Lebanon Valley VFW Teener League By-Laws

1.     Officers: The League will comprise of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Umpire Representative, if one is available.

2.     Quorum: For a meeting to be official business 5 of the 8 teams must be present.

3.     Voting:   The coach or representative of the VFW team (16U) that is present at the meeting gets 1 total vote for their team.  In case of a tie the President shall break the tie.

4.     Meetings:  Meetings will be held March, April, May, June, July, September, and October.  Special meetings may be called at any time throughout the year.  A seven-day notice of a special meeting shall be given to all teams.

a.     Meetings should be attended by every head coach at 16U and 14U or a representative of that team should be present. 

b.     Failure to meet the required 4 meetings will result in asking you to step down as the head coach. If refusal to step down as head coach your team will be removed from the league and forfeit of each game.

5.     Insurance:  Each team must carry insurance whether through the league or their own associations.  If insurance is through association a copy of insurance must be given to the league officials.

6.     Equipment: All equipment must conform to the V.F.W Teener league specifications.

a.     All teams must have batting helmets with earpieces.

b.     Any player catching in a game or warming up a pitcher is required to wear catcher helmet and a mask.

                                                        i.      NOTE: Catchers are required to make sure that they have throat protection.

c.      Baseballs must meet high school requirement for specifications.

d.     All bats must be BBcor certified.  Wood bats are allowed. NO BAMBOO BATS

e.     No jewelry can be worn during game.  Exception: medical information or for religious beliefs.  They must be taped against the body, not loosely worn. 

7.     Eligibility: The following areas are covered by the League’s regular charter.  Annville/Cleona = Annville School District, Lebanon City = Lebanon School District, Myerstown = ELCO School District, Warwick = Warwick School District, Ebenezer/Iona = Cornwall Lebanon School District, Jonestown = Northern Lebanon School District, Palmyra = Palmyra School District. Any player age 13 before Aug 1 and cannot turn 17 years of age before Aug 1 are eligible to play & that live with-in Lebanon County are eligible.  Players in these areas are eligible to play for the teams’ boundaries they fall into based on parent/legal guardian address with-in that school district.  Any player living outside the boundary without a written release will be immediately removed from the League.  Boundaries that have multiple teams will have sign-ups and tryouts. Such teams may use a draft of NEW players only, players that played for a team the previous year MUST play for that team again unless brought to the President for approval.  Said draft will be conducted at a date agreed upon by the coaches of said teams.

8.     Player Release:  A player from outside the designed League boundaries must have a written release from the Head coach of the Team he/she resides in and the President of the League to be eligible to play for another team outside team’s boundary area.

a.     All players that are returning to the League must return to the team from the previous year they were roster on the previous year. 

Exceptions to the rule.

                                                        i.      If a player moves out of boundary area between seasons, he/she has the right to return to the team they played for the previous year or they can try out for the team at which boundary they live in now.

                                                      ii.      A player may play for another team if their parent/legal guardian is the HEAD coach and has been coaching a minimum of 3 years in the League.

9.     Coaches:  All coaches must be screened and approved by League officials before they can begin coaching.   This could take up to 2 weeks to complete.

a.     Child abuse and a background check must be completed.  This paperwork will need to be renewed every 5 years.  A copy of each of these checks must be handed in to League officials.  This is the coach’s responsibility to make sure that they are completed and handed in prior to season starting.  If checks are not updated, coach will NOT be permitted to coach until all checks have been turned in to the League. 

b.     Head coaches will be the only coach permitted to speak with umpires regarding any plays in question. 

 

10.Number of players:  Each team may carry up to a maximum of 18 players on their roster.

11.Birth Certificates: All new players to the League must hand in a copy of their birth certificate to the League to make sure player is eligible.

12.Rosters:  One roster will be given to the League Secretary and one copy of each roster will be given to all Head Coaches. 

a.     If a player is not on the 16U roster when they are turned into VFW league, they will not be eligible to play at the 16U level.  Even if they are on a 14U roster.

b.     Once rosters are handed in to the League no adjustments will be able to be made to rosters at that point forward.

c.      If a player is not on the 14U roster when turned into VFW league they will not be eligible to play at the 14U level.

