***The RSABL will adhere to NCAA College baseball rules and regulations for game play; with the exception of any specific rule addressed in the following ***
Rule 1 – Player Eligibility
In order to legally participate on any RSABL team, a player must pay $200 league fee for the 2014 spring/summer season; and meet age requirements for his given division. Players participating in 18+ MABL league must be 18 years of age or older by March 1, 2014. Players participating in 35+ MSBL division must be 35 years of age or older by March 1, 2014.
*** Players under 35, but over the age of 30 who participated in the 2013 30+ league may be grandfathered onto a 2014 team roster. Grandfathered players must be at least 32 to pitch
Older players may choose to play down in the young division. League fees will fund all gameplay expenses, including umpiring fees and game balls. Players will be expected to provide personal equipment for game play but will not pay any further expenses for all scheduled gameplay for the given season. A player will not be eligible until league officials receive full league fee payment, including any late fees potentially assessed. A player joining a team after the season has begun will be given a prorated fee based amount of games remaining. Teams cannot add players after 75% of teams schedule has been completed. In unique cases, special permission could be given for player addition upon reviewby league officials. Any player that has met his league membership requirements is eligible to participate at any time in any RSABL sanctioned event.
Rule 2 – Uniforms
All players must be properly uniformed for all league games. Jersey must be tucked in and hats worn properly in a traditional manner. Proper baseball attire, including baseball pants and socks, is mandatory at all times; a player will be denied participation if he is not properly uniformed. Sweat pants, shorts, athletic pants, or blue jeans are prohibited during gameplay under any circumstance. Teams are expected to have matching jerseys with individual numbers. Teams are expected to wear “like” pants and baseball caps on the field of play. Umpires will deny participation to any player(s) not properly uniformed
upon their discretion. If forfeiture results from denied participation, standard forfeit rules will apply.
Rule 3 – Helmets
All batters and runners must wear a helmet with at least one earflap. The MSBL/MABL strongly urges that all helmets are double ear flapped, but at a minimum, the batter’s ear that faces the pitcher must be covered by an earflap. Catchers, while playing defense, must wear a protective helmet. There will be NO deviations/exemptions from this rule.
Rule 4 – Code of Conduct
Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:
- Lay a hand upon, shove or strike, or threaten an official. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.
- Refuse to abide by an official’s decision. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
- Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official’s decision. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.
- Discuss with an official or officials the decision reached by such official or officials, except for the manager or his designee who are authorized to participate in such discussions. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.
- Use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
- Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game will be expelled permanently from RSABL membership.
- Be guilty of verbal abusive attack upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season.
- Consume or being in possession of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs at a league event, during the game or be up the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition. Alcohol is also not permitted in any fashion at any event. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and will be permanently expelled from membership in the RSABL.
- Smoke on the field of play or in the dugout. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and asked to leave the facility.
- Cursing on the field of play. Players guilty of such conduct will be suspended from further participation in the game and asked to leave the facility.
Any player that physically assaults an umpire WILL FACE charges and will be banned from the RSABL for life. Any player that physically assaults another player will be banned from the league for life and the victim will be encouraged by league to have league action brought against them by the victims.
Penalties
Any player ejected from a game will face a one game suspension the next scheduled game. A second ejection in the same season will result in yearlong expulsion. As outlined above, certain violations will result in permanent removal from RSABL membership for life. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR ANY REASON. If a manager attempts to play a suspended player, the manager will face suspension penalties. If a suspended player participates and it is realized after the fact, team will be issued a forfeit and all forfeiture penalties thereof; and manager will be suspended.
Rule 5 – Equipment & Baseballs
Any metal bats used in gameplay in the RSABL will be restricted to BBCOR standard. Composite and wood bats are permissible. Use of any illegal bat during gameplay will result in player being called OUT on that plate appearance and a warning issued the entire team, followed by game ejection of any player attempting to use such bat at any later point in the game. If team is found guilty of illegal bats after completion of a game, team will be issued a forfeit loss for that contest and face normal forfeiture
penalties. League will provide assigned umpires with game balls…league managers are expected to help umpires managed game balls during game play in order to ensure we have them throughout the season.
Rule 6 – Number of Players
Teams must have nine (9) players for an official game. The team may borrow players from the opposing team if the manager of this team consents. A team may also borrow a player from a team other than the one that they are playing if, and only if, the opposing manager consents. Any borrowed player must be RSABL eligible. Games will be forfeited if a team cannot field at least nine players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, or officially adjusted starting time. If a team cannot begin a contest with (9) players within given start time, game will be played as exhibition only and normal forfeiture penalties will
apply regardless of exhibition outcomes.
