Manoa Youth Baseball League
General Rules and Regulations
PURPOSE: To establish rules and regulations (“General Rules” or “Rules”) for the Manoa
Youth Baseball League (“MYBL” or “League”).
SCOPE: The provisions of these rules are applicable to all managers, coaches, assistant coaches,
players, parents of players and all other persons connected with, and/or participating in, MYBL
activities.
GENERAL: These rules shall be interpreted and supplemented when no rules or other
procedures are provided. The MYBL Board of Directors (“Board”) shall establish and approve
necessary changes and provide new procedures for the efficient and harmonious operation of the
League.
When any situation develops which is not covered by these Rules, as may be supplemented, the
President, his/her representative, or Division Manager's ruling as to any matter within that
Division, shall be binding until the Board of Directors adopts a written rule to cover the situation.
PROCEDURES: These Rules, and such additional rules as may be adopted by the Board for
each of the Divisions, shall govern the organization and rules of play. Situations not covered by
the General Rules shall be governed by the "Official Baseball Rules" as released through the
Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, "The Sporting News" edition.
A.
B.
The League
1.
The organization shall be known as the MANOA YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE.
2.
The League shall consist of teams in as many farm systems as may be determined by
the Board. Each farm system shall include a Majors Division, Minors Division, and a
Rookie Division, except that the Board may make adjustments, for example, where
there are an insufficient number of registered players in a division. The Pony Division
and the Shetland Division shall be organized based on the number of registered players
and as may be determined by the Board.
League Boundaries
There shall be no geographic boundaries for the MYBL. The league is open to all players
who meet the age requirements and such other requirements as may be set by the Board.
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C.
D.
Teams
1.
The Board shall determine the number of players assigned to each team.
2.
When a team loses one or more of its players on its roster at least seven days prior to
the official start of the season, the General Manager of the farm shall obtain another
player from the Player Replacement Pool to maintain the team’s established number of
players as determined by the Board. The official start of the season shall be the day of
the first scheduled League game. The season shall officially end at the completion of
the last League game.
3.
If a player drops out of the league within seven days prior to the start of the regular
season or thereafter, no replacement player shall be added to the team. The player
dropping out shall not be considered a registered player of the League. Should the
player register to participate in the League the following year, that player shall be
considered a new player, except as provided for in Section E.1, below. The following
procedures shall be followed to confirm the voluntary drop out:
a.
The Farm’s General Manager shall talk with the registered player’s parents and
inform them of the League policy regarding terminating participation.
b.
The Farm’s General Manager shall inform the Board of the results of the
discussion with the player’s parents.
Registration
1.
The farm responsible for registration shall conduct the registration of players on
designated registration days. All new and returning MYBL players shall register on
those designated days or such other days as the Board may set.
2.
All registered returning MYBL players shall be entitled to play.
3.
All new players shall be registered on a "space available" basis with no guarantee of
participating in the season. If there are more new players than available spaces,
selection to be protected players first then first come first served.
4.
Registration fees shall be fully refundable if the player’s request to withdraw from the
League is made in writing and received by the League President at least one week prior
to the scheduled tryout date. If the written request is received by the League President
thereafter, but before the day of the draft, then 50% of the registration fee shall be
refunded. Thereafter, no refunds shall be made.
5.
Players registering after the designated registration dates shall be placed in the Player
Replacement Pool. The Player Replacement Pool shall be a confidential list of players
and shall constitute a "wait list". No new players may register and be added to the
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Player Replacement Pool for the upcoming season after the cut off date for
replacement of players has passed (one week before the season's opening day).
Registration fees shall be fully refunded to players on the Player Replacement Pool
that are not placed on a team.
E.
Players
1.
2.
A "returning player" is defined as a player who played in MYBL during the preceding
spring season.
a.
A player who participated in the preceding spring season but who did not
complete the season due to medical reasons shall be deemed a returning player.
b.
A returning player who will be playing in the same division as the previous year
shall remain with the same farm team unless he/she elects to enter the draft.
c.
A returning player who will be playing in the same division as the previous year
and elects not to return to the same farm team shall enter the draft. The player
may not be granted an exemption by another farm.
