Vancouver Recreational Baseball League Official Regulations

 

This document sets out the league policies and playing rules as agreed upon by the Board of Vancouver Recreational Baseball League (VRBL) and the team representatives from each team in the VRBL.

Version 12.1

 

In effect as of March 28, 2024

 

VRBL games will be played according to the official rules of Major League Baseball (MLB)

OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES

Any exceptions, additions and/or changes will be outlined below

 

 

Section 1 Code of Conduct

 

  1. No physical violence will be tolerated. Any players involved in a physical altercation will be ejected from the game and suspended indefinitely. The length of the suspension will be determined by the Board. Ejections for physical altercation will also result in fines.
  2. Verbal attacks on any individual participating in a game will result in an immediate ejection. The ejected player will also be subject to further disciplinary actions as determined by the Board.
  3. A player with three violations of the code of conduct in a season will be suspended for the remainder of the season. The continuance of the said player's membership with the league will be subject to the decision of the Board.
  4. Only the Team Player-Coach or Team Player-Manager can ask for the explanation of a call with the Umpires. The person who attends the plate meeting is the Team Player-Coach or Team Player-Manager. Any player who attempts to verbally challenge an Umpire will result in immediate ejection from the game and further disciplinary actions to be determined by the Board.
  5. It is the manager's/captain’s/coach's responsibilities to contain the emotion of his players and to ensure that his players behave properly. Failure to do so in extreme cases may result in forfeiting the game and the manager/captain/coach will be subject to suspension from future game(s). Failure to fulfill the responsibilities on repeated occasions may deem a manager/captain/coach incapable of managing his team and hence his team will be required to seek a replacement for the position.
  6. All VRBL members are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct at all times.

 

Section 2 Roster

 

  1. Due to the recreational nature of the league, there is no limit as to the maximum number of players a team can carry. However, the roster is required to consist of at least nine players.
    1. Any team that fails to submit a roster with at least nine players by seven days before the start of the official league schedule will be given a $50 fine. This is to ensure timely submission of insurance application and to enable the league to reserve playing fields with a valid, up-to-date insurance.
  2. The Board shall be notified of any amendment to a roster during the season.
  3. Teams can borrow players from other teams to participate in an official VRBL season game under any one of the extenuating circumstances below;
    1. A team has less than nine players before the game starts.
    2. A team suffers loss of player(s) due to injuries that brings them under nine usable players.
  4. The team may use the borrowed players with the following restrictions:
    1. Maximum of two borrowed players per game.
    2. Maximum of six borrowed players per season.
    3. Borrowed players are not allowed to pitch.
  5. Players may not transfer from one team to another during the season without the permission of the Board.
  6. Age shall not be a discriminating factor for joining a VRBL team, however all players must be at least 18 years old as of the start of the current season unless individually approved by the Board.
  7. All players (roster, non-roster, and pick-up) must have a valid medical services plan (MSP) coverage in British Columbia or equivalent health care coverage.
  8. All players must be registered before the start of their first game.
  9. Unregistered players who play in a game will cost their team a forfeit.

 

Section 3 Uniform and Equipment

 

  1. All teams are responsible to outfit their teams with a uniform of consistent baseball style and quality which will consist of a jersey number and baseball pants. No shorts are allowed. Failure to provide conforming uniforms will result in fines.
  2. Borrowed players may play without the benefit of a uniform at the consent of the opposing team's captain/manager/coach.
  3. Catchers must be properly equipped with their own protective gear.
  4. Only drop 3 (-3) wooden or wood composite bats shall be used in games. Failure to abide by this rule will results in fines and/or suspension as decided by the Board.
  5. Female players are allowed to use metal bats.
  6. For regular season, both home team and away team shall provide three new game balls in good condition. Deformed game balls shall not be used. For playoff games, the league will provide the game balls.
    1. The official game balls to be used during the season are ProTeam 1010 from MVP Athletics store.
    2. Failure to provide official game balls shall result in a $10 fine per missing ball.
    3. If more game balls are needed during the game, both home team and away team shall provide additional game balls (new or used in good condition)
  7. Batting helmets must have two-ear flaps. Chin strap is optional.
    1. Batters and runner must wear a helmet on the field.
  8. No loosely or unattached equipment shall be placed on the playing field.
    1. Should a loosely attached or unattached equipment of any kind interfere with a defensive attempt made by the opponent team, the batter will be declared an automatic out.

