Red River Adult Baseball League

1. GOVERNANCE OF THE LEAGUE
..a) The League will be governed by the current president (David Pratt).

..b) The Leagues' Board of Directors will consist of each manager from each team. The President will vote only in case of a tie vote. The Board will aid the President in manners pertaining to governance of the league, including rule modifications and implementation; development of strategic plans to improve the league; hearing appeals of decisions made by the President; and aiding officers of the league in carrying out league obligations. All items up for vote must pass by majority.

..c) Items and rules to be voted on will be presented to the Board by the President and will require 50% of the board members to participate in the vote to be valid.

..d) All managers must be approved by the President before they are allowed to manage in the league. Additionally, by majority vote, the Board of Directors may elect to withdraw its approval of a manager at any time. You must be a minimum of 21 years of age or older to serve as a coach/manager in the RRABL.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

..e) The league welcomes new teams. Any new team that wishes to join the league, but is based outside of an immediate 30 to 45 minute driving distance from the greater Shreveport-Bossier area, must play the entirety of its games in its first season at fields located in the Shreveport-Bossier area. If the team showed that it could consistently field a team each weekend for the entire first season, it will be permitted to host home games during its second season.

2. UNIFORMS, HELMETS, AND BASEBALLS

..a) All teams must have full baseball uniforms consisting of caps, numbered baseball jerseys, baseball pants, belts, sanitary socks - each player's uniform must be of similar design to his teammates uniforms (hats may be given an exemption). Teams having sponsorship will be allowed the sponsor's name on their uniform via patch or uniform shirt.

.....i) No player out of uniform will be allowed to play.

....ii) All teams should have their uniforms by their second game. A grace period may be implemented by the league president in the case of newly activated players or for new teams to purchase their uniforms.

..b) All batters and runners must wear helmets for both at bats and on base. There is no option to this rule. Full double ear flap helmets are encouraged for at bats and are encouraged for the bases. Catchers must wear a helmet underneath their mask.

..c) The official ball of the RRABL is the Diamond DOL-A Baseball. The designated home team should supply all the balls necessary for each game. Only balls provided by the local league will be permitted unless permission of the opposing manager is first obtained.

..d) Wood bats only will be used.

..e) Metal cleats are permitted.

3. GAME LENGTH, RUN RULE, LEAGUE STANDINGS, RAIN-OUTS, AND GENERAL LEAGUE RULES

..a) All games are 9 innings or 2 hours and 30 minutes for all age divisions, whichever comes first. Any inning started before the expiration of the above time limit is to be played to completion. A new inning starts upon the last out of the prior inning. In the event of a tie after the expiration of the time limit or nine innings, only one new inning will be played, unless time still has not expired. In that case, the game will continue until time expires. Any game tied after extra innings will be listed in the standings as a tie. The following exceptions apply:

.....i) darkness - 5 innings complete or 1 hour and 30 minutes played, whichever comes first - umpire's discretion.

....ii) rain - 5 innings complete or 1 hour 30 minutes played, whicever comes first. For items i and ii, official scoring of the game will be the last complete inning.

...iii) All league playoff games will conform to regular season rules and will be played until a winner is determined. The umpire may suspend, cancel or call a game if, in their opinion, the safety of the players is compromised due to rain, darkness, or time limits.

..b) If there is a 10-run discrepancy and the game has gone at least 2 hours, for all age divisions, the game will be ruled final at this point. However, upon agreement of both managers, the game may be played until the full time limit expires.

..c) Any games rained out will be rescheduled by the league if possible. All make-up games must be agreed to by both managers and league notification must take place. Rain out games should be made up in order of cancellation if possible. Tie games which have not been played to completion (in accord with Rule 2 a) above) can be played to completion at a later date, again with the agreement of both teams and league notification. If every effort has been made to reschedule rain outs, and the weather continues to not cooperate, it is permissible to end the season as long as there are no more than two games per team that have not been made up.

