2007 A.S.M.B.A. House League Playing Rules

ALL DIVISIONS
	The order of evaluating rules will be:
			a) A.S.M.B.A. house league rules for specific division;
			b) A.S.M.B.A. house league rules for all divisions;
			c) E.O.B.A. playing rules;
			d) O.B.A. playing rules;
			e) Official rules of baseball.
	1.	All game start times are governed by the umpire’s watch
	2.	Default times are fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled start time.
	3.	No game shall start more than thirty (30) minutes past the scheduled start time.
	4.	If for any reason a game is suspended, it may be restarted at any time within thirty (30) minutes.  If thirty (30) minutes has past and the game cannot be restarted, a winner may be declared if the game is deemed legal.  If the game has not become a legal game, it will be continued from its point of suspension at a later date.
	5.	In the event of darkness and the minimum number of innings have not been played, the game will be suspended and continued from its point of suspension at a later date.
	6.	All park curfews are 11:00pm.
	7.	In the event of time curfew, the game score shall revert back to the last full inning completed.  Once the home team has the lead in the bottom of the inning, the game is over.
	8.	All reasonable attempts will be made by the A.S.M.B.A. and the Division Convenors to reschedule games that have been rained out.  Each team will be given a minimum two (2) days notice for rescheduled games.  If a team does not show or cannot field the minimum number of players, they will forfeit the games and the other team will be awarded the win.  If neither team shows up or fails to field the minimum number of players, both teams will forfeit.
	9.	Score sheets must be handed in at Cedar Park OR handed to the Division Convenor after the game by the winning team so proper standings may be maintained.  Score sheets must be signed by the umpires of each game.  The umpires are to report their numbers to the winning scorekeeper to be recorded on the score sheet and should not handle games sheets.
	10.	All players will wear A.S.M.B.A. supplied caps and shirts.  Player must wear long black pants or black baseball pants.  Shorts will not allowed.  Each player must tuck in their shirts at all times and wear their sleeves in a proper manner.
	11.	All coaches and managers will wear A.S.M.B.A. supplied caps and shirts when on the field in their roles.
	12.	The batter, on deck batter and all base-runners must wear A.S.M.B.A. approved protective helmets with earflaps covering both ears.  Chinstraps are mandatory for all divisions and must be worn as designated by the manufacturer.  Helmets may not be exchanged unless the inning is completed or a runner has been retired and has left the playing surface.  All helmet exchanges will occur off the playing surface.
	13.	All runners must leave their helmets on until they have reached the bench.
	14.	Catchers are required to wear a mask with throat protector, helmet, chest protector, two (2) shin pads and an athletic supporter that protects correctly.  The warm-up catcher and bull-pen catcher must wear a mask when warming up a pitcher.  This applies to all coaches, managers, parents, players and other team personnel warming up the pitcher between innings.  This rule is enforced regardless of the position, standing or kneeling, of the catcher.
	15.	Catchers cannot be changed during an inning unless due to injury.  Catchers who are on base will be replaced by a pinch runner if there are two (2) out in the inning.  The pinch runner will be the last player called out.
	16.	Shoes with metal cleats are not permitted.
	17.	In the event a manager knows his/her team will not have the minimum amount of players required for play, they may contact the Division Convenor for the age group below for names of players who are eligible to be called up to the division.  In the event that the manager has not been given sufficient notice, the manager may choose to use a registered A.S.M.B.A. player from a lower division who is in the ball park.  The divisions to call up are as follows:
			DIVISION SHORT	DIVISION TO CALL
			Midget	Bantam
			Bantam	Peewee
			Peewee	Mosquito
			Major Rookie Ball	Minor Rookie Ball
			Minor Rookie Ball	Major T-Ball
			Major T-Ball	Minor T-Ball
	18.	In divisions that pitch to batters, call-ups will not be permitted to pitch.  Call-ups will be placed last in the batting order.  House League payers who have been called up to the Rep level must fulfill their House League obligations prior to playing in a Rep level game as a call-up.
	19.	Unlimited substitution is permitted except in the case of a pitcher who has been removed from pitching in a game.  This player can no longer return to the pitching position.  No player is to sit two (2) consecutive innings, unless for discipline matters, injury or illness.  Umpires must be notified of the reasons a player is sitting out for 2 or more consecutive innings.  Over the course of the season, players will be given equal playing time in all positions.
	20.	There will be a consecutive batting of the full team roster.
	21.	There will be an imposed no contact rule. No player shall maliciously run into another player.  Contact shall be considered malicious if it involves intentional force, and/or intent to injure, and/or deliberate attempt by a runner to dislodge the ball, and/or a runner making no legitimate effort to reach the base, and/or a runner who could have reasonably slid or otherwise avoided contact and still reached the base at the discretion of the umpire.
	22.	No stalling tactics will be allowed.  Coaches accused of this will receive a warning and if the offence is repeated, the coach will be ejected and the game will be awarded to the opposing team.
	23.	Coaches and managers are to enforce the retention of all players to the respective bench.  The only exceptions are: batter at the plate, on deck batter, base coaches, warm up pitcher/catcher and nature’s call.
	24.	The team manager is responsible for his/her actions as well as the actions of his/her coaches, players and parents.  The manager will be held accountable and may be suspended for such actions.  The A.S.M.B.A. may act in accordance with the Code of Conduct should the behaviour of a manager, coach, player or parent deviate from that outlined in the Code of Conduct.
	25.	Only the designated manager is allowed to question the umpire in rule interpretations.  The designated manager will introduce themselves at home plate during the review of the ground rules.  In order to question an umpire’s interpretation of the rules, time-out must be granted by the umpire.
	26.	Managers and coaches are not allowed to cross the foul lines to argue with an umpire’s call.  Anyone who does so may be ejected from the game by the umpire.
	27.	The player’s bench is out of bounds to all persons except team players, officials and scorekeepers.
	28.	No team official, player, coach, manager or parent may stand within 10 feet of the diamond backstops.
	29.	Any manager, coach, player or parent found being abusive to any umpire, manager, coach, fan or member of the A.S.M.B.A. will be ejected form the game, removed from the ball park or face suspension.  In the event of excessive abuse by a particular team, coach, manager, player or fan, the game may be defaulted if the umpire warnings are not followed.  Along with a defaulted game, suspensions will follow.
	30.	The home team of the first game of the day is responsible for ensuring the diamond is correctly set up for play.  The home team of the last game of the day is responsible for putting away all equipment, bases, etc.
	31.	In any dispute, the decision of the umpire is final.  There will be no protests.
	32.	Players and coaches must not use any tobacco or alcohol while in uniform or in a coaching capacity.  Anyone who disobeys this rule will be ejected.
	33.	Anyone ejected from a game for any reason will have to sit out his or her next game as well.  The ejected person will be reported on the official game sheet.

Division Specific Rules: Click a Division to View Rules

• Midget
• Bantam
• Pee Wee
• Mosquito
• Rookie Ball
• T-Ball