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1. All games will be nine innings long, in the case of double-headers, each game will be seven innings long. See Rule #26 regarding time limits.
2. A game shall be considered complete in the case of inclement weather; after the home team has been batted in the fifth inning.
3. Games called on account of darkness shall be continued at a later date. The game will continue from the exact point where it left off.
4. Rain-outs shall be determined by the league office in conjunction with team managers. When a rainout occurs and the same two teams have another scheduled single game, the date will become a double-header, when rainouts occur, the two teams involved, have 7 days from the date of the rainout to reschedule another date. When teams can't agree the league will select the time date and place for this game. This will be done 14 days from the date of the rainout.
5. Protests must be filed, in writing, within forty-eight hours after said occurrence. Protests will be ruled on solely by the league office. Protests will be ruled on by the protest committee. A panel of one manager from each division (North & South) will rule on any dispute or protest. No member of the protest committee will be allowed to rule on a dispute or protest within their own division. The commissioner will enter as the second league representative to replace the member that has had to step aside. In addition a $100 protest fee must be paid with the team protest. If and when the protesting team is found to be correct the $100 will be returned. When an umpire misinterprets a league rule and neither team has a copy of the rules at the field, the umpires decision will stand and no protest will be accepted.
6. All players must wear complete uniforms while on the field of play.
7. Players may wear metal or plastic spiked shoes.
8. All players must wear protective helmet while at bat and while running the bases.
9. All teams will use wood bats only in all games. Wood composite bats are acceptable
10. All game balls will be supplied by the league and will be of the same type.
11. All team catchers will wear complete catching equipment consisting of helmet, chest protector, mask, and leg guards.
12. No alcoholic beverages on the bench or field, No drinking of same during the game. Anyone drinking during the game will not be allowed to continue in that game.
13. No family or friends on the bench during the game.
14. If a team is ahead by ten or more runs at the end of the seventh inning, the team with ten or more runs will be awarded the victory. The game will be declared complete at that point. In the event of a double-header, the ten-run rule will be in effect after five innings. However, this rule may be used in only one of the two games of the double-header. A team that has been eliminated in game one by the 10 run mercy rule will still have the right to use the mercy rule in their favor in game 2 of the double-header. All single Play-off games will be scheduled for 9 innings. If two play-offs games are played on the same day, the 10 run mercy rule will be in effect after 5 innings and the game will be 7 innings.
15. All teams may bat all players. All players may be interchanged freely on defense. In the event a player is replaced in the batting order, he may not re-enter the game. In the event a team is batting ten, eleven, or more players and the batting order should shrink for any reason, the team must take one out for every lost position in the batting order. This out must be taken when the lost spot in the order becomes due. This out will be taken only once for each spot lost. After the out has been taken one time, the team will skip over that spot in the batting order. The vacant spot must be pointed out to the umpire as the spot becomes due. When the defensive team fails to notify the umpire as the spot becomes due, this advantage will be lost and no penalty will be applied. Once the order has shrunk, it may not be expanded. Pitchers must bat, when a team selects not to use the designator hitter rule. If you start with 8 and you fall below 8 players the game is over. Players may be added to the bottom of the batting order at any time during the game. There will be free substitutions in the field throughout the game. Any player, whether or not in the hitting lineup, may play any position in the field and players may be freely substituted in and out of the field throughout the game. Teams will have to option to share or split three spots in the batting order. Shared spots and the players sharing the spots must be declared before the game. Either can hit or both can play defense on the shared spot. A player in the shared spot cannot be a courtesy runner for the other player in the shared spot. If a player in the shared spot is injured or otherwise leaves the game, the remaining player can continue alone in that spot, or a player who was not in the batting order can replace the player who left the game from the shared spot. Due to the adoption of the shared spot rule the designated hitter rule no longer exists. Each team may use up to 3 courtesy runners per game. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out or a player not in the batting order. If both teams agree prior to the start of the game, and notify the umpires, courtesy runners may be permitted for the pitcher and / or catcher, in addition to the courtesy runners-if so, the teams must agree and notify the umpires as to whether this is anytime in the inning or only with two out.
