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2024 OFFICIAL BY-LAWS AND RULES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE ADULT BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
BY-LAWS: DRAFT
I. ARTICLE 1: NAME & PURPOSE
· This association shall be known as Middle Tennessee Adult Baseball Association (MTABA).
· The purpose of the association shall be to:
· To provide eligible adults with the opportunity to play organized baseball in a competitive environment that promotes fairness and good sportsmanship among its players; and
· To supervise and regulate the activities of association members and others participating in MTABA sponsored functions; and
· To enter into contracts with vendors in order to obtain facilities, goods and services necessary for carrying out MTABA business; and
· To collect, raise and expend funds in an efficient and responsible manner that furthers MTABA activities.
II. ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
A. Membership in this association shall be open to any baseball team that agrees to abide by the by-laws of MTABA and whose individual members meet league eligibility standards.
B. Teams may apply for membership by filing all appropriate documentation with the Commissioner or Executive Council (EC) and paying all applicable fees within reasonable time periods established by the EC.
The EC shall set team membership dues and the deadline for paying the dues.
III. ARTICLE 3: GOVERNMENT AND MEETINGS
A. Control of the association shall be entrusted to the Commissioner and the EC. The EC shall consist of the Treasurer, Chairman of Fields (CF), Chairman of Umpires (CU); League President and Coaches Liaison (LPCL), and Player Representative (PR). The EC shall have the ability to modify by majority vote the number of EC members and/or the responsibility of EC members.
B. The Commissioner and all members of the EC will be elected annually by a majority vote of the outgoing EC at the regularly scheduled year-end meeting. The results of the election must be ratified by the coaches. The Commissioner and EC members may succeed themselves in office.
The Commissioner may be a player or coach of any team in the league. The outgoing LPCL will nominate a candidate or candidates for the position of Commissioner. In addition, any member of the association may nominate a candidate to be considered for Commissioner by submitting the nomination in writing to the outgoing LPCL. All nominations will be given due consideration. The outgoing EC will select the proposed Commissioner by consensus, or if no consensus is reached, by a majority vote.
The outgoing Commissioner shall nominate a candidate for each position on the EC. In addition, any member of the association may nominate a candidate to be considered for a position on the EC by submitting the nomination in writing to the Commissioner. All nominations will be given due consideration.
The outgoing EC will vote in a proposed new EC at the year-end meeting. The outgoing EC will select the proposed new EC by consensus, or if no consensus is reached, by a majority vote. Within one week of the year end meeting, the former LPCL will present the proposed EC to the coaches for a ratification vote. Each coach from the previous season will be provided with an opportunity to vote separately on each candidate whether to ratify his membership on the EC. The coach will be given two choices: either to vote “yes to ratify the recommended candidate or to vote that he has “no confidence” in the proposed candidate. If a proposed candidate receives a vote of “no confidence” from 75% of the coaches who vote, then that candidate will not be eligible to hold the position on the EC for the upcoming season. In such circumstances, the outgoing EC will propose an alternative candidate to the coaches for ratification. This process will continue until all EC positions are filled and ratified by the coaches.
C. Decisions by the EC will be determined by consensus. The EC will work to attain consensus (i.e. a resolution that all members of the EC can live with, even if the decision is not one in which all members agree is optimal). In cases in which consensus is not reached, the decision will be made by the Commissioner.
· Meetings of the EC are open to all members of the association. The EC will hold at least one preseason meeting, one seasonal meeting and one year-end meeting per year on dates set by the Commissioner or League President. Timely notice of regular meetings will be provided to members of the EC and published on the league website. EC members who do not attend regular meetings in person may not object to matters decided at the meeting. In addition, the Commissioner may call special meetings or emergency meetings when the need exists, however, reasonable notice of such meeting shall be provided to each EC member. Special meetings and emergency meetings may be conducted telephonically or by other electronic means (i.e. electronic mail or special chat rooms) and voting at such meetings may be conducted by the same means. Notice of regular, special or emergency meetings may be provided by telephone, e-mail or face-to-face communication.
