1          RULES

1.2    A majority vote of the Board of Directors is needed to add, delete or amend league rules as the need arises. All players will be notified of the changes by their manager. 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, O.T.B. schedules all games on Sunday mornings exclusive of the following holidays: Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

2          CONDUCT

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. In addition, conduct during OTB/NOTB games could result in suspension or expulsion in NOTB/OTB as determined by the Board of Directors.

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 B.O.D. or designated committee will review and resolve such claims within five (5) days. Claims for review must be submitted by the player to the league President 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 - minimum two (2) game suspension
• Three (3) ejections - seasonal expulsion with return to OTB pending approval of B.O.D.

2.4    If an infielder decoys a tag, only the runner will be entitled to advance one (1) base. If a fielder decoys a runner by faking a tag, the fielder decoying the tag will be automatically 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.

3.    This rule applies to defensive players as well.

a) If it is judged a defensive player caused the collision, no warning shall be issued to the batter/runner. The defensive player shall receive a warning on the first offense and ejection on subsequent offense. Malicious or egregious conduct resulting in a collision is grounds for immediate ejection.

Penalty: If, in the umpire’s judgment, 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.

2.6    If a pitcher hits four (4) batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed AS PITCHER on the fourth hit batsman. Umpire has discretion to eject any pitcher, if in his judgment, pitcher intentionally throws at batter, not withstanding his 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    Each year, new applicants will be eligible for the draft according to the order of the receipt of applications. 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. In order to maintain fairness and opportunity, the league will not publish the number of players on a waiting list. If a manager has a need for a player, the manager will make a request for a player.

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

3.4    Any player may submit their name for consideration in the draft. A player may switch teams after completion of the draft with the approval of the board.

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. Please refer to Major League rules for further clarification, including forfeiture of the game.

3.6    As authorized by the Board of Directors, 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    In order for a player to qualify and participate in his team’s playoffs, a player must be on the team’s official roster no later than July 15th. In addition, a player must play in at least 50% of regular season games regardless of reason of absence. Players failing to meet the requirements due to extenuating circumstances or a documented injury may make a written request for reconsideration to the Board of Directors.

4          PLAYING TIME, POSITIONS, AVAILABILITY

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 they are 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 is skipped, and all batters moved 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 four completed (4) innings on the field. Any player not present at the start of the game will have those innings missed deducted from the four (4) inning minimum. A completed inning is defined as the player being on the field for (3) defensive outs. Therefore, a player must be on the field for a minimum of (12) 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.

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.

5          COMPLETED GAMES / PROTESTS

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. This rule will not pertain to playoff play.

5.3    After three (3) 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. Ties are considered as a final and completed game during the regular season. During the playoffs, games will be played until there is a winner.

5.4    Rainouts can be played to completion only if the schedule includes makeup dates or if approved by the Board of Directors.

5.5    All protests should be lodged verbally with the League President within twenty four (24) hours. All protests should be submitted in writing to the League President within seventy two (72) hours. All protests shall be decided by the Over Thirty Baseball, Inc. Board of Directors consisting of the League Officers, Directors, and team managers. Any board member whose team is involved with a protest will have no vote in the decision. In case of a deadlock, the 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

6.1.1    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 board 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. Players warming up a pitcher must wear a mask. At all times, throat guards must be worn with masks.

6.3    Only league-approved baseballs will be permitted for league play. Each team must bring three (3) baseballs to each game.

6.4    Effective for the 2005 season, baseball bats with a length-to-weight differential of no greater than minus three (-3) will be allowed. Any batter using an illegal bat will be ejected from the game. Any board-approved change in structure or differential will be made with the contingency that its implementation will be one (1) year from the date of the board-approved change.

6.5    All baseball cleats are permitted in league games.

7          ADMINISTRATIVE

7.1   Teams must report results of games and statistics within seventy two (72) hours of the completion of the game.

7.2   The home team of the All-Star game shall alternate between the American League and the National League each year.