RULES & REGULATIONS
The Greater Akron Baseball Federation Inc. (GABF), has national affiliations with American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC); National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF); Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA); and United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). Full responsibility for knowing the rules of these amateur baseball organizations shall be that of the Manager(s). Knowledge of the Class Rules (GABF) is also the responsibility of the Manager(s).
CLASSES:
G - 11-12 YR OLDS*
F - 13-14 YR OLDS*
E - 15-16 YR OLDS*
D - 17-18 YR OLDS*
* May 1st is the cutoff date for players.
The age of a player on April 30, will be their age for the season.
The age of a player on April 30, will be their age for the season.
ELIGIBILTY
1) Players contracts verified by the League for the current year, GABF roster forms and photocopies of birth certificate and/or drivers license, must be properly filled out according to instructions and filed with the Class Chairman at least one (1) week prior to the start of the season. Failure to comply with this rule will result in forfeiture of any games played while in non-compliance. These documents become the property of GABF and will not be returned.
2) New registrations after the start of the season, in accordance with GABF rules, must also be accompanied by contract, photocopies of birth certificates and/or drivers license.
3) No player may be under contract to more than one GABF team at one time. However, players may be drafted to compete in tournaments sanctioned by GABF without jeopardizing their GABF eligibility if released by their original team.
4) All Teams must provide evidence of a team accident insurance policy in effect for the current playing season at the time of team registration. The name of the insurance company and policy number must appear on the team roster. The GABF MUST BE ON THE INSURANCE AS ADDITIONAL INSURED. Each team is responsible for securing its own insurance. A copy of your teams insurance policy through AABC or equivalent must be in the possession of the GABF before beginning of the season or games will be forfeited.
5) Any player proven to have been ineligible may be expelled by the Board of Directors from participation in any class for the balance of playing life, or any period of time at the discretion of the Board. Any player who knowingly participated in a league or championship game with or against a suspended player may be ineligible to participate in any class for the balance of his playing life or any period of time at the discretion of the Board. All games in which an ineligible player has participated may be declared forfeited by the Board after a proper hearing.
2) New registrations after the start of the season, in accordance with GABF rules, must also be accompanied by contract, photocopies of birth certificates and/or drivers license.
3) No player may be under contract to more than one GABF team at one time. However, players may be drafted to compete in tournaments sanctioned by GABF without jeopardizing their GABF eligibility if released by their original team.
4) All Teams must provide evidence of a team accident insurance policy in effect for the current playing season at the time of team registration. The name of the insurance company and policy number must appear on the team roster. The GABF MUST BE ON THE INSURANCE AS ADDITIONAL INSURED. Each team is responsible for securing its own insurance. A copy of your teams insurance policy through AABC or equivalent must be in the possession of the GABF before beginning of the season or games will be forfeited.
5) Any player proven to have been ineligible may be expelled by the Board of Directors from participation in any class for the balance of playing life, or any period of time at the discretion of the Board. Any player who knowingly participated in a league or championship game with or against a suspended player may be ineligible to participate in any class for the balance of his playing life or any period of time at the discretion of the Board. All games in which an ineligible player has participated may be declared forfeited by the Board after a proper hearing.
6) Deadline for adding players will be midnight of June 30. New players may be added after the June 30 deadline, only with special permission of the GABF Executive Committee. (Teams must be below a 12 member roster to take advantage of this rule.) Players under contract for the current season in GABF are not eligible under this rule.
7) No team of any class may sign a player from a lower class without first discussing it with the manager of the team possessing such players contract, and then only in the event said manager is agreeable and releases the player. The release form must accompany the new contract when it is filed.
8. Managers shall assume full responsibility for the eligibility of players and are subject to penalty by the Board of Directors for infractions.
7) No team of any class may sign a player from a lower class without first discussing it with the manager of the team possessing such players contract, and then only in the event said manager is agreeable and releases the player. The release form must accompany the new contract when it is filed.
8. Managers shall assume full responsibility for the eligibility of players and are subject to penalty by the Board of Directors for infractions.
POLICY FOR CONDUCT OF MANAGERS, COACHES AND PLAYERS
A) Profanity on or off the field and habitual arguing or fighting with umpires, team personnel, or spectators is prohibited and could result in removal from the league.
B) No manager, coach or player shall at any time, incite or attempt to incite by word or sign, a demonstration by spectators or opposing team personnel.
C) Any sponsor, manager, coach or player causing, directly or indirectly, any attack upon the person of an umpire or GABF official at any time, or interfering with the performance of his duties, shall be suspended by the Board of Directors. Official reports shall describe such offenses.
