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SIBL PLAYING RULES | |
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Games in all divisions of the League shall be played according to the established rules of Major League Baseball Inc., with the exception of all modifications contained herein: 1. "MUST SLIDE" RULE: There is not an obligation on the part of any baserunner to slide, but if he/she fails to slide and contact occurs with a defensive player in possession of the ball, in the act of receiving a thrown ball, or about to make a tag, said baserunner shall be declared out. The decision of any umpire in enforcing this rule is final. This rule shall be enforced in all games in the Mustang Division and Bronco Division. Note that the overriding purpose of this rule is to encourage baserunners to avoid bodily contact with defensive players. 2. An umpire may automatically eject from a game any player who deliberately tosses a baseball bat, batting helmet, or any other object either in frustration or anger. 3. League players ejected from a game for any reason on two separate occasions during he same playing season shall be immediately suspended from further competition and shall be referred to the Executive Council of the League for further disciplinary action. The Executive Council shall render its decision as soon as possible. 4. At the discretion of the team manager involved, League players who are absent without prior notification or appropriate reason from three successive playing activities (practices and/or games) shall be prohibited from participating in the next game involving their teams. At the discretion of the team manager involved, Leage players absent without prior notification or appropriate reason from four or more playing activities shall be immediately referred to the Executive Council of the League for further disciplinary action. 5. A League team failing to field at least eight (8) players within ten (10) minutes following the scheduled starting time of a game shall automatically forfeit said game.
6. In any instance in which a team fails to have an eligible substitute for a player who is unable to continue play because of illness, injury, ejection, or emergency, the manager of said team shall be permitted to replace said player without penalty. In said instances, "eligible substitute" shall be defined as any current member of said team. 7. The 10-Run Rule is in effect in all Mustang Division, Bronco Division, and Pony Division games. This rules states that if a team is leading its opponents by at least ten runs at the point when a game is considered to be official, and both teams have been permitted an equal number of opportunities to bat, that game shall be immediately terminated.
8. Players in the Instructional Division must play in at least every other inning in the field in every complete game at which they are present. Players in the Pinto Division, Mustang Division, Bronco Division, and Pony Division must play in at least three innings in the field in every complete game at which they are present. 9. Players in the Bronco Division and Pony Division must bat at least once in every complete game at which they are present.
10. Games terminated prior to their full completion for any reason shall be considered as official games according to the following guidelines:
11. An official game terminated with the score tied and both teams granted an equal number of opporunities to bat shall be declared a suspended game and shall be played to its completion from the point of suspension at a later date.
12. The final score of an official game terminated for any reason prior to its full completion with one team in the lead and in which the home team is not granted an equal opportunity to bat shall revert to the close of the previous inning of play.
13. Players who failed to attend games that were suspended and that were then completed at a later date shall be permitted (at the discretion of team manager) to participate in said completed games even if their participation does not conform to the League's minimum playing requirements. 14. In instances when suspended games are resumed in the same calendar week, pitchers shall be required to adhere to the established pitching regulations of their respective divisions. 15. In instances when suspended games are resumed in a different calendar week, pitchers shall be required to adhere to the following regulations:
16. Play during any game shall be immediately halted when an umpire determines that a player has been potentially injured. Following attention to the player(s), the chief Umpire shall determine the final progress of all baserunners affected by this situation. 17. During games scheduled to start at 6PM or earlier, no full inning shall commence after 8PM, as determined by the chief Umpire. During games scheduled to start after 6PM, no full inning shall commence after 10PM, as determined by the chief Umpire. A full inning commences immediately at the conclusion of the preceding inning of play. 18. Pitchers in all divisions of the League are required to pitch to at least one batter in a full at-bat appearance prior to removal from the game as a pitcher. Exceptions to this regulation shall occur only in instances of pitcher injury, illness, ejection, or emergency.
