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SEBASTIAN OLD BOY'S PLAYING RULES
rev. 03/06/19
1.
DEFINITIONS:
A.
COMMITMENT
LINE: A commitment line will be marked
perpendicular to the left foul line and 20 feet from the rear edge of home
plate, and extend at least 6 feet into foul territory. If the base runner’s foot touches or goes beyond
this line, the runner is committed to go home.
B.
SCORING
PLATE: Runners will score at an
auxiliary home plate positioned in line with the home plate and first base, and
approximately 8 ft. to the left of home plate. If a runner touches the original home plate,
he will be ruled out.
C.
STRIKE
ZONE MAT: A strike zone mat will be used
that is the width of home plate and measures 32½" from the front of home
plate to the rear of the mat.
D.
DOUBLE
BAG: A base will be placed in foul
territory, touching 1st base, and at equal distance to home plate. On plays made at first base, the runner must
touch the outside bag and the fielder must touch the inside bag. In the event that either the runner or fielder
touches the wrong bag, they may be ruled out or safe by the umpire.
2. PITCHING REGULATIONS:
A.
The
height of a legal pitch from the playing surface must be between 6 and 12 feet;
a batter may swing at an illegal pitch. The strike zone mat will be used. Legal pitches striking any portion of the mat
or plate will be strikes.
B.
A
pitching screen shall be used at all times.
The pitching screen will be placed no more than 4 feet in front of the
pitching rubber and must cover at least half of the pitching plate. The pitcher may pitch over the top, or from either
side of the screen. Once the pitching
screen is in place, it must remain there unless the pitcher changes, in which
case it can be moved.
C. The pitcher must release the ball with at least
1 foot on the pitching rubber. Once the
ball is released, the pitcher must move behind the screen. Once the ball is hit, he is free to play the
ball.
D. All hits of the pitcher’s screen by
the batter will be considered a strike (two during a single time up at bat will
be an out).
3. BATTING:
A. On-Deck Batter – Delay of Game (10 to 15
seconds): A player should be prepared to enter the batting box once the player
ahead in batting order has batted. If
batting is delayed:
1) First time – The player will receive a batting warning.
2) Second time – The player will be
penalized an additional strike (start with 2 strikes).
Each new game (not each inning),
this will reset.
B. The batter is entitled to either two strikes
or three balls. A batter can pick up a
strike by a called strike, a swinging miss, a tip, hitting the pitcher screen,
or a foul ball.
C. Home Runs – “2 Home Runs per person / game
will be allowed, the next Home Run will result in the player being called out.
4. BASE RUNNING:
A.
Safety:
All base runners must stay clear of a defensive player making a
play on a batted or thrown ball.
B.
Reaching
First Base: If there is a play at 1st
on a runner going from home to 1st base, the base runner must touch
the outside bag – unless he moves out of the way of the defensive player in
order to avoid a collision.
C.
Overrunning:
If second or third bases are overrun,
the runner can be tagged out. Sliding is
allowed.
D.
Commitment
Line: Once a runner's foot touches the
ground on or past the commitment line, the runner may not return to 3rd
base. He must continue toward the
scoring plate.
E.
Retiring
Runners At Home: The defensive player
must have possession of the ball while touching home plate or the strike zone
mat and there will be no tag play at home plate. The runner will be called out if he touches or
crosses over any portion of either home plate or the strike zone mat. When a catcher is on the team at bat and is
not at home plate for a play, the runner will be called out.
F.
Courtesy
Runners: Any member of a team may be
used as a courtesy runner subject to:
1)
A
courtesy runner may be replaced on base by another if on deck and will not be
called out.
2)
The
same courtesy runner may not be used more than once per inning.
3)
A
courtesy runner may be used for players 75 or older at any time, and for
injured players when the defensive manager agrees.
4) When absolutely needed, a player
may have a courtesy runner from home plate and the courtesy runner must start
from a line 4 ft. behind an imaginary line running from 3rd base to
home plate. The batter/courtesy runner
will only be allowed a single. Once on
base, the runner may advance as many bases as possible after the next batter
gets up.
5. UMPIRES:
A. The catcher will call balls,
strikes, and foul balls.
B. The 1st base umpire will
call illegal pitches and plays at 1st and home.
C. The 3rd base umpire will
call illegal pitches and plays at 2nd and 3rd.
D. Any disagreement with a call is
limited to 30 seconds.
Umpire’s/catcher’s call rules.
