Royal City Baseball League

The league will follow the "Official Rules of Baseball" and O.B.A. rules with the following amendments:

1. Game Duration and Time Limits


1.1 Regular Season Game Start

Regular season games may only begin if a team has a minimum of 8 players no later than 15 minutes after scheduled start time. Both teams must complete the game with no less than 8 players. Failure to comply to either mandate will result in forfeiture of game. A team who forfeits a game prior to official start of the game will be administered a $50 fine which will be given to the opposing team. 


1.2 Playoff Game Start 

Playoff games will only begin with both teams having 9 eligible players to begin and complete the game. A team who forfeits a game prior to official start of the game will be administered a $50 fine which will be given to the opposing team. 

1.1.2 Upon conferring with the umps and reaching a mutual agreement, the team captains may elect to wait an additional 15 minutes for more players to arrive in order to avoid a forfeit. Any time spent waiting will come off the time limit. 2 hour 15 minute time limit shall be enforced from the scheduled start time, regardless of the actual time of the first pitch when delay is caused by players on either team


1.3 Game Length

Games will be 7 innings long. However, no new inning may begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes from the scheduled start time. Once the time limit is reached, the game will conclude at the end of the current inning. 



2. Time Limit Enforcement



2.1 No new inning may begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes from start time. 


2.1.1 If the delay is caused by the players, the official scheduled time will be used to determine start time. Any delay caused by forces outside the teams control (weather, umpire delay) time of first pitch will be used to identify official start time. Teams shall not be penalized for delays outside of their control

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2.2 Regular Season - If the score is tied after 7 innings, and the 2 hour 15 minute time limit has not been reached, extra innings will be played. No additional innings may be played after the 2 hour 15 minute time limit has been reached.


2.2.1 All half-innings after the conclusion of the 7th inning begin with an automatic runner on second base. The rule applies only to regular season games. The runner placed on second base at the start of each half-inning in extras is the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter, or a pinch-runner. So, if the No. 7 hitter in the order is due to lead off, the No. 6 hitter (or a pinch-runner for the No. 6 hitter) would be placed on second base. If the automatic runner comes around to score, an earned run is not charged to the pitcher.
2.2.2 Lightning delays will be one initial delay of 15 minutes from first (umpire discretion) lightning strike at the discretion of the umpire. After 15 minutes the umpires and teams will convene to asses a further delay or suspend/cancel the game.

2.3 Playoff Games


First Round & Consolation Bracket: The standard 2 hour and 15 minute time limit applies. Extra innings may be played if time allows. No additional innings may be played after the 2 hour 15 minute time limit has been reached. If tied after the time limit, the game is suspended and will resume from the point of suspension.
Championship Rounds: No time limit. A full 7-inning game must be completed or an official game in accordance to the championship playoff mercy rules. If tied after 7 innings, play continues until the tie is broken. Suspended games (due to weather, darkness, etc.) will resume from the point of interruption, except in cases where the mercy rule applies.

3. Game Completion and Suspended Games

3.1 A regular season game must complete at least 5 full innings (4.5 if the home team is ahead) to be considered official. A playoff game must complete at least 7 full innings. 


3.1.2 Exception is applied for the mercy rules outlined in section 4.0. 


3.2 If a regular season game is called before the 5-inning threshold (for reasons other than the mercy rule), it will be suspended and resumed at a later date from the exact point of interruption. If the game is called after the 5th inning, the score reverts to the last completed inning unless the inning was completed.

4. Mercy Rule


4.1 The following mercy rule will be in affect during the regular season, first round and consolation bracket:

A team is ahead by 18 runs or more after 3 full innings (or 2½ innings if the home team is leading).

A team is ahead by 15 runs or more after 4 full innings (or 3½ innings if the home team is leading).

A team is ahead by 10 runs or more after 5 full innings (or 4½ innings if the home team is leading). 

4.2 The following mercy rule will be in effect during the semi finals and finals in the championship bracket:
A team is ahead by 10 runs or more after 5 full innings (or 4½ innings if the home team is leading).

4.3 If the visiting team achieves the qualifying lead in the top half of the inning, the home team shall be given the opportunity to complete their at-bat unless the rule condition is already satisfied at the end of the previous inning. If the home team achieves the qualifying lead in the bottom half of the inning, the game shall be concluded once the leading run officially scores.

4.4 Once a game is concluded under the mercy rule, it shall be considered an official game, and the score at the time of completion shall stand as final.

5. Priority Field and Batting Cage Use

5.1 Where applicable (Saturday, Sunday or holiday Monday games), the home team has exclusive use of the field (at their discretion) for batting practice until 45 minutes prior to game time at which point the visiting team is allowed use of the diamond. The home team reclaims the field 15 minutes prior to game time to allow for an infield practice. Any agreement on field use between the opposing teams will preclude this rule. This rule is to be enforced within reason. 


5.2 Teams scheduled to play on LP3 have first priority to use the batting cages. These teams may access the cages at any time prior to or during their scheduled game warmup.


