Frequently Asked Questions of the Mid - Iowa Baseball League
What is the Mid-Iowa Baseball League (MIBL)?
The Mid-Iowa Baseball League is an amateur baseball organization designed to enable men and women of all ages to continue playing the game they love. The league was developed in 1994 and has grown into an organization with over 450 members. The league is divided into the MABL, MSBL, and the Bill Hyland League. In 2009:
The MABL, Men’s Adult Baseball League, will feature 9 teams made up of players age 18 and over.
The MSBL, Men’s Senior Baseball League, will feature 12 teams made up of players age 25 and over.
The Bill Hyland League will feature 7 teams made up of players age 35 and over. (Each team may have two players that are 33 or 34 years of age. They cannot pitch until they turn 35.)
The Bill Hyland League will feature 4 teams made up of players age 43 and over.
We are affiliated with the Men’s Senior Baseball League national organization based in Long Island, NY. Please visit: www.msblnational.com for more information. Because of this, our league is able to participate in many regional and national tournaments throughout the entire year.
Where is the Mid-Iowa Baseball League (MIBL) located?
The MIBL is based in Central Iowa, with most teams based in the Des Moines, Iowa metro area. We also have teams based in Indianola & Newton. Due to logistics, the league most likely will not travel beyond a 75-mile radius from Des Moines to play league games.
How do I join a team in the MIBL?
Please visit the Guestbook link on our website and submit information about yourself or feel free to call any of the team managers. Most teams set their rosters by March for an upcoming season, so it is best to start making contacts or networking very early in the year. However, due to injuries and other events, teams are allowed to add to their rosters up to the halfway point of their season. (If you have a 16-game schedule, you can add players up to, and including, game 9.)
I have a group that wants to form a new team in the league. How do I go about that process?
Please submit a request to the MIBL President by March 1st prior to the season you are looking to join. Priority will be given to those teams that can provide the league an additional field on which to play on and/or additional umpires for the league to contact.
Who do I contact if I have connections for a new field or umpires?
Please contact any of our Board of Director’s listed on the website. Umpires should know that our payment plan is similar to local high schools. Athletic Directors should know that the league is willing to rent a high school field at a reasonable price and may even provide equipment and facility upgrades to a school’s baseball or athletics program in exchange for field usage.
How do the League Rules differ from other leagues?
First and foremost, we follow Major League Baseball Rules. The MSBL National Office provides updates to our National Rules every January 1 which can basically be considered addendums to MLB rules. The Mid-Iowa Baseball League also provides addendums to the MSBL National rules. National and Local rules can be found on this website.
What is the skill level of the league?
We are an amateur baseball organization. Most players have played high school baseball. Quite a few have played college baseball. Occasionally, you will see an ex-pro. The MIBL is not affiliated with any “professional” organization and rarely have scouts attended games.
Are players in the league paid to play?
No.
What types of bats are used, wood or aluminum?
Aluminum bats are not allowed in the Bill Hyland 35+ & 43+ leagues. The MABL & MSBL can use aluminum or wood. The aluminum bats may have a maximum –5 length/weight ratio, however all national tournaments have a -3 requirement.
When are games played?
At this time, all 18+ and 25+ league games are played on Sunday afternoons. Game times are typically 1:00 & 4:00. Teams normally play between three and five doubleheaders per season. The MSBL season begins on, or about, the last Sunday of April. The MABL season begins in mid-May to allow college students to return and concludes with a year-end tournament in mid-August due to the fact that many college students are going back to school. The MSBL season typically concludes the final weekend of August. The Bill Hyland 35+ League season runs from early June through September with games played on weekday nights, usually Wednesday and Thursday. The Bill Hyland 43+ League typically plays on Monday evenings.
The league typically does not play on Mother’s Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend. Labor Day weekend is usually avoided also.
How are rain-outs handled?
Teams involved in a rain-out must work diligently with the league’s scheduling director to ensure that the game(s) is/are made up prior to the year-end tournament. You may be asked to play on a Saturday or possibly a weekday night. If, due to lack of time in the summer, a game or games is/are not able to be rescheduled, teams will not receive a credit for games not played. It should be viewed as the “cost of doing business”.
What is the cost to play in the league?
