LI BOYS OF SUMMER BASEBALL LEAGUE 2024

BOYS OF SUMMER ELITE BASEBALL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Rule 1- Boys of Summer Baseball League, is a subsidiary of the Long Island Stan Musial Baseball League Inc. and shall be ruled in accordance with the national affiliated organizations (NABF and AABC) except in such situations where the local rules conflict with the national rules. The local rules prevail over the national rules for seasonal play.

Rule 2- The only way rules can be added, dropped or modified is by a two-thirds vote of the quorum.

Rule 3- If an interpretation of a rule or a situation is in question the President and Rules Interpreter should be notified immediately for clarification. If there is a question during a game, the umpire’s ruling shall be used.

Rule 4- When the final schedule is issued, the games are to be played in accordance with that schedule. This league schedule takes precedence over other leagues.

Rule 5- All league fees must be submitted in full by the May manager’s meeting. The $500.00 deposit must be submitted by the February manager’s meeting and is non-refundable.

Rule 6- All players participating must have a completed waiver on file with the league. Only players with completed waivers will be added to their team's roster. Rosters are locked on the league website on August 1st. Any changes to a team's roster after August 1st must be requested via email and approved by the League.

Rule 7- A player must sign a roster before playing in a league game. Once a player has signed a roster he becomes the property of that team unless he is released before June 30. The only exception is if a written waiver is given from the team and is approved by the league. All rosters are frozen on July 1. No players can be added without league consent. IE: Team has multiple injuries and needs to add players to honor the schedule and finish the season. Players cannot be rostered in the same division but can play in the same age group. There are no crossover games between the National and American Divisions in any age group. Thus, a player can play in both the National and American divisions. If a player's High School team is in the 17U Division, the player may be on the High School team's roster and Travel team's roster for the regular season but must officially declare one team for the postseason. All teams should carry proof age for all players. Photo will be required. Any player who is not on the team roster before July 1 is ineligible to participate. No players can be added after July 1 unless a waiver is granted in a special situation due to multiple injuries or unforeseen circumstances. A letter needs to be drafted and sent to the league office for review and a decision will be made by the executive board of directors.  All players become free agents on September 1.

Rule 8- Rosters must be presented to the opposing team prior to the first pitch. The use of a player not officially on a team's roster will cause said team an automatic forfeit. If a player signs more than one roster he becomes the official property of the first team he competes with in a league game. Managers are required to retain a hard copy of the signed roster/insurance waiver form and submit an updated copy to the league digitally if any changes are made. 

Rule 9- All teams are responsible for field maintenance, including clean-up, repair and proper conduct. Judgment must be used in determining if a field is playable due to rain. Teams will be held financially responsible for damage caused to fields. Soft toss into fences is strictly prohibited and subject to paying for any damage. Violators of this rule will be ejected from the premises.

Rule 10- All players must be fully uniformed (matching hats, jerseys, pants and socks) by June 15. Managers and coaches on baselines need to be in coaching attire. Managers and coaches on the bench need to be in coaching attire. Coaches must have matching team shirts and are allowed to wear coaching shorts. If they are not in proper attire they cannot make trips to the mound or coach the bases. The umpire can eject any manager, coach or player in accordance with this rule.

Rule 11- Bat sizes are in accordance with the National Federation. Only minus -3 bats are allowed in league play. The use of any composite wood or bamboo wood bat is not allowed in league play. Baum bats are allowed in league play (Updated in 2022). We are an all wood bat league from the 15U through the college divisions. All Spring divisions and the 18U/College Crossover Fall division are Metal bat.

Rule 12- The official baseballs used in this league are the Spalding High School or College, Rawlings R-100, Diamond D-1, Baden Perfection, or the Wilson HS-1010. No other baseballs are allowed in League play unless approved by the executive committee.

Rule 13- The use of baseballs are to be shared by each team, each game, regardless of who is the home team.

Rule 14- Mercy Rule: play is stopped under this rule when 1) a team has a lead of 12 or more runs after the trailing team has batted at least 3 times 2) a team has a lead of 10 or more runs after the trailing team has batted at least 4 times 3) a team has a lead of 8 or more runs after the trailing team has batted at least 5 times.

Rule 15- Lightning Rule: If an umpire sees lightning, future play is suspended for 20 minutes. There can be two suspensions before a game is declared over. If the game was suspended by lightning only and not yet an official game, it is to be completed from the point of suspension at a later date.

Rule 16- Home team is determined by a coin flip for all single games. For doubleheaders, the first game is a coin flip and change the home team for the second game. For playoffs, the higher seed is always the home team.

Rule 17- Slide / Avoid contact rule: All players must try to avoid contact at all four bases. Failure to do so will cause the player to be called out on the play and ejected from the game. This is a judgment call by the umpire. Throws that sail into the base path have to be judged individually with the sole interest in the safety of the players involved. Fake tags are illegal and are cause for ejection.

Rule 18- All players must wear a double-flap helmet when batting and when on base. Catchers must wear skull caps and throat protectors or a one piece catcher's mask. Umpires may eject players for refusal to wear such equipment. Managers are responsible for catchers to wear protective gear while warming up pitchers.  While 1st and 3rd base coaches are strongly encouraged to wear skullcap helmets at all times while on the field, it is no longer mandatory. 

