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PLAYING RULES
CHAR VALLEY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (CVBA) BYLAWS AND PLAYING RULES (amended 2008)
BYLAWS
A PURPOSE
The purpose of the CVBA is to increase the level of baseball competition for boys between the ages of 13 and 16 of member organizations in the Chartiers Valley area by promoting intra-organizational play with the use of interlocking schedules in the league age groups as defined elsewhere herein.
B OFFICERS
The following officers shall be elected by the membership at the first meeting of the year and shall serve for a one year term. No officer may hold the same office for consecutive years except in the case of no volunteers to run for office.
1) President: The duties of President are to, in general, be in complete charge of the conduct of business of the CVBA, to preside at meetings of the CVBA and appoint committees as conditions dictate.
2) Vice-President: The Vice-President will assume all duties of the President in his absence and will also be chairman of the Rules Committee.
3) Secretary: The duties of the Secretary shall be to record proceedings of the meetings of the CVBA and to send and to receive correspondence in the conduct of the business of the CVBA. The Secretary shall also conduct the meetings of the CVBA in the absence of the President and the Vice-President.
4) Treasurer: The duties of the Treasurer shall be to receive and disburse the funds of the CVBA as directed by the membership. The Treasurer shall conduct the meetings of the CVBA in the absence of the other officers. A full audit of the Treasurer’s report will be conducted by all officers of the board of the CVBA within 30 days of the completion of the season.
Note: In case none of the officers are present, the voting membership present may elect a temporary chairman and secretary to run the meeting.
C RULES COMMITTEE
The Vice-President shall be the chairman of the Rules Committee and select the rules committee. The chairman shall present the protests to the committee for their review and decision, but not cast a vote. The persons appointed to the rules committee shall represent three (3) different membership organizations. The appointments shall be made annually on a rotating and alphabetical basis, exercising judgement so that persons selected do not represent an organization involved in the protest. If this should occur alternates shall be appointed. The Rules Committee shall have the following responsibilities:
1) Review and edit the bylaws during the off-season for approval of the membership.
2) Work up the league schedules from team and field availability information furnished by the membership.
3) Act with full authority during the playing season to rule on protests and make all necessary decisions as required for the orderly and equitable completion of the schedule and playoff games of the various leagues of the CVBA. Rules Committee decisions are FINAL and NOT SUBJECT TO APPEAL.
D MEETINGS
The meetings of the CVBA shall be held as follows:
1) January thru March, the fourth Sunday of the month at 7:30pm.
2) April thru March, the second and fourth Sunday of the month at 8:30pm.
3) Meetings may be changed by a membership vote at any time or when they fall on a holiday or another important event. One representative from each organization must attend all meetings. If a member organization is not represented they will be fined ten (10) dollars per incident from their forfeiture fund. Additional meetings may be scheduled by the President or the membership at their discretion.
4) A special meeting shall be held two (2) weeks prior to the start of Pony and Colt seasons for the sole purpose of discussing the playing rules. Each registered Pony and Colt team MUST have a registered manager or coach in attendance. It is recommended that team rosters be given to the Secretary at this meeting.
5) All managers must sign a confirmation of receipt of all playing rules and bylaws and agreeing to all rules and consequences for not following rules up to and including loss of points, forfeits, and games suspensions.
E LEAGUES AND AGES
1) The following leagues will compete within the CVBA’s jurisdiction and shall consist of
ages designated: Pony League- 14 year old maximum, Colt 15 League- 15 year old maximum, Colt 16 League- 16 year old maximum. There is no minimum age requirement.
2) The playing age is based on the players’ age on April 30 of the current year, as abiding to PONY baseball in the East Region. Current official rules and regulations as set forth below will apply to the play within the CVBA leagues, except as modified herein. Pony League: Pony League and Official Major League Baseball; Colt League: Colt League and Official Major League Baseball.
3) A league must have a minimum of five teams. ex- In the event that a member organization cannot field five Colt teams to form a Colt 15 League then all fifteen and sixteen year old players will be assigned to teams competing in the Colt League. In the case of organizations wishing to enter teams comprised of certain players from other teams in or out of their communities the members of the CVBA will consider setting up a special division of these teams. Ex: If a community has 8 in-house teams and would like to enter a team that is picked from all 8 teams (an all-star team) then a special division would be set up providing the league has the required number of 5 teams.
F DUES AND FEES
The dues of the CVBA shall consist of the following accounts:
1) Entry Fee account: This account will be for all expenses incurred by the CVBA and
will be based on the number of teams entered into competition.
2) Forfeit Fee account: This account will consist of a specified amount which will be
used to reimburse the home team in case of a forfeiture by the visiting team.
The amounts to be specified under 1) and 2) shall be agreed upon by the membership. Any disagreement(s) shall be decided upon by a membership vote. All fees or dues listed above MUST be paid by June 1 of the year in which they are assessed. Failure to make payment by that date will disqualify all teams from that organization to participate in the playoffs. A CVBA member organization must complete the payment of fees and dues assessed above to remain in good standing. If the fees and dues are not paid that organization will not be carried as a member of the CVBA the following year.
G EXPANSION
There will be a one time fee of $50 per organization for all new organizations entering the CVBA. This will be a one time fee paid the first year only. Any new organization applying for membership in the CVBA must receive 2/3 approval of member organizations present. Any new organization gaining membership approval shall be on a one year probation. Any new organization in the CVBA cannot hold office in their 1st year of acceptance.
PLAYING RULES
A ROSTERS AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
1) ROSTER LIMITS: The maximum players on a team shall be twenty, unless superseded by PONY rules. The minimum number of players shall be twelve. ex- If Pony League is registered with PONY baseball then a team may have a maximum of fifteen players with no more than eight in the 14 year old bracket. Little League call-ups will be permitted as long as they live in the jurisdiction of that organization and follow the above guidelines.
2) FORMS: Each team shall submit a team roster on forms provided by the CVBA and shall contain the following information: player’s name, birth date, league age, address, and home phone number. Failure to provide complete information on a team roster form will result in that player being ineligible until the information is complete on the final roster.
3) PROOF OF AGE: Along with a roster, a copy of each child’s birth certificate shall be produced and verified before the first game or the player will be ineligible to play until the player’s age is verified. This is for Pony League only. If the CVBA requests it a birth certificate shall be produced if requested in Colt League.
4) ROSTER DEADLINE: All rosters shall be submitted two weeks prior to the first scheduled game in respective leagues. There will be an option to add additional players up until two weeks after the first scheduled game. No player may be dropped from a team roster so that additional players may be added. The only way additional players may be added is if the initial roster was turned in under the twenty player limit. No player may participate without his name on the league roster form unless he is a Little League or Pony call-up and meets the above specifications. Penalty for infractions of the above rule will be to forfeit the game or games in which the illegal player participated in.
B RECRUITMENT AND BOUNDARIES
1) A player signed to a team playing in one of the leagues of the CVBA must live in the township or borough of the organization to whose team he is assigned. An exception will be made for those players who played at least two years of Little League ball for that organization with a signed letter from that organization’s President. This exception allows the grandfathering at both the Pony and Colt levels due to a change in residency.
2) If a player was on the roster of a member organization the previous season and his playing age is 14 (Pony) or 16 (Colt) and his residence is in an expansion area, the team he played for the previous year may reserve that player for the expansion season only.
3) The players must play in their community first, and if they do not have a program, they must play in their American Legion territory, otherwise they must be approved by the league.
4) A player may be assigned to the roster of only one team playing in the CVBA except by membership vote. Colt rostered players cannot play PONY league level.
5) Any organization placing a team in the CVBA must bring all their eligible players to the CVBA for that level of play (Pony or Colt). ex- An organization may not select fifteen players to CVBA and take that organization’s additional players to another league to play in.
C SCHEDULING
1) Four weeks prior to the start of the season each organization shall give to the Rules Committee a listing of field availability for their organization for the entire season and playoffs. These field availability dates shall be utilized by the CVBA to schedule regular season, playoffs, and makeup games. If there is ever a change in field availability notify the Rules Committee at once.
2) Each organization is asked to provide any “No play Dates”, not to exceed five (5). Any request after the schedule is complete will NOT be accepted unless unanimously approved by the Rules Committee. This request must be made at least seven (7) days in advance.
3) The Rules Committee will, whenever possible, schedule all regular season, playoff, and makeup games on the home team’s field. However the Rules Committee reserves the right, whenever it deems necessary, to reschedule a game on a neutral field in order to play that particular game in a timely manner.
4) Every effort will be made not to schedule games for three consecutive days. However, this does not apply to makeup games.
5) All regular season games must be played, regardless of their outcomes on the playoffs. Any team refusing to play the remainder of its scheduled or rescheduled games so as to not complete the regular season shall forfeit all games remaining. Umpire fees, if required at game time, plus ten dollars for every game not played, will be drawn from that organization’s forfeiture fund and turned over to the CVBA for its use.
6) With regards to Colt teams with High School players competing in the WPIAL baseball playoffs, the manager of such team has the right to do one of three things:
A) Not play any games until 2 days after high school team is eliminated from playoffs.
B) Play all games as scheduled with no cancellations,
C) Play all scheduled games with the exception of games which are in direct day conflict of a high school playoff game.
Your intentions must be declared before your first scheduled game, and may not be altered.
D PRIOR TO THE GAME
1) UMPIRES: Umpires are assigned by the Umpires’ Association as contracted by the CVBA. All league games shall have two umpires scheduled. If one umpire fails to show the game shall proceed with one umpire. No parents from the stands are permitted to umpire. All playoff games shall have a minimum of two umpires.
2) UNIFORMS: All players must have a numbered uniform or he will not be permitted to play, unless voted by the membership.
3) EQUIPMENT: Baseball bats must be official for the league in which they are being used. Colt League shall adhere to the current high school standards of 2 5/8 barrel size maximum with a weight differential of –3. All players, base runners, and player-coaches shall wear full batting helmet. Metal cleats or spikes are permitted. Catchers must wear a catcher’s mask with a throat protector, helmet, and a protective cup. Any player warming up a pitcher at home plate shall be required to wear a catcher’s mask.
4) HOME TEAM RESPONSIBILITY: The home team must pay the umpiring fees before the start of the game unless prior arrangements are made with the umpires association. The home team must supply at least two official baseballs and as many additional balls as may be required to complete the game. In the event the home team exhausts its supply of baseballs, the visiting team will furnish balls and be reimbursed by the home team. Failure by the home team to reimburse the visiting team for the balls will result in the disbursement of funds from the home team’s forfeiture fund. The intent of this rule is to complete the play of the game rather than have a forfeiture occur. Pony baseballs must say “PONY Approved”. Colt baseballs must say “PONY Approved or High School Approved”. The home team shall notify the umpires and the visiting team of the ground rules prior to the start of the game. The starting time of all games shall be 6pm unless otherwise noted in the league schedule. The visiting team is to get the field fifteen minutes prior to game time.
There is a fifteen minute grace period from the scheduled time prior to a game being declared a forfeiture.
5) Only players who are present in your scorebook line-up prior to the start of a game may participate in that game. No call-up may be taken out of the stands as needed during the game if they were not first declared an eligible player before the game.
6) LINEUPS: All teams must have a minimum of nine players on the field to start and complete the game. Any league may elect to use the EXTRA PLAYER RULE (EP)
The umpires shall be notified that the game is being played using the “extra player” rule. A manager may only elect to utilize the EP when he has eleven or more roster players at the beginning of the game. Both teams are not required to utilize the EP, it shall be at the option of each manager. A hitter may be designated as an EP, thereby creating a tenth player in the batting order. This rule allows for the free maintaining of ten offensive players batting and nine defensive players fielding. This rule may not alter the following rules: no player may reenter who was not a starter, and all returning players must bat in the same place in the batting order. The EP in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time. Pinch hitters for the EP may be used. Any substitute hitter for an EP becomes the EP. A replaced EP may only re-enter the game as an EP in the same place in the batting order. Defensive free substitution is permissible at the managers discretion.
E DURING THE GAME
1) TIME LIMIT AND RUN RULES : There will be a two and one half hour time limit from the start of each game. No new inning shall start after the time limit, with the exception of the playoffs. Lights available on approved fields shall be turned on to complete the game if deemed necessary by the umpire. Any game suspended because of rain or darkness must be replayed in its entirety unless the game has gone the required four and one half or five innings, depending on the winning team. There is a ten run rule in effect. A game is considered complete if a team is ahead by ten runs or more after five complete innings or four and one half innings if the home team is winning. There is a fifteen run rule in effect after three complete innings or two and one half innings if the home team is winning. This rule is now also in effect for playoff games.
2) BALKS : Balk rules will apply to all leagues, with the exception being one warning shall be called per pitcher in Pony league for the first two weeks of the season. If a warning is called and the runner was declared out the runner returns to his base and it is ruled no play.
