EASTERN IOWA ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUE 2021 Rule Book
Section 1 Uniforms and Equipment
1.a
All teams must have full baseball uniforms consisting of caps, numbered baseball jerseys, baseball pants, belt, sanitary socks and stirrups - each player’s uniform must be of similar design to his teammate’s uniforms.
1.b
No player out of uniform will be allowed to play without the opposing manager’s consent.
1.c
All batters and runners must wear helmets with at least one earflap facing the pitcher for both batting and running on base. There is no option to this rule. Full double-ear flap helmets are encouraged for batting and are encouraged for the bases. Catchers must wear a helmet underneath their masks.
1.d
Wood and wood composite bats are allowed; however, metal bats are prohibited.
NO METAL BATS
1.e
Metal cleats are permitted unless otherwise restricted due to home field rules
Section 2 Game Length, Run Rule and Rain-Outs
2.a
All games are 7 innings
2.b In case of darkness, 5 innings will be a complete game.
2.c
In case of rain 5 innings will be a complete game.
2.d
If there is a 15-run discrepancy at the end of 4 innings, the game can be ruled final at this point. A 10 Run discrepancy after 5 innings will also end the game.
2.e
In case of extra innings, the 9th inning will start with zero out and a runner on second base. Each inning will be played this way past the 9th.
2.f
There is a 5-hour total time limit for a regular season DH, this includes the time between games. No new innings may be started with 10 minutes left to play.
2.g
All league playoff games are still 7 innings and must be played to completion. The umpire may suspend a game if, in their opinion; the safety of the players is compromised due to rain, or darkness or another unforeseen factor.
2.h
Any games rained out will not be re-scheduled by the league but may be made up at any time not conflicting with previously scheduled games. All make-up games must be agreed to by both managers and league notification must take place. Rain out games must be made up in order of cancellations. If more than one cancellation has occurred, then the league President will decide which game is made up. Final league standings will be determined by won/lost percentage. Ties will be decided by head-to-head competition first, then run differential in head to head competition.
Section 3 Teams, Players and Lineups
3.a
Players must be 18 before the first regular season game is played. Players must also be out of High School; their senior season of baseball ending does not qualify them to play in the league. College age players must not play on their college team or their college club team. A redshirt freshman is not eligible to play since they are on a college team.
3.b
Team rosters must be submitted to the league by opening day, including league and player fees, proof of date of birth, player waiver forms and team medical waiver form. Any additional players must be added to the roster and all forms must be obtained before that player sets foot on the field.
All players, prior to participating in a game, must have signed a waiver form on file with the league.
3.c
Final team rosters must have no less than 12 players.
3.d
The league fee for teams is due in two installments. The first half of each year’s league fee is due one week prior to the week one games. The 2nd half is due by July 1st. If a team should not pay on time their games will result in a forfeit until they are able to pay their dues.
3.e
Players must participate on three different dates to be eligible for the league tournament.
3.f
New Players: The league shall control the assignment to teams of all new players who have contacted the league in response to advertising or who have been referred to the league by any means. A player who has not played in any league game in either the current or previous year shall be regarded as a new player. A new player acquired by a team through that team’s own recruiting efforts shall be subject to the control of the team and not the league.
3.g
A team manager may bat as many players as he desires, with a minimum of 10 (subject to the number of players available, if less than 10). Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game. If a team has only 9 (nine) players and therefore bats only 9, the opposing team will have the option of batting 9 as well. If a team has more than 9 players and still only bats nine, they will be assessed an out each time the 10th batting position is skipped. Batting only 9 players is NOT a protestable offense. A team batting 8 players must record an out only one time when the vacated spot comes up. This out may be recorded at any spot in a 9-person lineup.
3.h
A manager may add batters to the bottom of the lineup at any time but if a batter is pinch hit or run for (except under courtesy runners as outlined in section 5), the player may not re-enter the game. Added players to the bottom of the lineup may be added as individual hitters or as A/B. The starting pitcher is the only person who may come back and pitch but only if they remain in a defensive position. The starting pitcher may only return once per game.
3.i
A team MAY declare at the time that lineups are exchanged prior to the start of play, that any batting order position (i.e. 9, 10, 11, etc.) can be occupied by two (2) players in each such batting position. That is, 9A/9B, 10, 11A/11B, 12, etc. The first time that position 9 gets an at bat, 9A would hit and the next time this slot hits, 9B would be up. Then 9A hits the third time this spot in the order comes up, and so on, alternating between these two players throughout the game. Once a team declares the use of this A/B system, it must continue using it for the remainder of the game. Hitters in the A/B position may be pinch hit for, just as any other player. Batters 9A and 9B do not count towards the 10 player lineup minimum, you would still need a player batting in the 10th batting slot.
3.j
All teams must announce all offensive additions, substitutions, and/or changes to the home plate umpire AND opposing team manager and/or scorekeeper. Only after this has been done will the added player be deemed a legal substitution.
