1. Players
* All teams are required to begin the MSBL/MABL season with an active roster of
16 players.
* All players must be 18 years of age by the date of their first game of the
season. Players 18 through 27 years of age will be registered in MABL and
eligible to play in MABL tournaments. Players 28 years and older will be
registered in MSBL and eligible to play in MSBL sponsored tournaments.
* Players that will turn 18 years of age during the course of the season may be
put on the roster at the beginning of the season while still 17. They are not
eligible to play until the day they turn 18.
* Pro ball players are eligible to participate in MSBL Jacksonville.
* No player is eligible to play in any game until all required League forms are
completed, submitted and accepted by the league.
* All team rosters must be final by April 28th. After this date, a player may
only be added by Board of Director approval. Any player added after the April
28th date will pay the full individual league registration fee. ($50.00)
* All appropriate league funds due by both individual player and team are due by
the date(s) established by the league President’s concurrence. Absolutely no
further games will be scheduled for teams in arrears beyond one week of
scheduled payment.
* All team switching must occur before the deadline of June 15th.
* No player may switch teams without the consent of both managers and the local
league President (according to Player Movement rules). If one of the managers is
the League President and is involved with the trade then another Board member
may act in his/her place. If all three parties agree the player may switch teams
and be eligible for the next game.
* Players MUST play a minimum of 6 league games to be eligible for tournament
play.
2. Uniforms
* All teams will have full uniforms by their third game. Wearing of caps,
baseball pants, and shirtsleeves are mandatory. Jerseys MUST match and hats must
match colors. Shirts will be tucked into pants, and hats worn straight wile on
the field. Teams violating this rule will not be allowed to play until outfitted
properly.
* Either metal or rubber cleats are permitted.
* All batters will wear at least one earflap on their helmet. Base runners will
be required to wear helmets while running the bases. These helmets may or may
not have earflaps.
* Catchers must wear a helmet. Throat protection is also strongly advised.
3. Equipment
* Any major league baseball will be permitted, provided the ball meets major
league specifications such as a Wilson A1010, NCAA certified, or Wilson A1001,
Diamond D1 Pro, Rawlings MSBL balls or better.
* Home team is required to provide 4 new baseballs for each game. If those balls
are lost, both teams will throw in the best balls available for the remainder of
the game.
* -3 or less Wooden, metal-wood and composite bats will be allowed.
* Umpires will disallow bats not deemed playable.
* Modified helmets and baseballs are not allowed
4. Games
* Games can only be canceled due to inclement weather at ballpark sites two (2)
hours prior to game time unless agreed upon previously by Home field managers.
The Home Field Manager is responsible to notify the MSBL Jacksonville Field and
Umpire Director in a timely manner to prevent the umpires from reporting to the
field at the time of the game with agreement from both managers and the umpire.
* All games rained out, postponed, or called because of darkness, or for
whatever reason, should be rescheduled by agreement of the managers within two
(2) weeks, and must be rescheduled prior to official end-date of the season. The
Home Team Manager is responsible for field acquisition of rain canceled games,
and must coordinate with the Field Umpire Director for provision of umpires.
Either team unable to make up the game shall forfeit the game to the other team.
All teams are responsible for completing their entire schedule.
* If for some reason both umpires do not show up, the game shall be canceled and
rescheduled. If only one umpire shows up, the game will be played. The Home Team
Manager must contact the Field and Umpire Director immediately after the game.
* There will be no beer or alcoholic beverages permitted before, during or after
the games on park grounds. If this problem should arise, the player or players
will not be allowed to play in that game and will be warned the first time and
expelled for NO LESS THAN ONE FULL YEAR on the second offense.
5. Game Length
* All regular season single games will be 9 innings, or as many innings as can
be played in two hours and forty-five minutes (2:45) of the first pitch.
* All regular season double-header games will be (2) 7 inning games, or as many
innings as can be played in two hours and thirty minutes (2:30) of the first
pitch of each game.
* There will be a fifteen (15) minute grace period, from the scheduled start
time for the required number of players to be available, once the fifteen (15)
minute grace period is over, the game is either declared a forfeit or played
(SEE RULE 6).
* In the event a doubleheader is to be played, once the fifteen (15) minute
grace period is over and the first game is declared a forfeit, the second game
will start thirty (30) minutes later. There is no grace period for the second
game.
6. Players needed to begin a
game
* Each team shall have, at a minimum, nine registered MABL players to begin a
league game. Players may be borrowed from either the opposing team (with
permission from the opposing manager) or from other MABL teams (registered
players only). These players may not pitch or catch. There is a limit of 3
borrowed players that can be used at one time.
