WES-DEL

YOUTH ATHLETIC

ASSOCIATION RULE BOOK

These rules shall govern the Wes-Del Youth Athletic Association (the “Association”), its youth baseball and softball program, and all divisions within the Association, shall remain in full force and effect until such time as they are modified or amended by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Association, and shall not be modified or amended except upon approval of a majority of the members of the Board. The following rules shall govern the Association:

FOR ALL DIVISIONS: Rules and regulations instituted by The Board shall prevail, unless otherwise modified by the Association’s Board.

LEAGUE RULES: Rules and regulations instituted by the Board governing all age divisions and fields in the Association.

DIVISION RULES: Rules and regulations instituted by the Board governing the specific age divisions within the Association.

NATIONAL BASEBALL CONGRESS: In the event a subject or issue is not covered in the Babe Ruth Rules, or otherwise in the Association’s League or Division Rules, then reference will be made to the National Baseball Congress Rules.

1. PARK RULES

ALCOHOL/TOBACCO/PROFANITY PROHIBITION

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED BY ANYONE IN THE PARK!!! The use of tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs or profanity is strictly prohibited as per Wes-Del Youth Athletic Association Rules. The violation of this rule may result in ejection, suspension, or such other penalty as the Board in its discretion may prescribe.

BOARD DIRECTOR ON DUTY / UMPIRE ON DUTY

The Director on Duty (or Head Umpire if a board member is not present) has full jurisdiction over the field until the game time.

FIELD/DUGOUT RESPONSIBILITY

All teams must clean their side of the field after each game prior to vacating the field. This includes; dugout and bleachers areas. Teams should clear the dugout immediately following the game and hold post game huddles outside of the field of play.

Home team Managers are responsible lining the field prior to game times.

Home team will be in the 3rd base dugout while the Away team will be in the 1st base dugout.

PLAYERS, TEAMS, AND COACHES

1. TEAM SELECTION

Wes-Del Youth Athletic Association uses the visual draft method set forth in the rules book. The visual draft uses an open skills evaluation to ensure closely competitive teams and like talent levels. Players will be issued an evaluation score to determine draft ranking. Only players who are keyed to assigned volunteers may be pre-assigned to a roster. Final playing rankings and rosters to be approved by the Board of Directors.

2. ROSTER LIMITS

The minimum team roster size for each division is 9 players. The maximum team roster sizes for each division is 14 players. Tball is an exception to this rule.

3. PLAYING UP OR PLAYING DOWN

In exceptional circumstances, the Board may in its discretion permit a player to play down in division for health or safety reasons. Any player who wishes to “play up or play down” must be present for player evaluations.  The Executive Board will have final say on all player placement. 

Players who are “playing down” will not be eligible for all-star/tournament play. Players who are “playing up” in division may return to normal division for all stars and tournaments.

4. PLAYERS DROPPING OUT/CHANGING TEAMS

Each Manager shall notify the Board within one week of the date he or she is notified of a player’s withdrawal from the League. Parent must notify in writing.

5. MANAGER SELECTION

When choosing a manager, the total number of seasons/years a candidate has managed or coached in all divisions at Wes-Del Youth Athletic Association (this includes recreational league, travel, and all-stars coaching experience). The Board of Directors has the final approval. No manager shall manage more than one team in a season, unless absolutely needed for the division to field a team then an exception can be made with board approval.

6. MANAGER/COACH ELIGIBILITY

Unless otherwise approved by the Board, all managers/head coaches must be at least sixteen (16) years of age or older. Further, such managers or coaches must possess the maturity, responsibility, character, and adherence to Association rules and regulations required to remain a manager or coach in good standing with the Association.

Each team may have up to 3 registered Volunteers. Only registered volunteers are permitted onto the field at any time.

8. UNIFORM ATTACHMENTS

Uniforms are not to be altered in anyway.

9. COACHES’ UNIFORMS

Coaches are to be dressed in baseball appropriate attire.

OVERALL GAME AND PLAYING RULES

1. OFFICIAL GAME START TIMES

The starting time for all games shall be set each season as directed by the Board. The time limits for all games shall be as specified in the individual division rules, which time limits shall run from the official start time of the game. The official start time for all games shall be the time play begins, but in no event later than fifteen (15) minutes from the scheduled start time, except that in the event of a rain delay such start time may begin no later than 30 minutes from the scheduled time. No inning will begin later than 9:00pm Monday thru Thursday in the Tball-Minor divisions.

1. LINEUP SHEETS

Completed line up sheets must include the following information.

