METRO SENIOR BABE RUTH
LEAGUE PLAYING RULES 2011 SEASON
RULE 1.0
THE LEAGUE IS MADE UP FROM TEAMS BASED IN DIVISIONS (DISTRICTS). BASED ON GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY IN MOST CASES, DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS MAY CHANGE FOR NEW TEAMS ADDED AS TO WHERE THERE IS OPENINGS IN EACH DIVISION. TEAMS WILL BE PLACED INTO DIVISIONS BASED ON WHAT THE METRO SR. BABE BOARD DETERMINES IS BEST FOR THE LEAGUE.
RULE 2.0
EACH TEAM WILL HAVE A BOUNDARY MAP ON FILE (PER ARTICLE 3 OF THE BY-LAWS) WITH THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT AND THE DIVISION VICE-PRESIDENT BY THE FIRST GAME OR - June 1st, 2011, WHICHEVER IS FIRST. ANY TEAM THAT DOES NOT TURN IN THEIR BOUNDARY MAP BY THE DATE SET FORTH BY THE METRO SR. BABE RUTH BOARD SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POST SEASON (DISTRICT PLAYOFFS OR STATE TOURNAMENT).
RULE 3.0
EACH TEAM WILL HAVE A TEAM ROSTER ON FILE (PER ARTICLE 3 OF THE BY-LAWS) WITH THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT AND THE DIVISION VICE-PRESIDENT BY THE FIRST GAME OR - June 1st, 2011, WHICHEVER IS FIRST. ANY TEAM THAT DOES NOT TURN IN THEIR TEAM ROSTER BY THE DATE SET FORTH BY THE METRO SR. BABE RUTH BOARD SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POST SEASON (DISTRICT PLAYOFFS OR STATE TOURNAMENT).
RULE 4.0
ALL TEAMS SHALL PLAY UNDER THE SAME SYSTEM FOR QUALIFYING FOR POST SEASON. WE DO NOT USE A POINT SYSTEM FOR QUALIFYING TEAMS. THE TEAM WITH THE BEST DIVISION RECORD IS THE DIVISION WINNER & WILL ADVANCE TO THE SENIOR BABE STATE TOURNAMENT. ALL OTHER LEGAL TEAMS THAT HAVE QUALIFIED FOR POST SEASON PLAY WILL PLAY IN A DOUBLE ELIMINATION DISTRICT TOURNAMENT. THE WINNER OF THE DISTRICT TOURNAMENT WILL ADVANCE TO THE SENIOR BABE RUTH STATE TOURNAMENT ALSO. - YOU MUST COMPLETE YOUR REGULAR SEASON BY JULY 5th, 2011 - NO EXCEPTIONS
RULE 5.0
THE TEAM WITH THE BEST DIVISION RECORD OVERALL IS THE DIVISION WINNER. IF THERE IS A TIE, THE WINNER SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE FOLLOWING TIE BREAKERS:
1. SEASON WINNER OF HEAD TO HEAD COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TIED TEAMS
2. TEAM WITH GREATEST HEAD TO HEAD RUN DIFFERENTIAL OF TIED TEAMS
3. TEAM WITH LOWEST OVERALL RUNS ALLOWED OF TIED TEAMS
4. COIN FLIP
RULE 6.0
ALL TEAMS MUST COMPLETE THERE REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE BY THE DATE SET FORTH BY THE METRO SR. BABE. IN 2011 THE DATE JULY 5th, IF ALL TEAMS IN A DIVISION HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE THEN ALL TEAMS MUST COMPLETE THEIR REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE AND THEN ALL POST SEASON ELIGIBLE TEAMS MUST COMPETE IN A DISTRICT TOURNAMENT WITH THE WINNER & 2ND PLACE TEAMS ADVANCING TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT. THE DISTRICT TOURNAMENT MUST BE COMPLETED BY JULY 10th,2011. THIS MEANS THAT THE COMPLETED REGULAR SEASON AND DISTRICT PLAYOFFS MUST BE COMPLETED BY JULY 10th,2011.ALL TEAMS ADVANCING TO THE POST SEASON MUST ATTEND A CREDENTIAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAYJULY 6th, 2011.THIS MEETING IS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL TEAMS ARE LEGAL AND ABLE TO PROGESS TO THE POST SEASON.THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT BEREA LUTHERN CHURCH IN RICHFIELD.
RULE 7.0
EVERY PLAYER ON THE TEAM MUST RESIDE WITH-IN THE TEAM BOUNDARY AREA APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO BE ELIGILBE. THIS IS GENERALLY THE HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AREA.