* If a player is forced to leave a game due to an injury, a reserve player not
previously entered into the line up, as a hitter, must hit in that batter’s spot. If no reserve is present, the team
may continue with 8 players, but an out is recorded each time the injured
player’s spot comes to bat.
* If a player is forced to leave a game and there are only seven (7) players,
that game is automatically forfeited.
* If a player is forced to leave the game for any other reason than an injury,
resulting in 8 players or less, the game is automatically forfeited.
7. A/B Slot Batting order
* The slot batting order or tournament style batting can be used to help get
more players involved. Each team has the option to alternate different players
in their batting lineup, giving more players an opportunity to participate in
the game. The conditions for the Slot A/B batting style are as follows:
* The team using this style of batting order must declare this before the game
starts and the player’s names need to show up on the lineup card. The slot
batting order, if started, must also finish in the same fashion. Players can be
substituted in the A/B slot. For example: If Tom and John are sharing the #10
batting slot and for some reason Tom is no longer able to play (injury, ejection
or has to leave) and there is nobody else available, Tom’s spot would be an automatic out. If there is another player
available to fill that spot, that player bats in the slot. A of A/B slot bats
first time around and B of A/B slot bats next time that spot comes to bat,
alternate the same way, until game is finished.
* A/B slot batting can be used anywhere in the batting order.
8. Courtesy Runners
* Players that require a courtesy runner must have their Manager notify the
Umpire and the Opposing Manager before the start of the game. The manager can
ask for courtesy runner privileges for a maximum of two (2) players before the
game. The last batted out will be the courtesy runner. If a player designated at
the beginning of the game
* If less than 2 courtesy runners are declared at the beginning of the game, and
a subsequent obvious injury occurs during the game that precludes a player from
running the bases, the last batted out may be used, as a courtesy runner and it
will not count as a permanent offensive substitution. The original batter must
still run to first base.
9. Speed Up Rule
* The Pitcher and Catcher may have a courtesy runner while on the bases; before
two (2) outs it is optional, it is mandatory with two outs. The last batted out
will be the courtesy runner. This rule shall also be enforced in the ninth
inning. The pitcher or catcher of record is that one listed on the starting line
up (if it is the first inning) or the pitcher or catcher of record from the
previous defensive inning. It is the responsibility of the coaches to monitor
the use of the courtesy runners.
10. Run Rule
* If a team has a twelve run lead, at any time after 5 innings have been
completed, it shall be the option of the losing team manager, to continue play.
* If a team has a twelve (12) run lead after 7 innings have been completed the
game will be ruled complete. ** Note** The 12 run rule does not effect games
played involving the 45+ team(s). It is up to the managers to determine if the
game should continue.
11. Rules
* Offensive changes to the line up must be reported to the Umpire and the
opposing Manager.
* Free defensive substitutions will be allowed, at any time. Defensive players
do not have to report and do not have to be in the offensive line up.
* Each team must bat at least nine (9) or more players to start the game. The
manager may add more batters to the bottom of the batting order. If a player
fails to bat in his turn (unless substituted for), he will be counted as an out.
This is in accordance with the batting out of order rule.
* The pinch hitter rule shall follow the American League rulebook.
* There is no requirement on how many innings a pitcher may pitch in a game or
week. No white or gray sleeves are permitted for pitchers. No batting gloves or
wristbands will be allowed for pitchers while pitching. The American League
rulebook shall dictate the color of the pitcher’s baseball glove.
* Intentionally pitching at the batter will not be tolerated. The pitcher or
team may be warned one time. The Pitcher may be ejected if in the judgment of
the umpire the act was intentional. In the judgment of the umpire a warning may be issued to each bench
and manager. A second case of intentionally pitching at the batter, in that
game, will result in an ejection and a one game suspension. A subsequent
ejection for intentionally pitching at a batter will result in a two game
suspension. The third occurrence in a game of an ejection for intentionally
pitching at a batter, for that player will
result in a one-year suspension from the date of the third occurrence.
* A pitcher may return to pitch after he has been defensively re-aligned in the
field. However, he will not be able to pitch if he is taken out of the game
defensively.
* Charging the pitchers mound will result in a two game suspension for the first
offense, a five game suspension for the second offense and a one-year suspension
for any other occurrence.
* A pitcher will be removed from the mound after he has unintentionally hit
three (3) batters, this is not an ejection, he will not be eligible to pitch for
the remainder of the game.
