Federal Baseball League - League Rules
–Regular Season–
General
· The Federal Baseball League plays by MLB rules with the following exceptions herein…
· FedBall plays by traditional extra innings rules, NOT the MLB covid rule with the runner starting on 2b.
· In order to participate in FedBall activities (practices, games, events), players must be in good standing, having registered and signed all league waiver/consent/release forms, and paid all outstanding league fees.
· The Federal Baseball League is a wood bat league. All bats must be wood or composite wood BBCOR certified.
· Each team should supply (3) league supplied baseballs at the start of the game and then ask the umpires to alternate asking teams for baseballs.
· Just like MLB, the fake pickoff to 3rd is a balk. From Mid Atlantic umpires “You cannot feint a pickoff to 3rd. You also cannot throw a pickoff to the 3rd baseman if he is playing off the bag. Essentially the new rule treats 3rd base EXACTLY as we have always treated 1st base. ie, if the pitcher (from the rubber) goes to pick off a runner, he MUST step directly toward the base (1st or 3rd) AND throw the ball to the base. If he does not step directly towards OR does not throw directly to the base, it is a balk.”
· Added 5/2/2016 - RE: player umpires: Registered Federal Baseball League players are not permitted to umpire Federal Baseball League games (regular season or playoffs). Reasoning: An umpire that is also a player in the Federal Baseball League may be subject to increased scrutiny by the players in the league. Objectivity may be questioned (justified or unjustified), and we would like to avoid putting our players in situations where controversy is imminent.
· Added 5/10/2016 - RE: unpaid players: Players that leave their Federal Baseball League team without paying their portion of the league fee will not be permitted to join any other Federal Baseball League team until said player has paid their balance in full. If there is a disagreement between the manager and the player regarding the amount owed, the Front Office will make a final ruling on the matter with the feedback of the League Committee.
Safety
· No malicious contact (at any base). Runners must slide into the base (within arms-length) or give themselves up.
Time Limits & Mercy Rule
· All single games are 9 innings with a no new inning after 2 hours & 50 minutes time limit. All doubleheaders are two 7 inning games with a no new inning after 2 hours & 15 minutes time limit.
· Regular season games must have completed 5 innings to be official (4 & ½ innings if the home team is ahead). In the event a regular season game reaches the 5 completed innings mark, but is stopped for any reason prior to completion of the game (7 or 9 inning game), the score will revert back to the last completed inning, unless a change in the status** of the game occurs during the incomplete inning, in which case the incomplete inning (and only that inning) will be completed prior to the next scheduled game between the two teams. If the two teams do not meet again in the regular season then the score will revert back to the last completed inning. **A change in the status of the game means there was a lead change: e.g. the home team is ahead 2-0 through 7 complete innings, the visitors score 3 in the top of the 8th and the lights go out before the bottom of the 8th can be completed.**
· Mercy rule > Game will conclude if a team is up by 15 runs after 5 innings or 10 runs after 7 innings.
Lineups & Substitutions
· Teams can bat as many players as they like and have unlimited DHs.
· Offensive & defensive substitutions are completely separate.
· If a player is removed from the game offensively for a pinch hitter or pinch runner, that player must come out of the game offensively, but may stay in the game defensively. Leaving the game does not apply to courtesy and injury runners.
· A player removed from the game defensively may re-enter (defensively), with the exception that a pitcher may not re-enter as a pitcher in the same game; a removed pitcher may remain in the game or re-enter at a position other than pitcher
· Teams can start and finish a game with a minimum of 8 players. Teams cannot play with less than 8 players. The opposing team may lend players in order to meet the 8 player requirement.
· If a player is forced to leave a game for any reason (prior commitment, injury, ejection, etc), that player’s spot in the batting order is skipped and IS NOT an automatic out. If said player leaving the game results in the team dropping below 8 players, the game will be declared a forfeit. **The opposing team may lend an 8th player (on defense) to allow the game to continue.
· Teams are allowed a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher with two outs; **** the courtesy runner is the last batted out, i.e. the last player who while batting made and out (other than the pitcher or catcher). If it’s the 1st inning an no batters have made an out other than the pitcher or catcher, then the courtesy runner will be the last batter in the lineup **** Managers may request a runner for an injured player before or during a game regardless of the number of outs and this runner is not treated as a substitution and the injured player can stay in the game offensively. All injury runner requests must be approved by the opposing manager.
· Teams have the option, in the regular season & playoffs, to designate A/B batter positions in their offensive lineup with the “A” designated player hitting the first time through the batting order and the “B” designated player hitting the second time through the batting order, with the A/B designees alternating from there. The A/B designation can be removed at any time with either A, B, or a new player becoming the sole batter for the designated spot in the offensive lineup. Offensive substitution rules govern substitutions if A or B are removed from the game offensively. The A/B designation is tied to the spot in the batting order and cannot be changed to another spot in the order once the game begins (it may be dropped entirely) - i.e. if the A/B designation is given to the #9 batter position in the batting order it cannot be designated to any other batting order positions. The A/B designation must be disclosed at the home plate meeting. The A/B designation cannot be added once the game begins.