· All meetings of the EC shall be presided over by the Commissioner or a facilitator designated by the Commissioner.
IV. ARTICLE 4: DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER
The Commissioner shall be the chief executive officer of the association. The Commissioner will oversee league operations. He shall execute contracts in writing on behalf of the association. He shall enforce the provisions of these by-laws, and perform such additional duties as are incidental to his power as the executive officer of this association.
The Commissioner or an individual acting as the Commissioner’s designee will chair league meetings. The Commissioner will decide matters about which the EC is unable to reach a consensus.
V. ARTICLE 5: DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
A. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping an account of all league revenue and expenditures. He/she shall submit a financial report at each meeting of the EC. The treasurer shall have authority to make disbursements of funds, not to exceed $ 2,500.00 in any single disbursement. Any disbursement over $2,500.00 must have prior approval of the EC. The treasurer shall have custody of all of the funds of the association and shall keep full and accurate records of the receipts and disbursements. The Commissioner shall co-sign on financial transactions exceeding $2,500.
B. The League President and Coaches Liaison (LPCL) shall recruit association members, as needed, to assist the Commissioner in carrying out his duties. The LPCL shall ensure that minutes are kept at each meeting of the EC. The LPCL will work with the EC to develop marketing strategies. The LPCL shall serve as the coaches’ liaison to the EC, and will assist the Chairman of Fields (CF) in establishing a regular season and post season schedule. The LPCL will survey coaches’ opinions on game-related matters and communicate those positions to the EC. The LPCL is also responsible for bringing concerns expressed by coaches to the attention of the EC for appropriate action.
C. The Chairman of Umpires (CU) shall recruit association members, as needed, to assist the Commissioner in carrying out his duties. The CU will supervise the process for evaluating umpires and will make recommendations to the EC about league contracts for umpiring services. The CUR will establish guidelines and written procedures governing the relationship between the MTABA and contracted umpire services, including guidelines for payment in situations of forfeit, rainout, and continuation of games cancelled mid-game by weather or other circumstances. Further, the CU will be the point person in dealing with contracted umpire services for all matters related to payment of services rendered and will be the liaison between team managers and umpire services.
The CU shall also be the point person for dealing with player ejections and suspensions as well as team protests. See Sections 6.03 and 6.04 below.
VII. ARTICLE 7: TEAM ROSTERS & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
A. MTABA team rosters must consist of players that meet the following criteria:
· Age Limitations
Players must be at least 18 years old to compete in the 18+ division, at least 30 to compete in the 30+ division, at least 40 to compete in the 40+ division, and at least 50 to compete in the 50+ division. Age determination date December 31st.
· Additional Divisions
The EC may, at its option, elect to add other divisions with different minimum ages.
Contract Status
Players must have executed an online Waiver and may be required to provide age identification Age verification, if required, shall consist of players providing a picture of their identification through a league-approved medium (i.e. email or text) If an opposing team suspects an underage player is being used they may request proof of age verification during a game. Such verification will be in the form of a government-issued photo identification displaying the player's date of birth
If the player refuses to provide such verification or provides identification which shows them to be underage then the game is declared a forfeit. In the case of the player refusing to provide verification not only will the game be a forfeit, but the player will be ineligible to participate in any future games before such verification is provided, and any previous games in which they participated will be declared a forfeit as well. Any players who have not executed an online Waiver are ineligible to play. Any games in which they participate will automatically be declared a forfeit with no exceptions. Teams found to be using ineligibile players are subject to league discipline, up to and including expulsion from the league.
