DRAFT 2007 MICKEY MANTLE / Bob Feller STATE TOURNAMENT RULES

1.  Unless otherwise prescribed by the AABC White Book, the Official Baseball Rules shall be in force.

 

2.  Any games not legally completed because of inclement weather or other unforeseen developments shall be a suspended game and play shall be resumed from the point of suspension; any game legally completed shall be subject to Rule 4.12(a) of the Official Baseball Rules.

 

3.  All Mickey Mantle games are scheduled for seven innings but will be terminated after five innings if a team has an eight run lead.  (If the visiting team is leading by 8, the home team must bat in the bottom of the inning).

a.  Only exceptions are championship games.

4.  A forfeit shall be treated as a win an not a bye.

5.  The batter must wear protective headgear, with double flaps, both while at bat and while running the bases; and the catcher must wear protective headgear, cup, and throat protector (or mask with built in throat guard) while catching.  The umpires have been instructed to rigidly enforce these requirements, without exception, and deviations will NOT be permitted.  A catcher’s mask, cup and helmet must also be worn when warming up a pitcher on the field or in the bull pen.

6.  Players and coaches (first and third) must be in uniform.  (Coaches may wear matching shirts and shorts or pants).  No one other than the 18 players, 1 manager, 2 coaches and 1 score keeper are permitted in the dugout.  All persons in the dugout must be in uniform except for the score keeper.

7.  Dates, time and/or sites of tournament games are subject to change at the sole discretion of the designated tournament director.  Teams have no input into game times even if both teams agree.

8.  In tournament play, no team shall be permitted to play more than two (2) games in one calendar day without direct permission from the national office.

9.  To qualify, all players must have proof of age submitted to the Director at least one hour before their first game (although this should be done at the pre-tournament meeting) with a Birth Certificate or passport.  No hospital or Baptismal Certificates may be used.

10.  Players must sign the Tournament Team Roster in the presence of the Director.  If player is not present at initial registration, he must register before he plays.  Signatures must match the original roster.

11.  No player may be added to the roster after initial certification except as provided in national rules.

12.  All rules of the AABC Official Handbook are to be strictly followed and the burden of understanding the rules is on the team manager.  This includes, but is not limited to, the pitching rules for number of innings (Rule 30 (a,b,c) and parings (Rule 11(a)(1,2,3,4)).

13.  Protests on rule interpretation are decided by the Director on the field.  Appeals must be made immediately (before the next pitch is thrown) to the director after the play in dispute and be accompanied by payment of $100.00 and citation to the specific rule which you are protesting from the Official AABC or Major League baseball rule book.  The fee will be returned if the protest is upheld.  The protest will not be considered without the fee or the correct citation to the rule.

14.  Player limit of 18 is allowed including draft choices.

15.  About ½ hour before each game a coin toss will take place.  The winner of the toss has his choice of dugout or home/visitor team.  (Please note if team A wins the toss and chooses to be the visitor, team B still gets choice of dugout).

16.  If time permits, each team will have ten minutes of infield/outfield practice.  The visiting team goes first.  Times may be shortened or eliminated at the sole discretion of the site manager.

17.  All teams must present insurance coverage or purchase same before playing.

18.  Trips to the mound will follow the Major League rule except that if a pitcher is removed as a pitcher he may play another position.  He may return as a pitcher if he was not removed because of trips to the mound.

19.  If a player or coach is ejected he must sit the next game.  If he is ejected a second time, he will not be permitted to appear in the balance of the tournament.  If a player is ejected or suspended he must leave the field and the stands.  He cannot be viewable or audible from anyone on the field or in the stands.

20.  There will be no degrading cheering or chanting.  If the umpire or tournament director determines a violation their will be one warning.  Thereafter players or coaches will be ejected.

21.  All players and coaches must remain in the dugout area unless they are playing or coaching.  If there is a violation, one warning will be issued.  Thereafter players or coaches will be ejected.  If an argument or fight breaks out on the field any player leaving the dugout will be ejected.

 

22.  Non-wood bats may be used but they cannot exceed a –3 differential and 2-5/8 barrel diameter.

23.  The American league DH rule is permitted (can only DH for the pitcher).  There shall be no re-entry or speed up rule.

24.  Teams that do not have a representative of their team at the pre-tournament meeting on Wednesday, July 20^th at 8:00 p.m. in Little Ferry will not be permitted to participate.

25.  If the tournament cannot be completed by the required date (July 25, 2005), the winner will be decided as follows:

 

   1. The tournament will go to a single elimination format and all teams with one loss will be eliminated.

   2. If there is more than one team remaining a single elimination tournament will be completed time and weather permitting.  If there is only one undefeated team left it would be declared the winner.

   3. If there is more than one undefeated team left (or 2 or more once defeated teams left and no undefeated teams left) and games cannot be played the following will be used as the tie breaker:

 

   a. Head to head or combined head to head competition. (If tied or not applicable go to b).

   b. Least total number of runs given up in the tournament regardless of number of games played. (If tied to c).

   c. Most total number of runs scored in the tournament regardless of the number of games played. (If tied to go d).

   d. Draw.

 

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