If a team fails to announce an offensive addition/change, the player will be called out as soon as he occupies the batter’s box and the lineup will revert back to the lineup in effect prior to the player entering the game. The unannounced player will not have officially entered the offensive lineup and is therefore still available offensively even though an out has been assessed.
Example: Team A is batting 12 players and wishes to add a player to the bottom of the lineup (Player 13). Player 13 walks to the plate and is not announced to either the opposing team or home plate umpire. Once this player occupies his position in the batter’s box, the umpire will immediately call him out for an illegal substitution and it will then go back to the number 1 position in the lineup. Player 13 is still available to be added to the lineup legally.
3.k
If a player is forced to leave a game due to injury or ejection, a reserve player, not previously entered the game as a hitter, must hit in the replaced hitter’s place. If there are no reserves who can replace the individual, the spot is skipped and all hitters below that position move up. The first time this vacated spot comes up in the batting order, an out will be assessed, after that one time; no out will be recorded for skipping the spot vacated by the displaced player.
3.l
A team must have 8 players from their team for an official game and may borrow a player from an opposing team with the opposing manager’s consent or may borrow a player from another team, also with the opposing manager’s consent. If the team’s 9th player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player reverts to his team.
3.m
(a) All players may be substituted for defensively, at any time, without affecting the player’s offensive status in the line-up except for the pitcher.
(b) If the starting pitcher is removed from pitching, he may pitch again only one time during the game. The starting pitcher must be entered into the lineup or remain in the lineup to be eligible to pitch again in the same game. If the Pitcher is not in the batting lineup he must be substituted for a batter in the lineup to be eligible to pitch a second time within the same game. The pitcher who is being replaced may still bat in his usual spot if he was in the batting order, unless the player entering to pitch was not in the batting lineup. If the player entering to pitch is not in the lineup he must replace someone in the offensive lineup other than the pitcher being replaced for the starting pitcher to be eligible to return to pitch. If the player who came out of the game was not in the batting lineup, then they may enter the game in the lineup later. If a pinch hitter or pinch runner is used, the player that is being pinched hit/run is out of the game entirely, no reentry!!
3.n
No player may switch teams without the consent of both managers and the league president. If this does not meet with approval, the player must sit out one calendar year from competition, from the last date of his playing, or re-enter the league’s next draft, making himself available to any team for selection. In the event a team disbands during the season or at season’s conclusion, all players with 2 years seniority in the league will become automatic free agents and will be permitted to play for any desired team. Players not having 2 years in the league will re-enter the draft. If a player is not invited back by his manager, he must be given his release so that he may re-enter the draft or he must be traded. If a player is invited back to play and he desires not to play for his former team and cannot be successfully traded, he must sit out one entire year or re-enter the draft, making himself available to all teams.
3.o
In the event a player wishes to leave his existing team and form a new team, he may do so. No other player can be taken from the existing team without the consent of the existing team’s manager. The player starting the new team does not have to have 2 years’ experience.
3.p
Last names must be used in the scorebook to allow for player identification for follow up inquiries that relate to playoff and national tournament participation requiring minimum playing requirements.
Section 4 Player Behavior and Team Responsibility
4.a
There will be no beer or alcoholic beverages, or tobacco permitted at the field before, during or after the game. The field refers to the general playing area and ancillary areas.
4.b
The league has the right to suspend or expel any team member who abuses league rules or who does not exhibit a sense of sportsmanship or who plays without regard to the safety of the umpires or other players. Any player that refuses to shake hands with the opposing team will be suspended their following game they attend.
4.c
An umpire has sole discretion to expel any player or manager from the game.
4.d
Fighting among players or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated and players expelled from the game for either violation will be subject to suspension or expulsion from the league.
4.e
The rules committee is concerned about possible unnecessary and violent collisions that may occur with the catcher at home plate, and with infielders at all bases. The intent of this rule is to encourage base runners and defensive players to avoid such collisions whenever possible.
4.e (a)
When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the ball, the umpire shall judge:
(b)
Whether the collision by the runner was avoidable (could the runner have reached the base without colliding) or unavoidable (the runner’s path to the base was blocked)
(c)
Whether the runner actually was attempting to reach the base (plate) or attempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder.
PENALTY—If the runner, a) could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or b) attempted to dislodge the ball, the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball is dead, and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.
(d)
If the fielder blocks the path of the base runner to the base (plate), the runner may make contact or slide into, a fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base or plate.
(e)
If the collision by the runner was flagrant, the runner shall be declared out and ejected from the contest. The ball shall be declared dead.
4.e (b)
If the defensive player blocks the base (plate) or base line clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The runner is ruled safe, and an immediate dead ball shall be called.
If the base runner collides flagrantly, the runner shall be declared safe on the obstruction, but will be ejected from the contest. The ball is dead.