 

Section 4 Game Length and Rainouts

 

  1. Games postponed due to inclement weather or field unsuitability will be rescheduled subject to the availability of playing facilities. Postponement is the responsibility of the Home Team Manager before the Plate Meeting, then Umpires after the Home Team Lineup is received at the Plate Meeting.
  2. If heavy rain is forecast, a decision on the status of all games scheduled to take place shall be made the night before by 8PM. In the event of slight precipitation, the status of all games shall be determined 2 hours before the games.
  3. Games shall consist of a maximum of 9 innings. The last inning must begin before 2 hours and 30 minutes of playing time. No new inning shall begin after this time. In the event of a tie game after nine innings, extra innings may be played providing they begin before two hours and 30 minutes.
  4. The GAME TIME starts at the end of the plate meeting. At the end of the plate meeting, it is team managers' responsibility to confirm the GAME TIME with the other team as well as both umpires.
  5. If rain, lack of light or other reasons prevent the full nine innings from being played, five full innings played will be considered a complete game. If the game does not finish 5 innings, then the makeup game will be played from the first inning, unless a Halted Game option is discussed and agreed upon by the Umpires & both Teams at the Plate Meeting. A Halted Game option means the game will be resumed from where it stops before 5 innings, instead of replaying the entire game.
  6. All innings will have a 6-run limit except for the LAST INNING and EXTRA INNINGS, which is  “OPEN INNING”. EXCEPTION: An over-the-fence home run shall be count in full, which means the team on the offense could score a maximum of 9 runs in an inning if an over-the-fence home run occurs.
  7. “OPEN INNING” may not be the last inning if there is still time left to start a new inning after the first open inning.
  8. The Umpire should declare “OPEN INNING” before a new inning starts. However, in some circumstances due to the time limit, the Umpire could call “OPEN INNING” during an inning.
  9. In-between inning warm-up is limited to 90 seconds.
  10. A new pitcher shall be given 2 minutes for warm-up tosses.
  11. A timeout shall last up to 30 seconds.
  12. Mercy rule applies when:

 

Section 5 Line-Up and Defense Rules

 

  1. A team must have 8 players for an official game including at least 6 of its own roster players. If a team cannot field a minimum of 8 players, the team would forfeit and be officially disqualified. The win would be awarded to the opposing team.
  2. Teams with 8 players must take an automatic out in the 9th spot in the batting order.
  3. Use of borrowed players may only be done in emergency situations. They can only play if the team is short for 9-man lineup. Borrowed players are not allowed to pitch.
  4. Offense  -  Teams may follow either a 9-man batting order, or a batting order of more than nine players
    1. The choice of batting order shall be declared before the start of the game to the Umpires and the opposing manager. The choice must be adhered to throughout the game, unless there are injuries or players have to leave early.
    2. Batting order line-up sheet shall be properly filled out prior to the start of the game. Each player's first and last name shall be entered, and uniform numbers should be included. Names of bench players shall be included in the appropriate location of the lineup sheet.
  5. Pitching Rule - A pitcher shall be limited to a maximum of 5 consecutive innings.  The rule shall apply to both starting and relief pitchers.  One pitch thrown in an inning will constitute a full inning for pitching purposes.  Once a pitcher is removed from that position, he/she cannot re-enter the game as a pitcher.  He/she may appear elsewhere in the defensive position after pitching.
  6. Pitching Rule for Double-header games: When a team is scheduled for a DBLHDR a pitcher may pitch continuously one complete game or a maximum of 5 innings in a day if not continuously.
  7. Defense - There is no limit to the number of defensive substitutions allowed, except for pitchers, and no defensive change will cause a change in the batting order. Once the pitcher is replaced that player cannot pitch again in the same game.
  8. Slide or Avoid - As this is a recreational league, it is the duty of both players to minimize contact and collisions. All players are responsible for avoiding contact and any contact deemed to be intentional will result in an ejection. All runners must slide or avoid when entering a base in a close play.
  9. Catchers cannot block the home plate in a play at the plate unless the throw takes the catcher into the base path. Runners must make all reasonable attempts to avoid collision with defensive players 
  10. Defensive players must not block their bases without the ball. If the defensive player has the ball, then the runner must make their best effort to slide and avoid.
  11. Catcher - A courtesy runner may be used for catchers when there are two outs. The courtesy runner must be the last recorded out.
  12. Courtesy Runner - The courtesy runner must be the last recorded out. If the last out is not possible, then the last person listed on the batting order shall be the courtesy runner.
    1. One player may be declared as a non-runner (NR) prior to the game. This designation must be entered on the line-up cards submitted to the Umpires and opposing manager.
    2. A batter once becomes a runner may have a courtesy runner if the batter gets injured during the play & cannot run at UMPIRE DISCRETION. 
  13. Injured Player – may be replaced with
    1. A substitute not already used – in this case, the substitute assumes the injured player’s position in the batting order
    2. If all substitutes have batted, a player no longer in the batting order may assume the injured player’s spot and the injured player may not return for the duration of the game.
    3. If a team has only nine players, the manager or coach may enter the game, provided they have registered.
    4. If an injury or ejection results in a team being left with eight players, the team may complete the game. The empty batting spot shall be declared an automatic out.
    5. The first ejected player shall be treated as an injured player for batting purposes.  If a second player is ejected, and all substitutes have been used, the game is a forfeit and Umpires shall terminate the game.

