Recreational Rules

SPECIAL RULES & PROCEDURES

Longmont Baseball League Inc. (LBL) shall follow the National Federation of High School Rules. However, LBL General Rules will take precedence over High School rules and LBL Special Age Group Rules will take precedence over LBL General Rules when in conflict.
Coaches are responsible to inform players and parents of LBL rules. (With copies if necessary.)

For clarification, the following definitions will be used:
Baseball grounds: will consist of any and all areas for spectators and baseball personnel.
Playing field: will consist of all areas inside the fenced area or designated boundaries to include fair territory of playing area, foul territory where playing is permitted and the bench area of the teams.
1. No smoking or tobacco use is allowed within 100 ft. of any playing
field.
2. No alcoholic beverages or profanity will be permitted within 200 ft. of the baseball grounds.
3. No physical contact in the form of fighting or poor sportsmanship type conduct will be permitted on the baseball grounds.

4. No persons other than players, managers, coaches and umpires assigned to the game will be allowed on the field.
5. No throwing of any baseball equipment or clothing will be permitted at any time.
6. Umpire judgment calls cannot be appealed. Rule calls, on appeal -request, will be reviewed by both umpires and a final decision will be reached by the umpires. Under no circumstances will taunting, ridiculing, or in any way harassing the umpire be permitted. If coaches or spectators are not satisfied with the rule decision, please call the head umpire, and the rule will be clarified via the High School or LBL rules and the explanation will be given to both coaches and umpires.
7. Any infraction of the LBL rules by players, coaches, umpires, parents and/or spectators can result in immediate ejection from the game and baseball grounds or park. The ejection of a Coach or player will result in a minimum of a 1 game suspension for the next league game. (For travel teams this is their next home game.) The LBL Board of Directors may review for additional suspension and/or possible removal of any further participation in league activities. Ejected adults (coach or parent) must leave the baseball grounds. Failure to abide by the umpire's decision will result in forfeiture for that team. Umpires must provide a written report of ejection to the head umpire.
8. Any misconduct by players, managers, coaches, umpires, parents and/or spectators not covered by any other rule will be investigated by the LBL and all findings will be decided at a meeting with the involved parties present. Written notifications will be given to involved parties. Refusal or failure of involved parties to attend the meeting will constitute acceptance of the LBL's decision in the dispute and the necessary disciplinary action will be taken. All decisions of the LBL Board of Directors will be final.

9. The LBL Board of Directors must approve all team rosters, coaches, assistant coaches and umpires.
10. The replacement of a Coach, the replacement of a player, or the addition of a player to any roster must be coordinated through the appropriate age group coordinator, and only permitted with the approval of the recreation coordinator.
11. All players, managers, coaches and umpires must be registered by proper LBL forms. In any games where no official umpires are present, those persons delegated by consent of both coaches to umpire will be considered to be registered and approved by the LBL Board of Directors.
12. Players in all age groups will wear the uniform assigned by the league at all times while participating in league play. Uniform caps will be worn with the bill to the front and shirts tucked in while on the playing field. Uniforms will not be modified. If a team has more than 9 players with team shirts and hats, all players on the field will be required to wear the team uniform (by trading during playing time). The preferred color for LBL baseball pants is white. Players shall wear no jewelry of any type.
13. Weather and field availability permitting, all make-up games will be rescheduled.   The coach will be informed of the makeup game.
14. Decisions to cancel games due to unfavorable weather conditions will be determined by league officials and/or umpires, with input from coaches. This decision will be made at the field at game time. Both coaches and team members should show up, or risk forfeit. This could be a double forfeit if officials decide the game can be played and neither team has enough players to play.
15. League games halted due to weather, curfew or light failure, shall be resumed from their exact point at which they were halted in the original game. The line-up and batting order shall stay the same as the line-up at the moment the game was halted, subject to the rules governing substitutions. Players who were not present at the first game will be placed at the bottom of the batting order.
16. All batters and base runners must wear batting helmets. Players used as base coaches or base coaches under 18 years of age must wear helmets. Players warming up pitchers, on or off the field, must wear a facemask if in the down position.
17. All players present at the start of the game will be placed in the batting order. The batting order will not change once the game has started, except due to injury or ejection of a player. Players arriving late can be added to the bottom of the order if the coach decides to play them.
18. When 5:45pm games (with games scheduled behind them) extend past 8:00pm, the second scheduled game will start within 10 minutes of the completion of the preceding game.
19. No games will begin an inning later than 1 hour - 45 minutes after the start of the game, unless subject to tied games policies. (Exceptions are 5-6-7-8's and Tournament rules.)
20. If a game is tied on a non-lit field at the end of the time period, the game will continue until: One team is ahead at the end of an inning, ending the game at that point. Darkness sets in or 8:30pm is reached. Note: Under no circumstances will a game continue on a field without lights when conditions are such that an injury could occur due to poor lighting. If a game is called for lack of light, the score will be logged as a tie.

21. On fields with lights having two games scheduled, no inning of the first game scheduled shall begin after 7:30pm. If the game is tied at the end of that inning, the game will end and be declared a tie.
22. On fields with lights, having two games scheduled, no inning of the second game shall begin after 10:00pm. If the game is tied at the end of that inning, the game will be declared a tie.
23. Except for the 5-6-7-8 leagues, scores and standings will be kept at all times. The home team will keep the official scorebook. Umpires are responsible to log the final score of each game in the umpire log. The winning team coach is responsible to call in the game scores to the age group coordinator within 48 hours.
24. Coaches are responsible to ensure that all catchers wear throat guards and all male catchers wear protective cups.
25. Except for the 5&6-7&8 leagues, games will be played with a minimum of 8 players at all times. At the scheduled time of play, the umpire will call "play ball". If a team does not have at least 8 players at the field within ten minutes of that time, that team will forfeit the game. In the event of a forfeit, the game will be recorded as a 7-0 forfeit and the teams may elect to play a scrimmage game. If they do, a team may "loan" a player to the short team. The scrimmage game will be played until the scheduled completion time from the original starting time with no score being kept. Only LBL registered players in that age group may participate the scrimmage game.
26. Free substitution is the rule governing defensive changes. A player may enter and re-enter a game at several positions, except pitcher. Once removed from the pitching position, a player may not return as a pitcher during that game. This includes games that are finished on different days. Pitchers not eligible to pitch in a game, are also not eligible if/when the game is continued (make-up games).
27. There will be a 35-hour gap, when a pitcher has pitched the game limit between pitching duties from one game to another.   For calculating innings, one pitch constitutes an entire inning.
28. Pitchers having ball control problems will be monitored. The first time a pitcher hits a batter with the ball, he/she will be cautioned. On the second hit, he will be given a final warning. On the third hit of a game, the pitcher must be replaced.
29. A coach is permitted only 3 defensive conferences per game. On the third conference of the game the pitcher must be replaced.   Only 1 offensive conference per inning is allowed.
30. No metal spiked footwear may be worn by the 14 and under age groups.
31. A courtesy runner can be used and is encouraged for pitchers, catchers and/or injured players. The person designated as the courtesy runner will be the player who was the last out.
32. Coaches should put in writing and distribute to all team members just what will cause a player to be disciplined. A player being disciplined may not play the minimum number of innings in a game. Coaches must notify the opposing coach if any of his players are being disciplined and will not play.
33. Baseballs are the property of the Longmont Baseball League. New balls are to be used at games (one supplied by each team). After the game, new balls become practice balls and should be kept with other league equipment. Game balls are not to be given to players.

34. If a player carelessly throws a bat while at the plate the following will occur: First time – Warning to both teams.   Second time - Call player out.   Third time – Call player out, bench player for the remainder of the game.   If at any time the umpire judges it was reckless or deliberate, then the player will be called out and the player benched or ejected.

35.   Only two base coaches will be allowed to be on the field.   The head coach may also stay within three (3) feet of the dugout fence area.