Regulations

Below is a selection from the OYBI Regulations; structural and organizational rules that apply to all divisions. For a complete listing of all rules and regulations, please see the full OYBI Rulebook

Regulation IV - Field Decorum

Activities of participants in the OYBI will meet with the standards and policies set by the Board. Managers, coaches, players, umpires, and spectators are to be guided by the following standards regarding conduct and behavior during games and practices: The use of tobacco in any form is prohibited on the playing field, benches and dugouts. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and drugs is expressly forbidden at any association function and, further, anyone coming to a game or practice under the influence will not be allowed to remain.

A. MANAGERS, COACHES AND UMPIRES - All coaching personnel must be registered with the League. Managers and coaches must dress according to the following minimum standard: Baseball cap like the players; pants, jeans or slacks, shorts (hemmed) but not frayed cutoffs, shirts with sleeves and shoes but not sandals. Managers and coaches must request time out before leaving either the dug-out or coaching box. Arguing of balls and strikes, out, safe, fair, foul will not be permitted. Failure to comply may result in ejection without warning. Coaches shall at no time direct disparaging remarks toward any player, official, or other adults during games or practice sessions. In the event of any flagrant violation of rules and policies by a manager or coach, the Board may relieve him of his duties after suitable review and discussions with the person(s) concerned. Managers will have complete charge of their teams during games and practices, and will be held responsible for the conduct of their players and spectators. It will be the duty of the managers and coaches to acquaint themselves with the rules and regulations, and to keep their players informed. In addition, they should attend coaches meetings and instructional classes scheduled by the Board.

A manager can only be deemed unacceptable if the league President and/or Assistant Commissioner have followed appropriate due process procedure, i.e., the manager had been notified promptly in writing and was counseled concerning his unacceptable behavior. If the manager's behavior continued to be unacceptable then the manager can be deemed unacceptable. This being completed, any manager who is deemed acceptable to return will automatically be eligible to retain his team assignment, or place his name as an applicant for another division.

B. PLAYERS - All players must adhere to high standards of good sportsmanship and fair play during games and practice sessions. No razzing, heckling, taunting or "riding" of opposing players will be allowed by players, managers, or coaches. Players shall not wear jewelry, carelessly or in a state of anger, throw equipment, make fake tag plays or initiate malicious contact. There will be one warning given per team if a player throws the bat, UNLESS the bat hits the catcher or umpire. If the bat hits the catcher or umpire, it will be an automatic out without a warning. Players are permitted, and encouraged, to shout encouragement to their own teammates while on the field or bench. In the event of any flagrant violations of rules or policies by a player, or a player's parent(s), the player will be subject to removal from membership. Players are expected to attend games and practices. Any player who anticipates being absent from games or practices should call his manager or coach. Players are responsible for keeping their uniforms in good condition. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and drugs is expressly forbidden at any association function and, further, anyone coming to a game or practice under the influence will not be allowed to remain. Players will remain in their team dugout at all times during a game. Players will not be allowed in the bleachers while their team is playing.

C. TEAM MANAGER - Managers shall see that the rules of the OYBI and player safety are practiced at all times. He will make sure that good sportsmanship is also practiced by coaches, team players and parents. He will be responsible for the care of equipment--checking out and turning in to the league. All problems shall be brought to the attention of the league president or his director(s). He will notify all players of rainouts and rescheduled games. A team manager who resigns is not responsible for finding a replacement. That duty shall fall to the league president, however, the manager shall be responsible for replacing a coach who resigns.

D. SPECTATORS - Are invited to view games free of charge as guests of the OYBI. Spectators must stay off the playing field at all times, and must remain in the spectator's area during the games. "Riding" players and shouting at other adults is forbidden. The use of air-horns is not allowed at OYBI games or tournaments. The OYBI has the right, after sufficient warning, to declare a game forfeit if a partisan spectator is asked to leave the spectator's area because of misconduct, and does not comply with the request. The game under these circumstances will be awarded to the opposing team, by forfeit. Any grievances by parents and spectators must be presented directly to a member of the Board, who will bring the matter to the attention of the full Board for any action deemed necessary.

