Announcements for 15-Nationals

NABA PALM BEACH PLAYING RULES

Posted by Lou Palmer at Feb 17, 2017 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

CURRENT NABA PALM BEACH PLAYING RULES

REVISED--FEBRUARY, 2017

All NABA Palm Beach games will be governed by:

1. The Official Rules of Baseball, published by the National Baseball Congress Inc.,

2. AS AMENDED BY NABA NATIONAL PLAYING RULES OUTLINED IN MANAGER RULEBOOK/GUIDELINES

3. AS FURTHER AMENDED BY THE CHANGES AND SPECIFIC RULES CONTAINED HEREIN.
The following is a digest of the rules for the current NABA SEASON. The complete National rules are to be found in the NABA Manager Rulebook/Guidelines, as amended by any rules deviations listed below. Please read these carefully because there are some changes and/or revisions.

ELIGIBILITY (REVISED FOR 2017)
(TEAM)

All teams which pay a team fee timely to the league are eligible to join the NABA Palm Beach League. For the Spring 2017 season, the league will operate as two divisions, National and American. There will be a limited number of games (interdivision) between teams of each division against teams from the opposite division, with standings based on all games. The top four teams in each division will be eligible for post-season playoffs--the number four finisher playing as the visitors against the number one seeded team, and the number three team playing as the visitors against the number two finisher. Winners of these semifinal games will meet in championship games, resulting in a National Division champion and American Division champion.

(INDIVIDUAL)

Players, including former professionals are eligible, to play on any league team, in either division, as long as they have been

1) Released by any major or minor league team, which is a member of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or

2) The NABA Palm Beach League is able to confirm through Baseball Reference, Baseball Cube or team web sites that the former professional has been officially released.

3) No player who is under contract OR the property of any professional baseball team is allowed to play in the NABA Palm Beach league. The league President may always ask any player for photo identification to verify that he is the person whose name is on the NABA participant's contract.

NOTE---The team and player eligibility rules have been revised as of February, 2017 and differ from eligibility rules outlined in the NABA National Manager Rulebook.

ROSTER SIZE

A roster of up to 25 players may be signed under the team fee. Once a team has registered 25 players, each additional player must pay a $50 player fee to cover league liability and personal injury insurance. All post season awards are based on a roster size of 16 players. If a team wishes to add more than 16 players eligible to receive individual awards, the team must notify the League President of it’s intent, and must pay the NABA price, plus 10% for shipping. Such individual awards must be ordered specifically from the national office and the league cannot guarantee that such additional awards will be on hand to be presented at the league’s championship game.

PLAYER TRANSFERS
All players who are selected in any preseason player draft and signed by the drafting team, must play or be available for a minimum of four league games with the team which drafts them, before they may request a transfer to another team. The drafting team may cut such player at any time during the preseason. However, if he has signed and paid a player fee to a team, such team must retain such player for a minimum of four league games. Any player refund or prorated refund must be between the team and such player. The League is not responsible for refunds---See below

ALL PLAYERS
Player may request a transfer to another team, but his own manager and the manager of the team he wants to join must agree to the transfer. The league MUST BE NOTIFIED AND MUST APPROVE BEFORE ANY SUCH TRANSFERS ARE ALLOWED. The penalty for using a transferred player without league permission and notification may be a forfeit.

REFUNDS
The NABA Palm Beach League is not responsible for refunds, since it collects only a TEAM FEE and not individual fees. Any refund of the PLAYER'S fee is between the team and the player.

RAIN POLICY
SHOW UP FEE-If umpires show up and game DOES NOT START because of weather problems, each umpire will be compensated by the teams (each team pays one umpire) at the rate of $25.00 to cover travel expenses.

If both teams and the umpires are on hand ONE HALF HOUR before game time and the game has to be postponed because of weather conditions, each team will pay one umpire a $25 show up fee to cover travel expenses. If a game is postponed due to poor field conditions, PRIOR TO ONE HALF HOUR before game time, the League President will notify the umpire assigner, who will take on the responsibility of notifying the umpires of the postponement. He will also notify the teams that the game has been postponed, and no show up fee will be due to the assigned umpires.

DETERMINING OFFICIAL GAME-If a game starts, but is called because of weather before becoming an official game (5 innings if home is home team trails, 4 1/2 if home team is ahead), the umpire fee will be $25.00, plus $10.00 per inning up to the full fee of $75 for a 9-inning game. Teams which are due a refund in such situations shall contact the supervisor of umpires to collect any refund. In a scheduled seven inning game, the umpire fee will be $20.00, plus $10 per inning up to the full fee of $70. One pitch shall be regarded as a full inning for determining umpire fees in games shortened by weather or other conditions.