19. A team manager or coach shall be permitted to confer with the same pitcher during the same inning during a dead ball period on one occasion only without penalty. The second said conference shall require immediate entry of a new pitcher. This regulation shall be waived only in instances of player illness, injury, or emergency or at the discretion of the chief Umpire. 20. Team managers desiring to protest the outcome of any game must do so in writing and submit the protest to any member of the Executive Council within 24 hours following completion of said game. 21. A team manager (or acting representative) who withdraws a team from the playing field under any circumstances prior to the official completion of a game shall forfeit all rights to protest for that game. 22. Two team managers may collectively agree to postpone a game because of inclement weather conditions up to one hour prior to the scheduled starting time of said game. Within one hour of said starting time, the final decision as to whether or not to postpone a game because of inclement weather conditions solely rests with the chief Umpire for said game. 23. The calendar week for League games shall commence at 12 midnight on Monday and conclude at 11:59pm on the following Sunday. Exceptions to this regulation for scheduling purposes shall be granted only by the President. 24. In games during which the chief Umpire declares that the current inning of play shall be the final inning of play for said game, all established divisional rules pertaining to the "final inning of play" shall be applied at that time. 25. In the Pinto Division and Mustang Division, all runs scored on home runs which clear an existing barrier on the fly shall be counted even if it results in exceeding the division's maximum scoring regulations. This regulation shall not apply to ground-rule doubles. 26. The League shall recognize "Tie Games" as official results in only the Pinto Division. Tied games in the Mustang Division, Bronco Division, and Pony Division must be completed to resolution at a later date (established in these regulations). In the event that tied games in said divisions ar enot completed during a playing season, those results shall be eliminated from the seasonal records of the teams involved. 27. "Slash Bunting" shall be prohibited in all divisions of the League except for the Pony Division. In such instances, game umpires shall automatically declare the batter as "out" and return all baserunners to their last occupied base. 28. Managers will be required to log pitching results at the Snack Shack prior to their next game. Pony games should be called in to the Pony Director. 29. NO FOOD will be allowed in the dugouts. No player
will be allowed to go to the Snack Shack in uniform while his/her
game is in progress.
1. No official game scores are maintained. No formal
team standings are maintained. No championships shall be recognized. Go back to see rules for ALL DIVISIONS
PINTO DIVISION 2. The first three innings of all games are played off a batting tee. The final three (or four) innings are played with either the team manager or a team coach pitching to their own players. Said pitching shall occur only from the pitching area (as defined in Rule 6). 3. Teams must use a rotating batting order. Teams are permitted to use 10 players on defense, with the additional player defined as an outfielder. Two adults are permitted on the playing field only in the outfield area in all innings to supervise the defensive team. 4. Tie games after six innings of play are permitted to extend for one additional inning, if weather and daylight permit. No games shall extend beyond 7 innings in length. A game tied after 7 innings of play is defined as a "Tie Game". 5. Teams are restricted to scoring no more than 5runs in the first five innings of all games (unless specified otherwise in these Rules). In the final inning of play, the visiting team is permitted to score no more than 5 runs if leading or if the score is tied (unless specified otherwise in these Rules). If trailing at this point, the visiting team is permitted to score as many runs as necessary to assume a lead of up to 5 runs (unless otherwise specified in these Rules). In any instance, the home team shall be permitted to score as many runs as necessary in the final inning of play to win the game. 6. The defensive player occupying the pitcher's position shall be stationed on the pitcher's mound with at least one foot in said area until the batter hits the ball. The pitcher's mound is defined as an 8 foot diameter area from the highest point of the mound. The center of the mound is defined s the intersection of first and third base and home and second base. 7. During the first three innings of play, it shall be considered a "strike" when the batter either misses the ball completely or strikes only the batting tee. It shall be considered a "foul ball" when the batter simultaneously strikes the ball and the batting tee. 8. The Infield Fly Rule shall not be observed. 9. The defensive team shall always position its catcher against the backstop directly behind home plate and shall not permit the catcher to become involved in the play until the batter hits the ball. 10. Following completion of the third inning, batters will be allowed a maximum of seven pitches in an at-bat appearance. The batter is out after failing to hit the ball within the maximum allotment or after missing a legal third strike. A ball hit foul on the seventh pitch and all succeeding pitches entitles the batter another pitch. 11. To be considered a fair ball, balls struck off the batting tee must travel at least ten feet in fair territory. 12. A baserunner may advance one base at his own peril on any play involving a defensive overthrow. Only one overthrow per play shall be permitted. 