Rules

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbia MABL Rules and Regulations

2023

 

 

Part I – Columbia MABL Modified Rule Set

 

These rules are rules that have been adopted from specific circumstance during the course of playing men’s baseball in Columbia, SC.  These rules are explicit and act as the overriding rule if they may contradict another rule later on in this document.

 

Scheduling.  All season games will be 7 innings and only played on select Wednesday's and Sundays. In the event that a make-up game must be scheduled on a day other than Sunday, it may be, but only if both team managers agree to a day and time other than the originally scheduled game.  Coaches must notify a league director three days prior to the agreed upon scheduled day and time.  There is no guarantee that umpires can be made available for rescheduled games.

 

Game Length.  All games will go no longer than 10 innings.  If both teams still have the same score at the end of the 10th inning, the game is over, resulting in a tie.  There is no inning cap for playoff games.

 

Run Rule.  All games, excluding playoff games, will have a “run rule.”  The game is over when a team is up by 15 runs after the 4th inning or 10 runs after the 5th inning.  Note:  Coaches cannot decide to keep playing.  The game is over.

 

Player Waivers.  All players are required to sign the waiver release provided to coaches and available on our website.  Players may also contact ColumbiaMABL@gmail.com to receive a waiver form.  Each form must be filled out and signed by each player prior to playing in an organized league game.  Any player found to be playing without submitting a signed waiver form will be asked to sign a waiver form and will be suspended from playing for the next three league games.

 

Player Notice.  Coaches will be responsible for notifying their players of league rules, games, and events.  There will be no refunds given to coaches or players for league dues after the commencement of the first season game.  In the event that a player chooses to terminate their relationship with a team, it will be the coach’s responsibility to communicate with that player that no refund will be issued.

 

Final Rosters.  Final rosters from coaches are typically locked after May 15th of every season.  A player must have completed a waiver form and played in at least 4 season game to be eligible to play after May 15th.

 

Non-roster Players.  One replacement non-roster player can be used when one roster player cannot attend a game and it would render a team with only 8 players.  However, if a team has 9 eligible roster players at a game, a non-roster player is not permitted to play.  Any non-roster player that plays in a game MUST submit a waiver form before playing.  Any non-roster player that plays in a game without first signing a waiver form will be suspended from playing in the Columbia MABL for the remainder of the season.  Non-roster players are ineligible to pitch under any circumstance.

Free Agency Rules. How can players change teams:

(1) Coach agrees to a free release

(2) Agreeable trade between teams

(3) Player goes back to tryouts and the draft. Prior team has to have permission to "redraft" said player.

Jerseys.  All players must wear a jersey, with their team name or logo on it, which is similar in color and nature to the rest of the team.  Jerseys must include a player number.  All teams must have the same, or similar, numbered jerseys by the end of the third game of the season.

 

Pants.  Players must wear baseball pants during every game of the season and playoffs.  Colors are determined by managers.  All players on a team should wear the same color baseball pants.  Shorts, sweatpants, or blue jeans are NOT allowed.

 

Cleats.  Steel Cleats are allowed.

 

Bats.  WOOD BAT ONLY, with the exception of fungo bats, softball bats, and training bats

 

Helmets.  Although most team managers provide some helmets for players, the league advises that each player should obtain their own batting helmet.

 

Pitcher Rule.  Pitching rules are in place for team balancing purposes.  Columbia MABL operates on a fourteen day, seven-inning maximum pitching rule.  No pitcher may pitch more than seven innings within a fourteen day period unless otherwise stated below.  The starting pitcher of a game cannot start the next scheduled game if it falls within a fourteen day period.  If a player pitches a single pitch as a starting pitcher, he is not eligible to pitch again until the 4th inning of the following game.  Holidays and rainout games do count towards the fourteen day period.  When a pitcher starts an inning and comes off of the mound during that inning, it counts as a full inning towards the next scheduled game.  Extra innings during tied games do not count towards a pitcher’s 7 inning maximum during the fourteen day period.

 

Runner for the Catcher.  When the player playing as the catcher gets on base, a pinch runner may be used at any time, so long as it is the player that was last called out.  If there are no outs in the inning (or if the last out is already a pinch runner), it must be the player who was last called out from that team’s previous inning at bat. 

 

Runner for the Pitcher.  When a player playing as the pitcher gets on base, a pinch runner may be used at any time, so long as it is the player that was last called out.  If there are no outs in the inning (or if the last out is already a pinch runner), it must be the player who was last called out from that team’s previous inning at bat.