..d) The League Season shall consist of a fourteen (14) game regular season schedule for the 18+ Division and a twelve (12) game schedule for the 30+ Division, running from late April / early May to the middle of August. Final league standings will be determined by win percentage. Ties will be decided by head to head competition first, followed by lowest runs allowed second and total runs scored third. Should a tie remain after the 3rd tie-breaker, the tie will be decided by a coin-flip to be conducted by the League President.

..e) The League will maintain a phone number for each manager to contact the League President or other designated League Official for notifications of rainouts. In the event of rain, the League will provide information at this number through a message or personal contact as to the status of each game. In the event of rain or a past or threatened rain event that may prevent play, it is the responsibility of each manager to call the leagues designated "rainout line" to determine if play has been cancelled at least two hours before the scheduled game time.

..f) A team manager may make a request to reschedule any game upon proper notification of the opposing manager and the League President no later than the Wednesday prior to the originally scheduled date of the game sought to be rescheduled unless the opposing manager agrees otherwise. The notification must provide the reason for the need to reschedule the game. Failure to provide notification by Wednesday prior to the game date may result in an automatic forfeiture of the game. The League President may disallow the rescheduling of the game if it is determined that sufficient reason for the rescheduling is not shown. No team may reschedule more than two games per season except under extraordinary circumstances and only with permission of the League President. Any rescheduled game will be treated as a rainout and is to be rescheduled (in accord with Rule 3 c) above). However, it is the duty of the manager requesting the rescheduling to see that the game is rescheduled. If the opposing managers cannot agree on a time and date, the league will decide when the game will be played. Any game not rescheduled under this rule by the end of the regular season will be considered a forfeit for the team requesting the rescheduling. No game may be rescheduled for the reason that a team will not have enough available players unless the manager of the team making the rescheduling request has first attempted to borrow players (in accord with Rule 4i) below).

..g) All games are to be played on Saturday or Sunday unless otherwise designated by the League or upon League approval. Prior to April 1st of the year of each season, all managers must provide the League President with a list of specific days on which his team can not play. Additionally, managers may request that a majority of their games be played on a Saturday or Sunday or at a particular time. Such requests will be honored to the extent possible and feasible but in no instance will a team be guaranteed that all of their games will be played on a particular day or at a particular time. No games will be played on Mother's Day Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend, or Father's Day Sunday. No games will be played on the weekend of the Fourth of July if the 4th of July falls on a Monday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

..h) Any team that through its own efforts or efforts of one of its players acquires a field for use by the league, may request that at least half of its games (the team’s designated home games) will be played on such field. Such requests will be honored by the League president unless extraordinary circumstances prevent such scheduling. The field must be provided at no extra cost to the league.

4. TEAMS, PLAYERS, AND LINEUPS

..a) A player is eligible to participate in an official league sanctioned game if they have or will reach their 18th or 30th birthday prior to December 31st of the year of the season in which they are to play. 

..b) New Players: 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. A player who has not played in any league game in either the current or previous year shall be regarded as a new player. A new player acquired by a team through that team's own recruiting efforts shall be subject to the control of the team and not the league.

..c) Team rosters must be submitted to the league no later than the 1st Day of April prior to opening day, including league and player fees, proof of date of birth for any player who has not previously played in the league, and player waiver forms. Rosters may not be changed after the first league game unless:

.....1. Players are lost to injuries.

.....2. A player from their roster voluntarily quits for the remainder of the season.

.....3. The team acquires, through their own efforts, a new player who was not previously on the roster of any team prior to the beginning of the season, or a current player who has become a free agent in accord with these rules, i.e. his team disbands.

.....4. The local league decides to extend the dates for final rosters.

.....5. The local 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 and not acquired by a team through their own efforts.

..d) All players, prior to participating in a game, must have signed waiver forms on file with the league, have their name on the official team national roster form and paid their league dues. These items must be turned into the League President prior to the weekend game the player wants to participate in. Managers that allow an illegal player to be used will be suspended for the remainder of the season and the game will be forfeited.

..e) A team manager may bat as many players as he desires, with a minimum of 10 (subject to number of players available if less than 10). Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game. If a team has only nine (9) players and therefore bats only nine(9), the opposing team will have the option of batting nine (9) as well.

..f) A manager may add batters to the bottom of the lineup at any time, but if a batter is pinch hit or run for (except under courtesy runners as outlined in section 5), 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. Added players to the bottom of the lineup may be added as individual hitters or as A/B.

..g) A team MAY declare at the time that lineups are exchanged prior to the start of play that batting order positions from 10 up (i.e. 10, 11, 12, etc.) will be occupied by two players in each such batting position. That is, 10A/10B, 11A/11B, etc. The first time that position 10 gets an at bat, 10A would hit and the next time this slot hits, 10B would be up. Then 10A hits the third time this spot in the order comes up, and so on, alternating between these two players throughout the game. Once a team declares the use of this A/B system, it must continue using it for the remainder of the game. If the A/B system is used, the remaining player (A or B) in the position must be used in the hitting position if the other player in that hitting position is unable to hit due to injury or ejection and if there is no replacement player. Such a skip in the A/B system can be made without penalty. However, if a player or players remain on the bench who have not previously been placed in the batting order, a substitution must be made in the appropriate A or B slot in accord with Section h below. Hitters in the A/B position from batting order position 10 and down may be pinch hit for, just as any other player.

..h) If a player is forced to leave a game due to injury or ejection, a reserve player, not previously entered into 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. No out will be recorded for skipping the spot vacated by the displaced player. This rule does not apply if the A/B system is being used and one player remains in the batting position.

..i) In all cases, managers should make every effort to avoid a forfeiture and to field a team of at least nine players. A team must have 7 players who are on the teams’ roster for an official game, and may borrow two players from an opposing team to bring the number to nine. In the spirit of avoiding forfeits, the opposing manager shall lend one player of his choice to the shorthanded team if he has at least 10 players present for the game. Teams will be allowed to play with 7 players, but the eighth and ninth vacant spots in the batting line up will be considered an out each time these spots come around to bat. On game day, unless he has provided notification as set forth in this rule below, a team may borrow a player from a team other than the opposing team only with the opposing manager's consent. A team may borrow a player from a team other than the opposing team only if the manager notifies the opposing manager on the day prior to the game to be played of his intent to do so and provides the name of the player(s) whom he wishes to use as a substitute. The borrowing team may provide the opposing manager with more than one player’s name but only two borrowed players may be used in a game. Upon notification, the opposing manager has the option of allowing the offered player to be borrowed, choosing a player if more than one has been offered, or agreeing to allow one of his own players to be borrowed in order to play the game if he has one available. If an opposing teams’ player is not available or the opposing manager refuses to make one available, the offered player or one chosen by the opposing manager if more than one offered may be used. However, the opposing manager retains the option of lending one of his own players up until the start of the game. If a team's 9th player arrives after the start of the game or a team arrives on game day with nine (9) of its own players, the borrowed player reverts back to his team. In no case, can a borrowed player play if nine roster members of the borrowing team are present and available to play. If a team borrows a player, that player must bat ninth and play right field. If a team borrows two players, the players must bat eighth and ninth and play center field and right field. Under no circumstance is a borrowed player to pitch or play another position other than center field or right field. There will be a 15 minute grace period before a forfeit is enforced due to lack of players. If at the end of the 15 minutes a team has less than 7 players, a forfeit will be enforced. 

..j) All players may be freely substituted on defense at any time and may enter and reenter the game defensively without affecting the players offensive status in the lineup. If the pitcher is removed, he may re-enter to pitch only one time during the course of the game, but not in the same inning. The removed pitcher may play any other position after being removed or no position at all.

