Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules The Bloomfield Baseball League (“BBL”) uses three categories of rules to govern League play. These categories are designed and intended to complement each other and are to be used in combination. The categories are defined as follows: The "National Pony Rules" will serve as the "basis" for all BBL House League (Shetland, Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, and Pony) play in the Bloomfield Baseball League. The "General Rules" define "BBL" specificities that are not otherwise defined in the National Pony Rules. The General Rules are established and routinely reviewed by the Board of Directors from the Bloomfield Baseball League. The General Rules apply to "ALL" Bloomfield Baseball House League play. The "Division Specific Rules" define "Divisional (age group)" specificities that are not otherwise defined in the National Pony Rules, or, the General Rules. The Divisional Rules are established and routinely reviewed by the Board of Directors from the Bloomfield Baseball League. The Divisional Rules apply "only" to the respective age group for which they were written. Conflicts between categories are resolved in the following order; 1. BBL Divisional, 2. BBL General, 3. National Pony. Interpretation of the playing rules rests with the official game Umpire whose ruling is final. Official Pony League Rule Book: https://bsbproduction.s3.amazonaws.com/portals/10758/docs/rulebooks/2017 %20pony%20baseball%20rulebook%20online.pdf
Conduct Each Manager is responsible for the conduct of his team and Coaches. No disparaging remarks, razzing, noise, etc., may be directed at the Umpire or the opposing players or Coaches.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Encouraging remarks naturally may be directed at fellow team members, but any attempt to distract the opposing pitcher or batter in any fashion is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and shall, after proper warning, be considered sufficient cause for the Umpire to eject the offender, or, in extreme circumstances, to declare the game forfeit. The BBL expects the Manager, Coaches and parents to lead by example. Managers and at least one Parent / Guardian for each player are required to read, sign and submit the Coaches Code of Conduct and/or, the Parent Code of Conduct, prior to the commencement of each season. All unsportsmanlike conduct - whether by fans or their teams has to be discouraged. Managers and Coaches must conduct themselves at the highest level at all times, and no attempt to “bait”, intimidate, influence or distract the Umpire or opposition shall be condoned. Failure to observe this rule is considered sufficient cause for removal from any connection with the BBL. Section I - Equipment 1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
6.
All male players must wear a “cup” protector during practices and games. Females should consult their physician for advice on protective devices. Metal cleats may NOT be worn by players, coaches, or managers in BBL games below Pony Division. All catchers are required to wear protective helmets (hockey style is recommended), facemask, shin guards, chest protector and throat protectors. Throwing, kicking or mistreating equipment is grounds for expulsion from the game without prior warning from the Umpire. Batters must wear protective helmets with two ear protectors.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
7.
All base runners must wear a protective helmet. If a player deliberately removes his helmet while running the bases, the batter shall be called out. 8. The catcher must use a catcher’s mitt. All other players may use the glove of their choice, provided it does not violate standard rules concerning size, e.g., an oversized first baseman’s glove. Pinto catchers may use any type of mitt or glove. 9. Managers are responsible for maintaining all equipment and returning equipment on the dates announced by the BBL. 10. There ARE restrictions on bat size or bat material in various Divisions. a. T-Ball - has no restrictions b. Pinto - No T-ball bats are allowed during regular games. c. Mustang - Minus (-14) or under (-13, -12, -11, etc.) d. Bronco - Minus (-11) or under (-10, -9, -8, etc.) e. Pony & Colt - Minus (-3) Middle / high school rules Wooden, metal, graphite or ceramic bats manufactured for baseball play, which are round and not more than 2-5/8” ( two and five eighths inches) in diameter at the thickest part, not more than 42 inches in length, are acceptable. (1) Bats manufactured specifically for use in tee ball play, shall not be used when the ball is pitched by a player, coach or pitching machine. Coach-pitch bats will only be used in coach-pitch using a safety ball. (2) Non-wood bats which are manufactured to achieve a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less through the life of the bat are approved for play. Effective January 1, 2012, all newly manufactured non-wood bats must be stamped with “BPF 1.15”. Bats manufactured prior to January 1, 2012 are grandfathered as long as they meet the "BPF 1.15". The BPF must be stamped or etched on the bat. No STICKERS
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
(3) Effective January 1, 2012, all minus (-) 3 bats must be BBCOR certified. The bat, which may be of wood or nonwood products, shall not be more than 2-5/8” (two and fiveeights inches) in diameter at the barrel and shall be a smooth implement, from the top of the cap to the top of the knob. All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) testing protocol maintaining the lengthto-weight difference limit of 0.50, regardless of length. All BBCOR approved bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark. (NOTE: 2-3/4” bats are prohibited in all PONY sanctioned organization leagues). PENALTY: If a batter enters the batter’s box with a prohibited bat, he/she will: a) be declared out if the fact is called to the attention of the umpire by any member of the defensive team (including coaches) before the batter has put the ball in play b) be allowed to switch to a legal bat if caught by the umpire, batter, or by any member of the offensive team at any time before having put the ball in play c) be allowed to remain safe or out if the fact is discovered after having put the ball in play or by otherwise having reached base or having been declared out. Note: No penalty shall be applied in Shetland Division (T-ball) play. Section II - Eligibility Eligible players are those players who have been assigned to a team by the League President, League Administrator or Division Commissioner. Players must be registered with the league and their parent or guardian must sign a BBL registration form in the same calendar year as the current season and pay the respective registration fee.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Eligibility – Substitute Players: Substitute players are permitted to reach the full complement of players in their respective divisions. The following rules govern use of substitute players:
