STOW YOUTH
BASEBALL/ SOFTBALL LEAGUE INC.
SUMMER
GENERAL RULES
Revised for the season of 2006
Section 1-General Rules
1.
It is the primary objective of this organization to provide the
boys and girls of the Stow-Munroe Falls School District with an organized
adult supervised program that stresses sportsmanship, complete
cooperation, and a chance to learn baseball/softball according to Ohio Hot
Stove or American Softball Association, as modified by the Stow Youth
Baseball/Softball League, Inc.
Players and Umpires shall
conduct themselves at all times as to be a credit to the League. Any
member of the Board, Manager, Coach, Player or Umpire accused of using
profane or foul language, being abusive or acting in such a manner as to
be detrimental to the League, may be dismissed from their position if
found guilty by the Executive Board.
2.
All managers shall be responsible for the equipment assigned to
their teams; namely, uniforms, bats, balls, bases, protective headgear,
equipment bags, catcher’s mitt, catcher’s mask, catcher’s shin
guards, and catcher’s chest protector. Managers must instruct their
players and coaches on the proper use of this equipment. The manager must
collect this equipment at the end of the season. Cleaned baseball uniforms
are to be returned to the manager. Should any baseball player fail to
return a uniform, the manager should so advise his League Vice-President.
The League will hold each player responsible for the cost of the uniform
if it is not returned. The Vice-President of Equipment will take an
inventory at the end of the season, and a report of missing equipment will
be submitted. A record shall be kept of this equipment. New equipment
required or equipment needing repairs will be handled by the Equipment
Vice-President prior to the start of the next season. IF A MANAGER DOES
NOT RETURN STOW YOUTH BASEBALL TEAM EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS ON HIS/HER
SCHEDULED RETURN DATE, SAID MANAGER MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO MANAGE OR COACH
THE FOLLOWING YEAR OR A EQUIPMENT DEPOSIT WILL BE CHARGED.
It is a must that equipment is to be returned so the repairs can be
made.
3.
All members of the Board, Managers, Coaches, and Players members of
the Stow Youth Baseball and Softball organization.
4.
A receipt shall be required in the transfer of all money.
5.
The Umpire-In-Chief shall assign umpires for all league games. The
Umpire-in-Chief may request help from Summit Umpires, ASA Umpires or NSA
Umpires. Should an umpire fail to appear for a scheduled game, the game
must be played using a spectator or coach as an umpire; agreed upon by
each team’s manager. Penalty-Forfeit by both teams. Both managers
must sign each other’s scorebook before the game starts and the game
will count in the standings. If a coach is the umpire, he/she will call
the balls/strikes (be behind home plate) when his team is up to bat.
Umpires will be fined the applicable game rate if they fail to show up for
a scheduled game. The treasurer must be notified of who umpires the game,
what field, and what day it occurred on
and payment will be made to this person.
6.
All managers shall carefully check birth dates of all players
assigned to their teams. If the player is in the wrong age bracket, his
name shall be turned into the League Vice-President, so the player may be
assigned to a team according to his age. PENALTY: Forfeiture of all games
in which the player has participated.
7.
Managers’ applications must be reviewed and approved by the Board
each year before tryouts occur. All managers will be recommended by the
League Vice-President.
8.
Any player who voluntarily withdraws from the Stow Youth Baseball
League will forfeit the registration fee, unless an exception is cited by
the Board. All requests for a refund must be submitted in writing or it
will not be considered. Requests must be submitted by April 30th.
9.
No player may be signed up at the fields by managers or coaches or
SYB Board members. If a player missed the annual registration, he may
request late registration and will be registered only if openings exist.
All registered players must have their birth certificates verified with
the League.
10.
The MANAGER may take his child with him to the team he or she
manages and if he or she is moving up to the next league, may be able to
keep up to seven players on that team including his child. See draft rules
for more detail.
11.
A manager can only
manage one team in the SYB baseball and softball leagues.
12.
Team managers must be at least 18 years of age, prior to January 1st
of the playing year. The recommended age of a coach is 18 years old, prior
to January 1st of the playing year.
13.
Umpires must be at least 15 years of age, prior to September 1st
of the playing year.
14.
Managers must submit their completed rosters to the League
Vice-President and League Secretary before the first regularly scheduled
League game. This roster must include players’ first and last names,
uniform number, address, telephone number and birth date. If not
submitted, the manager will forfeit all games until the completed roster
is turned in. These losses will remain in effect for the entire season.
15.
The only ball that may be used for baseball and softball games will
be those supplied or approved by SYB at the beginning of the season.
16.
If you can’t read the manufactures’
specifications on the bat or if the bat appears to be altered in any way
(i.e. weight or length) you will not be allowed to use that bat. (Umpire
discretion applies). PENALTY: If the bat is used the batter is out.
