FAIRMOUNT PARK “A” BASEBALL LEAGUE

 

Official Rules and Regulations

Adopted March 2019

                                                                 

 

 

1.   UNIFORMS, HELMETS AND BASEBALLS

 

1.a.  All teams must have full baseball uniforms consisting of caps, numbered

        baseball jersey with team logo, baseball pants, belts, solid one color sox and / or stirrups.

        Each player’s uniform must be of similar design to his teammates uniforms.

           

a.1.  No player out of uniform will be allowed to play without the opposing

manager’s consent.

a.2.  All teams should have their uniforms by their first game.  A grace period

should be extended for newly activated players or for new teams to complete

their uniforms. Failure to comply will result in discretionary discipline via league officials

 

1.b.  All batters and runners must wear helmets for both at bats and on the base-there is

        no option for this rule.  Full double ear flap helmets are encouraged for at bats and

        are encouraged for the bases.  Catchers must wear a helmet underneath their mask. 

 

1.c.  Only baseballs sanctioned by the League will be permitted (A1010 or above).  It is the responsibility of the home team to provide the baseballs.  Incase of a doubleheader, each team will supply balls for one game.

 

1.d.  Only WOOD & composite bats permitted.

        Hybrid bats are NOT permitted ( half-wood & half-metal.)

 

1.e.  Metal cleats are permitted.

 

2.      GAME LENGTH, RUN RULE AND RAIN-OUTS

 

2.a.  All games are 7 innings. An official game will be at least 3 ½ innings. (Home team up)

        A new inning may not begin after three (3) hours of play (from start of the 1st

        inning).  A new inning starts at the time of the last putout of the previous inning.

        Re:  rain – 3 1/2 innings (Home team winning), 4 innings (Visitors winning). Official game.

        All League playoff games must be played to completion.

        The umpire may cancel or call a game if, in their opinion, the safety of the

        players is compromised due to rain, darkness or time limits.

 

2.b.  If there is a 10 run discrepancy at the end of 5 innings, the game will be ruled final 

at this point. This rule WILL pertain to the League playoffs as well.

       

2.c.  Any games rained out or cancelled must be rescheduled within 3 days of cancelled game.  The game must be played within 2 weeks of cancelled game.  Home team must notify League President when game is rescheduled.       

 

2.d.  In the event of rain, it is the responsibility of the scheduled home team to notify the

League President and the opposing team of field conditions and possible cancellations

of the game at least 1 hour before the scheduled start time. It is STRONGLY encouraged that cancelations are made sooner than 2 hours before game time. If proper communication, as deemed by league officials, is not achieved; the home team will receive a forfeit game loss and no eligibility will be granted to home team’s players. 1 game of eligibility will be granted to the away team’s players. Discretionary discipline via league officials  will be used to determine proper communication.

       

2.e.  Tie games are considered complete and will not be continued or made-up.  Final

        League standings will be determined by percentage points.

 

2.f          Weeknight games will start at 6:00pm EST for the month of May. As of June 1st games will start at 6:15pm EST. 15 minutes wait period still granted from the regularly scheduled start time before a game is forfeited  (If the team has less than 9 players). If there are 9 players at the field at 6:15pm EST time the game will commence.

 

2.g     If lightning is seen and acknowledged by  the umpires they must wait AT LEAST 20 minutes to resume play. If lightning is seen within that 20-minute window the timer restarts. It is up to the umpire’s discretion if play is safe to resume. They have the ability to deem it unsafe and discontinue play.

2.h.   Umpires will be payed $70 per game. Home team and away team are each responsible for paying 1 of the 2 umpires $70 each.

 

2.i.     Exchanging lineup cards should be done before the game during ground rules. In the event they can not be exchanged during ground rules. Teams must communicate with the umpire that lineup cards have been exchanged. In the event that a lineup card is written up incorrectly, the umpire must be informed immediately and the commissioner must be informed of the situation after the game is completed. Discretionary discipline via league officials can be enforced based on examination of situation.

 

2.j. If the game must be called and both umpires have arrived to the field, each team is required to pay each umpire half of a 1 game fee ($35)

 

 

3.      TEAMS, PLAYERS AND LINE-UPS

 

3.a. A player is eligible to participate in an official League sanctioned game on his 18th birthday.  A 30 man roster is the limit as to how many players can be carried at one time.

           

3.b.  Team rosters (minimum of 12 players) must be submitted to the League by the date

             designated by the League Officials:

including League and player fees, proof of date of birth, player wavier forms and League  registration forms.  Players may be added and removed from rosters up to and

including the last day in June of the current season.  No player may be added to a

        roster after the July 4th weekend. Rosters will be frozen at that point in time.

 

3.c.  All players, prior to participating in a game, MUST have signed wavier form,

        registration form and proof of date of birth on file with the League. However,

        a player can be “called in” to a League official prior to that week’s game. The 

        information will then be relayed to the opposing team’s manager prior to that game.

        That players waiver & registration forms MUST be received before his teams next

        game or the previous game will be forfeited. No exceptions.

