JTAA Baseball

Common Supplemental Rules

Preface

JTAA Baseball is affiliated with Babe Ruth League, Inc. and follows its rules, with some modifications. Babe Ruth Baseball is divided into two Divisions, Babe Ruth Division for those players who are league age 13 and older and Cal Ripken Division for players league age 5 to 12. Each Division is further divided into age-based leagues.

The league structure is based upon specific age designations with “League Age” being determined as of April 30th of the upcoming year including the 12 Year Old Swing Player as allowed by Babe Ruth.  T-Ball is an instructional, entry-level program for players who are league age 5 and 6. The Rookie League is a “Machine Pitch” program, for players who are league age 7 and 8, which is lightly competitive while continuing to build on teaching of the fundamentals of baseball. The Minor League is a lightly competitive baseball program for players who are league age 9 and 10 in which the players pitch to each other. The Major League is a moderately competitive league for players who are league age 11 and 12. League. These leagues should be viewed as a learning experience and players, coaches and parents are encouraged to be tolerant and place the emphasis on having fun.

The Babe Ruth Division is divided in the 1) 13/15 Red Division which is comprised entirely of players who are league age 13 and 14 and play on an intermediate-sized field, 80 foot base paths and 54’ pitching distance; 2) the 13/15 Blue Division is comprised of players who are league age 13, 14 and 15 and is played on full-sized fields, 90 foot base paths and 60’6” pitching distance; and 16/18 Division which is comprised of players who are league age 15 (swing player), 16, 17 and 18. These leagues are competitive and the rules reflect their competitive nature.

Our system of rules is based upon the rules printed in the current addition of Babe Ruth League, Inc, Baseball Rules and Regulations and Official Playing Rules. Those rules are based upon the Official Baseball Rules, the rules used by Major League Baseball. JTAA Baseball has modified or supplemented those rules. It is the intent of JTAA Baseball to play under rules as close as possible to the Official Rules of Baseball, but modified to fit the age of each league's participants.

These pages contain JTAA Baseball's Common Supplemental Rules, rules that apply to all JTAA Baseball, and league specific Supplemental Rules, rules that only apply to that particular league. To determine the rules that apply to any particular league, you must begin with the Babe Ruth Rule Book, determine how those rules are modified by JTAA's Common Supplemental Rules and then the specific league Supplemental Rules.

These rules are the result of many hours of review and consideration and based upon many years of experience. The goal of the program is to let the players have fun while learning basic baseball concepts and developing their skills. The rules adopted by JTAA Baseball will be strictly followed so a uniform and structured game can be played.  If any manager, coach or parent has a suggestion for a modification or change to our rules, those suggestions should be submitted to the Rules Director.

At the beginning of each season rule clinics are held for our coaches, umpires and interested parents. If you are interested in attending such a clinic, please check the JTAA Baseball web page and the Jupiter Courier for scheduled clinics.

Common Supplemental Rules                       Rev 08/05

All league officials must conduct themselves according to Babe Ruth League, Inc. guidelines and JTAA By-Laws. Any misconduct will be subject to review.

All Managers and Coaches must be NYSCA certified for the season in which they are coaching.

Manager(s) must conduct a preseason parent meeting. 

In the event that a Player, Manager or Coach is ejected from a game for any reason, they may not participate in the next game (mandatory next [one] game suspension). Such suspension shall be deemed independent of any sanction that may be later imposed by a Review Hearing under the Disciplinary Policy.  In the event that the umpire who ejected the Player, Manager or Coach believes the action, events or comments that lead to the ejection should be subject of further disciplinary considerations, the umpire shall inform the Program Director, the Rules/Review Director, the appropriate League Director and the Umpire in Chief in writing.  This report of the ejecting umpire should include the name of the person ejected, date and approximate time of the ejection, names of the teams involved and a detailed factual basis for the belief that further consideration is warranted.  The complaint shall be subject to and handled as provided in the Disciplinary Policy.  If the umpire believes the action, events or comments that lead to the ejection are not subject to further disciplinary consideration, a report of the events and persons involved should still be submitted to the Program Director, the Rules/Review Director, the appropriate League Director and the Umpire in Chief in writing.  However, the Review Committee may elect to review the ejection with the party(s) and the Umpire prior to the next game. Disciplinary sanctions by the Review Committee regarding baseball are final, but can be appealed to the JTAA Executive Board.  (05/15/05)

A player, manager or coach that is ejected shall not be present in the area of the fields for the next game or practice. (05/15/05)

Equipment – Each Manager is responsible for the care and control of equipment issued to them. Equipment is expensive, and all efforts should be used to ensure it is not damaged or lost. All managers are required to return all equipment, including baseballs and defective equipment at the end of the season. If during the season equipment is deemed unsafe, or damaged, contact your Division Director to arrange for replacement equipment. (Failure to return all equipment will affect your future coaching status and you will be charged for the equipment not returned or lost.)