RULE 8.0
EACH TEAM MUST PLAY TWO GAMES WITH EACH TEAM IN ITS RESPECTIVE DIVISION (HOME/AWAY) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR POST SEASON PLAY, AND TO DETERMINE A DIVISION CHAMPION FOR THE DISTRICT PLAYOFFS AND STATE TOURNAMENT.
RULE 9.0
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR POST SEASON PLAY, A PLAYER MUST APPEAR IN 1/2 OF THE DIVISION GAMES. IF THE NUMBER OF DIVISION GAMES IS AN UNEVEN NUMBER, i.e. 11, 13, 15, etc., THEN EACH PLAYER MUST APPEAR IN 5, 6, 7, etc. GAMES RESPECTIVELY. APPEARING MEANS AS LITTLE AS PINCH RUNNING OR PINCH HITTING.
RULE 10.0
ALL TEAMS MUST USE THE SCOREBOOK GIVEN TO THEM AT THE ALL TEAM MEETING FOR LEAGUE GAMES ONLY.
RULE 11.0
ALL TEAMS MUST USE THE LINE-UP CARDS GIVEN TO THEM AT THE ALL TEAM MEETING FOR LEAGUE GAMES ONLY. TEAMS MUST ALSO RETAIN THE CARBON COPY OF THE LINE-UP CARD TO BE CHECKED AT THE END OF THE SEASON OR IF A PROTEST, APPEAL, MAKE-UP ARE NECESSARY.
RULE 12.0
ALL TEAMS MUST COMPLETE ROSTERS ON-LINE FOR THE 2011 SEASON. TEAMS SHOULD RETAIN A COPY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ROSTER FOR THEIR RECORDS. ALL ROSTER CHANGES MUST ALSO BE MADE ON-LONE AND MUST BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 19, SO AS YOU HAVE JUNE 20TH TO GET A COPY TO THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT. AFTER JUNE 20TH ALL ROSTERS WILL BE FROZEN WITH NO FURTHER CHAGES ALLOWED. NO EXCEPTIONS.
RULE 13.0
THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC. HAS APPROVED A MORATORIUM ON THE USE OF COMPOSITE BATS IN THE BABE RUTH BASEBALL 13-15 AND 16-18 DIVISIONS, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE MORATORIUM SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BY THE BABE RUTH HEADQUARTERS. THE MORATORIUM WILL FOLLOW THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS (NFHS), BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM ITS BASEBALL RULES COMMITTEE. THE NFHS BOARD ENACTED A RULE TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF COMPOSITE BATS UNTIL THEY CAN PRODUCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE BAT. IF A COMPOSITE BAT IS LEGAL/APPROVED UNDER THE NHFS RULES FOR 2011 SEASON, IT WIL BE LEGAL FOR USE IN THE BABE RUTH BASEBALL 13-15 AND 16-18 DIVISIONS FOR LOCAL LEAGUE PLAY AND TORNAMENT COMPETITION. COMPOSITE BATS THAT ARE CERTIFIED BY AB APPROVED INDEPENTENT TESTING LABORATORY AS MEETING THE CURRENT BALL EXIT SPEED RATION (BESR) AND THE ACCELERATED BREAK-IN (ABI) PROCEDURE WILL BE ELIGIBLE. FOR A LIST OF COMPOSITE BATS APPROVED GOT THE 2011 BABE RUTH BASEBALL 13-15 AND 16-18 DIVISIONS -
WITH THE EXCEPTION AS PUBLISHED IN THE BABE RUTH BASEBALL RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE EXCEPTIONS NOTED BELOW, THE LEAGUE PLAYING RULES FOLLOW THE MOST CURRENT OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES AS PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL BASEBALL CONGRESS. ALL COACHES MUST MAKE THEMSELVES AWARE OF THESE RULES AND BE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR CONTENT. MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL RULES’S ARE NOT APPLICABLE.
EXCEPTIONS:
DESIGNATED HITTER IS ALLOWED FOR THE 2011 REGULAR SEASON. IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED DURING THE 2011 POST SEASON - NEITHER THE PLAY-OFFS OR STATE TOURNAMENT OR REGIONALS OR THE WORLD SERIES.
COURTESY RUNNER IS NOT ALLOWED AT ANY POINT OF THE SEASON - REGULAR OR POST SEASON.
TEN (10) RUN RULE APPLIES AFTER 5 INNINGS OR 4 1/2 INNINGS IF THE HOME TEAM IS AHEAD.
LEAGUE WILL ADHERE TO THE 3 OZ. BAT RULE.
