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Forward
V. F. W. Teener Baseball is a program of youth baseball for 12-16 year old youngsters. Teener Baseball is administered solely by the Veterans of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Much of the success of our program is attributed to the many thousands of comrades and other who annually devote many working hours to assure its smooth operation.
V.F.W. TEENER LEAGUE ORGANIZATION
1. HISTORY OF TEENER BASEBALL. The Department of Pennsylvania inaugurated this program in 1950. Teener Ball appeals to an age group sorely in need of organized play and good competition. The program was a success from the start in Pennsylvania, and was adopted as a national V. F. W. program by the 52nd National Encampment meeting in New York in 1951.
2. ELIGIBILITY. The minimum age for eligibility shall be 12 years (as of August 1) and the maximum age shall be 16 years, inclusive. Any youth who will become 17 years of age prior to August 1 of any baseball season is ineligible to participate in this program.
3. THE OFFICAL V. F. W. TEENER LEAGUE.A duly constituted V. F. W. teener league consist of maximum of eight teams, with the league schedule providing for at least eight games for each team in the league.
4. LEAGUE BOUNDARIES.
(a) Each league shall determine the actual boundaries of the area from which it will select its players. The boundaries must be described in detail when making application for a V. F. W. Teener charter.
(b) If a player change residence after the season has opened and lives outside the prescribed league boundaries, he or she may choose to continue as a player in that league until the end of his or her eligibility.
(c) Posts should apply directly to the Director of Teener Baseball for their official league charters. Teams desiring to renew their charters and new leagues must have completed and mailed the charter application to V. F. W. State Director prior to May 15 of each year
5. SPONSORS. It is suggested that service clubs (i.e. Kiwanis, Elks, Optimist, Rotary and Lions) and other community organizations be approached to sponsor teams for the season.
V. F. W. TEENER BASEBALL RULES AT POST LEVEL
1. The Official Baseball Rules as approved by the Commissioner of Baseball Shall apply.
2. Seven innings shall be the standard teener game. Five innings will constitute an official game (4-1/2 innings if the team behind has have five times at bat).
3. Local ground rules should be adopted and published so that all team managers understand them.
4. A regulation diamond (with 90-foot base paths) shall be used.
5. Equipment (bats and balls) should conform to the official baseball regulations as to size, quantity and type of equipment. Aluminum bats are permissible. Players may wear spiked shoes.
6. The use of uniforms is mandatory.
7. Local leagues should adopt batting helmets for their players. They are required for all state tournament competition.
8. Local conditions should determine the size of the team roster. Most of our leagues now use a fifteen player roster.
9. Birth certificated or baptismal record must be filled for each player on each team’s roster and submitted to the league secretary no later than one week prior to the opening of the season. The secretary will take all pertinent information from the certificated and return them to the team managers.
10. For a youth to be a member of an all-star team that participates in the state tournament, he or she must have played in three-fourths of the games of the local league season barring injury, illness, and school activities.
11. It is recommended, but not required, that local leagues adopt a rule that a pitcher pitching four or more innings in any day be required to have at least 36 hours of rest. This does not apply to state tournament play.
REGISTRATION AND TOURNAMENT PROCEDURE
The procedure for chartering a new Teener Baseball League with the State Director is as follows:
1. All new leagues must be registered with the State Director
2. A players list must be submitted for each team in every league to the Area Commissioner
3. All-Star teams selected to play in teener competition will be announced by the league officials. A correct copy of the all-star team roster must be provided to each area commissioner.
4. All areas that have more than one league the state will arrange for an area tournament to determine that area’s championship team.
PLAYING RULES FOR REGULAR LEAGUE SEASONS
All game will be played under the Official Baseball Rules as approved by the Commissioner of Baseball with the following exceptions:
1. All V. F. W. Teener League games shall be of seven innings duration.
2. In all cases where teener league rules and the rules of National League Baseball appear to be in conflict, V. F. W. League rules will be applied.
3. Local League Officials are given full autonomy in making decisions pertaining to regulation games, quality and type of equipment, pitchers’ rest periods and restrictions, uniforms, and ground rules for each field of play.
4. Only under unusual or unforeseen circumstances will any V. F. W. Teener League team be allowed to play more than two games in one day.
PROTESTS
1. All protests of player’s eligibility must be substantiated with specific and definite proof.
2. If a player is found ineligible, he shall be disqualified immediately. In the case of a player found guilty of losing his or her amateur status, only the player hall be disqualified. In all other cases where a player is found ineligible, the entire team may be disqualified by discretion of the area and state commissioners
3. All protests will be decided by the officials or appointed committees at the level in which they occur.
a. Local League officials will decide all issues on the local level.
b. The State Director shall render decisions as they pertain to protests directed to him on the Department level.
c. All appeals on all levels must be submitted in writing to the next higher authority within forty-eight (48) hours after the decision has been rendered.
d. No protests will be allowed on judgments by umpires in league or tournament competition. All protests of this mature will be settled on the field at the time of the dispute. Absolutely no appeal will be allowed on matters of umpire’s judgment after the game has been completed.