Any game which has not completed 5 innings or 4 1/2 if the home team is ahead is NOT AN OFFICIAL GAME and will be rescheduled in its entirety at a later date. All records will be wiped from the books and the game will be replayed from the start at a later date. We will use the professional rule with regard to rainouts or other weather related postponements. Teams which have paid the full umpire fee for a game which has not reached the official game status are entitled to a prorated refund. This may be collected either at the game site or by contacting the Umpire-in-Chief.

RULES 4.11 AND 4.12 in the official rules of baseball, defining official games, will apply to all NABA Palm Beach League games.

PLAYING THE GAME
UMPIRE FEES
Umpires are to be paid $75.00 per game, $70 for a seven-inning game. Each team pays one umpire. Umpire fees will be paid at home plate before the start of the game.

If only one umpire is present the fee is $55 from each team or a total of $110. If the other umpire shows up late, once he arrives each team will pay an additional $25 each, bringing the total to $150, to be divided by the umpires in whatever way they feel is equitable.

If only one umpire is present in a seven inning game, the fee will be $50 from each team or a total of $100. If the other umpire shows up late, once he arrives each team will pay an additional $20, bringing the total to $140, to be divided by the umpires in whatever way they feel is equitable. In the event of a forfeit, where one team cannot start a game, the forfeiting team pays both fees.

In the event of a forfeit BEFORE the game starts, forfeiting team pays both umpires. If a team is not present or is there but can only pay one umpire, the league office will pay the umpire(s) from the team's forfeit bond. Once the game starts, if a forfeit is declared because of ejections or other reasons, the umpire fees are to be treated as in any normally scheduled game with each team paying one umpire. If a team is not present or, cannot pay both fees, the league office will pay the umpire(s) from the team's forfeit bond. The forfeiting team then will have until the following Friday at 6PM to replenish the forfeit fund or its next game will also be declared a forfeit. TWO consecutive forfeits will be just cause for suspension for the remainder of the season.
NOTE---The league will pay umpire fees for league All Star games (if any) and Championship games only. Teams must pay umpire fees for all playoff games.

STARTING TIMES
Single games will, generally, start at 9:30AM and 1:30PM, unless otherwise noted.
Second games of doubleheaders BETWEEN THE SAME TWO TEAMS start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

LATE STARTS/RUN RULE PENALTY
If a team arrives late for a game, the three hour clock will start at the ORIGINAL STARTING TIME and no additional time will be added to the game clock. However, one run will be assessed against the late arriving team for every 15 minutes late. The run or runs assessed against the team arriving late is penalty enough so that additional time need not be added to the game clock. Time will be confirmed at the pregame meeting so that each manager knows the correct start time held by the umpire.

Examples--if a game was scheduled to start at 9:30 AM and doesn't start until 9:31-9:45 AM, the team arriving late trails 1-0. If it doesn't start until 9:46AM-10:00AM, the team arriving late trails 2-0. It it doesn't start until 10:01AM-10:15AM, the team arriving late trails 3-0, and if doesn't start until 10-16AM-10:30AM the team arriving late trails 4-0. At 10:30 AM, the game is officially a forfeit and the forfeiting team is responsible for paying both umpire fees. In all the cases cited above, the game clock started at 9:30AM, no new inning may start after 12:30PM. .

LENDING PLAYERS TO AN OPPOSING TEAM WHICH HAS LESS THAN EIGHT PLAYERS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If a team cannot produce a minimum of eight players within the one hour time period allowed under league rules, it must accept a forfeit loss and will pay BOTH UMPIRE FEES.

After waiting the time period allowed for a team to produce enough players to play a league game, the teams may choose to play a game by lending players to their opposition, but such games WILL NOT COUNT IN THE STANDINGS. Such games will be considered practice games only. Umpires may choose to work such practice games if they are paid the standard umpire fee. However, they are NOT REQUIRED to work such practice games.

Lending players to an opposing team MAY BE ALLOWED. However, such players must become new members of the shorthanded team, and may not, at any time, return to their original team. If both teams agree to this condition, the game will be played as an official game, umpires will work it as any other official game, and the result WILL COUNT IN THE STANDINGS.

