Hialeah Gardens – Baseball League General rules
The City of Hialeah Garden, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to change or amend any rule regarding the Baseball League deemed necessary for the health, safety and integrity of the league. Failure to respect any decision made by The City regarding the rules of the league may result in the removal from the game or league. All decisions made by The City are final and may not be appealed.
NEW RULES
Just in case of brothers or Family members, they have to be on the same team and if you lock one up you have to lock up the othe
1. It is the responsibility of the manager and coaches to verify players age before registration and to treat each player with care, understanding and respect. It is up to the baseball commissioner to suspend any coaches for mistreating any players.
2. The use of alcoholic beverages, or any kind of illegal drugs, will be cause for automatic expulsion from the park without prior notice.
3. Managers and coaches are not allowed to smoke in the field or the dugout. Smoking needs to be in the parking lot areas. Anyone seen breaking these rules including parents will be given a warning to team leading towards suspension.
4. Maximum of 3 coaches per team with 1 parent volunteer as a back up. The back up coach is solely for assistance with field positioning and base running. Back up coaches cannot argue any calls. In the 4/6 division you need 4 coaches per team and a back up parent volunteer.
5. For the 4/6,7/8, 9/10,11/12 & 13/14 divisions the managers and coaches will be composed of registered coaches and back up parent volunteers from the league. The city has the right to deny individuals from being coaches or assistant coaches. Every new manager, coach and parent volunteer will have to go through a criminal background check, before they are allowed to coach.
6. Before the beginning of the season the baseball commissioner must have the name of each back up parent volunteer. Any parent volunteer that is not registered with the baseball commissioner will not participate. For the 7/8, 9/10, 11/12 & 13/14 divisions a maximum of (3) coaches per team with (1) parent volunteer as backup. The parent volunteer can help the catcher with his equipment, help the coach warm up the players before the game, maintain order in the dugout etc. The parent volunteer is not allowed to coach the team once the game has started or argue any call with the umpire.
7. League head coaches only will have the registration fee for their kids waived by the league.
8. Any coach who at the moment of enrolling their child does not advise that they were going to be assuming the role of coach will not be entitled to a refund for the registration fee. The coach must advise of their intentions at the moment of enrolling their child.
9. Parents must register their child within the registration period. They must complete the application, pay the assessed fee, and provide a copy of their child’s birth certificate. Parents who do not register their child by the deadline date risk having their child placed on the waiting list pending a roster opening. No assurances are made that such child will play during that season.
10. Parents may fill out a waiver if they don’t want their child to play with (1) specific coach.
11. Parents who enroll 3 children will only pay for 2.
12. Teams in the 4-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 division will be able to lock (8) players before the tryouts. Managers must submit a list of frozen players no later than 24 hours before the tryouts. No changes can be made on the day of the tryout..
13. Each manager must lock their own child, as well as the assistant coaches’ children. However, if at any point any manager or assistant coach decides not to coach, then the remaining coaching staff must continue without a replacement coach. That coach’s child must also be removed from that team’s roster and becomes ineligible to play for the remainder of the season.
14. Player age eligibility- Any player who turns of age before January 1st, must play up to that age division. Ex. Any boy that is 6 years old and turns 7 before January 1st must play in division 7-8. Any boy that is 8 years old and turns 9 before January 1st must play in division 9-10. Any boy that is 10 years old and turns 11 before January 1st must play in division 11-12. Any boy that is 12 years old and turns 13 before January 1st must play in division 13-14.
15. GIRLS RULE- Girls have the option of playing one physical age year down. They can’t turn of age during the season. Example. A nine year old girl playing 7-8 division can’t turn 10years old during the scheduled season. If season is extended because of unforeseen circumstances, she will be allowed to finish the season.
16. Players may be locked only with the approval of the player’s parent or otherwise they must be available to other teams.
17. If a locked player is injured and can’t continue to play during the season or if the player or family decides to no longer play for that manager, coach, or team, then it is up to the discretion of the manager to replace that player with whomever they choose. Managers need only to inform the commissioner of such change and assure that such player properly registers with the league, before the deadline date. Deadline Date is ___ March 22th 2024 _____ . Players must play 50% of they're games that are played from date of child's registration to be able to play in the playoffs.