..k) During the season, no player may switch teams without the consent of both managers and the league President. If this does not meet with approval, the player must sit out until the beginning of the next season or remain on his original team. At the end of each season, all players become free agents who may switch to any other team at the beginning of the next season. However, no player may switch teams at the end of the season without the consent of both managers and the league President, if that player owes money to the manager of his current team for dues or uniforms or is in possession of a uniform that was not purchased with his own funds. Proof of such owing of money or non-purchase of uniform must be in writing, signed by both the player and the current manager, and contain a statement clearly informing the player that he may not be released if said money or uniform is not repaid or returned. If the player does not repay the money due or return the uniform, the player must sit out one calendar year from competition, from the last date of his playing, or re-enter the league's next draft, making himself available to any team for selection. In the event a team disbands during the season or at season's conclusion, all players will become automatic free agents and will be permitted to play for any desired team. Such players may also re-enter the draft. However, no more than three players from a disbanded team may play with another team without prior approval of the League President and Board of Directors. If a player is not invited back by his manager, he must be given his release, even if he owes money or a uniform, so he may go to the team of his choosing or re-enter the draft. Any manager who does not invite a player back must notify the League President of that player’s name and last known contact information so that said player may be notified of his options and the date of the draft.

..l) In the event a player wishes to leave his existing team and form a new team after the season has ended, he may do so. No other player can be taken from the existing or any other team unless he is considered a free agent via rule 3(k) above without the consent of the existing team's manager.

..m) Final team rosters must have no less than 12 players. However, all teams must pay dues for a minimum of 15 players whether they have 15 players on their roster or not.

..n) Last names must be used in the scorebook to allow for player identification for follow up inquiries that relate to playoff and national tournament participation requiring minimum playing requirements.

..o) One inning/One at bat rule: All players who attend a game and are in uniform at the beginning of the game must play defensively in the field for one inning or enter the lineup for one at bat. This rule applies only to games that are complete under the 9 inning or 2 1/2 hour time limit rule above. It does not apply to games that are not complete games as set forth in these rules above for reasons of darkness, rain, and/or the ten run rule. At the discretion of the opposing manager, failure to abide by this rule may result in forfeiture of the game; however, such forfeiture must be declared by a manager at the end of the game through notification to the umpires and the opposing manager as to the reason for forfeiture. Additionally, this rule does not apply to any player who attends the game but for whom notification has been given to the opposing manager, prior to the start of the game, that the player will not play. No player so designated may enter the game except in the event of an injury or ejection of another player which would result in a team having less than nine players.

..p) Fees, Rosters, and Waiver Form: Fees are to be determined by the League President and Board by February 15th of the year of each season. This fee covers national and local player fees, field use, awards, baseballs (at least three dozen per team), insurance, and administration. The league fee is currently $240 per player for the 18+ Division and $200 per player for the 30+ Division. This fee does not include uniforms and does not prevent individual teams from requiring players to pay an additional team fee as determined by each team. Each team must pay for a minimum of 15 players per team even if they have less than 15 players. In the event a team has more than 15 players, it must submit an amount of fees equal to the number of players on the team. In the event a player is added after the fourth game of the season, the added player will only be required to pay the amount of the national registration fee plus the remainder of the league fee divided by the number of games remaining in the season for his team at the time of his entry.

.....a. Each team must submit a $500, non-refundable deposit to the League no later than March 15th of the year of each season.

.....b. Each team must submit the remainder of their team fee by no later than April 1st of the year of each season along with all rosters, waiver forms, and other registration materials. A $150 penalty will be imposed upon any team who has not met this deadline. Any team who has not paid their full team fee by the first game of the season will have until their second game to provide payment. Failure to provide payment and penalties at that time will result in forfeiture of all games until the fees are paid.

.....c. Any player added after the first game of the season must pay their fee, sign a waiver form and be added to the team’s official roster prior to being allowed to play in any league game.

.....d. Each team is responsible for paying the appropriate team fee in accord with the number of players on its roster with each team required to pay a minimum fee for 15 players whether they have 15 players or not. Teams may and are encouraged to obtain their fees through sponsorship or other means. No team is prevented from instituting internal team policies by which a member or members may pay all or a portion of the team fee of another player. However, any disputes which arise as to other such means of payment are considered matters of internal team policy only and will not be subject to resolution by the league and its officials unless otherwise set forth in these rules.