A "new player" is defined as a player who did not play in MYBL during the preceding
spring season.
a.
A player who participated in the preceding spring season, but did not complete
the season shall be deemed a new player.
b.
New players must enter the draft, unless he/she is an exemption.
c.
A new Minors or Majors division player must enter the draft unless exempted by
a farm as provided for in this section.
3.
Players entering the draft shall attend a tryout for their respective division. If a player
misses the tryout for any reason, he/she shall be added to the blind draft.
4.
Certain players, due to ability, may be permitted to play at a higher division than
otherwise provided for by that player’s age. The player’s parents shall submit a letter
to the Board requesting such change at least fourteen days prior to the date set for
tryouts. The request is subject to Board approval.
The head coach of a player, who is playing in a higher division than otherwise
provided for by their age, may request to move that player to the lower division if the
player lacks the ability to safely participate in the higher division. Such a request shall
be made to the Board within one week of the draft.
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F.
Exemptions
1.
An "exemption" is the designation by a team of a draftable player who is exempted
from entering the draft. The exempted player shall become a member of the team
exercising the exemption.
2.
Players eligible to become exemptions are:
a.
Returning players may stay with their previous season farm.
b.
Outside protects
c.
Designated protects at the rookie division.
3. Exemptions by division:
a.
Rookie teams are allowed to protect up to six (6) first year rookie players. A
first year rookie player is one that is playing age 7 years old or playing age 6 years old
(with a play up letter). Rookie division teams are not allowed to protect playing age
8 year old players. The only exception will be in the situation described in 4(A)
Sibling Protect or at the discretion of the board. If a rookie team chooses to protect
players at playing age of 6 years, they will have their first year rookie protects
reduced the following year by the number of the 6 year old they protected the
previous. For instance, if in 2016, Team A protects five (5) 7 year old players and one
(1) 6 year old, then in 2017, that team will only have a total of five (5) protects at the
rookie division.
b.
Minor teams will be allowed to protect all playing age 9 year old players
moving up from the Rookie division and within their own farm. They will also be
allowed two (2) outside protect (OP) players, one each at playing age 9 and 10 year
old. Teams cannot OP two players at the same playing age.
c.
Major teams will be allowed to protect all playing age 11 year old players
moving up from the Minor division and within their own farm.
c.2. Players who have played at least one year at the Major level, will be allowed to
be protected by another farm if it is determined that their current team will not field
a team the following year. For the sake of allowing kids who are on the same farm to
play together for their final year(s) at the Major level, teams will be allowed to
protect up to two (2) players per season, although encouraged, players do not have
to come from the same team. This protect must be jointly approved by the parents
of the player and representatives of the farm. A player who is forced to enter the
draft as a first year Major player due to their current farm not fielding a team at the
Major level, will have the option of entering the draft or returning to their previous
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farm if they are able to field a team the following season. If their previous farm is
unable to field a team the following season, then the above rule applies. Major
teams will also be allowed two (2) outside protect (OP) players, one each at playing
age 11 and 12 year old. Teams cannot OP two players at the same playing age.
d.
Sibling Protect: There will be NO sibling protect rule. For example, if a higher
division team protects a player regardless of age and that player has a sibling at the
Rookie division, the Rookie team may use one or more of their six (6) protects
(depending on the number of siblings) to allow the sibling(s) to play if they wish.
This is the only situation where a Rookie team can protect a playing age 8 year old
player. Further, if a Major division team protects an outside player regardless of age
and that player has a sibling at the Minor division, the Minor team has the discretion
of protecting the sibling as an outside protect.
e.
Outside protects of twins or siblings of the same playing age at the Minor and
Major level will be addressed on a case by case basis by the MYBL board.
f.
Twins or siblings of the same playing age will count as two protects as first year
Rookie players.
g. Players who are playing in a higher division than otherwise provided for by their
age shall enter the draft, unless the player is an exemption as stated above.
h.
The farm exempting such a new player shall forfeit the first round draft choice
in the age group of the exempted new player. If the farm does not have a draft
round for the age group of the new player because of equalization of players, as
provided for below, the farm shall forfeit the first round draft choice of the next age
group of the same division. Such exemption(s) shall count towards the total number
of exemptions allowed to that farm.
