MARCH 13, 2005 Meeting with Baseball Committee and Team Managers &
Coaches for discussion of 2005 Legion Season
MARCH 15, 2005 Midnight deadline for Enrollment and Residency Entry Fee.
$200 by 3/15; $300 after 3/15. All New Teams $200.00
MARCH 31, 2005 Establishment of Players Legal Domicile (Parents Domicile)
and School Enrollment
APRIL 15, 2005 File Plan (A) recruiting maps and explana- tion (with
Nation Headquarters. See Rule 3.A)
APRIL 15, 2005 Deadline for Department Chairman to file (5) Copies of
Department Rules to National Head quarters
APRIL 24,2005 South Areas scheduling meeting. Both Senior & Junior
Teams at 2:00 pm at Albany Post 30 Place
APRIL 24,2005 North Areas scheduling meeting. Both Senior & Junior
Teams. At 2:00 pm at Conyers Post 77.
MAY 1, 2005 department tournaments (Dates & Location) Must be filed
with National Headquarters.
MAY 20, 2005 Midnight deadline to submit copy of season schedule to Area
Chairman
JUNE 20, 2005 Midnight deadline to submit National Forms 1 & 2 to
Area Chairman.
JULY 15, 2005 All Scholarship applications must be postmarked no later
than Midnight to State Baseball Chairman.
JULY 18, 2005 All area games must be completed.
JULY 29, - AUGUST 2,2005 Senior State Tournament Post 145 Douglasville.
AUGUST 5, 2005 Department Chairman must express mail Photographs of Team
still participating in Department Tournament to Regional Tournament Chairman
(see Rule 9.G)
CODE
OF SPORTSMANSHIP
The “Code of
Sportsmanship” should be repeated by the competing team before each
game.
I WILL;
Keep
the rules
Keep faith with my
teammates
Keep
my temper
Keep
myself fit
Keep
a stout heart in defeat
Keep
my pride under in victory
Keep
a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body.
DEPARTMENT
JURISDICTION
Any team that represents themselves as an American Legion Baseball team
comes under the jurisdiction of the Department Baseball Committee the moment
they commit an intentional act to represent themselves as an American Legion
Baseball team
Any team who violates any rule or regulation set forth by the Georgia
American Legion Baseball Committee shall be subject to the discipline of the
Department Baseball Committee
Georgia American Legion Baseball rules can be changed or amended only by
action of the Department Baseball Committee in regularly called meeting.
Note: Request for transfers must be submitted in writing before June 15,
2005
DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA STATE BASEBALL RULES
2005
RULE – 1
All games shall be governed by the official Baseball Rules as published by
the Sporting News
Except as follows:
American Legion National Rules
Department (Georgia) Rules Department Rules can and may be more
restrictive.
The Department Baseball Chairman, with the assistance of the Baseball
Committee shall manage and oversee the entire baseball program to include, but
not to be limited to, approval of post teams for competition, player
eligibility, establish team entry fees, set District and State Tournament
dates and perform all other necessary functions to conduct the program in
accordance with National and Department rules.
Rule – 2 – Post Team Requirements
Posts that desire to sponsor a team must notify the State Baseball
Chairman, in writing, prior to Midnight March 1, of each season.
Post team entry fee of $200.00 must be paid by midnight March 15, 2005.
Each Post team must be covered by group Accident & Liability protection
insurance as provided by S.A. Van Dyk, Inc. A copy of the insurance
certificate must be presented along with the check. Teams paying after April
2nd. Will be charged $100.00 late fee. New Teams after this date will not be
charged late fee.
No State of Georgia American Legion team shall practice or play a game till
the requirements of A, B, & C have been met.
D. Teams may carry up to eighteen (18) eligible players as outlined in
National Rules: Rule 2A to E3.
National Form # 1 and National Form # 2, and if required Form 76 & 77
along with a copy of players’ original Birth Certificate shall be submitted
to the State Baseball Chairman or his designated representative by Midnight
June 20th of each season
Four (4) copies of Team Photo 5 x 7 must be included with names of players
and coaches listed as they appear in the photo at bottom or on back of photo.
Must be a color photo
Each team is required to provide a regulation field for all home games.
Lights are required for night games.
E. At all times team Manager or an assistant coach or Post member will be
in charge of the team during the playing of the game.
F. The Post Baseball Chairman, Team Manager or Coach as listed on Form 1
must attend all meetings as called or directed by the State Baseball Chairman.