 

3.d.  A team must have 9 players for an official game to start. A team cannot start a game with 8 players. There is a 15 minutes wait period granted from the regularly scheduled start time before a game is forfeited  (If the team has less than 9 players). After the 15 minute grace period, the game is deemed a forfeit. If a team starts a game with 9 players and that team’s player is ejected or injured at any point during the game, the game is a forfeit. A team cannot finish a game with less than 9 players.

 

3.e. A player may switch teams during the season as long as he requests a release from their

        current team, the release is granted & it is before the July 4th deadline. At that time, the

        player can sign with any team he desires. In order to be playoff eligible, the player must

        appear in 6 games with the new team. All games played with the former team do not 

  count towards eligibility.

 

       All players become free agents at the end of each season and are able to sign without

       consent from their last GM with any team they chose for the upcoming season.

      

 

3.f.   Final team rosters must have no less than 12 players.

 

3.g.  full names must be used in the scorebook to allow for player identification for

        follow-up inquires that relate to playoff participation requiring minimum playing

  requirements.

 

3.h.  Each Team is Responsible for the statistics and boxscore of all games played. Individual statistics must be entered within 5 days of the games completion. After 5 days that game will be locked and no player statistics can be added. If statistics are not entered accordingly they are not official thus do not count towards eligibility and or post-season awards.

 

3.i. Scores will be reported by each team’s manager to league officials immediately after completion of the game. 

             

 

4.      PLAYERS BEHAVIOR AND TEAM RESPONSIBILITY

 

4.a.  There will be NO beer or alcoholic beverages 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.

 

4.c.  An umpire has the sole discretion to eject 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.  Players shall not intentionally collide with any other players.  In the case of a runner

        intentionally colliding with a fielder, the runner will be called out and may, at the

        umpire’s discretion, be expelled from the game.  All base runners must either slide

        or give up the right to a base (avoid a collision by stopping or leaving a base path)

        if the defensive player (e.g. catcher) has possession of the ball, is in the act of

        receiving the ball, or is about to immediately receive the ball and will be able to

        make an apparent play on the base runner.

        If a defensive player is not in possession of the ball, is not in the act of receiving the

        ball, or is not about to immediately receive the ball so that he is able to record an out

        (apparent play…at any base), he cannot block the base (e.g. home plate) or be in the

        base path so as to impede (obstruct) the base runner’s right to that base.  Under such

        circumstances, the defensive player shall be responsible to avoid any collision.  If an

        collision does occur under these circumstances, the runner will always be considered

        safe and the obstruction rule shall be enforced.  The defensive player may be ejected

        from the game (if the action is intentional, he must be ejected), and will be

        suspended from League play if the obstruction is judged to be flagrant.

 

4.f.  Failure to abide by age regulations-the managers must all recognize their

        responsibility to the League and the perpetuity of it as to not cross the line where

        winning is more important than playing.  An opposing manager may at anytime have

        the right to question a player’s age.  If a manager wants to lodge a protest, proof of

        age and residence (i.e. driver’s license)  must be shown to the manger (or League

        official)  who lodged the protest.  If an under aged player is detected, penalties,

        whether to the individual or team, will be decided by the League President and

        League Officials.  As the national precedent, the penalties will be forfeiture of all

        games in which the underage player participated and a minimum two year

        suspension.  If the manager had prior knowledge, he is subject to similar suspension.

 

5.         COURTESY RUNNERS

 

5.a  There will be a courtesy runner allowed for the pitcher or catcher with 2 outs. Any player

       that is not in the game/scorebook can be the runner. If no one is available, the last batted

       out will then be the runner.

      

5.b  Up to additional 2 players per team per game can be designated for courtesy runners at

       anytime during the game. The last batted out will be used in this scenario.

      

 

6. PITCHERS

 

6.a  No pitcher while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves nor may a pitcher wear a

       batting glove or wrist band while pitching.

 

6.b  Intentional walks are allowed.  The intentional walk needs to be signified by the manager and acknowledged by the umpire. No pitches need to be thrown.

 

6.c  There is no regulation as to how many innings a pitcher may pitch in a game or

       week.

 

7.      FIELDERS

 

Infielders are NOT allowed to decoy a throw or catch.  If a decoy throw or catch is

detected, all runners shall be allowed to advance one base beyond the base held after

all play stops.  If the same fielder decoys twice in the same game, the fielder shall be

ejected from the game.  Decoying is referred to as a false catch or throw done in an

      attempt to get the player to slide unnecessarily, where no strategic value is gained.

      MLB rules apply as far as the blocking the plate rule is concerned. The catcher must

      give the runner a clear path to the plate and must not deviate the runners path to the plate

      without the baseball.

 

 

7.a  3 forfeits by any team in a season will result in immediate expulsion from the League

         with no money returned back to the team.

 

7.b  All protests should be lodged to the League President within 24 hours

       after the game for which the protest is made.  All protests shall be decided by the

       League President and the league officials of the Fairmount Park “A” League.