17.
STOW YOUTH BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
DESIGNATED LEAGUES:
Boys:
H - Gold – 7 or 8 years old before Aug. 1st,
9 after July 31st.
Teams are put together by the League VP with elementary school
districts considered.
H - Maroon – 9 or 10 years old before Aug. 1st,
11 after July 31st.
Teams will be formed through a try-out, draft format.
G League – 12 years old and younger (13 if birthday
falls on or after Aug. 1st.)
Teams will be formed
through a try-out, draft format.
F League – 14 years old and younger (15 if birthday
falls on or after Aug. 1st.)
Teams will be formed through a try-out, draft format.
E League – 18 Years old and younger (19 if birthday
falls on or after Aug. 1st.)
Teams will be formed through a try-out, draft format.
Girls:
Age is determined on Jan. 1st of playing
year.
I League – 7 or 8 years old – 1st or 2nd
year playing fast-pitch softball
A League – 9 or 10 years old (11 if birthday falls
after Jan. 1st.)
B League – 12 years old and younger (13 if birthday
falls after Jan.1st.)
C League – 14 years old and younger (15 if birthday
falls after Jan.1st.)
D League – 18 years old and younger (19 if birthday
falls after Jan. 1st)
18.
All SYB teams may also compete in tournaments in or outside of Stow
as long as the tournament games do not interfere with SYB scheduled league
games.
19.
H-Maroon, G & F teams playing in the season ending tournament
are allowed to play through the Monday before District Tournament play,
(this day will be established by the Ohio Hot Stove League) but not during
the tournament play until eliminated.
20.
H-Maroon, G & F can only play on one team in one league
classification and in only one organized baseball league during the
current season.
21.
No player shall play for more than one team in the Stow Youth
Baseball & Softball organization.
22.
No player shall play for SYB and a travel team in any given season.
23.
No metal spikes will be allowed. (E League being the exception.).
24.
The use of tobacco products during games and practices is
prohibited by managers, coaches, umpires, and players.
25.
Any managers, coaches, umpires or players appearing either for
practice or at a game under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be
automatically suspended or dismissed.
Section II – General League Rules
1.
The Ohio Hot Stove Baseball League Rules shall govern all baseball
play except when superseded by the Stow Youth Baseball League rules or
field ground rules.
2.
The Amatuer Softball Association Rules shall govern all softball
play except when superseded by the Stow Youth Baseball League rules or
field ground rules
3.
Once a game has started, the home plate umpire is in complete
charge of the game. No player, spectator, manager, or coach shall yell,
heckle, or touch an umpire. Managers will stress this point to their
players and spectators. Any abusive language or action by a player,
spectator, manager, or coach directed at the umpire or opposing players
shall be called to the attention of the managers. The managers shall ask
the spectators to refrain from the use of abusive language or actions. If
this is not followed, the umpire may eject the managers and secondly call
a forfeit.
4.
No protest on an umpire’s judgment call will be considered.
5.
A coach may not change coaching boxes in any one inning. Excessive
or unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. The umpire shall give
one warning, and if it persists, the umpire shall eject the individual or
call a forfeit.
6.
No coach, spectator, manager, or player will be permitted to yell
or distract a player on the opposing team. The umpire shall give one
warning, and if it persists, ejection and then, the umpire shall call a
forfeit. Team cheering shall be permitted as long as it is in a sportsman
like manner and not directed at the opposing team.
7.
All players must wear full protective headgear while batting,
running the bases and catching. If during a live ball situation, the
headgear is intentionally removed while running bases or after scoring but
before leaving the field of play, the runner is out. Any player warming up
a pitcher must wear a mask.
8.
A chinstrap will be worn at all times when batting and running the
bases in all baseball and softball leagues. The chinstrap will be worn in
such a manner that the chinstrap will touch the bottom of chin. If the
batter is not wearing a chinstrap on the helmet, a warning will be issued
to both benches, on the next occurrence an out will given to the person
not wearing the chinstrap.
9.
Starting time for boy’s weekday games are at 6:00 p.m., and the
girls start at 6:15 p.m. (6:00 p.m. if on lighted fields), with a 15-min.
grace period. All night games will be 8:30 p.m. Each team should be
allowed equal warm-up time, up to 15 minutes, with home team going first,
to insure the game starts at scheduled time. No team warms up after
scheduled game time. Games will start on time or as soon as the minimum
number of players (8) are present for each team. Players that arrive after
game time will be put at bottom of order. This rule may be modified for
game time as required by local community field rules.
10.
A manager may establish reasonable training rules for his team,
subject to approval by the respective League Vice-President. Disciplinary
action may be taken at the manager’s discretion. If a player is
suspended, the League Vice-President shall be notified in writing within
24 hours. The notice shall state the rule infraction and the duration of
the suspension. The suspended player shall not appear at any league game
in uniform during the term of the suspension. A copy of said team rules
should be on file with the League Vice-President.