Fields & Maintenance
· New FedBall Policy 6/30/2020: Managers are asked to take pictures of the field both when they arrive and leave and to email or text the pictures to the front office when submitting game scores.
· Montgomery County Fields: Absolutely no field work/maintenance is permitted at any time, not even raking. Montgomery County takes care of opening/closing the fields, maintenance, and turning the lights on/off.
Montgomery County RainoutLine > 301-579-5610
Montgomery County Rainout Site > https://rainoutline.com/search/dnis/3015795610
Montgomery County Park Police: 301-949-8010 (if a field is locked)
–Playoff Specific Rules–
General
· Only registered & paid players may play in the playoffs. In order to be playoff eligible, players must be registered/paid with the league before the playoffs begin. The playoffs begin with the commencement of the play-in series or the first full round of play if a play-in series is not required.
Time Limits & Mercy Rule & Scheduling / Seeding
· All playoff games are 9 innings, with the possible exception of game 3 of the finals. If the finals games 2 & 3 fall on the same day, then game 3 will be 7 innings.
· If a best-of-three play-in series is needed, the higher seed will be home in games 1 & 3.
· The home team is the higher seed until the finals once the double elimination tournament commences. *Lower seed is home in game 2 of the best-of-three series
· Mercy rule > Playoff games will conclude if a team is up by 15 runs after 5 innings or 10 runs after 7 innings (with the exception of the finals).
· All playoff games (with the exception of the finals) are no new inning after 2 hours and 50 minutes, however there is no drop dead rule. No drop dead rule means that once an inning begins it must be completed.
· A completed playoff game (excluding the finals) will have either completed 9 innings or completed the current inning (may be less than 9) if the 2:50 limit has been reached.
· FedBall plays by traditional extra innings rules, NOT the MLB covid rule with the runner starting on 2b.
· If a playoff game is delayed (lightening, etc), the delay will NOT count against the 2 hours 50 minutes no new inning time limit. If the delay prevents the game from reaching 2 hours and 50 minutes of actual game play time, the game will be suspended and resumed prior to the next round’s game. It is the responsibility of both managers to track the delay time.
· If a playoff game is interrupted** due to weather, lights going out, curfew, umpires refusing to continue past 11pm, or another unforeseen issue, the game will be suspended and will resume prior to the start of the next round’s playoff game and will be played to completion (9 innings or beyond if necessary). **Interrupted prior to reaching the 2:50 limit in a non-finals playoff game or before completion of the current inning if the 2:50 limit has been reached.
· There is no reverting back to a previously completed inning rule in the playoffs.
· If a game is rained out the make up will most likely be rescheduled on the following day.
· There is no time limit for games in the best-of-three finals.
· Home field advantage in the finals will be determined by the team with the better playoff seed (based off of regular season record).
· Every playoff game must have a winner.
· Game scores must be reported promptly.
· Scheduling request cannot be honored in the playoffs.
Federal Baseball League – Code of Conduct
The Federal Baseball League was founded on two principles: honoring the game and respecting your opponents. Accordingly, we expect our players and coaches to not only acknowledge these values, but embody and implement them in all League-related actions. Therefore, those players and coaches who choose to participate in the Federal Baseball League shall agree to adhere to the following rules:
1. Fighting members of opposing teams, own teammates, coaches, league officials, spectators, or umpires is not permitted under any circumstances.
2. All umpires should be treated with respect and dignity. Players will not question an umpire’s call but let their respective coach go through the appropriate procedure to do so if necessary.
3. Blatantly showing up an opponent, an opposing coach, a league official, or an umpire is not permitted under any circumstances. Actions including taunting, teasing, or using profane language towards another player, coach, league official, or umpire, are forbidden.
4. The use of any illegal and illicit drugs during any League-related function, including games, charity events, League meetings or otherwise, is not permitted under any circumstances.
5. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited at all schools and parks where league games and events are held.
6. All property being used by the League – including dugouts, fields, bullpens, and batting cages - shall be treated with care. Any negligent or willful abuse, maltreatment, or mishandling of such property is not permitted under any circumstances.
CONSEQUENCES
All players and coaches are subject to consequences that may lead to discipline or possible termination of membership as determined necessary by the League’s Front Office due to failure to comply with the Code of Conduct. The League Committee may recommend what it believes to be appropriate disciplinary action, but final decision-making authority rests with the Front Office. All players and coaches agree to abide by these rules as part of their registration in the Federal Baseball League. It is the responsibility of all players and coaches to be familiar with the rules set forth in the Code of Conduct.