Minor rules
General Rules for the Mayfield Boys Baseball League
Section 1.01 General Rules of Conduct
(A) There shall be no smoking in the dugout (bench) areas or on the field by players,
coaches,
managers, and umpires during games.
(B) Profanity by any player, coach, or manager during a ball game will not be tolerated.
Any
person described above using profanity may be suspended up to a twoweek period, after an
investigation by the executive board. The person in
question will have the opportunity to
appear before the board.
(C) If a manager is dealing with player, who he considers a disciplinary problem, that
player is to be reported to the commissioner who must report to the executive board,
which will investigate the situation. The player will have the opportunity to be heard
by the executive board. Also, if an executive board member or manager witness’s
unsportsmanlike activity or a discipline problem, he may report it to the executive
board for investigation.
(D) In the event that a player (Minors, Majors, Pony’s) engages in clearly flagrant
misbehavior (such as, but not limited to, fighting, swearing, open disrespect to
coaches, managers, umpires, or other players, throwing of equipment), the umpire
has the authority to eject that player from the game, after ONE warning.
(E) The player's manager may bench that player upon discussing the benching with the
umpire and opposing team manager.
(1) If such a benching occurs, both team managers must report the player to the
commissioner within a twenty-four hour period. A notation must appear on the
game report turned into the umpire.
(2) The rules committee will conduct an investigation and the player cited will have
the opportunity to be heard.
(3) The board will decide within forty-eight hours of receiving the report whether to
suspend the player from league play.
(F) Parents, relatives, friends, and players from other teams are not permitted on the
team bench during a game. The manager must inform parents and other noncoaching persons that they are not to actively engage in coaching a player during a
game. While support and encouragement are welcomed, the coaching of the players
is the responsibility of the manager and coaches.
(G)Parents and other spectators will be asked to vacate the area behind the backstops so
they do not interfere with the batter and pitcher's concentration, as well as the
umpire's ability to call the game.
(1) Managers and umpires have the authority to request persons to leave this area.
(H) If parents experience difficulty in dealing with managers or coaches, they may
contact any member of the executive board.
(1) The board will then investigate the complaint. If necessary, the board will
provide the complainant and the manager/coach an opportunity to be heard
Section 1.02 Player Eligibility and Mandatory Play Rule
(A) No registered participant in the league can play on any baseball team that is not
affiliated with the Mayfield Boys Baseball League.
(B) Violation of this rule could result in the expulsion of the player from the league and
the forfeiture of all fees paid to the league.
(C) In the minor, major, and pony divisions, all players must play at least three innings in
the field defensively each game.
(D) Players for the losing visiting team need only play for two innings in the field since
the home team may not need to bat in the bottom of the last inning.
(E) If a player arrives after three full innings of a game are completed, it is up to the
team manager's discretion as to whether the player will be entered into the game.
(F) If a player is ejected from a game for misconduct, he will not be permitted to return
to that game, or a make-up game should the game the player was ejected from have
to be re-scheduled due to weather or curfew.
Section 1.03 Player Eligibility and Mandatory Play Rule cont.
(A) Barring injuries or illness, every player must play according to the league's mandatory
play
rule.
(B) All players in the minor, major, and pony league are to bat in a full-roster batting
order for the
entire game.
Section 1.04 Line-ups/Rosters
(A) The player’s line-up, names and numbers must be presented to the opposing
manager and
scorekeeper at least fifteen minutes before game time. All
starting players, substitutes, and
absent players must be listed on the
line-up.
(B) A team that cannot field a sufficient number of eligible players within fifteen minutes
of the
scheduled start of the game shall forfeit by a score of 1 -0.
(C) If there is no umpire present at the scheduled start of a game, both managers shall
mutually agree on a competent umpire from the spectators (an adult is preferable,
but the person selected must be at least 16 years old). The umpire selected shall not
be replaced unless he is injured.
Article 2. General Playing Rules
Section 2.01 Division Rules
(A) Except where superseded by local Mayfield Boys Baseball League rules (local rules);
playing
rules are as follows:
(1) Minor and Major Leagues - Official Little League Rulebook.
(2) Pony League - Ohio High School Athletic Rules for Baseball.
Section 2.02 Local MBBL Ground Rules - General Rules Applying to all Leagues
(A) Players
(1) All players on the playing field shall wear league- issued jerseys, and ball caps.
(2) Players must have their shirts tucked in and wear belts if pants have belt loops.
(3) Uniform pants must be purchased by the player and must be WHITE by the start
of second week of season.
(4) No pinstripes, colors, or insignias are to be worn.
(5) Failure to comply will result in the player being withheld from the game.
(6) All star hats and uniforms are not to be worn by an all star in regular season or
post-season games.
(B) Equipment Policy
(1) All batters must wear a full protective plastic helmet while at bat and while
running the bases or on-deck.
(C) Metal spikes are not permitted.
(D) Players coaching a base must wear a batting helmet.
(E) Catchers must wear:
(1) A protective cup.
(2) Headgear and facemask.
(3) Shin guards.
(4) Chest protector.
(F) Player’s warming-up a pitcher between innings, in the absence of the regular catcher
must
wear a protective mask.
(1) Any base runner that, in the opinion of the umpire, deliberately runs into a
fielder in an attempt to cause him to drop the ball will be called out. If a player
flagrantly violates this rule, he will be ejected from the game.
(2) When a play is being made at home plate, the runner on whom the play is being
made MUST slide - failure to do so will result in the runner being called out,
based on the judgment of the home plate umpire.
(3) Any pitcher who hits a batter with a pitched ball any place on or above the neck
more than once in a game shall be removed from the pitcher's position, unless
the ball was in the strike zone when it hit the batter above the neck.
(4) Catchers must wear league-issued and approved protective equipment, including
headgear (helmet), protective groin cup, chest protector, shin guards, mask, and
throat protector. Managers must make sure catchers wear the protective groin
cup.
a) Player’s warming-up a pitcher between innings, in the absence of the regular
catcher must wear a protective mask.
(G)Field of Play
(1) On an overthrown ball, if the ball goes out of the field of play, refer to Little
League Rule Book, Rule 7.05 - G and H.
(2) If a ball is hit down the left or right foul line and lands in fair territory, then rolls
foul beyond the foul poles or outside the limits of the field, it is deemed a ground
rule double.
(3) If a ball is hit down the left and right foul line and lands in fair territory, then
rolls foul without going beyond the foul poles and remains in play, the player
may run for the maximum number of bases obtainable.
(4) An infield fly rule is a fair ball (not a line drive) which can be fielded (caught) by
an infielder with ordinary effort, while base runners are on first and second base,
OF, first, second, and third base, with NO outs, or ONE out in an inning.
a) The pitcher, catcher, and any outfielder stationed in the infield are considered
infielders.
b) When it is apparent that the batted ball will be a fly ball in the infield, the
umpire will immediately declare infield fly rule, by shouting "infield fly rule"
for the runners' benefit. The batter is automatically ruled out. The ball is
alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or
retouch (tag-up) the base and advance after the ball is touched, the same as
any fly ball.
(H) Complete Games
(1) A game that is shortened by rain or darkness shall be a "complete" game if at
least four innings have been played.
(2) If the home team is ahead and the visiting team has batted for four full innings,
it is also a complete game even if the home team has not batted in or completed
batting in the fourth inning.
(3) All incomplete games are considered suspended games and must be rescheduled for completion in the same manner as postponed games.
(4) When an incomplete game is resumed, the league-pitching rule shall apply in the
following manner:
a) The maximum innings per week rule will apply for the week in which the
game is resumed.
b) A pitcher cannot pitch more innings in the entire resumed game than he
would have been permitted to pitch in the game had it not been rescheduled.
(5) If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, but after 1 or more
innings have been played, it shall be rescheduled exactly where it left off, (Little
League Rule 4.10 Sec.D).
a) All records including pitching shall be continued.
(6) Bats used in a game by a particular player on a team become "common" to both
teams for use in that game. If a player does not wish a teammate or an
opposing team member to use a personal bat, it should not be brought onto the
bench.
Article 3. Disputes and Protests - All Leagues
Section 3.01 Manager
(A) The only people who can discuss, dispute, or ask for a ruling on a play or call is the
team
manager, or acting manager in the manager's absence.
(B) Protests must be registered at the time of the dispute in the official scorekeeper's
book/records and signed by the game umpire. Only protests on rules will be
accepted-not on
judgment calls.
(C) A formal protest, in writing, must be submitted to an executive board member within
twenty-four hours of the dispute.
(D) The protest must be submitted with $25 cash, refundable only if the protest is
upheld.
(E) Three impartial members of the executive board appointed by the President will rule
upon the
protest within one week of the protested game.
(F) In the event that a protest is upheld, and the week of the protested game has
expired, then the eligibility of pitchers for the resumed game shall be governed by the
number of innings he has pitched in the week in which the game is resumed.