Good Standing
a). The EC by a consensus of its members (excluding EC members with an actual or apparent conflict of interests as determined by the Commissioner) shall have the authority to discipline, suspend or terminate the eligibility of any team, coach, player or EC member who compromises the principles and purpose of the league.
b). Players must be in good standing with the league in order to be eligible to compete. In good standing includes substantial compliance with the MTABA Code of Ethics for players and coaches (posted on the league website). Players sanctioned by the EC for transgressions must satisfy corrective actions meted out by the EC (e.g. serving suspensions for ejections.) before being in good standing with the league.
B. MTABA is open to all players who meet the age eligibility requirements as defined in these by-laws. Players may participate in other adult baseball leagues. No player shall be on the roster of more than one MTABA team per division at the same time.
C. Any player who violates the eligibility regulations shall be expelled from MTABA for at least one season and for as long as is determined to be appropriate by the EC. In addition, any coach who willfully uses an ineligible player shall be expelled from MTABA at least one season and for as long as is determined to be appropriate by the EC. All games in which the ineligible player participated will be forfeited.
D. Players must be on the roster and have appeared in at least (5) regular season games for their team in order to be eligible to participate in MTABA league playoffs.
a. Teams with players whose playoff eligibility is in question can be compelled to prove eligibility through the following means:
i. Providing copies of their scorebook, which are subject to double check by getting copies of opposing teams books as well.
ii. Use of the Game Changer app or other electronic methods for tracking game participation
E. Team rosters shall consist of at least 14 players. Team rosters must be entered by team managers to a league sanctioned website at least one day prior to opening day.. Rosters may be modified after the first league game. All roster modifications must be immediately input into the website. Under no circumstances will a player be allowed to participate in a game if he/she is not listed on the website-based roster. Usage of any such players in games will result in a forfeit.
F. Any player desiring to switch teams must follow these procedures and obtain the consent of the EC. A player seeking to switch teams may apply for a general transfer or a specific transfer, each of which must be submitted to the Player Representative for further review by the EC.
a. A player seeking a specific transfer must obtain a “specific release and transfer” from the EC and both coaches. The “specific release and transfer” must identify the team to which the player will transfer. The EC must review and approve the transfer before it becomes official.
b. Another option for a player wishing to change teams during the season is to apply for a general release and transfer. In this situation, the player would obtain approval of his current coach for a “general release and transfer”. Although coaches have absolute discretion to accept or decline a request for a specific release, coaches are expected to grant requests for a general release as long as the player is in good standing. A player may appeal to the EC a decision of a coach to deny a request for general release and transfer. If the EC approves the request for general release and transfer, the player is placed in the league player pool and may be drafted by any team having space on its roster. The reverse order of the league standings will determine the order of the draft (i.e. the last place team has the first option to sign the player.)
c. In the event a team disbands during the course of a season or at season's end, all players will be placed in the league player pool. A draft will be held to distribute the players to new teams. The reverse order of the league standings (from the previous season if it is a preseason draft) will determine the order of the draft.
d. Individuals not associated with existing teams who are interested in playing in the league (and not recruited by a specific team) will be placed in the league player pool and subjected to draft procedures. These players may be respondents to general league sponsored tryouts or other league sponsored marketing events.
G. In the event a player wishes to leave his existing team and form a new team, he may do so. No other player can be taken from the existing team without the consent of the existing team's coach. No other players may be taken from any other team without complying with the provisions of section F above.
VIII. ARTICLE 8: EQUIPMENT
A. All MTABA players are required to wear appropriate safety-related baseball equipment while participating in MTABA league games. Batters and runners are required to wear helmets. Catchers are required to wear a skullcap or helmet when catching.
B. All MTABA participating players and coaches must wear numbered baseball uniforms while within the confines of the field of play. Metal spiked baseball shoes are allowed, although their use may be prohibited at certain fields and players must abide by field rules and not wear metal spikes at those locations. All field-specific rules must be abided by at all times.
C. The EC shall declare and report to team coaches the type and brand of baseball that will be the official baseball used in all MTABA games.
D. The EC shall establish guidelines to determine the types of bats that may be used in league games. These guidelines will be specifically addressed in the MTABA Addendum to Superseding Exceptions (League Rules).