.....e. Each player must submit a waiver and registration form via the league website and each team must list each player on a completed national roster form. A player who has not submitted a waiver and registration form prior to the weekend game, and/or who is not listed on a roster will not be permitted to play. There will be no exceptions to this rule since failure to complete these forms may jeopardize insurance coverage for the league and individual players.

..(q) In the event rained out games can not be made up due to scheduling issues, no player fees will be refunded.

..(r) In the event a player quits or is suspended from play during the season, all player fees will be forfeited.

..(s) In the event a player is injured prior to the eighth game of the season and is unable to return for the rest of the season, he will, at the discretion of the board, be refunded his player fees on a prorated basis.

..(t) In the event a player is asked to leave a team during the season, no refund of fees will be made by the league. Any refund of player fees will be made by the team, at the discretion of the team manager. At the end of each season, all players become free agents who may switch to any other team at the beginning of the next season. However, no player may switch teams at the end of the season without the consent of both managers and the league President, if that player owes money to the manager of his current team for dues or uniforms or is in possession of a uniform that was not purchased with his own funds. Proof of such owing of money or non-purchase of uniform must be in writing, signed by both the player and the current manager, and contain a statement clearly informing the player that he may not be released if said funds or uniforms are not returned.

5. PLAYERS BEHAVIOR AND TEAM RESPONSIBILITY

..a) 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 immediate ancillary areas. The limitation of such beverages to other areas such as parking lots may be limited by rules set by individual field owners, managers, or operators at their discretion and regulation.

..b) The league has the right to suspend or expel any team member who abuses the 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.

..c) An umpire has the sole discretion to expel any player or manager from the game. All ejections must be reported to the League President by the manager of the opposing team and the umpire. Any player who is ejected from a game must sit out for one game following the game in which he is expelled unless the League President and Board of Directors determines that such extra expulsion is not warranted. Additionally, should the League President and Board of Directors determine that such ejection was for extraordinarily egregious behavior, such additional expulsion may be extended for a longer period of time. In the event that a player is ejected from a second game during a season, he must sit out for two games following his ejection. In the event of a third or subsequent ejection during the season, the penalty and length of expulsion shall be submitted to the League President and Board of Directors for the determination of the penalty which may include suspension from the league for the remainder of the season.

..d) 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. Such action may, at the discretion of the League President and Board of Directors, result in expulsion for life from the league or suspension for some lesser period.

..e) Players shall not intentionally collide with any other players. In the case of a runner intentionally colliding with a fielder, the runner will be called out and may, at the umpire's discretion, be expelled from the game. All base runners must either slide or give up their right to a base (avoid a collision by stopping or leaving a base path) if the defensive player (e.g. the catcher) has possession of the ball, is in the act of receiving the ball, or is about to immediately receive the ball and will be able to make an apparent play on the base runner. If a defensive player is not in possession of the ball, is not in the act of receiving the ball, or is not about to immediately receive the ball so that he is able to record an out (apparent play ...at any base), he cannot block the base (e.g. home plate) or be in the base path so as to impede (obstruct) the base runner's right to that base. Under such circumstances, the defensive player shall be responsible to avoid any collision. If a collision does occur under these circumstances the runner will always be considered safe and the obstruction rule shall be enforced. The defensive player may be ejected from the game (if the action is intentional, he must be ejected), and will be suspended from league play if the obstruction is judged to be flagrant.

..f) Each team must play by acceptable and usual standards of player/team sportsmanship and by those rules of conduct enumerated in Rule 10 below. Suspensions may be imposed by the league for any serious deviations from or infractions of such standards which are considered unbefitting to the image and policies of the league and after consideration by the League President and Board of Directors.

