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Officials:
Blue &
Gray Baseball has Operating Officers and all
Managers or selected Team representative are League Officials
The Commissioner. (President)
&
Deputies, which report to the Commissioner.
All Franchises have One (1) Member who is
an Official in the League.
- This can be the GM, the Manager or any
selected member from the Franchise.
(a) Articles:
- All Managers and all operating officers
have equal votes on all matters.
- No Deputy may preside/vote over any
incident that directly or indirectly
involves them or their team.
- The Commissioner does not decide or engage
in any League directives during the time he
is participating in his own game. (they will
be tabled for a later time)
- The Deputies do not decide or
engage in any League directives during the
time he/she is participating in
his/her own game.
- Deputies do not have Presidential
authority unless they have
been granted that authority by the
President.
- Deputies can and are to act
accordingly to enforce established
rules/regulations without seeking the
Presidents approval.
- Managers can and do preside over appeal
processes in accordance with article 2.
- Managers are to refrain from contacting
and expecting the President to
interject on problems in accordance with
Articles 3 only.
- The President is required and will supersede and vacate any decisions if the
established rules are not followed or are detrimental to the league by the Deputies, Managers
or Arbiters.
- All matters will go through the Presidents office to make sure all League
requirements were met
Voting:
1 Franchise 1 vote.
Any matter that requires a change to the current
league structure must come before all officials of
the League. All teams should be present for the
voting, if a schedule Meeting has a voting
requirement and a team is not represented they are
considered in absentia and having a sustained vote.
For a vote to count in a scheduled meeting only a
majority of present officials is
required to pass anything. , in other words it is up
to each team to make sure they are represented at
each scheduled meeting.
- If the Recognized Official from a Franchise
can not attend they can authorize another from
their team to represent their interest.
League:
The league is set up to accept a Franchise
a.k.a. Team as a whole, not individual players.
Each team runs their operations as they see fit,
each team is officially represented in the League by
their Manager, Coach or GM or whatever title they
like but only 1 person is recognized for voting
purposes.
The League can and will accept individual players to sign up for the league, they will be placed in a player pool or draft list so current teams can pick them up.
Franchise:
Franchise or Teams are run at the sole discretion
of the Owner, Manager or GM. Blue & Gray has
no say so over the daily operations of each team.
Only in the matters of finances or dispute between
teams will the Operating Officers of Blue & Gray get
involved.
Fees:
Each team is required to pay a Franchise
Fee to join the League.
(determined each season); TBD for 2011.
Teams can carry up to 25 players of which 16 are included in the Franchise
fee, $50 for each greater than 16
Your Franchise Fee covers the entire season right thru the
play-offs (Umpires, County Fees, Field Fees,
Lighting costs, Baseballs, etc)
Contracts:
All Players, Managers, Coaches and anyone who
steps on the field of play must be registered
on-line under Blue & Gray NABA contract, any one not meeting this requirement
is not allowed to participate in any way, the
penalty is an automatic forfeit of that game with no
appeal.
Rosters:
Teams are limited to 25 players on a roster, , as long as the Fee requirements for the regular season and the
play-offs are met.
(a) Roster details:
- A Player must be under a Blue & Gray contract to play
for any team.
- A team that has paid their franchise fee
may carry any number of players until May
1st, after May 1st all players over 25 must be dropped from the team.
- A team must declare their roster to the League by midnight before each game to change players eligibility.
- Play-Off rosters (25) must
be turned in to the League by the prescribed time for
those players to be eligible, (this varies
each year but usually 4 weeks before the
play-offs start and Managers will be
notified in advance)
- A player may not be rostered for more than one
team in this league.
Rules:
Blue & Gray follows major league rules {link}
Major League Baseball Rules with the
following exceptions:
NCAA Force Slide rule (IE slide or avoid) the
full scope of the rule is as follows:
The intent of this rule is to
ensure the safety of the defensive player. This
is a safety as well as an interference
rule. Whether the defense could have completed
the double play has no bearing on the
applicability of this rule.
A. The runner must slide on
the ground and in a direct line between the two
bases.
i. EXCEPTION --- A runner need
not slide directly into a base as long as the
runner slides or runs in a direction away from
the fielder to avoid making deliberate contact
or altering the play of the fielder.
ii. "On the ground" means
either a head-first slide or a slide with one
leg and buttock on the ground.
iii. "Directly into a base"
means the runner's entire body (feet, legs,
trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line
between the bases.
iv. Example 1 --- If a runner
goes into a base standing up and does not make
contact or alter the play of the defensive
player, interference shall not be called.
B. Contact with a fielder is
legal and interference shall not be called if
the runner:
i. Makes a legal slide directly
to the base, or
ii. Is on the ground at the time
of contact and the fielder moves directly down
the line between the two bases to attempt a
play.
iii. Makes a legal slide and
makes contact with a defensive player who is on
or over, the base.
iv. Example 2 --- When the base
runner slides beyond the base, but does not (1)
make contact with, or (2) alter the play of the
defensive player, interference shall not be
called.
C. Actions by a runner are
illegal and interference shall be called if:
i. The runner slides or runs out
of the base line in the direction of the
fielder;
ii. The runner uses a rolling,
cross-body or pop-up slide and either makes
contact with or alters the play of a fielder;
iii. The runner's raised leg
makes contact higher than the fielder's knee
when in a standing position;
iv. The runner slashes or
kicks the fielder with either leg;
v. The runner illegally slides
toward or contacts the fielder even if the
fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a
play.
PENALTY for 1-6:
1. With less than two outs, the
batter-runner, as well as the interfering
runner, shall be declared out and no other
runner(s) shall advance.
2. With two outs, the
interfering runner shall be declared out and no
other runner(s) shall advance.
3. If the runner's slide or
collision is flagrant, the runner may be ejected
from the contest based on the umpire's judgment.
Note: The objective of this rule
is to penalize the offensive team for
deliberate, unwarranted unsportsmanlike action
by the runner for the purpose of crashing into
the fielder, rather than trying to reach the
base. Obviously this is an umpire's
judgment play. It is the judgment of the
umpire whether a collision/slide intentionally
violates this rule. This includes using elbows
or lowering a shoulder in an attempt to cause a
fielder to drop a held ball. The umpires may, at
any time, eject any player who makes contact
with another player with the intent to cause
injury. The NABA would like to remind all
managers and players that a player might not
block the base path or a base without possession
of the ball. For example, a catcher may not
block the plate without the ball. The right of
way belongs to the runner. Most catchers should
know to offer the runner part of the plate to
make him slide inside or out.
(a) Local rules:
- All local rules are
submitted and voted on by the Officials of
the League
(b) Tampering Rules:
- Managers are NOT
allowed to approach/recruit any player form any other team in the Blue &
Gray League.
- Penalties include
loss of Draft Choices and/or Suspensions
NOTE: Players will
attempt to reach out to other Managers all the time, Managers are
required to inform the player to contact their current manager and the
league to request a transfer and no further correspondence until the League
authorizes it.
(c) Current Local
rules:
- Non-Runner
- Maximum of 2 per game,
- 1 of which must be either the pitcher or catcher
declared at the plate meeting or lose it.
- 2 nd Non -runner is tied to a specific
person, this must be declared at the plate meeting.
- If a team declares none (0) non-runner prior to the game
they may use their remaining non-runner
(s) for an obvious injury during the
game.
- There is no Speed up rule IE no running for
anyone with 2 outs.
- Gentleman agreements are acceptable on a
game by game basis, but do not continue to any future games.
- Rule book states
that a team must finish with the maximum
numbers of batters that a team used during
the game with the exception of
injuries prevents that player from
continuing and there is no substitute.
- Local rules allows
continuation of the game, no forfeit, if
a player is ejected and there is no
substitute but the ejected players spot
in the batting order is an automatic out
regardless of how many batters are still
in the line-up. (example: more
than 9 batters)
- Regular season 8 player
rule states a team may play with 8 players
but the 9th spot in the order is an out.