ONLY COMPOSITE BATS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED ARE LEGAL TO USE IN THE METRO SENIOR BABE RUTH LEAGUE - AS PER THE WEB SITE LISTED IN RULE 13.0 ABOVE
THE CONTACT RULE IN SENIOR BABE RUTH APPLIES AT ALL BASES. :
IT STATES THAT A PLAYER MUST ATTEMPT TO AVOID INTENTIONAL AND MALICIOUS CONTACT AT ALL BASES. THIS MEANS THAT A PLAYER DOES NOT HAVE TO SLIDE. THE MSHSL SLIDE RULE DOES NOT APPLY.
THE BABE RUTH RE-ENTRY RULE IN THE BABE RUTH RULES APPLIES. THE MSHSL RULE DOES NOT APPLY.
A TEAM MUST START WITH 9 PLAYERS, MAINTAIN 9 PLAYERS, AND END WITH 9 PLAYERS TO PLAY A REGULATION GAME. THE OPPOSING MANAGER MAY CALL A FORFEITURE OF THE GAME IF THE OPPOSING TEAM CAN NOT FIELD 9 PLAYERS BY FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE SCHEDULED START OF THE GAME OR IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIELD 9 PLAYERS THROUGHOUT THE GAME.
THE HOME TEAM MUST SUPPLY TWO NEW GAME BALL AT THE START OF THE GAME. EXTRA BALLS, IF NEEDED, NEED NOT BE NEW BALLS, BUT MUST BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE UMPIRE.
THE LEAGUE REQUIRES ALL PLAYERS, MANAGERS, SCOREKEEPERS, & BATBOYS TO BE IN FULL UNIFORM. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE DUGOUT. NO EXCEPTIONS. IF A TEAM IS UNABLE TO FIELD A COACH IN UNIFORM THE GAME WILL BE CALLED A FORFEIT.
NO SWEARING OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE ON THE PLAYING FIELD OR IN THE DUGOUTS WILL BE TOLERATED. THE UMPIRE MAY EJECT A PLAYER, MANAGER, OR COACH FOR VIOLATION OF THIS RULE. ANY PLAYER, COACH, FAN OR REPRESENTATIVE OF A TEAM EJECTED FROM A GAME NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER A GAME.
PROTESTS - POST SEASON ONLY. UMPIRE DECISIONS DURING REGULAR SEASON ARE FINAL UNLESS IT IS A WRONG RULING ON A LEAGUE RULE.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION, ANY UNSPORTSMAN LIKE ACTIVITY OR ANY ACTIVITY DETRIMENTAL TO BABE RUTH BASEBALL SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT IMMEDIATELY. THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT WILL REVIEW THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND HE WILL DETERMINE POSSIBLE DISCIPLINARY ACTION. DISCIPLINARY ACTION MAY INCLUDE FORFEITURE OF A GAME, SUSPENSION, EXPULSION FROM THE LEAGUE OR OTHER PENALTY DEEMED TO BE APPROPRIATE BY THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT. IF THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT DEEMS IT NECESSARY, HE WILL BRING THE INCIDENT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD FOR FURTHER ACTION.
TWO DOUBLE ROSTERED LEGION PLAYERS MAXIMUM WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE ON A SENIOR BABE RUTH ROSTER. ANY FURTHER NUMBER OF PLAYERS FOUND ON A ROSTER WILL DISQUALIFY THE TEAM FROM POST SEASON PLAY. ABSOLUTELY NO TOWN BALL OR AMATEUR PLAYERS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE SENIOR BABE RUTH.
Only TWO(2)PLAYERS ON A TEAM CAN DOUBLE ROSTER ON A 16 YEAR OLD TEAM OR DOUBLE ROSTER ON A LEGION TEAM .
USING ANY ILLEGAL PLAYERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY THE TEAM FROM POST SEASON PLAY.
FORFEITURES OF TWO GAMES OR MORE DURING LEAGUE PLAY, FOR ANY REASON WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY THE TEAM FROM POST SEASON PLAY.
ALL TEAMS MUST HAVE THE BABE RUTH PATCH SEWN ON THE UPPER LEFT SLEEVE OF THEIR TEAM JERSEY FOR ALL GAMES.ALL PLAYERS & COACHES MUST BE IN COMPLETE UNIFORM FOR ALL GAMES. ANY FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL CONSTITUTE AN AUTOMATIC FORFEIT.
