Blue LEAGUE ONLY RULES
Revised February 6, 2007
1. SUBSTITUTE RUNNER
a. A substitute runner may be used at any base. Players may act as a substitute runner only once an inning and twice per game. Managers MUST designate on their line-up cards which players will need a runner. Only those designated on line-up cards may have a runner unless a runner gets injured during the game.
2. PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS
a. If at least 11 roster players report to a game, no substitute players can be used.
b. Substitutes will be chosen first from the Blue Division Subs list and second from any Blue Division team, only if there are no subs available on the Sub list.
c. Players on active rosters may only substitute once per week and TWICE per team. Pitchers may substitute TWICE per week and TWICE per team.
d. Players on the Sub list may only substitute three times per week and twice per team.
e. Players who violate this rule will be suspended from substituting for the next two (2) weeks in which games are scheduled. Managers who violate this rule face forfeiture of the game.
f. Substitutes, no matter how selected, must be rated at the same rating as the player being replaced or have a higher rating number with no limit. (Example: a player rated 3.6 may be substituted for by a player rated from 3.6 to 5.0) Pitchers may be substituted for by any Blue League pitcher, regardless of rating number only if the designated pitcher for that team is not playing that day. If the designated pitcher wishes to play a position other than pitcher due to the absence created by another player being absent, then the sub rule on ratings must be followed replacing the absent player, not the pitcher. A player rated 3.0 may be replaced by a roster player rated 2.55 -3.0. A player rated 4.1 – 4.5 may be replaced with a player rated 4.0 – 4.5.
g. If a player who is expected to play fails to arrive at the field by game start his manager may elect to pick a substitute from the stands. If the player arrives before the end of the first inning, he/she will be allowed to play, the substitute player must be informed of this when he/she is picked. The rule on ratings will be applied.
h. Substitutes must be assigned to the bottom of the batting order.
i. A maximum of five (5) substitutes can be used by a single team in one game.
j. When a substitute player has been booked to replace a roster player, the roster player is technically not on the team roster the day of the game. If both the roster player and the sub arrive for the game, the roster player will not be permitted to play. If the roster player informs the manager that his/her availability has changed and the roster player will be able to play, and the manager is informed the night before the game, or several hours before the game, the manager is to contact the sub to advise him/her of the change in need, and is to confirm to the roster player that the roster player can now play. If a manager is unable to contact the sub before the game, the sub will play and the roster player will not.
3. UMPIRES
a. Two (2) Blue Division umpires are to be assigned per game.
4. CANCELLATIONS
a. One or more Commissioners may decide to cancel play due to weather conditions, field conditions, or other reasons. Such cancelled games will not be replayed unless they are scheduled in the last 2 weeks of the season AND will affect the Division Championship. Games will be replayed during the period between the two (2) halves or between the appropriate winter/spring/summer leagues and will have priority over other uses of the field , such as tournament play, tryouts, etc.
5. RUNNING BASES
a. Any runner who deliberately attempts to run into the fielder who is covering a base or home plate or attempting to field a ball shall automatically be declared out.
6. HOME PLATE
a. When a runner is running to the secondary Home Plate, the runner must either run across the secondary Home Plate or to the right side of it. Under no circumstances may the runner run between the 2 Home Plates or touch the Batter’s Home Plate, he/she will be called “out” by the umpire.
7. EXCHANGE OF ROSTERS
a. Rosters must be provided to the Home Plate Umpire and exchanged between managers prior to each game indicating players who require runners and any substitute players and who they are subbing for with their ratings.
8. SCORE KEEPER
a. Will be assigned by each team per the schedule. If a player is unable to act as score keeper, the player is responsible for finding a replacement. Managers are responsible to see that someone from their team keeps score on their assigned days.
9. CLOCK
Games are scheduled for seven (7) innings or 75 minutes in length. At the sixty (60) minute mark, the score keeper or field umpire will be responsible to notify the Home Plate Umpire. The Home Plate Umpire will then notify the managers as follows:
a. If a game is between innings, the start of the new inning will be the last inning and the unlimited run rule will apply.
b. If an inning has already started, the following inning will be the last inning and the unlimited run rule will apply.
c. In the even the score is tied after the last inning, each team will start the succeeding inning with a runner on second base. The runner will be the last out of the previous inning. A team may not score more than five (5) runs in this extra inning.
d. In the event the game is still tied, each team will be credited with half (1/2) a win.
10. INJURED PLAYERS
a. If a player is injured during a game and must come out of the game due to the injury, that player is NOT an automatic out in the batting lineup.
b. If, because of that player’s injury, his/her team falls below the minimum of nine (9) required players and both manager’s agree, the other team may provide a catcher or a substitute Blue League player may be obtained from the stands with no respect to ratings. This would keep a team from forfeiting due to unforeseen circumstances.