Substitutes must be properly registered with the BBL during the same calendar year. Substitutes must not play on another BBL team in the same BBL division during the same season. Managers are encouraged to choose a player(s) from their farm teams. The farm team manager determines which players are capable of playing up in the event a substitute is requested. Managers must notify the Division Commissioner in advance of the game when using a substitute and also must provide substitute name and date of game to the Commissioner. Division Commissioner has the authority to veto players substitute(s) at his/her discretion. Managers using a substitute(s) must notify opposing manager at game time that substitute(s) have been called up. A substitute(s) must play in the event a regular player(s) shows up unexpectedly. A substitute(s) must bat last in the batting order. A substitute (s) is prohibited from pitching. No additional defensive restrictions apply to the substitute(s) beyond the existing division rules. Playoff Substitutions: In the event substitute player(s) is necessary, the Division commissioner will identify a substitute players(s) and also notify the opposing manger in advance of the game.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Eligibility – Tournament Players: Tournament or Travel players are allowed. Any tournament or travel player must notify the league of their team outside the BBL. These players must adhere to the BBL pitching rules if they pitch for a BBL team. The age breakdown for each Division is listed in the Official National Pony Baseball Rules. The grade / age breakdown for each Division is as follows: Shetland - Pre-K & Kindergarten (must be 5 on May 1st) Pinto 1 - 1st grade Pinto 2 - 2nd grade Mustang 3 – 3rd grade Mustang 4 – 4th grade Bronco - 5th & 6th grade Pony - 7th & 8th grade Colt - Date of Birth on or before May 1, 1997 Palomino - Date of Birth on or before May 1, 1994 Any parent who desires an exception to the defined age breakdown, i.e., who wishes to move a child “up” or “down”, must submit a written request to the BBL President, explaining his or her reasons before the start of BBL play. However, it should be understood that such exceptions will be granted only when the BBL Board of Directors are absolutely certain that the best interests of the child will be served, rather than merely the convenience or ambitions of the parent. Any player moved down, will not be eligible to pitch in regular season games or playoff games. The Michigan High School Athletic Association also has a rule, affecting eligibility. The rule states that youngsters may play on only one team in the same sport at a time. This rule applies to middle and high school students. Essentially, the rule states that if a child is playing on a school team, whether it is at Bloomfield Hills High School or any
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Bloomfield Middle Schools, he or she may not play on a BBL team until the school’s season is over. The child may practice with BBL teams but may not participate in “organized scrimmages,” i.e. games that use an Umpire, in which scores are kept or which field a full complement of players. Violation of this rule could lead to suspension from the school team for up to one year. It is with these rules in mind that the BBL begins play in the Pony, Colt, and Palomino divisions after the respective Middle and High School seasons have completed. Section III - General Rules: All Divisions A. Preliminary to Game All games shall be played as scheduled if at all possible, starting promptly according to the scheduled time. Managers shall cooperate with the Umpire who has the duty to ensure the game starts on time. The home team has the right to the field for the pre-game practice from one hour before game time until one half hour before game time. The visiting team has the right to the field from one half hour before game time until five minutes before game time. At that time, the Managers shall meet with the Umpire, exchange line-ups and discuss ground rules. The home Manager has the final decision on ground rules unless the Umpire feels such ground rules could in some way cause a problem with the conduct of the game. The home team Manager will provide the Umpire with two new game balls. He should also be prepared to provide additional balls if the Umpire requests them. B. Field Conflicts At times, conflicts may arise between the practice and starting times of our BBL games and school activities, e.g. girl’s softball at Lahser and East Hills. Official school activities always have precedence over BBL games and practices. Remember, we are guests of the school district
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
when playing on their fields. In the event of conflicts, with others not involved in school activities, our experience has been that courtesy and politeness usually are effective in resolving the situation. C. Inclement Weather In the event of inclement weather, the home team Manager is expected to inspect the field at the earliest opportunity and, if the field is considered unplayable, notify the BBL Scheduler and the visiting Manager of the game’s postponement at least one and one-half hours before game time, if possible The importance of such notification cannot be overemphasized, as it is the duty of the visiting Manager to show up with his team unless otherwise notified. If no notification is given, both teams shall be present at the field at game time and the game shall be played unless the Umpire, in his opinion at game time, deems the field unplayable and declares the game postponed. Only the home team Manager, Division Commissioner or BBL President shall have the right to postpone a game prior to game time. Lightning: If lightning is witnessed, play shall be suspended for the remainder of that day. Play shall resume on another day at the exact point of the game when play was suspended. Mutual agreement by the team managers to consider the game as a regulation (complete) game is allowed but discouraged. Inclement weather: Once play begins, only the umpire may suspend play due to inclement weather conditions. However, if the manager of either team feels that the safety of his/her team is at risk, he/she may notify the umpire of his/her intention not to play further. Any penalty for deciding not to play further shall be at the sole
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
discretion of the league president (or the division commissioner, if so delegated by the league president).
