Apponaug Babe Ruth Baseball
Coaches Handbook
Major Division
2011
Managers and Coaches Responsibilities
Certification: Managers and coaches need to have a certificate by Babe Ruth bytaking
an on-line coach’s course if they plan to coach an all-star team.
B.C.I. Check: All Managers and Coaches must provide the League with sufficient
personal information for a police background check.
Conduct: Managers will assume overall responsibility for the actions and conduct of their
player’s, coaches and parents. Managers, coaches, players and parents shall agree to
properly conduct themselves at all times at games, practices, and all other league
activities in order to insure a safe and healthy environment for all players in the league.
Equipment and Uniforms: Managers will be responsible for all equipment and uniforms
issued to their team at the beginning of the season and will sign an inventory form upon
issue. All equipment will be turned into the Equipment Coordinator at the end of the
season by a designated date and will be inventoried. No one will be allowed to store any
equipment at his or her home during off-season without the consent of the equipment
manager. Any broken or damaged equipment should be immediately reported to the
Equipment Coordinator for replacement.
All Teams are required to clean the dugouts, and around the bleachers after each
game.
Team Parent: Each Manager is responsible for choosing a Team Parent for the season
to assist with league activities such as fundraisers, team pictures, special events, and
with coordinating their teams assigned Snack Bar Dates.
Practice: Each team is assigned practice times by the league prior to and during the
season. The Manager is responsible for planning and scheduling practices, which will
include proper baseball instruction on skills, sportsmanship and fundamentals.
Special Events/Fund Raisers: Each team is required to participate in league activities,
fundraisers and special events. The Manager, with the assistance of a parent to convey
to there teams the importance of supporting their league through fundraisers. Players
should be proud to represent their team and the league in fundraisers and special events,
and feel that they are contributing to the success of the league.
Team Scorer: The Manager of each Major and Minor league team is responsible to
select an official team scorer for all “Home” games. The team scorer shall be responsible
to record the official game records as the official scorer from the scorer’s booth and
review the records after each game with the home and visiting team managers. The
scorer may use the assistance of one other person in the scorer’s booth. No other
persons shall be allowed in the scorer’s booth during games
Protocol for Violations of Managers and Coaches Conduct
By signing the “Coaches Code of Conduct”, each Manager and Coach agrees to properly conduct
themselves at all times during games, practices, and all league activities. In order to insure a safe and healthy
environment for everyone in the league, the Board of Directors has established the following protocol when a
violation or infraction has been committed during a season:
1st Violation:
An oral warning will be given to a manager or coach by the
League President.
2nd Violation:
3rd Violation:
The League President will issue a written warning.
If a third violation occurs by the same manager or coach, he/she will be relieved of their
coaching assignment and will receive a written notice from the League President (This
action requires a majority vote by the Board of Directors).
Suspension:
If a manager or coach commits a serious violation, the President may immediately
suspend him/her from the league until action by the Board of Directors determines whether the
manager or coach will be relieved of his/her coaching assignment or issued a written warning.
Official Rules
The Apponaug Babe Ruth Baseball League (A.B.R.B.L.) will play all games according to the most current
edition of the “OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES” , with the exceptions that are written here in the “League
Rules”, and the exceptions noted in the “OFFICIAL BABE RUTH RULES” book.
No other rules will come into play. There are no agreements to be mad e between managers or coaches to
change any rules for a particular game. All rule changes must come from the Board of Directors, and will
be communicated in writing.
Please remember if it is not in writing in the above listed rulebooks, the rule does not exist!