5.3 Teams scheduled to play on LP2 may use the batting cages only if they are unoccupied. However, if a team from LP3 arrives and requests access, the LP2 team must vacate the cages immediately to allow LP3 access.

5.4 Teams playing on LP2 may conduct batting practice on LP2 itself, in accordance with Rule 5.1, or may use LP1 if it is unoccupied at the time.

6. Player Eligibility

6.1 All players must be 18 years of age or older as of May 1 of the current season.


6.2 Players signed to a Senior Intercounty, Semi-Professional or Professional baseball team for the current season are ineligible to participate in the league. 


6.2.1 Exception: A player signed to such a team may participate if they present a signed release specific to the current season.
   
6.2.2 Anyone not currently playing for another member team OR not defined by Rule 6.2 may be used as a call up. 


6.3 Players currently rostered on Junior or Elite teams may be eligible for inclusion on a league roster under the following conditions,

6.3.1 Junior and Elite players must meet the 18-year age requirement outlined in Rule 6.1.

6.3.2 Teams are allowed a maximum of 2 Junior/Elite players on their roster at any time.
6.3.3 Teams may recruit Junior/Elite players independently but must never exceed the 2-player limit.
6.3.4 All Junior/Elite players must be registered with the league. Registered to the league infers that the league executives have been informed of current Junior/Elite rostered players (a) Full Name (b) RCBL Jersey Number (c) Name of current Junior or Elite team.

6.4 If an unregistered or ineligible Junior/Elite player participates in any game, the offending team will forfeit the game as well as incurring a 2 point penalty. (ie; Team uses an ineligible player and wins the game, they would lose 4 points. If the offending team loses, they lose 2 points). A $50 fine will also be administered to a team using unregistered or ineligible Junior/Elite players.

6.4.1 In the event an ineligible player other than outlined above is used, the offending team automatically loses the game as well as incurring a 2 point penalty.
(ie; Team uses an ineligible player and wins the game, they would lose 4 points. If team loses, they lose 2 points).



6.5 The league may engage with Junior/Elite players and programs to encourage player participation. Players obtained through this method will be entered into a draft system.

6.5.1 In the first year of this rule’s implementation (2025), draft order will be determined by the previous season’s regular season standings, from lowest to highest.

6.5.2 In seasons following the initial draft, Junior/Elite players acquired through league outreach will be distributed using a roster-based priority system, ensuring fair access across all teams. Distribution will proceed as follows:



Teams with fewer than the maximum (2) Junior/Elite players will have priority over teams already at capacity.
 Priority is determined by how many Junior/Elite players a team currently has.
Teams with 0 players receive players before teams with 1.
       
Teams with 1 player receive players before teams with 2.



Among teams with the same number of Junior/Elite players, priority will be based on reverse order of the previous regular season standings (i.e., lowest-ranked teams draft first).

Example:

If three teams have 0 Junior/Elite players and the others have 1 or 2, those three teams will receive the next eligible players, in reverse order of last season's standings. Once all teams have at least 1 player, the process repeats to fill second spots, again giving priority to teams with only 1 player.
 This system ensures all teams have equal opportunity to build balanced rosters while respecting the 2-player limit.


6.6 Teams may retain Junior/Elite players from one season to the next, however, the league must be informed each season if the retained players are still signed to a Junior or Elite team.


6.7 Once the season has started, no player may leave one team to play on a different team unless there are extenuating circumstances and the League Executive has given approval

6.8 To be eligible for the playoffs, a player must have played in a minimum of five (5) regular season games.

7. On Field and In Game

7.1 All members of a team on the field of play must wear the team uniform at all times. A team uniform will consist of the shirt and pants. Caps must be worn, but do not have to conform to the team uniform but should be of uniform colour. 

7.2 The RCBL is a wood bat league and as such, ONLY wood bats or wood composite may be used in league play and there are no restrictions on the size of bat used.

7.3 While players may smoke, they must do so outside of the dugout area. Failure to comply MAY result in their being ejected by the umpire.

7.4 Teams may choose to use the Catcher's Designated Runner (CDR) Rule


7.4.1 Any player not in starting lineup may be the CDR and must be declared to umpire and opposing team prior to game start.
7.4.2 Once the CDR enters game in a regular position or as pinch hitter, last out must be used with 2 outs.
7.4.3 If no CDR is used, last out is the only placer who may run for catcher with 2 outs.
7.4.4 During playoffs, the only CDR rule that is applicable is the 2 out rule, and only in the first round of the playoffs and all rounds in consolation bracket. During the second and third rounds of the championship, the catcher must always run for himself.


7.5 A playing manager ON THE FIELD may visit the mound unlimited times (at the discretion of the umpire). 


7.5.1 For a manager or player making a visit from the bench, the official rules of baseball apply.

7.6 The only time a player may re-enter the game is if in the place of an injured player. An injured player may not re-enter the game.

8. Ejections and Suspensions



8.1 Players and coaches shall be suspended by the RCBL Administration Committee for the following infractions: 
(a) Destruction or abuse of property belonging to RCBL including throwing of bats or helmets; 
(b) Theft of equipment belonging to the RCBL; and 
(c) Showing disrespect towards game officials, players or RCBL personnel. 