E. PRE-GAME and GAME PROCEDURES - Teams will be permitted to warm up players during a game, or hitting with a hitting stick, but with no soft toss or whiffle balls, on the fields in foul territory in the outfield fence areas during their innings of at bat. That means the hitting team will have a batter in the box, one in the on deck circle and the subsequent hitter in the outfield corner of foul territory with the hitting stick supervised by a parent/coach.

All teams are to stay off infields prepared for play. However SCHEDULED teams may use the infield for warm up with no disruption of the lined batting area. Each team will have five (5) minutes of infield warm up time, starting with the visiting team at 15 minutes before game time. The home team will have five (5) minutes of infield warm up at 10 minutes before game time. All ptching and hitting warm up will stay inside he fences, in foul territory on the field, except for warm-up of pitchers on those fields where there are designated bullpen areas outside and adjacent to them. This is to insure safety to our patrons.

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REGULATION V - Player Eligibility, Dual Participation and Call-Up Players

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
All players must be officially registered with OYBI to be an eligible player. This includes "Guest" players from outside the OYBI league.

DUAL PARTICIPATION
OYBI registered players are allowed to play as either a call-up player or guest player for any team outside of OYBI. Players in OYBI are permitted to be a member of any outside team, league, association, or other baseball affiliation, not conflicting with their primary team commitment, and with the consent of the primary team manager. Violation for using an illegal player(s) will result in forfeiture of the game(s) involved and manager/coach suspension for the next two (2) games for the first offense and removal as manager/coach for the second offense.

CALL-UP PLAYERS
1. ALL LEVELS OF PLAY (OTHER THAN AAA GOLD GLOVE), ALL AGE GROUPS: No Gold Glove player may be used as a Call-Up player. For the purpose of providing teams with players for temporary call-up, managers are permitted to ask any player on the call-up list provided to them by the League President/Director in the grade group directly below and at the same skill level or below that division's playing grade, i.e., 6th grade may call from 5th grade and so on down the grade groups. This list will be provided to the managers prior to the season opener, and no player will be added after the season begins. Players for the call- up list will come from each of the team managers. Each division to complete the list, and a master copy will be on file in the league office.

2. These call-up players may only be used provided the following criteria are met:

a. Only if the team will have nine (9) or fewer players for a game.
b. No regular roster player will sit on the bench any longer than necessary to allow the call-up player(s) to fulfill the mandatory playing requirement.
Example: The Call-up player could start the game and play 2 innings of defense and 1 time at bat; or, after all starters have played 2 innings of defense and 1 time at bat, the call-up player would then play 2 innings of defense and 1 time at bat. Then the starter would re-enter the game in his regular batting order. NOTE: In those divisions that are playing the team batting order, the call-up player(s) will also be considered in the team batting order.
c. No call-up player will be allowed to be used as a pitcher or catcher.
d. No player, other than a regular roster player may be used.
e. Any call-up player who shows up will be played his mandatory playing time, even when, more regular roster players show up than had been expected. No call-up player will be sent home. Call-up players must be in their regular season team uniform.
f. There will be a maximum of three call-up players used per team per game, with a maximum of ten players.
g. Violations of any of the above paragraphs will result in the manager/coach being suspended for 2 games for the 1st offense, and removed as manager/coach for the 2nd offense.
h. Using an illegal player will result in forfeiture of game(s) and a one game suspension of the manager.
i. If a team is playing up a division, the manager would then call players from the age group from which he came. Example, 11 year team playing in the 12 year old division, the manager would then call-up from the 11 year old division.

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REGULATION VII - PLAYER RELEASE

In general, the principles of commitment and good sportsmanship should apply. No player may transfer from one team to another after the first date of registration (Sign-up). Any player who transfers between teams is not eligible to participate in league play until his new contract and release have been on file with the General Manager’s office. Violation will result in forfeiture of any game played. Player release forms may be downloaded from the website or picked up from the league office.

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REGULATION X - RULES FOR CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS

ROOKIE LEAGUE CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS may be held at the option of that league’s board and with consent of the Commissioner. REGULAR SEASON RULES APPLY EXCEPT AS SHOWN IN THIS REGULATION.

A. No pitcher shall be allowed to pitch in more than six (6) innings (Minors and Majors), seven (7) innings (Juniors and Seniors) in any two (2) successive tournament games.
B. No pitcher in tournament play shall be allowed to pitch in more innings in one game than allowed during the regular season play.
C. Games in which an ineligible pitcher or player has been used shall be declared forfeited.
D. Trips to the mound by a manager or coach may not exceed one trip per pitcher in any one inning. The second trip shall automatically result in the removal of that pitcher from the game.
E. A pitcher, once removed from the mound, cannot re-enter as a pitcher.

F. The same run rule and time limit as used in regular season will apply. In the event a game is called before completion, due to weather or light failure, it shall be completed from the point of discontinuance, with respect to the run rule and remainder of time. EXCEPTION: In all grades 3rd and up, the time limit will not apply to the Championship game or games. (This may cause two games to be played under this exception, if the loser bracket team wins the first championship game).
G. A Protest Committee of at least a League President or one board member shall be present at tournament games. A manager must immediately claim a violation of a rule, at which time play will be suspended until the Protest Committee has made its decision, based upon information received from managers and umpires and the Committee's observations. The Protest Committee's decision will be final. Umpires and umpire supervisors cannot settle a protest unless they are a Board Member not involved in the game. No protest, except on player’s eligibility, will be honored after a game has been completed. Due to time limits the $100.00 fee will be waived in City Championships, as a City Championship game must be stopped and play resumed only after the protest has been settled.
H. No byes shall be allowed in tournaments after the first round of play.
I. No tournament team shall play in more than two tournament games per day.
J. The placement of teams for tournament play will be as follows:

1. Each division will have one, two or three flight tournaments within that division, each flight played to a championship.
2. All teams, all ages, all divisions will be seeded based on regular season records.
3. In the event there are an uneven number of teams, byes will be awarded to the highest seeded teams to the extent needed for good bracketing.
K. In all Divisions, the regular season league schedule will have preference for completion before the start of City Championships. City Championships will be double elimination, unless time constraints dictate they be single elimination.
L. MANDATORY PLAYING RULE: In the Senior Division each player will play a minimum of 2 innings in the field, and one at bat. In all other Divisions, the regular season rule will apply. In the event of an injury or ejection, when all of a team's subs have been played, the opposing manager will be allowed to select any player off that team's bench to fill the empty spot. Any violation of this rule will end in forfeiture of the tournament game.
M. Call-up players will be used as outlined in Call-up Player rules, for City Tournaments as in regular season, except as follows: Call-up players in the same grade group may be used if their regular season team is not and has not played in the City Championships. Otherwise, call-up players will be from the grade group below. There will not be a call-up list for the City Championships. No Olathe sanctioned tournament team or Gold Glove player may be used as a call-up player. a call-up player must be in his regular season team uniform. If not, he will not be allowed to play.
N. Home team will be the highest seeded team, and will be in the first base dugout. In the Championship game, the winner bracket team will be the home team. If a second Championship game is needed, the home team will be decided by coin toss and determined at the conclusion of the first game.
O. At no time will a registered Tournament Team play in City Championships in any age group, unless there are 6 or more Tournament Teams and the Tournament Teams pay for Umpires and field prep.
P. At no time will brackets be arranged to let a team play in OYBI City Tournament and an outside tournament.
Q. All managers must notify their league president of their intent to participate in the City Tournament by the Friday closest to the 24th of June. Standings will be used from all games completed by the Sunday prior to the start of the City Tournaments. All City Tournaments shall start on or about the Friday following the 4th of July.

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REGULATION XII (RULE 4.06) DISCIPLINE OF TEAM PERSONNEL

In addition to the rules cited, the OYBI shall provide for the immediate suspension of any league personnel for fighting. The terms of this suspension will be determined by a review board of not more than seven (7) persons appointed by the Commissioner.