3) SUBSTITUTIONS : A substituted player must remain out of the lineup for six outs (three for each team) before being permitted to return. Once a pitcher leaves the game or is put at a different position in the field he may not return as a pitcher. However, he may return and play another position. The player in the starting lineup, who was substituted for, must assume the same position in the batting order when returning to the game. Note that this does not mean fielding position. Once a reserve leaves the game he may not return. A manager/coach has the option of using a courtesy pinch runner, who was the last recorded out, for the catcher in a two out situation.
4) SAFETY : When a runner is obstructed while advancing or returning to a base by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is attempting to field a ball, or if a fielder without the ball fakes a tag, the umpire shall award the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction the bases they would have reached had their been no obstruction. The obstructed runner is awarded a minimum of plus one base when obstruction occurred. If any preceding runner is forced to advance by the awarding of a base or bases to an obstructed runner, the umpire shall award the preceding runner the necessary base or bases. A runner is out if he deliberately removes his head protector, or when he does not give up or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make a tag, or if he tries to hurdle a fielder. Any player warming up a pitcher at home plate shall wear a mask. When an umpire orders a player to do so, and the player fails to do so, this shall cause dismissal from the game. This rule does not apply to a manager or his coaches.
5) INJURY/EJECTION : In the event a player is injured or ejected and you do not have an eligible player to substitute advise the opposing team manager and umpire of the situation. The opposing team manager will then designate a roster player who you may use as a replacement. This will in no way be grounds for a forfeit claim or protest from either team. The primary intent is to play the game and permit the boys to play. The player will then bat in the same order where the injured or ejected player batted. When a player has an injury which results in an open wound, the team of the injured player shall be given ten minutes to clean and bandage the player before being required to substitute.
F PITCHING RULES
1) ELIGIBILITY : For youths in determining eligibility a week starts on Monday at 8:00 am and ends at 7:59 the following Monday. A player is permitted to pitch ten innings in any one week. A player is not permitted to pitch more than seven innings in one game or one day. Any pitcher who pitches four innings in any one day shall not pitch again until two full calendar days have elapsed. ex- If a player pitches five innings on Monday he is not permitted to pitch again until Thursday. If a player pitches three innings or less in one day he may pitch the following day, provided that he does not exceed the ten innings per week restriction.
2) RAIN SHORTENED GAME : If a game is called for any reason, such as rain, wet grounds, darkness, etc., and must be replayed, the innings pitched in that game will be charged against all the pitchers’ pitching eligibility
3) One pitch to a batter constitutes an inning pitched. A pickoff play by the pitcher which results in the putout of a base runner for the third out of an inning, without a pitch being delivered to the batter, will not count as an inning pitched. Two trips to a pitcher by a coach in any inning means the pitcher cannot pitch anymore in that game. A trip to a pitcher by a coach when an injury occurs with that pitcher does not count as a trip to the mound. Only the umpires may decide if a trip occurs.
4) There will be no pitch count enforced at the Pony or Colt level
5) PENALTIES : Any violation of a pitching rule will cause a forfeit to be ruled for that game.
G AFTER THE GAME
The winning team manager will be responsible for calling the designated representative of the CVBA to report the score of the game. This must be done within twenty-four hours of the game. Failure to do so will result in the loss of one point in the standings. No warning for the first offense will be given. Failure to call in a rainout or cancellation by the home team manager within twenty-four hours to the CVBA representative will also result in the loss of one point in the standings. No warning for the first offense will be given. All innings pitched must be reported by the winning team for each team when the score is called in. Failure to do so will result in the loss of one point in the standings.
H CANCELLATIONS
1) The home team manager must decide whether a game is to be canceled because of rain or wet grounds, and must notify the umpires association representative and the opposing team manager or coach at least 1 ½ hours prior to the scheduled starting time of the game. This is very important, as that organization will be charged for umpire fees if cancellations and phone calls are not made promptly. A game may not be canceled due to rain or wet grounds more than four hours prior to the game.
2) No manager or organization may postpone a scheduled or rescheduled game for any reason other than wet field or rain . Any request for postponement of any scheduled or rescheduled game must be approved in advance by the Rules Committee or will be grounds for a forfeit. The Rules Committee will not consider postponement of any game because a manager, coach, or player(s) will not be able to attend. The Rules Committee must be notified by the visiting team or no forfeit will be granted.
