GAME FORMAT and RULES

I. AGE RULE

Players in their respective age groups must not reach the next age before May 1, 2010 at 12:01am. It is permissible for a player to play up from their designated age division, but they may not play down.

II. PHILOSOPHY OF THE LEAGUE

A.Keep the integrity of this great game of baseball in mind during the Advanced Fall Baseball League. Play only those players that are rostered with your team. All players, coaches and spectators are to behave in a manner that reflects the positive FUN associated with the game.  Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in removal from the league without a refund.

B. The focus of the AFBL is participation and player development. NOTE: It is the responsibility of all coaches to find equal playing time defensively for rostered players. Remind yourself that success of the league is NOT measured by wins and loses, but rather by the level of improvement and development a player has. Everyone will benefit from this league if we remember that this is for the kids and the focus of this league is their development as an athlete and a person.

III. GENERAL RULES

A. Each team must supply one new game ball (supplied on site) for the start of each game at the Center Hub located in the middle of Fields 5, 6, 7, 8 at Rich Valley.  Balls will be onsite or given to site coordinator at the Roseville Legion Field.  (Additional balls are to be supplied alternately as needed.)

B. The home team will keep the official scorebook. Note: A mutually agreed upon format for each play date will be used so each team is “home team” in one game and the “visitor team” in their other.

C. Line markings, field dragging and bases are the responsibility of ALL the teams involved.  Although Rich Valley and Roseville will have all the fields dragged, there will be rakes at each field and when teams have completed their double headers, they are responsible for raking the field.  Losing teams are responsible for raking the fields.

D. It is strongly recommended that all players wear the jerseys and hats provided by the league.

E.Courtesy Runners: A courtesy runner for the catcher and pitcher can be used at any time, but is a requirement for the catcher with two outs. Projected substitutions are not allowed. Exception: Courtesy Runner(s) for an injured player will be the player making the most recent out.

F. All teams must use a continuous batting order and implement free substitution.

G. There will be no pre-game infield unless time allows.

H. Batters will start with a 1-1 count

IV. CONTINUOUS BATTING & FREE SUBSTITUTION (See Exception)

If someone becomes injured, it will NOT be an automatic out when that player comes to at-bat again.

V. UMPIRES

Umpires will be provided by umpire associations throughout the metro area. A weekly schedule will be available on the MYAS website to notify all teams who is assigning umpires for their games.

If an umpire does not show up, please arrange for a mutually agreeable substitute to be used. Call Dawson Blanck, Tony Groff or Jeremy Barbe at (763) 781?2220 the following Monday to notify them of the problem and be sure to submit an umpire no?show invoice within 48 hours to the MYAS/GSFBL office (substitute umpires will be paid $40.00 per game).

VI. GAME LENGTH

7 innings or a 90-minute limit – whichever comes first.  If a team is in the midst of an inning at the time limit, that team will finish that full inning. No new inning will start after the 90-minute limit.

Clarification: If the game is tied at the end of regulation (7 innings or 90-minute limit), the away team will start the next inning with the bases loaded (last 3 recorded outs) with one out.  The bottom half will do the same.  If the score is still tied after that inning, bases will be loaded again with no outs.

There will be a 10-run rule in both the 14/15 division and Varsity division after 5 innings of play.

VII. STANDINGS and REPORTING SCORES

A. Minnesota Baseball Academy will keep current standings on www.minnesotabaseballacademy.com, but coaches will be responsible for inputting weekend scores, highlights, recaps, etc.

B. WINNING COACHES or a team representative must report their scores through the Admin Menu on the www.minnesotabaseballacademy.com website. Each Head Coach or Representative will be assigned and emailed a Username and Password for their team prior to the start of the season. By utilizing the online score reporting, game scores will immediately be updated on the league website and will also update league standings. Please report your scores within 24 hours of each game's completion.

VI. LEAGUE STANDINGS AND TIEBREAKERS

AFBL seedings will be determined by the team with the highest winning percentage at the conclusion of the season (October 18 make up date). Ties in the standings will be

broken by the following procedure:

1) Head to head competition (when applicable)

2) Least runs allowed

3) Most runs scored

4) Coin flip

VII. COACH/PLAYER/SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT

A. All players, coaches and spectators are to behave in a manner that reflects the positive fun

associated with the game of baseball. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated, and

includes but is not limited to:

verbal abuse, arguing, judgment calls, physical aggression, profanity, tantrum-like acts, confronting, taunting opposing fans, players and/or coaches.

B.Please keep in mind that you are coaching youth baseball. Therefore, unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in removal from the league without a refund. Unsportsmanlike conduct does include verbal/physical abuse or harassment of members of the same team by a coach, player or spectator.

D. Any player, coach or spectator ejected or removed from a fall baseball league game due to

unsportsmanlike conduct will be suspended for the remainder of the 2009 Gopher State

Fall Baseball League season. In order to participate in future MYAS sponsored activities

(regardless of sport), any person that has been suspended must appeal their case to Minnesota Baseball Academy.

RAINOUTS and RESCHEDULING

Please check the weather the night before AND the morning of practice and game days. We will update the work phone at 612.790.4700. Blizzard players, please DO NOT call your coach.  Updates will be made throughout the day. We will do our best to get the fields ready to play!

If games ARE rained out or cancelled, they will be made up the following Saturday. New times for those game days will be posted. If games on the last week are cancelled, games will be made up during the week at a time and location to be determined.

EQUIPMENT and UNIFORMS

Each team (14u-Varsity) must supply one new game ball (supplied on site) for the start of each game at the Center Hub located in the middle of Fields 5, 6, 7, 8 at Rich Valley. Balls will be onsite or given to site coordinator at the Roseville Legion Field. (Additional balls are to be supplied alternately as needed.)  All AFBL teams will receive their AFBL shirts and hats their first game day. Teams can also wear their own uniforms.

Blizzard Teams ages 10u-13u will have individual team bags.

Scorebooks will be handed out to the coaches the first day of practice.