IX. ARTICLE 9: LEAGUE RULES
The Official Rules of Major League Baseball (MLB) plus the “MTABA Addendum of Superseding Exceptions” will be the code of rules governing the playing of baseball games by teams of MTABA. The EC will ensure that the “MTABA Addendum of Superseding Exceptions” is posted on the league web page. The Official Rules of Baseball may be viewed online at www.baseball-almanac.com. To purchase the Official Professional Baseball Rulebook call 1-800-825-8508.
X. ARTICLE 10: EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF
A player or team may apply to the EC for extraordinary relief from enforcement of a provision in the by-laws or league rules if special circumstances exist, the request is made in good faith and if the requested action would not compromise the welfare or interests of the league. The EC will publish on the league website all instances where extraordinary relief is awarded. The publication should include a description of the special circumstances and the reasons the relief was granted.
XI. ARTICLE 11: MODIFICATION OF BY-LAWS
These By-laws may be amended by the EC at any regular or special EC meeting.
RULES:
Preface
All league games will be played using the rules and guidelines set forth in the Major League Baseball "Official Rules of Baseball" unless otherwise specified below. Rule exceptions for MTABA are enumerated below and supersede any other published or implied rules.
1.00 OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTIONS
1.01
Offensive and defensive teams are separate and operate independently of each other. Teams may make unlimited defensive substitutions, except that pitchers who are removed from the pitching position may re-enter to pitch one time only. A pitcher may not re-enter to pitch during the same inning from which he was removed. Players may be substituted defensively, at any time, without affecting the players’ offensive status in the line-up. Defensive changes for positions other than pitcher need not be reported to the umpire or the opposing team.
1.02
Teams may use 9 or more hitting slots in their line-up (no maximum number of line-up slots). Teams must have a minimum of 9 hitting slots in the line-up even if playing with 8 players. If a team is forced to play with 8 players, the team must take an automatic out for the 9th spot in the batting order until that slot is filled with a 9th player.
1.03
MTABA uses the Shared Lineup position to enter more than one player in any offensive batting order position.
Offensive substitution is unlimited, provided said player stays in the same spot in the lineup once he is placed there (i.e. a batter and a runner for that batter may occupy the same position in the offensive lineup; the manager must declare who is batting at that lineup position if there is a change. Neither player may appear in any other offensive lineup slot). A manager may use an unlimited number of players in any lineup slot, but those players cannot be used elsewhere offensively.
A shared position in the offensive lineup may be initiated at any time, at manager’s discretion.
Managers must notify the opposing manager when players in shared lineup positions are being switched.
There are no courtesy runners. Use shared lineup position. The only exception to this is if a player is injured while running the bases and is not part of a shared lineup slot and all other players are already in the offensive lineup. In that circumstance, a courtesy runner which shall be the last batted out may run for the injured player. If a player is taken out for a courtesy runner in this situation they may not re-enter the game either offensively or defensively afterwards. If the injured player is the 8th player and drops the team to 7 available players then no courtesy runner is available and the game is declared a forfeit. If the injured player is the 9th player and drops his team to 8, then his spot becomes an automatic out going forward. See Rule 1.06 below.
EXCEPTION: For the 30+, 40+, and 50+ divisions courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher and catcher if neither is in a shared line-up slot. The courtesy runner shall be the last batted out. In order to be run for the pitcher/catcher must have pitched/caught the previous inning.
1.04
Teams must have at least 8 roster-certified players in the game at all times in order to play an official game. The eight players must be ready to play within the 15- minute grace period. The grace period begins to toll at the official game start time.
1.05
Once a lineup is set and presented to the umpire and the opposing team, players may be added to the end of the lineup after giving notice to the umpire and the opposing coach.
1.06
Once a lineup is set and presented to the umpire and the opposing team, it may not be reduced. The only two exceptions are for situations when a player is injured in the course of the game or when a player knows he will have to leave the game prior to completion of the game and his coach gives notice of such to the opposing coach and umpire at the lineup exchange. If the coach still has at least 9 filled batting slots in the line-up excluding the injured/absent player, the coach must notify the umpire and opposing coach of the situation and remove the batting slot from the lineup. The batting line-up will skip to the next batting position for the remainder of the game without an automatic out being charged to the offensive team. If the injured/absent player is the 8th player of a team playing the game with only eight players, the game is forfeited at that juncture. If the injured player is the 9th player and the team is forced to play the remainder of the game with 8 players, the vacated slot in the batting order becomes an automatic out. Under no circumstance is a team permitted to field nine players and bat eight players.
1.06A
If a player is ejected from the game, that player's lineup spot may be filled by another player not currently in another lineup position. If no player is available to replace the ejected player's lineup position, then an automatic out will be registered when the empty lineup position is due to bat. This is regardless of how many positions are already in the lineup.
1.07
MTABA has eliminated the use of courtesy runners. See rule 1.03 above for specific exceptions to this rule in the 30+, 40+, and 50+ divisions. MTABA requires the use of expediting runners (for the catcher) when the game situation automatically triggers its use.
MTABA requires teams to use an expediting runner to run for the catcher when the offensive team has two outs in an inning. This rule is designed to speed up the game and is not optional.
1.08
The expediting runner for the catcher shall be the last batted out.. If the catcher is in a shared lineup slot he must be run for by whomever he is sharing that slot with. If he is not in a shared lineup slot then the previous rule (last batted out) will apply. The expediting runner for the catcher will be inserted when an offensive team makes the second out in the inning and the catcher is on base at the time. The catcher to be run for must have caught the previous half inning for his team.
1.09 MLB rules regarding defensive shifts will NOT be in effect for league games.
2.00 PITCHING MATTERS
2.01
Umpires are encouraged to call a “full” strike zone as described in Official Baseball Rules. The full strike zone will be considered to be “that area over home plate, the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap.” The strike zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.
2.02
The pitcher is permitted to go to his mouth on the dirt portion of the mound as long as he is not on the rubber and wipes off before going to the rubber.
2.03
Pitchers removed from the pitching position may re-enter to pitch one time as long as they do not re-enter to pitch in the same inning from which they were removed.
2.04
The pitcher may not wear white or gray long-sleeved undershirts, or wear batting gloves or wristbands on his pitching arm while he is on the mound.
2.05
In 18+ ,30+,and 40+ any pitcher who hits three (3) batters with pitches in the same inning or four (4) batters with pitches during a game must be removed from the pitching position and not be permitted to pitch for the remainder of the game. In 50+ any pitcher hitting three batters during a game must be removed from the pitching position. He may continue to hit and/or play defense.
2.06
A pitcher may intentionally walk a batter (without throwing pitches) by declaring his intent to the umpire. The umpire will immediately wave the runner to first base.
2.07 MTABA will follow the major league rule regarding first and third plays. Unless the pitcher steps off the mound he will not be allowed to fake a throw to third. Doing so will result in a balk.
3.00 SAFETY ISSUES
3.01
Any player who initiates intentional and high-impact contact with an opponent shall be called out and ejected from the game. No malicious attempt to initiate contact will be tolerated.
Base runners shall not use roll blocks or go out of the baseline to initiate contact. Slides should be directly to the bag – defined as being within an arm’s length of the bag – and the slide may go past the bag. Players must slide into the base or give up their right to a base (by stopping or leaving the base path) if the defensive player has possession of the ball or is about to immediately receive the ball and will be able to make a play on the base runner. (NOTE: A base runner need not slide directly into a base as long as he slides in a direction away from the infielder attempting to make a play.)
If a defensive player is not in possession of the ball or is not about to immediately receive the ball he cannot block the base or be in the base path so as to impede (obstruct) the base runners right to that base. Under such circumstances, the defensive player shall be responsible to avoid any collision. If a collision does occur under these circumstances, the runner will always be considered safe and the obstruction rule shall be enforced.
