1     RULES

1.1    Over Thirty Baseball, Inc. and its NOTB division adopts as its official baseball rules the Official Major League Baseball Rules. Any exceptions to these rules are listed herein. Members failing to abide by these are subject to suspension, expulsion or game forfeits as decided by the Board of Directors.

1.2    A majority vote of the NOTB Committee is needed to add, delete or amend league rules as the need arises. A revised copy of the rules will be available to each league member, each year, at the time of registration.

1.3    Except for extenuating circumstances or special events including rainouts, NOTB schedules all games on weeknights exclusive of the following holidays: Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

2     CONDUCT

2.1    There will be no alcoholic beverages permitted before, during, or after the game within the confines of the playing field. Also, smoking is prohibited within the playing area or within the vicinity of the playing area. The use of profanity is not allowed within the playing area or within the vicinity of the playing area.

2.2    Unsportsmanlike conduct is strictly prohibited. The penalty for a player involved in such an altercation can be any of the following: warning, reprimand, suspension, season expulsion, or permanent expulsion. Each team is responsible for the conduct of its players and supporters. Should this become a problem, the responsible team is subject to forfeiture at the discretion of the umpire. Conduct issues, including making false statements, are inclusive of all related areas and events associated with OTB, such as website use, meetings, etc.

Define Infractions:

Minor Infractions, e.g.:

• Unsportmanslike conduct
• Abusive language or harassment of players or umpires
• Violation of Official Baseball or OTB rule which warrant ejection
• Repetitive minor infractions may warrant suspension or expulsion

Major Infractions, e.g.:

• Flagrant verbal or physical abuse by a player or manager
• Assault and battery on players, managers, or any member of the umpiring crew before, during, or after a game
• Failing to leave the playing field or designated area after an ejection by the umpire, causing additional unsportmanslike conduct and forfeiture of a game. If found responsible for such an act no less than one (1) game suspension

2.3    Any player or manager ejected by the umpire from a game is automatically suspended for the next scheduled game. A suspended player must immediately leave the playing area and the vicinity of the playing area and not return until his suspension is completed. To lift a suspension, the ejected player/manager has the burden of providing information to show their ejection was not warranted. The NOTB Committee will review and resolve such claims within five (5) days. Claims for review must be submitted to the NOTB Committee within twelve (12) hours of ejection. A successful claim will not count as an official ejection.

Multiple ejections within any three (3) year period will result in additional suspended games as follows:

• One (1) ejection - minimum one (1) game suspension
• Two (2) ejections - seasonal expulsion with return to NOTB pending approval of NOTB Committee

2.4    If an infielder decoys a tag, only the runner will be entitled to advance one (1) base. If the same fielder decoys twice in a game, he will be ejected from the game. Decoying is referred to where a player on base slides unnecessarily due to a decoyed tag. Any preceding runner(s) forced to advance by the award of one (1) base for the penalty of decoying shall advance without liability to be out.

2.5    When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who is clearly 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) or:

2.    Whether the runner actually was attempting to reach the base (plate) or attempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder.

Penalty: If, in the umpire’s judgement, the runner

a) could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or
b) was attempting to dislodge the ball,

The runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball shall be declared dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. If ruled deliberate by the umpire, it may result in the player’s ejection from the game.

Note: This rule is adopted from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association collision rule word-for-word.

2.6    If a pitcher hits three (3) batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the third hit batsman. This rule does not supersede normal umpire’s discretion under Major League Rules.

2.7    The Hidden Ball Play can be executed only when the pitcher is completely off the pitching circle (i.e., both feet on the grass of the infield).

3     ELIGIBILITY COMMITMENT

3.2    All properly completed registrations received before the deadline shall be accepted for consideration in our draft. The annual draft will be conducted in a manner to allow parity, fairness, and an opportunity for all teams to field all positions with priority given to returning ballplayers. Returning players who enter the draft will be drafted and placed on another team and will not return to their original team. If a manager is shorthanded and has a need for a substitute player, the manager will refer to the current waitlist provided to all managers. (Managers should try not to continuously use the same waitlist sub player. The intent here is to encourage all wait list players to remain on the list.)

3.3    Dates for submission of final rosters will be decided by the NOTB Committee. There will be absolutely no changes permitted afterward without the approval of the NOTB Committee.

3.4    Any player may submit their name for consideration in the draft, however a maximum of 25% of league players may be non-OTB players. These may include new players, former OTB players or players on the OTB waiting list, etc. There is one exception to this rule: If the remaining balance of available OTB players is insufficient to fill all roster spots, non-OTB players may be drafted to fill these spots. All properly completed registrations received before the deadline shall be accepted for consideration in our draft. A player may switch teams, after completion of the draft, with the approval of the NOTB Committee. (This rule is intended to reduce the risk of players leaving OTB to play in NOTB.)

3.5    Teams must have nine (9) players to start an official game. A team cannot complete a game with less than eight (8) players. Managers may allow a player from opposing team to fill in positions when necessary.

3.6    As authorized by the NOTB Committee, any player missing two (2) consecutive games without prior notification is subject to expulsion for the remainder of the season. Any player missing four (4) games, with or without prior notification, is subject to expulsion for the remainder of the season. Furthermore, the player involved is not entitled to any refund. If such an expelled player decides to return to the league the following year, he shall not be treated as a returning player. His application will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

3.7    Player substitutions are allowed as follows: If a player on a team’s roster cannot attend a game, he may allow another player either from a waiting list or from another team to play in his absence, pending approval of the manager(s) and NOTB Committee.