11.
In the event of thunder, rain, darkness, or any other situation,
which would affect the continuance of game safety or field conditions, the
home plate umpire has the final authority to stop the game. If possible,
the players should be removed to a safe place until weather improves.
After a 20-minute interval, the umpire should decide whether to continue
or officially stop the game. In the event of conditions that would stop a
game (such as rain, darkness, light failure, etc.), completion of a game
will be governed by the interpretation of the Ohio Hot Stove Baseball
Rules or American Softball Association Rules. If lightning is visible at
any time during a game, play stops immediately and the above rules apply
as any other weather condition. If the game continues, speed up rules must
be enforced.
11a) If there is one inning
to makeup of the game, at the discretion of the umpire-in-chief, the game
will be finished the next time the teams meet, if they meet again during
the season. If the teams do not meet again, the umpire-in-chief will
schedule the completion of the game for a later date.
11b) BASEBALL ONLY --
If the game has completed 5 innings, and the losing team has the winning
or tieing run on base and the game is called for darkness or weather
conditions, the game is suspended and play will resume at that point in
order. The umpire-in-chief will schedule the time and date for the game to
be completed.
11c) SOFTBALL ONLY –
If the game has completed 5 innings, the game is over and constitutes a
full and complete game. No innings will be made up at a later date.
12.
The Executive Board shall have the final authority to rule in all
matters.
13.
Teams playing in any tournament will play by the rules of the
tournament they have entered.
14.
A team shall become responsibility of the manager 15 minutes before
the game and shall remain his responsibility for 15 minutes after the
game’s completion, for it’s conduct on and off the field. He shall be
relieved of this responsibility when the parents take the youth from the
field. A manager shall not leave until all players are picked up.
15.
No league games shall be scheduled 48 hours before any post season
tournaments.
16.
All league games take precedence over tournament games during
regular season.
17.
All League Vice-Presidents will reschedule all rainout games with
the consent of the Umpire-in-Chief. The managers/coaches will have no say
in the day and time of the rescheduled games due to rain or any other
weather conditions.
18.
If there is a game following the one being played at night under
lights, no new inning may begin after 8:15 p.m. for the first game. No new
inning shall start after 10:30 p.m. for a night game. These rules apply
only during the school year when school is scheduled for the next day, for
either team. No new innings shall be started after 8:30 for the first game
at all other times when games are under the lights.
19.
Managers and coaches shall be properly attired at all games. Anyone
in violation will be ejected from the games until properly attired (no
cutoffs or tank tops).
20.
No games will be postponed without permission of League’s
Vice-President or Executive Vice-President, except for inclement weather.
If a school event (awards ceremony, carnival, etc) conflicts with a
scheduled game, the manager must notify the League VP by May 1st
for baseball and by May 12th for softball – the league VP
will then reschedule the game with the Umpire-in-Chief. Once school is
out, June 9, 2006, NO games will be rescheduled due to a school conflict.
21.
Softball only - If there is a community conflict, you must
contact the League VP at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game time
in order for consideration for reschedule of the game. Community
representatives cannot reschedule games without the consent of the SYB
League VP.
22.
A) Any umpire ejection of a manager or coach must be filed in
written letter form by the umpire and the manager/coach to the
Umpire-In-Chief and League VP within 48 hours of game time to explain the
incident. In the event of a manager/coach ejection during a game, the
manager/coach will sit out the next 2 scheduled league games. This means
that the manager/coach must not be present at the basic playing field as a
coach or SPECTATOR. If the manager/coach is on the playing field during
his suspension, the umpire will stop play until you leave or you will
forfeit the game.
B) Any person
ejected from the game must remain out of sight and ear shot of the umpire
and the playing field.
23.
In the boys’ leagues, it is mandatory that all players wear
athletic supporters.
24.
All catchers must wear protective headgear, cup (boys only), throat
guards, and proper catching equipment. PENALTY: Cannot play in the game as
a catcher.
25.
All-star teams in all H Leagues, G League, and F League are formed
at the end of the season to play. The first place team manager will manage
one team and the second place manager will manage the second team. If
there may be a problem in managing the team by the first or second place
managers, then the selection will go to the third, fourth, fifth, and six
place managers in that order. The manager will select coaches for each of
the teams. The Vice-President of that league will make guidelines for
player selection for these teams.
26.
In the event of a league tie for first place, there will be a one
game play-off with the winner receiving first place trophies and the loser
second place trophies. The site and play-off date to be determined by the
Executive Vice-President and the Umpire-In-Chief.
27.
In the event of a tie
for second place, there will be a one game play off and the winner will be
given second place trophies.
28.