PRIOR TO THE WINNER OF THE STATE TOURNAMENT ADVANCING TO THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT, EACH COACH LISTED ON YOUR OFFICIAL ROSTER MUST COMPLETE THE COACHING CERTIFICATION COURSE ON-LINE - A NEW REQUIREMENT RULE BY THE NATIONAL BABE RUTH LEAGUE. IT WILL COST $20 PER COACH TO COMPLETE AND IS GOOD FOR A LIFETIME.THE LEAGUE WILL NOT RE-IMBURSE COACHES FOR THIS FEE. IT IS UP TO THE TEAM, COACHES OR COMMUNITY TO COVER THIS COST.
THE LEAGUE IS ALSO ALLOWING A LIMITED NUMBER OF 15 YR. OLD SWING PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN 2010 ON A TRAIL BASIS. THE IDEAL SITUATION IS FOR PLAYERS THAT DO NOT TURN 16 UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER THE DEADLINE SET-FORTH BY THE NATIONAL BABE RUTH LEAGUE OF MAY 1st. OF THE CURRENT YEAR. THE FINIAL DECISION ON PLAYER ELIGIBILITY WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT. IT IS OUR #1 GOAL TO KEEP 15 YR. OLDS PLAYING WITH 15 YR. OLDS, BUT IN SOME CASES, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO MOVE UP TO THE SENIOR BABE RUTH. IT WILL BE DECIDED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. FOR THIS TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED, THE PALYER MUST HAVE WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM HIS 15 YR. OLD LEAGUE SENT TO THE SENIOR BABE RUTH LEAGUE PRESIDENT. THE METRO SENIOR BABE RUTH LEAGUE PRESIDENT WILL HAVE FINAL SAY ON WHETHER OR NOT A 15 YR. OLD SWING PLAYER WILL BE ALLOWED.
ANY PLAYERS PARTICIPATING THE METRO SENIOR BABE RUTH LEAGUE THIS SEASON wILL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE SELECTED ONTO THE METRO SENIOR BABE RUTH LEAGUE/CONNIE MACK ALL-STAR TEAM. THIS TEAM WILL BE MADE UP OF PLAYERS SELECTED TO PLAY IN A REGIONAL TOURNAMENT, FROM JULY 27th - JULY 31st. NO PLAYERS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE WINNER OF THE 2011 SENIOR BABE RUTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. THAT TEAM WILL TRAVEL INTACT TO THE SENIOR BABE RUTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT.
IT IS THE REPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNING TEAM TO NOTIFY THE WEBSITE DIRECTOR, WARREN OLSON, AFTER EVERY GAME ON THE OUTCOME. THIS MAY BE DONE VIA E-MAIL TO MSBRLEAGUE@MSN.COM - GO TO THE NEWS SECTION FOR AN EMAIL LINK OR CALL 612-701-4442 - - AFTER 7:00 PM. THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE WINNING TEAM AFTER EVERY GAME. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT TOURNAMENTS SCORES SHOULD ALSO BE REPORTED, IT WOULD ALSO BE A VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE TEAM ADVANCING TO REGIONALS AND THE WORLD SERIES TO REPORT THEIR SCORES.
ANY COACH THAT COACHED FIRST OR THIRD BASE MUST WEAR A HELMET. THE LEAGUE MANDATES THAT IT MUST BE AN APPROVED BASEBALL HELMET. NO EARS, ONE EAR OR TWO EARED ALLOWED. ANY PLAYER THAT COACHES FIRST OR THIRD BASE MUST WEAR A REGULATION BATTING HELMET TO COACH FOR THESE BASES - TWO EARED. ANY COACH REFUSING TO DO SO, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE ON THE FIELD UNTIL HE/SHE DOES SO. TOY PLASTIC HELMETS ARE NOT ALLOWED. ANY PLAYER TATE COACHES FIRST OR THIRD BAST MUST WEAR A REGULATION BATTING HELMET-(TWO-EARS). ANY COACH REFUSING TO DO SO, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE ON THE FIELD UNTIL HE/SHE WEARS SUCH HELMET.
***** IMPORTANT!
ANY TEAM THAT FORFIETS A GAME, WILL BE REPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE UMPIRE & FIELD USAGE FEE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY FORFIETED TO IF ANY. THE TEAM THAT RECEIVES THE FORFIET SHOULD CONTACT YOUR DIVISION HEAD AND BEGIN THE PROCESS. IF THE FORFEITING TEAM HAS NOT PAID THE UMPIRE & FIELD USAGE FEES BY THE BEGINNING OF POST SEASON, THEN THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POST SEASON.ANY TEAM THAT REQUIRES TO RESCHEDULE A GAME MUST GIVE A MINIMUM OF 24 HOUR NOTICE TO A TEAM. PLEASE USE COMMON COURTESY AND GIVE AS MUCH NOTICE AS POSSIBLE!