* All players must avoid an intentional collision with the fielder. In this
case, the player will be out and ejected from the game and receive a two game
suspension immediately. The NCAA rule applies and is as follows:
RULE 8 Base Running
NCAA Collision Rule
SECTION 7. The rules committee is
concerned about unnecessary and
violent collisions with the catcher
at home plate, and with infielders at all
bases. The intent of this rule is to
encourage base runners and defensive
players to avoid such collisions
whenever possible.
a. When there is a collision between
a runner and a fielder who clearly is
in possession of the ball, the umpire
shall judge:
(1) Whether the collision by
the runner was avoidable (could the runner
have reached the base without
colliding) or unavoidable (the runner’s
path to the base was blocked);
(2) Whether the runner actually
was attempting to reach the base (plate)
or attempting to dislodge the ball
from the fielder; or
(3) Whether the runner was using
flagrant contact to maliciously
dislodge the ball.
PENALTY—If the runner attempted to
dislodge the ball, the runner shall
be declared out even if the
fielder loses possession of the
ball. The ball is dead and all
other base runners shall return
to the last base touched at the
time of the interference.
A.R. 1—If the fielder
blocks the path of the base runner to the base (plate), the runner
may make contact, slide into, or
collide with a fielder as long as the runner is making a
legitimate attempt to reach the base
or plate.
A.R. 2—If the flagrant
or malicious contact by the runner was before the runner’s
touching the plate, the runner shall
be declared out and also ejected from the contest. The
ball shall be declared dead
immediately. All other base runners shall return to the bases
they occupied at the time of the
pitch.
A.R. 3—If the contact
was after a preceding runner had touched home plate, the
preceding runner will be ruled safe,
the ball becomes dead immediately and all other base
runners will return to the base they
had last touched before the contact.
A.R. 4—If the runner is
safe and the collision is malicious, the runner shall be ruled safe
and ejected from the game. If this
occurs at any base other than home, the offending team
may replace the runner.
b. If the defensive player blocks the
base (plate) or base line clearly
without possession of the ball,
obstruction shall be called. The umpire
shall point and call, “That’s
obstruction.” The umpire shall let the play
continue until all play has ceased,
call time and award any bases that are justified in Rule 2. The obstructed
runner is awarded at least one base
beyond the base last touched legally
before the obstruction.
A.R. 5—If the base
runner collides flagrantly, the runner shall be declared safe on the
obstruction, but will be ejected from
the contest. The ball is dead.
* If an infielder fake tags, all runners will be entitled to advance one base
beyond the base they had legally obtained prior to the fake tag and a warning
will be given. If a preceding runner is forced to advance because of the award
of base(s) that runner shall advance without liability to be put out. If any
infielder fakes a tag again, in the same game, he will be ejected from the game.
The fake-tag referred to is where a player on base slides unnecessarily due to a
fake tag.
12. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
* Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. If the umpire ejects a player
from a game, the following will apply: First offense – two (2) additional game
suspensions. Any subsequent ejection will result with the player being suspended
for the balance of the 2010 season. The Rules Committee will place into effect
for individual game suspensions. The Board of Directors will determine all
issues surrounding season-long or greater suspensions. The Board of Directors is
tasked with providing greater weight in favor of the umpires, and the burden to
prove otherwise is solely on the shoulders of the individual player concerned.
Rules of Administrative Procedure will apply at these hearings.
* Physical aggression will be treated as a criminal offense and will be reported
to the city officials. Any player in this category will not be allowed to play
in the MABL for life.
13. Protests
* All protests should be lodged with the Rules Committee within forty-eight (48)
hours from the end of a ball game with a $25.00 protest fee. The $25.00 will be
refunded to the protesting manager if his/her protest prevails at the Rules
Committee hearing. If the protest is lost, the money will be deposited into the
league account. The manager wishing to protest a game must inform the umpires
immediately and inform the Rules Committee in writing within forty-eight hours
after the game. In the event a protest involves the Chairman or a member of the
Rules Committee, or they are a member of one of the two teams involved in the
protest, that member or members will excuse themselves from the discussion and
voting on that particular protest. The Chairman of the Rules Committee will be
also a Member of the Board of Directors and selected annually by the league
President.
14. Forfeits
* Two forfeits by any team would result in a $100 fine and will double for each
subsequent forfeit, so on and so on. These fines MUST be paid before the next
scheduled game or the team would incur another forfeit and fine. If for any
reason a team is expelled from the league there will be no money refunded to the
team.
15. Spectators
* The (2) Team Managers will be responsible for the conduct of their respective
players fans in the ballpark. No beer or alcohol will be allowed in the stands.
No abusive language will be tolerated.
* Non-registered MABL participants will not be allowed in the dugouts.
Rules adopted by the Board of Directors on
February 16, 2006
Rules amended on April 27, 2010