In accordance with the mission and spirit of Over Thirty Baseball, The Over Thirty Baseball Night League "NOTB" was created to compliment the existing schedule of Over Thirty Baseball which plays games on Sunday mornings. NOTB schedules games weeknights to give new and existing ballplayers playing time to improve their skills, try different positions on the field - or even try managing a team - as well as meeting other ballplayers throughout OTB. Players are expected to conduct themselves with the same level of sportsmanship and maturity on and off the field as expected in OTB. The responsibility of sustaining this ethic rests with the NOTB Chairperson, NOTB Committee, managers, assistant managers, and each individual player.

 

1          RULES

1.1   Over Thirty Baseball, Inc. adopts as its official baseball rules the Official Major League Baseball Rules. Any exceptions to these rules are listed herein.

1.2   A majority vote of the NOTB Committee is needed to add, delete or amend league rules as the need arises. A revised copy of the rules will be available to each league member, each year, at the time of registration.

1.3   Except for extenuating circumstances or special events including rainouts, NOTB schedules all games on weeknights exclusive of the following holidays, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

2          CONDUCT

2.1   There will be no alcoholic beverages permitted before, during, or after the game within the confines of the playing field. Also, smoking is prohibited within the playing area or within the vicinity of the playing area. The use of profanity is not allowed within the playing area or within the vicinity of the playing area.

2.2   Unsportsmanlike conduct is strictly prohibited. The penalty for a player involved in such an altercation can be any of the following: warning, reprimand, suspension, season expulsion, or permanent expulsion. Each team is responsible for the conduct of its players and supporters. Should this become a problem, the responsible team is subject to forfeiture at the discretion of the umpire. Conduct issues, which include making false statements, are inclusive of all related areas and events associated with OTB, such as website use, meetings, etc.

Define Infractions:

Minor Infractions

Unsportsmanlike Conduct - abusive language or harrassment of players or umpires. Violation of Official Baseball or NOTB rule which warrants ejection. Repetitive minor infractions may warrant suspension or expulsion.

Major Infractions

Flagrant verbal or physical abuse by a player or manager - assault and battery on players, managers, or any member of the umpiring crew before, during, or after a game. Failing to leave the playing field or designated area after an ejection by the umpire, causing additional unsportsmanlike conduct and forfeiture of a game. If found responsible for such an act, no less than one (1) game suspension.

2.3   Any player or manager ejected by the umpire from a game is automatically suspended for the next scheduled game. To lift a suspension, the ejected player/manager has the burden of providing information to show their ejection was not warranted. The NOTB Committee will review and resolve such claims within 5 days. Claims for review must be submitted to the NOTB Committee within 12 hours of ejection. A successful claim will not count as an official ejection.

Multiple ejections within any three-year period will result in additional suspended games as follows: 1 ejection - minimum 1 game suspension. 2 ejections - seasonal expulsion with return to NOTB pending approval of NOTB Committee. All ejections must be reported by the Manager to the NOTB Committee within 24 hours.

2.4   If an infielder decoys a tag, only the runner will be entitled to advance one (1) base. If the same fielder decoys twice in a game, he will be ejected from the game. Decoying is referred to where a player on base slides unnecessarily due to a decoyed tag. Any preceding runner(s) forced to advance by the award of one (1) base for the penalty of decoying shall advance without liability to be out.

2.5   When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder, who is clearly 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, in the umpire's judgement, the runner
a) could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or
b) was attempting to dislodge the ball, the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball shall be declared dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. If ruled deliberate by the umpire, it may result in the player's ejection from the game.

Note: This rule is adopted from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association collision rule word-for-word.

2.6   If a pitcher hits four (4) batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the fourth hit batsman. This rule does not supersede normal umpire's discretion under Major League Rules.

2.7   The Hidden Ball Play can be executed only when the pitcher is completely off the pitching circle (i.e., both feet on the grass of the infield).

3           ELIGIBILITY COMMITMENT

3.1   All managers/players must not cross the line where winning is more important than playing. An opposing manager may, at any time, have the right to question a player's age and get their name. During registration, all players must attest to their correct age. A player must be 30 years of age by June 15 of each season. If an under-30 player is detected, penalties of long term suspension to the individual will be decided by the NOTB Committee.

3.2   Each year, new applicants will be eligible for the draft according to order of receipt of applications. The annual draft will be conducted in a manner to allow parity, fairness, and an opportunity for all teams to field all positions. In order to maintain fairness and opportunity, the league will not publish the number of players on a waiting list. If a team has a need for a player, the manager will make a request for a player.

3.3   Dates for submission of final rosters will be decided by the NOTB Committee. There will be absolutely no changes permitted afterward without the approval of the NOTB Committee.

