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2012 Lanier Baseball League Rules v.3

ALL RULES ARE SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION BY THE LEAGUE DIRECTORS. IF A RULE IS FOUND TO BE WRITTEN INCORRECTLY IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS NEEDED. ALL DECISIONS BY LEAGUE DIRECTORS ARE FINAL.

TEAM SPRING REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Teams must secure 2 home game times from their home park coordinator. Teams may request to have fewer home game times under extenuating circumstances.
Home game start times must be 6:00 PM or later for weekday games.
The head coach or team manager must COMPLETE the online registration form on or before December 1^st.
Block out dates for tournaments, holidays, spring break, religious functions, school trips, graduations, etc must be listed as block out dates on the coach’s application in order to create the game schedules.
The head coach or team manager must have an active email account and submit to the league for communication purposes.
The head coach, team manager or a representative MUST attend the Registration Meeting in January.
The team registration fee of $550 must be paid at the January Meeting.
NOTE: There are no additional fees unless a team decides to purchase baseballs, team insurance or tournament t-shirts from the league.
The online roster must be completed, printed and submitted to the league at the January meeting. COPIES of birth certificates MUST be turned in with the ORIGNAL team roster with ALL parent signatures. The league will keep this information on file going forward. Any missing birth certificates must be faxed to the league before any games are played.
The head coach must be certified through a program, such as NYSCA, Simply the Best, etc. before games begin in March. The assistant coaches are not required, but are encouraged to be certified for insurance purposes.

TEAM FALL REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

Teams must bring their home game times to the August meeting. There is NO REQUIRMENT on the number of home game times.
The league will accept 2 Independent teams per age group.
Most teams play only Sunday double headers to avoid conflicts with football. This is not required, but most teams cannot play during the week due to other sport conflicts.
There is no requirement on how many games teams must play. Teams may play as many or as few games as they like.
Coaches will create their own team’s game schedule at the August meeting.
Each team is responsible for paying half the umpire fees for each game.
The head coach or team manager must COMPLETE the online registration.
There is NO FEE to play in the fall league.
The head coach or team manager must have an active email account and submit it to the league for communication purposes.
The league does NOT require rosters or birth certificates to be turned in for the fall league.
Teams should carry a copy of each player’s birth certificate with them at all times in case a players age is questioned. Any team found to be in violation of the age control date/playing with older players will be suspended from the fall program.
All head coaches must be certified through a program, such as NYSCA, Simply the Best, etc. before games begin in September. The assistant coaches are not required, but are encouraged to be certified for insurance purposes.
The league DOES NOT offer team insurance for the fall program.

INDEPENDENT TEAM REQUIREMENTS

A. Independent Teams are defined as having no home field in which to play home games and wish to play all away games.

B. Teams who wish to play as “Independent” must submit their request to the league in writing as early as possible each season.

C. The league will approve any returning Independent Teams before accepting new teams each season.

D. The league will approve up to, but not limited to, two teams in each age and division on a first come first serve basis.

E. All Independent Teams are required to pay one half of the umpire fee of each official league game played.

F. In each game involving an Independent team there will be a coin toss to determine who is home & visitor. If the Independent team is home they must furnish baseballs for the game.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

In ages 9U-14U, a players age before May 1 of the current year is the age group in which they are eligible to play. Players may play up an age group, but are not allowed to play in a younger age. For feeder teams see the feeder division rules
The team’s coach is responsible for the eligibility of the players on his team and verifying that they meet the league guidelines, including player additions. Director’s approval of a team roster does not release the manager of above responsibility.
A player that is released from a qualified team’s roster cannot return to that team during the current season.
If a player is found to be an illegal player due to an age or roster violation or dual participation (being on two (2) LBL rosters in the same season) this will result in the offending team losing a legally protested game and/or being ejected from the league, being placed last in the standings and/or forfeiting all awards.

