Rules

Ocala Rotary Sportsplex Babe Ruth Baseball

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Ocala Babe Ruth Baseball League Rules & Regulations

PURPOSE:

Ocala Babe Ruth Baseball is dedicated to developing better citizens by providing properly supervised baseball competition for 13 thru 19 year-old players. It is the intent of Babe Ruth Baseball that every candidate is given the opportunity to play in this program. Ocala Babe Ruth Baseball will participate under current Babe Ruth Baseball Rules and Regulations with the addition of the following league rules.

 

CONDUCT:

The conduct of managers, players, coaches, umpires, parents and fans shall be in keeping with the highest tradition of Babe Ruth Baseball. The use of profanity, alcohol, drugs or tobacco products is not allowed while in uniform or while on the facilities. Fighting, on or off the fields is strictly forbidden. The league will enforce all rules. Offenders will be ejected from the game and or stands. Second ejection of any Player, Manager or Coach during the year will result in automatic suspension from further play. Suspended players will only be reinstated by appeal to and approval by the executive committee of the Board. Any Player, Manager or Coach ejected from any game by the umpire for profanity or unsportsman-like conduct (example: running over a player or throwing an elbow or shoulder) will automatically be suspended for the next game. Any Player, Manager or Coach ejected for fighting; flagrant physical contact or verbal abuse will be suspended for the remainder of the season (may appeal to the Board). Any team that has a Manager, Coach or Player playing that has been ejected and has not followed the fore mentioned requirements will result in automatic forfeit of that game.

 

APPEARANCE:

A complete uniform (matching hats, pants, shirts and socks) will be worn at all times when on the field. When in uniform the shirt will be tucked into the pants and all parts of the uniform will be worn properly. Uniform includes protective cup, which the parent/guardian must provide. No jewelry of any kind can be worn (player will not be allowed to continue to play until jewelry is removed, this is not an ejection). Any questions will be directed to the field coordinator before the game starts (penalty-see page 3 par 1.11 in the official baseball rulebook).

 

PARTICIPATION:

Each player must play a minimum of 2 complete innings of continuous play (6 consecutive defensive outs) per regulation game, which extends to 5 innings or more. If the game is 4½ innings or less, the player must play 1 complete inning unless player is being disciplined (this includes time limit games, tie games and 10 run rule games). If the Manager does not comply with this rule his/her team will forfeit that game, and must start that player in the next game, and he/she may not be removed until the player has met all requirements for both games. 13 year old & 14/15 year old divisions will have a continuous batting order in our league. If all managers in a division agree to play regular baseball rules instead of continuous batting order/free substitution, then they can make a request to the board.

 

A manager does not have to play his/her players if:

· Player misses practice (unexcused– did not let their Manager or Coach know)

· Player is a no show for game or games.(UNEXCUSED)

· Player is late for game.(Unexcused-did not notify their manager or coach know in advance that the player would not be at scheduled session or game.

            

             The scorekeeper must be notified in writing before the game starts if any player will not play. All players should be listed on a line-up card, note those players that are not present or players that are being disciplined, this will be noted in the scorebook. A player not listed on the line-up card at the time it is turned into the scorekeeper will not be allowed to start the game and must be placed at the bottom of the batting order.

             **List any player not present at game time as either absent or discipline, or any player present that may not play as being disciplined or injured.

 

Players can not play while under a doctor’s care without a release. (Player must be able to comply with the participation rule before they will be allowed to play).

 

Failure to comply with the participation rule will result in that team forfeiting the game. No matter when it is discovered and brought to the board’s attention, or to a board member.

 

A two hour time limit is placed on all scheduled games (No inning will start after 2 hours). A new inning starts when the 3rd out is made). A 10 run rule will be in effect after 4½ or 5 innings (this is a regulation game).

 

Rainouts will be rescheduled and played as a regulation game at the end of the season, if needed to determine standings. Games that are called because of weather conditions after they have started will be picked up from the point the game was stopped (the time the game started and stopped will be listed in the scorebook) and played until the two-hour time limit has been reached. Extra inning games can continue until the two-hour time limit expires. The schedule committee will determine when make-up games are to be played.

