Rules and Regulations
PLAYING RULES - The Friendly Games.
The playing rules for the 1st Australasian Masters Games to be held in Adelaide from Sat 6 Oct - Sat 13 Oct, 2007 will be the same as the Official Rules of the game of baseball with the exception of the following:
1. Points will be awarded as follows:
Two (2) points for a win, one (1) point for a draw and no (0) points for a loss.
2. All games are to be of 100 minutes duration.
3. Any new inning commenced before 100 minutes from the scheduled commencement of the game shall be completed except where the team batting second is leading or takes the lead in the bottom half of the inning.
4. At the completion of the game, if the teams are tied, the game is considered a draw with each team receiving one point. No tie breaker will be used.
5. A ten (10) run mercy rule will come into effect after five (5) completed innings or 75 minutes except where the team batting second is leading by ten (10) runs either prior to their fifth (5th) batting inning or the ten (10) run lead occurs during their fifth (5th) batting inning, at which time the game shall be called.
6. In the event of games being postponed due to rain, where possible, the Baseball Organising Committee will reschedule those games where a minimum of four (4) completed innings or 75 minutes has not been played except where the team batting second is leading or takes the lead in the bottom half of the final inning.
However, if those games are not able to be rescheduled prior to the commencement of the finals, the games will be declared a draw except where the team batting second is leading or takes the lead in the bottom half of the fourth or later innings and, for determining medal playoff positions, no runs will be added to either the runs for or against and no innings added to either the number of batting or fielding innings, i.e., the game will be considered a nil all (0 - 0) draw.
7. The Designated Hitter [DH] rule may be used, but is not mandatory, provided both the Chief Umpire and the opposition Team Coach are notified prior to the commencement of the game.
8. No more than five (5) warm up pitches on the diamond may be used between innings.
9. The catcher warming up the pitcher on the diamond must wear a mask for safety purposes.
10. A relief pitcher must be warmed up prior to entering the game and will be allowed no more than five (5) warm up pitches on the diamond except where the pitcher being replaced leaves the game through injury.
11. The changeover between innings shall be no more than one (1) minute from the time the final out is made in the previous half inning until the first pitch to the first batter in the next half inning.
12. A Designated Runner [DR] may be used for the catcher at any time except where there are two outs in the inning in which case the catcher must be replaced by a courtesy runner.
13. A Designated Runner [DR] may be used for the pitcher at any time except where there are two outs in the inning in which case the pitcher must be replaced by a courtesy runner.
14. Where possible, the Designated Runner [DR] and Courtesy Runners [CR] shall be a player who is not currently taking either a defensive or offensive role in the game. The runners must be positioned in such a way as to allow for a quick changeover of players. The DH + CR runner role does not help qualify the person in regards to finals participation.
15. Two Courtesy Runners can be used for any two nominated players in any game. The nominated players MUST be named on the team sheet at the umpire plate meeting before play starts. The DH + CR runner role does not help qualify the person in regards to finals participation.
This rule does not apply to the 35+ or 40+ grades.
16. Players can only play with the team for which they were originally nominated except where approval has been received from, firstly, all opposition coaches in the age category which the team to whom they are transferring is playing and, secondly, the Baseball Organising Committee.
BLOOD RULE
17. A player shall immediately, upon a direction of an umpire, leave the playing arena where the umpire is of the opinion that the player is bleeding or has blood on any part of their person or uniform. Upon being directed to leave the playing arena, a player shall not return or take any further part in any baseball game until and unless:
i. The cause of the bleeding has abated and the bleeding has stopped;
ii. The injury is securely covered to the extent that no blood shall emanate there from;
iii. Any blood stained article of uniform has been removed and replaced; and
iv. Any blood on any part of a player's person has been thoroughly cleansed and removed.
18. Any player leaving the playing arena under Rule 17 may be replaced by a substitute player until such time as they are able to return to the field of play. On returning to the game the player MUST occupy the same position in the batting line up.
BATS.
19. Either wood, wood composite, or BESR compliant bats - minus 3 Max 2.5/8 barrel alloy bats may be used.
20. Aluminium and alloy bats may only have a maximum of -3 differentials between the length and weight of the bat. For example, if the bat is 33" long, then the weight may be no less than 30oz.
Aluminium and alloy bats with no clearly discernible BESR certification logo will be excluded from play.
21. A player caught using a non compliant bat will be ejected from the game immediately and if caught again the team will forfeit the game 9 - 0.
22. Wood and wood composite bats may be of any length or weight, within the allowable current Official Rules of Baseball.
FINALS
23. To determine medal playoff positions where two or more teams have the same number of points at the end of the round robin competition, the positions will be determined on a head to head basis - points then percentage. The percentage basis being (total runs for divided by number of batting innings) divided by (total runs against divided by number of fielding innings).
24. Finals will be conducted between the top four teams after the round robin competition taking into account Rule 23 in the case of two or more teams finishing with the same number of points.
25. The finals format will be:
Bronze Medal Game 3 v 4
Gold Medal Game 1 v 2
FINALS ELIGIBILITY
26. To qualify for finals, all players must have played at least one quarter (¼) of the total innings their team has played during the round robin competition. However, if exceptional circumstances occur, such as injury, illness, etc, a submission may be made, in writing, to the Baseball Organising Committee, fully detailing the reasons for requesting an exemption to this rule.
No players that arrive to play after Tuesday's games are completed can play without prior Baseball Organising Committee approval. A submission may be made, in writing, to the Baseball Organising Committee, fully detailing the reasons for requesting an exemption and approval to this rule.
27. In the case where Rule 17 [blood rule] has been used, the player will only be eligible to play in the finals provided that player qualifies under Rule 26.
28. The duration of the games will be the same as those specified in Rules 2 and 3 for each age division.
29. The gold and silver medal games are to be of 100 minutes duration with no new inning to be commenced after 100 minutes from the commencement of the game.
30. Any new inning commenced before 100 minutes from the commencement of the game shall be completed except where the team batting second is leading or takes the lead in the bottom half of the inning.
31. At the completion of any finals game, if the teams are tied, the game will continue with a tie breaker being used whereby the last batter or a substitute player shall commence the inning at second base with no (0) outs. The game will continue in this manner until a winner is determined.
32. In the event of inclement weather, finals games will be considered to be completed where play has been underway for minimum of four (4) completed innings or 75 minutes, whichever is the lesser of the two. Games where a minimum of four (4) completed innings have not been played will be declared a `no game' except where the team batting second is leading or takes the lead in the bottom half of the fourth (4th) inning.
33. Where finals games are unable to be completed due to inclement weather, the medals will be awarded on the basis of the team placing's at the end of the completion of the Round Robin games.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION & DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Masters Games are the FRIENDLY GAMES and should be played in the spirit of goodwill. If the need arises, the Baseball Organising Committee will convene a tribunal to resolve any dispute or disciplinary matter.
GENERAL
34. The Baseball Organising Committee shall use the South Australian Baseball League Tribunal Panel for the Judiciary Panel.
PROTESTS - ONSITE AT EACH VENUE.
35. Protests can only be made on the basis that a misinterpretation or misapplication of the rules has occurred. No protest can be made on the basis that a judgment call was incorrect.
36. A protest must be made immediately after the incident in question. If play has recommenced, no protest can be lodged.
37. Only the manager of the aggrieved team can lodge a protest. The protest may only be lodged with the plate umpire.
38. The Protest Committee will convene immediately after the protest is made.
39. The Protest Committee will consist of the entire umpire crew working that game and one (1) representative from the Baseball Organising Committee [being the Venue Coordinator or his nominee] nominated prior to the commencement of the 1st Australasian Masters Games Baseball Competition. The Baseball Organising Committee representative [being the Venue Coordinator or his nominee] will be the chairperson.
40. A decision will be made by the Protest Committee immediately following the presentation of evidence. That decision will be explained to the managers of both teams and any action necessary to correct the game situation will be taken.
41. The game will then recommence with no further reference or appeal against the protest being possible. Time continues to run when a protest is lodged. When the Protest Committee determines that a protest has absolutely no merit and is merely trivial and time wasting a 9-0 penalty will apply to the offending team.
JUDICIARY
41. The Judiciary will consist of the members of the South Australian Baseball League Tribunal.
42. The Judiciary will not contain a member or representative, i.e., umpire or managerial staff, from either of the teams participating in the game where the report has been made.
43. In the event of an ejection from the game, the Baseball Organising Committee Executive will examine the incident.
44. After examining the report as per no43, the Executive will decide whether a Judiciary Panel is to be convened to look further into the incident and / or its consequences.
45. The umpire responsible for the ejection will submit a written report on the incident to the Baseball Organising Committee Executive within One Hour of the completion of the game.
46. If the Baseball Organising Committee Executive deems it necessary to convene a Judiciary Panel, the panel will convene as soon as possible but no later than the night following the completion of the game and prior to the next scheduled game for the team of the ejected individual, excluding a double header. If the game is a medal round then the tribunal may be by email if everyone cannot attend after the game is completed.
47. The Judiciary Panel will examine the umpire's report and hold a hearing in which the umpire, the ejected individual and any witnesses the Judiciary Panel deems necessary will be free to give evidence. This hearing will be at Goodwood Baseball Club.
48. When all evidence has been heard, the Judiciary Panel will determine whether further penalties are to be imposed. The results of the Judiciary Panel's deliberations will be made known immediately to the affected parties and to the Baseball Organising Committee.
49. Written documentation of the hearing, including any penalties imposed, will be presented to the Baseball Organising Committee as soon as possible after the completion of the hearing.
50. The Baseball Organising Committee will prepare written documentation relating to any case called before the Judiciary Panel where the suspension of an individual occurs.
51. The documentation prepared by the Baseball Organising Committee will be forwarded to the 1st Australasian Masters Games Organising Committee, the South Australian Baseball League Inc, the Australian Baseball Federation and the State Body where the suspended individual is either a registered member or domiciled.
52. No appeal against a Judiciary Panel's determination will be heard at the 1st Australasian Masters Games. Individuals who feel they have a grievance against the procedure should take up the matter with their State Body which will then be at liberty to enforce or review penalties awarded by the Judiciary.