Rules
4/1/2018

BRIDGEPORT SENIOR CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE

RULES & REGULATIONS FOR 2018

  1. LEAGUE OFFICIALS/OFFICERS

  1. President- Tom Hanley

Umpire-In-Chief: Rudy Costello

 

  1. AFFILIATION

  1. The League is affiliated with the Connecticut Amateur Baseball Congress (CABC), the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) and the National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF)

  2. Teams    participate in the Stan Musial Division of the CABC and AABC and the Major Division of the NABF in post season tournament play adhering to the CABC, AABC and NABF Rules of play which will be provided.

  3. Former professional players must apply for regaining amateur status by filing the proper completed forms with appropriate fees to the NABF (By July 10). The AABC no longer requires forms and/or fees for former professional players.

  4. In order for teams and/or leagues to be eligible for participation in the State CABC Stan Musial Tournament and AABC Stan Musial Regional/World Series play, teams must properly complete the provided CABC Official Roster Form and submit by June 25th to league President and Secretary. Failure to do so will disqualify that team and its players from CABC/AABC tournament competition.

  5. In order for teams and/or league players to be eligible for participation in the NABF Regional/World Series play, teams must properly complete the provided League Team & Team Personnel Registration for Eligibility Form and submit the same by June 25th to League President and Secretary. Failure to do so will disqualify that team and its players from NABF tournament competition.

  6. The League is NOT responsible for any expenses incurred by any team that participates in CABC, AABC, and/or NABF Tournament play.

   3)          LEAGUE AND GAME RULES

          A)    League games will be played in accordance with the Official Rules of Major League

                            Baseball which include the Designated Hitter Rule for the Pitcher only.

  1. The length of games is seven (7) innings. In the case of darkness and/or inclement weather, the game will be considered official if the Home Team is ahead after 4 ½ innings or if the Visiting Team is ahead after 5 completed innings or if the game is tied after 5 completed innings.

  2. In case of playoff game is necessary to determine the league’s regular season champions or determine post season tournament representation, the playoff game must complete in full (at least 7 innings). In the event of a stoppage of play at any point for any reason, the game will be suspended and then completed at the earliest date and time starting from the point of suspension.

  3. To qualify for post season tournament play with the CABC, AABC, and NABF (thus representing the league), a team must complete its full schedule of 24  regular season games for the 2018 eason.

  4. To also qualify for post season tournament play with CABC, AABC, and NABF (thus representing the league), a team must meet its own responsibility of properly completing the provided CABC and NABF roster forms and submitting the same to League Officials. The League in turn will submit roster forms to the CABC/Tony Santoro, President and the NABF/Charlie Blackburn, Executive Director by July 1st.

  5. Any team from the league that forfeits out of the State CABC Tournament or the AABC or NABF Regional Tournaments will not be eligible for either tournament for the next season. If any team advances in any post season level (For example: to the AABC Regional/World Series or NABF World Series) and does not attend that next level, that team will not be eligible for either tournament for the next season.

  6. The Home Team’s score book is the official scorebook at all league games. Initial line-ups must be recorded in that book. Once the game has started, all line-up changes must be reported to the other team and recorded in the home team’s scorebook.

  7. Wood, laminate, and composite wood bats are the only bats allowed in league play. AABC and NABF Rules for bats must be checked concerning post season tournament play.

  8. Speed-Up Rule: A runner may be used for only a catcher on base at any time in order to speed up the progress of a game. The runner must be a player NOT in the game at the time and a player who has not played in the game previously. If all players from a team have participated in a game, no runner is allowed for purposes of speed up.

  9. Mercy Rule: IF the score reaches a 12 run lead after 4 ½ innings with the home team ahead of a full 5 innings with the visiting team ahead, the game will be terminated.

  10. Protests: The following rules apply:k

  1. Any protest must be made by the Team Manager to the Home Plate Umpire before the next pitch or next play.

  2. In addition, the Team Manager must file a written protest within 48 hours of the game outlining the reason for the protest (rules violation, misinterpretation, etc) A written protest must be forwarded to the League President with a $50 check made out to the league. A committee of managers will promptly decide the issue at hand and advise both involved manager and the Umpire-in-Chief Rudy Costello. If the protest is upheld, the $50 will be refunded. If the protest is NOT upheld, the $50 will remain with the league’s deposits.

  1. Double Flap protective NOC approved helmets must be worn at bat and on the bases.

  2.  

  3. Forfeit fee: In the event of a forfeited game, the offending team must reimburse the league a $170 forfeit fee before its next scheduled game.

  4. Two forfeits will disqualify a team from further league play. All games scheduled after the disqualification will be recorded as forfeit wins. All league games played prior to the disqualification will stand as wins and losses.

  5. Umpires will be paid $85 per game. In the even that one umpire works a game alone, that umpire will receive a fee of $130.

  6. Any misrepresentation by a team results in an automatic removal of that team.

  7. Any team that tampers with another team’s players will be eliminated from post season play and the manager can be disciplined up to and including suspension for the following season.

4)ELIGIBILITY

A)    New Franchises applying for entry in the league must be approved by a majority of the current managers in order to be accepted for regular season play. Franchises must secure a home field. (see 7F)

B)Players must be at least 16 years of age to participate in league games. Please note that in the CABC, AABC, and NABF rules for tournament play the minimum age is 18.

C)     All teams must be uniformed in at least matching shirts and hats, baseball pants and stirrup hose and/or colored soccer styled socks. Umpires will strictly enforce this rule unless there is a threat of forfeit.

D)    The league entry for teams for the 2018 season is $3000. Fees which cover the cost of umpires, league expenses and fees for affiliations with the CABC, AABC, and NABF are due in installments at the March, April and May league meetings. Checks should be made payable to the “Bridgeport Senior City Baseball League” and can be forwarded to the League President Tom Hanley 5 Millwood St Milford, CT 06460. League President can suspend any team for failing to comply and the entire league schedule for the offending team will be declared as forfeits with no exceptions and no refunds.

E)    The league has obtained Liability and Medical Accident insurance coverage. Teams are responsible for providing league with any and all certificate holders, such as field permitees and sponsors. Frazier Insurance will be the insurance provider and cost was included in league fee.

F)    All rosters are considered “open” during league regular season play.

G)    For players desiring to change teams once the season starts:

    1)    The player must obtain a written release from his team’s manager and sit out one game before joining his new team.

    2)    If the player cannot secure or obtain a written release from his team’s manager, the player must then sit out 3 games on his new team’s schedule before being allowed to participate with that new team.

    3)     The deadline for team-to-team changes or issues is 12AM on June 23rd.

    4)    Any other team-to-team changes or issues beyond Rule 4 F 1,2,3 will be decided solely by the President.

H)    All players are considered “free agents” at the conclusion of the season. (Exception: Players or “pick-ups” added to the roster of a tournament team whether from a non-post season tournament team or team qualifying and playing in the other post season tournament who then participate in CABC, AABC or NABF Tournament play with that tournament team will NOT be permitted to switch to that team (as a free agent) for the next regular season of play without approval from his original team’s manager.

5)Conduct and Discipline

                   A)    Sportsmanship: Managers, coaches, players, and sponsors are expected to conduct

    Themselves in gentlemanly and proper manner both on and off the field whether before

During and/or after games. Unruly behavior will not be tolerated. A committee of managers will rule on each and any situation not involving their own team, with regards to suspensions, ejections or other behavioral issues.

    *Managers must submit report on any player ejection. A second ejection will result in automatic 3 game suspension, which may include post season.

B)    Alcohol Policy- There is a zero tolerance alcohol policy for the following franchises. Milford Hunters, Fedells, Clubhouse, Danbury Pirates,  CT Barons. Any violation can lead to league discipline up to and including a ban on postseason or franchise expulsion.

6)LEAGUE SCHEDULE AND STANDINGS

         A)    League standings are based on the point system with each win counting for 2 points and     each tie amounting to 1 point.

B)    As per the point system, if teams in contention for the league championship or tournament bids at the completion of all regular season games, a one game playoff will be held.

C)    Bids to the CABC, AABC, and NABF Tournaments will be offered according to the final league standings (via total points) in order of total finish.

D)    In the event of inclement weather, the team manager whose home field is designated as the host field for the particular scheduled game is responsible for determining whether or not the game can be played. That determination or decision by that same manager must be made by the deadline of 90 minutes prior to the scheduled start-time of the game and also must be immediately communicated to the opposing manager and Umpire-in-Chief Rudy Costello.

E)    Make-ups of postponed games are the scheduling responsibility of the opposing managers. Such postponed games should be rescheduled within 1 week. Once a date is agreed upon and the game becomes rescheduled, such re-scheduling information should be passed on to league president. If the involved teams cannot agree upon a rescheduling of a post-poned game, the President will assume the responsibility for re-scheduling the game. In any case, the President will notify Umpire-in-Chief and Connecticut Post of changes in schedule.

F)    Winning teams have the responsibility of reporting game results, scores and highlights to the Connecticut Post and any other newspaper in order to provide the league and the team sponsors with as much publicity as possible.

G)    Winning teams must register game results on league website www.seniorcitybaseball.com

7)Playing Fields

        A)    The home team will supply the bases.

         B)    The home team whether at their home field or as the home team at an opposing team’s field will supply the baseballs.

                   C)    The home team at its home field may “pass the hat” for monetary contributions.

         D)    The umpires will use judgment on any player wearing jewelry.

E)    Games must start on time. In the event that a team does not have 9 players to start a game, a 15 minute grace period will be allowed for that team to have a chance to come up with another player for that game. In the same event when a double header is scheduled, additional 15 minutes will be provided following the time of the forfeiture of the first game.

F)    Each team should supply a minimum of 20 acceptable home dates. The dates, times of the day and quality of the fields will be reviewed by the league.

8)New for 2018

A)    Plays at the plate are  played by Major League Rules. Runner must make a baseball attempt at scoring. Any collision deemed by Umpires judgment as malicious or non-baseball attempt will be subjected to ejection and suspension and game may result in forfeit. Contact is allowed at the plate, but Umpire will exercise judgment.

B)    Awards for 2018 season will be determined by an elected committee of managers and players.

PRINT