D) Manager or coach has full responsibility for his teams actions on and off the field from 30 minutes before the game until 30 minutes after the end of the game.
B) No manager, coach or player shall at any time, incite or attempt to incite by word or sign, a demonstration by spectators or opposing team personnel.
C) Any sponsor, manager, coach or player causing, directly or indirectly, any attack upon the person of an umpire or GABF official at any time, or interfering with the performance of his duties, shall be suspended by the Board of Directors. Official reports shall describe such offenses.
D) Manager or coach has full responsibility for his teams actions on and off the field from 30 minutes before the game until 30 minutes after the end of the game.
EJECTIONS
1. Any manager, coach or player ejected will be suspended for the next two (2) league games. If ejected a second time he will be subject to disciplinary action by the GABF board.2. Any manager, coach or player ejected from the last played league game (including Playoffs) will be subject to disciplinary action.
3. Managers are required to list ejections on umpire cards under REMARKS
F) The GABF will honor all rules by the AABC in regards to drafting players for post tournaments. Any level of an authorized GABF tournament competition, a player under GABF contract refusing to play with a GABF team when legally drafted, forfeits all rights to be drafted onto any other team in the GABF.
G) All members of the GABF must practice a positive Code of Ethics and Sportsmanship. Once a player verbally agrees to participate for one team, all other teams shall honor that players decision.
G) All members of the GABF must practice a positive Code of Ethics and Sportsmanship. Once a player verbally agrees to participate for one team, all other teams shall honor that players decision.
PROTESTS
G) Bats for Classes 14U and above will have a barrel of no bigger than 2 5/8 and -3 differential (difference between weight and length). Metal spikes are permitted in Classes 13U and above. No jewelry is permitted to be worn by players during the games unless for medical reasons.
H) All classes shall have a 15 minute grace period, but only if nine (9) players are not present. Game must start as soon as nine (9) players are present. If only nine (9) players are present and a player must leave the game, their spot in the batting order becomes an out every time that spot comes to bat during the rest of the game. A game shall be forfeited when a team is unable or refuses to place 8 players on the field. Forfeits must be reported to the Class Chairman.
I) A defensive player shall not fake a tag on a runner when said player does not have the ball in his possession or when a play is not imminent. PENALTY: Ejection of defensive player
Q) The cut-off date for final standings in all classes will be July 12th.
1) Protests shall be considered only when based on the violation or interpretation of a playing rule or the use of an ineligible player. No protest shall be considered on a decision involving an umpires judgment. Equipment, which does not meet specifications, must be removed from the game and shall not be the basis for a protest.
2) Detailed information supporting the protest must be submitted to the Class Chairman in writing along with a protest fee of $25.00 no later than the second work day following the protest occurrence. Protest fees shall be retained unless the protest is upheld by the Board of Directors
GABF PLAYING RULES
The American League Rules shall govern all classes, with the following exceptions:
A) An official game is seven (7) innings. There are no suspended games. Games stopped due to inclement weather or darkness are not official unless home team is ahead after 4 innings, visiting team is ahead after five (5) innings or the game is tied after five (5) innings. Tie games after five (5) innings called due to weather or darkness, each team gets two (2) points. All GABF games will be played with a ten (10) run mercy after 5 innings.
B) Re-Entry Rule: All players in the starting line up may be removed and re-enter the game one time in their original spot in the BATTING ORDER. This applies to AH & DH as well. If you start with a DH, AH or both they must remain for the entire game. The use of DH, AH is optional. The player occupying the re-entered players spot in the batting order must be removed from the game and cannot return for the remainder of the game. Ejected players cannot re-enter the game. In order to complete a game, the opposing manager has the option to select a player from the opponents bench, if necessary, to replace an injured or ejected player.
B) Re-Entry Rule: All players in the starting line up may be removed and re-enter the game one time in their original spot in the BATTING ORDER. This applies to AH & DH as well. If you start with a DH, AH or both they must remain for the entire game. The use of DH, AH is optional. The player occupying the re-entered players spot in the batting order must be removed from the game and cannot return for the remainder of the game. Ejected players cannot re-enter the game. In order to complete a game, the opposing manager has the option to select a player from the opponents bench, if necessary, to replace an injured or ejected player.
C) Two (2) adult coaches or two (2) registered uniformed players, or one (1) adult and one (1) registered uniformed player may coach from the coaching boxes. Coaches or registered players in the coaching boxes must wear protective headgear (helmets) while coaching. Coaches helmets are not required to have ear flaps.
D) All batters and base runners are required to wear their own teams full protective headgear. Any base runner deliberately removing his helmet during a live-ball play will be called out.