G.
Majors Team Determination
1.
Respective farms must have at least 9 eligible players after registration is complete to
guarantee a team for the upcoming season. Teams with more than 11 players after
registration will designate, at the respective farm's discretion, players to move to the
draft pool so that other teams can fill their respective rosters via the draft procedures
outlined in section H below.
2.
In the event there are farms with less than the minimum 9 players after registration and
the registration totals warrant the formation of additional teams:
a.
The farm with the most eligible player totals below the 9 minimum will have first
option of having a team and will follow the draft procedures in section H below.
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H.
b.
The procession of determining teams shall continue in order of eligible players
until the target number of teams based on registration totals is reached.
c.
In the event two or more farms have the same number of registered players below
the 9 player minimum and are vying for an available team slot, those farms shall
draw straws to determine which farm shall have a team.
Draft Procedures
1.
The farm responsible for the draft shall conduct the draft according to the procedures
described herein.
2.
Draft Order: The prior year's team standings in each division will determine the order
in which the teams will pick in the draft in that division. The last place team will have
the first draft position (Team 1). The second-to-the-last place team will have the
second draft position (Team 2), and so on to the first place team, which will hold the
last draft position.
3.
Draft Round: A draft round constitutes the selection of one player in an age group by
each farm team eligible to draft a player in the order as determined pursuant to Section
G.2., above. The number of draft rounds for each age group in each division shall vary
depending on the maximum number of players of each age group each team in said
division will carry during the upcoming season. Each draft round shall follow the
same selection order from first to last, until all players in a division are selected.
4.
Drafting sequence shall be as follows:
a. Majors 12-year-olds;
b. Majors 11-year-olds;
c. Minors 10-year-olds;
d. Minors 9-year-olds;
e. Rookie 8-year-olds; and
f.
Rookie 7-year-olds
Age categories will include those players choosing to move up a division early. For
example, 9-year-old Minors players will include 8-year-olds requesting to play in the
Minors Division.
5.
Players in the blind draft shall be placed randomly during the draft of their respective
age group.
6.
Equalization of players:
a.
The purpose for the "equalization of players" is to distribute the players in their
respective age brackets as evenly as possible among the teams in each division.
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b.
The equalization process shall be accomplished by first listing all returning,
exempt, and sibling exempt 12-year-old players (using Majors division as
example) assigned to each farm system team.
c.
The farm responsible for the draft shall then determine the allotted number of 12
year-old players for each team by dividing the number of 12-year-old players by
the number of teams. By way of example: Assume there are a total of 60 12year-old players and nine teams; 60 players divided by nine teams results in
teams having either six or seven 12-year-old players. In this example, six of the
nine teams will carry an extra player and have seven 12-year-olds. The remaining
three teams will have six 12-year-olds.
In the event a team has more than the allotted number of 12-year-olds, the
number of teams required to have an extra player shall be reduced accordingly.
For example, if one team has eight 12-year-olds, then the number of teams
required to have seven 12-year-old players shall be reduced from six to four.
These numbers, along with the total number of players each team is allotted
pursuant to Section G.6.h. below, shall determine if, and how many 12-year-old
players a team may draft. A team cannot exceed the upper number of total
players per team during the draft.
1)
All team names with less than seven 12-year-old players shall be put into a
hat. Teams shall be drawn until the number of teams required to carry an
extra 12-year-old player has been drawn. In the original example, six team
names shall be drawn.
2)
Teams with seven or more 12-year-old players shall refrain from drafting
12-year-old players.
d.
Team 1 shall draft the first 12-year-old player unless it has seven or more 12year-old players, in which case Team 2, or the next highest draft position team
that has less than seven 12-year-old players, shall draft the first 12-year-old
player. The draft shall continue until all of the 12-year-old draftees have been
placed on a team. The total number of players on a team, including exemptions
and sibling exemptions, shall not exceed the upper number of the total number of
players each team is allotted, pursuant to Section G.6.h. below. A team cannot
exceed the upper number of total players per team. Teams that reach the upper
number of players per team shall not draft any more players.
e.
