All players are expected to act in a manner that is consistent with the
standards exemplified by first-rate athletic organizations, such as the NCAA,
MIAA, and American Legion baseball. The
SMBL will not tolerate disregard for the high standards that are expected from
all participants.
In order to play in the SMBL, all players must agree
to abide by the following general guidelines as well as sign this release,
stating that they agree to these rules.
(It is the responsibility of the team manager to collect and hand in
these signed waivers to the league Director of Player Eligibility.)
Specific
types of behavior that are prohibited by the code of conduct:
·
Inappropriate or foul language directed at another player,
umpire, or spectator or within the hearing range of spectators or newspaper
reporters. (Minimum One Game Suspension)
·
Physical threats made to an umpire, player, or spectator. (Minimum
Three Game Suspension, plus further review)
·
Physical Contact – Such as bumping/pushing. (Minimum One
Game Suspension, plus further review)
·
Intimidating any player or Umpire (Minimum One Game
Suspension, plus further review)
·
Unsportsmanlike Conduct – such as throwing equipment, or
directing negative comments towards the opposition. Trash talking is also not allowed.
·
Constant or re-occurring complaining about calls or umpire
performance. Respectfully questioning a
call is acceptable, but any grievances with umpires cannot be directed at the
umpire in question or the umpire in chief.
Those issues must be communicated with the League Director of Umpires.
All teams and players will have
the opportunity to address any issues that they feel need to be reviewed, at
the rules meeting prior to the season.
Once the season starts, arguing about league rules or policies to league
board members or umpires is unacceptable.
(The SMBL 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 SMBL.)
1.
The league board of directors 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.
If a player not involved in a play, leaves the dugout or
coaches box to argue a play, he will be automatically ejected and suspend for
one game. Managers are the only team
members allowed to come out of the dugout or coaches box to argue, all
players must remain in the dugout.
Shouting at the umpire from the dugout is also not allowed and is cause
for immediate ejection.
3. An umpire has sole
discretion to eject any player or manager from a game. Anyone ejected must immediately leave the
playing field. Any further disruption
from an ejected player will result in an automatic one game suspension.
4. Fighting among
players, or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated. Players ejected from a game for either
violation will be subject to suspension from the league board of officers.
5. Verbal Abuse of umpires will not be tolerated. Yelling, threatening, or intimidation are
prohibited Players who exhibit this
type of behavior will be subject to disciplinary actions from the league
commissioner.
6. 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 SMBL game that he is not involved in.
Any team that does not live up
to the code of conduct will not be allowed to continue their membership in the
league. The board of directors will
make the final decision on the membership status of any offending team. Membership can be revoked at any time.
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 league board of directors.
2. Any player ejected from 3 games
in a season will be subject to further disciplinary action from the league
board of officers. This could include
suspension or the possibility of being banned for the season or longer.
3.
If in the umpires’ judgment, a pitcher intentionally throws at a hitter,
that pitcher will be ejected from the game.
1. BATS: All
players must use wood bats, or wood composite bats. Metal bats are not allowed.
Bar specifications must also comply with the standards of Major League
Baseball.
2.
GAME BASEBALLS:
Diamond DOL-A baseballs or Diamond D-1 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 and runners must
wear helmets while at bat and on base.
4. CATCHERS: Catchers are also required to wear shin guards, a
chest protector, a face mask and a helmet (skull cap).
5. PITCHERS: Pitchers CANNOT
wear batting gloves under their fielders glove, or undershirts with white
sleeves. Pitchers also cannot wear
anything that is intended to distract hitters.
V. 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 a 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.
Home Team:
Responsible for:
·
Putting out bases
before a game and putting bases away after the game.
·
Turning on the
lights before or during a game.
·
Turning off the
lights after the game
·
Raking batters boxes,
catchers box, and pitchers mound.
2. Players, Scorekeepers, and Coaches are
the only people who are allowed in the dugout.
3. Each team is responsible for cleaning
their dugout at the end of each game.
LAFAYETTE
PARK GROUND RULES
·
A ball hit over the fence in right or center field is a home
run.
·
A ball hit into the trees in center field will be ruled a
home run.
·
An
imaginary line stretching from the end of the fence along the first and third
base lines will determine if a foul ball is in play. Any ball on the opposite side of that imaginary line is out of
play.
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 - umpires
discretion
4.
A new inning cannot start after 10:45 pm.
(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: Playoffs 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 bottom of inning. If the 10 run lead is still intact at the
conclusion of the inning, the game is considered final.)
7. 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 minute 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.
- DOUBLE
FORFEITS: If neither team has
enough players
(after the 15 minute time limit) the game
will be ruled a double forfeit. Both
teams will get credited with a LOSS for that game. EXCEPTION: The league
board of directors can overrule the double forfeit, in this case the game will
be rescheduled to later date.
The forfeiting team will be responsible for playing both umpires, one
half of a full fee. The winning team in
a forfeited game does not have to pay any umpires fees for that game.
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 board of directors will rule on all protests
A manager may choose one of three
types of lineup structures at the beginning of each game:
1.
9 Man Batting Order with No DH
2.
9 Man Batting Order with DH (One position player does not
bat)
3.
10 Man Batting Order with DH (All Position players and 1 DH
bat)
The DH will be considered the same
as a defensive position for the purpose of in-game position switches.
Note on 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.
All
managers are responsible for controlling their players and fans.
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.
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.