COACHES MUST WEAR BATTING HELMETS

All coaches must wear batting helmets when they are on the field in the coaches boxes. This new rule is for the protection of our players and team members, and duplicates the rule that is in effect in all major and minor league professional games, as well as high school, college and American Legion games. Most Adult Leagues across the country also use this rule.

NO ONE OTHER THAN PLAYERS ALLOWED IN DUGOUTS

Only players in uniform, who are eligible to play, will be allowed in the team dugouts during games. This rule affects every one, including spouses, girl friends, visitors, family members and fans. Scorekeepers may be allowed in the team dugout. League officials, including the League President or Vice President, if any, may be in the dugout on OFFICIAL LEAGUE BUSINESS. (i.e., collecting money, distributing materials, etc.). Umpires will strictly enforce this rule and will stop games if there are any violations of this rule. It should be noted that, following a 2011 Fall League playoff game, a fan who was seated in a team dugout, ran on to the field of play and physically attacked an umpire. A reminder that any physical action against any league official, including umpires, may be considered a prosecutable crime under Florida state law.

Presence by any one except players in uniform, and ELIGIBLE PLAYER-COACHES may encourage others to take up spots in the dugouts, thus risking injury. This rule is being implemented for safety reasons

TEAM REQUIREMENTS
UNIFORMS-Teams must be in uniform consisting of matching shirts with individual numbers and matching caps. They must also wear baseball pants which need not match. (Sweat pants, jeans, cutoffs, warmups or shorts are not permitted). Teams consistently in violation of this rule may incur fines or other penalties.
BASEBALLS-Each team will supply the umpires with three game balls at the pre-game conference. Each team will be supplied with fiver (5) dozen baseballs for the season. If additional baseballs are required, they may be purchased from the league at $55 per dozen, which includes cost of shipping.
LINEUP CARDS--Each team will supply the umpires with a completed lineup card, listing players by first initial, last name and uniform number. The lineup card must also list all eligible substitutes as well as the batting order. Defensive positions are not needed, except for the pitcher. Umpires are instructed not to start a game until the lineup card has been filled out completely and properly.

No player who was unlisted on the lineup card is eligible to play. Therefore, teams are advised to list all eligible players on their lineup cards. Even if you do not expect a player to show up for a particular game, list him and all other eligible players as substitutes in the event he or they show up unexpectedly.

NO ALCOHOL/DRUGS--Alcohol or drugs, with the exception of some prescription drugs are strictly prohibited on any field, dugout, stands or parking lots used by the NABA Palm Beach League. This applies to spectators, as well as teams.

TIME LIMITS
All games are limited to 3 hours (3:00). The time limit for a 7 inning game is 2:30.
If a game is tied after 9 innings or (7 innings in the event of a 7 inning contest) and there is time remaining, the teams may continue to attempt to break the tie. However, no new inning may start after the 3:00 hour time limit or 2 1/2 hours in a 7 inning game. If an inning is started within the 3:00 time limit in a 9 inning game or 2 1/2 hour time limit in a 7 inning game, it must be completed.
Time limit in playoff games is 3 1/2 hours (3:30). No new inning may start after the 3 1/2 hour time limit in playoff games. However, the 12-run "mercy" rule will be in effect. In championship games, there will be no 12-run "mercy" rule and there is no time limit, except both may be used by mutual consent of the opposing managers. Obviously, there can be no ties in a playoff or league championship game.

FORFEITS
In the event of a forfeit, the forfeiting team is responsible for paying both umpire fees. This amounts to $150 for a single 9-inning game, or $300 for a doubleheader ($290 if the doubleheader is a 9 inning first game and seven inning second game.

A) GAME DAY FORFEITS- If a team informs the league office that it cannot make the game on the day it is scheduled, even using the one hour as a "grace" period, the league will declare it a forfeit immediately, and the forfeiting team will be responsible for paying both umpire fees.

The forfeiting team may pay the umpire forfeit fee at the game site, or it will be taken from the team's forfeit bond, and must be replenished before the following week's game(s). If they do not replenish their fund (bring it back up to $150) by the following Friday at 6PM, their next scheduled game will also be a forfeit. The team will not have to pay any additional umpire fees, but will incur a second forfeit loss. If a team forfeits three times during the season, it will be dropped from the league and no refund of the team fee will be made to the team.

In addition to paying BOTH UMPIRE FEES, the forfeiting team

1) MAY BE FINED $100. The fine is due and payable before 6PM on the Friday before the team's next game. If both umpire fees AND the $100 fine are not paid before the deadline, the team's next game will also be declared a forfeit.