Article 4. Umpires
Section 4.01 Responsibilities
(A) The umpires are required to have the bases set 15 minutes before the starting time of
the
game.
(B) The umpire prior to the beginning of the game should review all ground rules with the
team
managers.
(C) No players, managers, coaches, or spectators are allowed behind the backstop while
the game is in progress. *To be strictly enforced by umpire.
(D) After the game the umpire will remove the bases, install the base-plugs, and lock
equipment in the score tower providing it is the last game of the night.
Article 5. Age Limits
Section 5.01 Divisions
(A) A player wishing to move up early must attend a tryout with the managers from the
division
he is moving into there.
(B) The player will only be allowed to move up upon the approval of the managers from
that
division and the executive board.
(C) Cut-off dates are as follows:
(1) Instructional - No older than 6 years old, on Aug 1st of that season.
(2) Mighty Mites - No older than 8 years old, on Aug 1st of that season.
(3) Minors - No older than 10 years old, on AUG 1st of that season.
(4) Majors - No older than 12 years old, on AUG 1st of that season.
(5) Pony’s - No older than 15 years old, on AUG 1st of that season. Amended
05/01/03.
Article 6. Post Season Playoffs
Section 6.01 Divisions
(A) At the end of the season, there shall be a playoff series between top teams in the
Minor, Major, and Pony leagues in a format agreed upon by the executive board and
commissioners of each league and approved by the President, prior to the start of the
season. The executive board will decide on what type of championship and
consolation (round robin) tournament (if any) will be held.
(B) The preliminary playoff rounds will constitute a pitching week and will be single
elimination.
(C) The World Series will be the best two out of three games and will constitute one
pitching week, even if the series is played over two calendar weeks.
(D) All playoff games in the post-season must be played to completion to determine a
winner. (Games called on account of weather or curfew will be resumed at a time and
location agreed to by the managers and league commissioner.
Article 7. Local MBBL Ground Rules - MINOR LEAGUE (9-10 year olds)
Section 7.01 Playoff’s
(A) All playoff games in the post-season must be played to completion to determine a
winner.
(B) Games called on account of weather or curfew will be resumed at a time and location
agreed
to by the managers and league commissioner.
Section 7.02 Pitchers
(A) A pitcher shall be permitted to pitch a maximum of six innings per week
(Week=Monday
through Sunday).
(B) No pitcher can pitch more than three innings per game.
(C) If a team has a third game in a week for make-up purposes, pitchers will be allowed
an extra
two innings for the week.
(D) One pitch delivered in an inning constitutes one inning pitched.
(E) Should a pitcher be removed from the mound, based on a manager's decision, and
does not
leave the game but returns to pitch in the same inning, the
pitcher will not be charged with
more than one inning pitched.
(F) A pitcher may be removed and reinstated as a pitcher twice per game, as long as he
has not
left the game as a player.
(G)A manager or coach is allowed to walk to the mound and confer with his pitcher two
times per inning. On the third visit to the mound, the pitcher must be replaced with a
new pitcher.
Section 7.03 Ground Rules
(A) Field Layout
(1) The length between bases is 65 feet.
(2) The distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate is 46 feet.
(B) Infield fly rule WILL be enforced.
(C) The balk rule will NOT be enforced in the Minors.
(D) Stealing home is permitted.
(E) Teams in the minor league that are unable to field nine players at the start of the
game may
field only eight players to play the game without incurring a
forfeit.
(F) Ball four and strike three situations are "live ball" situations. However, strike three on
the batter with a runner on 1st base before that pitch is delivered cannot advance to
first base even if the ball is dropped. All other runners on base can advance at their
own risk. Amended 03/28/01
(G)Intentional walks are not permitted.
(H) Player cannot play outside of Mayfield Boys Baseball League.
(I) You cannot borrow players from another division or team at any time.
(J) No registered participant in the league can play on any baseball team that is not
affiliated with the Mayfield Boys Baseball League.
(K) There will be no head in sliding when advancing to the next base. If a player slides
headfirst they will be called out. A player may head slide back to the base they are
returning to. However, this rule does not apply during a run down, a true run down.
Amended 03/28/01
(L) A game will be 6 inning’s long.
(M) No new inning shall start after the 3rd out of the 2 and 1/4 hour time limit.
(1) An inning starts the moment the 3rd out is made completing the previous inning.
(N)Bat dimensions are 27” to 30” length X 2 1/4 diameter.
(1) Bats used in a game by a particular player on a team become "common" to both
teams for use in that game. If a player does not wish a teammate or an
opposing team member to use a personal bat, it should not be brought onto the
bench.