Manly Warringah WINTER BASEBALL Association Incorporated

1. Rules And Procedures
1. All games shall be played under these rules in conjunction with the Official Australian Baseball Rules and if in conflict, these rules shall take precedence.
2. Only BASEBALL NSW (BNSW) affiliated players registered with Manly Warringah District Baseball Association (MWDBA) shall be permitted to compete in any MWDBA competition. (Affiliated players are players entered on the BNSW ‘My Club’ Database and are financial for the current season).
2. Fitness of the Ground
1. The control of the ground conditions are determined by the MWDBA and the Local Council.  In the event of the Minor Leagues Committee or the Local Council not calling off a round due to bad weather, and if both coaches having walked the field cannot mutually agree to play the game, the decision as to whether the game shall commence is under the sole discretion of the plate umpire. The plate umpire may also declare the field unfit to play if in his / her judgement the field conditions are not safe to start or continue the game.
2. This also applies to the alternate ground where one has been specified in the draw. If the original ground was closed by Council then the game must be played at the alternate ground if the manager of one team and the umpire agree that it is fit for play. If the original ground was not closed but is unfit then the use of the alternate ground is optional.
3. Once an appeal has been made by either coach, to the plate umpire against poor light, or against the condition of the ground due to weather problems, the fitness for continuing to play shall be in the hands of the plate umpire for a decision to stop or to continue to play at any time without further appeal.
3. Game Preliminaries /Starting Times-Duration
1. Game Times: AS PER COMPETITION DRAW (2 hours excluding Final and GF).

10 minute rule: FOR ALL GRADES: no innings shall commence if the previous innings finished later than 1 hour and fifty minutes from the scheduled start time, and any innings still in progress must terminate exactly 2 hours and fifteen (15) minutes from the scheduled start time. (Umpire will call time)

NOTE: This time is taken when the third out is called. If an inning has been completed and there is less than ten (10) minutes remaining in the game, the plate umpire shall call time and game. The plate umpire shall keep the official time for starting and finishing the game. An allowance shall not be made for games that start late for any reason. Each coach should verify the starting time with the plate umpire prior to the game commencing.

1. At the completion of the game if the innings fails to complete due to time the score will revert to the last completed inning.
2. It shall be a regulation game, if it is a regulation game as defined in the Rules of Baseball, OR if the plate umpire certifies that play has proceeded for at least sixty (60) minutes of playing time.
3. For grades other than 1st and 2nd grades, a team may elect while batting one time only during a game to end its bat before 3 outs have been made.
4. The plate umpire shall satisfy himself as to the correctness of the layout of the diamond and shall not permit any alterations during the course of the game, except by complete agreement of the opposing coaches, and no protest shall be entered into.
5. Only Wilson A1010 baseballs / or other ball approved by MWDBA shall be used with a maximum of 2 dozen to be supplied to each team at start of season by MWDBA and ONE new ball shall be supplied by each team at the plate meeting. Any balls lost or damaged during the game are to be replaced alternately starting with the home team. The Umpire shall be satisfied as to the correctness of the leather baseball and has sole discretion to accept any baseballs supplied. MWDBA will supply a maximum of 6 balls per game for the Finals Series.
1. Duties
1. The home team is designated by its name or number appearing first on the draw for each match.
2. The home team will take the first base dugout.
3. The home team will field first and is responsible for:
1. Providing umpires as per the draw for game prior or post scheduled game, unless umpires are designated.
2. Early games- Open toilets, collect bases, umpires gear and set up the diamond. 
3. Late games- Make sure toilets are locked (Aq1&Aq2), for all grounds to pack away bases, umpires gear, tape, hammer, spikes, and return the gear to the appropriate storage box at the ground. Clean up any rubbish left in BOTH dugouts.

NOTE:  Failure to do so may result in the loss of team points and or the levy of a $50.00 fee paid to the MWDBA.

