League Rules

General Rules and Guidelines

Roster and Player Eligibilty

See the Rosters page for roster and player eligibility rules.

SEASON AND SCHEDULING.

U8 - U13 will run from mid-April through mid-July and U15 - U18 will run from the completion of the high school season (early June) through mid-July. U14 has both options based on the make-up of the teams. See the League Calendar for specific season start and end dates. All scheduling is done by the coaches and all games must be completed prior to districts and post-season play

ON-FIELD BEHAVIOR / EJECTIONS

The actions of all players, coaches, managers, umpires, parents, and relatives must be above reproach. Any person, in the opinion of the umpire, not acting in the best interests of KVBSA will be requested to leave the playing area. Failure to comply with the umpire's ruling may result in forfeiture of the game by the team involved. Both managers shall report any such incident to Jeff David within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game.

No use of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or recreational drugs is permitted on the playing field, the bench, the dugout, or the stands regardless of the facility's policies on such items.

A player or coach ejected from a game FOR ANY REASON will receive a MANDATORY one game suspension. A review for further disciplinary action will be determined by the league. All ejections must be reported when reporting the scores and should be reported by both the winning and losing coaches.

Walk-up music may be played as a player approaches the plate. It must be turned off once the player enters the batter's box. Music containing violent, vulgar or sexually suggestive lyrics is prohibited.

ALL BAT ALL PLAY

We are an all bat, all play league for the U8 through U14 baseball. If they are in uniform, then they must bat and play 2 innings in the field. If there is a disciplinary problem or injury problem that would keep a player in uniform from participating then that information needs to be conveyed to the opposing coach prior to the start of the game. NO EXCEPTIONS! If a child is injured and can not take their turn in the batting order it is not an out. If they leave to go elsewhere it is an out.

BASEBALLS

One (1) dozen baseballs are provided to each registered team. These baseballs are the only acceptable baseballs to be used for league games. Each team is responsible for providing a new ball at the pre-game meeting. The home team also will provide a previously used good game ball at that time. Ages 8U through 12U use Rawlings RNF and 13U through 18U use Rawlings NFHS.

FORFEITS

In order to record a forfeit victory, a request must be emailed to KVBSA. The request must include:

  • Team and manager requesting the forfeit victory
  • Team and manager of the team forfeiting
  • Reason for the forfeit

In addition, the email must be sent to the forfeiting team's manager as well. Forfeits will be awarded if a team:

  • Provides less than 24 hours notice of cancellation for a scheduled game AND the opposing team is unwilling or unable to agree to rescheduling the game.
  • Fails to show for a scheduled game at the scheduled time and location.
  • Fails to field 9 players for each inning of the game.

Score will be recorded 1 run per scheduled inning of play.

FORFEIT FEE

KVBSA will hold on to forfeit fee checks and will not cash a check unless the following conditions apply:

  1. Your team provides less than 24 hours notice of cancellation for a scheduled game unless cancellation is due to weather conditions or facility problems. You may be asked to provide proof of facility problems from your recreation department.
  2. Your team fails to show for a scheduled game. The schedule posted on the website will be considered the schedule of record.
  3. Your team accepts a post-season berth and then fails to appear.
  4. Your team forfeits a game for using ineligible players.

KVBSA will provide compensation for field and umpire fees incurred due to items 1 and 2.

PLAYING RULES

Playing rules are clearly outlined in the KVBSA Rules sheet. All managers should have a copy of the rules readily available during all games. During games, the league will not be arbitrators of the rules. Umpires are considered the sole arbitrator during games

PROTESTS

Protests will be allowed for age or roster violations and rule interpretations only. Protests must be declared to the head umpire and the opposing team's manager before the next pitch following the dispute. If the protest is on the last play of the game, the protest must be declared immediately. The following procedure must be followed. Protests will not be considered if this process is not followed:

  1. Discuss the issue with the umpire (calmly). Present the KVBSA rules to the umpire and discuss the relevant section. If the issue is not resolved, proceed to the next steps.
  2. In the presence of the umpire, discuss the issue with the opposing team's manager (calmly). State your intention to protest the game and the reason.
  3. Get the head umpire's name and phone number. Note: If the umpire does not want to disclose that information to the protesting manager, the home team manager is required to get and report the information to KVBSA.
  4. Get the opposing manager's name, email address, and phone number.
  5. Both teams should compare score books and agree on the situation at the point in time when the protested call was made � line-up, inning, outs, runners on base, count on the batter, pitcher.
  6. The game should be continued (unless it was the last play of the game).
  7. Within 24 hours of the end of the game, the protesting manager must send an email to Jeff David, Steve Sutton and the opposing team manager.
  8. In the subject of the email, include �PROTEST�, the game date and the teams involved.
  9. Explain the reason for the protest. Include reference to the rule that was violated or misinterpreted.
  10. Include the head umpire's name and phone number. If the umpire would not provide it, indicate that.
  11. Include the opposing manager's name and phone number. Since you included them on the email you don't need to send their email address.
  12. Describe the situation at the time the protested call was made.

Some very important points to keep in mind:

  • Keep editorializing to yourself. Describe the facts. What does the rule say and how was it interpreted?
  • Re-read the procedure above. If not followed, the protest will not be considered. No exceptions.
  • A protest must have a direct effect on the outcome of the game.

If a protest is upheld, the game will be played from the point of the protested call to the end.

This is how the league handles protests:

  1. Information regarding the protest is received from the protesting team, the opposing team and the umpire.
  2. The information is reviewed and discussed between Jeff and Steve. This involves a discussion of what the rules state, the interpretation being challenged and the description provided by each of the parties involved.
  3. We make a joint decision.

Important factors to consider:

  • Video replay is not available for us to review.
  • The 3 parties involved usually provide differing views on the situation.
  • Overriding an umpire's decision requires clear and convincing evidence.
  • Judgement calls on plays in the field may not be protested.

We do not distribute the communication received by all involved parties.

ROSTER CHALLENGES

If a manager suspects a non-rostered player participated in a league game, the manager should send the name of the team, the name of the player and the date the game was played to the league. The league will review the team's roster to determine the player's eligibility. If the player is eligible, the reporting manager will be notified. If the player is not eligible, the league will award a forfeit victory to the reporting team and cash the offending team's forfeit fee. Note: The league will not provide a list of player names on any team.

Rule Clarifications

9U Stealing Home Rule Interpretations

9U Stealing Home

High School Slide Rule Interpretation

The slide rule seems to generate the most controversy. Here's a few basics to keep in mind before making it into an issue during a game:

  • A runner is NOT required to slide.
  • If the runner slides, it must be a legal slide.
  • If the runner doesn't slide, he must avoid interfering with the play.
  • If the runner doesn't slide and contact occurs, the umpire determines whether the contact was interference. If there is contact, it does NOT automatically count as interference.
  • Violating the rule does NOT mean an automatic ejection. An ejection is determined by whether the umpire believes malicious intent.

Official Standings

Standings within divisions will be determined using the following order:

  1. Points - 2 points per win and 1 point per tie
  2. Wins
  3. Head-to-head play. If tied in head-to-head play, least runs allowed in the head-to-head games will be used. If still tied, move to most runs scored in the head-to-head games.

Trophies are awarded to all first and second place teams within each division provided the division has 5 or more teams. Only first place trophies are provided for divisions with less than 5 teams.

Unplayed Games Penalty

If teams are tied based on points, win, and head-to-head, point totals will be recalculated with one point being deducted for any unplayed games. If teams are still tied, a coin flip will determine the winner of the tie.