2010 FRIBL Rule Book
•1) Eligibility
All players aged 20 and over are eligible to play in the Fall River Independent Baseball League. For 2010, players must be at least 20 years old as of December 31, 2010.
2) League Code of Conduct
All teams and players will have the opportunity to address any issues that they feel need to be reviewed, at the meetings prior to the season. Once the season starts, arguing about league rules or policies to league board members or umpires is unacceptable. (The FRIBL has made every effort to install regulations that provide a level playing field for all teams and players. However, it is important to note that all rules and policies are set with the best interest of the league as a whole in mind. For anyone that does not agree to this code of conduct, the only option is to terminate their affiliation with the FRIBL.
•1) The league director has the right to suspend or ban 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.
•2) Beer or any type of alcohol is not allowed at any city field. If a player or team is caught drinking on city grounds, before, during or after a game they will be automatically suspended and possibly removed from their team's active roster. This policy must also be followed by any player attending an FRIBL game that he is not involved in.
•3) Any team that does not live up to the code of conduct will not be allowed to continue their membership in the league. The director will make the final decision on the membership status of any offending team. Membership can be revoked at any time.
•4) All players and coaches must sign a Code of Conduct form in order to play in the league.
5) All Fees must be paid in full one week prior to Opening Day.
•3) Game Ejections
•1) Any player who is ejected from a game must immediately and quietly leave the field and the area around the field. If the player remains in the general vicinity of the playing field and refuses to leave, the umpire has the option of calling the game and declaring the game a forfeit for the offending players' team. A player guilty of this rule violation will be subject to suspension by the director.
•2) Umpires will report any ejections to the director for future discipline. Umpires discretion for more than a one game suspension.
4) Equipment
•1) Bats: All players must use wood bat. Metal bats are not allowed. Bar specifications must also comply with the standards of Major League Baseball.
•2) Game Baseballs: Diamond D-1 OL (or same quality) baseballs will be used for all league games.
•A) The home team will supply balls for all league games. If at any point during the game the umpire requires additional baseballs, the home team manager must supply the umpire with extra baseballs. If the home team runs out of umpire approved game balls, the visiting team will be awarded a forfeit win.
•3) Helmets: All batters, coaches (in the coaches' box), and runners must wear helmets while at bat and on base.
5) Uniforms
All Teams must have matching hats, jerseys, and baseball pants. There are no exceptions to this rule. If a player is out of uniform he cannot enter the game. Umpires will be instructed to monitor non-compliance and eject any players that are not in full uniform. All managers must make sure all players are aware of the league uniform policy.
6) Field & Ground Rules
Home Team: Responsible for:
•1) Putting out bases before a game and putting bases away after the game.
•2) Turning on lights before or during a game
•3) Turning off the lights after the game.
•4) Raking batters boxes, catchers box, and pitchers mound
•5) Players, Scorekeepers, and Coaches are the only people who are allowed in the dugout.
•6) Each team is responsible for cleaning their dugouts at the end of each game.
•7) The home and visitor team must put 2 baseballs each to start the game. After the start of the game home team will put the first ball in and rotate with the visitor team throughout the game.
7) Game Length, Run Rule, Rainouts, Forfeits
•1) All games will consist of 7 innings of regulation.
•2) Darkness - 5 innings complete for official game - umpires discretion
•3) Rain - 5 innings complete for official game - umpire discretion
•4) A new inning cannot start after 10:30 pm. Games must end at 11pm
(If home team is in the lead, the game is official upon the completion of the top of the 5th inning. If the visiting team is ahead the game is official upon completion of the bottom of the 5th inning.)
Play-off games: Playoff games will be subject to the same rules as regular season games.
•5) Mercy Rule: If there is a 10-run difference at the end of 5 innings, or at any point after that (provided that the team behind has batted as many times as the team ahead), the game will be ruled final at this point. (Example: If the visiting team takes a 10 run lead in the top of the sixth, the home team will still be allowed to bat in the bottom of the inning. If the 10-run lead is still intact at the conclusion of the inning, the game is considered final.)
•6) Forfeit Procedure: If a team does not have a minimum of 9 players at the scheduled game time that team will be allowed a 15 minutes grace period. At the end of this 15-minute time period if that team still does not have enough players the game will be ruled a forfeit. The team that won by forfeit will be credited for one game played for each player.
•A) Double Forfeits: If neither team has enough players (after 15 minute time limit) the game will be ruled a double forfeit. Both teams will get credited with a LOSS for that game.