D. Rescheduling Games All postponed games should be rescheduled. To reschedule a postponed game, the home team Manager should coordinate with the visiting team Manager and the BBL Scheduler. Only the BBL Scheduler has complete information regarding field availability and can arrange for an Umpire. Please refer to the BBL Website for specific On-Line Forms and Instructions regarding the process to reschedule a game. Postponed games should be rescheduled for play as soon as possible after the originally scheduled date. Remember that the goal of the BBL is to provide the players with the opportunity to play as much baseball as possible during the brief season available. Lastly, please be advised, BBL Playoff seedings are determined by a point system, not winning percentage. Therefore, it is to each team’s advantage to play all games possible, thereby maximizing their opportunity for point accumulation toward the Playoffs. E. Collisions If a base runner is trying to advance to the next base and is faced by a defensive player with the ball waiting to apply a tag, the runner must slide, “give up” or try to avoid the tag. If in trying to avoid the tag, the runner either collides with the fielder or runs out of the base path, the runner shall be declared out. Any base runner will be called out and ejected from the game if such runner intentionally collides with a defensive player, who otherwise could have avoided the player, without placing himself (the runner) in jeopardy of
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
being put out. (One of the purposes of the preceding sentence is to prohibit a runner who is not being played upon from running down a defensive player who happens to be in the runner’s path, and could be avoided.) F.
Injury Substitutions After notification to the Umpire and the opposing Manager, a runner may be substituted for an injured player. The runner must be the player who made the last out prior to the injury-taking place. If the injured player cannot take his next turn at bat, he will be dropped from the game. No other runner substitutions may be made and the occurrence of such a permissible substitution will not alter the batting order. The BBL Provides each JoBox with ice packs and a first aid kit to be used in case or minor bruises. More serious injuries should be attended to immediately. Any head injury, no matter how minor it may appear, should receive prompt medical treatment. Please report all injuries where medical attention was necessary to your commissioner immediately.
G. Questions, Problems, Complaints If a Manager has any question or problem relating to the BBL, he should contact the appropriate Commissioner. Within the “House League,” no official protests will be honored. However, a Manager is expected to advise his Commissioner of any conduct or activity that is not in keeping with the spirit of the program. H. Player Control While the game is in progress, Managers are expected to keep their non-playing players on their team bench. An exception may be made for players preparing for the next
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
inning, e.g., a pitcher warming up. No players are permitted behind the backstop during the game. A Manager has the option of benching a player for disciplinary reasons, e.g., failure to show up at practices or unsportsmanlike behavior. We would expect Managers to be extremely judicious in exercising this option. A Manager must promptly notify the opposing Manager of his decision. A player removed from the game may be reinstated later. I.
Positioning of Players Defensive players may be positioned at the Manager’s option with the exception of the pitcher and the catcher who have definite positions assigned. See Pinto rules for exceptions.
J.
Player / Team Assignments Player development is the stated goal of the BBL House Divisions. It is therefore the request of the Board of Directors that Coaching staffs endeavor to “teach” the fundamental rules of baseball and sportsmanship and “mentor” those players assigned to their teams to the best of their abilities. There is no “draft” within the House Divisions. There is no “trading” within the House Divisions. There are no “talent cuts” within the House Divisions. The BBL uses a custom computer program to divide the player pool into teams. Players are assigned to a team by the computer program and then reviewed by the Registration Committee consisting of the BBL President, the corresponding Division Commissioner(s), and at minimum one BBL Board Member of the Title: a) President Elect, b)
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Immediate Past President, c) Vice President, or, d) prior year Division Commissioner(s). It is the intent of the Board to strive for a reasonable balance of “pitching experience, overall baseball aptitude, and age” amongst the teams from each school competing within the same Division. The number of players who register solely determines the number of teams from individual schools and within individual Divisions. Due to geographic restrictions, league-wide balance is not presently attempted for any Division. Occasionally, the quantity of registered players from a particular school, within certain Divisions, will not mathematically equal the quantity necessary to complete a full team roster, resulting in “overflow players”. In such circumstances, an attempt will be made to assemble a “mixed team”, comprised of overflow players from various schools with a focus on geographic proximity. Whenever such circumstances exist, the Registration Committee will utilize the “Date of Registration” to determine those players who will be assigned to the mixed team. The player with the latest registration date, from any school with overflow players, shall be the first player assigned to the “mixed team”. This process shall be repeated until the mixed team roster is full. Lastly, in the event the formation of “mixed teams” still results in unassigned overflow players of a quantity less than that necessary to field an entire team, the BBL will refund the subject player’s registration fee and that player will unfortunately be denied a roster position for that year. The process utilized by the Registration Committee to “balance” the talent and age level amongst teams from the same school competing within the same Division, is further explained as follows: a)
Manager and Assistant Coach Children: The children of the Manager and one Official Assistant Coach are the first players assigned to each team.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
The respective Pitching Ranking and Aptitude Ranking (please refer to items b and c) of each such player is similarly assigned to that team. b) Consensus Pitchers (does not apply to Pinto and Shetland Divisions): In conjunction with the effort to “balance” talent amongst teams, specific attention is directed to returning BBL pitchers. Those players who pitched in the preceding BBL season are ranked by age and previous season pitching experience utilizing the quantity of innings pitched in the preceding BBL season as the “basis” for the rankings. These players are designated: “Consensus Pitchers”. The Consensus Pitchers are then individually assigned to the team(s), as equally as mathematically possible. c) Aptitude Grade: All players are individually graded, on a numeric scale, by their prior year Manager approximating their overall baseball aptitude and skill level. Those players not previously identified/assigned as a Consensus Pitcher are herein identified as a “Fielder”. The “Fielders” are then equally divided (as mathematically possible) according to both their Aptitude Grade and age, amongst the teams from their school for the upcoming season. A computer program is utilized to randomly perform this initial function. (Note: Absent any information to the contrary, all new players to the BBL are assigned the lowest Aptitude Grade.) d) Team Power Ranking: Upon completion of; a), b) and c) above, the individual Aptitude Grades are summed for each team, resulting in a Team Power Ranking. If necessary, the Registration Committee shall then make manual adjustments to the player/team assignments to minimize the variance amongst the Team Power Rankings. K. Umpires
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
In the event the Umpire assigned does not arrive within 10 minutes following the scheduled starting time, it is then each Manager’s responsibility to assign parent/adult Umpires. It is preferred that the parent/adult Umpires are not members of either Coaching staff. Please report Umpire no-shows to the BBL Scheduler, utilizing the OnLine Game Results Form. L. Player Minimum (Games) Teams will be allowed to play with a minimum of 8 players. If less than 8 players are present at game time the game will be forfeited and a win awarded the team with enough players. M. Intentional Walks Intentional walks must be earned (4 balls pitched). First base will not be automatically awarded. Intentional walks are not allowed at the Pinto or Mustang levels under any circumstances. N. Faking a Tag Faking a tag will result in (1) warning per team. A second warning results in the award of (1) extra base for all base runners. O. Throwing a bat Throwing a bat will result in (1) warning per team. A second warning results in an out. P.
Speed up the Game To speed up the game, it is recommended and permissible to substitute a runner for the catcher if he is on base with
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
two outs. The last out made shall be the substitute base runner. Q. Reporting Game and Pitching Results (Regular Season and Playoffs) It is the responsibility of the winning team Manager to report game scores to the BBL utilizing the On-Line Game Results Form. Regular Season Game Results must be submitted within 48 hours of game completion. Playoff Game Results must be submitted before midnight of the date of the subject Playoff Game. Failure to submit the Game Results Form within the designated time can result in a recorded loss for both teams. It is the responsibility of each Manager (Mustang and Bronco Divisions) to report Pitching Results to the BBL utilizing the On-Line Pitching Results Form. Regular Season Game Pitching Results must be submitted within 48 hours of game completion. Play-off Game Pitching Results must be submitted before midnight of the date of the subject Playoff Game. Failure to submit the Pitching Results Form within the designated time can result in forfeiture of the subject game or any subsequent game.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
R. Pony and BBL Field Regulations
League
Shetland Pinto Mustang 3 Mustang 4 Bronco Pony Colt Palomino
Distance Between Bases (center to center)
Pitching Distance to Back Point of Home Plate
Back Point of Home Plate to Center of 2 nd Base
50 fe 50 et fe 60 et fe 60 et 70
N/a 38 feet 40 feet 43 feet 48 feet 54 feet 60 feet 6 inches 60 feet 6 inches
70 feet 8 ½ inches 70 feet 8 ½ inches 84 feet 10 inches 84 feet 10 inches 99 feet 113 feet 2 inches 127 feet 3 inches 127 feet 3 inches
fe 80 et fe 90 et fe 90 et fe et
S. All Star Classic – Player Selection Procedure: 1. Players on your team will be allowed to vote for their team representatives. 2. Players will be allowed to vote for themselves.