 

7.c  In order for a player to qualify and participate in his team’s/ League playoffs, he MUST

       participate in at least 6 of his team’s regular season games. A plate appearance for any

       position player. A pitcher ONLY must throw a 1/3 of an inning for an appearance.

 

7.d.  Any pitcher who intentionally throws at a batter in the professional opinion of the

      plate umpire, taking into the account the tone of the game and situation, will be

      suspended from the League for the remainder of the season including the playoffs.

      Note:  the recommended grievance procedure including for this ruling includes both

      GMs, the umpire and League President.

 

7.e.  Ejections: Any time a player is ejected from a game, the player will receive an 

       additional one (1) game suspension (Automatically). NO APPEAL can be made. 

       A second ejection during the season of the same player will constitute a

       two (2) game suspension and a third ejection during the season of the same player will

       constitute suspension from the League for the remainder of the League including

       playoffs.  Any player ejected from a game must leave the field of play and the bench/

       dugout area before the game will continue. Failure to do so will automatically result

       in a one (1) game suspension. Fighting with another player will result in an automatic

       suspension for the remainder of the season including playoffs. All ejections will be reviewed           

upon by the League President and if any further actions need to be taken, the President, Commissioner and Vice President will make that determination. An ejection report will be sent to the President by the ejecting umpire. The President will then review each incident to see if there is any further action deemed necessary.

      

 

8. PLAYOFFS FORMAT and PLAYOFF SEEDING (Tie-Breaker)

 

Round 1: Single Elimination. 7 Innings

 

·                4th seeded team vs. 5th seeded team

·                3rd seeded team vs. 6th seeded team

 

Round 2: Semi-Finals. 7 Innings. 3 Game Series Re-Seeding Occurs

 

·                1st seeded team vs. Lowest seeded team

·                2nd seeded team vs. Next Lowest seeded team

 

Round 3: League Championship. 7 Innings. 5 Games

 

·                The winners of each Semi-Final Round Series will compete in a 5 game series to crown the League Champion.

Tie-Breaker Procedures: 

1 - Wins

2 - Head to Head 

3 - Runs Against

 

***Game times, location and frequency will be determined at the discretion of League Officials and participating Managers.

 

  

9.      CODE OF CONDUCT

 

      Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No

      player or manager should act in the following way:                

  

 

9.1.      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 League President, Vice President, Commissioner.  Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion for life.   

 

9.2.      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 League President, Vice President, Commissioner.  Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season  (see rule 9.h)

 

9.3.      Be guilty of objectionable demonstration 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.

 

9.4.      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 decisions.

Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.

 

9.5.      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.

 

9.6.      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 League President and vice President.  Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the League for life.

 

9.7.      Be guilty of verbal abusive attack on any player, manager, official or

spectator, before, during or after the 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 League President and vice President.  Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the year.

 

9.8.      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.

 

10. PENALTIES

10.1.    League Officials and umpire in chief will render penalties and or

suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, for the conduct which in its opinion is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or charter of the League.

    

10.2.    Except as otherwise provided, the League Officials and umpire in chief, shall determine the appropriate action required for violations of the codes of conduct, and shall report their decision to the player and manager.

 

10.3.    Any 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.

 

10.4.    Any player found in violation of any provision delineated in the codes of

conduct, after being suspended from further participation in a game shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.

 

 

11. GRIEVANCES, PROTESTS AND APPEALS

 

11.1.    Grievances may be filed by General Manager or the Manager of the said ballclub

provided that a grievance is formally submitted to the League President via email. 

The League Commissioner shall adjudicate all such grievances and shall report any action to the general managers.

 

11.2.    An appeal of any action or ruling may be filed with the League by the manager of a team provided that the appeal is formally submitted.  However, all decisions made by the

League Commissioner will be final and not subject to appeal.

 

 

12.  PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

 

12.1.  All position players MUST get an official PLATE APPEARANCE per ballgame to be credited with one (1) game played. Players who only make a defensive appearance or any player that does NOT get into the game at all, WILL not be credited with a game unless that said player makes an official PLATE APPEARANCE.

 

12.2.  All pitchers (pitcher only)  MUST throw 1/3 of an inning to be credited with one (1) game played. However, if any position player gets an official PLATE APPEARANCE in

       6 ballgames, he is eligible.

 

12.3  If team “A” team forfeits, then all rostered Team “B”  players get credit for 1 game    

       played towards playoff eligibility. No credit is given to Team “A” players.

 

 

13. Park ‘A’ League Hierarchy/Escalation Procedure/Communication

13.1.    During the regular season the President, League Commissioner and League Vice President are responsible for upholding the existing bylaws,enacting discretionary discipline and as needed decision making in regards to incidents pertaining to these by-laws and not.

 

13.2.    All decisions that are not covered by these bylaws will be directed to the Commissioner and League president for ruling and consideration. In the event that the Commissioner cannot make a decision, the President will be responsible for making a decision.

 

League President: Nick Chichilitti