3.4   Any player may submit their name for consideration in the draft, however a maximum of 25% of league players may be non-OTB players. These may include new players, former OTB players or players on the OTB waiting list, etc. There is one exception to this rule: If the remaining balance of available OTB players is insufficient to fill all roster spots, non-OTB players may be drafted to fill these spots. All registration forms for draft openings will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

This rule is intended to reduce the risk of players leaving OTB to play in NOTB. A player may switch teams, after completion of the draft, with the approval of the NOTB Committee.

3.5   Teams must have nine (9) players to start an official game. A team cannot complete a game with less than eight (8) players. Managers may allow a player from opposing team to fill in positions when necessary.

3.6   As approved by the NOTB Committee, any player missing two consecutive games without prior notification is subject to expulsion for the remainder of the season. Any player missing four games, with or without prior notification, is subject to expulsion for the remainder of the season. Furthermore, the player involved is not entitled to any refund. If such an expelled player decides to return to the league the following year, he shall not be treated as a returning player. His application will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

3.7   Player substitutions are allowed as follows: If a player on a team's roster cannot attend a game, he may allow another player either from a waiting list or from another team to play in his absence, pending approval of the manager(s) and NOTB Committee.

4          PLAYING TIME, POSITIONS, AVAILABILITY

4.1   A pitcher may pitch no more than a total of four (4) innings per game.

4.2   Pitchers may not wear apparel which can be deemed as a distraction during the game (i.e. wrist bands, bright pitching sleeve, shining objects).

4.3   Each manager will bat all players present at the start of the game. The manager will add players who arrive late to the bottom of the lineup as soon as he is ready to play.

4.4   Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over, unless physically unable to swing, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game. If a player is forced to leave the game for any reason, that spot is skipped and all batters move up accordingly with no penalty to the affected team. If a player misses his turn at bat for whatever reason but wishes to continue batting, an out will be charged at the time of the missed turn at bat.

4.5   All players able to play must play at least three (3) innings on the field. Any player not present at the start of the game will have those innings missed deducted from the 3-inning minimum.

4.6   A player who needs a courtesy runner, due to injury factors only, must have his manager notify the opposing manager before game time. If not so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request during the game. Each team will be allowed the maximum of two (2) courtesy runners at the start of each game. The player to make the last batted out must be the courtesy pinch-runner unless it is the first inning of a game and no player has made an out. In this case, the last batter in the order shall be the courtesy runner. In the event a player becomes injured during a game, a manager may add to the number of courtesy runners for each injured player. (As an additional option to this rule, pitchers and catchers, if the last batted out, may be skipped as courtesy runners with the previous batted out running.)

4.7   Pitchers and catchers shall be allowed a pinch-runner when there are two (2) outs in an inning. The runner has to be substituted before the next batter comes up to bat. The pinch-runner shall be the player who made the last out.

5          COMPLETED GAMES / PROTESTS

5.1   All games are seven (7) innings. It is at the umpires' discretion to call the game in the event of darkness or inclement weather. No games shall be made up or completed at another time unless approved by the managers and NOTB Committee. All players are expected to be at their respective games at least 1/2 hour before the start. The visiting team will take the field 25 minutes before the start of the game for 10 minutes of practice. The home team will take the field 15 minutes before the start of the game for 10 minutes of practice, with the ground rules taking place 5 minutes before the start of the game.

5.2   A game will be considered final when the home team has a 15 run lead after 4-1/2 innings and 2 completed hours of play. A game will be considered final when the visiting team has a 15 run lead after 5 full innings and 2 completed hours of play. If the 2-hour time limit has not been reached, the home team must have its last chance at bat in any inning after the 5th and after the 2-hour time limit.

5.3   After two (2) hours and thirty (30) minutes from the start of a game, the teams may not begin a new inning. The game will be ruled final at this point.

6          EQUIPMENT / UNIFORM

6.1   All teams must have full baseball uniforms.

6.1.1   No player without a uniform will be allowed to play without the opposing manager's consent. A full uniform is defined as hat, pants, shirt and socks. Also no alterations to the uniform without NOTB Committee approval.

6.1.2   Every effort must be made for teams to have their uniforms by the first game.

6.2   All batters and runners must have helmets; there is no exception to this rule. Dual- or single-flap helmets are mandatory when batting and helmets are required for the bases. Catchers are also required to wear a helmet beneath their mask.

6.3   Only league-approved baseballs will be permitted for league play. Each team must bring three (3) baseballs to each game.

6.4   Baseball bats with a length-to-weight differential of no greater than three (3) will be used at all NOTB-sanctioned games. In addition, at least one third (1/3) of all scheduled games will be designated wood bat games only. Wood bat games will be clearly designated when the schedule is approved. Any batter using an illegal bat will be ejected from the game.

6.5   All baseball cleats are permitted in league games.