13. On legal hits reaching the outfield, the Umpire in Chief shall declare "Time Out" when an infielder possesses the ball in the infield (which is defined as within the diamond, for the purpose of this rule) and will be permitted to determine the advance of all baserunners on said play. In instances when a baserunner has advanced at least half way to the next base, in the judgement of an umpire, on a throw from the outfield prior to the possession of the ball by an infielder, said baserunner shall be permitted to advance to the next base. 14. On legal hits remaining within the infield and in possession of an infielder, baserunners shall be permitted to advance only one succeeding base at their peril except in the event of an overthrow by a defensive player. 15. On legal outs recorded on fly balls or line drives by infielders who retain possession of the ball in the infield, no advances shall be permitted by baserunners. The defensive team shall be permitted to legally record additional out(s) on said play while the baserunners shall not be permitted to advance. 16. On legal outs recorded on fly balls or line drives by outfielders, all baserunners shall be permitted to legally advance no more than one base at their peril. 17. No player shall play more than 2 successive innings in the same defensive position and no player shall play more than 5 innings in the infield, not including the catcher. 18. The batting tee shall not be set higher than the batter's chest level. 19. Bunting shall not be permitted in any game. 20. In instances when a batter is struck by a pitch thrown by a non-player, "No Pitch" shall be declared by the Umpire in Chief. The batter shall not be charged with a pitch in such instances. 21. In instances where a non-player pitcher is struck by a batted ball prior to the defensive player touching the ball, or provided with the opportunity to make a play on the ball, or non-player interferes with defensive player, the Umpire in Chief shall declare "No Pitch". The batter shall not be charged with a pitch in such instances. 22. All players present at any game that extends to its regulation length or beyond shall be required to play one complete inning in an infield position. The catcher is not defined as an infielder. Team managers shall not be obligated to enforce this regulation for one game per each player absence from a team activity (practices or games) during the season. Failure to adhere to this regulation shall result in game forfeiture upon proper protest by an opposing team. 23. Players who improperly release their bat, will be warned once and then will be called out on any subsequent occurrence in that game. Go back to see rules for ALL DIVISIONS
1. Games are played on a field on which the bases are separated by a distance of 60 feet. The pitcher's mound is situated 42 feet from home plate. The regulation length of games is 6 innings. 2. The first three innings of every game are played with a team manager of team coach pitching to their own players. The remaining innings of all games are played with players performing the pitching duties. 3. A rotating batting order is used in all games. Players arriving at the playing field following the start of a game must be inserted into the batting order (at its close), but are not required to play in the field in said game. 4. The Infield Fly Rule is not in effect. 5. Batters may not advance to first base when a catcher does not cleanly catch a third strike. 6. Pitchers in all innings of all games are required to work from the pitching rubber. Failure to do so will empower any umpire to call "No Pitch". 7. A balk shall be called against a player pitcher when said pitcher stops his/her delivery after it has been started. All baserunners shall advance one base in said instances. 8. An Umpire shall be permitted to call "Time Out" during any game in which the defensive team possesses the ball in the infield area (which is defined as within the diamond) and no baserunners are attempting to advance. 9. Pitchers are permitted to pitch in no more than 3 innings in a game. After pitching 3 innings in one game, pitchers shall not be permitted to pitch during the following calendar day. 10. During a calendar week in which teams are scheduled to play 2 games, pitchers shall be permitted to pitch in no more than 4 innings in that week. During a calendar week in which teams are scheduled to play 3 games, pitchers shall be permitted to pitch in no more than 5 innings in that week. 11. During the first three innings of all games, baserunners are not permitted to take leads off bases. During the remaining innings of all games, baserunners are still prohibited from taking leads off bases, but may attempt to advance one base at their peril only after the pitched ball has reached or passed the catcher. The baserunner can't advance to home plate. Baserunners are restricted to one base advance per pitch. 12. A baserunner leaving the bast prior to the pitched ball reaching or passing the catcher shall be warned once, on each subsequent occurrence the runner shall be declared out. Only on warning per team, per game will be given. 13. During the first three innings of all games, the player occupying the pitcher's defensive position must remain on the mound area until the ball is hit. Said player must position at least one foot on the pitching mound area. The pitching area shall be defined as the area within a 10-foot diameter of the pitching rubber. 14. Bunting shall be permitted at any time during games. 