Rule 7 – Courtesy Runners
18+ MABL
Courtesy runners are optional for the pitcher and catcher at all times. If a player gets on base and he will be entering in the defensive half of that team’s inning as a catcher or pitcher, then he is eligible for a courtesy runner. Courtesy runners can only be the last recorded out or a player who is not currently in the batting line-up. If the last recorded out is a courtesy eligible player as well, the previous recorded out will be the eligible courtesy runner. Courtesy runners for injuries will be
agreed upon during gameplay by managers, as a general rule, pinch running is expected when available to manager. Inserting an illegal courtesy will result in an out.
35+ MSBL
Managers will agree upon courtesy runner designations at a home plate meeting prior to first pitch. Inserting an illegal courtesy will result in an out.
Rule 8 – Lineup
For the sake of fairness and accuracy, team’s roster present at the game, including names and numbersand not just the starting lineups, must be exchanged by teams before the start of each game. Managers will provide opposing manager and the home plate umpire a copy of your line-up as defined above. The Rules Committee suggests that teams come to the event with a complete prepared roster form with all of the above stated information.
Offensively
Each manager has the prerogative to bat as many players in his initial lineup. If the manager wishes to add players to the bottom of the lineup (i.e. hitting positions 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, etc.), he may do so at any time. Added players to the bottom of the line-up may be added as individual hitters or as A/B. Any added player to the bottom of the lineup or pinch hitter must notify the opposing team manager of the batting order change. If no notification is made, and proper protest is made, an automatic out will be assessed to that batter. If a player is pinch hit for, he may not re-enter the game as a hitter, but may stay in the game
defensively. Batters may not be deleted or skipped over, regardless of their batting position or when they were added to the game. If a team increases the size of their lineup, their line-up must remain at that increased number for the remainder of the game. An exception exists to this aspect of the rule. If a player is forced to leave a game due to injury or ejection, a reserve player, not previously entered into the game as a hitter, must hit in the replaced batter’s place. If there are no reserves who can replace the individual, the spot is skipped and all hitters below that position move up. The first time this vacated spot comes up in the batting order, an out will be assessed. After that one time, no out will be recorded for skipping the spot vacated by the displaced player. Exception exists for injured players, there will be no out assessed for player forced out of the lineup
due to injury. A team MAY declare at the time that lineups are exchanged prior to the start of play that any batting order
position will be occupied by two (2) players in each such batting position. That is, 3A/3B, 10A/10B, etc. The first time that position 3 gets an at bat, 3A would hit and the next time this slot hits, 3B would be up. Then 3A hits the third time this spot in the order comes up, and so on, alternating between these two players throughout the game. Once a team declares the use of this A/B system, it must continue using it for the remainder of the game. Hitters in the A/B position from the batting order may be pinch hit for, just as any other player. An A/B position may be added to the bottom of the lineup at any time during the
game. Teams may add a “B” batter to an existing lineup spot once the game begins as with any other addition.
In the case that a team bats a player not designated on the roster given to the home plate umpire and the opposing team, that player, upon proper protest, will be found illegal and declared out after one pitch is thrown. The opposing team may protest this illegal player at the time of the offense. Penalties will not be retroactive and teams may not protest the use of this illegal player once the game is completed. If the team feels the player is not on the team’s official roster, then the protest will be heard. The best way to prevent this issue is for any player entering the line-up to declare himself with the home plate umpire before stepping into the batter’s box for his first at bat, at which time the umpire will notify the opposing manager. In the case that a team has mistakenly put the wrong numbers for their players on the lineup given to the home plate umpire and the opposing team, the team will correct the error(s) with no penalty. The penalty for a team having a player bat out of turn is an out, if protested before the first pitch.
Defensively
All players may be substituted for, at any time, except the pitcher. Defensive players need not be in your batting order. In regards to substituting for the pitcher, only the starting pitcher is allowed to re-enter the game. He can only re-enter once and it must be at the beginning of an inning.
Rule 9 – Length of Games, Ties, Run Rule, Rain-outs, etc.
League games are 9 innings with no inning beginning after 2 hours and 45 minutes. For 7 inning scheduled games no inning can begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes. 5 completed innings constitutes a complete game in the event of rain or other stoppage of play.
Teams cannot arbitrarily stop a game (quit) if the score is lopsided and the team that is losing decides it does not want play any longer. If a team “quits” before the time or 9 innings, the final score will be changed to reflect 10-0 final score in favor of the opposing team for the forfeiter. In addition, no team can arbitrarily forfeit a game because they will “benefit” by not playing. Any team that purposefully forfeits a game will be fined $200.
Games can end in a tie and standings are determined by points. For example, your team will receive two points for every win you post, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. Playoff seeding will be set based upon the point system.
The umpire may cancel or call a game if, in their opinion; the safety of the players is compromised due to weather or darkness.
