The official schedule will be posted on the SJMBA web site (www.baseballstjohns.ca). Any change will be posted as soon as it is made. Please refer to the web site prior to every game.
RAIN: In the event of rain, an announcement concerning the scheduled games for that evening will be posted to the website by 3 pm. After 3 pm. It will be an umpire/coaches decision at the field as to whether the game will be played.
LIGHTNING POLICY: If any umpire assigned to a game observes lightning in the vicinity of the field, the game will be put in a delayed status until the lightning passes If the weather persists, the umpires will consult with coaches to determine if the game shall be cancelled. Players are to notify your coach if you are unable to make a scheduled house league game.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for a pre-game warm up.
Please follow umpires and coaches instructions while on the field to ensure safety at all times.
Practice sessions may be set for each team by our association. We will assist coaches in scheduling practices.
Field Dimensions
The distance between the bases shall be 80 feet.
The distance from the point of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber shall be 54 feet.
Rules of Play
All games shall be played in accordance with regular baseball rules as contained in the Official Rules of Baseball published by Baseball Canada except where modified by the rules detailed in this document.
House League games will start when each team has a minimum of 8 players. If a team cannot field 8 players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, then the umpire will declare an official default. If numbers warrant, please divide the players into 2 teams and play a 3-4 inning game.
Duration of Game
For any field when there is only one game scheduled then the game will be 6 innings or 2 hours 30 minutes in duration and no new inning shall start after 2 hours 15 minutes from the scheduled start time.
In fields where we have lights (and multiple games played), all games shall be 6 innings or 2 hours in duration and no new inning shall start after 1 hour 45 minutes from the scheduled start time.
In order to speed up the game, when his team comes to bat each coach will identify the player who will catch in the next inning. That player will immediately start to put on the catching gear if he/she is not due to bat during that inning.
Home team will be decided by a coin toss prior to the game during the regular season.
If, after the fifth inning (4 1/2 if the home team is ahead), one team leads by 10 runs or more, that team will be awarded the game. The game may be continued at the discretion of the coaches, but the result will be official after the 10-run rule is registered.
The score shall be kept by the coaches and confirmed with the home plate umpire throughout the game. The winning coach will e-mail the score of the game to info@sjmba.ca within 24 hours.
Uniforms/Equipment
Players must wear full uniform, which includes grey or white baseball pants.
Catchers must wear a protective cup; we advise all players to wear one.
All batters must wear helmets when on-deck and at bat.
HELMETS - All players shall wear double earflap helmets while at bat, in the on- deck circle and on the base-paths in all age categories. Baseball Canada recognizes NOCSAE as their standard for Baseball Helmets. For hygiene reasons, SJMBA recommends that players wear their own batting helmets.
BATS (SJMBA supplies bats) - Personal bats (wood only) are allowed;
GLOVES - Players must have their own gloves
CATCHERS MASK: It is recommended, that any person warming up a pitcher on or near the playing field before or during a game or practice should wear a catcher’s mask equipped with proper throat protection. If no mask is available, then the catchers should not be in a crouch position to receive the ball.
At Bat
All players are in the batting lineup at all times. At the conclusion of a game, the coach will note the last out. The next game will start with the next hitter in the lineup. The Coach will only change the batting lineup if the game ends with the last batter in the order making the last out in the previous game. If a player is absent, his name is simply deleted from his/her spot in the batting order.
When a player arrives late during the game, he is inserted in the last spot on the batting order. When a player leaves during the game, he is removed from the batting order. No automatic out is counted.
If a player cannot complete his turn at bat, the following batter will replace him with the same count. The replaced player can be reinserted in the game.
If a player cannot complete his presence on bases, he is replaced with the last recorded out. The replaced player can be reinserted in the game.
Bunting is permitted.
The Infield Fly Rule is in effect.
If the catcher misses the ball on a third strike, the batter is out.
A maximum of 3 runs may be scored in any one inning, with the exception of the last inning which shall be open. The home plate umpire will inform the two coaches if the last inning comes before the 6th.
Base Running
A player may steal 2nd base and 3rd base only in Bantam House and cannot advance past third on any overthrow or pick-off.
Lead offs are permitted.
Home Plate Collision Avoidance Rule – For any play at home plate, the catcher, having possession of the ball, may touch home plate and the runner will be called "out" by the umpire (no tag is required). All players should slide on a close play at the plate.
If the runner stops prior to a play being made on him/her and runs back to third base then the force out is removed and the runner must be tagged (i.e., a run-down situation is created.) However, if and once the play is actually being made at the plate, no tag will be required.
All players should slide on a close play at the plate.
Contact Rule: Runners are instructed to avoid making contact with a fielder at all bases. A player who maliciously runs into another player is to be declared out. Contact shall be considered malicious if the contact is the result of intentional excessive force and/or there is intent to injure.
Runners may tag and advance on a fly ball that is caught at their own risk.
Pitching
Pitchers may only pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game. After 3 innings a pitcher is not allowed to catch; however, a catcher can catch and then pitch 3 innings. Once removed from the mound, a pitcher cannot return even if he/she has not completed 3 innings.
If two batters are hit in one inning the umpires, in consultation with the two coaches, will determine if the pitcher should continue on the mound. If the decision is to remove the pitcher, he/she may remain in the game and can play any other position. Umpires will not call balks. They will instruct pitchers as to what he/she is doing to cause a balk to be called.
Defense
9 defensive players are permitted on the field.
Players shall run on and off the field. We urge each coach to instill this in his/her players. It benefits everyone.
Coaches must rotate their players throughout the defensive line-up to ensure fair play.
Coaches will ensure that no player sits out more than 2 defensive innings per game. Coaches will also make sure that all players have the opportunity to play infield and outfield positions.
All players must maintain normal baseball positions. Shifts will be allowed.
Tournaments
There will be two tournaments for the 15U Division; a mid-season and year-end tournament.
All teams will compete in both tournaments.
Medals will only be awarded to the top 3 teams.
Pitching rules that apply in the regular season, also apply in the tournaments. If a team is required to play 3 games within any one week, the third game will begin with a clean slate of innings.
Call-ups will be permitted in the tournaments to avoid game defaults only. Coaches are encourages to contact the baseball office as soon as possible if they feel a default may occur.
Fair Play Rules apply in the tournaments. The batting order procedure and positional playing time will be the same as the regular season.
All tournament games will be played to completion (5 innings in cases of darkness or rain) • Teams may be required to participate in tournament games with just one day of notice.
The BNL tie-breaking formula will apply with respect to a tie after the round robin play. Example: all teams have 1 win and 1 tie; the team with the least number of runs scored against them in the round robin per defensive inning will advance. The exception is that there will be no tiebreaker games.
Home team in the round robin will be decided by a coin toss. The team with the best record after the round robin is completed will be the home team in the championship game. If the tournament format is determined by standings, then teams with the best record will be home team.
The 10-run rule is in effect.
Scores of each game will be reported to the baseball office by e-mailing kristyn@sjmba.ca after each game.