..g) Failure to abide by the 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 anytime have the right to question a player's age. Therefore, all players must have proof of age available at every game either through the players own identification or a copy of such identification provided by the manager. If a manager wants to lodge a protest, proof of age must be presented to the protesting manager at the game. No player for whom proof of age can not be produced will be allowed to play at the game in which his age is questioned. Additionally, unless the challenged player produces proof of age by the Wednesday following the game at which his age is challenged, he will automatically be considered as an under-aged player. If an under-age player is detected or declared to have been used, the penalties will be forfeiture of all games in which the under-age player participated and a minimum one year suspension of the player. If the manager had prior knowledge, he is subject to similar suspension at the discretion of the League President and Board of Directors.

..h) If ejected from a game, the ejected player is not allowed to stay around for the finish. The ejected player MUST leave the facilities and not be able to be seen or heard from the field of play. Failure of the ejected player to leave the facilities will result in automatic forfeiture of the game in which he is ejected for his team and an automatic three (3) game suspension thereafter.

6. COURTESY RUNNERS

..a) Players that will need courtesy runners must have their manager notify the opposing manager before game time. If not so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request. Each team will be allowed the maximum of 2 courtesy runners per game. However, prior to the game, both managers may agree to additional courtesy runners, and under specified conditions, i.e. extreme heat, are encouraged to do so if such conditions will promote player safety and health. The player to make the last batted out must be the courtesy runner. Once the game begins and the full complement of 2 courtesy runners has not been used, only by obvious injury can an additional courtesy runner be used. In the event a player becomes injured during the game and the maximum number of courtesy runners (2) have already been designated, a pinch runner must be used and no courtesy runner will be allowed unless otherwise agreed to by the opposing manager. If a batter (designated as needing a courtesy runner) opts to run, or forgets to get a courtesy runner and subsequently runs, he will lose his courtesy runner for the remaining portion of the game. A team may designate the pitcher and catcher as its courtesy runners. Such designation will allow a courtesy runner to run for the pitcher and/or catcher even if another player may enter that position during the game. Once a player leaves the game as a pitcher or catcher, he loses his courtesy runner and the courtesy runner then must run for the new pitcher or catcher. 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 period, the original runner must run and the right to use the courtesy runner for this particular 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 at the end of the play. In all instances, the courtesy runner(s) will be the last batted out(s).

7. PITCHERS

..a) No player while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, nor may a pitcher wear a batting glove or wrist band while pitching.

..b) One intentional walk per game will be allowed.

..c) If a pitcher hits 4 batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the fourth hit batsman. If in the event it is determined by an umpire that a pitcher intentionally hit a batter, the pitcher shall automatically be removed from the game, and a minimum three (3) game suspension shall follow the game in which the event occurred. If the batter was hit in the head, neck or shoulder area, the suspension shall be for the remainder of the league season and the postseason tournament, subject to review by the League President and Board of Directors, which may impose a shorter suspension, not less than the three (3) games. If the pitcher is determined to have violated this rule a second time, he shall be suspended from the league for life.

..d) There is no regulation as to how many innings a pitcher may pitch in a game or week.

8. FIELDERS

..a) Infielders are not allowed to decoy a throw or catch. If a decoy throw or catch is detected, all runners shall be allowed to advance one base beyond the base held after all play stops. If the same fielder decoys twice in the same game, the fielder shall be expelled from the game. Decoying is referred to as a false catch or throw done in an attempt to get the player to slide unnecessarily, where no strategic value is gained.

9. EX-PRO STATUS AND REGULATIONS
A player must be out of affiliated pro-ball for three complete calendar years before becoming eligible to participate in a MSBL league. The last date of affiliated pro-ball participation must be documented and falsified information will result in a life-time ban from playing in the RRABL. If you are paid to play ball for a team affiliated with a major league team, you are considered to be of affiliated pro status and the above rule applies. Former Independent League players may play the immediate year after their retirement from Independent Ball (i.e. they sit out one year instead of three), provided that they no longer participate in Independent Ball. If they are recalled to Independent Ball at anytime after joining the RRABL, their one year clock of sitting out restarts after their next retirement from Independent Ball. If a player retires from Independent Ball, but he played affiliated pro-ball prior to that, he still must be out of affiliated pro-ball for three years before he can play in the RRABL. Example: a player plays affiliated pro-ball and then plays Independent Ball the following year and then wants to join the RRABL. This player is not eligible for the RRABL because it has still been less than three total years since he played affiliated pro-ball.