TEAM ROSTERS

The maximum number of players for the league roster is fifteen (15).
Rosters MUST be completed online, printed and signed by all parties then turned in at the January meeting.
The online rosters MUST be kept current throughout the season. Failure to comply with this rule could result in forfeited games.
A team who does not have a completed online roster and printed signed roster on file with the league before the season begins will be in danger of forfeiting all games played until the roster is submitted and approved.
New players may be added up to April 15^th by adding the player to your online roster then submitting an email request to your age group director. The email must include the player’s name, date of birth and jersey number. In addition the player’s birth certificate must be faxed to the league. A player is not eligible to play until written approval is received from a league director.
Coaches are required to carry a copy of their official league roster at all times. The following information must be provided:

Jersey number
Player’s Name, address, phone number
Player’s Age & Date of Birth
Parents/guardian signed names

Coaches are required to carry a copy of proof of Team Insurance at all times.
Teams who drop below 10 players (due to extenuating circumstances) after April 15^th may request to add a player in order to allow the rest of the team to complete the season & participate in the Championship Tournament.
A player’s age cannot exceed the age of their division prior to May 1 of the current season. For example a 9U league player would be ineligible if he turned 10 before May 1^stof the current season.
No player who starts on or joins a Lanier Baseball League team is eligible to play on another Lanier Baseball League team during an official league game or tournament in the same season. Any violation of this rule will result in forfeiture of any or all games in which a player participates.
NOTE: In extreme cases, exceptions may be allowed, in which a “Player Transfer Request” form must be submitted to and approved by the League Director.
The coach is responsible for acquiring the written consent of the player's participation from the parents/guardian on the team roster in order to be official.

COACH’S RESPONSIBILITY

All coaches/team managers are expected to:

KNOW THE LEAGUE RULES. Ignorance of the rules does not excuse actions taken by coaches or players.
Confirm the game with the opposing coach 48 hrs prior to game time.
Clean up their dugouts.
Provide a competent official scorekeeper.
Provide umpires for each home game, preferably High School Certified. In the 9 and up ages two umpires are required. In the 8 year old division only 1 umpire is required.

NOTES:

1. If 1 umpire is available teams must play the game.

2. If the umpire(s) are late or fail to show coaches have 3 options and must both agree to the decision before the game is played:

Wait for the umpire(s) if there are no conflicts with a following game.
Appoint a spectator from each team to umpire and play it as an official game.
Play a scrimmage game and reschedule the official game.

Notify the opposing coach, by phone & as soon as possible, in the event that a game must be cancelled due to weather. (at least by 2pm on weekdays).
All coaches are responsible for working to reschedule weather related cancellations as soon as possible. All rescheduling must be done via email with the League Director being copied.
NOTE: Games must be rescheduled (not played) within 14 days from the original date of the game. The penalty for not rescheduling a game within 14 days will be an immediate TIE for both teams. Any game not played within the last 14 days of the season will result in a tie.
Verify that a map, correct address or directions to his home park is available on the LBL webpage.
Provide the funds to pay for umpires if you are playing as the home team at an "away" park.
All coaches are required to update game scores on the LBL website within 24 hours of game completion. This is done in the “Member Login” area.

DIVISION SPLITS

a. There must be a minimum of 7 teams in a division before any splits will be made by classification.

b. The 9 year old age group will only split into divisions if there is enough interest.

c. Age groups 10 & up will be split into 4 possible divisions DEPENDING ON PARTICIPATION. The divisions are AA/AAA/Tournament/Feeder. Divisions for each age group will be finalized the first week of January.

1. FEEDER DIVISION – Teams formed from players who are in the same grade and will attend the same high school. If this division does not make feeder teams will
be placed in either the AAA or AA division based on team history.

2. TOURNAMENT DIVISION – Established AAA teams who want to play a 10-14 game schedule of only weekday games to allow them to play more tournaments.
This division will vote whether or not to keep standings and have a Championship Tournament.

