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Rules for Houk/Ice

1) GENERAL:

a) These general rules and regulations may be amended by a majority vote of coaches or their representatives at a legally called meeting provided at least one half of the Association's coaches are present.

b) There shall be three leagues in this association. The Board of Directors will determine the National Affiliation for each league. The playing rules and regulations of the national organization may be modified by the Board of Directors to address concerns for player safety, player skill levels and the potential for fundamental skills development. These three league are:

• i) The Holcom League for 15, 16 & 17 year old players (age as of December 31st of the year preceding the season they play).
• ii) The Heinrich League for 13 and 14 year old players (age as of December 31st of the year preceding the season they play).
• iii) The Houk/Ice League (age as of December 31st of the year preceding the season they play).

c) The Board of Directors shall consist of a Commissioner, Vice Commissioner, Secretary/Treasurer and three league representatives. All will be elected annually each September. The duties and powers of each officer of the Association are those normally associated with each office, as well as any explicitly specified herein. In the event that the commissioner is unable or refuses to perform any duties designated by the constitution by-laws and rules and regulations of this association, the Vice-Commissioner will assume said duties. In the event that neither the commissioner nor the Vice-Commissioner can perform their duties, the remaining Board of Directors shall select a member of the Board to exercise all power of the Office of Commissioner in their absence.

d) Sponsors shall be chosen carefully in accordance with the LHABA and its affiliate's guidelines. The annual fee for sponsorship shall be determined by a vote of the LHABA Board of Directors.

e) Each team must be represented by at least one coach, or a previously designated parent of one of the players on that team, at all coaches' meetings during the season. The baseball season starts with the evaluation clinic and ends with the last regularly scheduled game. Coaches who are continuously not represented at meetings may be relieved of their coaching duties by the Board of Directors.

2) DISTRIBUTION OF PLAYERS:

a) All players must register each year - forms should be available by early February of each year.

b) All players signed up and eligible to participate in one of the three leagues must participate in one of the designated evaluation clinics. Those who do not, or who are unable to attend the evaluation, will be placed on a team by placing their name(s) in a hat.

c) All players eligible to participate and who have signed up by the deadline indicated on the registration form will be placed on a team.

d) It is not the responsibility of the LAHABA to place those who sign up after the deadline. If there is space available on rosters late sign ups will be placed on teams based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

e) The Heinrich League is a team entry league. Coaches who wish to participate in this league must have rosters and payment to the Association by, March 1st.

f) Number of players per team will be determined by the coaches of each league and will be determined by the number of teams in each league. Thirteen players per team is the goal.

3) THE EVALUATION/CLINIC:

a) An evaluation will be held prior to the draft. All players must attend an evaluation clinic. Players who do not or are unable to attend will be placed on teams by a drawing.

b) Coaches from each of the three leagues will conduct the evaluations along with possible volunteers.

4) THE DRAFT:

a) The draft will be conducted by the LHABA Commissioner and/or Vice-Commissioner

b) Holcom and Houk/Ice League coaches who are new to the league may protect three players prior to the evaluation. Players MUST be registered to be protected. Players who are not registered by the pre-draft coaches meeting must re-enter the draft.

c) Holcom and Houk/Ice League coaches who coached in either of the leagues the previous year may protect up to six players prior to the evaluation. Players MUST be registered to be protected. Players who are not registered by the pre-draft coaches meeting must re-enter the draft.

d) It will be reviewed annually by the coaches to determine where in the draft order a head coach's son/daughter must be protected.

e) Brothers/sisters going through the draft together will be counted as one draft pick but two roster spots. Coaches who select siblings in a draft pick will loose their next draft pick.

f) No coach may skip a selection in the draft. No coach may trade a player. The league commissioner will place players who register after the deadline or draft on a team that may still be in need of players. Occasionally a supplementary draft may be held if leagues are not full and several players sign up later

g) If a player feels it absolutely necessary to change teams after the season has started due to conflicts, the league representative will arrange a meeting with the player, his parents, the two affected coaches and the Board of Directors. The Board shall listen to the arguments, examine the situation and take the course of action that they think is in the best interest of everyone involved.

5) GENERAL RULES:

LHABA shall follow the rules and regulations in the current edition of the following publications or sources:

a) The Major League Baseball Rules

b) Rules of the national organization with which each league is affiliated.

c) Specific rules and regulations of the LHABA, which may modify or supersede rules listed in the documents referenced in sections 11 (A) and II (B) pursuant to the authority, delegated the Board of Directors in section (2).

6) SPECIFIC ASSOCIATION RULES AND REGULATIONS:

a) Each league shall follow the rules and regulations of their national organization affiliation with the following additions and exceptions, which supersede all other rules, and regulations with the LHABA:

b) Protests:

• i) Protests of a rule interpretation shall be made in the following manner
• ii) The protesting team shall inform the umpire immediately after time out is called.
• iii) The scorekeeper shall be directed by the umpire to note the exact game situation at the time of the protest.
• iv) The protesting coach must make the Official protest in writing within 24 hours to any Officer within the Association.
• v) The umpires written account must be submitted to any Officer within 24 hours.
• vi) A $20.00 dollar deposit must accompany the written protest. If the protest is allowed, the money will be returned. If the protest is not allowed, the money will go into the Association treasury.
• vii) The protest will be heard and decided by the Board of Directors.
• viii) If any Officer or coach is involved in the protest, he will be disqualified from participating in the decision.
• ix) The Supervisor of Umpires may act with the LHABA Board in an advisory capacity.

7) OBJECTIVES, PLAYING FIELD, EQUIPMENT:

a) In addition to equipment required by affiliation with national organization each team should be dressed in similar uniforms.
b) Each coach is asked to make sure their players are wearing the same hats and uniforms checked out to them prior to the season. Hats are to be worn with the bill of the cap facing forward and shirts are to be tucked in at all times.
c) NO jewelry (earrings, necklaces) is to be worn during any games.
d) It is required that all players wear a protective cup while participating.
e) No metal spikes may be worn in the Houk/Ice League.

8) GAME PRELIMINARIES:

a) The home team shall occupy the first base dugout.

b) Coaches must provide the starting lineup and substitutes, including the players name and jersey number to the opposing coach, scorekeeper and umpire. The game shall not start until this is provided.

c) Teams MUST begin and finish each game with a minimum of 9 players. Those teams who are unable to field the necessary number of players to begin the game will forfeit that game. Teams who wish to play the game with borrowed players from the opposing team may do so with the consent of both managers, however, the game will still be considered a forfeit by the team who had less than 9 players.

d) For all league games, players must bat at least once and play in the field at least two innings. These rules do not apply to games cancelled because of inclement weather or to games shortened because of a run rule. First violation of this rule will result in a warning of the coach. Second violation and subsequent violations will cause forfeiture of the game(s) whenever discovered. Exceptions to this rule are illness, injury or disciplinary actions.

e) Each team is allowed one head coach, two assistant coaches and two batboys, in addition to the eligible players. The umpire shall remove from the dugout anyone who is not a member of one of the teams involved in the game

f) Conferences:

• i) Each team, when on defense, may be granted not more than three charged conferences during a seven-inning game without penalty, to permit coaches or their non-playing representative to confer with a defensive player or players. In an extra-inning game, each team shall be permitted one charged conference each inning without penalty. For this purpose, a request for time shall be made by either a coach, player, or substitute. Prior to accumulating three charged conferences, a conference is not charged if the pitcher is removed as pitcher. PENALTY: The pitcher shall be removed as pitcher for the remainder of the game.
• ii) While on offense, each team may be granted not more than one charged conference per inning to permit the coach or any of that team's personnel to confer with base runners, the batter, the on-deck batter, or other offensive personnel. The umpire shall deny all subsequent offensive requests for a charged conference.
• iii) When either team has a charged conference, the other team may also have a conference, which is not charged, provided the conference concludes when the opposing team's charged conference concludes. Any delay will result in a charged conference or other delay of the game penalties if no charged conference is available.

• i) All leagues, Houk/Ice, Holcom and Heinrich) will not use the designated hitter.
• ii) A designated runner may be used only for the catcher and only when the team at bat has two outs. The designated runner will be the team's second out in the batting order for that inning. A designated runner substitution is intended to keep the pace of the game constant by allowing the offensive team's catcher to be ready to take the field quickly after the team's last out for the inning.
• iii) Each player may re-enter the game one time for the same player that replaced him. Upon re-entering the game that player will remain in the same position in the batting order. The re-entry rule does not effect defensive positioning of players.
• iv) The extra hitter may be used but must be included on your roster when you give it to the umpire prior to the game. The extra hitter cannot be added once the game has started. If used, the extra hitter must be used throughout the entire contest. If it is not possible to use the extra hitter, the empty spot in the lineup will result in an out each time that spot should have come to bat. EXCEPTION: In the event of an injury, the empty spot in the lineup will be skipped over each time with no out rewarded to the defensive team.

h) Conduct:

• i) Any manager, coach, or player who conducts himself in an ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike manner (which would reflect discredit to this program) while participating in any competition shall be removed from further participation.
• ii) No player, coach, manager, or any party associated with any team shall ride, abuse, heckle, or make any uncomplimentary remarks whatsoever to any opposing player, umpire or team official. Any individual violating this regulation shall be ejected immediately and/or removed from the premises.
• iii) Any player, coach, manager, or party accompanying a team will be suspended for the remainder of the game from time of rule infraction if they:
• (1) Use profane language in any manner.
• (2) Use any form of tobacco in the dugout or on the playing field.
• (3) Use intoxicating liquor or beer in the dugout or playing field.
• (4) Make any unnecessary gestures in protesting any umpire's decision (only the coach or team captain may ask for a clarification).
• (5) Throw bats or any other equipment.
• (6) Make unnecessary gestures to fans or opposing players.
• (7) Resort to unnecessary roughness on the playing field, no crash plays.
• iv) Any bickering with judgment decision of the umpires by any player or coach will call for immediate ejection form the playing area. Bench jockeying of the opposing players will be handled in the same manner.

i) Ejection:

• i) Coaches or players ejected from a game shall not be allowed to play, coach or sit in the dugout, or remain in the proximity of the dugouts or bleachers for the remainder of the game plus the next league game. Any ejected persons shall leave the Holcom complex as defined by fences and gates. If the problem persists even after the ejected person has left the Holcom complex, the team affiliated with this person risks forfeiture.
• ii) For a second violation, a coach is suspended for two games.
• iii) For a third violation, the suspension is permanent pending a meeting with the league president and/or LHABA board of directors.
• iv) A second violation for a player brings a suspension of two games. A third ejection means suspension from the league for the remainder of the season.
• v) Each time a coach or player is ejected from a game, the umpire shall notify the Supervisor of Umpires who in turn shall notify the President of the LHABA.
• vi) Items (i) through (v) apply to all games sponsored by the LHABA including league games and tournament.

9) STARTING AND ENDING GAME:

a) Wet fields prior to the game. The decision to cancel a game due to weather or safety conditions will be made for every game by the Lawrence Parks & Recreation Field Maintenance personnel.

b) Inclement Weather shall be the official term and the only basis for discontinuing a baseball game after the game has started. This term shall include, but not limited to: Rain, Lightning, Tornado watches and/or warnings.

c) Umpires and coaches are asked to assist in maintaining the safety of those present at the ballpark. The Home plate Umpire, after consulting with the team managers, shall make the final decision to either stop the game or delay the game for a short time on the day of the game.

d) If a game has completed four complete innings or the Home team is ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning the game shall be considered a complete game if stopped.

e) Starting Times:

• i) Starting times shall be established by the schedule published at the beginning of the season.
• ii) Any team not on the field and ready to play within five (5) minutes of the game's starting time shall forfeit the game. The umpires shall verify the time, declare the forfeit and instruct the scorekeeper to enter it in the official scorebook.
• iii) Time permitting; each team that is on time will get seven (7) minutes of warm-up on the field. The home team shall warm-up first and shall begin no later than 20 minutes prior to game-time. The visiting team shall start no later than 13 minutes prior to game-time. If time does not permit the full 7 minutes of warm-up, coaches are responsible for making sure each team is given comparable warm-up time.

f) Run Rule:

• i) The ten run rule will apply after five (5) innings.
• ii) The eight run rule will apply after six (6) innings.
• iii) If the home team is ahead by ten runs after four and one half innings or eight runs after five and one-half innings, the game will be considered completed.

g) Time Limit:

• i) Tiebreaker rules begin after 1hour and 45 minutes from the scheduled game-time, weather permitting. Each half inning will begin with the last out of the previous inning on first base.
• ii) No new innings shall begin after 2 hours after scheduled game-time, weather permitting.
• iii) The game is over after 2 hours and 15 minutes from the scheduled game-time, weather permitting. Play will continue until at least the top half of the current inning is finished. If, at that point, the home team is ahead, the game is over and all players and coaches must clear the field. If the home team is behind, the inning will be finished. EXCEPTIONS: If the game is tied, play will continue until a winner has been determined.

10) THE BATTER:

a) A batter shall not delay the game by failing to take his position promptly in the batter's box within 20 seconds. The batter must keep at least one foot in the batter's box throughout the time at bat.

i) Exceptions: A batter may leave the batter's box when:
• (1) The batter swings at a pitch,
• (2) The batter is forced out of the box by the pitch,
• (3) The pitcher or catcher feints or attempts a play at any base,
• (4) The pitcher leaves the mound or takes a position more than five feet from the pitcher's plate after receiving the ball,
• (5) A member of either team requests and is granted "Time,"
• (6) The catcher leaves the catchers box to adjust his equipment or give defensive signals, or
• (7) The catcher does not catch the pitched ball.

PENALTY: The umpire shall call a strike. The pitcher need not pitch and the ball remains alive.

11) THE RUNNER:

a) If, in the judgment of the umpire, contact is made by the runner to purposely dislodge or injure an opponent, that base runner is called out and is ejected from the game.

b) Base runners are to slide whenever possible, however umpires are asked to use sound judgment when interpreting this rule and the intent of the runner. Contact sometimes can be caused and initiated by the defensive player with or without the ball. Intent is the key to this rule. Accidental contact should not be penalized.

c) Sometimes contact cannot be avoided and again base runners are to be reminded to avoid contact whenever possible.

12) THE PITCHER:

a) A pitcher may not pitch more than seven innings in one game.

b) A pitcher must have 2-calendar days rest between games in which that player pitches 3 or more innings. For example, a player who pitches three innings or more on Tuesday may not pitch again until the following Friday. Each game in which a player pitches is considered a pitching assignment.

c) A player may not pitch more than 12 innings in any calendar week in league play.

d) A calendar week is considered seven consecutive days, Monday through Sunday.

e) If a player pitches one pitch in an inning, that player will be charged for one (1) inning.

f) PENALTY: Games in which an ineligible player has been used as specified above, shall be declared forfeited.

g) Rules apply to all regular season games regardless of when played. This includes all rainouts, postponed and rescheduled games.

h) LHABA strongly recommends that common sense and extreme care be used so that an individual player is not over extended to protect the health and well being of that player's arm.

i) Players may only have one pitching assignment per game. Once a player leaves the mound after pitching in a game, that player may not be returned to the mound during that game. The player removed from the pitching assignment may be retained in the lineup and placed in another defensive position.

j) A pitcher shall not delay the game. Delay of the game includes:

• i) Throwing to any player other than the catcher, when the batter is in the batter's box, unless it is an attempt to retire a runner. PENALTY: The pitcher shall be ejected after a warning.
• ii) Consuming time as a result of the coach or his representative conferring with a defensive player or players after being charged with three conferences. PENALTY: The pitcher shall be removed as the pitcher for the duration of the game.
• iii) Failing to pitch or make or attempt a play, including a legal feint within 20 seconds after receiving the ball. PENALTY: The batter shall be awarded one ball.

EXCEPTION: The starting pitcher and relief pitcher may warm up using not more than eight throws completed in one minute (timed from the first throw). At the beginning of each subsequent inning, the pitcher may warm up using not more than five throws completed in one minute (timed from the third out of the previous half-inning. In all cases, the umpire may allow more throws due to injury or weather.