 

Max Players in Lineup.  Teams are allowed to play up to 11 players in their batting line up during all regular season and playoff games, so long as they start with and end with the same number of players in the batting line up (i.e. there cannot be slots added to the lineup after the first pitch of the game).  Teams may have all nine position players bat, as well as, one designated hitter (DH) and one extra hitter (EH).  The designated hitter and extra hitter may be placed anywhere in the batting lineup.

 

Defensive Swapping.  Teams are allowed to swap out defensive players intermittently throughout the game. 

 

Offensive Swapping.  If a player is removed or replaced in the batting lineup, that player MAY reenter into the batting lineup once per game but must reenter into the same batting position in the lineup.  Any player removed from the batting lineup may continue to play in a defensive position.

 

 

 

 

Part II – Columbia MABL Standard Rule Set

 

Code of Conduct.  Prohibitions. Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:

 

• Lay a hand upon, shove or strike, or threaten an official. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.

 

• Refuse to abide by an official’s decision. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.

 

• Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official’s decision. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.

 

• Discuss with an official or officials the decision reached by such official or officials, except for the manager or his designee who are authorized to participate in such discussions. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.

 

• Use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.

 

• Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.

 

• Be guilty of verbal abusive attack upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season.

 

 

Penalties.  The board of directors may, by vote of the majority of the directors, suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, for the conduct within its opinion is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or charter of the league.

 

• Except as otherwise provided, the commissioners shall determine the appropriate action required for violations of the codes of conduct, and shall report their decision to the player, manager and the board of directors.

 

• A player found in violation of any provision delineated in the codes of conduct, after being placed on probation for the remainder of the season shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.

 

• Any player found in violation of any provisions delineated in the codes of conduct, after being suspended from further participation in a game shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.

 

Grievances, Protests, and Appeals.  Grievances may be filed by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that a grievance is formally submitted to the commissioner or appropriate board. The commissioner shall adjudicate all such grievances and shall report any action taken to the board of directors.  An appeal of any action or ruling may be filed with the board of directors by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that the appeal is formally submitted. However, all decisions by the board of directors are final and not subject to appeal.  All protests should be lodged to the league within 24 hours after the game for which the protest is made. All protests shall be decided by the league board of directors and/or league commissioner. Written appeals can be sent to ColumbiaMabl@gmail.com. 

 

Player’s Behavior and Team Responsibility. The league has the right to suspend or expel any team member who abuses league rules or who does not exhibit a sense of sportsmanship or who plays without regard to the safety of the umpires or other players.

 

• An umpire has sole discretion to expel any player or manager from the game.

 

• Fighting among players or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated and players expelled from the game for either violation will be subject to suspension or expulsion from the league.

 

• The rules committee is concerned about possible unnecessary and violent collisions that may occur with the catcher at home plate, and with infielders at all bases. The intent of this rule is to encourage base runners and defensive players to avoid such collisions whenever possible.  When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the ball, the umpire shall judge:

 

1. Whether the collision by the runner was avoidable (could the runner have reached the base without colliding) or unavoidable (the runner’s path to the base was blocked) or

 

2. Whether the runner actually was attempting to reach the base (plate) or attempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder. 

 

PENALTY— if the runner, a) could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or b) attempted to dislodge the ball, the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball is dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.

 

3. If the fielder blocks the path of the base runner to the base (plate), the runner may make contact or slide into, a fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base or plate. 

 

4. If the collision by the runner was flagrant, the runner shall be declared out and also ejected from the contest. The ball shall be declared dead.

 

5. If the defensive player blocks the base (plate) or base line clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The runner is safe and an immediate dead ball shall be called.

 

6. If the base runner collides flagrantly, the runner shall be declared safe on the obstruction, but will be ejected from the contest. The ball is dead.

 

• Decoy Rule.  Any fielder may use a decoy only if it serves a strategic purpose. For example, if a fielder, who sees a man attempting to steal second base during a hit and run, looks upward into the sky and says that he’s got the pop-up when in fact the ball has been hit on ground is a legal decoy as it may cause the runner to retreat to first base and prevent him from advancing. 
  
  However, if a fielder fakes a tag, forcing a player to slide, when there is no strategic purpose or apparent play, the runner will be ruled safe and all runners will advance one base. 
  
  This is entirely an umpire judgment decision and not a rule that may be protested.

 

• Force-Play Slide Rule.  The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.

On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases. 

Exception— a runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.

"On the ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground.

"Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.

If a runner goes into a base standing up and does not make contact or alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.

Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner:

• Makes a legal slide directly to the base, or
• Is on the ground at the time of contact and the fielder moves directly down the line between the two bases to attempt a play.
• Makes a legal slide and makes contact with a defensive player who is on or over, but not beyond, the base.
• When the base runner slides beyond the base, but does not (a) make contact with, or (b) alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.

Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:

• The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the fielder;
• The runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder;
• The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position;
• The runner goes beyond the base and either makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder;
• The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg;
• The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.
• With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
• With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
• If the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest.
• If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.

 

Teams, Players, and Lineups. Team rosters must be submitted to the league by the start of the 4th game of the regular season.  This must include league and player fees, proof of date of birth, and player waiver forms. Rosters may be changed after the third league game, but only after being reviewed by the commissioner.  No players may be added to a roster after May 15th.

 

• All players, prior to participating in a game, must have signed a waiver form on file with the league.
• All teams must announce all offensive substitutions and/or changes to the home plate umpire AND the opposing team manager and/or scorekeeper.  Only after this has been done will the substituted player be deemed a legal substitution.  If a team fails to announce an offensive substitution, the player will be called out as soon as he occupies the batter’s box and the lineup will revert back to the lineup in effect prior to the player entering the game.  The unannounced player will not have officially entered the offensive lineup and is therefore still available offensively even though an out has been assessed.

 

• If a player is forced to leave a game due to injury or ejection, a reserve player, not previously entered into the game as a hitter, must hit in the replaced hitter’s place. If there are no reserves who can replace the individual, the spot is skipped and all hitters below that position move up.

 

• A team must have 8 players for an official game and may borrow a player from an opposing team with the opposing manager’s consent or may borrow a non-roster player from another team also with the opposing manager’s consent (so long as that player has signed a league waiver). If the team’s 9th player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player reverts back to his team.

 

• No player may switch teams without the consent of the board and the league president. Furthermore, the current coach and the new coach must approve that the player be allowed to switch teams. If this does not meet with approval the player may continue to play with their original team. If a player is not invited back by his manager, he must be given his release so that he may go to the team of his choosing, granted he has been invited to play for that team. 

 

• In the event a player wishes to leave his existing team and form a new team, he may do so. No other player can be taken from the existing team without the consent of the existing team’s manager. No other players may be taken from any other team without the respective team manager’s approval.

 

• Final team rosters must have no less than 12 players.

 

• Last names must be used in the scorebook to allow for player identification between teams.

 

Game Length, Run Rule and Rain-Outs.  All season games will be 7 innings and only played on Sundays. In the event that a make-up game must be scheduled on a day other than Sunday, it may be, but only if both team managers agree to a day and time other than the originally scheduled game.  Coaches must notify a league director three days prior to the agreed upon scheduled day and time.  There is no guarantee that umpires can be made available for rescheduled games.

 

• All league playoff games must be played to completion.  The umpire may suspend, cancel or call a game if, in their opinion, the safety of the players is compromised due to rain, darkness or time limits.
• If there is a 15-run discrepancy at the end of 5 innings or a 10-run discrepancy after 6 innings and/or the game has gone 2 hours and 30 minutes, the game is over.
• Any games rained out will not be re-scheduled by the league, but may be made up at any time not conflicting with previously scheduled games. All make-up games must be agreed to by both managers and league notification must take place. Rain out games must be made up in order of cancellations. Tie games can be played to completion at a later date, again with the agreement of both teams and league notification. Final league standings will be determined by won/lost percentage. Ties will be decided by head-to-head competition first, followed by inter-division won-lost record.
• In the event of rain, it is the responsibility of the scheduled home team to notify the umpires and opposing team of field conditions and possible cancellation of game, at least 2 hour before scheduled game time. In the event such notification does not take place, the home team solely will be responsible for any travel fees imposed by the umpiring organization.

Player Transfers
While the CMABL would like to place few restrictions on player movement, the
CMABL is committed to protecting existing teams that may have a financial or other
stake in a player.  Towards that end:
Tampering with players rostered on another team may subject teams, managers and/or individual
players to discipline by the league, including loss/exchange of draft picks and other penalties as
determined by the President and Vice President.
A rostered player may not move to another team or form a new team (with or without one or
more teammates), unless he has received:
1) His manager’s release; or
2) Approval from the league’s Board of Directors.

