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NELBL Rules of Play

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NELBL Rules - 2023

The New England Legends Baseball League (NELBL) shall follow and abide by standard Major League Baseball Rules of Play, except for defined modifications. The following baseball rules modifications are designed to promote fair play and minimize the possibility of injury for all NELBL teams and players. Last modified 4/3/23 dc

1. Player Eligibility

  1. All NELBL players must reach at least age 50 by the end of the calendar year to be eligible to play during that same year’s baseball season. For example, registered players may play during the normal April thru September baseball season at age 49 provided they will turn 50 by the last day of December in the same calendar year.

2. Lineups

  1. Both team managers may meet prior to the start of any game if  “special arrangements” are being requested for a team’s batting order; e.g. if a player can play defensively but requests to be left out of the batting order due to injury or some other mitigating circumstance. Both managers must agree to the requested special arrangements prior to the start of a game, otherwise no special batting arrangements are allowed. It is important that no player be left out of the batting order solely for competitive purposes. 
  2. Players arriving late to the game shall be added to the bottom of the line-up at any time during the game.  Comment - All games should be managed for the enjoyment of all players. Players should not be held out of a game for competitive reasons.
  3. Any player who feels they are being denied a reasonable amount of playing time should contact the league commissioner if unable to resolve the issue with the team manager.
  4. If, during a game, a batter cannot bat due to injury or absence, they are removed from the batting order from that time. The injured players batting spot is skipped from that time forward, without penalty. A team shall not alter the batting order after the start of the game, except to add players to the bottom of the line-up.
  5. If a team’s batting order does not have 9 nine players to start the game or is reduced to fewer than nine players and there are no replacements available, that team’s manager can request to play with fewer than 9 players, or may request the use of one or more of the opposing teams players in order to prevent a forfeit game, but only to play in the field, the borrowed player will not bat for the team with 8 players.. If opposing manager agrees to opponent playing with 8 players, the 9th spot in the lineup is an automatic out.
  6. There is free defensive substitution. This means that you can substitute defensively without any impact to the batting line-up. Substitutions should occur at the beginning of a half inning, unless a substitution is made because a player must leave due to injury, illness, or other commitment.
  7. Any team manager knowing that he will have less than 9 players available to take the field for an upcoming game may bring in temporary players. These reserve players must fulfill NELBL age requirements as stated in Player Eligibility as well as having filled out a PPF with DL attached. Reserve players may fill-in and play at any position except pitcher.  Comment: Reserve players should be called and asked to temporarily fill-in and play only when absolutely necessary to assure an adequate number of players for a particular game-day.

3. Stealing/Base Running

  1. The NELBL will be using major league rule for pitchers and catcher throwing runner out at any base, so pickoffs are allowed.
  2. Pickoff attempts by the catcher are allowed at any base and if the catcher attempts a pickoff the ball is in play and runners may advance one base at will.
  3. Any batter who is issued a base on balls shall be entitled to take first base only; unless ball 4 was the result of a passed ball or wild pitch, in such case:
    1. The batter may attempt to advance to second base while the ball remains in play; and
    2. any runner on 1st, 2nd , or 3rd base may attempt to advance one extra base (in addition to the base awarded if forced by the batter’s walk), while the ball remains in play; and
    3. all base runners may attempt to advance additional bases beyond those indicated above only if the defending team attempts to throw out a base runner and the ball remains in play.

4. Pitching Rules

  1. A pitcher may not pitch more than 5 innings (or 15 outs) in any game during the regular season and playoffs. These 15 out do not need to be consecutive. Note: Any inning that ends on the mercy rule (see Rule 8) shall be considered 1 complete inning (3 outs) pitched.
  2. Balks will now be called. We will use April for allowing one warning per team, with subsequent balks allowing runners to advance. In May we go to Major League rules for balks.
  3. If any pitcher hits 3 batters during a game he shall be removed from that position and may not return as a pitcher that game.
  4. If a pitcher is removed from a game in the middle of an inning, that pitcher may not return to the mound until the next inning. The pitcher does not need to remain in the field. A pitcher may only re-enter as a pitcher one time during the same game.
  5. A pitcher is entitled to 10 warm up pitches to start a game and 10 pitches between innings. A new pitcher will be allowed the same amount of pitches unless entering a game due to injury during an inning.
  6. If the pitcher/catcher decide to intentionally walk a batter, a simple indication to the umpire will allow the batter to take first.

