THE FOLLOWING RULES SHALL BE FOLLOWED FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON, REGULAR SEASON AND PLAYOFFS. ANY CHANGES TO THESE RULES SEASON TO SEASON WILL BE COMMUNICATED BY THE HAA BOARD AND THE LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS ONLY.
The Home Team Manager Is Responsible For:
1. Calling off the game due to inclement weather. The visiting team manager should be notified immediately so that his/her players can be contacted.Additionally, the home manager must contact the umpires and the concession coordinator to notify them of the cancellation. To avoid additional ump fees, no games should be played when there is a high likelihood of inclement weather cancellation.
2. Field preparation prior to the game. This includes lining the field and batter’s boxes, and attaching the bases.
3. Having the batting order and position assignments for each inning, determined prior to the start of the game.
4. Supplying new baseballs to be used as game balls as required by league rules.
5. Cleaning the dugout used by his/her team following the game.
6. Tracking the pitch count for his/her own players.
7. Entering the final score into online system or reporting the score to the correct person.
8. Paying the umpires (if applicable).
The Visiting Team Manager Is Responsible For:
1. Having the batting order and position assignment for each inning, determined prior to the start of the game.
2. Tracking the pitch count for his/her own players.
3. The Home team scorebook will be the book of record. It is the responsibility of the visiting team to ensure scorebooks match at the completion of each ½ inning.
4. Cleaning the dugout used by his/her team following the game.
5. Field maintenance following the game.
GENERAL GROUND RULES
1. Lightning and/or the approach of a dangerous storm will immediately suspend play. This is at the discretion of the umpire or either manager and should be in accordance with the current HAA Thunder and Lightning Policy. Any offending parties of the above approved rule shall be subject to a hearing by the HAA Officers and respective League Commissioner to determine any disciplinary action to be taken. This rule has been adopted to protect you and your children from a very unpredictable, lethal weather condition. Please help the league to enforce this rule.
2. Only the manager is permitted to call time and discuss a rules interpretation with an umpire. Managers are not permitted to go onto the field to discuss a judgment call with an umpire. Non-managers including the base coaches are NOT ALLOWED to discuss rules interpretations with the umpire and are NOT ALLOWED to discuss or comment on a judgment call. Any Manager, Coach, Asst Coach, Parent, Player, or Spectator commenting on or reacting to umpire calls from behind the back stop area will be asked to go to the dugout and if they continue to make such comments they will be required to leave the game. Violations of this rule will be subject to HAA’s Progressive Action Conduct Violation Policy.
3. Discussion of a rule violation or rule interpretation during a game can be made with the commissioner and the team manager only. All decisions of the commissioner shall be final.
4. All umpiring decisions regarding judgment are FINAL and cannot be appealed.
5. Practice in fair territory on the infield is prohibited prior to games. Teams may use the batting cages (if applicable and limited to 1 per team), outfield and foul territory adjacent to the dugout to warm-up. Any warm-up activities should not interfere with the grounds crew.
GAME PLAY RULES
1. All games on HAA fields must begin promptly at the scheduled start time. INCLEMENT WEATHER IS THE ONLY EXCEPTION. There is a 2 hour time limit. No new inning will be started after 1 hour and 45 minutes. The game may still be shortened by inclement weather or darkness. We are on a tight schedule with field times. Hampton Township has an ordinance stating that our lights MUST be off by 11:00pm.
2. No metal spikes or street shoes are permitted to be worn during a game. Molded rubber cleats or sneakers are the only allowable shoes.
3. Catchers must wear protective equipment at all times. This includes wearing a protective cup.
FIELDING
1. Players must raise their hand when the ball goes under the outfield fence or behind a sign. It is a ground rule double.
BATTING/RUNNING
1. Only the on-deck batter may be in the warm up area. Helmets are not to be removed until the player has completely left the playing field. A second player may warm-up to pitch in the designated area. All other players must remain in the dugout.
2. Only certified bats for league play are allowed. If the batter is caught at the plate with any unapproved bat, the batter will be out with no warning given.
3. A designated bat boy/girl should be used to retrieve bats if playing on McCully fields 1, 2 or 3. The bat boy/girl must wear a batting helmet when retrieving bats and must exit the field of play to the dugout after retrieving the bat. Bats can only be retrieved when the play is called “dead”.
PITCHING
1. As recommended by MLB Pitch Smart Guidelines, pitchers will be restricted by a pitch count. See the HAA Pitch Count Rules for a detailed breakdown to pitch limitations.
When substitute players are needed, HAA Call-Up Rules will apply.
Governing league baseball rules and regulations in which the HAA team is participating in will apply to all playing situations not specifically covered by the rules set forth above.
Note: HAA Bylaws state that in order for a player to be eligible for the playoffs and/or to be considered for an HAA tournament team, the player must attend at least 50% of his team’s completed games. Attendance is defined as playing in at least 3 full innings per game. Player or players arriving late, and playing less than 3 innings, will not be credited for the game played.