Conduct Each Manager is responsible for the conduct of his team and Coaches. No disparaging remarks, razzing, noise, etc., may be directed at the Umpire or the opposing players or Coaches.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Encouraging remarks naturally may be directed at fellow team members, but any attempt to distract the opposing pitcher or batter in any fashion is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and shall, after proper warning, be considered sufficient cause for the Umpire to eject the offender, or, in extreme circumstances, to declare the game forfeit. The BBL expects the Manager, Coaches and parents to lead by example. Managers and at least one Parent / Guardian for each player are required to read, sign and submit the Coaches Code of Conduct and/or, the Parent Code of Conduct, prior to the commencement of each season. All unsportsmanlike conduct - whether by fans or their teams has to be discouraged. Managers and Coaches must conduct themselves at the highest level at all times, and no attempt to “bait”, intimidate, influence or distract the Umpire or opposition shall be condoned. Failure to observe this rule is considered sufficient cause for removal from any connection with the BBL. Section I - Equipment 1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
6.
All male players must wear a “cup” protector during practices and games. Females should consult their physician for advice on protective devices. Metal cleats may NOT be worn by players, coaches, or managers in BBL games below Pony Division. All catchers are required to wear protective helmets (hockey style is recommended), facemask, shin guards, chest protector and throat protectors. Throwing, kicking or mistreating equipment is grounds for expulsion from the game without prior warning from the Umpire. Batters must wear protective helmets with two ear protectors.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
7.
All base runners must wear a protective helmet. If a player deliberately removes his helmet while running the bases, the batter shall be called out. 8. The catcher must use a catcher’s mitt. All other players may use the glove of their choice, provided it does not violate standard rules concerning size, e.g., an oversized first baseman’s glove. Pinto catchers may use any type of mitt or glove. 9. Managers are responsible for maintaining all equipment and returning equipment on the dates announced by the BBL. 10. There ARE restrictions on bat size or bat material in various Divisions. a. T-Ball - has no restrictions b. Pinto - No T-ball bats are allowed during regular games. c. Mustang - Minus (-14) or under (-13, -12, -11, etc.) d. Bronco - Minus (-11) or under (-10, -9, -8, etc.) e. Pony & Colt - Minus (-3) Middle / high school rules Wooden, metal, graphite or ceramic bats manufactured for baseball play, which are round and not more than 2-5/8” ( two and five eighths inches) in diameter at the thickest part, not more than 42 inches in length, are acceptable. (1) Bats manufactured specifically for use in tee ball play, shall not be used when the ball is pitched by a player, coach or pitching machine. Coach-pitch bats will only be used in coach-pitch using a safety ball. (2) Non-wood bats which are manufactured to achieve a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less through the life of the bat are approved for play. Effective January 1, 2012, all newly manufactured non-wood bats must be stamped with “BPF 1.15”. Bats manufactured prior to January 1, 2012 are grandfathered as long as they meet the "BPF 1.15". The BPF must be stamped or etched on the bat. No STICKERS
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
(3) Effective January 1, 2012, all minus (-) 3 bats must be BBCOR certified. The bat, which may be of wood or nonwood products, shall not be more than 2-5/8” (two and fiveeights inches) in diameter at the barrel and shall be a smooth implement, from the top of the cap to the top of the knob. All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) testing protocol maintaining the lengthto-weight difference limit of 0.50, regardless of length. All BBCOR approved bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark. (NOTE: 2-3/4” bats are prohibited in all PONY sanctioned organization leagues). PENALTY: If a batter enters the batter’s box with a prohibited bat, he/she will: a) be declared out if the fact is called to the attention of the umpire by any member of the defensive team (including coaches) before the batter has put the ball in play b) be allowed to switch to a legal bat if caught by the umpire, batter, or by any member of the offensive team at any time before having put the ball in play c) be allowed to remain safe or out if the fact is discovered after having put the ball in play or by otherwise having reached base or having been declared out. Note: No penalty shall be applied in Shetland Division (T-ball) play. Section II - Eligibility Eligible players are those players who have been assigned to a team by the League President, League Administrator or Division Commissioner. Players must be registered with the league and their parent or guardian must sign a BBL registration form in the same calendar year as the current season and pay the respective registration fee.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Eligibility – Substitute Players: Substitute players are permitted to reach the full complement of players in their respective divisions. The following rules govern use of substitute players:
Substitutes must be properly registered with the BBL during the same calendar year. Substitutes must not play on another BBL team in the same BBL division during the same season. Managers are encouraged to choose a player(s) from their farm teams. The farm team manager determines which players are capable of playing up in the event a substitute is requested. Managers must notify the Division Commissioner in advance of the game when using a substitute and also must provide substitute name and date of game to the Commissioner. Division Commissioner has the authority to veto players substitute(s) at his/her discretion. Managers using a substitute(s) must notify opposing manager at game time that substitute(s) have been called up. A substitute(s) must play in the event a regular player(s) shows up unexpectedly. A substitute(s) must bat last in the batting order. A substitute (s) is prohibited from pitching. No additional defensive restrictions apply to the substitute(s) beyond the existing division rules. Playoff Substitutions: In the event substitute player(s) is necessary, the Division commissioner will identify a substitute players(s) and also notify the opposing manger in advance of the game.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Eligibility – Tournament Players: Tournament or Travel players are allowed. Any tournament or travel player must notify the league of their team outside the BBL. These players must adhere to the BBL pitching rules if they pitch for a BBL team. The age breakdown for each Division is listed in the Official National Pony Baseball Rules. The grade / age breakdown for each Division is as follows: Shetland - Pre-K & Kindergarten (must be 5 on May 1st) Pinto 1 - 1st grade Pinto 2 - 2nd grade Mustang 3 – 3rd grade Mustang 4 – 4th grade Bronco - 5th & 6th grade Pony - 7th & 8th grade Colt - Date of Birth on or before May 1, 1997 Palomino - Date of Birth on or before May 1, 1994 Any parent who desires an exception to the defined age breakdown, i.e., who wishes to move a child “up” or “down”, must submit a written request to the BBL President, explaining his or her reasons before the start of BBL play. However, it should be understood that such exceptions will be granted only when the BBL Board of Directors are absolutely certain that the best interests of the child will be served, rather than merely the convenience or ambitions of the parent. Any player moved down, will not be eligible to pitch in regular season games or playoff games. The Michigan High School Athletic Association also has a rule, affecting eligibility. The rule states that youngsters may play on only one team in the same sport at a time. This rule applies to middle and high school students. Essentially, the rule states that if a child is playing on a school team, whether it is at Bloomfield Hills High School or any
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Bloomfield Middle Schools, he or she may not play on a BBL team until the school’s season is over. The child may practice with BBL teams but may not participate in “organized scrimmages,” i.e. games that use an Umpire, in which scores are kept or which field a full complement of players. Violation of this rule could lead to suspension from the school team for up to one year. It is with these rules in mind that the BBL begins play in the Pony, Colt, and Palomino divisions after the respective Middle and High School seasons have completed. Section III - General Rules: All Divisions A. Preliminary to Game All games shall be played as scheduled if at all possible, starting promptly according to the scheduled time. Managers shall cooperate with the Umpire who has the duty to ensure the game starts on time. The home team has the right to the field for the pre-game practice from one hour before game time until one half hour before game time. The visiting team has the right to the field from one half hour before game time until five minutes before game time. At that time, the Managers shall meet with the Umpire, exchange line-ups and discuss ground rules. The home Manager has the final decision on ground rules unless the Umpire feels such ground rules could in some way cause a problem with the conduct of the game. The home team Manager will provide the Umpire with two new game balls. He should also be prepared to provide additional balls if the Umpire requests them. B. Field Conflicts At times, conflicts may arise between the practice and starting times of our BBL games and school activities, e.g. girl’s softball at Lahser and East Hills. Official school activities always have precedence over BBL games and practices. Remember, we are guests of the school district
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
when playing on their fields. In the event of conflicts, with others not involved in school activities, our experience has been that courtesy and politeness usually are effective in resolving the situation. C. Inclement Weather In the event of inclement weather, the home team Manager is expected to inspect the field at the earliest opportunity and, if the field is considered unplayable, notify the BBL Scheduler and the visiting Manager of the game’s postponement at least one and one-half hours before game time, if possible The importance of such notification cannot be overemphasized, as it is the duty of the visiting Manager to show up with his team unless otherwise notified. If no notification is given, both teams shall be present at the field at game time and the game shall be played unless the Umpire, in his opinion at game time, deems the field unplayable and declares the game postponed. Only the home team Manager, Division Commissioner or BBL President shall have the right to postpone a game prior to game time. Lightning: If lightning is witnessed, play shall be suspended for the remainder of that day. Play shall resume on another day at the exact point of the game when play was suspended. Mutual agreement by the team managers to consider the game as a regulation (complete) game is allowed but discouraged. Inclement weather: Once play begins, only the umpire may suspend play due to inclement weather conditions. However, if the manager of either team feels that the safety of his/her team is at risk, he/she may notify the umpire of his/her intention not to play further. Any penalty for deciding not to play further shall be at the sole
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
discretion of the league president (or the division commissioner, if so delegated by the league president).