5. Bunting

  1. Slash bunt not allowed, if done it’s an out.
  2. No suicide squeeze bunts, however a sacrifice bunt or bunt for a hit with man on 3rd base is allowed.

6. Game Length/Time Limit/Tie Games

  1. NELBL games shall be 9 innings in length or 3 hours in duration, whichever occurs first. 7 innings shall be 2:30 in length.
  2. No new inning shall begin after 3 hours has elapsed. For example, if a new inning starts at 2 hours 55 minutes, the new inning started shall be completed without regard to the time limit. The bottom half of the inning does not get played if the home team has the lead.
  3. In the event that an official game is tied at the end of 9 innings, the game shall be continued if there is unused time remaining. However, no new inning shall begin after 3 hours. Thus, a game can result in an ultimate tie and be recorded as such in the standings.

7. Game Delays

  1. In the event that rain or threatening weather delays the start of the game, a 30 minute grace period shall be allowed without impacting the length of the game. Thus, a game scheduled to start at 12:00 which is delayed until 12:30 the game will be subject to the 3 hour time limit rule from the start of the game or 12:30.
  2. In the event that rain interrupts play after the game has begun, it is the umpires discretion on length of delay, stoppage of play, and calling the game short of completion.
  3. In all cases where substantial injury delays occur such that a game cannot be completed, a meeting with the two managers and the umpire shall be held to decide the fate of the game. Mutual agreement should be reached between the managers within 5 minutes. In the event the parties do not agree, the umpire shall decide the fate of the game and the managers will abide by the umpire’s decision. However, should both managers agree that the umpire’s decision was not in the best interest of the league, a joint appeal can be made to NELBL commissioner for possible reconsideration? NEW RULE FOR 2023.

8. Maximum Runs Per Inning/Game (Mercy Rule)

  1. Each team may score no more than 6 runs max. per inning, through the end of the 8th inning. i.e. a team’s offensive half of an inning will end after that team has scored 6 runs in any inning prior to the 9th.   Once the game progresses into the 9th inning, the number of allowable runs scored by each team then becomes unlimited. Note: this rule does not apply to any league playoff games. During playoffs there is no mercy rule.

9. Courtesy Runners

  1. If a player who reaches base is unable to run due to injury, or if they are the pitcher or catcher, or 2 other named players, they may request a courtesy runner, who must be the last player to be out, whether at bat or on the bases, except that the pitcher and catcher and the 2 named players are excused from acting as courtesy runners for other players. If you need more than 2 courtesy runners, you must discuss with opposing manager before the game at the plate meeting.
  2. No pinch runners from home plate. If a batter cannot run for himself, he is automatically advanced to first base if he gets a hit that is cleanly through the infield or into the outfield. At that point a courtesy runner may take his place. Any such runner that cannot run for himself must be declared to the umpire and clearly marked on the line-up card.
  3. Courtesy runners cannot steal.  NEW RULE FOR 2023.

10. Base Running

  1. On any “clean hit” through the infield or into the outfield, no defensive player will be allowed to throw out the batter attempting to reach 1st base. However, other base runners attempting to reach any other base on the clean hit can be thrown out.
  2. Hidden ball tricks will not result in the runner being called out.
  3. A runner who fails to make a reasonable attempt to avoid a collision with a defensive player shall be called out. Any other runner advancing on the play shall be required to return to the last base visited. In the event that an umpire determines that a collision was flagrant (i.e. attempted to bowl over the fielder/catcher when it is clear he has the ball and is waiting to apply the tag), he has the authority to eject the offending player from the game.
  4. The catcher is not allowed to block the home plate with the ball. Slide or avoid rule applies and expulsion is the umpire decision.
  5. Dropped 3rd strikes are now per major league rules.
  6. If a runner does block or prevent a throw, and interference is called, both the runner and the batter or the runners behind him are out per the umpire’s decision.
  7. Headfirst slides are at the player’s discretion.

