EAST CHATHAM BASEBALL
(Click link above for printable copy.)
Currently, East Chatham Baseball (ECB) partners with Tar Heel Leagues (THL) and will generally follow the rules and guidelines of THL unless otherwise specified in ECB rules and regulations.
PROGRAM NAME
The name of the youth baseball program is East Chatham Baseball, Inc. (ECB).
PROGRAM GOVERNANCE
Governance of ECB is vested in the Board of Directors.
CONTROL OF TEAM
Each coach is expected to maintain discipline and good sportsmanship. All players shall adhere to applicable rules. Players will not be allowed to harass players on the opposing team.
CONTROL OF PARENTS
Each coach is expected to encourage and influence the parents of his/her team to set good examples and to exhibit good sportsmanship regardless of the situation. Any harassing parent or relative will be called to the attention of the coaches. The coaches will conference with the umpire; the umpire will ask the individual harassing the player(s) to stop and will warn him/her that he/she may be asked to leave and that the game could be forfeited. If the harassing individual does not stop, the umpire may, in his/her discretion, remove the harassing individual from the ballpark. If the harassing individual does not leave the ballpark, the umpire may, in his/her sole discretion, forfeit the game in favor of the non-offending team.
CONTROL OF GAME
The umpire is in complete control of the game and has the authority to stop play at any time. The decision of the umpires on the field is final. There shall be no appeal to the Board. If there is a rule or game protest, it must be announced to the umpire by the coach prior to the next pitch.
Eligibility protests must be announced to the umpire by the coach immediately upon the discovery of an eligibility violation, if such violation is discovered during a game. The proper procedure during a game will be to cure the violation and continue the game.
Any coach requesting review of any rule or game protest or action on any eligibility violation must submit the protest or violation in writing to a member of the Board not later than 3 days after the date of the game in question along with a $25 review fee made payable to “ECB”. The Board shall have the sole and exclusive power and authority to consider and rule upon rule and game protests and eligibility violations. If the board votes to accept the protest, said fee will be refunded / returned in full.
FAIRNESS TO GAME OFFICIALS
Coaches are expected to maintain control of themselves and their teams when calls or situations go against them. If necessary, call a time out and talk the situation over with the officials.
CARE OF FACILITIES
Each coach is expected to do his/her share in maintaining the facilities. This includes but is not limited to the following:
· Clean-up After Games: The last two teams that play each evening are responsible for picking up trash and litter in the dugouts and spectator areas and emptying trash cans.
· Raking bases, mounds and batter’s boxes.
· Assuring buildings are locked and secure.
· Helping as needed with scorekeeping and umpiring.
· Coaches from both the home and away teams are responsible for preparing the field for play. (Dragging, lining, etc.)
MEMBERSHIP
Each player must have a registration form completely filled out and signed by a parent or guardian prior to playing. The entry fee must be paid before a uniform is issued to the player.
REGISTRATION
Registration will be conducted each season and will be done via ECB website at www.eastchathambaseball.com.
AGE DIVISIONS
The age groups will be determined by the requirements of THL which ECB is sanctioned under unless change is specified by the ECB Board.
Age Divisions will be
6U Rookie League (5-6)
8U Coach Pitch League (7-8)
10U Midget/Minor League (9-10)
12U Little/Major League (11-12)
14U Juniors (13-14).
All players, except for 6U Rookie League Division players, must attend player evaluations prior to the start of the spring season. 6U Rookie League Division players will be placed on teams by ECB based on the school players attend and an equal distribution of age groups. This is the only division that ECB will consider player, team, and coach requests.
Any parent wanting their child to play above their age limit must be approved by the ECB Board. The player must attend and participate in their age division evaluations as well as the age division evaluations in which they want to be considered.
Coaches:
Each team may have a maximum of one (1) designated head coach and (1) designated assistant coach prior to the player evaluations and team draft. One (1) additional coach may be chosen after the teams are created for 8U, 10U and 12U. 6U may have two (2) additional coaches to assist during game days.
Coaches must report all roster changes to the Board.
Violations of the Coaches’ Code of Ethics may result in forfeiture of game and/or suspension/removal of the coach from the Program.
All coaches must submit a coaching application and agree to a criminal background check. Head coaches will be voted on and approved by the Board before they begin practice with their teams.
Any coach or assistant coach who has been suspended or removed for any reason may not return as a coach or assistant coach without approval of the Board.
One coach is allowed outside of the dugout for the purpose of coaching defense (Midget-Juniors). Coach is restricted to within 3 feet of the dugout opening and shall have nothing in their possession.
Game Play:
A game may start with a minimum of eight (8) players. In the instance that a team has less than eight (8) players, a ten (10) minute grace period will be in effect to see if additional players will show up.
For the start of the second game, no grace period will be allowed after 7:40 pm. If a game is scheduled to start on time and a team has less than 8 players, a grace period will be allowed up to 7:40 pm.
If after ten (10) minutes, a team does not have a minimum of eight (8) players, that team will forfeit the game. The teams will then remain at the field and the coaches will even up the players into two teams so that a scrimmage game can be held. The scrimmage game will be played during the allotted time slot originally scheduled for the regulation game.
If a game has been forfeited, the umpire(s) are not obligated to stay on the field and help with any resulting scrimmage.
If a team starts a game with the minimum number of players (8), an automatic out shall not be called when the “missing” 9th player would come to bat. Any player who shows up after the start of the game will be added at the bottom of the line-up.
On the printed schedule, the home team will be the second (2nd) team listed. The home team will occupy the third (3rd) base dugout. The visiting team will have the field first for warm up, as time allows. Warm up time will be equally divided between both teams. No warm ups will take place if time does not allow.
