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 ofApril 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 whilecontinuing to build on teaching of the fundamentals of baseball. The Minor League 9 and Minor League 10 are lightly competitive baseball programs for players who are league age 9 and league age 10 respectively in which the players pitch to each other. The Major League is a moderately competitive league for players whoare league age 11 and 12. These leagues should be viewed as a learning experience and players, coaches andparents are encouraged to be tolerant and place the emphasis on having fun.

The Babe Ruth Division is divided into the 1) 13/15 Red Division which is comprised entirely of players who are league age 13, 14 and 15 and play on a -full-sized field, 90 foot base paths and 60’6” pitching distance; 2) the 16 / 18 Blue Division is comprised of players who are league age 16, 17 and 18 and is played on full-sized fields, 90 foot base paths and 60’6”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 therules that apply to any particular league, you must begin with the Babe Ruth Rule Book, determine howthose 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 ofexperience. 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 and umpires. If you are interested in attending such a clinic, please check the JTAA Baseball web page.

Common Supplemental Rules                        revised October 2009

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 notparticipate 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 shallinform 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 andapproximate time of the ejection, names of the teams involved and a detailed factual basis for the belief thatfurther 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 notsubject 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.

A player, manager or coach that is ejected shall not be present in the area of the fields for the next game orpractice.
Equipment – Each Manager is responsible for the care and control of equipment issued to them. Equipmentis expensive, and all efforts should be used to ensure it is not damaged or lost. All managers are required toreturn all equipment, including baseballs and defective equipment at the end of the season. If during theseason equipment is deemed unsafe, or damaged, contact your Division Director to arrange for replacementequipment. (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 Directoras 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 theHome Team staffs the concession stand with someone 15 and older. Failure to comply with this regulationwill result in a one game Manager suspension. Additional offenses shall result in game forfeit and/or seasonsuspension. If a parent is unavailable, then the Manager shall staff the stand until one becomes available.

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.

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 can 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.

A pinch runner is allowed in accordance with the rules.

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 playablemay be made by the applicable governmental official, if a field is determined as unplayable or closed by thegovernmental 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 asunplayable 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 thegame. However, the Division Director may cancel the schedule for the day. The Division Director shallmake the decision for rescheduling games.

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

The ten (10) run rule will be in effect unless otherwise stated. At least four (4) innings must be completed or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead by 10 runs before the ten (10) run rule can be applied to end the game. The game may end during the bottom of the 4th inning if the home team goes ahead by 10 runs during their at bat.

Base runner shall not hurdle a defensive player; penalty is a warning, runner is out. Repeated offense, playershall 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 teampractice jerseys will be permitted in JTAA Baseball.

All managers and coaches must wear JTAA Baseball designated and supplied jerseys/shirts while inside thefences during their team's game. One manager and three coaches are allowed inside the fences during games for T-ball and Machine Pitch. One manager and two coaches are allowed inside the fences during games forall age groups above Machine pitch. Minor and Major league managers and coaches should either becoaching from the coaches boxes at 1st and 3rd bases or be directly in front of their dugout.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be consumed in the Park. The use of tobacco products inside thepark 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 safelyreached base, a courtesy runner may be used if it appears that the injured player will be able to return toplay. 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.

Visible jewelry is prohibited in all player age groups.

With the exception of players league age 9 who shall be required to play in the Minor League 9, play ups are allowed, byvirtue 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. Play ups from Cal Ripken to Babe Ruth are not allowed.

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

In accordance with the policies of the Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association, JTAA Baseball will makereasonable attempts to provide access to persons that are within the scope of the Americans withDisabilities 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 constructimprovements 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 leaguesthat match the skills and abilities of its participants for their protection and the competitive nature of the sport.

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 suchchange(s) have been formally published.
With respect to all minimum play requirements, if any player shows up after the first pitch, the minimumplay requirements with respect to that player do not apply for that game.

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