If a player is kept out of the lineup for disciplinary reasons, the Manager must notify the Division Director as soon as possible and file a written report within 24 hours.

Teams, Manager/Coaches must clean the dugout and the stands immediately after the game prior to leaving the area.

Concession Stand – At JTAA venues with concession stands, the game will not start or continue until the Home Team staffs the concession stand with someone 15 and older. Failure to comply with this regulation will result in a one game Manager suspension. Additional offenses shall result in game forfeit and/or season suspension. If a parent is unavailable, then the Manager shall staff the stand until one becomes available. (8/21/05)

Both teams are responsible for field preparation. Visiting Team is responsible for scorekeeping.  If the visiting team is not a JTAA team, then the Home Team is responsible for scorekeeping. (03/04)

Catchers must wear full catcher's gear including a catcher's mitt and a hard cup as defined by Babe Ruth rules.

Courtesy Runner speed up rule. A courtesy runner shall be used for the catcher when there are two outs.  The courtesy runner must be a player not currently in the lineup if one is available or last batted out.  (8/21/05)

A pinch runner is allowed in accordance with the rules. (8/21/05)

Batting helmets with protective face shields are available upon request.

Individual team awards (unless provided by the league) are not allowed.

Absolutely NO soft toss into any fence.

Teams must show up on time and ready to play. The decision as to whether fields are considered as playable may be made by the applicable governmental official, if a field is determined as unplayable or closed by the governmental official, that decision is final and no league official, manager, coach or umpire shall allow play to proceed. The President, Vice-President or applicable Division Director may also designate fields as unplayable or closed if conditions require. If both managers agree the conditions are unsafe the game can be rescheduled. Once lineups have been exchanged, only the UMPIRE can stop the game. However, the Division Director may cancel the schedule for the day. The Division Director shall make the decision for rescheduling games.

Two adult base coachers are permitted when their team is up to bat.

The ten (10) rule will be in effect unless otherwise stated.

Base runner shall not hurdle a defensive player; penalty is a warning, runner is out. Repeated offense, player shall be ejected from the game.

Metal spikes are not allowed in the T-Ball Division through the Major League (12 and Under) Division.

JTAA Policy states all teams shall wear uniforms provided by the respective sport programs. No team practice jerseys will be permitted in JTAA Baseball.

All managers and coaches must wear JTAA Baseball designated and supplied jerseys/shirts while inside the fences during their team's game.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be consumed in the Park. The use of tobacco products inside the fences is prohibited.

Cheering, coaching or providing advice to a player, coach or manager from the scorer’s box is prohibited.

In the event that a continuous batting order is in effect and the batter-runner becomes injured and safely reached base, a courtesy runner may be used if it appears that the injured player will be able to return to play.  In such case, the last out shall be inserted as a courtesy runner.  If the injury occurs in the first inning before an out is made, then the last batter in the batting order may be inserted.  If the injured player is unable to play, that player’s position in the batting order shall be deleted and those batters below that position shall advance in the batting order.  There shall be no penalty out assessed. (3/13/02)

Visible jewelry is prohibited in all player age groups. (2/10/02)

Play ups are allowed, by virtue of evaluation and subsequent player draft, one age level only, within the player’s respective Division (i.e., Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, etc.). To be considered to play up, a player must evaluate at both their current League Age level and the one above it. (12/08/02)

Upon written request by a player’s parent or guardian, a player may be considered to play down on a case by case basis by virtue of evaluation and subsequent unanimous recommendation of the Player Agent and Division Director, one age level only, within the player’s respective Division (i.e., Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, etc.). (1/14/03)

In accordance with the policies of the Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association, JTAA Baseball will make reasonable attempts to provide access to persons that are within the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  It is recognized that JTAA Baseball is a licensed user of the facilities it uses and those facilities are owned by others and JTAA Baseball does not have the ability to modify or construct improvements to those facilities.  With regard to participation, it is recognized that baseball is an inherently dangerous sport that requires certain physical abilities to avoid injury and to promote and protect the competitive nature of the sport.  JTAA Baseball reserves the right to place applicants in leagues that match the skills and abilities of its participants for their protection and the competitive nature of the sport. (8/21/05)

No one is permitted to deviate from these rules unless it has been approved in writing by the Rules/Review Committee Director and the respective League Directors. All rules shall remain in effect until such change(s) have been formally published.

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