League Rules take precedence over all rules. The following order of rules shall be followed
1). Local Rules
2). Babe Ruth Official Rules
League Format
a. All weeknight games before May 1st will start at 5:30 p.m. at Apponaug Complex all
Games at Kenny will begin at 6:00pm. If the game ends during any portion of an inning
that is not completed, the score will revert back to the last completed inning.
b. A complete game in the Major and Minor League consists of four complete innings if the
visiting team is ahead, or three and a half innings if the home team is ahead. If the
game is called on darkness or weather and a complete game has been reached if the
game is in the middle of the inning the game will revert back to previous inning.
c. It should be understood that if the visiting team is losing the game and the home team
playing the remainder of the inning will not affect the outcome of the game affected,
then the bottom of the inning is not to be played (i.e. bottom of the ninth concept).
d. Tie games will be recorded as a tie game in the standings and replayed if it will affect
year-end standings.
e. Both teams may use the field for warm-ups for 15 minutes the must show up early.
Games will start at the scheduled time they will not be delayed due to teams being late.
f. Only the President, Vice President, or other designated league official can cancel games
due to inclement weather. Once a game begins, the umpire may cancel a game at any
point due to weather or darkness.
g. The teams at the end of the season will be bracketed for the Apponaug Cup by their end
of Season record. Ties will be determined by teams final winning percentage. Teams
will play a double elimination tournament to determine the final league standings and
champions.
h. Only the Manager/Acting Manager will protest a call to the umpires. He or She should do
this in a calm and respectful manner after time out has granted by the umpire.
Remember that you cannot argue balls & strikes with umpires.
i. The Home Team (Major Division and Minor Division) will be responsible for lining the
field and preparation of the mound/home plate area, base paths, and infield if necessary
before every game. All field preparation shall be completed one-half (1/2) hour before
game time to allow for field practices.
j. The Visiting Team (Major Division and Minor Division) will be responsible for raking
the field and covering the mound and home plate at the end of the game.
k. Both Home and Away Teams must have one parent in the snack bar during every game.
l. The Apponaug Baseball Complex is a drug, alcohol and tobacco free sports
environment. Managers, coaches, umpires, parents, relatives, legal guardians and fans
are expected to comply too this ordinance.
m. Any player or manager caught by an Umpire or Board Member using foul language,
arguing a call, throwing, or destroying equipment, will be automatically suspended for
the remainder of that game. Managers and Coaches are asked to carry out their own
suspension on your own player if an Umpire or a Board Member does not observe the
incident.
Major League Rules
Games will begin at 6:00pm.
1. Batting lineups must be submitted with the player’s full name and number to the
opposing coach and scorer’s booth before the game starts.
2. Players must follow wear full uniform in appropriate way. Coaches must follow the
following dress code during games. No sleeveless shirts or open shoes will be allowed.
3. Coaches are not to past the first section from the opening of the dugout while the game
is in play. You must wait till the umpire has granted you time out before you approach the
field.
4. All players must have helmets on when retrieving a bat at the plate during the game.
5. Players can be substituted freely but only in-between innings.
6. No Curve Balls - The umpire will give the pitcher one warning on the second offense the
umpire will remove the pitcher from mound (not the game).
7. Balks – The pitcher will receive two warnings then a ball for each balk will be called
runners will not advance on a balk call.
8. Re-entry for pitchers will follow official baseball rules and regulations, unless specifically
changed by A.B.R.B.L House Rule.
9. The batting order is continual with all players batting regardless of whether or not they
were in the field defensively. All players must play two full innings defensively a game.
10. No Slash Bunting - If a batter turns to bunt he or she cannot pull back and hit away. This
is to protect the players that where drawn in to defend the bunt.
11. The pitching rules are addressed in the Babe Ruth Rule Book. Remember that one (1)
pitch thrown constitutes one inning pitched. Also, remember, 2 days rest means 2 full
calendar days, not 48 hours from the last outing. The calendar week is Monday to Sunday.
Pitchers are allowed to pitch up to six (6) innings per week.
12. No headfirst Sliding – A player is automatically out if he or she slides headfirst into any
base. Headfirst sliding will only be allowed when returning to a base to avoid a tag.
13. Pinch Runner - A pinch runner will be allowed for the following. An injured player who
must sit out the next inning or the catcher if there is 2 outs in the inning to help speed up
the game.