- Local rules say the
9th spot is not an out in the regular
season it is still an out during the
play-offs.
- A team may borrow players
from any other team to put at least 8 or 9
on the field to play the game.
- A team with 13 or more players must allow shorthanded team to
borrow a player if requested.
- Local rule allows
this, but that player may not pitch.
- The Borrowed player can not be removed from
the line-up unless he wants to be removed.
- Borrowed player must bat last.
- Teams may not sit their own players over borrowed players, however if a player from the team shorthanded shows up late the borrowed player does not have to be removed.
Each Franchise is
required to use the ; link}
B&G Managers
Handbook ; this book does not supersede any
MLB rule, (any MLB rule quoted in the Handbook
that has been updated by MLB will be obsolete),
it is to be used for common practices of free
defensive substitutions, and the regular common
rules we are used to for Adult League baseball,
there are way to many situations and practices
to print here so the book will be used as a
guide to enforce our regular common Adult league
rules and will not be used to make a
mockery or travesty of the game or league.
However when there is any doubt between the
Handbook and MLB rules: MLB rules are primary
with consent of the President.
Penalties:
Blue & Gray have specific penalties in place for
teams, managers and players that do not follow the
rules as outlined by the Mangers Hand Book.
(a) Team:
- Any team that does not follow the rules
and procedure of the League can be expeled .
- (see Managers Handbook
for further explanations)
- Any team forfeiting a
game is required to pay a $100 forfeit bond
prior to their next game .
- (see Forfeits section
for further explanations)
- Any team that forfeits 3
games during the season is subject to
expulsion from the League with no Refunds*
- * Special
Circumstances will be considered.
(b) Managers/Players:
- Managers and Players are
subject to suspensions for ejections and
other infractions as put forth in the
Rule book. Blue & Gray Baseball goes one
step further and all ejections carry a 1
game minimum suspension.
- Egregious behavior as
outlined in the
Handbook can/will carry a three (3) game
suspension at the discretion of the League
Officers.
- Managers and players may
appeal the suspensions in accordance with
the Articles of the League.
- An appeal must be in
writing/e-mail within 24 hours* (or before your next scheduled game if less than 48 hours)
of the incident to be heard, else the
suspension stands
- * Special Circumstances
will be considered.
- Players Ejected in Game 1 of a DH are done for the day.
- A Player(s) determined to be Illegal is not
appealable
(1) Players:
- Players ejected from
a game receive an automatic one (1) game
suspension
- Players may appeal
the suspensions in accordance with the
Articles of the League.
- A successful
appeal still keeps the original
ejection on record a player who gets
ejected a second time must serve a
one (1) game suspension with no
appeal allowed.
- A player who is
ejected that and any other ejections
are kept on record for future
discipline.
- A player who has
served a suspension, may use the
appeal process.
- A player may
attend his teams next game while he
is under suspension.
(1) Managers:
- Managers have a much
greater chance of being ejected just by
the nature of their position than a
player does. Blue & Gray realize
this, so the following guidelines are in
place for a Manager.
- Managers must report all Ejections in
their game regardless of which team it happened to.
- Managers do not
get an automatic suspension for an
ejection.
- Managers are
still subject to suspensions at any
time for egregious violations and in
certain instances if they were
playing in the game as a regular
player which resulted in that
ejection.
- Managers may
appeal the suspensions in accordance
with the Articles of the League.
- A successful
appeal still keeps the original
ejection on record a Manager who
gets ejected three times must serve
a one (1) game suspension with no
appeal allowed.
- A Manager serving
a suspension may not be at any game
his team plays in during his
suspension.
League Setup:
Blue & Gray League is currently divided into
two Divisions the Arlington Division and the Prince
William Division, in which an
unbalanced schedule is made weighted towards
Division play. (2011, 15 division games, 7 non-division games). Teams will generally play the bulk
of their games in their home area, Fields and
weather permitting.
Blue & Gray believes that the
Regular season should mean something and only the
top teams should play for the Championship similar
to all levels of professional baseball. So a
Championship Series Play-off structure and a Tier II
Play-Off structure is in place for the end of the
regular season,
The Schedule:
Blue & Gray supplies the entire regular season
schedule for the entire season in advance,
play-offs are slotted into possible dates at this
time, but due to the nature of our play-off system
those dates can not be known until all teams are
seeded.
(a) Season/Play-Offs:
Blue & Gray Currently offer a regular Season
Schedule that when played out determines the
Play-Off seeding and two guaranteed Play-Off
games.
- Regular Season consists
of 20-24 games (2011, 22 games)
- Play-Offs consist of two
Tiers
- Championship Series:
2 Division Winners and 4 Wild Cards.
- Tier II Double
Elimination bracket for the remaining
teams.
(b) Schedule rules:
- Once the schedule is
posted no Manager may change unilaterally or
"work out" a schedule change with another
Manager, all schedule changes are to come
through the league office for approval.
- Franchises are given
a "Managers Conflict Questionnaire"
before the season starts so they may
cross out certain Dates and time their
team can not play, else all other dates
are deemed acceptable.
- Play-Off
schedules are not negotiable by any
Franchise due to the nature of the
play-offs being determined by your
season record and availability of
fields.
- All Scheduled games are
clearly listed as which team is home which
team is away, changing the home and away
teams is also not allowed, teams that do
this unbeknownst to themselves or the
league, the final will still be recorded as
shown on the schedule and no changes will be
made to correct the mistake.
- All Scheduled Double
Headers are set for nine (9) innings for
game 1 and seven (7) innings for game 2, no
exceptions unless the League Office agrees or
deems necessary to flip them.
- Game 1 of a Double header
has an official start time, Game 2 of a DH
start time is NLT than 30 minutes at the
conclusion of the first game.
- The Schedule Clearly
defines the Game time, the time is not to be
changed unless changes come through the
League office for approval.
- Rain Outs, or cancelled
games:
- These games will be
slotted into available dates and
timeslots in accordance with your
Managers conflict forms as soon as
possible.
- The minimum time the
league has to abide by is 72 hours for
all re-scheduled games.
- The league takes note
not to overburden a team when
re-scheduling these rain outs or
cancelled games.
Forfeits:
Blue & Gray has rules in place for forfeits so
that all Teams on both sides of the forfeit know
what to expect and to make the penalties stiff
enough so teams will avoid forfeits.
-
A forfeited game occurs when one
team is unable to field enough players (8) at
game time. However; There is a 16 minute grace
period with a run being accessed at game time &
1 run every 15 minutes thereafter. (With 16
minutes that is up to 2 runs)
-
Note: it is not the other
Teams fault your team is late or
shorthanded, do not put the onus on the
other team as if they are being unreasonable
or should bend the rules to meet your short
comings, IE be responsible for your own
team.
-
A Scheduled DH Forfeit; A team
forfeiting Game 1 does not Forfeit Game 2, A
game 1 forfeit ends baseball that day for both
teams as the umpires are instructed to leave.
- A Game Day forfeit:
- Results in a loss of fees
paid for that game, for BOTH of the umpires AND a new forfeit bond of $100 must be paid
before your next scheduled game.
- Prior to Game Day Forfeit:
- If you know you are not
going to produce a team for a game in
advance, the umpire fee for that game is
forfeited but their is no forfeit bond
required, this is
the cost of doing business.
Umpires:
Blue & Gray uses and has a contract with the
Northern Virginia Umpires association and both
organizations work though all issues good an bad
for the betterment of both parties..
- Only the Blue & Gray Officers are
recognized to officially discuss anything
with the NV Association.
- Managers have recourse by use of a
Umpire Evaluation form.
- Blue & Gray will not recognize any
complaints about umpires without use of
this form which must be filled out
completely.
- Managers are encouraged to get the name
of your umpires at the plate meeting. The
league will not consider or send an Umpire Eval form without the umpires name
Managers Section:
Blue & Gray has a tools for their Managers:
- A Website {link} Managers Corner, with
all the information and paper work needed for
anything in the league.
- A message board {link}
Managers Message Board once signed up that
only the Manager can access.
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