During any draft round, teams may either draft a player or choose a draw from the
12-year-old blind draft pool. Draws from the 12-year-old blind draft pool shall
be made after all regular 12-year-old draftees have been placed. The names of all
the 12-year-old blind draftees shall be placed in a hat and the teams shall draw a
name from the hat in the order the blind draws were chosen.
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f.
After all of the registered 12-year-old players have been placed on a team, the
draft for the 11-year-old players shall follow.
g.
The farm responsible for the draft shall determine the number of 12-year-old
players (including drafted players), 11-year-old exemptions, and sibling
exemptions each farm has. This number shall be used to determine the number
of 11-year-old draft picks each farm has.
h.
The farm responsible for the draft shall determine the total number of players
each team is to be allotted. The allotted total shall be the total number of 11 and
12-year-old players divided by the number of teams. By way of example, assume
there are a total of 120 players with nine teams; 120 players divided by nine
teams results in teams having either 13 or 14 total players. In this example, three
out of the nine teams will carry an extra player and have 14 players. These
numbers, along with the numbers determined in Section G.6.g. above, shall
determine if a team has a draft pick in the 11-year-old draft.
i.
All team names with less than 14 players shall be put into a hat. Teams shall be
drawn until the number of teams required to carry an extra player have been
drawn. In this example, three team names shall be drawn.
j.
Team 1 shall draft the first 11-year-old player, unless it has 14 or more allotted
players, in which case Team 2, or the next highest draft position team that has
less than 14 total allotted players, shall draft the first 11-year-old player. The
draft shall continue until all of the 11-year-old draftees have been placed on a
team. Teams that reach the upper number of total players per team shall not draft
any more players. A team cannot exceed the upper number of total players per
team.
k.
During any draft round, teams may either draft a player or choose a draw from the
11-year-old blind draft pool. Draws from the 11-year-old blind draft pool shall
be made after all regular 11-year-old draftees have been placed. The names of all
the 11-year-old blind draftees shall be placed in a hat and the teams shall draw a
name from the hat in the order the blind draws were chosen.
l.
Whenever siblings are selected during the draft, the farm in charge of the draft
shall monitor the number of players each team has to ensure that the total number
of players allotted per team, as determined in Section G.6.h. above, is not
exceeded. A farm cannot draft a player if the addition of the players' sibling will
cause a team to exceed the total number of players allotted per team.
7.
Teams with 14 or more players at the start of the draft shall refrain from drafting any
players.
8.
The draft for the Minors and Rookie divisions shall proceed in a similar fashion.
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9.
Expansion Teams:
a.
The farm responsible for the draft shall report to the Board at least 14 days prior
to the draft to determine if an expansion in the League is warranted. The Board
shall approve any expansion in the league.
b.
The expansion team shall have the first five picks in the draft and may pick
players in either age group with not more than three being in the same age group.
c.
After the expansion team has made its first two or, as appropriate, three picks, the
draft round shall commence with the selection of the 12-year-old players. The
team with the first draft pick shall choose the next 12-year-old player. The
expansion team shall have the next draft choice. The next draft choice will go to
the team with the next draft position followed by the expansion team. This
process shall continue with the expansion team afforded every other draft pick
until it has the same number of 12-year-old players equal to the lowest number of
12-year-old players retained by another team (including exemptions) prior to the
start of draft. Thereafter, the expansion team would occupy the last draft position
in the draft order.
d.
The draft of the 11-year-olds shall proceed in a similar fashion.
10.
A player shall play for the farm system that selects him/her, unless traded.
11.
Trades can only involve draftees.
12.
The farm responsible for the draft must be notified of all trades. All trades shall be
completed on draft night.
13.
Majors Division Re-entry
A farm whose Majors Division team was eliminated during the prior season and which
is having its Majors team reinstated shall be subject to the same exemption guidelines
as the other farms.
Minors players who were members of a farm whose Majors Division team was
eliminated and who moved up to the Majors Division during the season that the farm
did not have a Majors Division team, including players who left MYBL, shall have the
option to return to their old farm as second year players, provided that they were listed
in the roster submitted pursuant to Section F.6. above. [Amended May 4, 2004]
Each re-instated team shall have the first selection(s) in the draft of 12-year-old players
until it reaches the number of players equal to the number of 12-year-olds on the team
with the lowest number of 12-year-olds. Thereafter, the reinstated team shall proceed
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to the bottom of the drafting order. In the event that there is more than one reinstated
team, the draft order for those teams shall be determined by lot.