G. DUAL PARTICIPATION: American Legion Baseball teams and players may
participate in other Amateur Baseball Programs HOWEVER: PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL
MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE STATE BASEBALL CHAIRMAN. Teams must also submit a
written list of the names of players who are dual participants to the State
Baseball Chairman prior to teams first (1st) game of the season. For the
purpose of this rule High School Players who must play for their High School
summer team will also be counted as dual Participants. All dual participants
must play in 50 % of the teams area games (Exception
players who are pitchers only must pitch in 25% of area games) to be
eligible to play in the Post Season Area and State Tournament. (Example of 50%
of area games: Team is scheduled to play 12 area games a player who is a dual
participant must play in 6 of those area games –play meaning to bat, play a
position in the field or pitch in said game). To monitor this home team will
mail or fax score sheets from all area games to Area Chairman. It is important
for dual participants, Teams and Players to understand that dual participation
should in no way interfere with their responsibility to their Legion team.
Players who leave their team during tournament play to play with another
non-Legion team will be declared ineligible for the rest of that tournament,
if this happens in the State Tournament player will be ruled ineligible for
the remainder of the season.
RULE 3 – PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Player eligibility shall be governed by the National Rules with the
following exception:
Players BIRTH CERIFICATES must be the original with raised seal from
issuing States Department of Vital Statistics.
No Team Shall Share The Same Base School.
RULE – 4- PLAYING RULES AND SCHEDULES
Post teams that are eligible and properly qualified for current season play
shall meet the following requirements:
Attend Scheduling meetings as directed by the State Baseball Chairman to
complete Season schedule.
B. Play all teams in their AREA Two (2) times and games should be on a home
& home Basis. This rule is subject to change due to size of area and
shorter seasons.
C. Area games will be nine innings for single games and seven innings for
doubleheaders. Non-area games may be nine or seven innings this will be left
up to managers to decide.
D. The run rule will be in a nine-inning game 10 after seven & in seven
inning games 10 after 5.
E. Home team to provide two (2) certified umpires high school or above. It
shall be the team managers responsibility to make sure all umpires are
certified. Any team using uncertified umpires will forfeit the game. Home team
will furnish the necessary amount of approved baseballs for the game. It shall
be the chief umpire’s responsibility to check each teams bats before the
game starts for approved code rating.
H. All scheduled area games must be completed prior to July 18, 2005
I. FORFEITS: A team that forfeits a scheduled game against another Legion
Team and does not provide 24 hours notice to the opposing team shall be
responsible for all umpire fees. A team that does not meet all of its
obligations as they relate to umpire fees will be considered ineligible for
Post Season play and will remain so until all payments have been made. In
addition when an American Legion Team in Georgia forfeits a scheduled game
(doesn’t matter area or non area game) to another Legion Team the team that
forfeits will be fined $50.00 for first forfeit, $100.00 for second forfeit
and a third forfeit will result in team being declared ineligible for post
season play. (Checks for fines will be made out to Department of Georgia
American Legion Baseball) Games may be rescheduled. Area games that are rained
out or rescheduled must be made up within 14 playing days of cancellation,
Failure of teams to reschedule within this time frame will result in the State
Baseball Chairman or his representative setting the date & time for the
playing of the canceled game. Failure of the teams to make up canceled games
could result in both teams forfeiting and being in violation of the forfeit
rule and subject to fines and suspension.
J. No courtesy or designated runner in Area or State Level of play.
K. All American Legion Baseball teams are encouraged to play as many Legion
Teams within the state as possible during the season. Legion teams may play
non-Legion Teams, however, Department Area games will take precedence over all
other games in the event of rainouts or other rescheduled games.
RULE – 5- CONDUCT
When a player, manager/field manager, coach and or member of the Post Team
is ejected from a game in progress by the umpires for a violation of the
Sportsmanship and/or Conduct rules, that individual will be required to leave
the ball park for the remainder of that game. The penalty for a player,
manager/field manager, or coach or scorekeeper will be a two game suspension
to be served during the team’s next two scheduled games. Should the player,
manager/field manager, coach or scorekeeper make physical contact meaning
bump, shove, push, grab umpires arm, spit or any other form of physical force
on an umpire, the individual will be suspended for the remainder of the season
and fined $100.00. There will be no appeal on physical contact with an umpire.
This is a State Law in Georgia. Individuals suspended must pay fine before
being reinstated the following yr. Appeals on ejection can be filed with the
Baseball Chairman or his representative for review by the Baseball Committee.
See protest rule 8, Manager/Field manager must notify Baseball Chairman or his
representative within 24 hrs. of the incident that a protest is being filed.
Even if no protest is planned written details of the ejection listing names of
individuals and all details of the incident must be mailed or faxed to the
Baseball Chairman or his representative.
RULE – 6 – UNIFORMS
Teams must be in like uniforms for all American Legion Area, non-area,
tournaments and National Tournament play. The American Legion Baseball patch
shall be on all uniforms. See National Rule 1 (A. Manager/Field Manager,
Coach, players
And Bat persons).
No alcohol or tobacco advertisement on Team Uniforms.
RULE 7 – UMPIRES
Umpires for all scheduled American Legion area and non-area games shall be
members of a State recognized Association and certified for High School or
higher level of play. No Umpire shall officiate any games if he/she is related
to any member of either of the competing Teams. All umpires associations that
are to be involved with American Legion games must be approved by the Baseball
Chairman and Baseball Committee. Each Team Manager Must Get a Copy of Umpires
High School or Above State Recognized Association.
RULE 8 – PROTEST AND APPEAL PROCEDURES
PROTESTS:
All protests of regular season area games must be in writing and delivered
to the Department Baseball Chairman or designated representative. The written
protest must be signed by the Manager/Field Manager and Post Commander or his
duly authorized representative and be of a Specific nature and must set forth
definite proof of the rule and how the umpire misinterpreted the Rules.
Protest can only be filed on questions involving the Rules of the game, a
judgment Call cannot be protested. A $50.00 cash, certified check or money
order must accompany protests. $25.00 will be returned if protest is upheld,
the other $25.00 will remain in the Department Baseball Account as a charge
for administrative costs associated with the handling of the protest. All
protests must be filed within 24 hrs. after the completion of the game.
Protests that involve the actual play of a game must be brought to the
attention of the Umpire-in-Charge and he shall advise the opposing manager and
official scorekeeper that the game is being played Under Protest from this
point on. The Umpire-in-Charge will be required to file with the Baseball
Chairman or Representative, written details of the circumstances involved.
APPEALS:
Appeals by Player, Manager/Field Manager/Coach for ejection for
UN-sportsmanlike conduct will follow the same procedures as listed above. The
player/manager/field manager or coach once ejected cannot return to action
until the written appeal has been filed with the Baseball Chairman or his
Representative. The $50.00 fee applies on Appeal of ejection.
APPEAL OF NATIONAL RULES – See National Rules – National Baseball
Appeal Board – Rule 11.
RULE 9 – STANDARD TOURNAMENT RULES
The following rules apply to District and State Tournaments:
No Designated or Courtesy Runners.
B. Run Rule – 10 Runs after 7 innings.
C. Rain Outs – There will be no rainouts, only delays. If game is
delayed, it will be resumed at point play was stopped. (All tournament games
area and state will be 9
inning games.)
Ejection of a manager/field manager, or Coach ejected by an umpire is
suspended from tournament play unless reinstated by the tournament
Director. Any player, manager/field manager ejected must leave the
ballpark. Failure to do so will be grounds for the Tournament Director to
forfeit the game.
Uniforms See National Rule 1 A.
RULE 10 – DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Tournament Director shall be under the direction of the Area Chairman or
State Baseball Chairman. He will be the sole judge of the postponement and
rescheduling of games due to weather or other conditions as required. He
shall approve District Tournament Umpires and the official score keepers.
Disputes and all matters concerning same shall be decided by the assigned
District Baseball representative.
Advancement to the next level of play in any tournament where Department
Funds are used being partial or complete, shall have the approval of the
Department Baseball chairman or the Department Baseball Committee.
The Department of Georgia Baseball committee has approved the National
bracket for tournament play in Georgia.
RULE 11 – STATE TOURNAMENT
Tournament bids shall be submitted in writing to the State Baseball
Chairman. See Tournament Bid Request information for details on exact
procedures and requirements for hosting a District or State Tournament.
Tournament Director shall be under the direction of the State Baseball
Chairman. He will be the sole judge of the postponement and rescheduling of
games due to weather or other conditions as required. He will be responsible
for scheduling “official scorekeepers” for all Tournament games.
Umpires will be selected and assigned to the State Tournament
by the State Baseball Chairman.
State Baseball Chairman, Area Chairman and Tournament Director will
select Manager of the Year and MVP for the State Tournament.
Host Notification: All team managers are required to notify the
Tournament Host Post of the State Tournament City of their exact time of
arrival.
Manager/Field Manager of State Tournament Teams are required to attend
Pre-Tournament meeting. Time and date, to be determined by the State
Baseball Chairman.
Bed Checks will be made by all Manager/Field Managers of teams
participating in the State Tournament at their respective housing units.
Players must be in their assigned rooms from 11:59 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the
following morning. All violations of this rule shall be recorded for the
Tournament Director. Exception to this rule shall be permitted for players
attending late games as long as Manager/Field Manager is in attendance with
the players.
H. DAMAGES All Post teams that are participating in the State Tournament,
and are housed in a local Motel/Hotel will be required to make a $200 security
deposit with the State Baseball Chairman. These funds will be used to cover
any unpaid bills and damages to property. Teams will be refunded any unused
amount up to the $200. Player conduct, on and off the field, while attending
the State Tournament is the total responsibility of the Manager/Field Manager
and the Post they represent.
I. In The Event Host Team Does Not Qualify For The State Tournament There
Will Be A Nine Team Tournament With The Bye Going To The Team With The Highest
% Of Area Wins. If There Is A Tie A Flip Of A Coin Will Determine Who Gets The
Bye. The Bye Will Go To The Team Where The Tournament Is Being Played.
RULE 12 – PROTESTS AT DISTRICT AND STATE TOURNAMENT
All questions and disputes at District/State Tournaments shall be decided
by the Tournament Director as directed by the State Baseball Chairman. When
conditions permit, the Chairman may appoint a committee of two Baseball
Committee members to assist in any decisions as they relate to protests. The
State Baseball Chairman shall have the power to disqualify or suspend anyone
violating Department or National Rules. Only when all appeal procedures have
been exhausted at the Department level can an appeal be made to the National
Baseball appeal Board.
All protests of player eligibility must be specific with definite written
proof and be submitted prior to the District/State Pre-Tournament meeting.
The State Baseball Chairman can without a protest being filed disqualify a
team, if he, his Area Chairman or a member of the State Baseball Committee
has knowledge that team players are in eligible. The State Baseball Chairman
or his Area Chairman will conduct player certification and review of Birth
certificates during the North/South District Tournaments. Any discrepancies
found MUST be corrected prior to the team’s first game at the State
Tournament. Players who are not certified at the start of the Tournament
will be ineligible for play during the entire Tournament.
Protest of rules interpretation during games shall be filed with the
umpire-in-chief before the Next legally pitched ball is thrown from the
mound. The umpire may consult with the Tournament Director as needed,
however the umpires ruling shall be final.
If a protest is upheld and results in a winner being disqualified, the
runner-up team will be Declared the winner in both the District and State
Tournament level of play.
FOR ANY SITUATION THAT ARISES DURING THE COURSE OF THE CURRENT BASEBALL
SEASON, AND THERE IS NO DIRECT RULE ADDRESSING SAID SITUATION, IT WILL BE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE BASEBALL CHAIRMAN AND STATE BASEBALL COMMITTEE TO
MAKE A RULING THAT IS
IN KEEPING WITH THE INTENT OF THE STATE AND NATIONAL RULES AND OBJECTIVES. WHEN
THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN STATE RULES AND THE NATIONAL RULE, THE NATIONAL
RULE WILL BE THE RULE ENFORCED.
JUNIOR BASEBALL RULES 2005
1. THE AGE OF PLAYERS ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE INTHE JUNIOR PROGRAM WILL
FOLLOW THE NATIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE, 17 AND UNDER. ONLY 50% OF THE PLAYERS ON A
TEAM CAN BE 17 YEARS OLD. NO MORE THAN 9 PLAYERS ON A TEAM MAY BE 17. THE CUT
OFF DATE WILL BE AUGUST 1. A PLAYER CANNOT TURN 18 PRRIO TO AUGUST 1, 2005
SENIOR LEGION BASEBALL, WITH SOME MODIFI CATIONS ALLOWED FOR THE JUNIORS.
3. RE-ENTRY RULES: WE WILL ALLOW ONE RE-ENTRY FOR THE FIRST NINE (9)
BATTERS. HOWEVER BE FORE THE PLAYER IS RE-ENTERED THE SUB MUST BAT AT LEAST
ONCE.
5. NUMBER OF INNINGS TO BE PLAYED IN JUNIOR BASEBALL GAMES: ALL GAMES WILL
BE AT LEAST 7 INNING GAMES. MORE INNINGS CAN ONLY BE PLAYED IF AGREED ON BY
BOTH TEAM COACHES.