Rule 19- The local rule for the designated hitter (DH): Use of the DH is optional. The DH can be used for any position player, not just the pitcher. The DH can never change his spot in the batting order. The integrity of the batting order must always remain intact even when using multiple position players in the field only. The local rule for defensive replacemnents is that in BOS you can bat nine players and play nine different players on defense. The philosophy is to play every one. There is free substitution on defense always.

Rule 20- The local rule for the extra hitter (EH): Use of an EH is optional. An EH is a player who is in the batting order in addition to the players in the field and the DH. Use of an EH creates a 10-man batting order. You can use multiple EH’s, therefore you can have a batting order longer than 10. EH’s can go into the game defensively with no effect on the batting order. 

Rule 21- The local speed-up rule: Use of the speed up rule is optional. The speed-up rule can only be used for catchers and it can be used as soon as the catcher reaches base. It is not mandatory for a catcher when there are two outs. The replacement runner must be the last man to bat out in the batting order. It cannot be a player not in the game.

Rule 22- Insurance claims must be reported to the League office immediately. Incidents need to be recorded and reported to the insurance company within 48 hours.

Rule 23- The local rule for forfeits. Forfeit time is 20 minutes. If a team does not have enough players at game time there is a 20-minute grace period for the players to show up. After 20 minutes the game is declared a forfeit, in the case of a doubleheader, both games are declared forfeits. The team that forfeits is responsible for all of the umpire fees. If a team has 9 players it cannot wait 20 minutes for other players to show, the game starts on time as long as 9 players are present. Teams can begin a game and play with 8 players. If a team begins a game with 8 or 9 players but loses one due to ejection, the game is declared a forfeit. Two forfeits is expulsion from the league.

Rule 24- A manager must be declared before each game. The manager is the person who is listed on the League manager’s directory. If the listed manager is not present an assistant will assume the manager’s duties. If a defensive conference on the mound includes the manager it is considered a pitcher’s conference.

Rule 25- Protests must be lodged at the time of incident with the home plate umpire before the next pitch is thrown. A phone call to the President within 24 hours and a written application of protest within 72 hours are required. The protest committee will determine the outcome and has the authority to overturn the decision made on the field. The protest committee will decide the outcome of the protest and if a replay of the game is necessary from the point of protest. It could also have no bearing on the league standings and will not warrant continuation.

Rule 26- Only games suspended by weather can be played to completion. Suspended games are official if the visitor is trailing after four innings of at bats or the home team is trailing after four innings of at bats. If the visitor takes the lead in the top of the fifth or sixth inning and the home team does not bat in the bottom of the inning, the game reverts back to the previous fully played inning. It is the responsibility of both managers to agree on a replacement date, time and field for games stopped by adverse weather. The division coordinator must approve the game and assign umps.

Rule 27- Teams must input results on Leaguelineup.com/liboysofsummer within 24 hours of completion.

Rule 28- Standings for division championships and eligibility for post-season play will be determined by the following: A) won-lost percentage B) runs allowed C) runs for D) playoff E) A team must play in at least 20 games to be eligible for the playoffs unless inclement weather forces the competition committee to reduce the games played to a lower number.

Rule 29- Time limits. There is an hour and fifty minute (1:50) time limit for all regular season games. No new inning may begin after one hour and fifty minutes.

The time limit begins at the ground rules meeting. At that point, the umpires must notify both teams of the start time which should be written down by the managers. Regular season games that go four full innings are official.

There is an hour and fifty (1:50) time limit for all playoff games until the Championship which has no time limit. All Playoff games tied after the time limit or 7 innings of play will enter a California tie breaker. Each team puts the batter who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half of the inning on second base and plays out a full inning.

Rule 30- Ejections. The first ejection warrants a warning but could carry a suspension. The second ejection carries an automatic suspension. The umpires have the right to ask for a suspension, even if it is the first ejection. An executive committee hearing will be held to determine suspensions.

Rule 31- When a manager, coach or player is ejected from the game, that person must leave the bench area. The umpire will resume the game after the ejected person has left the area. The ejected party will have ample time [four minutes to leave the field area without being threatened with a forfeit by the umpire. If the ejected party hangs around or verbally abuses anyone the game is over. A coach cannot run the team from a distant area. Failure to comply will result in a forfeit.

Rule 32– The eligibility rules will require that a player make at least one appearance during the season and be officially on the team roster and insurance waiver to be eligible for the post-season.

Rule 33– Physical abuse of an umpire will result in banishment from the league. Physical abuse of an opposing player will result in a suspension. Banishments, suspensions and reinstatements will be determined by the League’s executive committee.

Rule 34- Alcoholic beverages on the playing field, dugouts or stands are strictly prohibited and are grounds for immediate ejection and suspension. Anyone found drinking during a game will be suspended indefinitely pending a hearing. If during a doubleheader, the ejection goes for both games. A hearing of the rules committee will be held for further action.

The mission of the Police Athletic League and the Boys of Summer Baseball program is to provide an opportunity for lifelong learning in a safe, competitive and respectful environment where all are encouraged to strive toward athletic excellence along with individual and social growth.