CHANGES FOR 2008 IN - RED
METRO SENIOR BABE RUTH
LEAGUE RULES
2008 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 MAY 26th, 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 ORMAY 26th, 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 8th - 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 2008 THE DATE JULY 8th, 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 13th. THIS MEANS THAT THE COMPLETED REGULAR SEASON AND DISTRICT PLAYOFFS MUST BE COMPLETED BY JULY 13th.ALL TEAMS ADVANCING TO THE POST SEASON MUST ATTEND A CREDENTIAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAYJULY 9th, 2008.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 THE RICHFIELD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.
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 PLAYOFFSS AND STATE TOURNAMENT.
RULE 9.0
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR POST SEASON PLAY, A PLAYER MUST APPEAR IN ½ 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.
- DESIGNATED HITTER IS ALLOWED FOR THE 2008 REGULAR SEASON. IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED DURING THE 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 1½ INNINGS IF THE HOME TEAM IS AHEAD.
- LEAGUE WILL ADHERE TO THE 3 OZ. BAT RULE.
- 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.
- PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DOUBLE ROSTER BETWEEN TIER I & TIER II RESPECTIVELY. THEY MUST PARTICIPATE ON ONLY ONE METRO SR. BABE RUTH TEAM. PLAYERS CAN DOUBLE ROSTER ON A 16 YEAR OLD TEAM OR DOUBLE ROSTER ON A LEGION TEAM (2).
- 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.
- ***** IMPORTANT! - CHANGE FOR THE 2008 SEASON ********
- 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 2008 ON A TRAIL BASIS. THE IDEAL SITUATION IS FOR PLAYERS THAT DO NOT TURN 16 UNTILL SHORTLY AFTER THE DEADLINE SET-FORTH BY THE NATIONAL BAABE 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 SILL 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 THE CONNIE MACK REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IN BATTLE CREEK, MI, FROM JULY 23rd - JULY 27th. NO PLAYERS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE WINNER OF THE 2008 SENIOR BABE RUTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. THAT TEAM WILL TRAVEL INTACT TO THE SENIOR BABE RUTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT.
- FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE METRO SENIOR BABE RUTH LEAGUE WILL AWARD A $500 SCHOLARSHIP TO THE GRADUATING SENIOR PLAYER THAT IS ABLE TO WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING WHAT BABEBALL AND THE SENIOR BABE RUTH HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR THEM.
- IT IS THE REPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNING TEAM TO NOTIFY THE WEBSITE DIRECTOR, WARREN OLSON, AFTER EVERY GAME ON TH OUTCOME. THIS MAY BE DONE VIS E-MAIL TO MSBRLEAGUE@MSN.COM. THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE WINNING TEAM AFTER EVERY GAME. IT IS ALSO IMSPORTANT 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.
03/02/08