Catchers shall not block the plate (or the baseline) unless the ball is in their possession or the catcher has a reasonable opportunity to make a play at the plate. Any less will be obstruction. Runners are not required to slide at the plate, but it is recommended that runners slide on any close play. Runners who do not slide and initiate contact with the catcher that is likely to result in serious injury will be called out and may be ejected if the umpire rules the contact was malicious and intentional.
3.02
Defensive players shall not use decoy tags or verbal inducements to get a runner to slide unnecessarily. An offending player will be warned once and ejected on a subsequent incident and the runner will be awarded at least one and as many bases as he would have made without the obstruction.
3.03
If a player incurs an injury which results in an open bleeding wound or bloody saturation of the uniform, then the game should be stopped and the player should be given appropriate medical treatment. This should be done at the direction and discretion of the umpiring crew. If the player can be treated without undue delay, play should be stopped until the player has received proper treatment. A player may not return until the umpiring crew and coaching staffs are satisfied that no danger remains to other players from the transfer of blood-related disease due to contact with the injured player.
3.04
Teams are discouraged from having children in the dugouts during games. If a team uses a child as a batboy/batgirl they are required to wear a batting helmet while on the field and in the dugout.
4.00 OFFICIAL GAMES, RAINOUTS, and STOPPAGE OF GAME DUE TO WEATHER
4.01 A game becomes official in the following circumstances:
a. The teams complete a regulation nine inning game in 18+, 30+, and 40+, or a regulation seven inning game in 50+ (or more if extra innings); or
b. The teams complete five innings (4.5 innings if home team leads) before the umpires rule to cease play due to darkness; or
c. The teams complete five innings (4.5 innings if home team leads) before the umpires rule to cease play due to rain; or
d. In 18+, 30+, and 40+ if there is a 12 run discrepancy at the end of 5 or more innings or a 10 run discrepancy at the end of 7 or more innings; or an eighteen (18) run discrepancy at the end of three (3) innings. In 50+ if there is a 12 run discrepancy at the end of 5 or more innings; or
e. In 18+, 30+, and 40+ if the teams completed at least 5 innings and the teams have played for 2 hours and 30 minutes. (Note: No new inning would begin after the 2 hour and 30 minute time limit). All innings must be completed. In the event of a tie at the end of the time limit (or at the end of 7 innings in 50+) play will continue for a maximum of two more innings. See Rule 4.02(a) below. EXCEPTION: If there is another game scheduled after the game being played no inning may start after 2 hours and 45 minutes from original start time.
f. Playoff games will have no time limit and shall be 9 innings in length unless shortened by rain.
4.02 Tie Games
a. Games tied at the end of 9 innings (7 innings in 50+) or after time has expired (18+, 30+, 40+) will continue for a maximum of 2 more innings. Each extra inning will begin with the batting position immediately preceding the batting position due up running at second base If the game is still tied after the 2 extra innings, it will be considered a tie.
b. Tie games can be played to completion at a later date, again with the agreement of both coaches and notification of league officials.
c. Final league standings will be determined by won/lost percentage. Head-to-head competition, followed by fewest average runs allowed per game will decide ties.
4.03 Rainouts
In the event of rain, the league Board will work with field directors to determine field playability. Rainout decisions will be posted to the league website(s) and notification of umpires will be handled by the Board. Decisions on whether to play will be determined as soon as possible to permit early notification of participants.
When a game is rained out it may be rescheduled by the coaches, the Executive Council, or the Commissioner. Within ten days of the rainout, the affected coaches should reschedule the game and notify league officials of the make-up date. If the coaches do not reschedule the game within 10 days, the Executive Council or Commissioner will set the date for the make up game or determine that the game will not be played (e.g. inconsequential to the standings and time limitations exist).