3. AAA DIVISION - Established teams who have competed at the AAA level or played Lanier Baseball and finished .500 or above in the previous season
should register AAA. This division will play a 14-17 game schedule.

4. AA DIVISION - New teams who've never played travel or teams who finished under .500 in Lanier Baseball in the previous season should register AA. This division will play a 17-21 game schedule.

d. League directors will determine all division splits based on a team’s past performance/skill level, geography and other factors which need to be considered. In some cases teams may be contacted and asked for input regarding splits.

FEEDER TEAM DIVISION

These rules apply ONLY if a feeder division is created.
If a feeder division is not created, teams who registered as feeder will be placed in the appropriate AA/AA division.
If a feeder division is not created, a team may request approval from the league to allow older players and only in cases where the feeder team was created before January of the current year.
No older players will be approved for any team after the January meeting.
Player Eligibility: All players must be in the same grade. Players are NOT required to be from the same school, but must be districted for the same high school.

F. Age Requirements:

o A 6^th grade student must not turn 14 before May 1^st to be eligible for a 6^th grade team. A 7^th grade student must not turn 15 before May 1^st to be eligible for a 7^th grade team. An 8^th grade student must not turn 16 before May 1^st to be eligible for an 8^th grade team.

o The 6^th grade division will follow the 12 year old division playing rules. The 7^th grade division will follow the 13 year old division playing rules. The 8^th grade division will follow the 14 year old division playing rules.

SCHEDULES

The number of games a team will play depends “SOLELY” on the number of teams participating in each AGE GROUP & DIVISION. The league cannot determine the number of games until all teams have registered. The league will also take into consideration if a particular age group wishes to play more or less games and make changes to the below numbers as needed. Below are the approximate numbers of games for each division.

· Feeder – 18

· Tournament – 12

· AAA – 16

· AA - 18

All regular season games must be completed by the season ending date set by the league, unless weather or time does not permit. If needed, due to abnormal amounts of rain, the league may extend the season deadline.
Any regular season games that are NOT played will result in a tie for both teams.

MAKEUP GAMES
Once the season begins, unless there are extenuating circumstances, games should only be rescheduled as a result of field availability or weather.

a. All correspondence regarding makeup games must be done via email with the age group director copied.

b. Makeup games must be rescheduled (not played) within 14 days from the original date of the game. The penalty for not rescheduling a game within 14 days will be an immediate TIE for both teams. Any game not played within the last 14 days of the season will result in a tie.

c. Any team, deemed by the league, not cooperating or making an attempt to reschedule a makeup game will forfeit that game. Teams who are determined, by the league, to be avoiding a makeup game will forfeit that game.

RESCHEDULING
Once the season begins, unless there are extenuating circumstances, games MUST only be rescheduled as a result of field availability or weather.

a. All correspondence requesting to reschedule a game MUST be submitted to the opposing coach via email with the age group director copied.

b. The coach being asked to reschedule is not required by the league to do so. The league encourages coaches to work together, but the team being asked to reschedule has the option to say no and be awarded a forfeit.

c. Rescheduling due to any reason other than weather or field availability will be an automatic forfeit unless the team being asked to reschedule agrees. The reschedule date must be decided before the date the original game is to be played.

e. Once both coaches agree to reschedule a game, no forfeits will be awarded if the rescheduled date is rained out and there are no dates available for either team to play.

REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

1. Overall winning percentage beginning with AAA followed by AA then A (if more than one division) will be used to figure standings for the regular season.

2. First place team and individual player awards will be provided in each AGE GROUP (not division) for the regular season.