18. The parents of any new player to the league will be notified in advance of the tryout date. Any new player who is not present at the tryouts may not be drafted. They will be placed on the pool draft and then picked from there.
19. If a player purposely performs poorly at the tryouts with the intention of deceiving coaches, that player is subject to being ejected from the league without a refund. If it is proven that a manager or coach asks a player to perform purposely poorly during the tryout, then that manager or coach will be ejected from the league.
20. After the tryouts are completed, a draft will be held. Teams missing frozen players will have the opportunity to fill those frozen positions with players from the draft beginning with the team with the least amount of frozen players. Ex. If one new coach only has one frozen player, he will be able to draft players until he evens up with the next coach who may have 4 frozen players and then they alternate until they reach the maximum number of frozen players. Then the regular draft will begin. The drafting will be in reverse order of the previous final regular season standing. The last place team from the previous season automatically picks 1st. Then the teams with an average of less than 500 will follow. Any manager who’s new to the league or division picks before the teams that have an average of 500 or better for the previous season, starting with the leagues new manager first then the division manager. Finally after the coaches pick, the teams with an average of 500 or better will follow and for the 2nd round it will be in reverse order. If there is more than one new manager then the commissioner will hold a lottery to determine drafting order for those teams. All teams will have the same amount of players to start the season. Please see sample:
9/10 Division 1st round 2nd round 3rd round
Orioles 103 1st pick Last pick 1st pick
Yankees 333 2nd pick 7th pick 2nd pick
Marlins 440 3rd pick 6th pick 3rd pick
New league Coach 4th pick 5th pick 4th pick
New league Coach 5th pick 4th pick 5th pick
Braves 571 6th pick 3rd pick 6th pick
Mets 643 7th pick 2nd pick 7th pick
Dodgers 926 Last pick 1st pick Last pick
21. Player being drafted does not have a choice of which team to play for. Once drafted, it is final. There are no trades allowed between teams.
22. If a drafted player leaves a team before the season starts, then the commissioner will replace that player with one from the waiting list. If a locked player leaves the team before the season starts, then the team manager may bring his or her own player. However, it’s the managers’ responsibility to have such player register properly with the commissioner, before the deadline date. This rule does not apply to the 13-14 division.
23. If a parent decides to withdraw his/her child from the league, they will forfeit the registration money. No refunds will be provided. Before the season starts if a player leaves the team due to health issues then that player is entitled to receive full refund upon showing proof with medical documentation. If once the season starts any player leaves the team. The commissioner will drop that player from the team. If the player that left is a frozen player then the commissioner will allow the coach to bring any player from the outside and have him register before the deadline date. If the player that leaves is a regular player then the commissioner will assign the next player from the waiting list and have him register properly.
24. In the 13-14, division each coach is allowed to freeze (10) players including the coaches son. There will be a try-out for the non-frozen players and a draft.
In these divisions there is no waiting list, meaning that any team that has less
then (9) players will have to forfeit the game or the season.
25. Any player caught using the bathroom in the wrong place. Ex. behind the dugout, next to a tree or any other place other than the restroom will be penalized by getting an automatic (3) outs to their team.
26. Coaches are not allowed to call timeout to give instructions to the batter. (Baseball signs are to be used for communication)
General Game Rules:
1.Managers and /or coaches must be present at the beginning of every game or the game will be declared a forfeit unless there is a coach approved by the commission.
2.No managers, assistant coach or back up volunteer parent may be on the field without their team shirt.
3.Only on game day are managers and assistant coaches authorized by the league officials to practice their teams on the baseball field.
4.Only managers or assistant coaches are allowed to give their players signs from the bench. Spectators aren’t allowed to give such signs.
5.All of the players must be notified and encouraged to be at every game. The manager of the team must include all of the players present in the record book and notify the umpire and the scorekeeper.
6.The time limit to make changes to the batting order will be (5) minutes prior to giving the batting order to the umpire/scorekeeper.
7. If a game is played out and the score is tied, even if there is time left, it will be declared a tie.
8.If a team does not appear for a game, or arrives more than (10) minutes late from the indicated start time of the game, then the umpire will call a forfeit against the team that did not show up to the game or arrived late. If the team arrives within the (10) minutes, those (10) minutes will be counted against the game time.
9. A forfeit will be called against both teams if neither fails to have the appropriate amount of players (9) to play a complete game.
10. A minimum of (9) players must be present in order to begin play or the game will be declared a forfeit after 15 minutes.
11. If a player arrives after the commencement of the first offensive inning of his team, the players will be added as the last batter onto the batting order without the need to play defense first. If he arrives after the third inning he will not be able to join the game.
12. If a batter hits before his official turn in the lineup the appropriate batter will take over at the current pitch count. If wrong batter gets on base he will be considered automatically out.
13. No player shall be benched in two consecutive innings in 4-6,7-8,9-10 and 11-12 In every inning the players will be substituted. No player can reenter the game during an inning unless there was an accident. Division 13-14 will substitute at the coaches discretion.
14.A team will not be penalized if a player leaves the game due to an accident on the field. It will not be counted as an out and the lineup will move up accordingly. A player who leaves the game for any other reason will be counted as an out every turn at bat unless it is otherwise approved by the League officials.
15. The Commissioner may decide to sit a player for disciplinary reasons at the time of the incident not later in the game. The Commissioner must notify the umpire as well as the scorekeeper and the player’s parents of such decision. The manager is allowed to substitute that player with any other player from the team. The team will not be penalized for the change, meaning that the new batter will not be counted out when he goes to bat.
16. During the games the coaches must remain inside the coach’s box while their team members are batting. (warning will be given by umpires)
17.The batter, the base runner, and the on-deck batter are the only individuals permitted on the field. All other players who are on offense must remain inside the dugout.
18. The runner will automatically be declared out and expelled from the game if the batter/runner at the moment of sliding on the base lifts his leg higher than the knee or purposely throws his hands up with the purpose of interfering with the defensive player.
18b. There is no sliding at first base.
19. If there is a play at home, the runner by rule has to slide at the plate. If the runner does not slide at home plate and there is any contact by the runner to the catcher the runner will be called out by the umpire. If the throw to the catcher is late or off the plate and the runner scores standing up easily with no contact then that runner is safe. The umpire will use judgment for calling a player out for not sliding at the plate. The umpire has the last say on this play.
20.Batting against the black coated fence or galvanize fence on the baseball fields is strictly prohibited. Any coach caught using the fence for the purpose of hit downs or soft toss will be suspended for (1) game.
20B. Any batter who throws the bat and hits the catcher will be called out, the ball will be declared dead and the runners must return to the bases that were.
21.Players are not allowed to wear jewelry during the game.
22.Each coach is responsible for his teams dugout.
23.The dugout must be left clean and free of all garbage after each and every game.
24.The coach must supervise the team while they are warming up.
25. On field #1, #2 and #3 due to the little space and lack of time the on-deck batter has to re-act after a foul ball is hit towards him, whenever a batter is up at the plate and the on-deck batter feels that he or she is the path of the ball and feels unsafe. In order to avoid serious injuries the on-deck batter may call a time out and let the umpire know that he/she needs to move to the opponent’s team on-deck circle.
26. Any type of unsportsmen like conduct by a coach or player will be cause for disciplinary action at the baseball commissioner’s discretion.
27. If a coach tries to circumvent the rules in place, the coach will face disciplinary action. Depending on the severity of the infraction the coach(s) may receive: a written warning, multiple day suspension or expulsion.
Schedules, Game delays, Etc.
1.The commissioner, or assistant commissioner, will provide all the managers with a copy of the season schedule. It is the responsibility of the managers to reproduce and provide their players’ families with a copy. The baseball commission reserves the right to change or cancel any game due to inclement weather or any unforeseen circumstance. The league will guarantee 15 games.
2. Schedules are final and will not be changed for any reason.
3. The baseball commissioner, park director and umpires are the only persons authorized to cancel a game due to rain or any other reason. The managers are responsible for calling the commissioner or assistant commissioner if it is questionable that the game is to be played.
4. If the game is delayed by rain, or any other reason, it will not be a reason to extend the time of the game.
5. If the game is suspended for electrical (lights) problems, rain, lighting or any natural disaster that may occur beyond our control. The game will be sealed in the inning in which it ended. The game will be rescheduled and played again at a later time, from the inning in which it ended. When the game is replayed it is not necessary for both teams to have the same pitcher or defense of players on the field. The batting order will stay the same, the count on the batter will remain the same even if that batter is not present for the make up game.