4.04 Games stopped due to rain or darkness
a. If a game is stopped due to rain or darkness the score will revert to the last fully completed inning, and if 5 innings (4.5 if the home team is ahead) have been completed the game shall be declared official and the team leading at the time declared the winner. Games stopped by rain or darkness prior to completion of 5 innings will be picked up (where possible) at a later date from where they stopped as part of a weekend doubleheader where both games (the continued game and the second game) will be no more than 7 innings. The game to be completed shall start with the score at the time it was originally halted but teams may have new batting lineups. The second game will be subject to a 7 inning or 2 hour time limit.
4.05 Limits on more than 2 games a week
a. In the event one or both teams are playing a regular season makeup game that constitutes their third game of the week such game will be subject to a 7 inning or 2 hour time limit UNLESS both managers agree to normal time limit regulations.
5.00 PREGAME & GAME PROTOCOL
5.01
Teams should cooperate to ensure that both teams get a fair opportunity for infield/outfield practice before the game. The home team has the field until 15 minutes before the game. The visiting team has the field 15 minutes prior to the game. In 30+, 40+, and 50+ the home team shall occupy the first base dugout.
5.02
When multiple games are scheduled at the same site on the same day, there will be a minimum of 15 minutes between games (unless games are running behind and both coaches agree to start early).
5.03
Teams will be granted a 15- minute grace period to produce enough roster players to avoid a forfeit. A team must have at least 8 (eight) of its players to start an official game. In the event a game is started late due to a team waiting for their 8th player to arrive the official start time of the game shall still be the originally scheduled start time.
5.04
The team at bat is responsible for retrieving foul balls.
5.05
The team coach is required to submit the official line-up, including last name, first initial, and jersey number of all players in the initial batting order at the time of ground rules, to the home plate umpire and the opposing coach at a pregame plate meeting. Players arriving after the start of the game may be added during the course of the game once the opposing team’s coach has been notified of the addition.
5.06
Both teams should keep scorebooks and communicate changes in the offensive line-up and pitching position to the opponent’s scorekeeper.
6.00 UMPIRES
6.01
The Umpire in Chief will be the official MTABA representative during the course of all games. His/her decisions are final. Protests can be filed only in the event of a call that is in direct conflict of the league-sanctioned rules. Umpire judgment calls may not be disputed or officially protested in the league office.
6.02
Ejected players, coaches or fans must leave the field of play immediately and the playing site upon gathering their belongings. Failure by the ejected person to comply with this rule will result in a forfeit of the game. Whenever a player is ejected, the umpire will submit a written report to the Chairman of Umpires (CU) as soon as possible.
6.03
Ejected players are suspended from further competition until they communicate with the CU and, if directed by the CU, the Executive Council (EC). Players ejected for the first time in a season receive an automatic 1 game suspension. The EC reserves the right to additionally require managers to be suspended for 1 game if one of their players is ejected. Managers are expected to set an example for their teams, consequently any manager that is ejected will receive an automatic 2 game suspension. Players ejected from the last game of the year will have their suspensions continued to the start of the following season. The CU may recommend to the EC that a player receive more than the automatic one-game suspension if the CU determines that the actions prompting the ejection were egregious. The EC will rule on the recommendation of the CU and if no consensus is reached, the Commissioner shall decide the matter. Any player ejected twice during the season, regardless of reason, is disqualified from further competition for the remainder of the season, including post season play. Players who are ejected twice in a season must apply to the EC for reinstatement for the following season. Players deemed as chronic offenders of league rules and standards of conduct may be suspended for longer periods of time including lifetime bans in the most serious situations. The EC will rule on all applications for reinstatement.