 

PITCHING LIMITATIONS:

13/14 & 15 year old league will have the following guidelines for their pitchers. No pitcher is allowed to pitch more than 7 innings within a 48 hour period. Once the 7 innings has been reached a 48 hour rest period must be met before they may pitch again.

 

16 & up league has no written restrictions as to the use of pitchers in league local play.

 

If playing continuous batting order, the starting pitcher is the only pitcher allowed to re-enter as a pitcher unless removed by the two trip rule. The starting pitcher can only re-enter once.

 

If a pitching violation occurs then the manager will be warned. The second violation, manager will be suspended for the next game. If it happens again the manager will be suspended and must appear  before the board for reinstatement or disciplinary action.

 

PRACTICE TIMES:

If possible each team will be scheduled to practice on the playing fields two times during each week before the season begins. All practice times will be selected at the draft. The times will be determined by drawing Ping-Pong balls. Each team will draw a number 1 through ?? (depending on number of teams) and that order will determine the order in which the team selects practice times during the week (Monday-Friday). Saturday and Sunday practice will be determined in reverse order of the first drawing. (Unless otherwise agreed upon by ALL managers).

 

A maximum of two team sessions per a week before the season starts and three team sessions after the season starts. (Two games, one practice)

 

PROTEST/COMPLAINTS:

Protest must be made at the time of the violation (before the next pitch is thrown).

 

Protest must be acknowledged to the umpire and the scorekeeper. (Have book opened to the rule in question).

 

Field coordinator will handle all protest. All protest will be handled according to the rulebook. All rulings of the field coordinator are final. Complaints must be put into writing and submitted to the board. A written reply will be returned from the board.

 

ADMINISTRATION:

The board of directors will make all policies and rulings concerning operations of Ocala Babe Ruth Baseball.

 

Playing rules and playing policies specified here in will not be changed during the season, except by a board meeting in which 75% of the board members are present and 75% vote yes.

 

Official scorekeepers will be assigned to each game. Home team will provide an Official Scorekeeper.

 

The leagues official score books will be the only ones used for statistical information used by the league. The official score books will be used to determine participation and pitching rule enforcement. Managers are encouraged to sign off on the pitching for each game. If these rules are not followed, that game will be forfeited when discovered.

 

Pitching data will be provided before each game if requested by the team’s manager.

 

UMPIRES:

The umpires are employees of Ocala Babe Ruth Baseball. The umpires agreeing to work for Ocala Babe Ruth Baseball will be held accountable for the rules and policies of Ocala Babe Ruth Baseball and Babe Ruth Baseball.

 

MANAGERS AND COACHES:

Managers and coaches are appointed for one reason by the board of directors. Managers are responsible for returning (replacing damaged equipment) all equipment at the end of the playing season to the equipment manager.

 

Conduct shall be as to inspire good sportsmanship and fair play among his/her players. No tobacco products will be allowed on the field or in the dugouts during games or practices. Extreme caution should be taken by each manager and coach concerning the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the day of or before any activity requiring the presence of players.

 

Managers and coaches that do nor abide by these rules will be subject to discipline. Home team manager of first game and home team manager of second game are responsible for getting the fields ready to play, determining playing condition of the field, selecting a scorekeeper and a protest committee, putting things away as well raking the field properly after the last games of the night. Managers must get the parents to clean up under and around their bleachers after the game.

 

Managers of the late games are responsible for emptying the trash cans in their dugout.

 

Visiting team has field use for a 10 minute infield practice 30 minutes before game time. Home team has the field use for a 10 minute infield practice 20 minutes before game time.  Five minutes before each game there will be coaches and umpire meeting at home plate.

 

CONCESSION STAND DUTY:

Managers of teams not playing a scheduled game will provide concession stand workers for the entire scheduled game or that team will forfeit their next scheduled game. No exceptions to this rule will be allowed.