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NABA SPRING
TRAINING EXPERIENCE SPECIAL RULES
2008
1. Start Times: Game start times will be approximately 8:00
a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted on your
schedules. Should a team fail to arrive or have a full team ready to play
(8 or more under the 8 man start and finish rule) by the scheduled start
time, a maximum 1 hour grace period will be allowed and the exact
amount of time given that team will be deducted from the original starting
time so that the game will be shortened by that amount of time. (Example:
if the game starts 15 minutes late due to one team’s being late, no full
inning will start after 2 hours and 45 minutes after play has begun.)
Assuming the game starts within the 1-hour grace period, the late team will
forfeit one run for every 15 minutes to the other team and the game
will start at 1-0, beginning with the first minute. In other words, if the
start time is 8:30, the score is 1-0 at 8:31; 2-0 at 8:46; 3-0 at 9:01; 4-0
at 9:16 and a forfeit at 9:31. (However, the actual forfeit score “in the
scorebook” for tiebreaker purposes will be 9-0.) This rule will not
apply if the late team is coming off a back-to-back game, and games that
start late due to the previous game’s running over (and not due to a team’s
lateness) will not be shortened. (E.g. if both teams arrive to a
scheduled 3:30 p.m. game on time and have to wait until another game
finishes and do not start until 4:00 p.m., that game will be allowed the
full time under the 3 hour Time Limit rule, provided there is adequate
light.) START TIMES WILL BE ENFORCED; YOU HAVE NOW BEEN WARNED.
2. Time Limit: 3-hour time limits for all pool play
games. No new inning may start after the 3-hour mark. If two teams are
tied after 9 innings and have not played 3 hours, they may continue to play
up to three hours, however no new inning may start after the 3-hour mark.
All games tied at the end of the three-hour mark will remain a tied game.
There is a 3 hour time limit for playoff games. No time limits for
Championship games.
3. Games Called Due to Darkness: With exception of Playoff
games, any game that has gone at least (5) complete innings before being
called because of darkness (on an unlighted field) will be deemed a
“complete game” or “regulation game” for “pool play purposes” in accordance
with the 2006 Official Baseball Rule (4.10(c)(1)). The NABA will do its
best to see to it that travel times between games are minimized so that
games can begin on time and games scheduled at 3:30 p.m. on fields without
lights can begin on time and “be completed with 9 innings of play”. If a
game during pool play has past (5) complete innings and the game is called
due to darkness by an umpire before the bottom of the inning is complete,
then the score of the game will revert back to the previous inning and the
game will be ruled complete. For Playoff games only, at the discretion of
the umpires and the tournament director, games to be “called due to
darkness” will either be moved to an available field with lights the same
evening (after checking in with the Tournament Directors’ office) or
continued until the next day at another field (to be determined by the
Tournament Director) so that these games can go a full 3 hours or 9 innings
or play; provided, however, the “continuation of the game” is in accordance
with the 2006 Official Baseball Rule (4.12(d)).
4. Games Called Due to Rain: With exception of Playoff games
and Championship games, any game that has gone at least (5) complete innings
before being called because of rain, will be deemed a “complete game” or
“regulation game” for “pool play purposes” in accordance with the 2006
Official Baseball Rule (4.10(c)(1)). NABA will do its best to ensure that
all pool play games are given every consideration to complete as many
innings as possible (to be determined by the tournament director) in case of
rain. If a game during pool play has past (5) complete innings and the game
is called due to rain by an umpire before the bottom of the inning is
compete, then the score of the game will revert back to the previous inning
and the game will be ruled complete. For playoff or championship games
only, at the discretion of the umpires and the tournament director, games
will be “suspended due to rain” and will be continued at the point where the
game was suspended on an available field that is playable the same day or
evening, or continued the next day at the same field or another field (as
determined by the tournament director) so that these games can go a full 3
hours or 9 innings of play.
5. Mercy Rule: There is a 10 run mercy rule after 7 innings,
and a 15 run mercy rule after 5 innings in effect for all pool play and
playoff games. The mercy rule will not apply to Championship games.