1. Rake the infield; repair the home plate area, baselines, and pitching mound and area. Report any equipment found damaged or missing in the gear box, this report should be included on the back of the result sheet.
1. Where this is only one game scheduled on a diamond that day, the home team is responsible for preparing the ground and the away team is responsible for packing up and repairing the ground. The away team on the adjacent diamond (normally AQ2) for the prior or post scheduled game is required to provide the two umpires. Failure to fulfil these obligations may result in penalties as determined by the Minor League Committee.

Code for gear boxes at Aquatic, Rat Park and Balgowlah is 4080

1. Competition
1. Should any team be unable to take the field with 9 team players, then several options are available: 
1. Use of Non-Team Players (NTP's) is according to rule 21.
2. A coach, whose team has in excess of 9 Players, must lend a player(s) to the opposing team.
2. If in 15 minutes after the scheduled start time, one team cannot field a team in accordance with rule 5.1 then the game being declared a forfeit by the plate umpire, the result will be recorded as a 9-0 forfeit. If neither team can field a team in accordance with rule 5.1, then the game will be declared a nil-all draw. The net result is that the game is recorded as played but both teams receive zero points and zero runs for and against.  
3. In the event of an injury to a player during the game who is unable to continue playing leaving that team with less than 9 players, a player from the opposing team will be lent to the other team for the duration of the game. If no player is available from the opposing team then a 9-0 forfeit is recorded.  NOTE: the opposing team is not obliged to loan a player to a team reduced to less than 9 players by an ejection.
4. A team having received an official notice of forfeit, i.e., email or sms prior to the game, shall be regarded as having scored a nine (9) to nil (0) win for the purpose of compiling runs for and against. No team has the right to decline a forfeit.
5. If a game is not played because both teams forfeit, the result will be recorded as a nil-all draw and each team will be penalised a half point. The net result is that the game is recorded as played but both teams receive zero points and zero runs for and against.
6. In the event of a team failing to appear at the ground, being at the ground or in the precincts thereof, failing to commence play within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled starting time or refusing to proceed when directed by the umpire to do so, the opposing team shall be awarded the game on appeal to the umpire.
7. The competition table will be determined on a percentage basis as per Official Rules of Baseball.
2. Eligibility
1. The Minor League Committee may determine a player ineligible to play in any grade.
2. No player may play or be registered with more than one team in any competition without the permission from the Minor League Committee.

[Summer Competition]

1. If a competition is running in parallel to the NSW Major League:
1.     1st Grade - No player on the roster for a NSW Major League 1st Grade team shall be eligible to play in the Summer League. Note: Wednesday night game is considered to be a “Club Game” and players may compete with 1st grade on Wednesday night, if required by MWDBA. They then may play any position and bat at any position with the committee’s permission.
1. 2nd Grade – One (1) player from any starting roster of any N.S.W Major League team is allowed to be a player for any Summer League team. Minor League Committee reserves the right to review this at any time.
2. 3rd Grade & under 18’s - Maximum of two (2) players allowed as above. Minor League Committee reserves the right to review this at any time.
3. Any team using non-registered players shall lose any points acquired in which the non-registered player(s) have participated. Any non-registered player playing illegally for a team will not be eligible to be registered during the remainder of the season and shall not be covered by any insurance carried by the competition. Any injury sustained by a non-registered player shall be the sole responsibility of the team manager and coach of the team allowing the player to participate.

[Winter Competition]

1. Team and player grading is determined by the Minor League Committee
2. Teams must conform to grading standards. Clubs shall assign their best players to their higher-graded teams. Players registering in a grade below their skill level (for example, to play with friends or family members) are subject to Committee approval.
1. Age Limitations

 [Summer Competition]

1. A person must have reached the age of SIXTEEN (16) years before the first round of the competition to be eligible to play in the competition unless he / she has the written permission from his / her parents and in addition has the written approval of the Minor League / Judiciary Committee.

