MLSBA League Rules

•All teams must have full baseball uniforms consisting of caps, baseball jerseys, baseball pants, belt – each player’s uniform must be of similar design to his teammate’s uniforms.

•All teams should have their uniforms by their first game. A grace period will be extended for newly activated players or for teams to complete their uniforms.

•All batters and runners must wear helmets with at least one earflap facing the pitcher for both at bats and on base. There is no option to this rule. Catchers must wear a helmet underneath their mask.

•Wood bats (ash, maple, birch, bamboo, composite wood) are the only bats to be used.

•Metal cleats are permitted. (No metal on turf fields)

•Game Balls will be provided by the league.

• Team rosters must be submitted to the league by opening day. Final Rosters are due by week 5 of the season. Rosters may not be changed unless: The league decides to extend dates for final rosters.
• All teams may bat up to 10 players at their choosing. (Not required)
• You may DH only for the pitcher  
• All teams must announce all offensive additions, substitutions, and/or changes to the home plate umpire AND opposing team manager and/or scorekeeper. Only after this has been done will the added player be deemed a legal substitution. If a team fails to announce an offensive addition/change, the player will be called out as soon as he occupies the batter’s box and the lineup will revert back to the lineup in effect prior to the player entering the game. The unannounced player will not have officially entered the offensive lineup and is therefore still available.  [In case of injury, if this will bring you below 9 players and you have already made substitutions, a player who was substituted is able to re-enter the game. If you are batting 10, and a player is injured, you have to drop down to 9 players. No out is call on the 10th batter] 
• A team must have 8 players for an official game and may borrow a player from an opposing team with the opposing manager’s consent or may borrow a player from another team, also with the opposing manager’s consent. If the team’s 9th player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player reverts back to his team. 
• If the pitcher is removed, he may re-enter to pitch only one time during the course of the game, but not in the same inning. The removed pitcher may play any other position after being removed or no position at all. The re-entering of a pitcher can only be done once a game.
• No player may switch teams without the consent of league office and/or the both managers. In the event a team disbands during the season or at season’s conclusion, all players will become automatic free agents and will be permitted to play for any desired team.
• Pitchers may not wear white or gray sleeves, batting glove or wristbands. 
• Players that will need courtesy runners must have their manager notify the opposing manager and accepted prior to the start of the game. If not so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request. Each team will be allowed the pitcher and catcher a courtesy runner at any point at any time. The individual who runs for these player(s) needing a courtesy runner is not determined ahead of time. It is always the last batted out or a player on the bench who must run for the person needing the courtesy runner.

•All games are 9 innings – (darkness/rain – 7 innings complete – umpires discretion) All league playoff games must be played to completion either by league standards, (9) inning game. The umpire may suspend, cancel or call a game if, in their opinion, the safety of the players is compromised due to rain or darkness.

•If there is a 10-run discrepancy at the end of 7 or 8 innings the game can be ruled final at this point (regular season).  

•Any games rained out or postponed can be re-scheduled by the league or teams. All make-up games must be agreed to by both managers and league notification must take place. Rain out games must be made up in order of cancellations. Tie games can be played to completion at a later date, again with the agreement of both teams and league notification. Final league standings will be determined by won/lost percentage. Ties will be decided by head-to-head competition first, followed by run differential.

 Prohibitions: Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:

• Lay a hand upon, shove or strike, or threaten an official. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the league.
• Refuse to abide by an official’s decision. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed.
• Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until their conduct is reviewed
• Consume alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during the game or be upon the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.
• Discuss with an official or officials the decision reached by such official or officials, except for the manager or his designee who are authorized to participate in such discussions.