8.2 First ejection will consist of the balance of that game, regardless of when the infraction occurs. Next ejection will result in an automatic 1 game suspension. A third ejection in one season will result in an automatic 5 game suspension and possible league expulsion. The Executives reserves the right to review ANY ejection and serve subsequent disciplinary action if warranted.

8.3 The Administration Committee, consisting of 1 voting representative from each team, will review any further rulings on the ejection. The review must take place prior to the next scheduled game otherwise Administration Committee will decide the consequences by majority vote. The Administration Committee Executive will break ties. 



8.4 It is both the opposing team representative's and the Umpire's responsibility to notify the RCBL: 
when in the game the suspension occurred; and the name(s) of the player(s) suspended immediately following the game. 



8.5 It is the offending team representative's responsibility to notify the suspended player of his infraction and its consequences prior to the next scheduled game.

8.6 Starting Pitcher as Designated Hitter. It is not mandatory that a team designate a hitter for the pitcher. However, in the event the starting pitcher will bat for himself, the player will be considered two separate people for purposes of the DH Rule. In such cases, the manager should list 10 players on his team’s lineup card, and this player should be named twice -- once as the starting pitcher and once as the Designated Hitter. Thus, if the starting pitcher is replaced, he can continue as the Designated Hitter, and if the Designated Hitter is replaced, he can continue as the pitcher (but can no longer hit for himself). If the player is simultaneously replaced both as a starting pitcher and Designated Hitter, he cannot be replaced by another two-way player filling both roles as separate people (this can be done only once on the initial lineup card by identifying that the starting pitcher will bat for himself).


8.7 Umpires assigned to games will discuss questionable calls (protests, interpretations, etc.) only with the "coach" or "captain." "Coach" and "captain" labels shall be given to those 2 persons from each team who attend the pre-game ground rules presentation at home plate, regardless of their position on the team outside of that time.


8.8 No player shall maliciously run into another player. Contact shall be considered malicious if it involves:
(a) Intentional excessive force 
(b) Intent to injure 
(c) Deliberate attempt by a runner to dislodge the ball 
(d) A runner making no legitimate effort to reach the base 
(e) A runner who could have reasonably slid or otherwise avoided contact and still reached the base
. Penalty: Player is ejected from the game and declared out. 


8.8.1 Malicious contact is to be penalized whether committed by an offensive or defensive player. In the case of a defensive player being ejected for malicious contact, the runner will be called safe or out according to the result of the play.The ball is dead and all other runners shall return to their last legally occupied base at the time of the contact. 

8.8.2 A runner guilty of malicious contact is out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. A runner guilty of malicious contact after scoring a run shall not be declared out, but is still ejected. This rule applies at home plate and all other bases.
8.8.3 If a fielder blocks the base path while in the act of making a play, the runner may make contact, slide into, or collide with the fielder as long as the contact by the runner is not "malicious" as defined above. The rule does not prohibit contact. It simply requires player to make a reasonable attempt to avoid contact, and to ensure that any incidental contact is not malicious in nature.
8.8.4 If contact occurs where a defensive player blocked the base path clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called according to the provisions of OBA Rule 7.06(b). If this obstructed runner uses this opportunity to collide maliciously with the fielder, he would be declared safe due to the obstruction, but still ejected from the game. 



9. Post Game

9.1 A team who wishes to protest an on-field ruling, must submit it in writing within 48 hours of the incident accompanied by a $25.00 bond and all supporting information. If the protest is allowed bond will be refunded. In addition, the intent to protest MUST be announced to the umpire prior to the next play. The umpire shall then ensure both scoresheets are the same before continuing play. 


9.1.1 The protest will be reviewed by a committee of uninvolved team captains, with assistance by a qualified umpire where required. If the protest is upheld, the game will be continued from the point of protest at a later date in the season.


9.2 A $25 fine will be incurred by any team neglecting to put the bases into the bunker following their game, should there be no game following their own. 


10. Standings and Playoff Format

10.1 League standings will be kept with winning team receiving 2 pts; losing team 0 pts; ties 1 pt.

10.2 A tie in regular season standings between two teams will be resolved by the following
1. Most wins

2. Head-to-head record between the two clubs

3. Best run differential between the two clubs

4. Best run differential overall

5. A coin toss



10.3 A tie in regular season standings between three or more teams will be resolved by the following

1. Most wins

2. Best run differential in games involving the three clubs

3. Best run differential overall


10.4 Playoffs will consist of 8 teams and include a consolation round for the losers of each first round series.


10.4.1 Playoff format will consist of the following 
   
a) First Round: Best of 3
   
b) Second Round: Best of 5
   
c) Final: Dependent on field availability and will be determined prior to the start of the final series.  


10.5 Consolation will begin with the eliminated teams from Round 1 of the championship.

10.5.1 All teams will be involved in a round robin where each team plays each other once
   
10.5.2 The top two teams as defined by final record will face off in best of 3 series. All standing tiebreakers will follow the same rules as defined in Rule 10.2 and Rule 10.3