6. Protests: All protests must be filed at the field with
the plate umpire and with a tournament official within 1 hour of
the protested game’s completion. A $100 cash, non-refundable fee
(refundable only if you prevail) must be submitted to a league official at
the Tournament Office within 1 hour of your team’s completion of the game in
question (1 hour after your last game if you are scheduled to play another
game immediately after the protested game). Call the number provided at
Check-in. Remember, you cannot protest an umpire’s “judgment”, only
a rule interpretation. If a protest is lodged, all parties involved
(Managers of both teams, and umpires) must be available the day of the
protest no matter what time it is to discuss the protest. The testimony as
to the facts of the protest will not be considered, if a party involved in
the protest cannot be contacted by a tournament official by 12 midnight of
the day of the protest.
7. Eligibility Protest: All protests with regard to age or
identity must be protested on the field to the umpire and opposing team
manager. If a player’s age or identity is questioned and protested, the
opposing manager must provide the player’s proof of age and identity with a
valid picture ID. Any player unable to produce a valid picture ID will
be ineligible to continue or play in the game. If a player’s identity
or age makes them ineligible to play, the player will not be allowed to
continue in the game. The NABA rules committee will then determine if the
game has been tainted and if a protest/consequence should stand in the game
and tournament for the violating team. All protests with regard to ex-pro
or college player eligibility should follow rule #6 protest rule. However
the player or player’s in question must also show a valid picture ID at the
time of protest. If they are unable to produce a valid picture ID they will
be ineligible to continue in the game. Where possible, an NABA tournament
official will assist in the process and if the official can rectify the
situation on the field they will do so. The NABA rules committee will then
determine if the game has been tainted and if a protest/consequence should
stand in the game and tournament for the violating team.
8. Reporting Scores: Both teams must report all scores
within 1 hour of completion of the game to the tournament score line. It is
the team manager’s responsibility to verify their teams score with the
official tournament headquarters records. No discrepancies will be altered
after seeding for playoffs.
9.
Addendum Rules to the NABA Manager Rulebook Specifically for the
Spring Training Experience:
a) All teams must have a minimum of 10 players, and all teams which
are made by the tournament director will have no more than 11 players on
their team. Teams which are made from individual players will have at least
10 but no more than 11 players on the team. Those managers bringing a whole
team will not be subject to the cap of 11 players, but you should realize
that with some of the additional rules, it will be a disadvantage to bring
12 or more players.
b) All teams will utilize an extended batting order. All players
present will be placed in the batting order during “pool-play” and
throughout the playoffs, unless the player present is injured and can not
bat. If the player can not bat at the beginning of the game, his manager
should still list that player on the lineup card as a potential pinch-hitter
substitute according to traditional NABA rules. The opposing manager and
umpires must be notified of that player’s absence from the batting order.
There must be, however, a minimum of 9 batters in the batting order if 9
players are present to play.
c) If a player must quit the game or is ejected by an umpire (thereby
leaving the field, school grounds, and surrounding areas); the batting order
will be shortened without penalty. However, if a team has an ejection or an
injury which brings the batting order to 8 batters (NABA rules allow a game
to start and end with 8 players), there will be an out taken in the 9th
batters place.
d) There will be no restrictions place on pitchers in this
tournament. For example, pitchers may be removed from the mound and be
allowed to return at anytime during the game, including the same inning they
were removed from the mound.
e) Once a team has scored 5 runs in an inning, play is halted and the
half inning is over. However, if in achieving the 5 maximum runs allowed
per inning, an over-the-fence home run is hit with men on base that results
in more than 5 total runs, all of the runs will be scored. (For example, if
the bases are loaded and four runs have already been scored in a half inning
and the batter hits a grand slam over the fence, 8 runs will count.) This
rule will apply to all innings except the last scheduled inning and any
extra innings that that time allows, when each team may score as many runs
as possible. This is necessary to insure that the team that is behind will
have the opportunity to catch up during their last inning at bat. In a
slowly played game (in which many runs have been scored), if 2 hours and 45
minutes of game time have elapsed and 7 or less innings have been played;
the next scheduled inning to be play (regardless of what inning it is) will
be considered the final inning and treat that inning as stated above for
scoring unlimited runs.