E. If an umpire is not available or
not paying attention, a questionable call will go against the runner. If an umpire cannot see based on perspective,
the other umpire can assist; if they did not clearly see, the call goes against
the runner.
6.
GENERAL:
A. Inning/Game Length: Below rules can be adjusted on game day based
on players and weather:
1)
5-Run
Rule: During the 1st through 6th innings, a side will be
retired when it makes 3 outs or scores 5 runs, whichever occurs first (2
innings are played at a time). The 5-run rule does not apply during the 7th
or higher innings.
2)
10-Run
Rule: A game will be called if a team is up 10 runs or more after 5 innings.
B. Warnings: A player leaving mid-game because they are
upset, inappropriate language and/or physical contact, and other problematic behavior
elicit Warnings (from the Board).
1) First Offense on current record = Warning. Warning stays on record for 6 months.
2) Second Offense = two weeks Suspension. Suspension stays on record for 12 months.
3) Offense with 1 Suspension on record = 1 month
Suspension. Suspension stays on record
for 12 months.
4) Offense with 2 Suspensions on record = Player
is expelled from SOBs.
SEBASTIAN OLD BOYS OPERATING
PROCEDURES
rev. 03/06/19
1.
MEMBERSHIP
a.
All players must become members in the Sebastian Old Boys (SOB)
organization with the exceptions noted below.
b.
Players are considered members after dues have been paid.
c.
Non-members are not eligible to participate in SOB activities with
the exceptions noted below.
d.
All players must be at least 50 years old to become a member in the
Sebastian Old Boys (SOB) organization with the exceptions noted below.
2.
DUES
a.
Dues are $15 for new and existing members due at the beginning of
the season (Oct. 1); seasonal players pay when they return to town.
b.
Dues will be collected in August/September for the following
year. If dues are not paid as of Oct.
15th, a player who has been playing during the normal collection period will
not be allowed to continue to play until dues are paid. Seasonal players are given a 2-week grace
period once they arrive to play for the season.
c.
Dues are intended for game expenses such as softballs and
miscellaneous expenses. Excess revenue
can be used for occasional refreshments at organizational games and special
events.
3.
EXCEPTIONS
a.
New players, visitors, and past members are allowed to play up to 2
weeks free of dues during the regular season.
b.
In unusual circumstances (injured player returning to test his/her
skills, inability of the organization to fill roster for organizational games, etc.),
a person can be granted temporary approval to play by majority vote of the
organization’s officers on hand that day.
c.
The board has the power to override the age requirement in special
circumstances.
4.
BOARD MEMBERS
a.
To be nominated or elected as a board member, you must be a
full-time Sebastian (or surrounding area) resident and a paid member in the
organization continuously for a minimum of 1 year.
b.
As a board member, you are responsible to play in as many games as
possible barring emergencies, work, injury, sickness, or vacations.
c.
Board members shall assist in making the teams, as needed. They are also responsible for the equipment
and maintaining a positive atmosphere at all times.
d.
All new board members shall be on probation for a period of 6
months after being elected. At any time
during the probationary period, he or she may be removed by a majority vote of
the board members.
e.
The board has the ability to waive requirements as needed to fill a
board position if no one else is willing who fits the needs.
f.
Elections will be held as needed to fill an open board
position. A majority of members present
is needed to approve the election of a new board member.
g.
Board members can be removed by a majority vote of the members
present in March at the annual meeting.
SEBASTIAN OLD BOYS GUIDELINES
rev. 03/06/19
1. Odd Number of Players and Making Teams:
a)
When an odd number of players are split into one larger team and
one smaller team: one player from the
larger team will switch to the smaller team for the second game. The two team managers (only) will decide the
player to switch.
b)
When an even number of players are split into teams with equal
numbers: no switching of players will be
done between games.
2. Outfield
Line for Women:
a)
When a woman is batting, outfielders have to stay behind the light
poles. They can cross this line once the
ball is hit.
3. 5-Run
Rule Modification based on Number of Players and/or Heat:
a)
From July 1st to Sept 30th, based on heat, runs per inning should
be limited as follows:
b)
21 or more players – 5 runs
c)
18 to 20 players – 4 runs
d)
17 players or less – 3 runs
e)
This guideline can be implemented at other times by players present
that day (based on vote).
4. Players policing themselves on safe
and out calls is a modification to the existing Umpire Rules:
a)
Players policing themselves on safe and out calls; If they can not
reach an agreement on the call it will default to the applicable base coach per
Umpire Rules.