3. The final regular season standings will be used as the seeding for the Championship Tournament.

4. TIED RECORDS: In cases of ties in the overall winning percentage during the regular season, the following will determine the final standings/seeding & the tournament division (if split) in which teams will be placed:

I. Head to Head record against team(s) tied with

II. Points allowed against teams tied with

III. Points scored against teams tied with
IV. If still tied after all above the next lowest seeded common team played will be added to the above criteria

V. Coin toss

PLAYING RULES

Playing rules not specifically covered below shall follow the National Federation of High School Rules. No local park or league rules will supersede Lanier Baseball rules, unless they involve safety. All umpires must be informed of league rules prior to the start of all games.

Base Paths & Pitching Distances:

Division Bases Pitching

8&under 60 40

9&under 65 46

10&under 65 46

11&under 70 50

12&under 70 50

13&under 80 54

14&under 90 60

15/16 90 60

NOTE: Some fields have permanent mounds that may not be the exact listed distance above. The league does make exceptions in these cases.

Playing fields should be maintained so as to be safe for players and spectators. Any complaints concerning field or facilities should be directed to the League Coordinator.

Equipment:

Home team furnishes all game balls. Baseballs must match the age level. For example: Wilson 1075B SST, Rawlings RPLB, Diamond DOL-1 or better are suitable for 12 & under divisions. Wilson 1010, Diamond DOL-A’s are to be used in the 13 & up divisions. No Baden balls or cork and rubber balls are allowed.
All players must be fully uniformed, which includes the following: Pants, sox, cap, and team shirts with numbers that are non-duplicating at least three inches in height.
While in the field, as a defensive player, caps must be worn.
Protests on uniforms will not be allowed. Violation of the uniform rule will result in the violator being allowed to conform or be removed from the game.
Metal spikes are prohibited in age divisions 12 and below
All bat boys/girls must wear a double-ear batting helmet when outside the dugout.
The catcher must wear all appropriate gear: mask, chest protector, shin guards, protective cup, catcher’s helmet and throat guard.

Age divisions 12 and below: The catcher must wear a protective helmet that fully covers both ears.

H. AGE GROUPS OF 13U AND BELOW WILL BE REQUIRED TO USE BATS THAT ARE CERTIFIED WITH THE LABEL "BPF 1.15". BATS WITHOUT THIS LABEL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. THERE WILL BE NO REGULATION ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEIGHT AND LENGTH.
14U AGE GROUP WILL BE ALLOWED TO SWING A DROP 5 CERTIFIED LABEL "BPF 1.15" OR A DROP 3 BBCOR BAT. BATS THAT DO NOT HAVE EITHER LABEL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
THESE BAT SPECIFICATIONS WILL BE IN FULL EFFECT FOR THE SPRING 2012 BASEBALL SEASONS.

GAME RULES

Scorekeeper - Official Scorekeeper will be from the Home Team.
Game Length - The 12 and older divisions will play seven inning games with no new inning to start after 1:50. The 10 & 11 year old divisions will play six inning games with no new inning to start after 1:50. The 8 & 9 year old divisions will play six inning games with no new inning to start after 1:30. An inning begins exactly when the third out is made in the bottom half of an inning. Any inning started prior to 1:50 will be completed unless the slaughter rule is applicable. The clock should be stopped when unexpected lengthy delays are encountered. Serious injury, light failures, sprinkler systems, bad weather or an extraordinary amount of time spent to clarify a rule may cause such delays. Use common sense.

C. Tie Games - Any game that is tied at the end of regulation play may play one extra inning if time limit has not expired. If at the end of the extra inning or if the game is still tied after time has expired, the game will be recorded as a tie and counted as a ½ game win.

D. Players – Teams must begin with 9 players and may end with 8 only as a result of injury or illness.

Player Injury or Illness - If a player must be removed from the batting lineup due to injury or illness and cannot continue, when a team is batting a continuous order, the player will be removed from the order and that batting position skipped with no out charged. Any player who has been removed from the batting lineup due to injury or illness cannot return to the game. A player may only return to the batting lineup in cases of Communicable Disease.

NOTE: Any player leaving the game for reasons other than a family emergency, injury or communicable disease will be charged as an out for all remaining at bats and may not return to the game.

1. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PROCEDURES

i. The bleeding must be stopped, the open wound covered and if there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform it must be changed before the athlete may participate.

Mercy Rule – The mercy rule for ages 9 – 14 will be 15 runs after 3 innings (2 1/2 if the home team leads) & 10 runs after 4 innings (3 1/2 if the home team leads).
Slide Rule - Whenever a tag play is evident, runners must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder/catcher. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. NOTE: ATTEMPTING TO JUMP, LEAP, DIVE OVER OR HURDLE THE FIELDER/CATCHER IS NOT INTERPRETED AS SEEKING TO AVOID CONTACT.

Penalty: Runner shall be declared out and may be ejected at the umpire’s discretion.
Note: When enforcing this rule, the umpire should judge the runner’s intent. If the umpire feels that the contact was unintentional, then the runner should only be declared out. If the umpire feels that the contact was intentional and/or malicious, then the runner should be declared out and ejected.

H. Fake Bunt & Swing Away - A batter may NOT show the intent to bunt and then swing away during the same pitch. If the batter does this, whether contact is made or not, the play will be a dead ball, the batter will be declared out and both coaches will be warned.

Drop 3rd Strike – The runner is out when he gives up by entering the bench or dugout area, or with two outs he does not attempt to reach first base before all infielders leave the diamond at the end of the half-inning.
12 & Under Line Up – In league play, age divisions 12 and under must bat continuous line up with free defensive substitutions.
13 & 14 Line Up - In league play, age divisions 13 & 14 may bat continuous with free defensive substitutions, bat only 9 or may utilize an Extra Hitter (EH). The batting line up must be declared before the start of the game and used for the remainder of the game. The player in the EH position, while not actually playing a defensive position, will be treated as though they are for defensive substitution purposes. The re-entry rule applies for the EH. Starting players may re-enter once, but must re-enter in their original batting position. Non-starters are not allowed to re-enter. When a starter re-enters, the player in the starter’s batting order must be taken out of the game and is ineligible for the remainder of the game.

· A.R.- Baker is the EH and batting 2nd. Charles is the catcher and batting 3rd. Baker can become the catcher and Charles the EH. Both players would remain in their original batting order.

· A.R.2. – All players can move freely in defensive positions – the EH is considered a defensive position.

15/16 Line Up - In age groups 15 and above, if the Extra Hitter is not being utilized, then the Designated Hitter (DH) may be utilized in accordance with the National Federation of State High School Associations baseball rules.

1. A DH may be (not mandatory) designated for any one starting player (not just pitchers) and all subsequent substitutes for that player in the game.

2. A starting defensive player cannot be listed as the DH in the starting lineup.

3. A DH for said player shall be selected prior to the start of the game, and his name shall be included on the lineup cards presented to the umpire and to the official scorer.

4. Failure to declare a DH prior to the game precludes the use of a DH in that game.

5. If a pinch hitter or pinch runner for the DH is used, that player becomes the new DH.

6. The player who was the DH may re-enter as the DH under the re-entry rule.

7. A DH and the player for whom he is batting are locked into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation.

8. The role of the DH is terminated for the remainder of the game when: (a) The defensive player, or any previous defensive player for whom the DH batted, subsequently bats, pinch-hits, or runs for the DH; (b) The DH or any previous designated DH assumes a defensive position.