 

Section 6 Playoffs

 

  1. The pre-playoffs league meeting may be held one week prior to the playoffs.
  2. Teams, who finish in the top six in the regular season standing, will advance to the playoffs.
  3. The first week of the playoffs will be the first round, the second  week of the playoffs will be semi-finals and the third week of the playoffs will be the championship game.
  4. A Player must have played at least 40% of regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
  5. Players who are injured and are unable to play in the required amount of games may appear in the playoffs upon application by their teams. The teams shall provide proper proof in the application. The league executives will have the final decision in these matters.
  6. In the playoffs, no team will be allowed to use borrowed players to fill roster shortfall. If the team cannot field for the playoffs game, the game will be forfeited.
  7. Playoff games shall be nine innings without a time limit. The mercy rules will not apply to playoff games. Extra innings may be played to determine the winner. The six-run rule is in effect for the first eight innings. The ninth and any extra innings are “open innings”. All other VRBL rules are in effect.

 

 

Section 7 Game Results & Standings

 

  1. It is the responsibility of both teams to record at least their own offensive statistics on GameChanger for each game. The results need to be uploaded within 48 hours after the game. Failure to adhere this rule will result in a fine.
  2. Teams will be ranked using the following tie breakers:
    1. Points (one point for a win and half point for a tie)
    2. Wins
    3. Head-To-Head Results
    4. Run Differential in Head-To-Head Games
    5. Overall Run Differential
    6. Overall Run Scored
    7. Coin Toss

 

Section 8 Field Maintenance and Team Dugouts

Central Park

  1. The home team takes 1B dugout and the away team takes 3B dugout due to the equipment shed being directly behind the 1B dugout.
  2. Both teams are responsible for cleaning their dugouts at the end of the game. Failure to adhere this rule will result in fines.
  3. Home team is responsible to prepare the field before the game, rake the field after the game and return all league field equipment to the equipment shed. Failure to adhere this rule will result in fines.

Queen's Park Stadium

  1. The home team takes 3B dugout and the away team takes 1B dugout due to the storage room being closer to the 3B dugout.
  2. Both teams are responsible for cleaning their dugouts at the end of the game. Failure to adhere this rule will result in fines.
  3. Home team is responsible to prepare the field before the game, rake the field after the game and return all league field equipment to the storage locker inside the storage room. Failure to adhere this rule will result in fines.
 

Section 9 VRBL Performance Bond

 

  1. Each team must have a $200 Performance Bond balance in the league account before the season starts.
  2. At the end of the season, the remaining balance will stay in the league account and carry over to the next year.
  3. For regular season, both home team and away team shall provide three new game balls in good condition. Teams Failure to provide official game balls shall result in a $10 fine per missing ball.
  4. If a team notifies the league and opposing team to forfeit a game the night before by 8PM, a $50 fine will apply. If a team forfeits a game without any earlier notification, a $200 fine will apply.
  5. Player ejections will be subject to mandatory fines. $50 for a player's first ejection, $100 for the same player's second ejection, and $200 for a third ejection of the same player.
  6. It is required that teams be in uniform. First offense for non-conforming appearance will be $20 fine; $40 for the second offense; $60 for the third offense and so on. 
  7. Failure to clean the dugout or clean/rake the field properly after the game will result in fines. First offense is $40; Second offense is $80; Third offense is $120.
  8. A $20 fine will apply for teams not recording their own offensive stats on GameChanger and uploading the result within 48 hours after the game.
  9. $50 Fine for teams not showing up for the league meeting without advanced notice.
  10. If a team does not have any funds left on their performance bond, they will be required to submit another $200 bond before their team can play another game.
  11. Communication will be sent to the team managers via email when a fine has been issued.