All protests must be submitted on the Stow Youth Baseball/Softball
protest form (see website for a copy of the form) and must be submitted to
the League Vice-President in writing along with a protest fee of $25.00 no
later than 24 hours from time of protest. Protest fees shall be retained
unless the protest is upheld by the protest committee. In order to be
valid, the protest must be brought to the attention of the opposing team
and the umpire at the time of the occurrence. No umpire judgement call can
be protested.
1.
Umpire in Chief
1. Umpire in Chief
2.
League President
2. League President
3. Girls
Executive VP
3. Boys Executive VP
29.
A team must have eight players to start, maintain and finish a
game. If unable to field eight players a forfeit will be called. If a
forfeit is called, please remain at the field and play a scrimmage game
– the umpire must stay to be paid for the game.
30.
There will be round robin batting in all leagues.
31.
Field setup for games shall be the responsibility of both managers
and teams.
32.
Three-inning rule applies to H-Gold League in baseball and A, B,
and C leagues in softball only. See Section IV below.
33.
In H-Maroon, G and F Leagues there is a two-inning rule. See
Section III below.
34.
There are no automatic
outs in the lineup. The only exception to this rule is if a player is
ejected. Then, that spot in the batting order becomes an automatic out
every time the ejected player is scheduled to bat. However, if a player
has to leave for work, personal reasons, etc., the spot is merely bypassed
and is not an automatic out. If a player misses a turn at bat for any
reason in a game, that player is not eligible to return for the
remainder/balance of that game.
Injury exception (softball
only) – if a player is injured during the play of the game, she may
return to her batting spot in the line-up and return to playing in the
field as long as both managers are in agreement.
35.
Sliding --- no collisions are allowed. If the defensive player is
blocking the base and has the ball in hand OR has a chance at making a
play, the runner must slide. If a defensive player is blocking a base
without the ball in hand OR has no chance of making a play, thus causing a
collision, the runner will be ruled safe whether he slides or not. If the
catcher goes up the line and is blocking the line without the ball, the
base runner should run around the catcher to avoid the collision without
fear of being called out. (Sliding is not required at first base). Softball
managers – see softball rules for further ASA information on sliding.
Section III Definition of Two-Inning Rule:
Definition
of the two-inning rule is as follows:
- Starters
on H-Maroon, G and F Leagues teams must play a minimum of twelve (12)
outs counting the offensive and defensive outs. These outs do not need
to be consecutive but must be played prior to the conclusion of the
game. An un-played half inning (such as the bottom of the 5th
or 7th) does not count as part of the player’s time in
the game.
- Non-starters
(substitutes) must play two inning or twelve (12) consecutive outs
counting the offensive and defensive outs.
- Non-starters
(substitutes) must be inserted into the game by the top of the 3rd
inning. (This means prior to the start of the 3rd inning).
Note exceptions listed below.
- After
meeting requirements of B & C above, managers may use free
re-entry of all players’ as long the batting order remains the same.
Section IV – Definition of Three Inning
Rule
Definition
of the three inning rule is as follows:
A.
A player must play in the field 3 innings within the first 6
innings.
- Due
to the mandatory 3 inning rule, after all players have been inserted
in the line-up, if a player becomes ill, is injured or ejected from
the ballgame, the opposing manager will insert in the ballgame any
player that otherwise would have been eligible if not for the 3 inning
rule even though he may have played before.
Exceptions
to the three inning rule:
A.
If a player is in the line-up at the start of the game and is
injured or becomes ill before he has played the 3 full innings.
- If
a player is inserted in the line-up after the start of the game and is
injured or becomes ill before he has played 3 full innings.
- If
a game is called because of rain, darkness or any other reason and it
would have been possible for each player to have played the required 3
innings if the game had gone at least 6 innings.
- If
a player is removed from the game due to misconduct for disciplinary
action.
- If
the manager removed the player for misconduct or for disciplinary
action, he must notify the League Vice-President in writing within 24
hours setting forth detail. It shall be verified by the League
Vice-President in writing.
Section V SPEED UP RULE:
Catcher: When the catcher is on base or reaches a
base with two outs, it is mandatory the catcher be replaced by the player
who made the last out. The catcher speed up rule will not be in effect
during the last inning. The catcher speed up rule will be enforced if the
game requires extra innings.
Pitcher: A pitcher will be allowed a maximum of five
warm up pitches from the mound. If a pitcher requires more than 5 warm-up
pitches, it will be the manager’s responsibility to have his pitcher
warm-up in between innings in a safe and out of play area. A pitcher
replacing a pitcher that has been removed from the mound during an inning
shall be given (at umpires discretion) adequate time to warm up. When the
pitcher is on base or reaches base with 2 outs, a manager has the option
of replacing the pitcher with the person who made the last out.
IT WILL BE THE MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE
REPLACEMENT RUNNER READY.