16. Playing time shall be determined solely by the team manager. The league strongly suggest that each team give the maximum amount of playing time to the maximum amount of players.
17. A team may insert a courtesy runner three times during any game. The courtesy runner may be inserted for anyone. The courtesy runner will be a player off the bench who is not involved in the game, or the last batted out. The courtesy runner must be inserted before the next pitch is thrown. If a runner refuses a courtesy runner he must wait until he has reached base safely in his following at bat. Please note; that under any circumstances a team will only be allowed three courtesy runners per game.
18. All teams may carry a maximum of 20 players. If a player is dropped from the roster a new player can be added. No roster can exceed 20 players at any time. If a player is dropped from the roster and wants to return to the team, he must qualify for the play-offs with 8 games or 32 innings from the day he is reinstated.
19. A team may begin and end a game with 8 players. Teams with less than 9 players may ask to borrow a defensive player from their opponent. The opponent will have the option to deny the request. In the event the total amount of players drop below 8, the game will be declared over. The team with less than 8 players will forfeit the game.
20. All players must be 25 by December 31, 2022 to participate in the Over Thirty Baseball League. Any team found with an under-aged player will forfeit all games in which the under-aged player participated unless the player was grandfathered in at the start of the season by the league.
21. All players must appear in eight games or have played at least thirty-two innings, to be eligible for play-offs.
22. When teams finish in a tie for a play-off or a tournament spot the following tie breaking formula will be used. When two teams are tied: A - Best record based on head-to-head competition B Best run differential between the two tied teams in games played against each other. C - Best record against division opponents (if both teams are in the same subdivision) If one team has played more games within the division the last games played will eliminated until it equals the number of games played by the other team. If teams are in different divisions, as listed in the league standings, it will be the best record against common opponents. When the games against common opponents are a different number, the second and third game will be eliminated until both are equal. C - Fewest runs given against division opponents. Games counted will be equal and games played last will be eliminated until both teams are equal. D.- Best run differential between the two tied teams in games that they played against each other. E - Coin flip When three or more teams are tied: A - When all tied teams have played each other and one has beaten the others without a loss to the other tied teams. That team will be awarded the play-off spot. The other tied teams will continue to apply the tie breaking formula until a winner is selected if another spot exists. B. - Best record against common opponents within the division North, South or Central) Games used for this comparison will be made equal. If two teams have played a team twice and one team has played the team only once, the second meeting of these two teams will be eliminated. C. - Best run differential between all tied teams during head to head competition. Games played last will be eliminated until all teams have the same number of games played against each other D. - Coin Flip between tied teams
23. A player may switch teams between November 1st, and April 15th. After April 15th, the managers of both teams must agree. If a deadlock can not be settled, the league will make a decision on any team change. It is Further understood (that a player switching teams during the season, must appear in 8 regular season games with the team he has been reassigned in order to be eligible for the play-offs. If a player switches teams, he may not switch back to his former team to participate in play-offs. Playoff eligibility will begin the day the player registers. Innings for forfeited games can only be awarded when the forfeit happens at the field. Players on the forfeiting team will receive no credit for innings or game games played
23A. When a team has folded during the season: 1. No more than 2 players to the same team. 2. After the majority of the teams in the league have played 12 games, players switching teams, coming from a folding team; may only play for a 500 team or below. 3. All players switching teams must adhere to all parts of rule
24. All Sunday games will start at 9:00 A.M. unless otherwise posted
25: Umpires * 1 After first pitch they get full pay * 2 If a game never starts they get travel money (1/2 check) * 3 If after thirty minutes the first game of a doubleheader is forfeited, the umpire must wait another thirty minutes before declaring the second game a forfeit. They are then paid for one full game.
26: Time Limits: