Revised
3-14-08
1. PLAYING RULES
1.1
All games will be played according to the Official
Baseball rules 1.00 through 10.22 with the following
exceptions as listed in these AYB rules.
2. PITCHING RULES
2.1
A
pitcher, regardless of age, may pitch a maximum
of seven (7) innings per calendar week. This rule
applies to all games regardless of when played,
including re-scheduled games and make up games.
If a pitcher delivers one (1) pitch in an inning
he shall be charged for one (1) inning pitched.
2.2
The
calendar week is Monday though and including Sunday.
2.3
A
pitcher must have two (2) calendar days rest between
pitching assignments in which the pitcher pitches
more than three (3) innings. Each game in which
a pitcher pitches is considered an assignment. (Example:
A player pitching in more than three innings on
Sunday cannot pitch again until Wednesday).
2.4
The
word “assignment” means each game in which a pitcher
pitches is considered one (1) assignment. Therefore,
a player in the same game may start out a pitcher,
play another position, and return to the mound as
a pitcher and this would be considered one (1) assignment.
2.5
If
a game is called before it has become a regulation
game and the umpire declares it “No Game” the pitching
eligibility is the same as it was prior to the beginning
of the “No Game” situation
Note: Games in which an ineligible
pitcher has been used, as specified in the above
paragraphs, shall be declared forfeited.
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3. PLAYERS
3.1
Any person who is registered in the league
and will attain the age of thirteen (13) before
August 1st of the current season and will not be
sixteen (16) years of age until August 1st of the
current season is eligible to play.
3.2
All 13 year old players will play in the
Prep division and all 14 and 15 year old players
will play in the Babe Ruth division. Any exception
to this must be approved by the AYB Board of Directors.
3.3
All
players present must be in the batting order.
3.4
Free
substitution of all players with no consecutive
innings (on defense) required.
3.5
All
players must play at least 3 innings in the field
(in a complete game).
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4. GENERAL RULES AND
REGULATIONS
4.1
The Playing Field – Refer to Official
Baseball Rule 1.04 with the following exception.
The playing field need not have enclosed fence surrounding
the outfield area.
4.2
Player’s Benches
– Refer to Official Baseball Rule 1.08 with the
following exception. AYB suggests but does not require
“players benches” be enclosed and roofed.
4.3
Draft – Players will be secured through a player draft.
The draft order will be determined by the previous
years regular season records (Babe Ruth only),
with the team with worst won/lost percentage selecting
first. Prep division draft order will be determined
by random selection.
4.4
Minimum number of players
– The minimum number of players required to field
a team is eight (8). If a team does not have enough
players to field a team at game time a twenty minute
grace period will be allowed. Additional time may
be allowed at the discretion of the umpire if there
is a player en route. Players are expected to arrive
at the field at least 20 minutes before scheduled
start time.
4.5
The Ball
– Refer to Official Baseball Rule 1.09. A ball stamped
“Official Babe Ruth League Baseball” shall be used
in all league play.
4.6
Metal Bats
– These are approved for use in the AYB league and
must meet the provisions of Official Baseball Rule
1.10.
4.6.1
Metal Cleats will be allowed to be worn by players
at the Babe Ruth level only.
4.7
Protective Headgear –
Shall be worn on-deck, at bat, while a base runner,
and by players in the coach’s box, during practice
and all games. Such headgear must cover the top
of the head and have extended earflaps, which cover
both ears, and properly fits the player wearing
it.
4.8
Catcher’s Mask and Throat
Protector
– Any player, manager or coach warming up a pitcher
at home plate shall wear a mask and it’s recommend
anyone warming up a pitcher at any location should
wear a mask. A throat protector is considered part
of the catcher’s mask.
4.9
Protective Cup, Supporter
as well as Protective Headgear – which covers the top
of the head and properly fits the player wearing
it, must be worn by the catcher during all games
and practices.
4.10
Trips
to the Mound – Refer to Official Baseball
Rule 8.06 with the following exception: The second
trip in the same inning to the same pitcher shall
result in the removal of that pitcher, for the remainder
of the game, as a pitcher only.
4.11
A
Regulation Game – Refer to Official Baseball
Rule 4.10 with the following exception: An AYB game
shall consist of seven (7) innings. Therefore, where
reference in the Official Baseball Rules, here or
elsewhere, is made to nine (9) innings, substitute
the word “seven” for “nine”.
4.12
Tie
Games – All games which end in
a tie during the regular season shall remain as
a tied game in the standings. Games that are tied
in the post season tournament must continue until
tie is broken. In order to be declared a “tie game”
by the umpire it must be a regulation game, (i.e.
4 ½ to 5 innings must have been played).
4.13
No
Game – If a game fails to reach
a regulation minimum of 4 ½ to 5 innings played
it is not a regulation game and must be replayed
as a new game.
4.14
Curfews
- There are no game
curfews in Attleboro Youth Baseball. All
games will be played to completion unless called
due to inclement weather or darkness as deemed a
safety issue by the umpire.
4.15
Balks
– For the first 4 games of the
season, a warning will be issued for the first balk
(per pitcher), there after balks will be called.
After the 4th game of the season no warnings
will be issued, all balks will be called.
4.16
Slide
or Avoid Rule – When a base runner is
running towards 2nd or 3rd base, and the base fielder
has the ball, he must slide or avoid contact with
the base fielder. If a base runner does not
slide and makes contact with the base fielder, the
base runner shall be declared out. If the runner
does not slide and there is no contact, the base
runner will be declared safe.
When a base runner is rounding third base and is
heading for home plate, he must not barrel over
the catcher in order to score. The base runner
must avoid a collision with the catcher, if the
catcher is defending home plate with the ball.
If the catcher is about to receive the ball, the
base runner must slide into home plate. If the
catcher is running up the third base line in order
to receive the ball, the base runner has the right
to attempt to score standing (the catcher can not
run up the third baseline and impede the base runners
path to the plate). If the base runner does not
slide and there is no contact, the base runner will
be declared safe.
4.17
Traveling
All-stars - Players must have been
registered in the AYB regular spring league to be
eligible to play on a traveling all-star team.
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5. PROTEST POLICY
5.1
Should a protest of a game be registered,
the umpire must be informed at the time of the protest.
He or She will make a notation in each score book
at the time of the protest and sign it.
5.2
The protest will be registered by the protesting
coach in writing within twenty-four (24) hours with
the League Director, who will inform the Protest
Committee.
5.3
The protest committee shall consist of three
non-partisan current board members. The Umpire in
Chief as well as the Prep or Babe Ruth Division
Director (as applicable) cannot be part of the protest
committee due to any potential conflict.
5.4 A protest must follow
all of the following rules to be considered:
A.) VIOLATIONS MUST BE CONFINED TO ACTS COMMITTED
ON THE FIELD OR INELIGIBLE PLAYERS.
B.) NO PROTEST WILL BE HONORED ON JUDGEMENT
CALLS (i.e. SAFE AND OUT, PLATE CALLS,
BALLS AND STRIKES, FOUL BALLS, etc.).
C.) VIOLATIONS MUST BE REPORTED
WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS OF THE VIOLATION,
IN WRITING, TO LEAGUE DIRECTOR.
D.) THE PROTEST COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE THE
RESULT OF THE PROTEST WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT
(48) HOURS. THE RESULT WILL BE FINAL.
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6. PLAYOFFS AND CHAMPIONSHIP
6.1
At the end of the regular season there will
be a double elimination tournament (playoffs). All
teams will qualify for the playoffs. The pairings
of the playoffs will be determined by the regular
season won/lost percentage. The team with the highest
won/lost percentage would play the team with the
lowest won/lost percentage. If there is an uneven
number of teams, the team with the highest won/lost
percentage would have a bye in the first round of
the playoffs. If necessary (due to inclement weather
or other factors) the current playoff format may
be altered at the discretion of the League Director
with approval by the AYB Board of Directors.
6.2
All
playoff and championship games must be played in
its entirety. If a game is suspended for any reason,
it will be resumed from the exact point of suspension.
6.3
A
protest committee must be present at the championship
games to address any and all legal protests that
may arise during the game. The protest committee
will immediately rule on any protest, and all decisions
will be final. The protest committee shall consist
of three non-partisan current board members. The
Umpire in Chief cannot be part of the protest committee
due to any potential conflict.
7. PREP LEAGUE EXCEPTIONS
7.1
There will be a maximum four (4) runs per
inning per team during regular season. Playoffs
will have unlimited runs per inning.
7.2
There will be no advance by the batter on
a dropped third strike for the first four (4) games.
7.3
Prep
Player Draft order will be determined at random.
7.4
For
the four (4) games of the season, balks will not
be called. A warning will be issued. After the 4th
game, a warning will be issued for the first balk
(per pitcher), there after balks will be called
without warning.
No smoking or alcoholic beverages are
allowed on any field during games or practice.
It is the coach’s responsibility to teach
and encourage all players.
Show sportsmanship and fairness to all involved. The example you set as a coach
will be an important one for the players to follow.
The Attleboro Youth Baseball
League thanks you for your continued efforts and
support of the baseball program.
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