Speed Up Rule – In all ages, at any time during league play, the offensive team may choose to utilize a courtesy runner for the pitcher and / or catcher of record as of the previous inning. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out. Any runner thrown out stealing, caught off base or being forced out by a fielder's choice is not the last batted out. In the event that the last batted out is the catcher or pitcher of record, the last batted out is that which occurred prior to that spot in the lineup. In ages 13 & above where a continuous batting order is not being utilized, the courtesy runner must be a player that is not currently in the lineup. The courtesy runner may only appear as an offensive player once per inning. Utilization of this rule will not affect the re-entry status of the applicable players.
Intentional Walk - In age divisions 12 & under and younger, an intentional walk may take place by announcement from the catcher or pitcher. In the 8 year old division a team may intentionally walk only 1 batter, in one at bat, per game.
Rain Outs - If a game is stopped/called due to rain or other acts of God and cannot be resumed on the same day, the following rules will apply:

1. In a Six Inning game, the game is complete after 3 innings or 2 and ½ if the home team is leading.

2. In a Seven Inning game, the game is complete after 4 innings or 3 and ½ if the home team is leading.

3. Incomplete games (games that do not meet the minimum innings played requirements) will resume from their exact point of delay.

PITCHING

PITCHING POSITION –Once a player toes the rubber he must dispose of 1 batter before being removed from the pitching position.

RETURNING A PITCHER – Only the starting pitcher may return to the mound.

BALKS - In age divisions 10 and below, pitchers will be allowed some leniency in regard to balks. Pitchers will be called for all major violations and warned for minor violations that do not affect the outcome of a play. In all other divisions, balks will be strictly enforced without warning.

TRIPS TO THE MOUND - When a team is charged with its second trip to the mound, in the same inning, to the same pitcher, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game. The pitcher may be moved to another defensive position.

LIMITATIONS - Pitching limitations will not be enforced during league play; however, they are recommended and will be used during the league championship tournament.

PITCHING COACH – 1 defensive coach shall be permitted outside the immediate confines of the dugout (i.e. posts, walls) for the purpose of communicating with the pitcher and catcher (i.e. signals). The coach may choose to sit on a bucket, kneel or stand in this area. The coach must remain in this area at all times except when avoiding a play and MUST make a every reasonable attempt to avoid interference with a play. Any outbursts, movements, gestures or other acts from the coach which in the judgment of the umpire are deemed as distracting or interfering with play will result in the coach being confined to the dugout for the remainder of the game.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Coaches are responsible for the actions of themselves, their players, parents and fans. All players, coaches, parents and fans will be expected to behave in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Any player, coach, parent or fan, whose conduct is unbecoming or abusive will, at minimum, be warned and may be removed from the playing field and/or stands at the discretion of the league officials and/or umpires.

Unsportsmanlike behavior includes, but is not limited to: any behavior (verbal or non verbal) that is done to intentionally distract the opposing team, foul or abusive language physical attack of an umpire, opposing coach, player or fan, kicking dirt at the umpire, opposing coach, player or fan, artificial noise makers, screaming, yelling, chanting, singing, noise making, yelling swing at the batter, yelling baulk or screaming loudly when the pitcher is going into his windup, mocking, provoking, taunting, singing taunting songs, or any other acts which may be perceived as an intent to be a distraction or taunt the opposing team will not be allowed. These along with any other acts deemed unsportsmanlike by the umpire or league director will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

All coaches, players, parents and fans are encouraged to cheer on their team in a positive manner and to make positive comments to all players.

The following penalities maybe applied but are not limited to:

· 1st incident in a game: team warning

· 2nd incident in a game: coach ejection (keep in mind that this means the coach is out of sight out of mind and then must serve an additional 1 game suspension)

· 3rd incident in a game: forfeit of the game

EJECTIONS

A. If a player, manager, fan, etc. is ejected from a particular game by the umpire(s), the person must leave the playing area completely so that he cannot be seen or heard for the remainder of the game. This must be done within 2 minutes. The umpire(s) may delay resumption of play until they are satisfied that the person will not cause further disruption of the game. If the person does not leave within 2 minutes or refuses to leave the playing area, the umpire(s) may forfeit the game against that person's team.

B. The penalty for a coach or player who is ejected will be an additional 1 game suspension. The suspension will be in effect for the next scheduled league/tournament game played immediately following the ejection. The suspension is in addition to the remaining part of the game in which the coach or player was ejected. NOTE: Additional suspensions or disbarment from the league may be imposed if the league feels it is necessary.