6. ALL PLAYOFF GAMES WILL BE SEALED AND PLAYED IN THEIR ENTIRETY. Except div 9-10,11-12 and 13-14 which have time limts.
7. MAKEUP GAMES- When a game is suspended it will be made up in the following order of priority and field availability. A) Sunday 10am. B) Sunday 12pm. C) Sunday 2pm. D) An open time slot E)or weekday at 6pm . Scheduled 7pm game will commence immediately upon completion of the make up game.
8.If in the middle of a play the lights go out, the play will be nullified regardless of the result.
9. No Music and or artificial noisemakers in dugout or spectator area. Ex. Horns,Drums, clappers…It is disruptive and unsportsmanlike.
Disciplinary action
Any player ejected from a game shall be subject to:
1. A suspension for one game, which is subject to an appeal to the League Officials.
2. A player suspended from a game for a second time shall be suspended from (2) games beginning with the next game for his team.
3. If a player is ejected for using foul language or indecent gesturing, that player is subject to being suspended for the remainder of the season. If a player is ejected for aggression towards other players, coaches, or umpires, such player is liable to being expelled from the Hialeah Gardens Baseball League indefinitely.
Ejection from game- Managers/Coaches/Spectators
1. Any challenge or dispute that a manager makes to an umpire must be made with his arms behind his body, in a professional manner.(Anything other than written here will result in an immediate warning)
2. The only person that can challenge or dispute a call or play is the head coach of the team.(Any assistant coaches that dispute will result in a warning)
3. Only official rules may be disputed. Umpire appreciation calls may not be argued or protested. If you do you risk the chance of being thrown out of the game.
4. If a manager or coach decides to protest an official rule, it must be done in writing. Such Dispute must be given to the baseball commissioner along with a $500.00 deposit. If the manager/ coach win the dispute, then the money will be returned to them. However, if the manager/coach loses the dispute then such money is forfeited to the league.
5. Any manager or coach who asks time and time is given and proceeds to inquire, dispute, argue and any form disagree with foul vocabulary, yelling, etc. will be ejected and required to leave the field and spectator area.
6. Any manager or coach ejected for a second time by an umpire shall be suspended for 4 consecutive games beginning with his team’s next game. A suspension shall come into effect beginning with the following game for his team. Including playoffs.
7. The third time that an umpire ejects a manager or coach, that manager or coach will be removed from his position for the remainder of the season.
8. If a manager or coach physically assaults an umpire, that manager or coach will be ejected from the game, ejected from the spectator area, and suspended from the Hialeah Gardens baseball league indefinitely. That manager or coach will also face criminal charges.
9. If a manager injures another manager, he/she will be ejected from the game, ejected from the spectator area, and suspended for the entire season.
10. Any manager or coach that has been ejected from a game will serve a 1 game suspension for the next game.This includes the play-offs. If the suspension was caused by a grave incident that coach may be suspended for the rest of the season and/or expuled. This is at the discretion of the baseball commissioner.
11. Any suspension served by a coach/parent/spectator will be served outside of park premises for the number of suspended games.
12. No team can substitute another manager or assistant coach that has been suspended.
13. The parking lot that is closest to the field that any person who has been ejected from a game can be. If that person refuses to leave the field with in (5) minutes, the head umpire or Commissioner has the option to forfeit the game against that person’s team, and Hialeah Gardens police will be called.
14. It is the direct responsibility of the manager and coaches to control the spectators of their respective teams.
15. If an umpire warns a spectator about continuously using foul language or disagreements (physical, verbal, or threatening), the individual should be warned that continuing with said behavior shall be reason for ejection from the field and his/her team will lose the game. League officials have the authority to stop the game, suspend, eject or discipline any player, manager, coach, umpire, or other person who is in violation of the rules and regulations of this park.
16. Any spectator, be it a parent or a relative of a player, who enters the field will be ejected and their child will be suspended indefinitely.
17. If a manager, coach, parent, or spectator verbally or physically assaults the baseball commissioner, assistant baseball commissioner, park director, umpire,another spectator or any employee of Westland Gardens Park will be ejected indefinitely from the park and be required to attend an anger management class at their own expense and face multiple game suspension.
18. Any person, player, manager, assistant coach, or parent who is verbally or physically assaulted and decides to retaliate will be ejected from the league without the right to appeal.
19. Teams must purchase pizza before commencement of the game and show proof to the scorekeeper in order for game to begin
20. Every parent or spectator must follow the park rules and regulations. No parent is allowed to go into the teams’ dugout unless the coach gives permission. No parent is allowed to coach any player. Parents must respect the time the coaches are with their team during the game. Parents are not allowed to taunt or trash talk against any player, coach or umpire at any time.
In the case that disciplinary action is needed, the following procedures will be enforced:
a) Warning: Any person who is offending shall be notified in writing of the offense and will be warned that repetition of the said offense will be cause for severe punishment. This includes the managers, assistant coaches, and players.
b) Suspension: Any player who has offended or injured shall be notified in writing that he/she has been suspended for a determined amount of games specified.
c) Total suspension: Any player who has offended shall be notified in writing that he/she has been suspended for the remainder of the year if that is the case.
d) Any person who has injured another person/player shall be notified in writing that he/she has been ejected from current and future participation in the League permanently or for a specified number of years.
e) In the event that an individual consumes alcohol in any form within park grounds, he/she shall be ejected from the park immediately without prior notice in writing, warning, or suspension.
21. When there is an incident on or off the field. (verbal confrontation, physical confrontation, ejection…etc.) Each person involved plus each head coach, umpire and scorekeeper must fill out an incident report immediately. Individuals who do not fill out the incident report will begin serving an indefinite suspension until report is turned into baseball commissioner or Parks Dirrector.
PLAYOFFS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS:
1. The playoffs will consist of a best 2 out of 3 series. Playoff games will begin at 7:00pm.
All playoff games will be played in their entirety for Div 4-6 and7-8 no time limit.
Div 9-10 will play 6 innings or 2 hours.
Div 11-12 and 13-14 will play 7 innings or 2 hours.
2. In any division that has more than four teams, the top four teams will qualify for the playoffs. Based on regular season records teams will be seeded. If there is a tie between team rankings the tiebreaker will be record of games played head to head. If they remain tied then a one game playoff will be played to break the tie. Playoff games will match the 4th seeded team against the 1st seeded team. The 3rd seeded team will play the 2nd seeded team. Winners of each series will advance to play each other for the championship.
3.If there are only three teams in the division, then they will all qualify for the playoffs.
However, the first place team will receive a first round bye. The 2nd and 3rd place teams will face each other in a three game series to determine who play in the championship.
4.If a team fails to have the necessary players to play in the third place game, then the umpire will declare a forfeit and the team that was present will be awarded third place.
5.In a series, the higher seeded team is the home team during the first and third game while the lower seeded team is the home team during the second game.
6.Open pitching; there is no inning restriction for pitchers in any division during the playoffs. Thus, pitchers may pitch as often and as long as the manager deems appropriate.
7. If a playoff game is tied at the end of the last inning the teams will continue to play until the tie is broken. Home team will always have the last at bat.
8. It is the manager responsibility to notify his players’ parents of the playoff schedule. All players should be encouraged to participate.
9. Whenever a player is absent from a playoff game, the commissioner will call the player’s family to discuss the reason for such absence. If for any reason the manager did not notify the parent that such game was scheduled, then the team will be penalized by forfeiting that game missed by such player and awarded to the opposing team.
Equipment
1. Each player must be wearing their uniform that includes baseball pants, team shirt, team cap, and socks. Shirt must be tucked in.
2. Each player must use a protective cup.
3. Players may only use cleats with plastic spikes. Cleats with metal spikes are prohibited. Any player caught wearing metal spikes will be called out he/she will be suspended for that game and the one after. Except Divisions 13-14 and 15-17.
4. The batter, base runner, and on deck batter must be wearing a helmet at all times.
5. The catcher must wear a mask, neck protector, chest protector, knee and shin protectors, as well as a helmet in the 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14 & 15/17 divisions.
6. In order to expedite the game, if the catcher is on base with two outs, he must be substituted on the base by the second out in the inning. This will allow the catcher to put his equipment on and be ready for the start of next inning.
The City of Hialeah Garden, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to change or amend any rule regarding the Baseball League deemed necessary for the health, safety and integrity of the league. Failure to respect any decision made by The City regarding the rules of the league may result in the removal from the game or league. All decisions made by The City are final and may not be appealed.