14. There will be “FORFEITS” if you cannot field a team (9 Players) on the day of a game. A
manager can obtain a substitute player (10-12 years of age) from the minor league division
only. The player must play no less then 3 innings if called up and a player shows up late.
15. If a player is ejected from the game and the team can only field eight (8) players, then
the player will be allowed to remain in the game. The player will not be allowed to play
another game till this suspension is satisfied. They must sit out the next game in full
uniform on the bench.
16. No food allowed in the dugouts during a game. The players will be Restricted to drinks
only during the course of the Game.
17. All players, male and female must wear a protective cup (male) or protective gear
(female). Babe Ruth rules requires all catchers to wear a protective Cup.
18. Live batting practice on the field of play or batting cage will not permit prior to the start of
the game. However, the use of batting aides can be used as part of the team warm-up prior
to the start of a game.
19. Mercy Rule – A team losing by 10 runs by the end of the fifth inning the game is over.
Major Division Draft Rules
.
1. All teams must draft 12 players to their roster. A team may take a13 player in the draft
but not until all teams have reached a 12-player roster
2. Players must be of the age of 10 to 12 years old.
3. All teams will get one first round pick then all coaches’ protection rules will be
enforced.
4. The regular end of season record determines the order of the draft.
5. In the event of two teams ending in a tie at the end of the season, the player agent or
unbiased board member will flip a coin the winner of the coin toss will be placed in the
higher seeded position. Example: Both teams tied for 3rd place at the end of the
season if there are 5 teams the winner will pick third in the draft the loser will pick
fourth.
6. (Amended 2006) The Official Draft will start with the last place team picking first and
going down in order in the standings with the first place team picking last. This order
will continue till the draft has ended. There will be no reversal of order in the rounds.
7. (Revised 2005) In the event if there is an expansion team. The expansion team will
have the first and last pick in the first round of the draft. Once the first round has
completed the expansion team will only have the first pick for the remainder of the
draft.
8. A manager taking over a team in the majors does not need to use his child as a
protection in the draft and will be automatically placed on the team. The manager will
not be penalized if he taking over a team that already had a sibling or siblings playing
the team from previous years.
9. A coach who becomes the new manager of the team and was the team’s coaches
protection from the previous year or years. The team will be granted a new coaches
protection. The exception being that if the old manager is still coaching on the team,
no new coach’s protection will be awarded.
10. If a manager is coming up with multiple siblings’ only one child shall be allowed to be
placed on the team without a penalty. The remaining siblings will have to be drafted
starting in the second round till all siblings have been selected.
11. Each team will be allowed one coach’s protection till that protection has left the team.
The protection must be drafted in the second round or next available round. Refer to
Rule #9 No Exceptions.
12. If there are multiple players (siblings) with the coach being protected those players
must be selected in order starting with the second round or next available round. (See
rule 9) until all the protections have been drafted.
13. Sibling’s Protections – Managers who have sibling coming up from a lower division
must be selected in the third round or the next available open round. No Exceptions.
14. A player drafted with a sibling the manager must take the next sibling by the third
round or the next available round. The only exception would be is if a parent informs
the league that they would like the children to be split up.
All- Stars
 Apponaug has the option to have 5 all-star Teams in the following age groups
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a) 12U 50-70 Foot
b) 12U 46 –60 Foot
c) 11U 60 Foot
d) 10U 60 Foot
e) 9U 60 Foot
Managers must submit a letter of intent to the VP of the division to have a team and voted on by
the board. Coaches will be selected by the manager and will not need to send in a letter to coach.
Managers and coaches must be certified by Babe Ruth and take the on-line certification course
on-line at there expense.
Eight players will be selected for each age group by the team managers and the board the
remaining players will be selected by the all-star manager. The manager may opt to have a tryout
for those players to help make the final picks.
In-house all-star Game
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Every Year Apponaug will select non-All-star players to play in an in-house game.
Rookies will be selected by the Mangers and VP of the Division