10. GENERAL LEAGUE RULES

..a) Forfeits are to be avoided at all costs. If a team forfeits, the Board of Directors will convene to determine the circumstances leading up to this forfeit. If it is demonstrated that a team knowingly forfeits to another team for reasons other than a lack of players, the Board may suspend the manager for one or more games. Two forfeits by any team for any reasons, likely results in a ban from the playoffs and could mean immediate expulsion of the team from the league with no money refunded to the team. The league president and board of directors will evaluate the circumstances before rendering a decision on the proper punishment.

..b) All protests should be lodged to the league protest committee/board within 24 hours after the game for which the protest is made. Notification of a protest should be made to the League President and in the event the President is unavailable, it may be made to a board member. All protests shall be decided by the League Board of Directors and/or Protest Committee with the League President acting as a tie breaker vote. The two coaches involved in the protested game will not have a vote on the matter.

..c) Only MSBL and MABL leagues are eligible for all MSBL and MABL sanctioned regional and national tournaments, unless waived by National Tournament Committee.

..d) Determination of eligibility to participate in MSBL regional and national tournament competition will be based solely on the decision of MSBL National Tournament Rules Committee. In general, no player will be allowed to participate in a regional or national tournament unless the player has participated in at least 50% of his regular season MSBL/MABL games.

..e) In order for a player to qualify for and participate in his team's local league playoffs, tournaments, and post-season events, he must be on the team’s official roster and his fee paid in full prior to the first game of the season, OR, if he joined after the season, he must play in at least four (4) games and his pro-rated league fee be paid in full. If such a player fails to meet the requirements due to injury, a letter should be submitted to the league President explaining non-compliance. In such a case, the League President and Board of Directors may waive the qualification requirement.

..f) Each year all players on the league's waiting list will be invited to a draft. The annual draft will be conducted in a manner to allow parity in leagues by having the prior year's teams with the lowest finishing records drafting first. Should a player be referred to the league after the draft or was unable to attend the draft, for good reason, the player will be offered to the team that would have had the next pick at the draft and thereafter to teams in their draft order. In the event that a team does not attend the draft, such after draft players will first be offered to the teams that attended the draft in their original draft order. Should any team attending the draft not chose that player, he will then be offered to the non-attending teams in order of their draft selection had they attended. Newly forming teams will be treated as if they finished in last place the previous season using a lottery to determine which new team chooses first.

11. CODE OF CONDUCT-PROHIBITIONS

Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:

..1. Lay a hand upon, shove or strike, or threaten a player or 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 officials 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 on 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. Players must observe the rules of each facility in regards to other tobacco products. 

..10. Managers and designated players may speak only to game officials. Any manager wishing to discuss with an official or officials the decision reached by such official or officials shall speak only to the official. No manager or player may discuss such decision or other matters that may arise during the game with any other player or the opposing manager. All such communications must be directed to the officials or in their immediate presence. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game.

..11. Children in the dugout and field of play: No child under the age of 18 years old is allowed in the dugout or field of play without a helmet at any time. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Any child not wearing a helmet is to be immediately removed to an area outside the dugout and field of play and shall not return to the dugout or field of play for the remainder of the game. Players guilty of allowing a minor child in his care or custody to be in the field of play or dugout without a helmet may be subject to disciplinary action by the league on the first offense. Any subsequent offense will result in automatic suspension from participation in the game and a one game suspension thereafter.

12. PENALTIES

..1. The Board of Directors may, by vote of the majority of the directors, suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, for the conduct which in its opinion is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or charter of the league.

..2. Except as otherwise provided, the League President shall determine the appropriate action required for violations of the codes of conduct, and shall report their decision to the player, manager and Board of Directors.

..3. Any 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.

13. 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 President or appropriate board. The President 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.