6.04
Protests are allowed only on rules interpretations or player ineligibility violations. Protests on a judgment call by an umpire will not be accepted. To protest a game, a coach must immediately notify the umpire and the opposing coach that the game is being played under protest; write in the official scorebook (as defined in Rule 8.01)the situation and on what grounds the game is being protested; and sign the official scorebook in the presence of the opposing manager and head umpire Protesting teams asking for a formal ruling from the EC must write a check for $25 to MTABA and submit it with a written report to be reviewed by the Chairman of Umpires (CU) and the EC. The CU will review and rule on the matter unless he/she is associated with one of the teams playing in the game being protested. In this situation, the EC will assign a qualified, neutral and objective party to rule on the protest. (If the protest is upheld, the $25 will be returned to the coach).
7.00 EQUIPMENT
7.01
All teams must have baseball uniforms consisting of caps, numbered jerseys, baseball pants, socks and baseball footwear. Each player's uniform must be of similar design to his teammates’ uniforms.
7.02
Coaches who are not players shall not be required to wear uniforms.
7.03
MTABA is a wood bat league. Players must use wood bats and will not be permitted to use bats made of metal or other substances. Wood composites are only allowed if the composite material does not extend beyond the handle.
8.00 SCOREKEEPING STATISTICS & STANDINGS
8.01
The home team scorebook is the official scorebook unless the home team cedes the responsibility to the visiting team and informs the umpire thereof.
8.02
The League President and Coaches Liaison (LPCL) will maintain official league standings via the MTABA website. It is the winning team’s responsibility to report game scores to the MTABA website within 24 hours of game completion.
9.00 FORFEITS
9.01
A team will forfeit a game under the following circumstances:
· If fewer than 8 players are available within 15 minutes of the official start time of the game (15-minute grace period); or
· If fewer than 8 players are available after the start of (or during) the game because players are lost due to ejection or injury; or
If a team uses a player not shown on their roster.
· If a team uses an ineligible player (i.e. a player who is underage, or has not executed an online Waiver, or for playoff games has not participated in 5 regular season games); or
· If a player is requested to provide age verification and either refuses to do so or provides fake identification; or
· If one of its players fails to leave the complex after being ejected.
Additionally, any team found to have used an ineligible player in the playoffs will be disqualified for the remainder of the tournament.
9.02
Any team forfeiting a game will be considered on probation for the remainder of the season. A second forfeit will result in a $100 fine, which must be paid prior to the start of the post season tournament. Failure to pay will result in disqualification from the tournament. A third forfeit will result in the team being removed from the league and its’ players being placed on the Free Agent list and distributed to other teams in a manner to be determined by the EC. Finally, any team forfeiting a game in post season play will be ineligible for continued participation in the tournament.
9.03
Any team which may have games remaining with a team removed from the league due to violation in 9.02, will be awarded a win for that scheduled game.
10.00 CODE OF ETHICS
10.01
Team coaches have the responsibility for their team’s actions prior to, during, and after all games.
10.02
All players, coaches and fans will abide by the following rules:
o All players and coaches are expected to exhibit a sense of sportsmanship and play with due regard to the safety of the umpires and other players; and
o Fighting among players or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated and offending players will be expelled from the game and be subject to suspension or expulsion from the league; and
o No player or coach shall lay a hand upon, shove, strike, or threaten an official; and
o No player will use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player; and
o No player, coach or fan shall threaten or aggressively confront any player, coach, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game; and
o No player, coach or fan shall verbally abuse any player, coach, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game; and
o There will be no beer or alcoholic beverages permitted at the field before, during, or after the game; and
o No player shall consume alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during the game or be upon the field at any time in an intoxicated condition; and
o The Executive Council may suspend or expel any player or coach for conduct that is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or character of the league.
10.03
Team coaches have the responsibility to prompt their team and work with the umpires to keep the game moving at a brisk pace. Players will be instructed to hustle on and of the field and keep play moving. The home plate umpire has the authority to warn players to expedite exiting and entering the field to initiate a new inning of play and may penalize a team responsible for causing an unreasonable delay by calling “balls” (defensive team responsible) or “strikes” (offensive team responsible) until the offending team is ready to play.
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