•B) The first team forfeit will result in no league discipline
•C) The second team forfeit will result in a review with team mangers at a meeting to discuss future discipline action/actions taken by that team.
•D) The third team forfeit will result in an immediately suspension for the remainder of the season and a manager meeting at the end of the year to discuss future of reinstating the team for the following year. (The suspended team will not be reimbursed of team fees.)
7) Games can be postponed to inclined weather, man-made obstacles and conditions, or through director.
8) Protests
No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment decisions by the umpire. Whenever a manager protests a game because of alleged misapplication of the rules the protest will not be recognized unless the umpires are notified at the time the play under protest occurs and before the next pitch is made or a runner is retired. The league director will rule on all protests.
•9) Lineups & Substitions
A manager may choose either type of lineup structures at the beginning of each game:
•1) 9 man batting order (no DH)
•2) 9 man batting order (with DH in place of pitcher)
3) 10 man batting order (with EH)
4) 10 man batting order (with DH for pitcher and EH)
Note: EH will be considered the same as a defensive position for the purpose of in-game position switches.
Note of 10 man batting orders: If a player is injured and there are no available substitutes remaining, the injured players' batting position is removed from the lineup and the game continues with a 9 man batting order.
Re-Entry Rule
A substituted player may re-enter the game, provided he returns to his original spot in the batting order. Once a player is placed in the batting order, he must remain in that spot for the duration of the game. A player can only re-enter a game once. If a player is removed from the game a second time, he is not eligible for re-entry.
•10) Manager Guidelines & Player responsibilities
•1) All mangers are responsible for controlling their players and fans.
•2) All managers must abide by all league rules and do their best to uphold the integrity of the league. Managers should lead by example, and do their best to stop any arguments, confrontations or other situations that involve their players and keep them from escalating into brawls.
•3) Players are responsible for controlling any fans that they bring to a game, practice, or any other league function. Players will be held accountable for the behavior of attending fans.
•11) Team Rosters
•1) Teams must hand in opening day roster prior to opening day
•2) Rosters must have a minimum of 12 players, with a maximum of 20.
•3) Teams may add players to their rosters at any time. All paperwork must be given to the Director for approval, before they are added to the official rosters.
•4) Managers are responsible for proof of age. Additions to the roster after that date must go through the Director. Any player added with Director consent will be ruled eligible. The offending team also may be forced to take a loss for any game that an ineligible player was used.
•5) Any new player must sign appropriate paperwork and must be put on-line.
•6) Playoff Eligibility
•a) Players must play in one third of the regular season games, in order to play in the playoffs.
12) Trades
Trading players during the season is not allowed.
•13) Off-Season Player Movement
All players are free to switch teams from one season to the next.
•14) "Unsportsmanlike Behavior"
Any incident in which a player is ejected from a game for un-sportsmanlike conduct, or is reprimanded by an umpire will be reviewed by the league director. The Director will then determine if additional disciplinary action will be taken.
•15) Post Season Format
Note: Brackets are not re-seeded between rounds.
First Round: (Best of Three)
1st Place Team vs 8th Place Team
(1st Place Team is home in Games 1& 3)
2nd Place Team vs 7th Place Team
(2nd Place Team is home in Games 1 & 3)
3rd Place Team vs 6th Place Team
(3rd Place Team is home in Games 1 & 3)
4th Place Team vs 5th Place Team
(4th Place Team is home in Games 1 & 3)
Semi-Finals: (Best of Three)
1st/8th vs 4th/5th Place Team
(Higher Seed is home in Games 1 & 3)
2nd/7th vs 3rd/6th Place Team
(Higher Seed is home in Games 1 & 3)
Finals: (Best of Five)
For the Finals, the team that finished higher in the regular season will be the home team for games 1, 2, and 5.
Tie Breaker Protocol
If 2, 3, or 4 teams are tied for the same position in the standings, other then 1st place, at the conclusion of the regular season, the following tie-breakers will be in effect;
•1) Head to Head Record
•2) Coin Flip ( 2 Teams)
•3) Random Draw (3 or more Teams)
If the tie is for 1st place or 8th place, a one game playoff will be played to determine the regular season title winner or 8th place finisher.
•16) Stat Tracking & Game Result Reporting
Coaches are responsible for tracking their team's stats and turning them into the Web/Stats Coordinator to be updated on league web-site.
Both teams must report the score of a game to the Web/Stats Coordinator .