If the safety bag is in play, players may use the safety bag but are not required to do so. In case of a dropped 3rd strike the orange bag may be used by the defender to complete the play.
4.f
Decoy Rule
Any fielder may use a decoy only if it serves a strategic purpose. For example, if a fielder, who sees a man attempting to steal second base during a hit and run, looks upward into the sky and says that he’s got the pop-up when in fact the ball has been hit on ground is a legal decoy as it may cause the runner to retreat to first base and prevent him from advancing.
However, if a fielder fakes a tag, forcing a player to slide, when there is no strategic purpose or apparent play, the runner will be ruled safe and all runners will advance one base.
This is entirely an umpire judgment decision and not a rule that may be protested.
4.g
Force Play Slide Rule
The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.
On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases.
Exception—A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.
4.h (a)
Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:
(a) The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the fielder;
(b) The runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder
(c) The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position;
(d) The runner goes beyond the base and either makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder;
(e) "Beyond the base” means any part of the offensive player’s body makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder beyond the base.
(f) The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg;
(g) The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.
PENALTY:
4.h (b)
(a) With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
(b) With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
(c) If the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest.
(d) If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.
Section 5 Courtesy Runners
5.a
Players that will need courtesy runners must have their manager notify the opposing manager prior to the start of the game. If not so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request.
Each team will be allowed a maximum of 1 player per game who can be run for each time that they reach base. The individual who runs for the player needing a courtesy runner is not determined ahead of time, It is always the last batted out whom must run for the person needing the courtesy runner. In the event a player becomes injured during the game then the last batted out may be used as a onetime courtesy runner unless the team has not used a courtesy runner previously. If one courtesy runner has previously been used, then the player needing a runner must come out of the batting lineup the next time they are at bat and an out is recorded. If there are players on the bench that were not in the batting order, then they can be substituted per a usual game.
If a batter (designated as needing a courtesy runner) opts to run or forgets to get a courtesy runner and subsequently runs, he will lose his courtesy runner for the remaining portion of the game. The offensive team that is replacing the courtesy runner has 30 seconds to make the runner change.
If the catcher is on base when the second out is recorded, then an additional courtesy runner may be used to speed up the game. Again, this is the last batted out.
Section 6 Pitchers
6.a
No player while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, grey is allowed if it matches the sleeves of their team uniform. All other colored sleeves must match the uniform sleeve of their jersey. They also may not wear a batting glove or wristband while pitching. Pitchers can wear sunglasses if they are prescribed.
6.b
If a pitcher hits 4 batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the fourth hit batsman.
Section 7 Code of Conduct
7.a
Prohibitions. Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:
7.b
Lay a hand upon, shove or strike, or threaten an official. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.
7.c
Refuse to abide by an official’s decision. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
7.d
Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official’s decision. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.
7.e
Discuss with an official or officials the decision reached by such official or officials, except for the manager or his designee who are authorized to participate in such discussions. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.
7.f
Use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
7.g
Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.
7.h
Be guilty of verbal abusive attack upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season.
7.i
Consume alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during the game or be upon the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season or life.
7.j
No tobacco on the field of play or in the dugout. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and may face further punishment for repeat offenses.
- Penalties
8.a
Any player ejected from a game must serve a one game suspension. Example: If the player is ejected in the first game of a double header then he must sit out the second game. If he was ejected in the second game, then that suspension comes into effect the following game he attends. If the player misses both the following games the suspension is still in effect until he attends a game. Any player ejected twice in one season will be in suspension for the remainder of the season and further discipline will be considered by the board of directors.
8.b
The board of directors may, by vote of the majority of the directors, suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, for the conduct within its opinion is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or charter of the league.
8.c
Except as otherwise provided, the board of directors shall determine the appropriate action required for violations of the codes of conduct and shall report their decision to the player and manager.
8.d
A player found in violation of any provision delineated in the codes of conduct, after being placed on probation for the remainder of the season shall be suspended for the remainder of the season. They may face further punishment determined by the board of directors.
8.e
A player that has been suspended twice will be banned from the league.
Section 9. Grievances, protests, and appeals
9.a
Grievances may be filed by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that a grievance is formally submitted to the commissioner or board of directors. The commissioner shall adjudicate all such grievances and shall report any action taken by the board of directors.
9.b
Any player having been suspended may appeal their suspension thru their manager to the board of directors and commissioner. A 2/3rds vote will be needed to waive the suspension.
9.c
All protests should be lodged to the league board of directors within 24 hours after the game for which the protest is made. All protests shall be decided by the league board of directors.
Section 10 General League Rules
10.a
Two forfeits by any team in a season could mean immediate expulsion from the league with no money refunded to the team. This will be decided by the league commissioner and can be appealed to the board of directors.
10.b Each year, all players on the league’s waiting list will be invited to a draft. The annual draft will be conducted in a manner to allow parity in the league by having the prior year’s teams with the lowest finishing record drafting first.