4     PLAYING TIME, POSITIONS, AVAILABILITY

4.1    A pitcher may pitch no more than a total of four (4) innings per week.

4.2    Pitchers may not wear apparel which can be deemed as a distraction during the game (i.e. wrist bands, bright pitching sleeve, shining objects).

4.3    Each manager will bat all players present at the start of the game. The manager will add players who arrive late to the bottom of the lineup as soon as he is ready to play.

4.4    Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over unless physically unable to swing, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game. If a player is forced to leave the game for any reason, that spot will be skipped and all batters move up accordingly with no penalty to the affected team. If a player misses his turn at bat for whatever reason but wishes to continue batting, an out will be charged at the time of the missed turn at bat.

4.5    All players able to play must play at least three (3) innings on the field. Any player not present at the start of the game will have those innings missed deducted from the three (3) inning minimum. A completed inning is defined as the player being on the field for three (3) defensive outs. Therefore, a player must be on the field for a minimum of nine (9) defensive outs per game, unless the player arrived late or leaves early, and any defensive outs made in his absence shall be deducted from the minimum.

If it is determined that any individual has failed to play at least three (3) defensive innings in any game, as is defined by league rules, then such matter shall be brought to the attention of the Board for review and possible action, in the discretion of the Board. Such action may include written warning, forfeiture of game(s) won in which such a violation of the rule is deemed to have occurred and/or suspension. A formal protest is not required in order to enforce the provisions of this rule.

4.6    A player who needs a courtesy runner, due to injury factors only, must have his manager notify the opposing manager before game time. If not so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request during the game. Each team will be allowed the maximum of two (2) courtesy runners at the start of each game. The player to make the last batted out must be the courtesy pinch-runner unless it is the first inning of a game and no player has made an out. In this case, the last batter in the order shall be the courtesy runner. In the event a player becomes injured during a game, a manager may add to the number of courtesy runners for each injured player. (As an additional option to this rule, pitchers and catchers, if the last batted out, may be skipped as courtesy runners with the previous batted out running.)

4.7    Pitchers and catchers shall be allowed a pinch-runner when there are two (2) outs in an inning. The runner has to be substituted before the next batter comes up to bat. The pinch runner shall be the player who made the last batted out.

4.8    A player may initiate a request to his manager to only hit and not play the field. The manager may name him as a designated hitter (DH). Such player must be designated prior to the game. There may only be one DH per game and he MAY NOT enter the game to play the field once designated. All other players are subject to rule 4.5 who are playing in that game. Notwithstanding the requirements of this rule, if any player is injured during a game and has to leave that game, resulting in a shortage of remaining players for that team, then the player designated as the DH may enter the game for defensive purposes. For the purposes of this rule, a "shortage of remaining players" shall mean fewer than 8 players eligible to play, not counting the player designated as the DH.

5     COMPLETED GAMES / PROTESTS

5.1    All games are seven (7) innings. It is at the umpires’ discretion to call the game in the event of darkness or inclement weather. No games shall be made up or completed at another time unless approved by the managers and NOTB Committee. All players are expected to be at their respective games at least thirty (30) minutes before the start. The visiting team will take the field twenty five (25) minutes before the start of the game for ten (10) minutes of practice. The home team will take the field fifteen (15) minutes before the start of the game for ten (10) minutes of practice, with the ground rules taking place five (5) minutes before the start of the game.

5.2    A game will be considered final when the home team has a fifteen (15) run lead after 4-1/2 innings and two (2) completed hours of play. A game will be considered final when the visiting team has a fifteen (15) run lead after five (5) full innings and two (2) completed hours of play. If the two (2) hour time limit has not been reached, the home team must have its last chance at bat in any inning after the 5th and after the two (2) hour time limit.

5.3    After two (2) hours and thirty (30) minutes from the start of a game, the teams may not begin a new inning. The game will be ruled final at this point.

5.4    Rainouts may be made up during the season if field availability allows it. Any potential makeup date will be approved by the NOTB Committee.

5.5    All protests should be lodged verbally with the OTB President within twenty four (24) hours. All protests should be submitted in writing to the OTB President within seventy two (72) hours. All protests shall be decided by the NOTB Committee. Any NOTB committee member whose team is involved with a protest will have no vote in the decision. In the case of a deadlock, the OTB President’s vote will be the deciding vote. The B.O.D. will modify this process for specific games during the season as the need arises.

6     EQUIPMENT / UNIFORM

6.1    All teams must have full baseball uniforms.

6.1.1   No player without a uniform will be allowed to play without the opposing manager’s consent. A full uniform is defined as hat, pants, shirt and socks. Also, no alterations to the uniform without NOTB Committee approval.

6.1.2    Every effort must be made for teams to have their uniforms by the first game.

6.2    All batters and runners must have helmets; there is no exception to this rule. Dual- or single-flap helmets are mandatory when batting and helmets are required for the bases. Catchers are also required to wear a helmet beneath their mask.

6.3    Only league-approved baseballs will be permitted for league play. Each team must bring five (5) baseballs to each game.

6.4    Baseball bats with a length-to-weight differential of no greater than three (3) will be used at all NOTB-sanctioned games. In addition, at least one third (1/3) of all scheduled games will be designated wood bat games only. Wood bat games will be clearly designated when the schedule is approved. Any batter using an illegal bat will be ejected from the game.

6.5    All baseball cleats are permitted in league games.

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