The home team scorebook will be the official score book for the league records. Team scorekeepers will be required to keep a pitching log to monitor innings pitched per game. Prior to the start of the game, each team will exchange pitching availability to the opposing team. The official score book and the visiting team scorebook must reconcile at the end of each inning. If there is a discrepancy that cannot be resolved by the two teams, the inning will be played over from the point the discrepancy occurred.
Prior to each game, the visiting team may use the batting cage for not more than fifteen (15) minutes, beginning forty (40) minutes prior to game time. The home team may use the batting cage for not more than fifteen (15) minutes, beginning twenty-five (25) minutes prior to game time. (Rule applies for North Chatham Field Only.)
Infield warm-up for the first game of the evening will be allowed. The visiting team has 5 minutes to do infield warm-up starting 15 minutes prior to the game start time. The home team will then have 5 minutes of warm-up time starting at 10 minutes prior to game start and then stay on the field. Warm-up time is not guaranteed and will not be provided if a team misses the designated time for warm-up. No warm-up time will be provided for subsequent games that day or evening.
If there is ≤ 5 minutes remaining in a game, a new inning shall not be started. No tie-breaking innings will be played.
If there is < 5 minutes remaining in a game and the home team is coming to bat, the game will be played to the time limit even if the home team is losing by more than the six run maximum per inning.
All 7-14 year old players on the roster will play. Coaches will notify opposing scorekeeper of defensive lineup changes before taking the field, for each inning if needed. All players must be inserted into the game defensively no later than the 2nd inning.
Furthermore, if a fourth inning of play begins, any player who has not yet played two innings defensively shall be inserted into the game defensively. Likewise, if a sixth inning of play begins, any player who has not yet played 3 innings defensively shall be inserted into the game defensively.
There is no stipulation for substituting players into the game defensively beyond the sixth inning. In other words, the coach may elect to play only the “starters” defensively, for any innings beyond the sixth.
Coaches do not have the discretion to sit a player for not coming to practice. The opposing coach may notify the umpire(s) if a player has not been inserted in the game, in which event, play shall stop and the player shall be immediately inserted into the game.
Player Etiquette:
Any player that throws a helmet or a bat after striking out or after any other umpire’s call or decision that the player disagrees with will be ejected from the game.
Any player that throws a helmet or a bat after a loss will be ineligible to participate in his/her team’s next game.
Any player that throws a bat during an at bat may be called out by the umpire(s). Umpires will have the discretion to enforce this rule with or without a prior warning.
Players may not yell “swing” during a pitch. The first offense will result in a warning. Subsequent offenses will result in a dead pitch. Players in the dugout or on the field may not use derogatory or negative chatter of any type during the game. The first offense will result in a warning. Subsequent offenses will result in an out for that team when at bat.
Equipment:
Only baseball equipment will be allowed for league play. All equipment will stay in the dugouts during the game. Catcher’s equipment will be required and all male catchers will use a cup along with a safe mask with throat protector, helmet, leg guards and chest protector.
The use of a baseball bat weight (i.e. doughnuts) and/or the swinging of two (2) bats while on deck is prohibited. (This rule is not applicable for the 14U Division.)
Other:
Any player, parent or coach, who is ejected or removed from a game by the umpire, shall be suspended for one game. Any subsequent offense will be reviewed and dealt with by the Board.
Any player who quits the team should inform the ECB Coach and Board as soon as possible that the child will not be playing for the remainder of the season. A child may be reinstated if his/her slot is still available before the season finishes upon approval of the Board.
SCHEDULING
The scheduler will get as much input as possible from various schools to avoid scheduling conflicts between school functions and games.
RAIN SCHEDULE
Make-up games will be played according to the rain schedule and the “suspended game” rule will be in effect.
An ECB representative will make a decision prior to 4:30 P.M. as to whether games will be suspended because of weather. At game time, the decision will be made at the field by the umpire(s).
An attempt will be made prior to 4:30 P.M. to contact each head coach or a responsible person selected by the coach concerning rain out games. If the first game is suspended, all games will be suspended.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
If any player, coach, umpire, parent or other participant in the Program has a complaint or concern regarding the conduct of any player, coach, umpire, parent or other participant in the Program, or any other complaint or concern regarding the Program, the complaint can be made to any board member in person, by phone, or by email. The president of ECB will forward each complaint received to the Board for review and such action as the Board, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate.
The Board shall have the powers, among others, to suspend or remove any player or coach from participation in the Program, to ban any person from any field or facility during any practice, game or other Program event, or to take such other action as the Board may deem necessary to enforce the rules, regulations and procedures of ECB.
The Board will not consider or take action on any complaint unless the complainant states the nature of the complaint in detail, including the date and location of the incident and the names of all parties involved and provides their name and a means of best contact for follow up. Upon the Board’s receipt of a complaint complying with these requirements, a member of the Board will promptly contact the person making the complaint and discuss the complaint with him/her.
PRACTICES
All team practices are assigned by ECB. Each head coach is responsible for:
Communication of the practice schedule (date, time and location) to each player. The communication should be in writing.
Practices should stress teamwork, playing fundamentals, sports instructions and sportsmanship.
A coach is present at the practice site for arrival and departure of each player. No player should be left at a site unattended. If a problem exists with a player being picked up late (after a practice or game ends), then the coach should communicate with the parent(s) and/or ECB about this problem. Coaches are not responsible for player transportation.
No team will practice under lights without permission of the ECB Board.
SEASON SCHEDULE
Copies of the season schedule will be provided to each of the head coaches for distribution to each of his/her players. The head coaches are responsible for delivering a copy of the schedule to each of his/her players.