals, the zne chairman, as well as a liaisn frm the umpire's bard, will get prper infrmatin cncerning the incident. The umpire(s) invlved in the game with the incident shuld ntify the umpire liaisn immediately pertaining t the incident. The umpire liaisn will cntact the zne chairman, wh, if they agree with the appeal, will frward all infrmatin t the state directr wh will hear and make a ruling n the appeal. 5. Ejectin frm the Ballgame - Any cach, manager, r team fficial ejected by the umpire must leave the field and dugut area immediately and is nt allwed t cmmunicate with team members r the umpires. A player wh has just been ejected must cntinue t be supervised by a cach. The umpire is required t infrm the Head Cach f the ejectin and it is then the cach s prergative t: (a) keep him n the bench r (b) send him (under cnstant supervisin by anther cach) t anther lcatin. If the player cntinues t be a prblem after being ejected the Head Cach will be tld t either cntrl his player(s) r frfeit the game. Whenever an ejectin ccurs, the umpires are required t cmplete an Ejectin Reprt, which is available n ur State Baseball Website (www.ctalbb.cm), within 48 hurs. -13-
This reprt is t be given t the applicable Zne Chairman and State Directr with the same 48 hur perid. If this penalty is being appealed, the umpires may be asked t cmplete the Ejectin Reprt in less time. DEPARTMENT JURISDICTION - RULE 9 A. Cnnecticut American Legin Baseball - Cnnecticut American Legin baseball is gverned by the Cnnecticut American Legin Cmmittee, and shall be cmprised f: B. Seven cmmissiners, each f wh will be accrded ne vte in matters brught befre the cmmittee. Cmmissiners are appinted per E. belw. C. The zne and assistant zne chairmen (ne per zne, as designated per G. belw). Zne chairmen and assistant zne chairman are nt accrded a frmal vte in Cmmittee matters, but act as imprtant advisry members f the Cmmittee. D. An umpire liaisn/rules interpreter and anyne else appinted by the State Directr, wh are nt accrded a vte in Cmmittee matters. E. State Baseball Cmmissiners - The American Legin State Cmmander will annually appint the seven Baseball Cmmittee cmmissiners frm the state at-large. The State Legin Cmmander will designate ne f the cmmissiners as directr. Baseball Cmmittee meetings will be gverned by Rberts Rules f Order. F. Znes 1. The areas frm which leagues are established will be knwn as znes. These znes are herewith designated subject t apprval f the Department Baseball Cmmittee. 2. A minimum f six (6) teams (five fr Junir Legin) will be required t cnstitute a zne, hwever, recmmended zne size will be 8-11 teams. Fr 2013, there will be eight znes. The Baseball Cmmittee may change the znes r transfer teams, as it deems necessary fr gd f the state baseball prgram. If in any particular year, ne f ur 8 junir znes has less than the required minimum number f junir teams (5 fr the 2013 seasn), than the State Cmmittee will mve the required number f teams frm an adjacent zne fr that ne seasn, as lng as this change des nt put that secnd zne under the required number f teams. 3. All team applicatins t participate in the American Legin baseball prgram, and assignment f teams t znes, are subject each year t the apprval/review f the Baseball Cmmittee. The Cmmittee's decisin in all such matters shall be final. 4. All zne cmpetitin will be gverned by Natinal American Legin Baseball rules (http://www.baseball.legin.rg/alb_rules.htm) and by these state American Legin Baseball rules, as amended frm time t time. -14-
G. Zne Chairmen 1. The state directr f the Baseball Cmmittee appints the zne chairmen and assistant zne chairman 2. Each zne chairman (and assistant zne chairman in their absence) shall be in charge f games that ccur within his zne. 3. All zne issues will be referred t the zne chairman unless he disqualifies himself. If this event the issue will be referred t state directr fr a ruling r decisin. 4. The zne chairman will ntify the state directr if any team fails t cmplete its schedule. STATE TOURNAMENTS - RULE 10 Beginning with the 2013 State Turnaments (bth Senir & Junir), the tp 5 (*) senir teams and the tp 3-5 (depending upn the size f the zne - see chart belw) (**) junir teams frm each zne qualify fr the Sectinal Turnament regardless f their winning percentage. These games will be played at the higher seeded teams field. The state will be divided int tw separate divisins (Znes 1, 6, 7 & 8 in the Nrthern Divisin and Zne 2, 3, 4 & 5 in the Suthern Divisin) t reduce travel distance. All Reginal Turnament Games will be within divisin. Each divisin f the Senir Reginal Turnament will start with 20 teams (5 teams frm each f the 4 znes). These games will be single eliminatin the 17 th t 20 th ranked teams will play the 13 th t 16 th ranked teams, the winners will play the 9 th t 12 th ranked teams, etc Once there are nly 4 teams left in each divisin they will prceed t the State Turnament, which will nw be held at 2 sites. These 4 teams will play a duble eliminatin turnament. The champin frm each f the 2 State Turnament Sites will advance t the Champinship Series, which will be a best 2 ut f 3 t be