BASEBALL      

 

1. GOVERNING RULES Revised 6/07                           

    1.1 All baseball competition in the CIF Central Section shall be conducted in accordance with the National Federation of State High School Athletic Association's Baseball Rules, along with the CIF Central Section Rules recommended by the Section's Baseball Advisory Committee and approved by the Board of Managers.

    1.2 The CIF Central Section Baseball Advisory Committee shall be composed of one representative from each league who shall be selected by his league president.

    1.2.1 The Chairman of the Advisory Committee is appointed by the CIF Central Section President.

    1.3 Baseball leagues will participate in a tournament type of playoff for the CIF Divisional Championships. 

2. GENERAL RULES
(Items in addition to those listed in the section on rules and regulations as applied to all CIF approved sports.)

    2.1 Length of all games shall be seven (7) innings or as specified in the National Federation Rule Book, as the High School Regulation Game.

        2.1.1 STATE PITCHING RULE - Thirty outs and 3 appearances in a calendar week throughout the season, Monday through Saturday

  1. Innings pitched in a no game, i.e., rain out, power failure, etc., shall count towards the total.
  2. If the 30th out involves a double or triple play, the team will not be penalized.
  3. An appearance is defined as a pitcher pitching at least one pitch.
  4. Any violations constitutes a forfeit of the contest.

    2.2 The  game ball for play-off baseball games, shall be selected by the home team coach from the following:

                   WILSON A1010        WILSON A1010BPROSST              


    2.3 The aluminum, solid wood or laminated bamboo bats, may be used, provided they meet the specifications of the current National Federation Rule Book. Beginning January 2003, all non-wood bats must meet the BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio) performance standard. Bats will be required to have the BESR mark on the bat.

    2.4 Field specifications shall be as outlined in the current National Federation Rule Book.

    2.5 The definition of a "regulation game", as determined by the current National Federation Rules, shall be used when games are called by the umpire because of rain, darkness, etc.

    2.6 Leagues or Sections may establish their own rules on games called because of ties, rain, darkness, etc. It is recommended each league should set up its own rules on tie games according to their budgets, transportation and other facts they alone can control. Each league should establish these rules prior to the beginning of the season. If no league rules are established, the current National Federation rules shall be followed.

    2.7 The speed-up rule may be used if requested by both coaches prior to the game. If requested, they may agree to use all the speed-up rules or agree to use any part of the speed-up rules. (See National Federation Rule Book for details of rule.)

    2.8 In tournament play, any game called because of rain, darkness, etc., shall be considered a suspended game and shall be continued from the point of suspension at a later time, subject to the rules governing the game.

    2.9 Doubleheader games shall be two games played with the same opponent on the same day and separated by less than 30 minutes. These shall be considered as a single game toward the season total. League games played as a doubleheader shall always count as two games.

        2.9.1 Doubleheader games, as above, except separated by more than 30 minutes, will be considered as two games.

        2.9.2 Doubleheader games played with different opponents on the same day, will be considered as two games.

        2.10 No player may coach from first or third base who is not in uniform and was not named on the certified eligibility list exchanged prior to the game.

        2.11 It is required that each player wear a two earflap protective cap when at bat or when he is a base runner. Catchers must wear

                any helmet or helmet and mask combination shall have full ear protection (dual ear flaps)

                 face mask, a body protector and a protective cup when catching.

       2.12 The home team book is the official score book and the home team is responsible for furnishing a qualified scorer.

       2.13 The home team is responsible for telephoning box scores to the news media.

3. ELIGIBILITY

    3.1 All participants must meet the State and Central Section CIF eligibility rules.

    3.2 Ejections and Appeals.          

    First ejection

        Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next CIF contest. The next contest could be the second game of a doubleheader or even the next season of sport. Athletes competing in concurrent sports would be ineligible in both sports.

    Second ejection

         Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next two CIF contests. The next contest could be the second game of a doubleheader or even the next season of sport. Athletes competing in concurrent sports would be ineligible in both sports.

    Third ejection

         Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next 365 days. Any appeal must go to the Section Commissioner

 

        APPEALS PROCEDURE- First and Second Ejection

        Unless otherwise specified, an appeal of an ineligibility of a player or coach may be made, in writing, through the player or coach’s site administrator to the Central Section Commissioner or his or her designees for consideration of reinstatement. The Section Commissioner and or his or her designee will convey results to all schools involved. ( Approved by Board of Managers-Apr. 2004)


4. SEASON OF SPORT

    4.1 The season of sport of Baseball is defined as that period which starts with the first interschool contest (practice game, league game or tournament) and ends with the last regularly scheduled league game except for those qualifying for the playoff contests.

    4.2 The last day to start organized team practice for interscholastic competition will be specified by Central Section.

    4.3 There shall be no interschool contest held, except as specified by Central Section.

           4.3.1 An interschool scrimmage may be held as specified by Central Section.

    4.4 A school shall be limited to 20 games per season per team. Playoff contests are excluded in this computation.

        4.4.1 Maximum number of contests per week is two, except for tournaments and postponed games. A third game in a week may be played on a Saturday as long as it is not an additional contact. (Board of Managers 4/21/04)

        4.4.2 A tournament shall count as two (2) games.

        4.4.3 Three (3) tournaments allowed. (9/18/90)

        4.4.4 A team is allowed to participate in one (1) tournament that extends longer than 4 contest days and a nine (9) day period. A team that plays in this type of tournament will be restricted to two (2) tournaments per year. The maximum number of games in these tournaments is eight (8) excluding the championship game. ( Board of Managers 4/21/04)

5. CLASSIFICATION

    5.1 Baseball team classifications are Varsity, Junior Varsity, Frosh/Soph., Frosh.

6. OFFICIALS

    6.1 Assignments must be made from the appropriate Official's Association: Two officials for Varsity and at least one official for JV or Frosh/Soph. games.

