Fall Draft Rules

CMBL 35+ Fall Draft League Rules

Updated 9/6/2026

Uniforms, Helmets, Baseballs and Other Equipment
1. Uniforms:
  1. All teams must have full baseball uniforms consisting of caps, numbered baseball jerseys, baseball pants, belt, sanitary socks and stirrups by - each player’s uniform must be of similar design to his teammates' uniforms. Teams having sponsorship will be allowed to use the sponsor's name on their uniforms via patch or uniform shirt.
  2. No player out of uniform will be allowed to play without the opposing manager’s consent.
  3. All teams should have their uniforms by their third game. A grace period should be extended for newly activated players or for new teams to complete their uniforms.
2. All batters and runners must wear helmets with at least one earflap facing the pitcher while hitting. There is no option to this rule. Full double-ear flap helmets are encouraged to be worn by all batters and runners. Catchers must wear a helmet underneath their mask. All base coaches are encouraged to wear helmets while on the field of play.
3. Each team should bring a minimum of 8 balls per game. Only baseballs supplied by the league will be allowed into league and playoff games.
4. Wood or Wood composite bats ONLY are allowed in the league with no more than a drop 3 length-to-weight difference.
5. Metal cleats are permitted within field owner guidelines.
Game Length, Run Rule and Rainouts
1. All regular season games are 7 innings
2. Game time limit for Fall Draft games Including playoff games, is 2.5 hours.
3. In the event of a tie game at the end of regular game play, teams will follow Texas Shootout Baseball for 1 inning where each team starts the inning with the bases loaded and 1 out. If at the end of that one inning there is still a tie, then the game will end in a tie.
4. Playoff games have no time limits and no tie games
  1. Extra innings games will follow regular baseball rules, and the game will continue until there is a winner.
5. Games are 7 Innings, 5 innings for a complete game if rained out. Games not reaching 5 complete innings will resume the next time the teams meet. If there is no following game scheduled between the two teams, the scheduler will work with the coaches to find a time when the game can be completed.
6. If there is a 12-run discrepancy at the end of 5 innings and/or the game has gone 2 hours and 30 minutes, the game can be ruled final at this point.
7. A forfeited game will count as 7 runs for the winning team.
8. Any games that are rained out will be rescheduled by the league scheduler and may be made up at any time not conflicting with previously scheduled games. All make-up games must be agreed to by both managers and the scheduler, and league notification must take place. Rain-out games must be made up in order of cancellations.
9. Final league standings will be determined by won/lost percentage. Ties will be decided by head-to-head competition first, followed by runs allowed.
10. In the event of rain, it is the responsibility of the scheduled home team to notify the scheduler and opposing team of field conditions and possible cancellation of the game, at least 1 hour before scheduled game time. In the event such notification does not take place, the home team will be responsible for any travel fees imposed by the umpiring organization.
Playoff rules
1. All league playoff games must be played to completion by league standards. The umpire may suspend, cancel or call a game if, in their opinion, the safety of the players is compromised due to rain or darkness.
2. Playoff decisions (seeding) are made based upon final season league standings. Tiebreakers: Head-to-Head competition then runs allowed.
3. Playoffs will immediately begin upon the completion of the regular season. Teams will be seeded based upon regular season standings.
4. Playoffs will be a double elimination tournament with all teams making the playoffs.
5. The team with the higher seed will be the home team for the entirety of the tournament.
6. A forfeited game will count as 7 runs for the winning team.
7. There are no time limits and no tie games in the playoffs.
8. There is no minimum games played requirement for a player to be eligible for playoffs.
9. Pitchers are limited to 4 innings per game.
Teams, Players and Lineups
1. Player Eligibility
  1. A player is eligible to participate in an official league sanctioned game if they are at least 35 years old, or they will turn 35 in the calendar year of play.
  2. Underage players may be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Underage players may be restricted from pitching or catching.
2. New Players
  1. The league shall control the assignment to teams of all new players who have contacted the league in response to advertising or who have been referred to the league by any means.
  2. Players must be signed up to be in the league draft through registering through the league website AND have their league fees paid prior to the draft.
  3. All players must be chosen to teams through an annual draft.
  4. The number of teams and players on each roster will depend on the number of players in the draft list.
  5. Draft rules:
    1. The Draft Coordinator will provide the team managers with a list of registered Draft Pool Players at least one day prior to the draft.
