CTBL Rules

Managers must ensure their players know the rules, to ensure everyone is on the same page, to ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment. CTBL plays under MLB rules, with the exception of the No-Collision rule, the separate batting and defensive lineups, and flexible batting lineups. These rule modifications are intended to allow maximum participation.

1. Equipment and uniforms:
Both teams are responsible for providing 3 new baseballs for use at each game. Rawlings R-100 or R-200 baseballs are approved, as are any HS (such as NFHS), College or Professional game-play quality baseball such as the Wilson A1010 and Diamond D1.

Bats are required to be -5 or heavier. BESR-rated -3 bats are recommended. Wood and composite bats are allowed. Metal spikes are allowed.  Batters and baserunners MUST wear helmets while batting and while on the basepaths. Catchers must wear skullcaps with their masks.

 Players must be “in uniform” – they must wear a matching color team jersey and cap, wear baseball pants and athletic shoes.  There is a 2-week grace period from Opening Day for uniforms to arrive.  Players added after the start of the season have a grace period of one week to allow time for a uniform to be ordered.  The opposing manager may protest as ineligible a player not in uniform after the league grace period.

2. Batting/defensive lineup:
Batting lineups are independent of the defensive lineup, and are a minimum of 10 batters, provided at least 10 players are present for a game. Teams may bat as many players as show up for a game, and may add batters to the bottom of the lineup at any time. Players may be pinch-hit or pinch-run for, as well, but are removed from the lineup, per MLB rules, and may not return to the batting lineup in that game.

Each team is to turn in a copy of their lineup to the umpires, and to the opposing manager prior to the game.  The home team may provide their lineup before their first turn at bat.  Players who arrive late may be added to the lineup.  Recommended: print out roster and make a lineup on same sheet.

In the batting lineup AFTER the 10th spot, an A/B system of alternating at-bats may be used.  Single batters may still be used in conjunction with the A/B system.  For example, a team may have 1-10, 11A/B, and 12.  If an A or B hitter must leave a game due to injury and no substitutes are left on the bench, the turn is skipped.

Pitchers may be removed from the mound and return in the same game, but not the same inning. Pitchers who hit 3 batters in an inning, or 4 in a game, must be immediately removed. Defensive players other than the pitcher may be substituted freely.

Teams which do not have the usual minimum of 9 players may start with 8, with the 9th spot an automatic out; a late arriving player will bat 9th automatically and the out will no longer count.

If a player must leave, or is injured in a game and cannot continue and there are no substitutes left on the bench to bat, the lineup collapses and his turn is skipped. If the player's injury leaves only 8 players in the lineup, then the injured player's spot is an automatic out.

In order to avoid a forfeit, a team with 7 of its own players may borrow up to ONE (1) player from another league team to avoid a forfeit, and play with 8 players.  The borrowed player must play in his own team’s uniform, may not pitch or catch, and must bat 8th in the lineup.  This may be done TWO (2) times per season by a team.  The 9th spot is an automatic out.  An opposing manager may protest if two or more players are borrowed by a team at a game, if a borrowed player pitches or catches, or bats other than in the 8th spot in the lineup.  An opposing manager may protest a game if a team attempts to use a borrowed player a third time in a season, and win the game by forfeit.

3. Courtesy Runners:
Managers may specify TWO (2) batters who receive a Courtesy Runner at the beginning of the game. In addition, pitchers and catchers may receive a Courtesy Runner with 2 outs.   The courtesy runner is defined as the LAST BATTED OUT.  If the last batted out is designated with a courtesy runner also (or is a pitcher and catcher with 2 outs), then the prior out is the courtesy runner.

Note: This is not necessarily the last out made (i.e. a runner forced at a base). At the beginning of the game, if no out has been recorded yet, the last batter in the lineup will be used. A batter who does not use his courtesy runner MAY use the runner in subsequent at-bats. The courtesy runner switch must be made within 30 seconds, to avoid slowing down games. Once the pitcher makes a pitch to the next batter, the courtesy runner is forfeited for that runner until his next at-bat. Pay attention!

4. Game Length:
Games are 9 innings or 2:45 to start a new inning, counting from the last out recorded in the prior inning.

The game clock is started at game time, per the umpire's timepiece, provided the umpires are on the field and ready. It is the managers' duty to be aware of the game clock, and should confirm the umpire's time at the START of the game, so as to avoid surprises at the end. Players should hustle in and out between innings to keep the game moving.

A game may start early if both team managers agree and the umpires are ready.

If a game starts late because a team is waiting on sufficient players, the game clock starts at game time, not at first pitch. If insufficient players have showed at 20 minutes after game time, the game is called a forfeit.

5. Slide Rule:
Runners must slide, avoid the defensive player, or give themselves up if there is a play at a base - it is not legal to intentionally collide with fielders. Runners will be called out for intentionally colliding with a fielder to dislodge the ball. Fielders may not block the base without the ball. This is standard MSBL, NCAA, high school, and even MLB rules [although everyone seems to think that if you are being paid to play, it's OK to bowl over the catcher. It's not.]. We are amateurs, playing a game, for fun. Remember that your opponent has to go to work tomorrow, and so do you.

6. Decoy tags:
Decoy tags are illegal - slapping a fake tag on a runner, or forcing a runner to slide when there is no play at a base prohibited for the safety of the baserunner. If the umpires see a baserunner hold up based on a defensive decoy, they are to award one base to the runner.

7. Ejections:
Adult baseball is intended to be fun.  Umpires may eject a player for using abusive and/or profane language.

In the case of any player ejection, both managers will report to the League Disciplinary Committee, which will determine whether the ejection warrants further disciplinary action.  Abusive behavior has no place in the league.

8. Field maintenance:
The HOME team is responsible for PREGAME field care. The home plate and pitching mound should be raked and holes filled.  The infield must be dragged.  The VISITING team of the last game of each day is to perform maintenance POSTGAME: drag and water infield, rake mound and plate areas, fill in holes and tamp, and water; remove trash and lock field.

* PLEASE REMOVE TRASH FROM THE DUGOUTS AFTER YOUR GAME. *

9. Rosters:
Rosters are limited to 20 active players per the league's medical insurance rules.  Managers are responsible for keeping a current roster for their team with the league. Any player participating in any practice, scrimmage, or game must have a CTBL waiver signed.  Player waivers must be received by the League before participating in a game, prior to each season.  A player must provide picture ID in order to participate, upon the request of the opposing manager to establish eligibility.

A player who has indebtedness to a manager or team in CTBL may be suspended from participating with another team in CTBL upon manager’s protest, pending a hearing by the league’s Disciplinary Committee.  Managers are required to keep written documentation showing amounts owed and attempts to collect; players and managers are encouraged to keep written or email records.

10. Rainouts:
In the event of rainout before game day, teams will be notified by a league officer and attempt to move games to another field. In the event of overnight rainfall, managers need to ascertain the condition of the field 90 minutes before their game in order to notify the umpires in time; after 90 minutes before game time, it will be a game time decision between the managers, and once the game has started, umpires have the discretion to delay the game until the storm has passed. The official clock is NOT stopped when it rains, although subsequent games or dusk at that field may limit how much delay can be tolerated.

11. Forfeits:
In the event of a forfeit, the losing team is responsible for paying the umpires fees for that game for both teams, and the winning team will receive a league credit for the umpire fees, or a refund of the umpire fees at the end of the season. A team forfeiting a game must remit the umpire money before their next regularly-scheduled game.

Forfeits are destructive to the league's success; the league will try to assist teams struggling to field enough players to compete. However, any team forfeiting two (2) games in a season will lose playoff eligibility; any team forfeiting three (3) games in a season will forfeit the rest of the season.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Following these rules will ensure our games are fun, fair, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.