RULES FOR POST-SEASON TOURNAMENT PLAY
I. Player Eligibility
1. Competition is open to youths who are 13, 14, 15, and 16 years of age. Any youth turning 17 years of age prior to August 1is ineligible for Tenner League post-season play.
2. Correct ages will be confirmed by showing a copy of the birth certificate from Pennsylvania Department of Vital Statistics or a certified recording agency of the State in which the participant is born.
3. The participant must have retained his or her right to amateur status. An amateur for the program’s intent and purpose is one who never has received money or favors or gratuities for playing baseball; has never played against anyone who has received expenses incurred while playing; or has agreed at any time to receive monies or favors individually or through his parents, trustees, or guardians offered by anyone for his or her baseball activities.
II. SELECTION OF ALL-STAR TEAM
An all-star team comprised of players 13 and 14 years of age for league purposes and all-star team comprised of players who are 15 and 16 years of age for league purposes may be selected form each league to represent that league in V. F. W. Teener Tournament
Competition if the league chooses to do so, but each team must comply with the following conditions:
1. It is recommended, but not required, that at least one player from each team in the league be represented on the all-star roster.
2. There shall be no restriction regarding the number of 13 and 14 and 15 and 16 year old players on each all-star team. However, a player can only appear and participate on one all-star roster
3. All-star teams for league with two or more subdivisions, where more than 8 teams are operating under one charter, must be selected for each of the subdivisions. No more than 8 teams shall have representatives on any singles all-star team.
4. To be eligible for all-star team selection each player must have played at least three-quarters of the local league games barring injury, illness and school activities.
III. Tournament Play
All V. F. W. Teener Tournament will be conducted under the following rules and will be enforced by Pennsylvania V. F. W., the State Director, and all Area Commissioners. Any Area or State Commissioners choosing to coach may do so as long as they have designated another qualified representative to oversee the tournament.
1. Birth Certificates will be checked and verified prior to the commencement of each State Tournament.
2. Any team engaged in State competition must be covered by a group accident insurance policy or it will not be allowed to participate in the tournament.
3. No tournament team shall have more than 15 players, a manager, three coaches, a bat boy and a scorekeeper.
4. All protests regarding player, coach or team eligibility will be settled prior to the first pitch of the first game.
5. The Official Baseball Rules as approved by the commissioner of Baseball will apply, except that V. F. W. rules shall super cede in all cases where there is a conflict.
6. Rule 4.10 of the Official Rules of Baseball is amended as follows: The standard regulation game shall be seven (7) innings.
7. Rule 4.12 of the official Rules of Baseball is amended as follows: Subpart (a) (4) as refers to “Darkness” is deleted. Subpart (5) is changed to read “Darkness or Weather” instead of “Weather”.
Rule 4.12 (b) is amended to read “All games called because of darkness or weather regardless of innings played shall be ruled a suspended game and shall be completed prior to the next scheduled game involving either of the two teams.
In the interest of time, all suspended games will continue from the point of stoppage regardless of the number of innings played.
8. Except in unusual circumstances, as determined by the State Director, no more than two games will be played by any one team in any one day.
9. If, during the course of any tournament game, a team is leading by ten (10) runs at the conclusion of five (5) innings or at any point thereafter, the game shall be terminated by the umpire and a victory awarded to the leading team. Interpretation- if the visiting team gains an advantage of ten (10) runs or more in the top of the sixth or seventh inning, the home team must bat in the bottom of that inning and, if that home teams narrows the margin to fewer than 10 runs in the bottom of the inning, the game shall continue until it conclusion. Section III- Rule 9 is amended to add a 15 run rule after 4 innings. This rule will apply to both area and state tournament.
10. No pitcher in the 13-14 year old tournament shall pitch more than 8 innings in any day or more than 12 innings in any three day period. No pitcher in 15-16 year old tournament shall pitch more than 9 innings in any day or more than 14 innings in any three day period.
a. A pitcher must throw the 4 pitches for the intentional walk; there is no just stating put him on 1st base.
11. In any or all games of the Tournament, teams may elect to employ either the designated hitter rule, as defined in Rule 6.10 of the Official Rules, or an extra hitter (thereby having ten hitters in the lineup). The designated hitter or extra hitter will be subject to all rules that govern players who bat and field, expect that the designated hitter may bat for any player and not just the pitcher.