held at ne f the State Turnament Sites. While the exact specifics fr the Junir Legin State Turnament wn t be finalized until after the team registratin prcess is ver, it will generally be the same as the Senir Turnament. Fr all turnament details please see the separate handut entitled 2013 Cnnecticut State Turnament which will be lcated n ur website in bth the Rules and State Turnament sectins after April 1, 2013. (*) while 5 teams frm all ther Senir Zne will qualify fr the State Turnament, fr the 2013 seasn 4 teams frm Zne 7 and 6 teams frm Zne 6 will qualify because f their number f teams (**) if 5 r 6 teams in zne, 3 teams qualify fr Junir State Turnament if 7 r 8 teams in zne, 4 teams qualify fr Junir State Turnament if 9 r 10 team in zne, 5 teams qualify fr Junir State Turnament -15-
Appendix A TERRITORIAL ASSIGNMENTS The state American Legin Baseball Cmmittee has adpted the fllwing set f rules fr team cmbinatins, mergers, spin-ffs, territry re-alignment and re-assignment, and ther changes t team territries (cllectively referred t as Territrial Assignments). The rules belw include examples t help illustrate sme f the mre technical aspects. (1) The State Baseball Cmmittee retains final jurisdictin ver all Territrial Assignments, and always seeks t balance the gal f maximizing yuth participatin n the ne hand, while ensuring that the legin prgram remains cmpetitive n the ther hand. Accrdingly, applicatins which seek t create pwerhuse teams by cmbining tw r mre already-viable prgrams will generally be rejected, as will applicatins seeking t increase participatin by creating new teams that risk the nging viability f existing prgrams. [DEFINITION: As used herein, the term affected team refers t teams wh will be newly frmed, merged, r wh will gain r lse recruiting rights t a territry if a Territrial Assignment applicatin is apprved. Teams wh d nt gain r lse any territrial rights, are nt affected teams even thugh they may be impacted by the ensuing changes in cmpetitive balance ] I. General and Enrllment Guidelines: [In all cases, teams applying fr Territrial Assignments have the burden f prf in determining whether the fllwing bjectives and infrmatin needs have been met ]. A. COMBINATIONS: Teams wishing t cmbine must have a cmbined enrllment f less than 4000 after the cmbinatin, as enrllment is defined in the natinal American Legin Baseball Rules. EXAMPLE 1: Team A, with enrllment f 2500, seeks t cmbine with team B, with enrllment f 1600. Cmbined enrllment f 4100 exceeds the limit, s this cmbinatin will be rejected. B. NEW TEAMS: Applicatins t split an existing team apart int tw r mre teams will nly be cnsidered if each new team (and any surviving ld teams): 1) Will have an enrllment base f at least 1000, AND 2) can demnstrate that it has ample financial backing, AND 3) can demnstrate it has sufficient players t sustain a viable prgram EXAMPLE 2: Team A is a multiple-twn team which cnsists f 1100 enrllment frm twn 1 and 900 enrllment frm twn 2. Twn 2 applies t have its wn team, splitting apart frm Team A. Based n the numbers, this request wuld be rejected because Twn 2 des nt have at least 1000 enrllment. - 16
EXAMPLE 3: Team A is a multiple-twn team which includes 1100 enrllment frm twn 1 and 1300 enrllment frm twn 2. Twn 2 applies t have its wn team (Team B) by splitting apart frm Team A. Based n the numbers, this request culd be apprved if all ther cnditins are met as described abve. C. TERRITORY ACQUISITIONS: Teams wishing t acquire territry currently assigned t a different team may nly d s if bth f the fllwing cnditins are met : 1) the enrllment f each affected team after the reassignment will exceed 1000, AND 2) the acquiring team demnstrates that it will be able t rster mre players frm the acquired territry than are currently rstered by their current team. See example belw. EXAMPLE 4: Team A and Team B are cntiguus, and cnsist f the fllwing: Team A cnsists f tw twns: Team B cnsists f tw twns: Twn 1 with enrllment f 1600 Twn 3 with enrllment f 800 Twn 2 with enrllment f 500. Twn 4 with enrllment f 300 In this example, Team B, with current ttal enrllment f 1100, applies t acquire Twn 2 frm Team A, which currently has enrllment f 2100. If allwed, Team A wuld be left with nly twn 1 (1600 enrllment), and Team B wuld increase t 1600. Even thugh this prpsed territry reassignment wuld seem t result in better balance f enrllment numbers, Team B still has the burden f prving that it can use mre players frm Twn 2 than are currently being rstered by Team A. In prving its case, Team B shuld fcus n : Hw many players frm Twn 2 were rstered n the Team A Rster in each f the last three years; and hw many rster spts, if any, were vacant n the Team A and Team B rsters in each f the last three years; Failure t prvide this infrmatin will result in the rejectin f the applicatin. Even if Team B s applicatin is based n need (say, an inability t draw sufficient numbers f players frm Twns 3 and 4), that fact des nt mean that Team A will be split apart in rder t imprve Team B s situatin. The state baseball cmmittee is generally unwilling t split teams apart against their will. It will generally nly be willing t d that if the affected team Team A is nt rstering players frm a twn, and thse players can be given a better chance t play by re-assigning the territry. EXAMPLE 5: Same facts as Example 4, except Twn 1 enrllment is nly 800. Because that is less than 1000, Team B s applicatin wuld be rejected. -17-