D. Rescheduling Games All postponed games should be rescheduled. To reschedule a postponed game, the home team Manager should coordinate with the visiting team Manager and the BBL Scheduler. Only the BBL Scheduler has complete information regarding field availability and can arrange for an Umpire. Please refer to the BBL Website for specific On-Line Forms and Instructions regarding the process to reschedule a game. Postponed games should be rescheduled for play as soon as possible after the originally scheduled date. Remember that the goal of the BBL is to provide the players with the opportunity to play as much baseball as possible during the brief season available. Lastly, please be advised, BBL Playoff seedings are determined by a point system, not winning percentage. Therefore, it is to each team’s advantage to play all games possible, thereby maximizing their opportunity for point accumulation toward the Playoffs. E. Collisions If a base runner is trying to advance to the next base and is faced by a defensive player with the ball waiting to apply a tag, the runner must slide, “give up” or try to avoid the tag. If in trying to avoid the tag, the runner either collides with the fielder or runs out of the base path, the runner shall be declared out. Any base runner will be called out and ejected from the game if such runner intentionally collides with a defensive player, who otherwise could have avoided the player, without placing himself (the runner) in jeopardy of
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
being put out. (One of the purposes of the preceding sentence is to prohibit a runner who is not being played upon from running down a defensive player who happens to be in the runner’s path, and could be avoided.) F.
Injury Substitutions After notification to the Umpire and the opposing Manager, a runner may be substituted for an injured player. The runner must be the player who made the last out prior to the injury-taking place. If the injured player cannot take his next turn at bat, he will be dropped from the game. No other runner substitutions may be made and the occurrence of such a permissible substitution will not alter the batting order. The BBL Provides each JoBox with ice packs and a first aid kit to be used in case or minor bruises. More serious injuries should be attended to immediately. Any head injury, no matter how minor it may appear, should receive prompt medical treatment. Please report all injuries where medical attention was necessary to your commissioner immediately.
G. Questions, Problems, Complaints If a Manager has any question or problem relating to the BBL, he should contact the appropriate Commissioner. Within the “House League,” no official protests will be honored. However, a Manager is expected to advise his Commissioner of any conduct or activity that is not in keeping with the spirit of the program. H. Player Control While the game is in progress, Managers are expected to keep their non-playing players on their team bench. An exception may be made for players preparing for the next
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
inning, e.g., a pitcher warming up. No players are permitted behind the backstop during the game. A Manager has the option of benching a player for disciplinary reasons, e.g., failure to show up at practices or unsportsmanlike behavior. We would expect Managers to be extremely judicious in exercising this option. A Manager must promptly notify the opposing Manager of his decision. A player removed from the game may be reinstated later. I.
Positioning of Players Defensive players may be positioned at the Manager’s option with the exception of the pitcher and the catcher who have definite positions assigned. See Pinto rules for exceptions.
J.
Player / Team Assignments Player development is the stated goal of the BBL House Divisions. It is therefore the request of the Board of Directors that Coaching staffs endeavor to “teach” the fundamental rules of baseball and sportsmanship and “mentor” those players assigned to their teams to the best of their abilities. There is no “draft” within the House Divisions. There is no “trading” within the House Divisions. There are no “talent cuts” within the House Divisions. The BBL uses a custom computer program to divide the player pool into teams. Players are assigned to a team by the computer program and then reviewed by the Registration Committee consisting of the BBL President, the corresponding Division Commissioner(s), and at minimum one BBL Board Member of the Title: a) President Elect, b)
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
Immediate Past President, c) Vice President, or, d) prior year Division Commissioner(s). It is the intent of the Board to strive for a reasonable balance of “pitching experience, overall baseball aptitude, and age” amongst the teams from each school competing within the same Division. The number of players who register solely determines the number of teams from individual schools and within individual Divisions. Due to geographic restrictions, league-wide balance is not presently attempted for any Division. Occasionally, the quantity of registered players from a particular school, within certain Divisions, will not mathematically equal the quantity necessary to complete a full team roster, resulting in “overflow players”. In such circumstances, an attempt will be made to assemble a “mixed team”, comprised of overflow players from various schools with a focus on geographic proximity. Whenever such circumstances exist, the Registration Committee will utilize the “Date of Registration” to determine those players who will be assigned to the mixed team. The player with the latest registration date, from any school with overflow players, shall be the first player assigned to the “mixed team”. This process shall be repeated until the mixed team roster is full. Lastly, in the event the formation of “mixed teams” still results in unassigned overflow players of a quantity less than that necessary to field an entire team, the BBL will refund the subject player’s registration fee and that player will unfortunately be denied a roster position for that year. The process utilized by the Registration Committee to “balance” the talent and age level amongst teams from the same school competing within the same Division, is further explained as follows: a)
