It is also the intention of the league to maintain a fair level of play amongst all the teams within a community. “Stacking” of teams is not permitted by anyone, including coaches, commissioners and parents. Stacking refers to placing mostly 11 year olds on one team and 12’s on another or selecting the most talented to play on one team and the less talented on another. Rosters should be balanced by age and talent. The commissioners will investigate all complaints and they alone will determine if and what disciplinary action will be taken. Your cooperation is appreciated to keep baseball fun, challenging and rewarding for all of our young players.

Awards: The League will supply 1st and 2nd place trophies after completion of all league games. League games not played by July 25, 2006 that do not affect the determination of the 1st and 2nd place winners, do not have to be played. The team with the best won-loss record in each division will play a championship game as scheduled and the winner will take first place. If a tie exists after all league games are completed, a playoff game must be scheduled and played before July 27, 2006.

Rosters: By April 24, 2006, all teams through their community commissioner must submit a team roster (via electronic media – Microsoft Word or Excel – emailed or on floppy disk) to the League Commissioner that contains the following player information: Name, Address, Phone # and Date of Birth. Rosters must also include the team coach and assistants with the following information: Name, Address, Phone # and email address. April 6, 2006 is the deadline for submitting the coach’s list via the same media.

General Rules

1. Players must not turn 13 before August 1 of the current season.

2. Each team must submit a roster by April 24, 2006. Players may be added to the roster until June 15 by calling the League Commissioner.

3. The home team will keep the official scorebook for both teams. If the score is disputed, the umpire will be the tiebreaker if there is a paid umpire. Otherwise, the two coaches must resolve the dispute. The home team is also responsible for calling (262-673-7218, 8:30 to 10pm) or emailing (morepride3@yahoo.com) the score to the League Commissioner within 2 days after a completed game. Please include the team age group and number if applicable. Failure to report your score within the 2-day period could result in a forfeit for the home team.

4. No protests allowed. Problems can be discussed at the coaches meeting at the end of the season.

5. Players can be called out or ejected for throwing equipment. This decision is up to the umpire, although the umpires should first give a warning unless the incident is intentional or flagrant.

6. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and fans. Heckling by players or fans is not allowed. Arguing umpire calls will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and after one warning, may result in ejection. Continued incidents will result in a game forfeit.

7. All players present at the game must play at least two innings in the field, with the following exceptions:
· Coaches and umpires must be notified if a team member will not participate due to disciplinary actions.
· Ejections for unsportsmanlike conduct - failure to comply will result in forfeit of the game.
2006 11-12

8. Each team will have 9 rostered players in the game at all times. In case of an injury, a team will be allowed to continue with 8 players. A team will also be allowed to play with less than 9 players if the two coaches agree. A team will be allowed to bring up unrostered players from their 9-10 team roster in order to complete the game.

9. The home team coach will decide when a game shall be suspended/discontinued due to bad weather. In no case shall a game be allowed to start or continue when there is lightning in the area.

Field Preparation

1. The home team is responsible for having the playing field in good condition.
2. Bases and pitcher’s rubber must be staked down.
3. Bases are 70 feet. Pitcher’s rubber is 46 feet from home plate.

Game Rules

1. The Home Team will supply two new baseballs for each game.

2. The Home team will provide the home plate umpire or both umpires if both are paid. The visiting team will provide one base umpire unless the home team provides paid umpires.

3. The home team coach will determine when conditions prevent the playing of a game and shall contact the visiting team’s coach not less than one hour before game time. Rain dates must be rescheduled within 7 days and played within 14 days or by July 25 whichever comes first. The home team coach must take the initiative to communicate to the visiting coach and is responsible for notifying the League Commissioner of the date and field of choice to insure availability. If the coaches cannot agree on a time, date or place, the League Commissioner will determine same and notify both teams within 3 days of game day. Both teams that fail to reschedule an unplayed game within the above time constraints will be given a forfeit.

4. Games start promptly at 6:00 pm. Teams arriving more than 15 minutes late shall forfeit the game, however, this rule may be waived by mutual consent of the coaches.

5. Visiting team gets the field from 5:45 to 6:00.

6. No new inning may start after 8:05 pm. In case of a tie, the Umpires will determine if the game can be safely completed.

7. Games shall consist of 7 innings. Four and one-half (4 ½) innings is considered a full game if the home team is ahead, five (5) if the visiting team is ahead. Score reverts back to the last completed inning for game called in the middle of an inning.

8. A game can be considered over by the losing team if the winning team has a ten (10) run lead at the end of five (5) innings or anytime thereafter.

Pitching

1. All pitchers should wear warm-up jackets between innings.

2. No pitcher can re-enter a game as a pitcher once he is removed from that position.

3. A pitcher will pitch no more than four (4) consecutive innings per game or eight (8) innings in 72 hours.

4. Any pitch thrown by a pitcher in an inning constitutes a full inning.

5. A balk is to be called if the hidden ball trick is used.

6. If the pitcher fakes a throw to a base while his foot in on the rubber, a balk will be called. No other balks will be called except in the “hidden ball trick” case.

7. Umpires must call balls and strikes from behind home plate.

Base Running 2006 11-12

1. Players must wear helmets at all times while in the field of play. Intentional removal of a helmet while base running when the ball is live shall result in the runner being given a warning for the first such incident or being declared “OUT” for any further incidents.

2. If the ball is out of play, the runners shall be awarded the base to which they were headed plus one base.
· Example #1 - An over throw out of bounds while a runner is going from first base to second - the runner is awarded third base.
· Example #2 - An over throw out of bounds while a runner is heading back to first base after going part way to second - the runner is awarded second base,

3. If a play is made at home plate, the runner must slide or attempt to avoid contact. It is a judgment call by the umpire if the play is close enough to require a slide. The umpire must call the runner out if the runner does not slide when the umpire decides a slide was required. The catcher cannot block home plate or make a play for the runner if he does not have the ball or will not have the ball before the runner reaches the base. The umpire shall warn the catcher for the first infraction and can eject the catcher from the game for flagrant or further infractions.

4. Runners may steal any base. A runner may not begin stealing until the ball has crossed home plate. If the runner leaves early he must return to the original base. On a passed ball or wild pitch (ball passes a 3’ arc around the catcher), runners may NOT take home, a runner can advance to any other base as per the rules, but cannot take home. The purpose is to create a situation where only a ball put into play can score the runner.

5. If a play is made on a runner by throwing the ball, the runner may advance to the next base, including home plate, or return to the original base.

6. A maximum leadoff of six (6) feet is allowed. The umpire is to call the runner out if leadoff is more than six (6) feet before the ball is hit. The six feet is measured from the inside edge of the base to the runner’s back foot. A chalk line should be put down at each base.

7. If the catcher drops the third strike, the ball is in play and the batter may attempt to reach base safely if 1st base is unoccupied or there is 2 outs. The batter can begin running anytime before he reaches the dugout or fence line whichever applies. Once the batter reaches the dugout or fence line, he is out. The umpire is also to call the batter out if a teammate or coach touches him before he attempts to reach 1st base.

Batting

1. No designated hitter
2. All players present at the game must bat in common numerical order.
3. The batter must wear a batting helmet.

Equipment