7. CONDUCT

    7.1 Contrary to certain aspects of professional baseball, the players and coaches of Central Section baseball teams, are expected to accept the umpire's decisions and to refrain from un-sportsmanlike gestures and remarks to opposing players and umpires. It is the responsibility of the coach to control un-sportsmanlike actions and remarks on the part of his players or the players on the bench.

    7.1.1 When a coach is ejected from a game for any reason, the game will be forfeited at that point unless his school has another certified person to take charge.

8. PLAYOFFS---  BASEBALL MUST BE  USED IN THE PLAY-OFFS

    8.1 Game play rules.

        8.1.1 Divisional Playoff

            8.1.1.1 Playoffs will include six divisional playoffs. The Divisions will be determined by the approved Section Divisional placement procedure.

            8.1.1.2 The divisions will furnish the top 16 teams for the playoffs. The selections made by the three Area Commissioners and the section commissioner.

          The following criteria will be used with 1 point being given to each category. The team who earns the most points against the other team will receive the higher seed.  This criteria is to be used if there is a tie between two or more teams are being considered for a certain seed.( Approved, Board of Managers, Jan. 2008)

Head to Head

Strength of Schedule/Overall record

Record vs. Common opponents

Place in Common tournaments

Record vs. Play-off teams in same Division

 

        8.1.5 All playoff games are governed by the Federal Rule Book.

        8.1.6 A coach (in uniform) may occupy either first or third base in coaching box.

        8.1.7 If a game is suspended, and it is official game, and no winner is determined, the contest will be continued from the point of stoppage until completion.

    8.2 OFFICIALS

        8.2.1 Officials for playoffs, shall be appointed by the Supervisor of Officials for baseball from the respective area.

        8.2.2 Three officials may be used for all playoff contests. 

        8.2.3 Pay scale for officials shall be as prescribed by the current Central Section fee schedule for Baseball. 

    8.3 PROTESTS

        8.3.1 A commissioner or his designated representative, shall be in attendance at the Section's final playoff contests. In case of a protest, he will rule immediately and the game shall continue.

    8.4 PRELIMINARY, QUARTERFINALS AND SEMIFINALS

        8.4.1 Sites must meet the following specifications:

          The field must be well-groomed with a fence completely surrounding the field. The designated home team grandstand must be large enough to accommodate a crowd of 200-300 people.

        8.4.2 By mutual agreement, schools may play on lighted fields or neutral fields which meet the above requirements. Game time is 4:30 p.m., if the field is not lighted.

        8.4.3 In all rounds batting practice may be taken. Host schools shall send the visiting team a schedule of batting and infield practice, so the visiting team can arrive in time.

        8.4.4 Only the  WILSON A1010        WILSON A1010BPROSST     baseball may be used for play-off contests shall be furnished by the host school.

8.5 DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES               

8.5 Divisional championship games can be played on any home site, as long as it is approved by the League Commissioner or Section Commissioner and meets the necessary requirements.

  1. Fence completely around the field
  2. Appropriate grandstand to host crowds of both schools.
  3. Well groomed field with restrooms.
  4. Area blocked off for admission to be charged.

        8.5.1 When possible a printed official program should be sold. The format of this program should allow for advertisements to be sold to business firms. Some business firms which do business throughout the entire section, could be solicited each year. Also, some firms which advertise on a national scale will furnish, free of charge, program blanks in which team rosters may be printed. CIF Section office will provide program covers when requested. 

        8.5.2   WILSON A1010  baseballs will be furnished by the Section.

        8.5.3   Batting practice will be done outside or away from the main playing field.

    8.6 FINANCES

        8.6.1 Admission charges shall be as determined by CIF. (See playoff admission prices in Awards and Entry Fee Addendum.)

        8.6.2 Recognized Expenses: A flat rate is provided by the Section. Any extras must have prior approval from the Section Office.

  1. Host schools will provide tickets and arrange with participating schools for pre-sale. Different colored tickets should be used for each different admission price. Pre-sale should be cut off two days prior to the playoffs and tickets returned to the host school for general sale.
  2. Non-participating schools may order a minimum number of tickets from host schools up to two days prior to the game.
  3.  Regular CIF passes, league and school passes are not to be honored for admission to playoff games. CIF "Lifetime" passes, CIF Playoff Passes, special State-Issued passes and special League Commissioner's supervision passes will be honored. (Each school in Central Section has 2 complimentary playoff passes.)
  4. Only actually working news media representatives assigned to cover the games will be admitted, providing they contact the host school in advance for admission and equipment arrangements.
  5. Field Rental (if necessary) must be approved by League Commissioner and Section Commissioner.
  6. Supervision: Crowd control is to include proper supervision and adequate seating.

        8.6.3 Host high school is responsible for financial statement receipts and expenditures along with reasonable justification for same.

  1. CIF Central Section Financial Statement Forms for playoff games will be sent to the host high schools involved. The completed form is to be submitted to the CIF Central Section Commissioner within two weeks after the playoff contests.
  2. For all games, net receipts will be divided three ways: 30% to each participating school and 40% to the CIF Central Section.
  3. Loss, if incurred, to be shared equally by the participating schools.

        8.6.4 Meals and travel expenses are not allowed as game expenses.

8.7 AWARDS

        8.7.1 CIF Central Section will provide trophies as prescribed by the Awards Committee. (See awards chart)

        8.7.2 The League Commissioner or his designated representative shall present the CIF Awards immediately following the contest if requested by host school.

 

    

 

06/17/08