    2. The Draft order will be established by each team drawing numbers at random.
    3. Each team will get one pick per round
    4. The draft order will follow a snake draft format. The selection order reverses after every round. The team that picks first in round one picks last in round two, then picks first again in round three.
    5. The draft will continue until no players are left to draft.
    6. Supplemental drafts (either before the season begins, or after) will only be done when the number of new draftees match the number of teams in the league. Example: If there are 5 teams in the league, in a given year, a supplemental draft cannot occur until 5 players have registered and paid for the draft.
    7. After the season begins, coaches that need to borrow players (to ensure 9 players per game) should contact league managers to inquire about borrowing players. This will help any team to avoid a forfeit. This is a first come first serve basis.
    8. Borrowed players: All players in the league can play for other teams if teams are to avoid a forfeit. Pitchers can play for other teams at any time but CANNOT pitch for any other team but their own.
3. Team Rosters
  1. Team rosters will be determined at the draft before the season games begin.
  2. All players, prior to participating in a game, must have signed a waiver form on file with the league for the current season/year.
  3. There is no trade policy without the consent of all the team managers.
  4. Final team rosters must have no less than 12 players.
  5. Last names must be used in the scorebook to allow for player identification for follow up inquiries that relate to playoff eligibility or other league requirements.
4. Lineups
  1. A team manager may have as many batters in the lineup as desired, with a minimum of 10 (subject to the number of players available, if less than 10).
    1. Teams must bat at least 10 batting positions.
    2. Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game.
    3. If a team has more than 9 players and still only bats nine, an out will be assessed each time the 10th batting position is skipped.
    4. Batting only 9 players is NOT a protestable offense.
  2. A manager may add batters to the bottom of the lineup at any time but if a batter is pinch hit or pinch run for, the player may not re-enter the game as a hitter but may remain in the game as a fielder or pitcher. Each team has a hitting and a defensive lineup that are independent of each other. Players may play in either lineup or both.
  3. The league uses the Shared Lineup (or Line Share) position rule which allows two players to share one batting position in the offensive lineup.
    1. The managers can use the shared player as a runner, or, after the first batter has had an at-bat, use them as a batter the next time the position in the batting order comes up. When a shared player is used as a base runner for the shared player who just batted, the shared player who ran must have an at-bat the next time the shared position in the order comes to the plate. After that at bat, moving forward, either of the shared runners can bat in this position. The manager has the option to decide who bats each time the batting position comes up. Managers must notify the opposing manager and the scorekeeper whenever players are switched in the offensive lineup. Failure to do so will result in the player batting out of order if the opposing team appeals correctly.
    2. A player in a shared lineup position may not be used in any other offensive position in the lineup. If a shared player enters the game as a shared runner in the later innings and his batting position does not come up before the end of the game, no penalty is assessed. Either batter in the shared batting position may be pinch hit for, and only the batter that is pinch hit for will be ineligible to return to the offensive lineup. The pinch hitter assumes the shared batting position in the batting lineup, and the manager can decide who bats each time the batting position comes up.
    3. A shared position in the offensive lineup may be initiated at any time at the manager’s discretion.
    4. A courtesy runner is allowed to be used only for the pitcher and catcher with any number of outs. The courtesy runner will be the last out. If a team opts to use the Shared Lineup position rule for the pitcher’s or catcher’s batting position, then the Shared Lineup rule takes precedent over the courtesy runner rule
  4. Pitchers are limited to 4 innings pitched per game. This rule applies for the regular season and playoffs.
  5. All teams must announce all offensive additions, substitutions, and/or changes to the home plate umpire AND opposing team manager and/or scorekeeper. Only after this has been done will the added player be deemed a legal substitution.
    1. If a team fails to announce an offensive addition/change, the player will be called out as soon as he occupies the batter’s box and the lineup will revert to the lineup in effect prior to the player entering the game. The unannounced player will not have officially entered the offensive lineup and is therefore still available offensively even though an out has been assessed.
    2. Example: Team A is batting 12 players and wishes to add a player to the bottom of the lineup (Player 13). Player 13 walks to the plate and is not announced to either the opposing team or home plate umpire. Once this player occupies his position in the batter’s box, the umpire will immediately call him out for an illegal substitution, and it will then go back to the number 1 position in the lineup. Player 13 is still available to be added to the lineup legally.
  6. If a player is forced to leave a game due to INJURY, a reserve player, that has not previously entered the game as a hitter, must hit in the replaced hitter’s place. If there are no reserves who can replace the individual, the spot is skipped and all hitters below that position move up. There will be NO OUT assessed.