The MIBL is a non-profit organization. We develop a budget each season to cover the costs of operating the league. The major costs include: umpires, field rental, light usage when needed, insurance, baseballs, administrative expenses such as copies and office supplies, trophies, scorebooks and line-up cards, and our national affiliation fee.
The per-team cost has been in the neighborhood of $2,300 per season. Divide that by the number of players on the roster (minimum of 13) to get the per player cost. Unless your team has a sponsor, this would be the out-of-pocket expense.
How is the schedule determined?
This is determined by how the divisions are split up. Divisions can change year-to-year to allow a better balance among teams. The schedule is based off of your team’s previous year’s record. The better you finish in the league the year before, the tougher your schedule will be for the upcoming season. First place teams will likely play a last place team only once, if at all. This is patterned similarly to a NFL schedule. Attempting to schedule 16 games for about 20 teams on the 13 available Sundays is very difficult since the league has to deal with field availability issues also, so teams must remember to play the hand you are dealt. Bye-weeks can be requested at our pre-season team manager meetings.
How is the year-end tournament developed?
The tournament is seeded according to team records at the time the tournament is developed, typically the Monday following the last regular season weekend. (Due to rain-outs, a team may not have played all scheduled games, therefore winning percentage may be used to determine seeding.) Depending on the number of teams in the tournament, one or more of the top teams may receive an opening round bye. Seedings are similar to an NCAA basketball tournament bracket. The process is subject to change at any time and could vary year-to-year.
Who is on the league’s board of directors?
The MIBL Board of Director’s is made up of various managers and player representatives from each of the three divisions: MABL, MSBL, and Bill Hyland League. The board is made up of volunteers who do not receive any type of compensation. The board meets often prior to each season and occasionally during the season to address any issues. All decisions are made as a group and will be made in the best interests of the league as a whole.
I would like to propose a rule change for the league. How do I do this?
Please put your proposal in writing and contact any board member. The board will discuss the proposal and vote on the issue. You may be asked to attend the actual meeting to ensure correct interpretation.
I don’t get along with my current teammates and would like to join another team or form another team. How do I do this?
You must first be granted a release from your current team from your current manager. If that is denied, you can approach the Board for a waiver of that rule.
I hear that the league has sent teams to participate in some regional and national tournaments in the past. How do I enter a team in one of those tournaments?
Please contact the MIBL President, who can provide information on the various tournaments. Also, as part of our national affiliation, each league member should receive “Hardball Magazine” which showcases all the tournaments throughout the United States. Tournaments are a great way to showcase Central-Iowa baseball talent. In 2007, the Mid-Iowa Baseball League sent one 18+, one 25+ team, one 35+ team, one 45+ team and a Father-Son team to the Phoenix, AZ “World Series”. This is a great way to play on some of the nicest fields our nation has to offer with most games scheduled at Major League spring training facilities. Past successes include:
Father/Son Iowa Cubs: Central Division, World Series in Phoenix....National Semifinalist in 2006, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in 2007.
35+ Des Moines Bruins: Central Division, World Series in Phoenix....National Semifinalists in 2003. Playoff qualifier in 2008.
25+ Des Moines Bruins: Central Division, World Series in Phoenix...National Runner-up in 2003 & 2007, National Semifinalists in 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2008. National Runner-Up at the Las Vegas Kickoff Classic in 2006.
18+ Des Moines Vikings: Federal Division, World Series in Phoenix...National Runner-up in 2005 & 2006, Quarterfinalist in 2007 & 2008.
The Vikings and Bruins have also won many regional tournaments (Chicago, IL--Lincoln, NE--St. Paul, MN--Austin, MN--Cedar Rapids, IA) and have even played a few semi-final and championship games against each other at these regional tournaments.
Are there any restrictions on team names?
The league encourages the development of unique and distinct team nicknames across the entire MIBL organization. All team nicknames must be approved by the Board of Directors. A team cannot use the same team nickname that is currently being used in the league in which you are playing. The league also discourages usage of a team name that exists in one of the other MIBL leagues. For example, if the MSBL has a team named the “Yankees” and an MABL team would like to be known as the “Yankees”, you could run into problems if that MABL team ages to the point that they want to join the MSBL in the future.
