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The following rules and interpretations are provided as a quick reference to answer questions and avoid problems at tournaments.
TEAM CONDUCT
· Unsportsmanlike conduct, including profanity, may, at the discretion of the umpire, result in immediate ejection from the game by the offending player manager or coach.
· At no time shall any manager, coach or player harass the opposing team.
· There will be no smoking or chewing of tobacco on the field at any time by any person.
· With regard to conduct on the field prior to, during and after a game, no warning with respect to language, throwing of equipment, or other unsportsmanlike conduct, is necessary by the Umpire or by Tourney Officials. These rules constitute the only required warning to all players, managers and coaches.
Only managers will be allowed on the field, during the game, to question an umpire’s call. The manager shall maintain a professional manner while addressing the umpire.
UNIFORMS
Each Player on the same team shall have a different uniform number. The Official Babe Ruth or Cal Ripken emblem or patch must be worn on the left shirtsleeve of all uniform shirts.
JEWELRY. The Babe Ruth Rules and Regulations now prohibit jewelry. (Page 17) In
Any manager, coach or player ejected from a tournament game will immediately leave the playing field area. Tournament officials shall rule prior to the start of the tournament the geographic location of the “playing field area”. PENALTY – Failure of an ejected individual to leave the area will result in forfeiture of the game and suspension for the balance of the tournament.
Any manager, coach or player, who has an altercation (fighting of a physical nature in the vicinity of the tournament site, including parking lots, refreshment area, rest rooms, etc.), will be suspended automatically for the balance of the tournament pending a review of the situation by the Tournament Commissioner.
If the umpire staff feels additional penalty is warranted for any individual ejected from a game, the Tournament Commissioner and Host officials shall rule as to the type of penalty to be imposed.
COIN TOSS. A coin toss to determine the home and visiting teams will be held approximately 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start.
Note: The Host Team will be the Home Team for its first game only.
HOME DUGOUT. The Home Team will occupy the First Base dugout unless the host field tradition is otherwise. The Home Team dugout will be the same for the entire tournament.
WARM-UP TIME. Each team will be allowed equal time on the field for defensive warm-up prior to the game. The visiting team will take the field first.
PRE-GAME BATTING PRACTICE. There will be no batting practice on the tournament field prior to the game.
LINEUP SHEETS. The original copy of the lineup sheets is to be provided to the Official Scorer no later than one half-hour prior to the start of the game. Umpires will not be responsible for keeping a record of lineup changes. All changes are to be made with the Official Scorer and the opposing team in that order.
TEAM SCOREKEEPER. A scorekeeper will not be allowed on the field or in the dugout. However each team will be permitted an official scorekeeper either in the press box or at some other location designated by Tournament officials. (This is to aid in ensuring accurate and prompt notification of changes to both the Official Scorer and the Opposing team.) This scorekeeper should have a team hat and jersey similar to his or her team.
SCOREKEEPER ALLOWED. The Tournament Commissioner may allow a scorekeeper in the dugout if the size of the dugouts and the field configuration is judged adequate. When a scorekeeper is allowed in the dugout, he must be in full uniform. Such scorekeeper cannot assume coaching duties in either coaching box.
The following playing rules are repeated for emphasis:
INTENTIONAL WALK – is not automatic. The pitcher is required to throw four balls to the catcher.
DESIGNATED HITTER – No Designated Hitter or Extra Player is permitted.
SLIDE RULE – There is NO must slide rule in effect for tournament play at any level of Babe Ruth Baseball!
CRASHING RULE – (Umpire’s Discretion). If ruled flagrant, the player may be called out and ejected from the game. See Contact Rule on page 18 of Babe Ruth Rule Book.
APPEALS – The appeal of a missed base is not automatic. The umpire will not rule on a missed base (or leaving early on a tag-up) until the team on the field properly makes an appeal.
RE-ENTRY RULE – There are two types of re-entry in effect.
1. The re-entry of any of the starting nine players is allowed. Such re-entry may only be done once per player and the player must return to his original batting order position. Re-entry of a pitcher is allowed, as a pitcher, if the re-entry is in compliance with Official Rules 11.05.4 and 11.05.6 (Must not have been forced off mound by manager’s second trip).
2. Re-entry of an already used player will be permitted if all substitutes have been used and an injury or ejection occurs which prohibits the injured player from continuing in the game. The opposing manager selects the substitute.
3.
TRIPS TO THE MOUND – Official Rule 8.06 and Babe Ruth Rule 11.06. Trips to the mound by a manager, coach or player from the dugout are limited to one per inning per pitcher. The second trip in the same inning to the same pitcher will result in his removal from the game as a pitcher. He may assume any other position. Any attempt to circumvent this rule will result in a trip being charged by the umpire.
PITCHING LIMITATION -Tournament Pitching rules are in effect as follows: No pitcher is allowed to pitch more than seven innings in two consecutive games no matter how many days there may be between games. (Six innings in Cal Ripken Tournaments. There is no limitation for Senior Tournaments.)
TEN-RUN RULE – All games will be terminated once becoming regulation, if one team is ahead by ten or more runs and each team has had equal times at bat or the home team is leading. A regulation game is 4 ˝ or 5 innings for 7 inning Babe Ruth games and 3 ˝ or 4 innings for 6 inning Cal Ripken games.
SUSPENDED GAME – A game once begun will be completed in full unless the ten run rule is applied. If play is stopped for any reason, weather, curfew, light failure, etc. it will be resumed from the exact point it was stopped. The Tournament Commissioner will reschedule the game’s completion. It will be completed prior to continuing the regular schedule of play unless the Tournament Commissioner and teams involved agrees that an alternative is in the best interest of the tournament.
FORFEIT – Official rules 4.15 and 4.17; Babe Ruth Rule 11.05-5. Clarification of Rule 4.15-a: the Tournament Commissioner, not the umpire, shall determine if a delayed appearance is unavoidable and so advise the umpire. If there is no other notice, a team shall forfeit if it is not on the field and ready to play within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time. The start time will be either the time listed on the schedule or, in case of delays in preceding games, the time scheduled by the Tournament Commissioner.
PROTESTS
Reminder – judgment calls cannot be protested. All protests must be filed with the umpire-in-chief immediately. Play will be stopped until the Protest Committee gives a ruling.
1. Only a manager or acting manager can make a protest.
2. The decision of the Protest Committee is final! (Babe Ruth Baseball Rules & Regulations, Tournament Rule 11.05-10.