[Winter Competition]

1. A person must have reached the age of SIXTEEN (16) years before the first round of the competition to be eligible to play in 1st Grade unless he / she has the written permission from his / her parents and in addition has the written approval of the Minor League / Judiciary Committee.
2. For all other grades a person must be at least FOURTEEN (14) years of age to be eligible to play for a team in a game.  A team fielding a player U/16 must have written approval from the players’ parents which are to be submitted to the registrar during player registration. A team fielding a U/16 player must identify the player to the opposing team and on the result card and record a U/16 player’s pitch and IP count on the result card. Breach of these requirements and restrictions may result in penalties as determined by the Minor League Committee
1. Alcohol / Smoking
1. A player, coach, scorer, manager or umpire in uniform shall not consume alcohol while the game in which he/she is participating, is in progress. Aquatic is a smoke-free zone and smoking is not permitted within 10 metres of the boundaries of sporting fields and other public areas during sporting events.
2. No alcohol is permitted to be consumed at Rat Park from 8pm to 8am in accordance to Pittwater Council alcohol free zoning.
2. Batting Through
1. In the (2) lowest grades only, prior to commencement of a game, the team captains may agree that the teams shall be permitted to include all players listed on their line-up sheet in their batting order ("batting through"). Absent agreement, neither team shall be permitted to bat through. So long as a team still has nine players in its batting order, a player who is unable to continue may be removed from the batting order. Once removed from the batting order, the player may not re-enter the game except pursuant to rule 21.3.
3. Contact Rule
1.             Players must avoid all physical contact with another player at all times.
2.             Umpires and Team Managers are to ensure that players are aware of the dangers of intentional contact. Runners who do not slide when required directly at the base, or do not attempt to avoid fielders (with the ball at play at that base), should be given out. Any player adjudged by the umpires to have deliberately or recklessly caused contact, should be ejected from the game and is subject to a judicial process.

* Insurance may also be void in the case of an injury to the offender *
(Refer to http://www.sdabu.com/nocollision_rule.htm for a good elaboration)

1. Duty of Care
1.             All delegates and managers are required to make their players aware that sporting competitors owe a duty of care to one another and there is a fine line between an error in judgment on the field and negligent conduct. Competitors should endeavour to exercise reasonable care not to injure other players in playing a game or match.
2. Finals and Grand Finals
1. No player shall be eligible to play in any Semi-Final, Final or Grand Final unless he/she meets the following criteria:
1. Played in one-third (33%) of the actual games played during the season on the same team where washouts and forfeits will be counted as played games; or
2. Has permission from the Minor League Committee.
2. No substitutes or NTP’s may be used during the Semi-Finals, Finals, or the Grand Finals.
3. Starting and finishing times, the number of innings and the mercy rule for Semi-finals, Finals and Grand Finals will be determined by the Minor League Committee.
3. Grading
1. The "GRADE REQUESTED" on the Team Registration form is collated by the Registrar, along with the recognised competency of the nominated Pitching/Catching battery.
   Immediately after the Registration Close date the Grading Committee allocates teams to a grade and begins a draft draw.
2. The grading is announced before round one for discussion / appeal / representation by managers, etc so that the full draw can proceed.
3. Once the competition commences, and after 4 rounds, re-grading may occur in order to establish fair competition and equal opportunity to qualify for the finals.
4. The results of all previous games involving the re-graded team/s are cancelled. They do not count in the point score.
4. Insurance
1.  All registered and financial players and officials have limited insurance cover.
2. This is applied under a standard policy arranged by Baseball NSW.

Note:   Additional top-up medical cover is recommended and is the sole responsibility of all players and officials

1. Misconduct
1. If any player, coach, scorer or team representative is sent off the field or reported to the Minor League Committee by an umpire or an official of the league, the offending player will be required to attend a judiciary review. Failure to appear will result in a minimum of a one (1) game suspension.  Exceptions: A longer suspension may be enforced if the player has been suspended previously, or refuses to leave the field of play as instructed by the umpire in charge, or makes contact with or displays aggressive behaviour towards the umpire, or starts or incites a fight.
2. Such judicial incidents will follow judicial procedures with penalties applied in alignment with NSWB.
2. Pitching Restrictions
1. Pitching restrictions as governed by BNSW

1. A player who has completed a major may continue in the game subject to the applicable BNSW restrictions relevant to players under the age of eighteen (18).
2. A pitcher will be permitted to complete pitching to the batter in the box, should their limit be reached with that batter, ONLY in the case where the pitcher is in the process of completing a Major Assignment.
3. Refer to BNSW website www.nsw.baseball.com.au/Policy_Pitchers.pdf for further clarification.  Coaches to make themselves aware of the restrictions for player under the age of eighteen (18).
1. Protests
1. No protest shall be permitted on a judgment decision (i.e., a decision on balls, strikes, safe, out, etc.) by the plate or field umpire. Questioning or badgering of the plate umpire calls on balls and strikes shall be sufficient reason for ejection of the offending player from the game.
2. Protests on a point of baseball law must be indicated to the umpire at the time of the disputed decision and again within fifteen (15) minutes of the end of the game. The protest must then be put in writing and forwarded to the Association Secretary within three (3) days of the match being played, accompanied by a payment for $50, which will be refunded if the protest is upheld. In all protests, the decision of the Disputes Committee shall be final.

*** Mail to the Co-Coordinator, also phone the Recorder by Sunday night 6 PM and report the incident.

1. Registrations
1. All people who register in the MWDBA agree that they shall not contravene any medical advice in relation to their continued participation, and when required, shall provide a medical certificate approving their continued participation.
2. Each team shall provide a completed MWDBA registration form for each player and the name, address, date of birth and contact details of every player on team registration form in accordance with the instructions issued by the secretary of the League. This registration information must be in the hands of the Registrar before the person is eligible to participate. The player details and fees must be submitted no later than 9 PM on Thursday night prior to the first game the player is allowed to participate in.
3. The closing date for registering new players will be notified by the Minor League Committee.    The closing date for registering new players for 2012 will be as follows:
1. Summer League:      31st December 2012.
2. Winter League:         31st May 2012
4. A player who transfers from one team to another, must secure a written clearance from his / her original team stating that he / she has cleared all financial obligations to that team. No team may refuse a clearance if the player is financial.  The clearance authorisation shall be in writing and in the hands of the Registrar before a player is eligible to play for the new team.  No player will be allowed to play if he / she are not financial with the previous competition / association and/or with his/ her previous team.
2. Results
1. Results are to be SMS Text Messaged to the Competition Recorder by no later than 6pm Sunday by BOTH TEAMS. The winning team shall then forward the Result Card to the Recorder as soon as possible.
2. In the event of a wash-out, draw, or a forfeit; the HOME team, shall forward the Result Card.
3. A completed result card should include Clear Printing of ALL THE DETAILS:

i.e.: full names for all the players from both teams, umpires’ names and signatures, box score, correct team names, date, round number and any SUBSTITUTE PLAYERS used etc.

Failure to report the results may result in the game being recorded as played but no points awarded for a win.

1. Scorers and Team Officials
1. All scorers and non-playing officials are to be included on team lists and must complete registration forms. If no scorers are available for your game it is the responsibility of the team managers to keep score and to agree with the other team manager at regular intervals.
2. Substitute Players / NTP / Injuries
1. A team may field a maximum TWO (2) non-roster substitutes / Non Team Player (NTP) who shall be registered players with the MWDB.
2. A substitute player or NTP must play for a MWDB team in the same of a lower grade, may only play in the outfield, and must bat at the end of the batting order.  A substitute player or NTP shall play a minimum of one full inning if he /she starts the game. Exception: the player is unable to continue the game due to an injury.
3. Substitute players must be used with discretion and in the spirit of the league and the game, i.e., not as a means of gaining a competitive advantage.
4. A player once removed from a game may not return unless his / her team is reduced to less than 9 players due to injury.
5. A relegated player after having played 2 consecutive games on the same league team may be eligible to play in any defensive position and bat in any order. Exception: Any player starting the league season on the team roster is eligible from the start of the season to play for the team.
6. All players registered in the Minor League teams are eligible to play for the Manly Grade teams.   