A player wishing to change teams or form a new team without the permission of his
current team must bring his request to the league President who will bring the matter
to the league’s Board of Directors. The request requires the approval of a 2/3 majority
of directors present at a meeting of the Board of Directors.

A rostered player who does not achieve his release from his manager or the league’s Board of
Directors may:
1) sit out one (1) year and re-enter the league as an unrestricted free agent (i.e. free to
join any team or enter the draft); or
2) re-enter the league through the tryout and draft (the player will become a free agent if
he is not selected).  The former team of a draftee cannot select the player in the draft
in order to prevent him from joining a new team. 
a. If the draftee gives his consent, and the former team has interest, he may make it
known that he is open to being drafted by his former team.

In all cases, league’s Board of Directors may refuse re-admittance to the league if the player
owes an existing team outstanding fees, equipment, and/or uniforms or engaged in misconduct or
rules violations with respect to his former team or the league.
A rostered player who is not invited to return to a team is deemed “released” by that team and is
free to join any team or re-enter the draft so long as the player has paid any outstanding team
fees and returned any team-owned equipment and uniforms.
In the event a team voluntarily disbands at season’s conclusion (for reasons other than potential
disciplinary action by the league), all players on such team will become automatic free agents
and will be permitted to play for any desired team.  If any team is expelled from the league or a
team facing disciplinary action disbands, all players on such team will be required to go through
the draft before joining a new team unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise.

TEAM PLAYER TRANSFER LIMITATIONS
Each team in the CMABL will be limited to no more than two (2) additions of a
previously rostered player each offseason. Players that enter the draft in order to change teams do
not count towards that total. In addition, no team will be allowed to receive both a catcher and
pitcher from the same organization. This is to help ensure that parity remains as Catcher and
Pitcher remain the most difficult positions to fill across the CMABL.
If any team loses three (3) or more players in one offseason they will receive an
additional 1 st round pick. Example: If the team selecting 3 rd overall loses three (3) or more players
in the same offseason, they will select 3 rd and 4 th overall in the first round and each team behind
them will slide back one spot for the first round only.
If any team takes in two (2) players from the same former team via the established Player
Transfer rules, they will forfeit their 1 st round pick and the team losing two players will inherit
the forfeited selection. Example: If the team selecting 3 rd overall receives two (2) players from
the same former team, they will forfeit their 3 rd overall pick in the first round and the former team
losing the two (2) players will receive the 3 rd overall pick as compensation.

18+ League Stats. Official Box score of game must be submitted by Friday (After Wednesday game) and Tuesday after Sunday games in order to keep accurate stats for the entire year. Each team must appoint an official stat keeper (Player or fan) to record and submit stats.

Stats are submitted to appointed stat keepers prior to suspense date.

18+ All Star Selection and Columbia Bombers. All Star selections are based on league results prior to all-star game. Managers per team are led by current League President and Vice President.

President (Royals, Padres, Dodgers, Athletics, Reds); Vice President (Twins, Braves, Rockies, Rangers, Tigers)

• Columbia Bombers (Tournament Team)- Team is selected prior to each pre-determined tournament based on player availability and need

Pitchers.  (See Part I – Columbia MABL Modified Rule Set)

 

• No player while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, nor may a pitcher wear a batting glove or wristband while pitching.

 

• If a pitcher hits 4 batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the fourth hit batsman.

 

General League Provisions.  

 

• Two forfeits by any team could mean immediate expulsion from the league with no money refunded to the team. This will be reviewed and discussed by the board and a decision will be rendered.

 

• All protests should be lodged to the league president within 24 hours after the game for which the protest is made. All protests shall be decided by the league board of directors and/or protest committee.

 

• Each year, all players on the league’s waiting list will be invited to a draft. The annual draft will be conducted in a manner to allow parity in the league by having the prior year’s teams with the lowest finishing records drafting first.

 

• Only MSBL and MABL leagues are eligible for all MSBL and MABL sanctioned regional and national tournaments, unless waived by national tournament committee.

 

• Determination of eligibility to participate in MSBL regional and national tournament competition will be based solely on the decision of MSBL National Tournament Rules Committee. In general, no player will be allowed to participate in a regional or national tournament unless the player has participated in at least 50% of his regular season MSBL/MABL games.