To:2016Alumni League CoachesDate: 4/21/2016
From: WHABA/WHABL
Subject:League Requirements and Rules
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1.Supervision: All practice, pre-game warm ups and games are to be properly supervised by a manager, coach or assistant. The team cannot practice or participate in a game without an adult supervisor. This is an insurance policy requirement.
2.Participation: Each team will have up to a maximum of 16 players. Only assigned players are allowed to participate in practices or games. Only players, managers, coaches, assistants or official scorekeepers are permitted on the player's bench. This is also an insurance policy requirement.
3.Playing Time:
- Each team can have up to 10 batters in the lineup including an Extra Hitter (EH).
- An Extra Hitter must be included in the starting lineup and cannot be removed during the game.
- Extra Hitter can bat in any position in the lineup.
- Original batters may not be re-inserted into the starting lineup once removed.
- Free defensive substitution: Players that are not in the hitting line-up are permitted to play in the field. A player that is removed from the hitting line-up may still play in the field.
- A pitcher cannot re-enter the game as a pitcher.
- Coach’s discretion on playing time on whether a pitcher coming out of the game can be used as a catcher.
- Coach’s discretion on playing time should be based on attendance and effort.
- Coaches will use their best judgment and sportsmanship when making substitutions
4.Accidents or Injuries: Please report all accidents to the president within 24 hours. I will provide the necessary insurance form for the injured player's parents. All bills are sent directly to the player’s insurance company, not the league. Our coverage is secondary.
5.Equipment: Batting donuts are prohibited at all games and practices. Contact me for other equipment needs. Metal spikes are allowed.
6.Sliding: To prevent injuries, an "avoid contact" rule is used during games. When a play is being made on a base, the runner must avoid contact with the fielder by either sliding or running around a tag. The fielder must allow the runner access to the base, and not block the base. Any runner barreling over a fielder will be called out.
7.Uniforms: The Coach will distribute uniforms before the beginning of the season. The coach will receive the uniforms from the league president. The coach is also responsible for getting the uniforms back from the players and returning the container with uniforms to Rich DeMorais.
8.Pre-Game Warm Ups: Weekday games are scheduled to begin at 5:30pm. The visiting team will practice from 4:55 to 5:10 and the home team from 5:10 to 5:25. If High School games are in progress at game time, they have the right to finish, and Alumni League games will begin immediately afterwards.If for some reason one of the coaches is late to due to an emergency or other unforeseeable matters the coach at the field can combine the Pre-Game warm ups for both teams. Each team should stretch and take warm up throws at a minimum prior to each game to prevent injury. Saturday and Sunday game times are scheduled at 10, 1, and 4. Please be at least ½ hour early for stretching and throwing.
9.Game Balls:Each team is required to provide two game balls per game. The home team will also occupy the first base dugout for all games. In playoff games the home team will be the team with the best record. The winning coach is REQUIRED to contact the league president upon the completion of each game.
10.Undermanned Team:In the event a team can only field 8 players , the opposing team will “lend” the team with only 8 players a ninth player decided by the coach lending the player. The game will be considered an official game and count in the standings. In the event a team has less than 8 players the same process mentioned above will occur but in this case the game will be played as a scrimmage game and will not count in the standings.
11.Postponements: If weather conditions are questionable, a cancellation notice by 4:00 pm on weekday games and by 8:30 a.m. for weekend games will be sent out to the Head Coaches via e-mail who will communicate the information to their players. If the town closes the fields, we must oblige and cancel our games.
No games can be postponed, cancelled or rescheduled solely at the discretion of a coach. If at game time the weather is questionable, the umpire and coaches will reach a decision. If a game in progress is halted due to weather conditions, then it is the umpire’s decision as to when to call the game.
12.Publicity: The manager of the winning team is responsible for completing a game summary sheet and emailing to Rich DeMorais() as soon as possible after the game. At the very least, please report the score to me that evening, either by email or phone.
13. Playoffs: All teams will make the playoffs. For positioning, winning percentage will determine seeding for the playoffs. (1 vs 8), (2 vs 7), (3 vs 6) and (4 vs 5). In case of a tie for position, the following system is used:
1.Number of wins during the season.
2.Head to head record between tied teams.
3.Number of wins against teams with better records
4.Coin flip.
(Championship Game: Saturday, May 28th-University of Hartford)
14.Awards: Individual awards will be presented to each member of the championship and runner up teams. There is also a Most Valuable Player Award. Each coach will nominate a player or players who they feel are worthy of consideration for the award and send the player(s) name to the President.Emphasis should be placed on players who have “paid their dues” by playing in the league for multiple years.The league president will make the final decision after all the names have been submitted.The MVP award will be presented at the conclusion of the championship game.
15.Official Games-Regular Season Games: A regulation game is seven innings (or 6 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead). Four innings constitutes a legal game (or 3 1/2 innings if the home team is winning). No new innings will start after 8 pm. In the case of darkness, with the bottom half of an inning incomplete (if required), the score will revert to that at the completion of the last full inning.If any team is ahead by 12 runs at the end of five innings (four and a half if home team is winning), the game will be declared over.
16.Official Games-Playoff Games: All playoff games will be played in its entirety. In the case of darkness or inclement weather the game will be suspended and resume where it was left off.
17.Batting Helmets: Any player used, as a first base or third base coach must wear a batting helmet.
18.Bats: The league has a limited supply of bats. Players are encouraged to bring their own bats which must have a barrel of 2 5/8” and no greater than2 3/4” in diameter and no more than 42” in length, of alloy/composite construction.Bats used in Little League cannot be used in the Alumni League.
19.Umpires: Umpires are scheduled for each game. In the unlikely event that an umpire does not show up within 15 minutes after the scheduled start of a game, it is the responsibility of both coaches to work out a fair arrangement using either coaches or parents. All umpires are paid by the league, and if there is a no show please contact the league president.
20.Sportsmanship: There will be no tolerance for improper or unsportsmanlike conduct on the field. There will be no showmanship by players or abuse of any umpires by coaches, parents or players. Any fighting by a player will result in ejection from the league.
21.Smoking Policy: All Alumni League games are non-smoking for all players and coaches. The school property is also a non-smoking area in the town of West Hartford, and should be enforced as needed.
22.Pitching: See attached pitch count rules. No hidden ball trick is allowed.
23.High School Games: Both Conard and Hall use our fields for afternoon games. If a High School game is in progress, the Alumni League must wait until the game is finished. Do not warm up on the sidelines of a game in progress.
24.Player Assignment: New players will be assigned to teams at the end of the of the group practices. Players will be assigned to teamsbased on the needs of the teams.The league is looking for “parity” among the teams which will allow for better competition and, as a result, an overall stronger and more competitive league.
25. Courtesy Runner for Catcher: With two outs, if the catcher for the next inning is on base, the team at bat may substitute a courtesy runner in order to have the catcher get ready to catch. The courtesy runner will be the runner who made the last batted out.
26. Balks: During the regular season umpires will issue warnings for balks. During the playoffs, the pitcher/team will be penalized for balking.
27. 16 Year Old Restrictions:Must use composite/wood bat when hitting and cannot pitch.