A. League personnel ejected from a game for profane or vulgar language, “WILFULL” equipment throwing, for intentional unnecessary roughness or other unsportsmanlike conduct, will automatically be suspended for their teams next game.
B. An ejected player shall remain in the dugout in uniform for the remainder of the game. An ejected manager, coach or other adult assistant(s) must leave the dugout (see also paragraph E). If the ejected player continues to be a disruption, he shall and his manager will be given a warning. If the disruption continues, the player and manager will both be ejected. The ejected player, manager or coach shall serve an automatic one game suspension during the team's next game. During the one game suspension, the ejected personnel cannot be present at the next scheduled game. 
C. Umpires will notify their Umpire Commissioner of any ejection, and be prepared, upon request, to furnish information either verbally or in a written report.
D. Both managers involved in a game where anyone is ejected, shall contact their League President and the General Manager, and submit a written report on the ejection within 24 hours from the end of the game the ejection occurred.
E. All ejections are subject to further assessment of any additional penalty by the Executive Board. “Any ejected manager or coach shall leave the ball field immediately remaining no closer to the ball field than the parking lot and shall cease all coaching duties (out of sight and sound). During the one game suspension, the ejected personnel cannot be present at the game. Any ejected player shall remain in the dugout in uniform for the remainder of the game. The ejected manager or coach shall serve an automatic one game suspension during the team’s next game.” A second ejection shall mean the offender must sit out one more game and be subject to possible further penalty from the BOD. The penalty could include suspension for the remainder of the season. When a person is ejected, the league president must be contacted within 24 hours. A written report from both teams and the umpires involved may be required. In addition, a review of the ejection will be presented to the Commissioner for possible further action. No association member, adult, or player, is allowed to pursue any umpire with continued arguments or harassment after the completion of the game. If permanent suspension of a member is deemed necessary, then such suspension must be processed according to Article VI Bylaws.

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REGULATION XIII (RULE 4.19) PROTESTING GAMES

Initially, it should be clearly understood that all members of the OYBI are urged to take precautions to prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offenders should be notified immediately. EXAMPLE: Should a manager, official scorekeeper, league official or umpire discover that a pitcher is ineligible at the beginning of the game, or will become ineligible during the game, or at the start of the next inning of play, the fact should be brought to the attention of the manager of the team involved. SUCH ACTION SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED UNTIL THE INFRACTION HAS OCCURRED. In all disputed plays, a conference between the umpire-in-chief (plate umpire) and the opposing managers should be used to resolve the dispute, rather than file an official protest, providing the resolution is to the satisfaction of the opposing managers. If a protest is to be filed, the following procedure must be followed:

A. No protest will ever be permitted on judgment decisions.
B. Notice that the game is being played under protest must be filed with the umpire-in-chief, by the manager, immediately at the time of the disputed decision, and before the next pitched ball to the batter. The official scorekeeper must be advised by the umpire-in-chief to record the point at which the protested call occurred.
C. A written report, along with a $100.00 cash fee, setting forth all the facts of the protest must be filed with the Division President within twenty-four (24) hours of the date of the protest. The fee will be returned if the protest is allowed. Failure to file a written protest will negate the protest. This will be waived in City Championships, as a City Championship game must stop and play resumed only after a protest has been settled.
D. Any three (3) officers of the OYBI, not connected with any of the teams involved, will act as the Protest Committee.
E. Before a decision is made by the Protest Committee, a clarification and interpretation of rules may be secured in writing from an umpire's association.
F. Final decision of protest shall be decided by the Protest Committee.
G. In the event that the Protest Committee does not allow the protest, the completed game stands. No further protest will be allowed.
H. In the event that the protest is allowed, the game must be played to a conclusion from the point of protest based upon the ruling and circumstances determined by the Protest Committee. A representative of the Protest Committee shall attend the resumed game, and shall designate the point and circumstances at which the game is to be resumed. Once this has been accomplished, the game shall be turned over to the umpire-in-chief for continuation of play.

As a final point, there has never been a set of rules or laws that are devoid of so-called "loopholes". When it becomes apparent to the Protest Committee that a protest is being made on a minor technical point, or a "loophole", contrary to the acceptable practice of fair-play and good sportsmanship, the spirit of the rule(s), as well as the letter of the rules, will be considered in the final analysis.

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REGULATION XIV - SLIDE RULE (RULE 7.08 RUNNER IS OUT)

A base runner shall be called out on any close play when failure to slide or avoid contact prevents the fielder from continuing the play, or places either player in jeopardy of injury. If, in the judgment of the umpire the contact was intentional, the player may be ejected from the game.

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REGULATION XVI - COURTESY RUNNER FOR CATCHER

When there are two outs, and the catcher is a base runner, a courtesy runner may be used so that the catcher can return to the dugout and begin to put on his catcher's equipment. The catcher/runner is the catcher from the previous half inning unless the new catcher was announced prior to his coming to bat. The courtesy runner may be any player, other than the player at bat, on deck or in the hole.

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