Babe Ruth Rules and Regulations

Updated October 23,2007

1. Player

   1. Any youth (ages 13-15) having turned THIRTEEN (13) before April 30th and not having turned SIXTEEN prior to April 30th of the current years shall be eligible to participate in competition.

   2. Games in which an ineligible player has been used shall be declared a forfeit.

   3. Any eligible player who is drafted and moves out of our boundaries may still participate in our program for the remainder of the current season, unless this player breaks free from our program.

2. Teams

   1. If the number of players falls below TWELVE (12) (after registration), the manager of that team must notify the Director of Player Personnel (Player Agent) within 48 hours to receive a replacement if such replacement is available, prior to June 15.

   2. Each team will have minimum of one (1) practice per week

   3. If a 13 year old prep. League exists, then all 13 year old players may play in that league.

3. Playing Rules

   1. All games shall be played according to the official baseball rules with the following exceptions:

      1. A catcher must wear a protective helmet and mask (including a throat guard) during all practices and games, including any player warming up the pitcher.

      2. No player wearing casts of any kind, be it for arms, legs, body, constructed on any kind of material (Fiberglas, plaster, either hard or soft) shall be allowed to play. The player shall be allowed to play when the cast is removed and a release must be signed by a physician stating that the player may resume play.

      3. All players must have a Medical Release Form signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to the start of any practices or games.

      4. All batters and those warming up a bat will wear protective helmet.

      5. Any coach not playing players the correct playing times will be penalized. First offense-warning. Second offense 2 game suspension of the head coach. Third offense the head coach will be replaced.

      6. Due to games shortened by weather, time, etc. Any player not getting the required time must start the next scheduled game.

   2. Protesting games

      1. No protest is allowed on an Umpires Judgment decision; only with the interpretation of said rule

      2. Protest will be presented to any member of the Protest Committee in writing within 24 hours.

      3. The Protest Committee shall consist of Three League Officers, as well as the Umpire-In-Chief (for rule interpretation purposes only).  The protest Committee shall be chosen from the Board of Directors by a Board Officer. No one on the Protest Committee shall be involved with the games in protest.

   3. Team requirements

      1. The Home team will occupy the third base dugout.

      2. Both teams will supply ball retrievers for foul balls on their side of the field. If the ball is hit over the backstop then the hitting team will retrieve the ball.

   4. Coaching

      1. All coaches of all teams will be expected to help during tournament play. Schedules will be made up well in advance of the first tournament game day and times will be posted and each coach will have his name entered beside the games that they pick to work.

      2. There will be an official score keeper in the booth working the score board each game. The home team will be responsible for that person. If a parent cannot be persuaded and the home team has more then one coach, then one of the coaches will be in the booth and a player will be coaching one of the bases. (This is for regular league play)

4. Restrictions

   1. Pitching limitations. (refer to Babe Ruth Rule).

   2. Playing Limitations

      1. Two and one half hour (2½) time limit with the following exclusions.

      2. In the first game of two on a weeknight, no inning shall start after 7:40pm.

      3. In the second game, no inning shall start after 10:30pm

      4. A Maximum delay of 30 minutes is allowed between games. (The amount of delay is at the sole discretion of the Home Plate Umpire).

      5. If a game is called because of weather, curfew, or another reason, it is a regulation game if FIVE innings have been completed, or if the HOME TEAM has scored more runs in 4½ innings then the VISITING TEAM has scored in FIVE competed half innings, or if the HOME TEAM scores ONE or more runs in its half of the FIFTH INNING. If the game is TIED, is shall be declared a "SUSPENDED" game.

      6. Suspended games will be scheduled at a later date determined by the Board of Directors. The game will be resumed from the point of suspension.

      7. Each child shall play a MINIMUM of two consecutive innings in the field defensively and bat at least once.

      8. All substitute players must be entered in the game by the end of the fourth inning.

      9. Players pitching in Middle School games or any official game, J.V., CYO etc., innings count for that week.

   3. No available substitutes following player ejection.

      1. If a player is ejected or become incapacitated and no legal substitutes are available, then the opposing coach shall pick the substitute player from the roster of the team that had the ejected/incapacity player, thus avoiding a forfeited game.

      2. Each player MUST play at least two full and complete games per season.

      3. E/H / D/H   does not constitute a full game.

5. Draft Procedures : (Please refer to Babe Ruth Rule).

   1. Teams will draft in reverse order of the prior season's finish (ie. 4, 3, 2, 1).

   2. All 14 and 15 year old players must be picked for the regular Babe Ruth league lever.

   3. Each team will draft in each round in sequence until all registrants are drafted.

   4. Brothers and sisters must play on the same team.

      1. Exception: Parental request as approved by the Board of Directors.

      2. Brothers/Sister of a player already in the league must be drafted on the player's ability. The draft round as to when this will occur shall be determined by general consensus of the coaches at the draft.

      3. Brothers/Sister in the draft will be picked in consecutive rounds.

      4. Exception: When players are in a different league of play. For example... Player in 13 year old prep league and older sibling in regular Babe Ruth League.

   5. The Son/Daughter of a manager must be picked to that respective team. Based on the player's ability, the draft round as to when this will occur shall be determined by general consensus of the coaches at the draft.

