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2008
MADISON BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
LOCAL RULES & REGULATIONS
Babe Ruth
(13 - 15 Year Old League)

The precedence of rules is:

1 - Local Rules

2 - Babe Ruth Rules

3 - Official Baseball Rules

1. The minimum number of players to begin a game is eight. After the game has started, the number of players may drop below eight without forfeit, unless the immediate cause of falling below eight players is due to an ejection of one or more players.  However, the minimum number of batting positions remains at eight throughout the game.  As a result, if a team is playing with eight or less players and a player is removed for the game for any reason other than ejection, the batting position of the player(s) removed shall be counted as an out each time that position(s) comes around.  The batting position of an ejected player shall be counted as an out each time it comes around regardless of how many players are present in the batting order.

2. Teams may borrow players from other Madison Baseball Association Babe Ruth teams in order to field nine players. Borrowed players cannot pitch and must be placed at the bottom of the batting order.

3. Game Time Limit. No new inning may start after one hour and 45 minutes. A new inning starts when the third out of the previous inning occurs. Once an inning has started it must be completed.  A game called because the time limit has expired will be declared a regulation game regardless of the number of innings played even if the game is tied.

4. Babe Ruth’s “10 Run Rule" Option has been adopted. If the home team is leading by 10 runs or more after 4 1/2 innings or the visiting team is leading by 10 runs or more after 5 innings the game shall be terminated. In the case of the visiting team leading by 10 runs or more, the home team must be allowed to bat before making the determination to terminate the game.

5. Player Participation Rule. (Controlled by BOD vote only) All players must have a minimum of two innings of playing time in defense. Free substitution is allowed for all players.  All players in attendance at the game will be placed in the batting order.

6. Game Cancellations. A Madison Recreation Department representative, the MBA President or Babe Ruth Player Agent will be responsible for determining if field and weather conditions require the game to be cancelled and rescheduled. If none of these are available to make the call, the umpire will make the decision. Once a game starts, control of the game becomes the responsibility of the umpire.

7. The Home team will be responsible for the following items:

·        Supplying game balls to the Plate Umpire (Minimum 3 new and 2 good used)

·        Keeping the official game score book

·        Completing the official game summary sheet

·        Home team will always take the 3rd base dugout

8. Pre Game. The visiting team may take the field (20) minutes prior to game time "if available". The home team may take the field (10) minutes prior to game time "if available". If there are less than twenty minutes available, time shall be divided equally. If there are less than six minutes available the home team will take the field five minutes prior to pitcher warm-up and the visiting team will be allowed five minutes prior to pitcher warm-up when they begin their defensive half of the first inning. Official Game Time will not be set until the umpire has executed his official baseball rules and the Home pitcher has warmed-up and is ready to pitch.

9. League Scoring. League standings will be determined by winning percentage based on the number of games won versus the number of games played. A tie will be counted as a 0.5 win in this calculation. Tie breakers for post-season tournament seeding are listed in the MBA Coaches Handbook.

10. Game Start Delays: All games will begin at the scheduled start time with the following delay exceptions:

• Weather Conditions - maximum 30 minute delay then game must be rescheduled
• Field Conditions - maximum 30 minute delay then game must be rescheduled
• Waiting on both Umpires - 20 minute delay then game must be rescheduled
• Waiting on single Umpire - 10 minute delay then start game with 1 umpire
• Team waiting for coach or minimum number of players - maximum 10 minute delay then team forfeits

Rules 11-14 are Safety Rules and are similar to the ones for high school baseball.

11. Jewelry Prohibited: Participating players may not wear jewelry. A medical alert bracelet is not jewelry and may be worn if it is taped to the body and clearly visible. Penalty: Team warning.

12. Malicious Contact: A runner may not make malicious contact with a fielder, whether the fielder is in or out of the base path, or whether he has or doesn’t have the ball. Penalty: Interference: The ball is dead, the runner is out and other runners return to the bases occupied at the time of the interference. If the interference prevented a double play, the umpire will award the second out.

13. Runner Must Slide or Avoid Contact: A runner is out if the defense is playing on him and (1) he does not slide legally, causing illegal contact or thus altering the actions of a fielder in the act of making a play; or (2) does not slide in the direction of the base. Penalty: Interference. Ball is dead. Both the runner and the batter-runner are out.

Note 1: A runner on a force play may slide away from the fielder to avoid interference.

Note 2: The runner establishes his base path and may not alter it for the purpose of avoiding a play.

Note 3: If a runner does slide, it must be legal. If he does not slide, he must avoid interfering with the play.

Note 4: The fielder cannot fake a tag play (either by pretending the ball is being thrown to him or pretending he has the ball) on a runner causing him to slide unnecessarily. Penalty: a) Obstruction. The affected runner is awarded the base he would have made without the fake tag b) team warning.

Legal slide: A legal slide may be either headfirst or foot-first. In a foot-first slide one leg and buttock must be on the ground. The runner must be able to reach the base with either a hand or a foot.

Illegal slide: The runner may not use a rolling, cross-body, pop-up, or leg thrashing slide if he makes contact or alters the play. A raised leg must be no higher than the fielder’s knee when he is standing. The runner may not slide beyond the base and make contact or alter the play. The runner may not attempt to injure the fielder.

14. Bats: Baseball bats must be approved for high school play. The maximum diameter of the barrel may be 2 5/8 inches and the bat must not have greater than a minus three (-3) differential between the length and the weight of the bat (a 33 inch long bat, for example, cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). All non-wood baseball bats must meet the ball exit speed ratio (BESR) performance standard. Exception: 13 Year Olds may use bats with a -8.5 differential (a 33 inch long bat, for example, cannot weigh less than 24.5 ounces), the maximum diameter of the barrel must not exceed 2 3/4 inches and the BESR requirement doesn’t apply, however, 13 Year Olds are encouraged to use bats approved for high school play. Penalty: Batter is out and runners do not advance. No warnings.

15. Only Managers, Coaches, Players and Umpires shall be allowed on the field or in the dugouts during the game.

16. Any player "slinging the bat" and creating a dangerous situation shall receive a warning. The managers of both teams will be notified of the warning. Upon the second occurrence of "slinging the bat" and creating a dangerous situation by that batter in the same game, that batter will be called "out" and no base runner shall be allowed to advance.

17. Game Protests. Only rule discrepancies may be protested. Discuss these with the Umpires for possible resolution. If unresolved, Protest must be so noted on the Game Summary Sheet. The Game Summary Sheet will be utilized to explain rule discrepancies as understood by each coach and umpire. The summary sheet will be passed to a Protest Committee for examination and recommendation to the League President. If the League President finds justification for the protest, the game will be replayed from the point of protest. See the MBA Babe Ruth League Game Protest Procedure for complete guidelines.

Pitching Rules:

1. A Babe Ruth 13-15 year old pitcher, regardless of age, may pitch eight (8) innings per calendar week. The calendar week of Babe Ruth is Monday through, and including, Sunday.

If a pitcher delivers one (1) pitch in an inning, after warm ups, he shall be charged for one (1) inning pitched, even if the game is rained out or is otherwise rescheduled.  This will count against the total innings pitched in a calendar week.

2. A Babe Ruth 13-15 pitcher must have two (2) calendar days rest between pitching “assignments”, if he pitches in four (4) innings or more in any one game. For example:  If he pitches 4 innings or more on Saturday, he must rest Sunday and Monday before pitching again on Tuesday.

3. Each game in which a pitcher pitches is considered one (1) "assignment".

4. Games in which an ineligible pitcher has been used as specified in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be declared forfeited, even if that is after the game is completed. There is no statute of limitations.