E) Pitcher must pitch to batter on intentional walk. Catchers may step outside of the box during an intentional walk.
F) Catchers must wear a protective cup, protective helmet and extended mask or throat guard while catching. Anyone (player, coach, etc.) warming up a pitcher on the field must wear a protective mask. With two (2) outs the team at bat must use a courtesy runner for the catcher to help speed up the game. The runner must be someone who has not participated in the game up to this point. If no one meets this qualification then the last batter who did not reach base safely during that inning shall be used.
D) All batters and base runners are required to wear their own teams full protective headgear. Any base runner deliberately removing his helmet during a live-ball play will be called out.
E) Pitcher must pitch to batter on intentional walk. Catchers may step outside of the box during an intentional walk.
F) Catchers must wear a protective cup, protective helmet and extended mask or throat guard while catching. Anyone (player, coach, etc.) warming up a pitcher on the field must wear a protective mask. With two (2) outs the team at bat must use a courtesy runner for the catcher to help speed up the game. The runner must be someone who has not participated in the game up to this point. If no one meets this qualification then the last batter who did not reach base safely during that inning shall be used.
G) Bats for Classes 14U and above will have a barrel of no bigger than 2 5/8 and -3 differential (difference between weight and length). Metal spikes are permitted in Classes 13U and above. No jewelry is permitted to be worn by players during the games unless for medical reasons.
H) All classes shall have a 15 minute grace period, but only if nine (9) players are not present. Game must start as soon as nine (9) players are present. If only nine (9) players are present and a player must leave the game, their spot in the batting order becomes an out every time that spot comes to bat during the rest of the game. A game shall be forfeited when a team is unable or refuses to place 8 players on the field. Forfeits must be reported to the Class Chairman.
I) A defensive player shall not fake a tag on a runner when said player does not have the ball in his possession or when a play is not imminent. PENALTY: Ejection of defensive player
J) A runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to avoid a fielder who has the ball and is making a tag (force play). If malicious contact is judged by the umpire the runner will be EJECTED from the game
K) GABF will operate on a point system with five (5) points awarded for a game won, two (2) points for a tie game, one (1) for a loss and minus three (-3) points for forfeited game, there will be no need to replay a tie game. Winning managers must email score to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it within 24 hours of game being played, failure to email score will be a -5 in the points system. Each manager is required to check scores on the website, if there is a discrepancy report to Class Chairman immediately.
K) GABF will operate on a point system with five (5) points awarded for a game won, two (2) points for a tie game, one (1) for a loss and minus three (-3) points for forfeited game, there will be no need to replay a tie game. Winning managers must email score to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it within 24 hours of game being played, failure to email score will be a -5 in the points system. Each manager is required to check scores on the website, if there is a discrepancy report to Class Chairman immediately.
L) If a tie occurs in the standings, head to head competition will be the 1st tie breaker. If there are divisions, the second tie breaker is the record within the division. Final tie breaker will be the least amount of runs given up during league play.
M) GABF league play takes priority over any tournament or other league play during the GABF season. Any teams participating in such tournaments and/or other leagues will forfeit any GABF games not played.
N) All umpire fees are paid prior to first pitch. The fee is evenly divided by participating teams. Each team will provide two (2) new baseballs to umpire before start of game. League approved balls are to be Rawlings ROs, R100, or R200, Diamond D1 Pro, Wilson A1010, Worth PRO-ML, Macgregor 97, Riddell BB-PRO, BB-ML or equivalent.
O) League fee covers travel allowance, league meetings, office supplies, web site development and maintenance.
M) GABF league play takes priority over any tournament or other league play during the GABF season. Any teams participating in such tournaments and/or other leagues will forfeit any GABF games not played.
N) All umpire fees are paid prior to first pitch. The fee is evenly divided by participating teams. Each team will provide two (2) new baseballs to umpire before start of game. League approved balls are to be Rawlings ROs, R100, or R200, Diamond D1 Pro, Wilson A1010, Worth PRO-ML, Macgregor 97, Riddell BB-PRO, BB-ML or equivalent.
O) League fee covers travel allowance, league meetings, office supplies, web site development and maintenance.
P) 1ST & 2nd PLACE IN EACH DIVISION WILL RECEIVE TRAVEL ALLOWANCE PROVIDING THERE IS A MINIMUM OF 6 TEAMS PER DIVISION.
Q) The cut-off date for final standings in all classes will be July 12th.
R) Post season tournament bids will be obtained by the GABF board for the teams that request such bids prior to MAY 30th. All bids will be prepaid by the requesting team.
Visitor Stats