6. Procedures involving a new team

   1. Existing Teams may protect three players

      1. The manager or coach has the option of protecting the Son/Daughter at this time. If he does not, the Son/Daughter will be the first (1st) draft pick. The same policy applies for more than one child.

   2. The new team must draft a minimum of four unprotected players.

   3. An existing team, upon losing a player, may protect one additional player

   4. An exiting team will not lose more then one player per round.

   5. A new team may draft until its roster matches the team with the least number of returnees at this point in the draft.

   6. The new team may draft first in all forthcoming rounds.

   7. Once a team drafts a player, that player becomes the sole property of that team unless it is agreed upon by all parties involved that it would be the best interest of the player to be sent to another team. The Board of Directors will decide each case.

   8. Player transferring to a different team because the parent is a newly appointed team manager.

      1. The team that has lost the player shall be compensated with an equivalent and appropriate draft choice as determined by the Board of Directors and the coaches.

7. All Star teams

   1. The Board of Directors will appoint the manager for each team from a list of certified Babe Ruth Certified volunteers.

   2. Team Composition

      1. Any Special Tournament teams shall take into consideration all eligible players in the league.

      2. All-stars will be selected from an open tryout if at all possible. The all-star manager will make the final decisions.

      3. The all-star manager has the option of going back to the individual team managers to request specific players.

8. League schedule and play-offs

   1. The league will have a minimum of 15 games during a regular season.  Schedule will be set forth by the Board of Directors prior to the start of each season.

   2. The league may conduct a Championship Tournament

   3. The form of such tournament (double elimination, single game, play-off, best of three series, etc.) Shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and shall be set prior to the start of league play.

   4. At the end of league play, if a tie situation should exist, the method for breaking that tie will be:

      1. The teams Head to Head Record

      2. If the Head to Head is a tie then there shall be a one game play-off.

9. League discipline

   1. Players and managers are expected to maintain a high standard of conduct and sportsmanship.

   2. Managers and coaches are encouraged and expected to attend all Bourne Babe Ruth meetings.

   3. A player ejected from one game will be suspended at a minimum of the next scheduled game. If the player ejected from a second game, the player will be suspended from league play pending a hearing with the Board of Directors and the Umpire-In Chief. Any player or coach suspended for any amount of time may be brought in front of the Board of Directors for disciplinary action. The Board of Directors shall have final decision.

      1. The umpires that were involved in the ejection will not be on the review board, with exception of the Umpire-In-Chief for rule interpretation purposes only.

      2. The player may be reinstated, but a third ejection will result in suspension for the remainder of the season, including play-off and tournament play.

   4. A discipline form is required for all disciplinary actions.

      1. This form is to be signed by the players coach and the home plate umpire if the disciplinary actions have occurred during a game. The form is to be delivered either by mail or any other means to the player’s parent(s) by the League Secretary. A copy is to be maintained by League President or Babe Ruth coordinator and the league Player Agent. The form contains the reason(s) for the action and the discipline methods used.

      2. Any suspension for more the SEVEN innings may be appealed to the Board of Directors.

   5. Managers or coaches ejected from a game will be suspended for one game. Further disciplinary actions may be taken by the Board of Directors.

      1. Umpires that were involved with the ejection will not be on the review board, with the exception of the Umpire-In-Chief for rule interpretation purposes only.

      2. The review board decision will be final.

   6. All equipment (hats, helmets, bats, etc.) that are picked up for use must be placed down in the same manner. The throwing of equipment WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

      1. The penalty will be automatic ejection from the game by umpire(s).

      2. The observance of this violation by a member of the Board of Directors and not noticed by the umpires may require the appearance of the manager and/or the play before the Board of Directors for a hearing.

   7. Any member of the Bourne Babe Ruth League that uses abusive language or gestures in the ball park will be suspended for one game, plus ejection from the game at the time of the offense.

10. Miscellaneous provisions

    1. Any situation that may develop, which is not covered in these bylaws, will be ruled upon by the Board of Directors in the best interests of the league and the youth or our town.

    2. By-laws Violations

       1. Any violations of the bylaws will be reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may take any action that is deemed necessary. The Board of Directors decisions is final.

    3. Regular season coaches/managers shall be selected by the Board of Directors from a list of certified volunteers a minimum of two weeks prior to the league tryouts.

    4. Injuries involving open wounds.

       1. Player is to be removed from the game

       2. Substitute player must be entered.

       3. The injured player will be unable to return tot he game until the problem has been corrected and if necessary, the uniform changed.

       4. The primary exception will be bloody noses. They may be treated on the field if it is possible. After a reasonable amount of time, if the problem remains, then the player must be removed from the game until after the problem has been corrected.

       5. Coaches and anyone else involved with the injured player should exercise COMMON SENSE.

11. Play-off pitching eligibility and game protest rules

    1. All play-offs will be played under the standard Babe Ruth Tournament Rules and Regulations.

    2. Protest Procedures - Please refer to Babe Ruth Baseball rule book guideline.

12. Senior babe Ruth provisions

    1. There are currently no special provisions.

Printer Version