The draft of 11-year-olds shall be governed by the same rules as apply to the other
farms.
I.
Umpires
1. Paid umpires shall be used at the Major and Minor division. Volunteers will be used
at the Rookie divisions.
2.
J.
A management committee comprised of the League President, Division Managers and
two representatives from the umpires will be responsible for overseeing game behavior
including, but not limited to, reviewing protests and complaints regarding players,
coaches, parents and umpires.
Schedules and Length of Games:
1.
The Board shall approve any regularly scheduled Sunday games.
2.
Each team shall play no more than three regularly scheduled games a week.
3.
Weekday Games (exclusive of holidays)
a. All games shall start as printed in the League Schedule with a grace period of 15
minutes allowed. Games shall begin NO later than 4:45 p.m.
b.
Games at the minor and major level will consist of 6 innings. No new inning
shall be started after one (1) hour and forty-five (45) minutes. An inning shall be
construed as having been completed immediately upon the third out of the home
team, or after the third out of the visiting team if the home team is ahead. If an
inning is started it must be completed
c. Games at the rookie level will consist of 7 innings. No new inning shall be started
after one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes.
4.
A game is considered officially completed if the losing team has completed four (4)
full innings at the minor and major divisions and five (5) full innings at the rookie
division and time has expired.
5.
6.
If a game is tied after the completion of six (6) or seven (7) innings depending on
division, the game may continue to break the tie provided the one-hour and fifteen or
one hour and forty five minute, no new inning time limit has not expired.
If a game is tied after four (4) full innings minor and major division and five (5) full
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innings at the rookie division and the time limit has expired, the game shall be
declared an official game and be recorded as a tie game.
c.
7.
If a game is called on account of darkness or inclement weather by the Umpirein-Chief, the game shall be rescheduled and completed at the first available
make-up date provided the minimum number of actual innings completed does
not meet official game guidelines (five (5) innings for Rookie and four (4)
innings for Minors/Majors).
Weekend and Scheduled Holiday Games
a.
Games for each Division shall be played on Saturday and/or Sunday and
scheduled holidays as printed in the League schedule.
8.
All innings which have started prior to the time limit being reached must be completed
unless inclement weather or darkness causes a play to be stopped. An inning shall be
construed as having started immediately upon the third out of the home team. If the
game cannot be completed due to darkness or inclement weather, the game shall be
suspended and the inning shall be completed at the next available make-up date unless
the minimum number of actual innings completed meets the official game guidelines
in which case the game is over.
9.
Suspended games shall be completed under the following rules:
a.
The completion game shall be scheduled in the same manner as a make-up game,
but the total of regular games, make-ups, and completions played shall not
exceed three per team per week.
b.
The completion game shall begin with the exact situation existing when the game
was suspended.
c.
The players shall play at in the positions on the field and appear in the batting
order as in the original game, except as provided in Section I.6.f. below.
d.
Players not in the line-up for the original game shall not be allowed to play in the
completion game. Documentation of eligible players for the continuation game
will be based on line up exchange of the original game entered in official
scorebook.
e.
Players participating in the original game but not in the completion game shall be
deleted from the line-up without penalty.
f.
For the continuation of an incomplete inning only, a pinch-runner/hitter shall be
allowed to run or complete an at-bat for a base runner/hitter who was in the lineup of the original game but is not in the line-up of the completion game. The
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pinch runner/hitter shall be the player making the last out. Once the inning has
been completed, players participating in the original game but not in the
completion game shall be deleted from the line-up without penalty.
10. The Umpire-in-Chief shall notify the Official Scorer of the official start of the game
and for any time delays or interruption as covered by Section I.10.
11. No game shall start prior to the scheduled time except when the preceding game has
been completed prior to the time limit and both teams and the umpires involved agree
to play prior to the scheduled started time. The time limit shall remain in effect.
12. Except for delayed games ordered by the Umpire-in-Chief, all games shall start on the
scheduled starting time (15 minutes grace period for weekday games). No weekend or
holiday games shall start after 5:00 p.m.
13. If a game is delayed or interrupted due to inclement weather or other justifiable causes
(including but not limited to player injuries) as determined by the Umpire-in-Chief, the
period of delay shall not be included in the allowable time limit for the game.
14. When a game is considered an official game and the score is tied at the time the
Umpire-in-Chief calls the game off, the game shall be declared a tied game.
15. If a team is unable to field nine eligible uniformed players, see section L paragraph 15
concerning the borrowing of players.
13. Prior to the start of play, games may be postponed because of weather, poor field
conditions, or any other justifiable circumstances according to the following rules:
a.
The chain of authority shall be the League President or his/her designee, Division
Managers or their designees, Umpire-in-Chief.
b.
If a game's Umpire-in-Chief makes the decision, he/she shall consult with the
coaches of the two teams scheduled to play; however, the final responsibility for
postponement will rest with the Umpire-in-Chief.
c.
The person postponing a game or games must notify the affected teams and
umpires as soon as possible; however, failure to notify will not change the
postponed status of the game.
d.
On Saturday, or other days where a full playing day is scheduled, the League
President or his/her designated representative from the Board shall inspect the
playing fields and decide whether to play or postpone all scheduled games for the
entire day. The President or designate may consult with Division Managers to
arrive at a decision. The decision to play or postpone play shall be made, if
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possible, one hour before the start of scheduled play. The League President or
his/her designee may choose to delay the entire day's schedule, if appropriate.
Since the intent of this rule is to have as many of the scheduled games played as
scheduled, the following shall apply:
1)
Once the decision is made to play the day's schedule the Division Managers
and the umpires shall, if reasonably possible and consistent with the players'
health and safety, attempt to complete the schedule. This may include rain
delays during or prior to scheduled games.
2)
The games that cannot be played shall be played on the first available date
as re-scheduled by the League President, his/her designate or the respective
Division Manager.
14. Once a game has started, the Umpire-in-Chief shall have sole authority over its
continuation, interruption, suspension, etc.
15. A postponed or "no contest" game will be considered a make-up game.
16. Make-up games:
a.
Each team may play one make-up game in the League week.
b.
The Division Manager shall approve all make-up games and will prescribe the
time and place for each game.
c.
A make-up game will be played on the first open date immediately following the
postponed game, regardless of hardships created by the other official rules, as
follows:
1)
Make-up weekday games: first available date.
2)
Make-up weekend or holiday games: first available date.
3)
First postponed game will be played first, second postponed game will be
played second, etc.
d.
An approved make-up game will be declared an official game and shall take
precedence over any scheduled practices whenever conflict occurs.
e.
A make-up game need not be played if it does not affect the Division standing,
but approval by the Division Manager and the League President is required.
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f.
All pitching rules shall apply. The innings pitched in a make-up game shall
count towards a player's game, daily, and weekly pitching limits.
17. The Division Manager for each division shall be responsible for preparing the schedule
for the division, including playoff games. Schedule changes may be made only with
the approval of the Division Manager.
K.
Equipment
1.
The Board may, in its discretion, provide equipment to each farm, in which event it
will be done on an equitable basis.
2.
General Managers of each farm and the coaches shall be responsible for the upkeep of
equipment of their respective teams in their organization.
L. GENERAL RULES of the MYBL - The following General Rules will govern in all
regulation games of the League:
1.
All equipment shall be kept in or around the dugout area in a safe and neat matter.
2.
All players shall wear league issued uniforms consisting of baseball caps, jerseys and
pants while in the playing field, as well as protective gear, such as a cup for males,
during the progress of a game. Coaches are not required to wear full baseball
uniforms.
3.
Improperly attired players shall not be allowed on the playing field and shall not be
allowed to participate in the regularly scheduled game.
4.
All batters and base runners must wear an appropriate batting helmet, and all players
on the team at bat who are on the playing field, such as when acting as a base coach,
shall wear a batting helmet.
5.
Players who are warming up a pitcher shall wear a catcher’s mask.
6.
Only the team’s head coach or the acting head coach shall be recognized as the team's
spokesman when registering any protest.
7.
The coaching staff for each team will consist of the following:
a.
One head coach.
b.
Any number of assistant coaches as may be deemed necessary.
c.
One Team Scorekeeper.
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8.
9.
Home teams shall be responsible for:
a.
Marking field lines and batters' boxes if they are not lined before the game. The
on-deck batter's circle shall be located in such a spot so as not to create a hazard.
b.
Providing the Official Scorekeeper.
c.
On weekday games: Setting up the bases before the game, and returning the
official scorebook to the Division Manager, his /her representative, or the
equipment storeroom.
d.
On weekend and holiday games: The first game home team shall set up the bases
before the game. The last game home team shall return the official scorebook to
the Division Manager, his/her representative or the equipment shed after the
game.
Visiting teams shall be responsible for:
a.
On weekday games, returning the bases to the equipment shed and raking the
infield after the game ends.
b.
On weekend and holiday games, at the end of each and every game, the visitor
team shall rake the infield. The last game visitor team shall, at the end of the
game, return the bases to the equipment shed and rake the infield.
10. Pre-game warm-up (time allowing): Each team shall be allowed five minutes for pregame warm-up (infield practice). The home team shall take the field first, 15 minutes
before the game, followed by the visiting team. The remaining five minutes prior to
the game time shall be utilized for review of ground rules and field maintenance. Each
manager must present to the Umpire-in-Chief his batting order, in duplicate, five
minutes before the game time. NO TEAM SHALL BE PERMITTED TO WARM UP
MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES BEFORE EACH GAME.
11. Only the team players, coaches, team scorekeeper, team father/ mother and game and
League officials shall be permitted in the dugout areas and on the playing field. No
player shall be permitted to sit on the benches or to remain in the dugout area unless he
is in full uniform. NO SPECTATORS OR TEAM BACKERS (INCLUDING TEAM
SPONSORS) SHALL BE PERMITTED ON THE PLAYING FIELD.
12. When a line is used instead of a fence to make the outer boundaries of the outfield, the
line itself will be in play and cones or other markers used to mark the line will be
placed slightly outside of the line.
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13. If a coach is ejected from a game, the coach is automatically suspended from the next
game.
14. Substitutions
a.
All players who are present and eligible to play in a game and who are not
playing in the field must play in the field by the beginning of the next inning.
Except for injury, all players must play one complete inning in the field prior to
being replaced in the field by a substitute player. Penalty shall be automatic
forfeiture.
b.
If a player is injured while batting and is unable to complete his turn at bat, the
player may be removed without penalty and the next batter in the batting order
shall bat with a new count.
c.
If a player is injured while a base runner, the player may be removed without
penalty and any player may be substituted as a pinch runner provided that this
player shall not miss his turn at bat. If a player misses his turn at bat because he
is a pinch runner, he shall be declared out.
d.
If a player is injured while playing in the field and is unable to continue play, the
player may be removed without penalty and any player may be substituted for
him in the field.
e.
An injured player who is removed from the game may re-enter at the discretion of
the Head Coach. However, the player must bat in his original position in the
batting order. The one complete inning in the field rule does not apply to him,
however, he may not replace a player in the field until that player has completed
his one full inning in the field.
f.
A player who arrives late may enter the game at the start of a new half inning and
shall take his turn at bat at the end of the batting line-up.
g.
Any player who is injured or is not eligible to play a particular game due to
disciplinary action by the Head Coach may sit with his team in uniform and be
exempted from playing in that game. The Head Coach must advise the Official
Scorekeeper and the opposing Head Coach of the status of the player prior to the
start of the game.
15. Borrowing Rule
Rookie Level- Teams may borrow enough for their team to get to 9 or 10 players, it is the
coach’s choice. Players cannot be borrowed from other teams in the league, only the opposing
team. Every player that is borrowed will only play the field for the team that is borrowing the
players. Those players will bat for their original team. The players that are borrowed will be the
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final player/players to bat with their own team in the previous inning. When the spot in the lineup
comes around for the borrowed players, these spots will be counted as outs. The spots will all be
at the bottom of the lineup, you cannot spread them out throughout the lineup (Ex. If you borrow
3 to get to 10 players, then spot 8,9,10 in the lineup will be counted as outs). The borrowed
players must either play Outfield or Catcher. A player who arrives late will be inserted in to the
highest open spot in the lineup. You must have 7 of your own players to start the game otherwise
the game is a forfeit.
Minor and Major Level- Teams may borrow enough players to make a 9 person team. They
may borrow from the team directly below them in their own farm without penalty as long as the
player has turned in a borrowing liability waiver (Ex. Majors can borrow a Minor Player, Minors
can borrow a Rookie Player). Teams may choose to borrow players from the opposing team to
help their team get to 9 players. Every player that is borrowed will only play the field for the team
that is borrowing the players. Those players will bat for their original team. The players that are
borrowed will be the final player/players to bat with their own team in the previous inning unless
those players will be pitching or catching the next inning, then you go to the next players in the
lineup. When the spot in the lineup comes around for the borrowed players, these spots will be
counted as outs. The spots will all be at the bottom of the lineup, you cannot spread them out
throughout the lineup (Ex. If you borrow 3 players, then they will be put in spots 7, 8, and 9 in
the lineup). The borrowed players from the opposing team must play in the Outfield. Players
borrowed from within your own farm can be used anywhere. Teams must have at least 6 of their
own players to start the game otherwise the game is a forfeit.
16. Protests
Protests must be filed in writing within twenty-four hours after the game with the
Division Manager. An attempt should be made to resolve the protest among the
Division Manager and the coaches of the teams involved. Failing that, the protest
shall be presented to the Board for resolution.
17. Sliding Rule for Majors and Minors Divisions.
a. Head first sliding is allowed at 2nd and 3rd base, but not allowed at home plate.
Player will be called out if rule violated.
b. Player must avoid contact at Home. Sliding feet first shall be considered as
avoiding contact.
M. Inter-League Play
1.
Inter-League play is authorized in the Rookie, Minors and Majors Divisions as may be
approved by the Board of Directors.
2.
Scheduling of inter-league play shall be the responsibility of the appropriate Division
Manager. It is the desire of the MYBL that only full rounds of play shall be scheduled.
For example, each team in a Division of the MYBL shall play each team in the other
league at least once, provided that if the number of inter-league games prolongs the
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season beyond the third weekend of May, any remaining scheduled games need not be
played.
3.
Inter-league games shall not count on the official record and standing of the MYBL.
4.
The Division Manager prior to the beginning of scheduled play shall establish rules for
inter-league play.
N. STANDINGS:
1. The team with the best record for each round will be declared the winner of that round.
2. In the event of a tie after any round of play, the winner of that round shall be the
unanimous winner of the head-to-head records. If there is no unanimous winner, the
teams shall play-off.
a. Three-way ties
i. Head Coaches shall draw straws with the "short straw" having a bye.
ii. The other two teams will play-off.
iii. The winner of that play-off will then enter into a play-off against the team
with the bye.
b. Four-way ties [Amended January 15, 2004]
i. Head Coaches shall draw straws.
ii. "Short straws" will playoff against each other.
iii. "Long straws" will playoff against each other.
iv. The winners will then playoff against each other.
3. If the same team wins both rounds, this team shall be the First Place finisher. The final
standing of the remaining teams shall be determined by overall record. If there is a tie
for Second Place, the tie-breaking procedures of M.2. shall be followed. Ties for all
other places shall be determined by lottery.
4. If there are two different first and second round winners, a Championship game shall
be played to determine the First Place finisher. The loser of that game will be declared
the Second Place finisher.
5. Regular season rules shall apply to all play-off games.
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O.
All Star Teams
1.
Selection of All Star coaches shall be according to the order of finish in their
respective divisions. The first place head coach or assistant coach in each division
shall have first choice on which All Star team he will coach.
The remaining team in each division shall be offered to the second place head coach or
assistant, then to the third place head coach or assistant and down the line.
2.
Selection of All Star Players: Selection of the players is up to the discretion of the All
Star Coach. The A team coach will select their team first and then the B team and if
necessary C team. If a player is asked to play for the A team and declines, that player
is not allowed to play for any other All Star Team, same applies for B Team selection.
If a player declines the B team selection, they will not be allowed to play for the C
team. Tryouts may be conducted, however, are not required.
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