  7. If a player is forced to leave a game due to EJECTION, a reserve player, that has not previously entered the game as a hitter, must hit in the replaced hitter’s place. If there are no reserves who can replace the individual, the spot is skipped and all hitters below that position move up. The first time this vacated spot comes up in the batting order, an out will be assessed, after that one time, no out will be recorded for skipping the spot vacated by the displaced player.
  8. A team must have 8 players for an official game and may borrow a player from an opposing team with the opposing manager’s consent or may borrow a player from another team, also with the opposing manager’s consent. If the team’s 9th player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player reverts to his team.
  9. All players may be substituted for defensively, at any time, without affecting the player’s offensive status in the line-up. If any pitcher is removed from pitching, he may re-enter to pitch at any time during the game but is still limited to 4 innings per game. The removed pitcher may play any other position after being removed or no position at all.
Player's Behavior and Team Responsibility
1. Tobacco and Alcoholic beverages
  1. There will be no beer or alcoholic beverages permitted at the field before, during or after the game. The field refers to the general playing area and ancillary areas.
    1. The league will suspend any violators for the remainder of the season if they are caught with beer or alcoholic beverages.
  2. Tobacco products are also banned from all facilities (this includes vaping).
    1. The 1st time violator will be suspended for 1 game and for the remainder of the season if caught again.
2. Ejected Players
  1. An umpire has sole discretion to expel any player or manager from the game. An expulsion results in an automatic 1 game suspension. The ejected player does not need to be present at the game they are suspended for. Managers only may appeal suspensions to the league rules committee. Whereby a ruling will be determined after consulting involved parties.
  2. Ejected players must leave the field/dugout/facility as soon as ejected. If for any reason the player being ejected cannot leave due to transportation restrictions, the ejected player must not participate in the game in any capacity. This includes helping teammates warm up, coach in any capacity, or help with team changes.
  3. Any player ejected from a game will be subject to at least a minimum ONE Game suspension, and possible expulsion from the league depending on the severity of the infraction. Multiple game suspensions will be at the discretion of the rules committee. The suspended game(s) do not count towards a game of eligibility. The rules committee must make its final ruling within 3 days from the date of ejection if more than a 1 game suspension is needed.
  4. The league has the right to suspend or expel any team member who abuses league rules or who does not exhibit a sense of sportsmanship or who plays without regard to the safety of the umpires or other players.
  5. Fighting among players or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated and players expelled from the game for either violation will be subject to suspension or expulsion from the league.
  6. If any players are involved in aggressive physical contact the players involved will immediately be suspended for 5 games and will be subject to expulsion from the league.
3. The rules committee is concerned about possible unnecessary and violent collisions that may occur with the catcher at home plate, and with infielders at all bases. The intent of this rule is to encourage base runners and defensive players to avoid such collisions whenever possible.
4. When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the ball, the umpire shall judge:
  1. Whether the collision by the runner was avoidable (could the runner have reached the base without colliding) or unavoidable (the runner’s path to the base was blocked) or
  2. Whether the runner was attempting to reach the base (plate) or attempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder.
  3. PENALTY—If the runner, a) could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or b) attempted to dislodge the ball, the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball is dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.
  4. If the fielder blocks the path of the base runner to the base (plate), the runner may make contact or slide into a fielder if the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base or plate.
  5. If the collision by the runner was flagrant, the runner shall be declared out and ejected from the contest. The ball shall be declared dead.
5. If the defensive player blocks the base (plate) or base line clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The runner is safe and an immediate dead ball shall be called.
  1. If the base runner collides flagrantly, the runner shall be declared safe on the obstruction but will be ejected from the contest. The ball is dead.
6. Decoy Rule
  1. Any fielder may use a decoy only if it serves a strategic purpose. For example, if a fielder, who sees a man attempting to steal second base during a hit and run, looks upward into the sky and says that he’s got the pop-up when in fact the ball has been hit on ground is a legal decoy as it may cause the runner to retreat to first base and prevent him from advancing.
  2. However, if a fielder fakes a tag, forcing a player to slide, when there is no strategic purpose or apparent play, the runner will be ruled safe, and all runners will advance one base.
  3. This is entirely an umpire judgment decision and not a rule that may be protested.
7. Force Play Slide Rule
  1. The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.
  2. On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases.
  3. Exception—A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.
  4. "On the ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground.
  5. "Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.
  6. If a runner goes into a base standing up and does not make contact or alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.
8. Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner:
  1. Makes a legal slide directly to the base, or
  2. Is on the ground at the time of contact and the fielder moves directly down the line between the two bases to attempt a play.
  3. Makes a legal slide and contacts a defensive player who is on or over, but not beyond, the base.
  4. When the base runner slides beyond the base, but does not (a) contact, or (b) alters the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.
9. Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:
  1. The runner slides or runs out of the baseline in the direction of the fielder;
  2. The runner uses a rolling, crossbody or pop-up slide and either contacts or alters the play of a fielder;
  3. The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position;
  4. The runner goes beyond the base and either contacts or alters the play of the fielder;
  5. "Beyond the base” means any part of the offensive player’s body contacts or alters the play of the fielder beyond the base.
  6. The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg;
  7. The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.
  8. PENALTY:
    1. With fewer than two outs, the batter runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
    2. With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out, and no other runner(s) shall advance.
    3. If the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest.
    4. If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.
  9. Each league must set its own standards of player/team sportsmanship but must encourage suspensions for infractions unbefitting to the image and policies of the league.
  10. Failure to abide by age regulations - the managers must all recognize their responsibility to the league and the perpetuity of it as to not cross the line where winning is more important than playing. An opposing manager may at any time have the right to question a player’s age. If a manager wants to lodge a protest, proof of age and residence must be mailed to the manager who lodged his protest by Friday of the following week. If an underage player is detected, penalties to the individual or team will be decided by the league president and board of directors. As a national precedent, the penalties will be forfeiture of all games in which the under-age player participated in and a minimum two-year suspension. If the manager has prior knowledge, he is subject to similar suspension
Courtesy Runners
1. Courtesy runners are only allowed for pitchers and catchers that are in the offensive lineup.
  1. The courtesy runner will be the last out.
  2. The offensive team that is replacing the courtesy runner has 30 seconds to make the runner change. If the runner is not replaced within this time, the original runner must run and the right to use the courtesy runner for this batter will be forfeited for the balance of the game. The 30 second time limit will begin at the time the umpire calls for time to allow replacement for the runner.
Pitchers
1. Pitchers are capped at a maximum of 4 innings per game.
  1. At any time, the team has a double header scheduled for the day, pitchers do not have restrictions on the max innings they can pitch.
2. No player while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, nor may a pitcher wear a batting glove or wristband while pitching.
3. One intentional walk per game will be allowed. If a second intentional walk is attempted, a balk will immediately be called, and all base runners will advance one base.
4. If a pitcher hits 4 batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the fourth hit batsman.
General League Rules
1. Two forfeits by any team could mean immediate expulsion from the league with no money refunded to the team. Individual leagues should evaluate circumstances before rendering a decision.
2. All protests should be lodged to the league protest committee/board within 24 hours after the game for which the protest is made. All protests shall be decided by the league board of directors and/or protest committee.
Code of Conduct
1. Prohibitions. Managers and players shall always conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. No manager or player shall commit the following:
  1. Lay a hand upon, shove or strike, or threaten an official. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.
  2. Refuse to abide by an official’s decision. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
  3. Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official’s decision. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.
  4. Discuss with an official or official the decision reached by such official or officials, except for the manager or his designee who are authorized to participate in such discussions. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.
  5. Use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
  6. Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.
  7. Be guilty of verbal abusive attack upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season.
  8. Consume alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during the game or be upon the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
  9. Smoke on the field of play or in the dugout. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game.
2. Direct communication with an umpire or umpire coordinator outside of a game setting by a player or manager is inappropriate and will result in a 1 game minimum suspension. All queries, criticisms, accolades must be communicated through the league’s umpire coordinator.
Penalties
1. The board of directors may, by majority vote, suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, for conduct within its opinion is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or charter of the league.
2. Except as otherwise provided, the commissioners shall determine the appropriate action required for violations of the code of conduct, and shall report their decision to the player, manager and the board of directors.
3. A player found in violation of any provision delineated in the codes of conduct, after being placed on probation for the remainder of the season shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.
4. Any player found in violation of any provisions delineated in the codes of conduct, after being suspended from further participation in a game shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.
Grievances, protests, and appeals
1. Grievances may be filed by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that a grievance is formally submitted to the commissioner or appropriate board. The commissioner shall adjudicate all such grievances and shall report any action taken to the board of directors.
2. An appeal of any action or ruling may be filed with the board of directors by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that the appeal is formally submitted. However, all decisions by the board of directors are final and not subject to appeal.