II. Administrative Guidelines and Requirements: All Territrial Assignment applicatins must begin at the zne level befre they will be cnsidered by the State Baseball Cmmittee. The fllwing prcedures shall be fllwed in all cases: All requests must be filed n cmpleted Frm 7 (See separate Frm Attached) with the respective zne chairman fr the zne, wh will immediately frward it t the State Baseball Directr as well. Neither the state nr the zne chairman has any respnsibility t d anything with the applicatin until it is cmplete. Each team s rights under these rules shall be clearly explained t them by the zne chairman prir t any zne vte, as described belw. Once the zne chairman has verified that the frm is cmplete, the zne chairman must raise the matter t a general discussin at the next zne meeting, and must allw discussins fr as lng as necessary (i.e., including at subsequent zne meetings) t determine whether the zne teams agree r disagree with the prpsal, as described in the next paragraph. N later than December 31 f the year in which the applicatin is received (December 31 f the fllwing year, if the applicatin is received between Nvember 15 and December 31 f any given year), the zne chairman is respnsible fr bringing the matter t a vte f the zne. A qurum is required, as fllws: First, all Affected Teams shall be excluded frm vting. At least 50% f the remaining zne teams eligible t vte must be present, and f thse present, at least 50% must apprve the applicatin. EXAMPLE 6: A zne with 9 teams is cnsidering a prpsal frm Team 1 t acquire territry frm Team 2. In the zne vting, neither team 1 r 2 may vte, which leaves 7 eligible teams fr vting. At least 4 f thse 7 teams must be present t cnstitute a qurum, and f thse actually present, a majrity must apprve the prpsal fr it t carry at the zne level. Regardless f the zne vte, the zne chairman must reprt the utcme f the zne vte t the State Baseball Cmmittee at its January meeting: Nte that the applicatin is autmatically placed n the January agenda by the State Directr when he receives his cpy f the applicatin (see abve). The zne may nt delay r stall the applicatin prcess. Regardless f the reslutin f the matter at the zne level, it will be an agenda item at the state meeting in January. If the zne vtes t accept the prpsal, and the zne chairman als cncurs, the state Baseball Cmmittee will generally adpt the applicatin, effective fr the immediately upcming seasn r the fllwing seasn depending n the circumstances. The decisin as t timing is always at the discretin f the state Cmmittee. Regardless f the zne vte result, if either the zne chairman r an Affected Team disagrees with the zne vte, they may appeal t the state Baseball Cmmittee n later than its January meeting t recnsider the zne vte, with a clear explanatin regarding why they think the vte shuld be dismissed. Each Affected Team has the right under these rules t attend the January state Baseball Cmmittee meeting t actively participate in the state Cmmittee discussins. -18-
The state Cmmittee may decide t table its final decisin n the matter fr ne full year, during which time mre infrmatin may be btained. 1. If the State Cmmittee tables the decisin, its minutes fr the January meeting must clearly describe the matter(s) in questin, the infrmatin necessary t make the final decisin, and wh has respnsibility t gather and prvide that infrmatin. 2. Alternatively, the State Baseball Cmmittee may chse t grant the applicatin, but impse a ne-year delay in its effective date, in rder t give affected teams a reasnable amunt f time t adjust their affairs accrdingly. 3. The state Baseball Cmmittee always reserves its right t apprve r reject an applicatin based n cmpetitive balance r ther reasnable cncerns, ntwithstanding the utcme f the vte at the zne level. The state Baseball Cmmittee reserves the right t intervene t crrect instances f bvius injustice r cmpetitive imbalance. In these circumstances, the recmmendatin f the zne chairman will be given significant weight by the state Baseball Cmmittee. Any zne chairman r state Cmmittee member wh actively manages r participates in the management f an Affected Team shall recuse himself frm vting n the prpsal, at all levels. In the event that any applicatin under these rules crsses znes (e.g., a team in zne A seeks t cmbine with, r acquire part f the territry f, a neighbring team which is in a different zne), the guidelines abve must be fllwed with the fllwing mdificatins: If the prpsal is t cmbine existing teams, then BOTH zne chairman f the tw affected znes must receive the applicatin, and the abve guidelines and prcess must be fllwed in EACH zne affected. The state cmmittee will generally nly act n the applicatin if it is apprved in bth znes, unless it believes the prpsal is in the verall best interest f the state prgram. - 19 -