Poco Mens Baseball Rules
“The purpose of the league is to provide organized recreational baseball for men over 30 wishing to play within the spirit of good sportsmanship and camaraderie while achieving a level of competitiveness that encourages participation. Adult behavior is to prevail at all times regardless of situation or level of competition. It will be the responsibility of the league executive to maintain these principles.”
Baseball Canada Rules
In any instance when the language of the PMBL Rules does not cover an issue, the Baseball Canada Rules shall apply.
Section 1 - Membership
a) Membership in the League may be open to those individuals and teams willing to abide by the rules of the League. Failure to adhere to the rules of the league can result in termination of membership in the League without refund of fees paid.
b) Members who serve on the Executive of the League shall assume their respective duties and positions effective immediately after the Annual General Meeting and Election.
c) Team Fees shall be determined by the Executive annually in January at the Directors Meeting.
Section 2 - Executive Team
a) An Executive Team consisting of the elected positions of Commissioner, Scheduler, Treasurer, Director of Events and Director of Communications will govern the League.
b) All member of the League are strongly encouraged to participate as a member of the executive. Nominations are encouraged prior to the league A.G.M. All individuals in the league are eligible to vote in the election.
Section 3 - Duties of the Executive
a) Commissioner – Preside over the general activities of the league. Act as liaison between the City and the League.
b) Scheduler / Field and Umpire Coordinator – Prepare in a timely manner the league schedule of games as well as assignment of umpires. Issues pertaining to umpires reports are the responsibility of the position. Ensure reporting of scores is conducted by each team.
c) Treasurer – Shall be in charge of all monies or other property paid or donated to the league and shall disburse the same on direction from the executive. Prepare annual budgets and financial statements. Ensure financial records are available for review by interested league members.
d) Director of Events - Responsible for overseeing special league events. Responsible to represent league interests at said events and coordinating stakeholders for events and projects.
e) Director of Communications– Responsible for disseminating league information through media, website, and other forms of communications.
Section 4 - Meetings
a) The Annual Spring Meeting may be held each year after the final evaluation camp and before the start of the season so as to allow all new league members to attend.
b) The Annual General Meeting and Elections will be held each year after the close of the baseball season.
c) Team Council Meetings (consisting of two representatives from each of the qualified PMBL teams) will be held in conjunction with designated Executive meetings. Some of these meetings may be determined to be “voting” meetings. At such “voting” meetings each team will be represented with a maximum of two votes (represented by the two rep members of each team) with any tie-breaking situation settled by the then Umpire-in-Chief. If none or only one representative attends the voting meeting then that team will only receive the vote from the attending member.
Section 5 - Uniform and Equipment
a) All teams are responsible to outfit their teams with a uniform of consistent baseball style and quality which will consist of a numbered jersey and baseball pants. No shorts will be allowed. The league will provide a baseball hat.
b) Substitute or spare players may play without the benefit of a uniform at the consent of the opposing team manager.
c) All batters and runners must wear a batting helmet while catchers must wear a skullcap or an approved helmet / mask.
d) Wooded and metal bats are allowed.
e) All Rostered, positioned players must wear a jersey during the game with the exception of the catcher (who must wear his jersey to bat). In the case of uniforms without sleeves some kind of undershirt with sleeves must be worn underneath.
f) Metal cleats are allowed.
Section 6 - Game length and rainouts
a) All games will be seven innings unless rain, lack of light, diamond commitments or umpire decision prevents it. Otherwise four full innings (or 3.5 innings in the instance where the home team leads at that point) will decide a game. Every game will begin on time, however the umpire may allow a fifteen-minute period to assist a team in fielding a full nine-man roster.
b) A suspended game will be replayed from the point at which the game was halted. Only the umpire may call a suspended game and at that time the umpire and both team managers will agree to the specifics of the halted game; recorded score, inning details and pitch count. The details will be recorded and forwarded to the league executive. Rosters for the continued game may not necessarily reflect the rosters for the suspended game. The intent when continuing play on the suspended game is to play a full seven innings.
c) There is a 5 run limit per inning with the exception of the last inning being an open inning.
d) Only the umpire or scheduler can decide on rainouts or cancel a game. All players must be present at the diamond regardless of the weather unless the umpire or scheduler has determined ahead of time that the game will not take place. Teams may not cancel a game. If this is done the team violating the rule will forfeit the game to the opposition and a loss will be recorded for the forfeiting team.
e) A rainout will be made up at a time determined by the Scheduler.
Section 7 - Field maintenance and team dugouts
a) It shall be the responsibility of both teams to set up and return the field to its original state.
b) The home team will occupy the dugout on the third base side of the field.
Section 8 – Player Eligibility, Rosters
a) A player is eligible to participate in the league provided the player turns thirty during the calendar year of that season. For 2008, all players must be born in 1978 or earlier to be eligible.
b) Each player will have to fill out an online registrationform before being placed on a roster. Registration is free until April 10th, those registering after April 10th will be charged a $20 administration fee.
a) The amount of players each team carries must be a minimum of 10 registered players.
a) Any current player wishing to change teams may do so by either re-entering the draft, however the draft process however does not guarantee that a player will be selected. Or a player may choose to play for another team provided that the other team manager would like to select him. In this event the player choosing to leave an existing team and join another team must stay with that team for the duration of the season.
Section 9 – Lineups
a) A team must have 8 players for an official game including at least 6 of it’s own rostered players. Teams may use players from the spare list, or fill the positions with any one available to play provided they meet the league eligibility requirements. If a team cannot field a minimum of 8 players, the game may be played as a “friendly” however the forfeit team would be officially disqualified and concede the win to the opposing team. Furthermore the forfeit team will be responsible to pay the umpire fees for the disqualified game.
b) Prior to the game commencing, teams must submit a batting order of all players playing. Players arriving late can be added to the bottom of the order. Every player must bat. All rostered players must bat ahead of spares, or players from other teams.
c) There is no limit to the number of defensive substitutions allowed and no defensive change will cause a change in the batting order. All players in the line up will bat unless an injury during the course of the game prevents them from doing so. If this situation arises then the injured player will also be removed from the game.
d) Spare players may not pitch. The only players eligible to pitch are those on the roster of that team.
e) Spare board players or those not listed as spares or on another teams’ roster may play any of the other 8 positions on the field. There is no limit to the amount of spares that can be used in a game.
f) Use of players from other teams may only be done in emergency situations. They can only play if the team is short to a 9 man roster, they must bat at the end of the batting order, and they may only play in the outfield.
Section 10 – Draft
a) A Draft will be conducted prior to the beginning of league play each year. The purpose of the draft is for Team Managers to evaluate potential new players entering the league and existing players choosing to re-enter the league with a different team. Entering the draft does not unconditionally qualify a prospect (new or previous member) for a position on any given team. The choice to draft any player is at the discretion of each Team Manager.
b) Determining the order each team chooses in the draft would be based directly on the order in which each respective team finished in the previous year’s play (regular season). Therefore the team finishing last in the standings the previous year would have the option to choose first in the draft or pass on their option giving that choice to the next team in order. This process would be conducted through ongoing rounds should the demand for players be intact for each team and the supply of players warrant the option.
c) Any player not chosen in the draft may be added to the League’s Spare List. The spare list players are eligible to play on any team requiring a substitute player.
Section 11 – Playoffs
a) Each registered player must have played a minimum of five regulation games in order to be qualified to play in the playoffs. Players who are injured and are unable to participate in the required amount of games may appear in the playoffs upon application by their teams to the executive. The executive will have the final decision in these matters.
b) In the playoffs no team will be allowed to use a player from a non-playing team to fill a roster shortfall. Additionally, in the playoffs, no team can take a player from the spare list to play unless the team is short to a 9-man roster. If a team cannot be fielded for the playoff game the game will be forfeited.
c) All playoff series will be a best of three format.
Section 12 - Players Behavior and Team Responsibility
a) There should be no beer or alcoholic beverages allowed on the field or on the players bench before, during or after games. Players are expected to come to the park ready to play and anyone suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or other substances will not be allowed to play. Managers must ensure that all players are fit to play.
b) The League Executive has the right to suspend or expel any player who abuses league rules or who does not exhibit a sense of sportsmanship or who plays without regard for the safety of others.
c) Fighting among players or contact with an umpire will be grounds for expulsion from the games and possible further action as seen fit by the executive.
d) Players shall not intentionally collide with or cause any injury to another player. A base runner must either slide or give up their right to the base by stopping or leaving the base path if a defensive player has possession of the ball or is about to take possession of the ball. A defensive player who is not in possession of the ball or not about to receive the ball for the purposes of recording an out cannot block the baseline, base or be in the way of a base runner sliding. The umpire will award an out or safe base if an opposing player intentionally collides with another player or in some way contravenes this rule and may expel the offending player.
e) An umpire has sole discretion to expel any player or manger from the game for violating any of these rules including the use of foul language or if in the opinion of the umpire a players actions are abusive to the game, league, players, umpires or spectators.
f) All player ejections will be reviewed by the league executive for possible further suspension.
Section 13 - Pinch Runners
a) Teams may use a maximum of two pinch runners per game, used at their discretion.
b) The runner inserted MUST be the player who made last out for that team. If it is discovered the wrong runner was used the runner will be declared out.
c) In the first inning if the pinch runner rule is used before an out has been recorded, the player in the final batting order spot will be the pinch runner.
d) Teams may freely pinch run for the catcher with two out and for any hit batsmen. The runner must still be the last out, but does not count toward the teams’ two allowed pinch runners.
Section 14 - Game Results & Standings
a) It is the responsibility of BOTH teams to report the scores using the form provided on the web site. Failure to report the scores within 24 hours of a completed game could result in the winning team losing one of their two points for the win.
b) Teams will receive 2 points for a win and one point for a tie.
c) Teams will be ranked using the following tie breakers:
1. Points
2. Wins
3. Head-To-Head Results
4. Runs For-Against (differential)
5. Runs For
6. Runs For in Head-To-Head Games
Section 15 - Approved Teams
a) PMBL authorized teams acknowledged in the 2008 season: Athletics, Canadians, Cobras, Firebirds, Mudcats, Redhawks, Red Sox & Razorbacks. The designated team managers for each team will also remain in place.