C. When any manager, coach or player is ejected both teams shall inform their age group director within four (4) hours after the end of the game. A completed “EJECTION REPORT” from the website, including all details of the incident, must be emailed to the league director within eight (8) hours after the end of the game.

D. Failure to report an ejection to the League Director will result in an additional game suspension.

PROTESTS & APPEALS

Judgment calls and/or ejections are not protestable, may not be appealed and will not be heard. Protests will be allowed for age, roster, dual participation (playing on 2 LBL teams in the same season) violations and pitching or game rule interpretations only.

Umpires will work to settle all problems on the field. Pitching & game rule protests must be declared to the plate Umpire before the next pitch following the dispute. Umpires should advise the opposing coach immediately. Protests must also be reported in writing to your age group director within 24 hours of the end of the game. The protested call must have changed the outcome of the game. If upheld, the game must be restarted from the point in which the game was protested. No protest will be allowed following the game.

Age, roster or dual participation (playing on 2 LBL teams in the same season) protests must be declared to the home plate umpire during the game and to your age group director within 24 hours of the game. If the protest is upheld, the team committing the violation will forfeit the game in question.

The league directors will rule on all protests within 72 hours. Their decision will be final.

Protest fee is $100.00 cash and must be submitted to the League Director. The fee shall be returned only if the protest is upheld.

ACTS OF DISBARMENT

Any acts of disbarment will be reviewed and acted upon by the Disciplinary Committee. Their decision will be final.

Acts of disbarment include:

Disregard of league rules.
Providing false information to a league official or opposing coach.
Physical attack on an umpire, tournament official or association directors during a game or immediately following a game, played under the administration of the league.
Player, coach or manager threatening an umpire, tournament official or League Director.
Any officer, director, player, coach, manager, or parent fighting, using unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive tactics or derogatory or unbecoming acts which are detrimental and not in the best interest of Lanier Baseball.
By knowingly competing with or against illegal or suspended players.
By participating in or permitting a fraud to be perpetuated.
Refusal to submit funds that are due to the Lanier Baseball League or umpires in which funds are owed for their services in an official league game.
Competing under a false or assumed name.
Submitting a check, for any reason, that cannot be negotiated for payment.
Purposely using false information to hurt the association.

L. Forfeiting more than ¼ of your scheduled league games.

2012 LANIER BASEBALL LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT RULES

We will use LBL regular season rules for the tournament. Exceptions are listed below:

1. FORMAT: 2 Pool Play games, then re-seeded into a single elimination bracket.

2. SEEDING: Seeding for pool play will be determined by the regular season winning percentage.

3. TIED REGULAR SEASON RECORDS: In cases of ties in the overall winning percentage from the regular season, the following will determine the final standings/seeding & the tournament division (if split) in which teams will be placed:

I. Head to Head record against team(s) tied with

II. Points allowed against teams tied with

III. Points scored against teams tied with
IV. If still tied after all above the next lowest seeded common team played will be added to the above criteria

V. Coin toss

4. TOURNAMENT DIVISION SPLITS: The league will determine division splits for each age group based on the number of teams participating in the tournament and based on REGULAR SEASON standings. In age groups with 14+ teams divisions will be split before pool play into AA & AAA. Age groups with 21+ teams will be split into 3 divisions for the tournament. The split will be made as evenly as possible. If there are an odd number of teams, the league will determine the number of teams for each division.

5. TIES AFTER POOL PLAY: If more than 2 teams are tied, head to head will be thrown out. Ties will be broken by the following in this order: Head to head, run differential (Max of 8), runs allowed, runs scored.

6. HOME/VISITOR: The home team during pool play will be determined by the seeding from the league standings. In bracket play the home team will be the higher seed from pool play results, including the Championship.

7. SCORE KEEPING: The home team scorekeeper is required to keep official book. The visiting team is required to operate the scoreboard.

8. GAME LENGTH: All ages will play the same time length as in regular season.

9. MERCY RULE: The mercy rule will be the same as regular season.

10. PITCHING: Pitching rules will be used for each age group. These rules are listed on the following page. In the event the tournament is delayed due to weather or darkness the pitching charts will be frozen at the point of the delay and continued into the next day as if there were no delay.

11. PITCHING CHARTS: The pitching charts are the responsibility of the home team & must be turned in to the tournament director within 15 minutes of the completion of the game. The chart must be signed by both team’s coaches. Pitching charts that are not turned in may result in a forfeit for the home team.

12. TIE GAMES: IN POOL PLAY – Use regular season rules. IN BRACKET PLAY - In the event of a tie once time has expired the game must continue play until a winner is determined. There can be no tied bracket games. Play will continue under the following rule: The last batted out from the previous inning will be placed on 2^nd base at the beginning of each extra inning. If the game is still tied after 1 extra inning the following extra innings will start with 1 out and a runner on 2^nd base until a winner is determined. The home team will have their last at bat.

13. RAIN: In the event of rain or lightning, a game is considered complete after 4 innings have been played (or 3½ if the home team is ahead at that time). In the event of severe rain all games will be delayed. Any delayed game will resume play at the point in which it was delayed. All games will be played in the same order as originally scheduled.

14. BALLS: Lanier Baseball League will supply 4 game balls per game.

15. TROPHIES: 1^st & 2^nd place team trophies and 1st & 2nd place individual trophies will be awarded for each age group and division in the Championship Tournaments.

16. SPORTSMANSHIP: All players, coaches and fans are expected to behave in a sportsmanlike manner at all times.

All coaches, players, parents and fans are encouraged to cheer on their team in a positive manner and to make positive comments to all players.

The following penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be applied:

· 1st incident in a game: team warning

· 2nd incident in a game: coach ejection (keep in mind that this means the coach is out of sight out of mind and then must serve an additional 1 game suspension)

· 3rd incident in a game: forfeit of the game

16. TOURNAMENT PITCHING RULES:

Age                Col A        Col B
7U – 12U             6              9
13U – 14U           7             12

Pitching Chart:

Column A – The maximum number of innings a player can pitch in one (1) day.
Column B – The maximum number of innings a player can pitch for the entire tournament.

            I Comment: For age divisions 7U – 12U, this is to be interpreted as a player can pitch
            any combination of innings that equals nine (9) as long as he doesn’t pitch more than six (6) innings
            in any one day.

            II Comment: For age divisions 13U – 14U, this is to be interpreted as a player can pitch
            any combination of innings that equals twelve (12) as long as he doesn’t pitch more than seven (7)
            innings in any one day.

1. Once a pitcher toes the rubber at any point after reaching the maximum allowed in Column A or B he is in violation of the pitching rules.

    PENALTY: Any violation of pitching limitations shall result in immediate forfeiture of the game.

2. For all cumulative totals in this rule, one (1) out equals one-third (1/3) of an inning, two (2) outs equals two-thirds (2/3) of an inning and three (3) outs equals one (1) full inning. This rule does
    not supersede rule 1.
          a. Exceeding the maximum innings allowed in the case of a double or triple play will not be counted against the pitcher.
          b. A pitcher that pitches in a game before reaching the max innings allowed for the tournament and records no outs is not charged with any innings pitched.

3. Outs recorded during a game that ends in forfeit shall count towards a pitchers’ innings limits.

4. It is the responsibility of each team’s manager to challenge pitching violations by notifying the umpire and then the Tournament Director. The game and time should be stopped until the matter
is resolved.

5. In the event the tournament is delayed due to weather or darkness the pitching charts will be frozen at the point of the delay and continued into the next day as if there were no delay.