Manager and Assistant Coach Children: The children of the Manager and one Official Assistant Coach are the first players assigned to each team.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
The respective Pitching Ranking and Aptitude Ranking (please refer to items b and c) of each such player is similarly assigned to that team. b) Consensus Pitchers (does not apply to Pinto and Shetland Divisions): In conjunction with the effort to “balance” talent amongst teams, specific attention is directed to returning BBL pitchers. Those players who pitched in the preceding BBL season are ranked by age and previous season pitching experience utilizing the quantity of innings pitched in the preceding BBL season as the “basis” for the rankings. These players are designated: “Consensus Pitchers”. The Consensus Pitchers are then individually assigned to the team(s), as equally as mathematically possible. c) Aptitude Grade: All players are individually graded, on a numeric scale, by their prior year Manager approximating their overall baseball aptitude and skill level. Those players not previously identified/assigned as a Consensus Pitcher are herein identified as a “Fielder”. The “Fielders” are then equally divided (as mathematically possible) according to both their Aptitude Grade and age, amongst the teams from their school for the upcoming season. A computer program is utilized to randomly perform this initial function. (Note: Absent any information to the contrary, all new players to the BBL are assigned the lowest Aptitude Grade.) d) Team Power Ranking: Upon completion of; a), b) and c) above, the individual Aptitude Grades are summed for each team, resulting in a Team Power Ranking. If necessary, the Registration Committee shall then make manual adjustments to the player/team assignments to minimize the variance amongst the Team Power Rankings. K. Umpires
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
In the event the Umpire assigned does not arrive within 10 minutes following the scheduled starting time, it is then each Manager’s responsibility to assign parent/adult Umpires. It is preferred that the parent/adult Umpires are not members of either Coaching staff. Please report Umpire no-shows to the BBL Scheduler, utilizing the OnLine Game Results Form. L. Player Minimum (Games) Teams will be allowed to play with a minimum of 8 players. If less than 8 players are present at game time the game will be forfeited and a win awarded the team with enough players. M. Intentional Walks Intentional walks must be earned (4 balls pitched). First base will not be automatically awarded. Intentional walks are not allowed at the Pinto or Mustang levels under any circumstances. N. Faking a Tag Faking a tag will result in (1) warning per team. A second warning results in the award of (1) extra base for all base runners. O. Throwing a bat Throwing a bat will result in (1) warning per team. A second warning results in an out. P.
Speed up the Game To speed up the game, it is recommended and permissible to substitute a runner for the catcher if he is on base with
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
two outs. The last out made shall be the substitute base runner. Q. Reporting Game and Pitching Results (Regular Season and Playoffs) It is the responsibility of the winning team Manager to report game scores to the BBL utilizing the On-Line Game Results Form. Regular Season Game Results must be submitted within 48 hours of game completion. Playoff Game Results must be submitted before midnight of the date of the subject Playoff Game. Failure to submit the Game Results Form within the designated time can result in a recorded loss for both teams. It is the responsibility of each Manager (Mustang and Bronco Divisions) to report Pitching Results to the BBL utilizing the On-Line Pitching Results Form. Regular Season Game Pitching Results must be submitted within 48 hours of game completion. Play-off Game Pitching Results must be submitted before midnight of the date of the subject Playoff Game. Failure to submit the Pitching Results Form within the designated time can result in forfeiture of the subject game or any subsequent game.
Bloomfield Baseball League General Rules
R. Pony and BBL Field Regulations
League
Shetland Pinto Mustang 3 Mustang 4 Bronco Pony Colt Palomino
Distance Between Bases (center to center)
Pitching Distance to Back Point of Home Plate
Back Point of Home Plate to Center of 2 nd Base
50 fe 50 et fe 60 et fe 60 et 70
N/a 38 feet 40 feet 43 feet 48 feet 54 feet 60 feet 6 inches 60 feet 6 inches
70 feet 8 ½ inches 70 feet 8 ½ inches 84 feet 10 inches 84 feet 10 inches 99 feet 113 feet 2 inches 127 feet 3 inches 127 feet 3 inches
fe 80 et fe 90 et fe 90 et fe et
S. All Star Classic – Player Selection Procedure: 1. Players on your team will be allowed to vote for their team representatives. 2. Players will be allowed to vote for themselves.