f) The mercy rule will not be in effect at this tournament in pool
play, playoffs or Championship games as set forth in the NABA’S manager’s
rulebook.
g) Stealing is not permitted in the 48 and Over division while the
pitcher has possession of the baseball on the mound, or when he pitches it
to the plate, or when the catcher attempts to throw the ball back to the
pitcher. In addition, runners are prohibited from taking bases as a result
of wild pitches, passed balls, and dropped balls by the catcher. If a
pitched ball does not make contact with the batter’s bat but does make
contact with the ground, the ball will be immediately considered to be a
dead ball, and the catcher must throw the ball back to the pitcher only to
put the ball back into play. If a base runner has inadvertently tried to
advance to the next base in that dropped ball/wild pitch/passed ball
situation, the base umpire should immediately stop play and direct the
runner back to the base that he came from, after the dead ball has been
called and before the next pitch. (The on-deck batter should assist
retrieving balls that travel to the backstop). However, if a pitcher or
catcher attempts to pickoff a runner taking too big of a lead, and the
pickoff attempt hits the ground during play or is thrown away, the base
runners may try to advance. Pickoff attempts by the catcher can only be
attempted if the ball has not touched the ground during or after each pitch.
h) If a batter strikes out and the pitched ball is not caught on the
fly by the catcher and the ball makes contact with the ground, the batter
will be eligible to run to first base if it is unoccupied. All other
runners on base cannot advance during the strikeout except for the batter
since first base is unoccupied and the ball hit the ground. If there are
(2) two outs and first base is occupied, the batter after striking out will
be eligible to run to first base just as traditional baseball rules allow.
Any base runners that are forced to run by the batter running to first base
will be required to advance to the next base.
If a team registered for the tournament decides not to come, and does not
communicate with tournament officials until after the schedule has been
completed, the following rule will apply: The schedule will be played as
written and each team scheduled to play the said team which did not show up
for the tournament will receive a forfeit win of 9-0. No pro-rated refund
of a team fee will be given as a result of a forfeit win. If a team
decides to stop playing a championship game and leave for any reason the
following rule will apply: The championship game will be called a
forfeit loss for the team who decides to leave or stop playing the game, and
the championship will go to the remaining team. No warming up in the
infield or around the dugouts. Please warm-up in the outfield area only. No
SOFT-TOSS or hitting baseballs into the fences. No alcohol on the baseball
fields or in the dugouts at all. No smoking on the baseball fields or
dugouts at all. No tobacco on the baseball fields or dugouts at all.
All other rules of baseball (set forth in the 2006 Official Baseball Rules
published by the National Baseball Congress), amended by the rules set forth
in the NABA Manager’s Rulebook and Guidelines, except as amended above,
apply.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NUMBER OF
GUARANTEED POOL GAMES WILL BE THREE (3) FOR ALL THE DIVISIONS (AS PUBLISHED
ON PROMOTIONAL FLYERS) AND THERE WILL BE ONE OR TWO ROUNDS OF PLAYOFFS
FOLLOWED BY CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES FOR EACH SEPARATE DIVISION UNLESS ALTERED BY
EVENTS OR HAPPENSTANCE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE NABA INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, INCLEMENT WEATHER, WAR, RIOTS, CIVIL DISORDER, FIELDS BEING OUT
OF ORDER, OR ACTS OF GOD.
The NABA reserves the right to refuse any
player or team permission to participate in a tournament. The NABA reserves
the right to add, delete, merge or create divisions or division formats
based on the number of teams entered at anytime before the tournament, and
will give every effort to give teams advance notice, however NABA may not be
able to do so. If a team planned to enter a deleted division, that team may
play in another division or receive a refund minus your deposit, or transfer
the balance to another NABA National or World Championship Tournament,
provided it is at least 5 days prior to check-in. The NABA also reserves
the right to make changes to the rules or make changes in prizes and/or
giveaways (but with a substitute or equal or greater value), which would
then be effective upon notice to the teams participating in the tournament. |