I RESCHEDULING
All games not played as scheduled will be played on the NEXT available playing date.
The games of the last two weeks must be played by Sunday of the final week of the regular season. Each team must submit names of a manager and two coaches. Notification of a rescheduled game to any of these coaches will constitute official notice of the game and where and when it will be played. The two team managers must both agree upon when a game will be rescheduled. This must be done within 48 hours of the canceled game. The canceled game must be rescheduled and played within ten days of the canceled game date. If after 48 hours both managers cannot agree on a date then one of the two managers must notify the Rules Committee and the Rules Committee will reschedule the game. The penalty for not rescheduling a game that results in no game being played shall be a forfeit, and the team(s) shall pay a twenty-five dollar fine for any game not played and a fine equal to the rate of a two man umpiring crew.
Any forfeit will cause the forfeiting team to pay a $25 fine plus the cost of umpires if they are the visiting team and charges are incurred.
J SPORTSMANSHIP
1) CONDUCT : The managers, coaches, umpires, and players shall conduct themselves in a manner to reflect credit to themselves, their team, and the organizations they represent. Conduct deemed detrimental, whether by a player, manager, coach, or umpire will not be tolerated. If satisfactory discipline is not administered by the member organization in which the offender represents, the CVBA will be required to take action as the membership will determine necessary. Umpires may restrict managers and coaches to the bench (seated) for the duration of the game and/or eject them for unsportsmanlike conduct.
2) EJECTIONS : Any manager or coach ejected from the game must serve an automatic one game suspension, meaning he cannot coach or communicate with any of his players or coaches the following game. If a player is ejected from a game he must serve a one game suspension during his teams next scheduled game. Failure to adhere to this shall constitute more action as decided by the Rules Committee. Individuals from an organization may be excluded or expelled from the CVBA. This does not expel the organization.
3) PROTESTS : Any protest should be reported to the Rules Committee within twenty-four hours. Protests will be discussed at the next league meeting and acted upon. If the protest is important and cannot wait until the next meeting the President will call the Rules Committee together and act upon the protest. All protests will be made in writing and be presented to the Rules Committee at the next meeting or a special meeting called by the President. All protests must be accompanied by a ten dollar check made payable to the CVBA. If a team that protests wins the protest the check will be returned. If the team that protests loses the protest the money will be put in the CVBA account for its use. Any protest that is not in writing and is not accompanied by a ten dollar check will be discarded. Protests may be dropped at a meeting. The Rules Committee will notify all parties involved when a meeting to consider a protest will be held. The protesting team must submit their protest in writing at this time. Nothing beyond this written report and the statements of the statements of those concerned will be considered. The decision of the Rules Committee will be final.
K PLAYOFFS
1) STANDINGS: Standings of teams will be determined by a point system as follows:
a) win- 3 points, including games won by forfeit
b) tie- 2 points, and the game is complete and is not to be replayed or suspended
c) loss- 1 point
d) forfeit loss- 0 points
2) The number of teams in the playoffs will be determined by a league vote. A playoff series shall consist of a best of three games, unless changed by membership vote.
3) In the playoffs the team with the best overall points gets the first and third game at home. In the case of a tie head to head competition will determine the league winner. If head to head competition during the season was a tie a one game playoff will determine the winner or champion.
4) All regular season and playoff games of the CVBA schedules shall take precedence over any tournament or other games in which any team in CVBA may commit itself.
5) POST SEASON PLAYING RULES
a) Pitching rules as defined in section 5 shall apply to the playoffs as well unless changed by membership vote.
b) Players on rosters must participate in at least seven regular season games in order to be eligible for the playoffs, with the exception of injured players and players from lower leagues.
c) The ten and fifteen run rule does apply to the playoffs.
d) The time limit of two and one half hours does not apply to the playoffs.
L AWARDS
1) The first and second place overall point leaders in Pony and Colt will receive individual player trophies, up to twenty trophies per team.
2) In the playoffs the first and second place teams will receive individual player medals, up to twenty medals per team.
M AMENDMENTS
These are Playing Rules that were separated on 4-15-93 from the Constitution and Bylaws. These rules can be changed by a vote of the general membership organizations with at least a 2/3 vote in favor.
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CHAR VALLEY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
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