[Winter Competition]

1. The lowest grade in the competition may use substitute (NTP) players from the grade above when there are no substitute (NTP) players available from the same grade, subject to rule 21.2.
1. Multi-Team Clubs
1. Registration. Multi-team clubs must register with and be approved by the Committee as a club before they may utilize the provisions of Rule 22
2. Playing out of grade. For all grades except 1st grade, no player may play down from the grade in which he is registered. Players may play up, provided that a lower grade player may not start in the higher grade if there is a player registered with the higher grade team available, in which case the lower grade player may enter the game only after 3 innings or 1 hour, whichever comes first.  Subject to rule 22.6, there is no limit to the number of times a player may play up in a season.
3. 1st grade players may not start in another 1st grade team if there is a player registered with that grade team available, in which case the incoming player may enter the game only after 3 innings or 1 hour, whichever comes first.  Subject to rule 22.6, there is no limit to the number of times a player may play in a multi club team in a season.
4. Two teams in same grade. A club when registering its teams shall not deliberately "stack" one of two teams in the same grade, but should allocate players so that the overall strength of its two teams is comparable.
5. For all grades except 1st grade, players registered with one team in a grade may not play for the club's other team in the grade, other than pursuant to the non-team player substitution rule (Rule 21).
6. Finals. Club players shall be eligible to play for one club team only in the finals, which shall be the team with which they were registered, provided that any player registered in a club's lower grade team who has played in 50% or more of the games of the club's higher grade team can only play for the higher grade team, unless on application the Committee approves the player playing for the lower grade team.
2. Team Registrations
1. No team or player, who is un-financial with the Manly Warringah District Baseball Association Incorporated, Baseball N.S.W or reported by a team to be non-financial with the team, shall take part in the competition, until such time as he/she has become financial and the Registrar has received a written clearance authorisation from the appropriate league, team manager or coach.
2. All players must be registered on or before the date advised by the Minor League Committee as per rule 18.3. 

EXCEPTIONS:  The Minor League/ Judiciary Committee may vote to allow a player(s) the permission to join the competition after the cut-off date and play in the Semi -finals, Finals or Grand Final.

1. Uniforms
1. All players must wear a recognised baseball uniform.
2. Players must wear identical TEAM shirts and TEAM Caps. Shoes will be of a variety worn for baseball including steel cleats. Soccer or rugby shoes may be worn BUT MUST be of moulded plastic sole.
3. Helmets MUST be worn for safety reasons and only two (2) eared batting helmets must be worn while batting and running the bases.
4. Catchers must wear recognised protective catching gear, and no player shall warm up the pitcher in a catching position without a catcher’s protective helmet and face mask and throat guard.
2. Umpires Duties
1. Teams allocated umpiring duties will supply two (2) umpires for each game.
2. Umpiring allocation will be as set out on the Competition Draw.
3. Failure to attend umpire duties will result in the loss of a winning game from the offending team’s point score.
4. Any games not having umpires in attendance shall be marked on the result sheet by the winning team “Non-attendance by umpires”.
5. In the event of the rostered duty umpires not attending at the time set down for the game to commence or being unable to continue, an umpire or umpires shall be appointed by the opposing coaches and the game shall proceed. The appointed umpire/s will become official umpire/s for that game. The plate umpire must call from a position behind the catcher.
6. An umpire may cite a player for unsportsmanlike conduct or conduct detrimental to the game of baseball, by writing the player’s name and team on the result sheet. Only the umpires from the game may do this. A player who has been cited on three separate occasions during the season shall receive a minimum suspension of three (3) games.
7. In the event of an umpire sending a player, coach, or representative of the team from the field, the umpire shall forward a written report to the association within 48 hours and must inform the player, coach or team representative for what reason he/she was sent off. 

*** Mail to the Co-Coordinator, also phone the Recorder by Sunday night 6 PM and report the incident.