• Last name
• Position (this is for pitcher and catcher positions only) Rule applies to Minor and Major
• Player number corresponding to his uniform shirt
• All substitutes missing or injured players should be listed and identified correctly.

All the above must be submitted ten (10) minutes before the scheduled game start time at the coaches meeting at home plate with the umpire present. All teams in every division must have eight (8) players to start or finish a game. IF ANY TEAM CAN’T COMPLY THE RESULT IS A FORFIET. NO EXCEPTIONS.

1. LATE ARRIVAL

Players who are listed on the roster and arrive late to a game will be allowed to play, even if they were skipped the first time through the batting order. They will be placed at the end of the batting order.

1. PLAYER UNABLE/UNWILLING TO PLAY

If a player is ejected, unable or unwilling to continue in a game, then that player will be scratched from the batting lineup without an out being recorded. 

1. AVOID CONTACT RULE

Unless modified by applicable division rules, if there is a play in the batter’s box/home plate area in which the catcher has the ball and is applying a tag, then the base runner must slide. If the runner fails to slide and makes contact with the catcher, he will be out. If no contact is made, then he will be warned that if contact is made, he will be out. No player shall be subject to deliberate aggressive contact no matter where his position on the field. In this case, the runner will be declared out and subject to ejection from the game.

1. HEADFIRST SLIDING

Unless modified by division rules, there will be no “headfirst” sliding allowed. Any violation shall result in the runner being called “out.” This does not include “dives” back to the bag in the instance of an over run, pickoff attempt or any “hot box” run down.

1. THROWN BATS

In the event the batter throws or slings the bat in the process of hitting or attempting to hit the ball, whether the ball is fair or foul, the umpire will access the following penalties; on the first offense per team, the team will be issued a warning. On the second and all subsequent offenses per team, the ball will be declared dead and the batter will be declared out. If the same batter commits the offense more than twice in any one game, the umpire may at his discretion eject the player from the game in addition to declaring him/her out. If at any time, the umpire feels that the throwing or slinging of the bat was intentional and malicious in nature, the umpire may immediately eject the player, even if no warnings have been given.

1. COACHES’ ASSISTANCE IN BASE RUNNING

If a coach touches a base runner to assist the runner in any way while the ball is (live) the runner shall be called out.

1. JEWELRY

No jewelry can be worn by any player except for medical identification. A team warning will be provided at the beginning of each game. On the second and subsequent warnings, an automatic out will be assessed to the player wearing the jewelry, which will be assessed at his (or his substitute’s) next at bat. If a defensive player wears jewelry, then that player’s team will start the next at bat/inning with one out.

1. ON DECK BATTERS

On deck batters must stand by his teams’ dugout.

1. COMPLETE GAME

Games shall be complete as determined by the Rules and Regulations, games will be considered complete after 4 innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead.

1. TIE GAMES

Regular season games may result in a “tie” if the score is tied as time has expired. During the playoffs, tied games will continue until a winner is determined. Last out of the previous inning is placed on 2nd base and the inning will begin with the batting team already having 1 out. This format will be followed until a winner is determined.

1. RAINOUTS

Rainouts will be made up on the first available date by the Board. Weeks run from Monday morning to Sunday night. This rule will prevail even if it results in teams playing back to back games. No team will be scheduled to play more than three (3) games in any seven (7) day period unless absolutely necessary. Games that have begun and then have a rain out or rain delay will continue where left off unless the game is considered complete via complete game rules.

1. RESCHEDULE OF GAME

There is no rescheduling of any games. NO EXCEPTIONS!!

1. TIES IN THE STANDING

If there is a divisional tie for first place, it will be decided first by head to head, then runs against, then runs for.

1. FORFEITURE

Any team unable to field a team within fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled start time for the game shall forfeit such game. If a team has more than two (2) forfeits in any season, the manager of such team shall be required to appear before the Board. In these situations, upon the teams request the umpires will remain and a scrimmage game will be played. The team without enough players may “borrow” players from the other team in order to field a complete 9-man roster. But the game is still considered a forfeit.

1. TREATMENT OF UMPIRES

Only coaches may address the umpires during a game. Yelling at the umpires will not be tolerated by players, coaches, or parents. Nobody can argue or harass umpires on judgement calls (balls, strikes, safe or out,). The Coach must request and wait for time to be granted before discussing any rules with the umpires. Coaches are required to make sure parents and spectators do not address the umpire. Coaches may be ejected from the game for any violations above.

1. RERPORTING SCORES AND RECORD KEEPING

Scores and innings pitched counts must be reported to the Board immediately following each game by the home team. Scores will be recorded on the league website by the coach.