2) MAY LOSE IT'S FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK IN THE FOLLOWING SEASON'S DRAFT, IF ANY.

3) BECOMES INELIGIBLE FOR THE POST SEASON PLAYOFFS IF THE TEAM FORFEITS A GAME DURING THE FINAL PLAY DATE OF THE REGULAR SEASON.

B) AVOIDING FORFEITS
If a team cannot field a full squad for a scheduled game and notifies the league by no later than 6PM on the Friday prior to the game, the team will incur a forfeit loss. However, no umpire fees will be required if the proper notification is given to the league.

A TEAM WHICH FORFEITS ON THE FINAL WEEK OF THE SEASON WILL LOSE IT’S ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PLAYOFFS AND WILL BE REPLACED BY THE NEXT ELIGIBLE TEAM.
After forfeiting a game, a team has until 6PM on the Thursday preceding their next game to submit payment for umpire fees for the forfeited game, OR to replenish their forfeit fund should the league use the fund to pay the umpires. Failure to do so will result in the next game being declared a forfeit.

Failure to submit payment before the next scheduled game will result in a second forfeit, and possible suspension of the team for league play. Upon forfeiture of a third game, the team will forfeit what remains of it’s forfeit bond and be expelled from the league. Any team forfeiting a playoff game will lose it’s bond and may be permanently expelled from the league.

EIGHT PLAYER START/FINISH
---A team may start and finish a game with 8 players.
In the event an EJECTION prevents a team from fielding nine players, the game becomes a forfeit. The forfeiting team, however, will not have to pay both umpires, but only the fee paid at the start of the game.
---The team starting with eight players must accept an out each time the ninth spot in the order comes to bat. This includes a team which loses its ninth player because of injury.
---The team starting with eight (8) must play defense for at least the first inning with just 8 players no matter when the ninth player arrives. They must continue to play with 8 players until a ninth player arrives.
---If and when the ninth player arrives, he must occupy the ninth spot in the order. However, if his team has begun their defensive half of the inning he must wait until the batter completes his at bat before going to play the field.

OFFENSIVE LINEUP
Teams may choose to bat as many players as they wish. However, see rule below for players who leave early. In addition, a batter's spot in the order is locked in and he cannot change spots in the order at any time.

STARTER RE-ENTRY--A starter in the batting order may be removed and a substitute may bat/run in his place. The starter may return to bat, but only in his original spot in the batting order. Only a starter may re-enter a game and only once. A starter removed from the order for a pinch runner may not re-enter until that pinch runner or other legal substitute has batted at least once.*except in case of injury; see injury substitution rule in official manager's rulebook/guidelines.

COURTESY RUNNERS--(REVISED AND CLARIFIED)

Two players per team may be designated as non-runners. In addition, there is a catcher speedup rule (see next paragraph). When non-runners reach base the team has the option of letting a courtesy runner run for them. This option must be exercised immediately following the play on which they reached base or not at all.
A courtesy runner must be the last RECORDED OUT (unless the last recorded out is the second non-runner.)
This is not pinch running and has no effect on the batting order. Non-runners must be listed as "NR" on the lineup card. It is the individual who is designated as a nonrunner, not the position in the batting order.

(CLARIFICATION-FEBRUARY 2017. IF THE INCORRECT COURTESY RUNNER IS INSERTED, THE GAME WILL BE STOPPED AND THE CORRECT COURTESY RUNNER WILL BE INSERTED.

CATCHER SPEED UP RULE --A team may use a courtesy runner (last recorded out) for a catcher whenever he reaches base, so as to give him time to put on his catcher's gear. This rule is intended to speed up the game. As with other players listed as non runners (NR), a team has the OPTION to run for the catcher. It is not required to do so. The courtesy runner may be used in place of the catcher regardless of how many outs there are. However, as is the case with any courtesy runner, he must be inserted at the furthest point reached during his at bat by the catcher, and before the next pitch is thrown.

NO COLLISION RULE--A runner must either slide or attempt to go around a fielder who is in possession of the ball or who in the umpire's judgment is about to receive the ball. A runner who, in the umpire's judgment, collides with a fielder in an attempt to jar the ball loose or injure the player will be called out and ejected.
NOTE----"A runner who, in the umpire's judgment, collides with a fielder in an attempt to jar the ball loose or injure the player" will be called out and ejected.
The preceding is part of the "official rules of baseball" and is intended to further define and amplify the above "no collision rule". This does not change the no collision rule, it merely is the justification for our usage of the sentence "who in the umpire's judgment, is about to receive the ball.