11. Equipment

  1. Rubber, plastic or metal spikes (or sneakers) may be always worn.
  2. Only solid wood bats or wood-composite bats with a “BBCOR” or “BESR” indication are acceptable. Metal and metal-wood bats are illegal (bats cannot have any form of metal). 
  3. Pitchers may not wear white or light color long sleeves.
  4. Teams are required to dress their team in uniform. Minimum requirements include jerseys and hat. “Our goal is to give players a true baseball experience.”
  5. Rosin and pine tar are allowed in accordance with the MLB rule book.

12. Assigned Umpires

  1. Two umpires will be assigned to each Legends game. It is strongly recommended that the home team manger phone and talk to both assigned umpires prior to the day of each scheduled game and get assurance that both umpires will attend. In the event of only one umpire showing up for a game, that game will be played without the second umpire.

13. Playoff Eligibility.- Changes still in progress

  1. Playoff “formats” and the number of teams eligible for playoffs will be determined by the league commissioner and team managers before the end of each season.
  2. Players must have played in at least 50% of the NELBL regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
  3. Each team manager will start a injury list by rostered players who miss games due to injuries. Games missed due to injury will be counted as ‘Played’ games towards the 50% playoff eligibility. This injury listing must be verified by the managers and will be the method we use for playoff eligibility at the end of the season. The NELBL Commissioner will be the final arbiter for playoff player eligibility.
  4. Seeding for playoffs will be determined by team standings at the end of the regular season. Any regular season games that were postponed for any reason, and make a difference in playoff seeding, MUST be rescheduled and played before playoff seeding begins. If the two team managers cannot arrive at an agreeable rescheduled date and time, the game will be recorded as a forfeit for both teams. However, any team manager that feels they have gone above and beyond trying to reschedule the game may petition the league commissioner to reverse the recorded forfeit for their team. The commissioner will meet with all team managers (or team representative) to hear the petition and call for a vote by team managers who are not impacted by the forfeited game. The vote by those team managers will become the final decision on whether the forfeit(s) shall stand or be reversed for either team.      

14. Violation of Rules/Disciplinary Action.

  1. Physical confrontations, fighting, or extended verbal abuse toward anyone during a game will not be tolerated and will result in immediate ejection from the game followed by review and further disciplinary action, including possibility of being banned from the league. Arguing with an umpire is an automatic one game suspension. If both managers agree that the umpires call was incorrect or onerous the appeal process with still is available to the ejected player. New in 2023
  2. Anyone ejected from a game for any reason (rules violation, umpire decision, etc.) must leave the field immediately.
  3. Players who violate any league rules will be subject to a review of the infraction with a possibility of subsequent disciplinary action. Possible disciplinary action will take into account whether the infraction is determined to be a minor or a major offense by the NELBL commissioner and the commissioner’s selection of a committee of at least three NELBL team managers who are not directly involved in the violation; i.e. a committee of NELBL managers whose teams were not impacted by the offense.
  4. Any player who knowingly or unknowingly violates equipment rules, such as use of an illegal bat, not wearing a batting helmet, etc. will be allowed to continue to play in the game only if:
    - the batters illegal bat is changed to a legal bat before a ball is pitched to him in that time at bat.
  5. Any player who knowingly and deliberately violates a league rule that causes injury to another player, as determined by the umpire, shall be immediately ejected from the game and be subject to possible further disciplinary action.
  6. Any player who is a repeat offender by having violated the same league rule for a second time in the same season automatically becomes subject to disciplinary action for a “major” infraction, regardless of whether either violation was determined to be a minor or major infraction.