12. The re-entry rule will be used for tournament play and shall be enforced as follows:
a. Any player may re-enter the game as long as he or she returns to his original position in the batting order. Once a substitute leaves the game he or she may not re-enter.
b. The pitcher may not re-enter as a pitcher if he or she is removed from the mound. If, however, the pitcher is removed offensively, he or she may re-enter the game as a pitcher providing that he or she returns to the mound immediately at the beginning of the next inning. For example, if Adams is the pitcher and Bates would pinch hit (or pinch run) for Adams, Adam may re-enter as the pitcher if he or she returns to the mound immediately at the beginning of the next inning. Bates would not be eligible to play in the remainder of the game.
c. A player may re-enter the game in the event of injury to another player or the ejection of a player from the game to avoid forfeit due to not having 9 players on the field. The opposing manager shall select the player who shall re-enter the game in this situation.
d. The extra hitter may move to any position on the field during the game but shall remain in the same slot in the lineup.
e. The designated hitter may be removed for a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner and later re-enter the game but in the event that the player for whom the designated hitter has been batting, bats during the frame, then the team shall lose the right to employ a designated hitter.
13. The V. F. W. Teener League will enforce a “no collision” rule. If, in the umpire’s opinion, there is a play at second base, third base, or home plate, the base runner shall be required to avoid a collision with defensive player. The base runner shall be declared out if he attempts to hurdle or collide with the defensive player. If the base runner, in the umpire’s opinion, collides with the defensive player with the intent of hurting the defensive player, then that base runner should be declared out, immediately ejected from the game, and be ineligible for the next schedule game.
14. There will be no fake tags permitted. If a player attempts a fake tag, his team will be given a warning for first offence. If that player or any other player on the warned team makes a subsequent fake tag, the player shall be ejected from the game.
15. On all fields where the catch-and-carry rule applies, a fielder must have both feet in the field of play to record an out on a batted ball. If after making a catch the fielder leaves the field of play, the ball should not be dead and the fielder may make a play on other runners without having to return to the field of play.
16. There shall be no throwing, kicking or destruction of equipment and no profanity by managers, coaches, or players. If a violation of this rule occurs and is observed or heard by the umpire, the offending immediately ejected from the game and will additionally be ineligible for the next scheduled game. Ejected players shall be in uniform and shall sit on the bench for the next scheduled game. Ejected managers and coaches shall not be permitted on the field or in the dugout for the next schedule game.
17. Equipment shall conform to the official baseball regulations as to size, quality and type, except that aluminum bats may be used. All real wooden bats and/or BBCOR certified with no greater differential than minus 7 for the 13-14 year old tournament, and minus 5 for the 15-16 year old tournament, may be used be any player. Any bat labeled double wall is illegal if it is not BBCOR certified.
18. Except for medical alert bracelets, no jewelry of any description shall the worn or carried by any player while on the playing field.
19. In all games and practices, players must wear protective headgear while at bat and while running the bases. Any batter without headgear will be declared out after the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand on the first pitch. Any player intentionally removing the protective headgear while running the bases during games shall be declared out. During both warm-ups and games, catchers are required to wear protective headgear and protective supporter and cup while in the defensive position. Catchers shall not be permitted to participate without the required protective equipment.
20. Only adult managers or coaches will be allowed in the coaching boxes in tournament play. Managers and coaches will not be required to wear protective helmets.
a. All managers & coaches MUST wear a team hat and shirt. Appropriate shoes and/or sneakers shall be worn. NO FLIP-FLOPS OR SANDALS.
21. Team managers will present batting order cards to the official scorekeeper 10 minutes before the game.
22. A coin toss will determine the home team for each game. The mangers or coach of the all- star team traveling the greater distance to the site of the tournament shall call the coin toss.
23. Umpires’ decision are final. The authorized tournament officials may be consulted by the umpires but, unless the decision is in direct violation of teener rules, the umpires’ decision will be upheld.
24. In tournaments competition all disputes and protests must be settled on the field. Absolutely no appeals will be allowed after the game has been completed.
25. Tournament officials have complete autonomy in taking whatever action they deem necessary or in fairness of the game in behavioral problems of participants. Severe cases of misconduct, both on and off the field, may result in team or individual disqualification as decided by the state area commissioner.
26. The following new rule is added to section III that allows for a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher: At any time, the team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and /or catcher. The courtesy runner for the pitcher cannot be the same individual as the courtesy runner for the catcher. Player who have participated in the game in any other capacity are ineligible to server as courtesy runners. A player that has been used as a substitute for another player in the same half inning. The umpire must be notified that a player is a courtesy runner; otherwise he will be considered a legal substitute.
27. All teams participating in VFW Post Season State Tournaments are reminded to use the amenities provided by the host sites. These sites have put a lot of hard work & expenses to provide the coaches & players these things.