15. During the first three innings of play, batters are permitted to receive no more than five pitches. Foul balls struck on the fifth pitch entitles batters to another pitch. A batter striking out prior to the fifth pitch or failing to swing at the final pitch is automatically out. 16. Teams are limited to scoring no more than four runs in any inning through the first five innings of play (unless specified otherwise in these Rules). In the sixth inning and all subsequent innings, the visiting team is restricted to scoring no more than four runs if leading or if the score is tied (unless specified otherwise in these Rules). If trailing at this point, the visiting team is permitted to score as many runs as necessary to assume a lead of up to four runs (unless specified otherwise in these Rules). In any instance, the home team shall be permitted in the sixth inning and all subsequent innings to score as many runs as necessary to win the game. 17. In games when a pitcher hits two batters in the same inning, the manager of the defensive team shall be required to immediately confer with the pitcher. The chief Umpire shall not charge an official trip to any team affected by this rule. Only one such trip shall be granted without charge in games. 18. In instances when a batter is struck by a pitch thrown by a non-player, "No Pitch" shall be declared by the chief Umpire. The batter shall not be charged with the pitch in such instances. 19. In instances when a non-player is struck by a batted ball prior to a defensive player touching the ball or provided with the opportunity to make a play on the ball, the chief Umpire shall declare a "No Pitch". The batter shall not be charged with a pitch in such instances. 20. All players present at any game that extends to its regulation length or beyond shall be required to lpay one complete inning in an infield position. The catcher shall be defined as an infielder at the beginning of the fourth inning. Team managers shall not be obligated to enforce this regulation for one game per each player absence from a team activity (practices or games) during the season. Failure to adhere to this regulation shall result in game forfeiture upon proper protest by an opposing team. 21. The player occupying the pitcher's mound during the first three innings of all games shall be considered an infielder and not a a pitcher. 22. In legal games during which one or both teams field 8 players, the third out of an inning which will occur when the ninth batting position is due shall be officially recorded when the lead baserunner's progress has been stopped by the defensive team. Go back to see rules for ALL DIVISIONS
BRONCO DIVISIONS 2. Teams shall use a rotating batting order in the National Division. The American Division will use a 9 player batting order in all games. Players placed in the same batting spot may freely interchange in the field as long as both fulfill all mandatory playing regulations. Players occupying the same batting spot shall be required to alternate at-bat appearances on a rotating basis. In instances when players are not physically able to compete in fielding positions for medical reasons, but are physically able to compete as batters, teams may request special consideration from the President and Director of the Bronco Divisions to permit said players to compete in games exclusively as batters and baserunners. 3. Teams are permitted to freely substitute players in defensive positions, regardless of their positions in the batting order, as long as they fulfill all mandatory minimum playing regulations. 4. Pitchers are permitted to pitch in no more than 7 innings in one game. A player pitching in 4 or more innings in one calendar day shall not be permitted to pitch in the next calendar day. 5. During a calendar week in which a team is scheduled to play 2 games, pitchers are permitted to pitch in no more than 7 innings for that week. During a calendar week in which a team is scheduled to play 3 games, pitchers are permitted to pitch in no more than 10 innings for that week. 6. American Division pitchers are not allowed to return as pitchers in any game in which they are removed from that position. National Division pitchers may return as pitchers once in the same game following their removal from that position, but only in a later inning from their removal. This regulation applies only to starting pitchers and can be exercised only once per game. 7. Balks shall be enforced in all games. 8. All players present at any game that extends to its regulation length or beyond shall be required to play one complete inning in an infield position. The catcher shall be defined as an infielder. Team managers shall not be obligated to enforce this regulation for one game per each player absence from a team activity (practices or games). Failure to adhere to this regulation shall result in game forfeiture upon proper protest by an opposing team. 9. In legal games during which one or both teams field 8 players, the third out of an inning which will occur when the ninth batting position is due shall be officially recorded when the lead baserunner's progress has been stopped by the defensive team. Go back to see rules for ALL DIVISIONS
PONY DIVISION 2. An official game shall be established at four and one-half innings of play if the home team is leading or at five full innings if the home team is trailing or the score is tied. 3. Teams will use either a 9-player batting order or a 10-player batting order, with the Designated Hitter an option in all games. Players placed in the same batting position may freely interchange in the field and can both be playing in the field simultaneously. 4. Starting pitchers may be reinserted once as pitchers in any game following their removal from said position, but must be reinserted in a later inning from their initial removal. Relief pitchers may not be reinserted as pitchers in any game following their removal from said position. Go back to see rules for ALL DIVISIONS
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