NO ADDING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LINEUP-While the NABA Manager Rulebook and Guidelines contains a rule that allows players to be added to the bottom of the lineup, THIS RULE WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT for NABA Palm Beach League games. While the rule may have its advantages, in the opinion of this league's directors, it may be an open invitation to show up late for games.

MERCY RULE
a) If a team leads its opponents by 12 or more runs after 7 innings (6 1/2 if home team is ahead), the game will be declared over.
b) If a team leads its opponents by 15 or more runs after FIVE INNINGS, the game will be declared to be over.
NOTE---This is a deviation from the rule cited in the Manager's Rulebook which calls for a 10-run "mercy" rule. The 10-run "mercy" rule, however, will be invoked during all NABA tournament games.

PLAYERS LEAVING EARLY
Players may leave a game early for personal reasons. When any player is in the batting order at the time he leaves, the team must ACCEPT AN AUTOMATIC OUT FOR THAT SPOT IN THE BATTING ORDER FOR THE BALANCE OF THE GAME, unless the team has some one on the bench to replace him.

Any number of players in the order may leave under this rule. However, AN AUTOMATIC OUT will be recorded for each spot vacated because of the early departure. A team may not continue to play with fewer than eight players. Clearly, this means that if more than two players depart, the team will incur a forfeit or the game will be stopped at such a point UNLESS the team uses players on the bench who have not been in the batting order to substitute BEFORE SUCH DEPARTURES.

In the event that a PLAYER EJECTION leaves a team with fewer than nine players, the game will be declared a forfeit, however the forfeiting team IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING BOTH UMPIRES. When a team has been assessed a forfeit loss BEFORE THE GAME STARTS is the only occasion where such team is responsible for paying BOTH umpires.

DEFENSIVE LINEUP
All teams have the option to substitute freely in all defensive positions except pitcher. Defensive substitutions (including pitcher) have no effect on the batting order.
SPECIAL PITCHER RULE--A pitcher can leave the mound for another position or the bench but may re-enter his position as pitcher only once.
INJURY SUBSTITUTION--A team unable to bat the original number of hitters in its lineup due to injury of a player, may re-use a player who has already played and would normally not be eligible to re-enter the game. The injured player may not return, even if he has “miraculously” recovered from such injury.

EJECTIONS
(The following rule, introduced in the Fall 2008 league remains in effect, is in effect for the Spring 2017 season and may be further revised by the League President for sufficient cause)

Any player who is ejected from a game will automatically incur a TWO-GAME SUSPENSION at the discretion of the League President. This suspension may be lowered or increased depending on the circumstances of the ejection.
A player who is ejected may incur a three game or more suspension or season suspension, depending on the severity of the infraction or behavior which caused the ejection. Since managers may incur an ejection while attempting to represent their players, a manager will incur a minimum ONE GAME SUSPENSION after his second ejection.

An ejected player MUST LEAVE THE PREMISES ENTIRELY. Umpires will not resume the game until the ejected player or players leave the field entirely. After being ejected, a player may NOT sit in the dugout, or the stands, but MUST LEAVE THE PREMISES ENTIRELY.

(REVISED, FEBRUARY 2017

---A player who is ejected from his team's final game of the regular season will incur a minimum one game suspension and must be inactive for his team's first playoff game, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT, who may also waive the one game suspension for the playoffs. If, in the judgment of the umpires, the reason for an ejection is because of fighting or other violent behavior, a suspension may be extended to two or more games and even a championship game.

A player who is ejected from a playoff game will not incur a suspension, except for the balance of the game in which he is ejected. However, the League President, may impose a suspenion in the event of fighting or other violent behavior.

The League President may add to, or change these suspensions depending on the severity of the infraction or behavior which caused the ejection.

GENERAL NOTE

Umpires have the legal authority to remove any one who is disruptive from any playing venue, including public parks. This includes players AND spectators.

MANAGERS NOTE

Please print and carry this digest of rules, along with your manager rulebook/guidelines to all games. Remember that these rules supercede those published in the Manager Rulebook and Guidelines. If the rules above do not contain specifics about a particular playing situation, the rules published in the Manager Rulebook and Guidelines or the Official Rules of Baseball will govern play.