13.Benches: Players, Coaches, Scorekeepers, and bat boy/girl will be the only people allowed to sit on the benches during League games.14

14.Umpires:  Each home team is responsible to pay the umpires and the League will pay the coordinator’s fee.  Umpire fees are set yearly by a contract signed by the League President. 

15.Players/Coach Conduct: Any player or coach ejected from a game must follow the following procedure.

a.      Players:

                                                        i.      first offense must be present at next game but must sit out entire game.  If player is not there this will carry over until the player shows up and meets the required games.

                                                     ii.       a second offense the player must sit out for 3 games and watch from the bench. If player is not there this will carry over until the player shows up and meets the required games.

                                                   iii.      If third offense the player dismissed from the league.

 

b.     Coaches:

                                                        i.      first offense coaches must sit out the next 2 games.  Cannot be at the field.

                                                     ii.       a second offense the coach must sit out next 5 games. Cannot be at the field.

                                                   iii.      If third offense the coach is dismissed from the league. Must apply for reinstatement the following year.

                                                   iv.      If an ejected coach is present at the field during any game while under a suspension, the game will be halted until the coach leaves the premises.  If the coach does not leave the premises revert to Rule 15-F of the bylaws.

                                                     v.      The Board of Directors will communicate with the Managers/Head coaches of the league only.  Managers/Head coaches are responsible for all coaches and players.

c.      It is up to the umpire discretion to eject a player/coach.  Good sportsmanship must be always shown.

d.     A player, coach, and fan code of conduct.  All players/parents and coaches will sign code of conduct and all forms will be returned to the league.  A player or coach not signing the code of conduct will NOT be eligible to be part of the team or League.

                                                        i.      All new coaches to the league will need COC paperwork signed and turned into the league prior to coaching in any game.

                                                      ii.      All new players/parents to the league will need COC paperwork signed and turned into the league prior to playing in any game.

e.     Coaches will make sure that all fans and players show good sportsmanship at League games.  They will also assist if a fan or player becomes unruly at the discretion of the umpire. 

f.       If a fan refuses to leave, the game will be suspended at that time.  Game will be played/ made up at the discretion of the League President.

g.      Pitch count violations.  Using pitchers that have not had the proper rest period.  2 Game suspension for Head coach/Manager and the illegally pitched game will be a forfeit. It is the Head coaches responsibility to make sure pitch counts are accurately reported to the scorekeeper at the end of every game by 9pm of the day the game is played.

16.Games: Depending on the number of teams in the League we will either have 2 or 3 rounds of games.  All games will count that are played during the season.  End of the season will be around July 4.  All rules of the games that are not in the V.F.W Teener handbook or in these by-laws follow major league rules.  Games cannot be cancelled unless both coaches agree.  Umpire coordinator needs to be contacted.

 

17.Protesting games: If protesting a game, the team protesting must put in writing and deliver(email) it to a League official within 24 hours.  The umpire must sign both scorebooks at the time of the protest before another pitch is thrown.  Whatever the League officials rule on a protest will be final.

a.     President, Treasurer, and Umpire representative will make up the arbitration board.

                                                        i.      If 1 of these members is part of the protest, the other 2 members will select a 3^rd member to the committee.

                                                      ii.      The selection could be any member of the league.

                                                    iii.      If the umpire representative is involved in the protest another umpire will be selected.

                                                    iv.       The arbitration board shall be comprised of three (3) neutral appointed people plus a League officer and an officer from the umpire association who shall jointly render decisions on all acts of violating rules of conduct, that pertain to the operations of the League and the playing of the schedule.

                                                      v.       The board of arbitration will meet as soon as possible after any incident, but under no circumstances shall it be later 72 hours after receipt of reports.  The board of arbitration shall have all 3 members present to convene and render a decision.

18.Schedule: Any schedules that need to be changed must be turned in and changed prior to the season starting. No schedule changes will be permitted during the season unless it is due to health concerns or weather.   

a.     14U games will end once the 16U season starts. 

b.     All 14U and 16U schedules are posted on Lebanon Valley Teeners website & Lebanon County Umpires website.

19.Rescheduling of Rainouts: Rainouts must be scheduled as soon as possible with the 2 teams involved and must include the umpiring coordinator.  The games should not be rescheduled further out than 7 Days from the date of rainout.

a.     If a date of the game cannot be set by the 2 teams’ and umpire coordinator within 7 days, the President of the League shall set a date and time to play the game.  If a team does not show it will be a forfeit for that team and the forfeiting team will pay the $100 umpire fee.

20.Ties/Rainouts/Darkness: Seven innings shall be the standard teener game. Five innings will constitute an official game (4-1/2 innings if the team behind has have five times at bat).

a.     Any game that only completes 1 or 2 innings is restarted.  Any game that plays 3 or 4 innings is picked up from where it is left off. 

b.     Any game not consider a legal game and not completed due to a tie score, darkness, or inclement weather follows the above rule. Exception to this rule is 14U plays 2 hr. time frame only.  If the score is tie after 5 or more completed innings and the game is called, it must begin from the point it was left off on another scheduled date.  If 5 or more innings are completed and a new inning is started and does not complete because of inclement weather, or darkness it reverts back to the last completed inning. 

21.Mercy rule: Mercy rule when 1 team is ahead by 15 runs after 4 innings or 10 runs at end of 5 innings or more. Unless home team has the 15-run lead after 3 ½ innings or 10 run lead than only need to complete 4 ½ innings

22.Extra-inning games: Will start with a runner on second base.  The runner on second base will be the batter in the lineup that is just before the first batter of the extra inning.

23.Box Scores: It is the responsibility of both teams to email the scores to the Scorekeeper to be posted on the league website by 9pm of the day of the game’s completion.

a.     Home team book will be the official book for all games.

24.Pitching rules:

a.     Starting pitchers will get 8 warmup pitches from the mound at the beginning of the game.

b.     Each inning after that will be 4 warmup pitches unless a pitching change occurs than would revert to rule 24 section A. 

c.      Intentional walk pitches do not need to be thrown, however the 4 called pitches will count in the total pitches.

d.     0-25 called pitches no rest needed 

                                                        i.      Ex. 24 pitches Monday can pitch Tuesday

e.     26-50 called pitches Requires 1 day of rest

                                                        i.      Ex. 37 pitches Monday cannot pitch till Wednesday

f.       51-75 called pitches Requires 2 days rest

                                                        i.      Ex. 70 pitches on Monday cannot pitch till Thursday

g.      76-100 called pitches Requires 3 days rest

                                                        i.      Ex. 100 pitches on Monday cannot pitch till Friday

h.     NO PITCHERS SHALL THROW MORE THAN 200 pitches in any 7-day window

i.        Any pitching done at 14U, or VFW will count towards the other if you play on both teams. 

25.Re-entry of starting player: The League will follow the rules for re-entry of starting players set for the V.F.W handbook.

26.Must slide: Any player must slide or attempt to avoid the tag at second, third, or home.  Any malicious or flagrant violation shall be cause for an automatic ejection of the player.

a.     A player CANNOT dive over top of a fielder.

27.Tie Breaker: If there is a tie between 2 teams for the League Championship there will be a one-game playoff to determine the League Championship at a neutral field.  Coin flip for home. 

a.     If more than two teams are tied for the Championship, we will play out a bracket.

                                                        i.      Teams involved in the tie.  Seeding will be record against each other team in the tie.

                                                      ii.      Fewest runs score against

                                                    iii.      Most runs scored

1.     Odd number of teams in tie.  Most wins get first round bye.

2.     Even number of teams in tie. First seed play lowest seed.

 

28. 14U rules ONLY:  

a.     A league fee will be determined at a meeting prior to the start of the 14U season. Each team pays half the umpire fee. Umpiring Coordinator will provide a pay schedule for the umpires. Each team supplies one new ball each game. All Teener rules apply unless otherwise stated in yellow highlighter area. Pitches thrown during 14U games count toward a player’s Teener pitch count

b.     Run limit of 5 runs per inning until the last inning.  Last inning will be limited to 10 runs.  Once umpire announces last inning prior to away team batting, 10 run rule is in effect.  All mercy rules still apply to these games.

c.      Starting pitchers will get 8 warm pitches from the mound at the beginning of the game.

d.     Each inning after that will be 4 warm up pitches unless a pitching change occurs than would revert to rule 24 section A. 

e.     Intentional walk pitches do not need to be thrown, however the 4 called pitches will count in the total pitches.

f.       0-20 called pitches no rest needed 

                                                        i.      Ex. 19 pitches Monday can pitch Tuesday

g.      21-35 called pitches Requires 1 day of rest

                                                        i.      Ex. 30 pitches Monday cannot pitch till Wednesday

h.     36-50 called pitches Requires 2 days rest

                                                        i.      Ex. 48 pitches on Monday cannot pitch till Thursday

i.        51-65 called pitches Requires 3 days rest

                                                        i.      Ex. 60 pitches on Monday cannot pitch till Friday

j.        66 +  called pitches Requires 4 days rest

                                                        i.      Ex. 75 pitches on Monday cannot pitch till Saturday

k.      NO PITCHERS SHALL THROW MORE THAN 190 pitches in any 7-day window

l.      A continuous batting order will be used this allows a free float line up.  Fielding positions may be made every inning.

m.  Coaches are encouraged to play everyone in the field at least 2 innings.

n.    Time limits - For 7-inning games, no new inning may begin after 1hr 45 minutes.

o.    For 5-inning games, no new inning may begin after 1 hour, 30 minutes. Pitching rules for Saturday doubleheaders.

                                          i.     A pitcher who throws 25 pitches or fewer in Game 1 may pitch in Game 2 but may not pitch more than 100 pitches for the day.

                                        ii.     A pitcher who throws more than 25 pitches in Game 1 may not pitch in Game 2.

p.    Above time frames is based on scheduled game start. NOT when it actually starts.

q.    When the time limit of game is reached no matter how many innings were played, the is classified as a complete game.

r.     Scores of games and player pitch totals must be sent to League Scorekeeper by 9pm the night of the game. Email and phone number of the league scorekeeper will be given at a meeting prior to the start of the season.

 

29. All-Stars:  Lebanon Valley will have 2 All-Star teams.  13-14 team and 15-16 team.  All-Stars will start once the regular season and the Umpires tournament is completed.

a.     Each team will carry no more than 15 players on the roster.

b.    Each team will carry no more than 4 coaches and a score keeper.

c.     Only 2 coaches from any one regular season team can coach the same All-Star team. 

d.    All-Star teams could play into August.

e.     Birthday rule for All-Stars is the same as regular season. Unless otherwise specified in tournament rules.

f.     Depending on the Tournaments that are entered, there may be some travel involved with overnight stays.

 

30.Keys to the Game: 

a.     All players names need to be entered on the score card/lineup card that you turn over to the other team prior to the game starting.  If a player shows up and he/she is not on the subs list, they will not be permitted to play in that game.

b.     Lineup card should have last names, numbers, and positions for each player.

c.      Catchers when not up to bat/on base need to make sure that the shin guards are still on, and chest protector and helmet removed but are easily assessable for returning to the field promptly.

d.     Players need to always hustle on and off the field in between inning.

e.     Prior to the start of each game VFW Baseball Sportsmanship Code will be read.

f.       All player and coaches will line on their respected sides of the field on the 1^st and 3^rd baselines. 

VFW Baseball Sportsmanship CODE

· Keep the rules.

· Keep faith with my teammates.

· Keep my temper.

· Keep myself fit.

· Keep a stout heart in defeat.

· Keep pride under control in victory.

· Keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body

President___________________________               Date: ___________

Treasurer___________________________              Date: ___________

Secretary___________________________               Date: ___________

 

Updated: 1/21/25