9 inning games ending in a tie may be played out if time permits. Rain out games will be re-scheduled if at all possible. Managers of the involved teams and the commissioners will work these situations out as it best fits the schedule of both teams.
There is no mercy rule in effect for league play. The losing team can put the mercy rule into effect without penalty if there is a 10 run deficit after 5 complete innings of any contest. The winning team cannot force mercy rule into effect. Rain outs will be at the discretion of the umpire after consulting with managers and any other league or field officials present.
Rule 10 – Forfeiture
Any team that is issued a forfeit loss will be fined $200 for their first forfeit and a 10-0 loss recorded in standings; and expelled from league upon their second. Payment arrangement must be made to league officials prior to a team’s next scheduled game, or team will not be allowed to play and therefore face a second forfeiture and inherent expulsion. A 24 hour minimal notice will be required to avoid forfeiture. League will postpone and reschedule if notified at least 24 hours prior to scheduled game. A team will only be allowed 2 reschedules in a season.
Note *** - Any loss of gameplay deemed a “no contest” due circumstances out of the control of managers or league officials, such as environmental, will not result in forfeiture penalties for any scheduled teams.
Rule 11 – Collisions, Decoys and Slide Rule
Collision Rule
The rules committee is concerned about possible unnecessary and violent collisions that may occur with the catcher at home plate, and with infielders at all bases. The intent of this rule is to encourage base runners and defensive players to avoid such collisions whenever possible. a. When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the ball, the umpire shall judge:
(1) Whether the collision by the runner was avoidable (could the runner have reached the base without colliding) or unavoidable (the runner’s path to the base was blocked) or (2) Whether the runner actually was attempting to reach the base (plate) or ttempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder.
PENALTY—If the runner, a) could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or b) attempted to dislodge the ball, the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball is dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. The player will be ejected from the remainder of that game, and will not face further suspension beyond that game. (3) If the fielder blocks the path of the base runner to the base (plate), the runner may make contact or slide into, a fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base or plate. (4) If the collision by the runner was flagrant, the runner shall be declared out and also ejected from the contest. The ball shall be declared dead. b. If the defensive player blocks the base (plate) or base line clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The runner is safe and an immediate dead ball shall be called. (1) If the base runner collides flagrantly, the runner shall be declared safe on the obstruction, but will be ejected from the contest. The ball is dead.
Decoy Rule
Any fielder may use a decoy only if it serves a strategic purpose. For example, if a fielder, who sees a man attempting to steal second base during a hit and run, looks upward into the sky and says that he’s got the pop-up when in fact the ball has been hit on ground is a legal decoy as it may cause the runner toretreat to first base and prevent him from advancing. However, if a fielder fakes a tag, forcing a player to slide, when there is no strategic purpose or apparent play, the runner will be ruled safe and all runners will advance one base. This is entirely an umpire judgment decision and not a rule that may be protested.
Force Play Slide Rule
The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.
a. On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases. Exception—A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.
(1) “On the ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground.
(2) “Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.
(3) If a runner goes into a base standing up and does not make contact or alter the play of the defensive
player, interference shall not be called.
b. Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner:
(1) Makes a legal slide directly to the base, or (2) Is on the ground at the time of contact and the fielder moves directly down the line between the two bases to attempt a play. (3) Makes a legal slide and makes contact with a defensive player who is on or over, but not beyond, the base. (4) When the base runner slides beyond the base, but does not (a) make contact with, or (b) alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called. (c) Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:
(1) The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the fielder;
(2) The runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder;
(3) The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position;
(4) The runner goes beyond the base and either makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder; (a) Beyond the base” means any part of the offensive player’s body makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder beyond the base.
(5) The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg;
(6) The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.
PENALTY:
(1) With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
(2) With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
(3) If the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest.
(4) If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.
Rule 12 – Make-up games, Scheduling, Protest
Any regularly scheduled game will be made up if possible and at the best interest of the overall league schedule, make ups are not guaranteed. In the event of a rained out game(s), every effort will be made to make up the contest(s), but this is also not guaranteed. Tie ballgames will not be completed at a later date, exception of playoff or championship contest which will be schedule to allow extra inning time. As outlined above, teams will have the ability to finish tie games with extra innings on scheduled dates if time allows. Protest must be filed with league officials with 48 hours of completion of a game, regardless of any discussions had with umpiring of other league member at time of contest. In the event a potential major violation is discovered, league officials will amend the time line for protesting a contest.
*** ANYTHING NOT COVERED IN THESE RULES & REGULATIONS WILL BE LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT AND LEAGUE OFFICIALS
*** LEAGUE OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS MAINTAIN AUTONOMY IN RULE INTERPRETATIONS AND ANY SPECIAL CASE SCENARIOS THAT MAY ALTER A WRITTEN RULING
