Field Ground Rules

Ground Rules

Our Lady of Grace Field

• Any fair batted ball that clears the fence will be a home run.  In left field, a batted ball that hits the concession stand building and returns to the field will be in play.  A batted ball must clear the wall to be considered a home run.

• Any batted ball that strikes the foul pole or a light pole above the fence line, in the umpire's judgment, will be considered a home run.

• Dead territory shall be designated as any dugout area, any area behind the backstop and the small ball field beyond the right field foul line. (Boundary is imaginary line from the first base light pole to the large gate on the outfield fence)

Gil Hodges Fields 1 & 2                                                                 

• To be declared a home run a batted ball must clear the exterior (high) fence that defines the outermost perimeter of the field.                            

• Any fair batted ball that goes through an opening or gets lodged in any portion of any fence will be declared a ground rule double                                                                                            

• Any pitch that lodges in the backstop tarp will be considered a dead ball.  Batters/runners will advance as per Major League rule 7.05(h).                                                                              

• Any batted ball that makes contact with the overhead wires in front of the backstop will be declared a dead ball.  The batter's count will be affected with a charged foul ball.  

• Dead territory shall be designated as any dugout area, any area behind and any area not enclosed by the fencing surrounding the playing field, except as stated in the first ground rule

Tournament RULES AND REGULATIONS

1.  Unless otherwise prescribed, the Official Baseball Rules shall be in force.  

Stan Musial, Connie Mack and Mickey Mantle divisions; designated hitter (DH) for the pitcher only and no re-entry (Rule 702, 803, 902).  

Re-entry is permitted in the Sandy Koufax (Rule 1002); Pee Wee Reese (Rule 1106); Willie Mays (Rule 1206) and Roberto Clemente Divisions (Rule 1308).  No DH is permitted.  

2.  Any games not legally completed because of inclement weather or other unforeseen developments shall be a suspended game and play shall be resumed from the point of suspension; any game legally completed shall be subject to Rule 4.12(a) of the Official Baseball Rules. (Rule 214).

3.  In Stan Musial tournament play, each region may elect to have games either seven or nine innings in length.  “Mercy Rule” shall be 8 runs after 5 innings in a 7 inning game and 10 runs after 7 innings in a 9 inning game. (Rule 701, 203).  

In all Connie Mack, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax,Pee Wee Reese, and Gil Hodges games, games are scheduled for seven innings, but will be terminated after five innings if a team has an eight run lead.  (Four and a half if the home team is ahead). (Rule 203).  

All Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente games are scheduled for six innings, but will be terminated after four innings if a team has an eight run lead. (Rule 203).  

4.  The batter must wear protective headgear, with double flaps, both while at bat and while running the bases; and the catcher must wear protective headgear, cup, and throat protector (or mask with built in throat guard) while catching.  The umpires have been instructed to rigidly enforce these requirements, without exception, and deviations will NOT be permitted.  A catcher’s mask, cup and helmet must also be worn when warming up a pitcher on the field or in the bull pen. (Rule 221(b)(c)). Managers and coaches must wear helmets when coaching on the foul lines.

5.  Players and coaches must be in uniform.  (Coaches may wear matching shirts and baseball pants if they do not heave matching team uniforms).  No one other than the 24 players (Musial) or 20 players (All other programs), 1 manager, and 3 coaches are permitted in the dugout or field area.  All persons in the dugout or field area must be in uniform. No wearing of shorts is permitted.

6.  Dates, time and/or sites of tournament games are subject to change at the discretion of the designated tournament director. (Rule 201(g)).

7.  In tournament play, no team shall be permitted to play more than two (2) games in one calendar day without direct permission from the national office. (Rule 202 and 217).

8.  To qualify in all divisions except Stan Musial, all players must report to the Director at least one hour before their first game with a Birth Certificate or passport.  No hospital or Baptismal Certificates may be used.  Exceptions can only be granted by the AABC Tournament Director after consultation with the Regional Vice President.

9.  Players must sign the Tournament Team Roster in the presence of the Director.  If player is not present at initial registration, he must register before he plays.  Signatures must match original roster.

10.  No player may be added to the roster after initial certification except as provided in national rules.

11.  All rules of the AABC Official Handbook are to be strictly followed and the burden of understanding the rules is on the team manager.  This includes, but is not limited to, the pitching rules for number of innings for Connie Mack (Rule 804), Mickey Mantle (Rule 903), Sandy Koufax (Rule 1003), Pee Wee Reese, and Gil Hodges (Rule 1102), Willie Mays (Rule 1202), Robert Clement (Rule 1302) and parings (Rule 211).

12.  Protests on rule interpretation are decided by the Director on the field.  Appeals must be made immediately (before the next pitch is thrown) to the director after the play in dispute and be accompanied by payment of $100.00 and citation to the specific rule which you are protesting from the Official AABC or Major League baseball rule book.  The fee will be returned if the protest is upheld.  The protest will not be considered without the fee and the correct citation to the rule.

13.  For AABC regional play a team may have not more than twenty-four (24) players in Stan Musial and not more than twenty (20) players in all other divisions.

14.  About ½ hour before each game a coin toss will take place.  The winner of the toss has his choice of home/visitor team. The home team will take the first base dugout.If time permits, each team will have ten minutes of infield/outfield practice.  The visiting team goes first.  Times may be shortened or eliminated at the sole discretion of the site manager.

15.  All teams must present insurance coverage from K&K or have an AABC waiver or purchase insurance before playing.

16.  Trips to the mound will follow the Major League rule except that if a pitcher is removed as a pitcher he may play another position.  He may return as a pitcher if he was not removed because of trips to the mound (Rule 201(b)).

17.  If a player or coach is ejected he is ejected for the rest of that day.   If he is ejected a second time, he will not be permitted to appear in the balance of the tournament.  If a player or coach is ejected or suspended he must leave the field and the stands.  He cannot be viewable from anyone on the field or in the stands.

18.  There will be no degrading cheering or chanting.  If the umpire or tournament director determines a violation their will be one warning.  Thereafter players or coaches will be ejected.

19.  All players and coaches must remain in the dugout or the in the bench area unless they are playing or coaching.  They may not sit on the dugout steps or the area around the dugout or bench.  They also may not stand against or near the backstop.  If there is a violation, one warning will be issued.  Thereafter players or coaches will be ejected.  If an argument or fight breaks out on the field any player leaving the dugout will be ejected.

20.  If there are problems with the weather the tournament director has the sole discretion to decide who is declared the champion (Appeals may be made to the Regional VP only if the rules are not applied properly).  First he will eliminate all teams with a loss if there is/are undefeated teams.  (If only one team is undefeated that team will be declared the winner).

Next the white book ‘POOL PLAY” Rule 212 will apply if all the teams left have played each other.

If the teams have not played each other or some of the teams have not played each other, the following will apply:

   1.  Least total runs given up;

   2.  Most total runs scored;

   3.  Net runs;

   4.  Draw.

Please note with regard to 1, 2 and 3 the number of games is not a factor to consider as the schedule (the number of games) is by luck of the draw.  

21.  The bat rule as per Rule 221(d) applies as indicated.

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK