AMERICAN AMATEUR BASEBALL CONGRESS OF FLORIDA 2011 RULES, REGULATIONS AND DIRECTORY
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................2 SECTION I - DEFINITIONS....................................................................................3 SECTION II - AMENDMENTS..................................................................................3 SECTION III - INTERVENTION IN LEAGUE ACTIVITIES.....................................................4 SECTION IV - BACKGROUND CHECKS / AMERICAN SPECIALITY INSURANCE............................4 SECTION V - REGISTRATION.................................................................................5 SECTION VI - TOURNAMENT SITES A. UMPIRES....................................................................................................6 B. TOURNAMENT & ADMISSION FEES.......................................................................7 C. MOVEMENT OF TOURNAMENT SITES....................................................................8 D. BRACKET CHART..........................................................................................9 E. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS..............................................................................10 SECTION VII - CONDUCT OF PLAYERS, MANAGERS, COACHES & FANS................................11 SECTION VIII - TOURNAMENTS.............................................................................12 A. SELECTION OF TEAMS, PLAYERS, AND DISQUALIFICATION........................................13,14 B. CERTIFICATION...........................................................................................15 C. GENERAL RULES.........................................................................................17-22 D. PITCHING..................................................................................................23 SECTION IX – PROTESTS APPEALS..........................................................................24
A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN AMATEUR BASEBALL CONGRESS RULE CHANGES: NOTE CHANGES WHICH ARE UNDERLINED AND BOLD IN TEXT.PLEASE READ THESE RULES, REGULATIONS AND DIRECTORY CAREFULLY. AS A MANAGER YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT YOUR TEAM PROPERLY CERTIFIES FOR TOURNAMENT AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES EACH TOURNAMENT FOR WHICH THE TEAM IS ELIGIBLE. IMMEDIATE PROBLEM NUMBERS - ALL AGE GROUPS: JIM COWEN 561-452-1909 FRED BUSH 561-756-1229 MIKE ROBERTS 954-873-5274 2010 AABC OF FLORIDA RULES, REGULATIONS, AND DIRECTORY INTRODUCTION
THE 2010 RULES, REGULATIONS AND DIRECTORY ARE THE LATEST REVISION OF THE RULES APPROVED BY THE AABC OF FLORIDA. THE STATE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS REVISED CERTAIN RULES AND HAS ADDED OTHER RULES TO CORRECT, UPDATE AND TO CLARIFY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER WHICH AABC OF FLORIDA OPERATES. THESE RULES SHALL APPLY TO ALL AGE GROUPS WITHIN AABC OF FLORIDA. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEW THESE RULES EVERY TWO YEARS. EACH MEMBER OF AABC OF FLORIDA AND EACH ASSOCIATION WITHIN AABC OF FLORIDA IS ENCOURAGED TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THESE RULES OR PROPOSE NEW RULES. THESE PROPOSALS MUST BE IN WRITING AND SUBMITTED TO THE STATE EXECUTIVE BOARD NOT LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN ORDER FOR THE BOARD TO FULLY CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCORPORATE THE PROPOSAL INTO THE RULES FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND DIRECTORY SHALL BE PUBLISHED EACH YEAR AND DISTRIBUTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AABC OF FLORIDA. EACH MEMBER AND EACH ASSOCIATION IS ENCOURAGED TO MAKE INQUIRY TO THE STATE OFFICE FOR EACH AGE GROUP IF ANY CHANGES IN THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND DIRECTORY HAVE OCCURRED AFTER THE ANNUAL MEETING. THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS APPLY TO ALL AGE GROUPS
I
DEFINITIONS
1. THE USE OF ANY GENDER DENOMINATION SHALL INCLUDE BOTH GENDERS. 2. THE "AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK" IS THE CURRENT YEAR'S OFFICIAL HANDBOOK ISSUED BY THE AMERICAN AMATEUR BASEBALL CONGRESS. 3. THE TERM "TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR" INCLUDES THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, THE ASSISTANT TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, OR ANY OTHER PERSON DESIGNATED TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR 4. THE TERM "STATE DIRECTOR" SHALL INCLUDE HIS ASSISTANT OR ASSISTANTS OR ANY DESIGNATED APPOINTEE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 5. THE TERMS "TEAM," "LEAGUE," AND "ASSOCIATION" SHALL BE THE DEFINITION IN THE AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK, EXCEPT IN THESE RULES THE TERM “ASSOCIATION” SHALL REFER TO A MEMBER PARK. 6. THE TERM “AABC OF FL” SHALL MEAN THE AMERICAN AMATEUR BASEBALL CONGRESS OF FLORIDA. 7. THE TERM “AABC” SHALL MEAN THE AMERICAN AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION. 8. THE TERM “PERSON” SHALL INCLUDE ANY PLAYER, MANAGER, COACH, FAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON IN A PARK DURING A TOURNAMENT WHETHER OR NOT A GAME IS IN PROGRESS.
II AMENDMENTS
1. ALL MOTIONS TO AMEND THE RULES, REGULATIONS, AND DIRECTORY SHALL BE IN WRITTEN FORM AND SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WITH THREE (3) COPIES FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD. 2. THE MOTION, AFTER HAVING RECEIVED A SECOND, SHALL BE CONSIDERED AND DEBATED AT THE MEETING WHEN SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD. THE MOTION MAY BE FURTHER AMENDED AT THIS TIME. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE DISCUSSION, THE AMENDMENT SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING OF THE BOARD. 3. AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE BOARD, THE MOTION SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE TABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE SUBJECT OF FURTHER DEBATE AND AMENDMENT AND THEN SUBMITTED TO A VOTE BY THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. A MAJORITY OF THE QUORUM SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PASS THE MOTION. 4. IF A MAJORITY OF THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS AN EMERGENCY, THE BOARD, BY A 2/3RDS MAJORITY OF THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MAY ENACT AN AMENDMENT OR NEW RULE AS A TEMPORARY RULE TO BE EFFECTIVE ONLY UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING OF THE BOARD AT WHICH TIME IT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER DEBATE AND AMENDMENT AND VOTED UPON AS PROVIDED IN RULE 3 ABOVE.
III INTERVENTION IN LEAGUE ACTIVITIES
UPON THE REQUEST OF ANY CONCERNED PERSON OR MEMBER OF THE AABC OF FLORIDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IN HIS SOLE DISCRETION, MAY BECOME INVOLVED IN ANY LEAGUE ACTIVITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE HEALTH OR SAFETY OF ANY PERSON OR TO PREVENT THE DISQUALIFICATION OF ANY TEAM FROM TOURNAMENT ACTIVITIES.
IV BACKGROUND CHECKS
AABC OF FLORIDA STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT ALL ASSOCIATIONS CONDUCT A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK ON ALL VOLUNTEERS, OFFICIALS (UMPIRES) WHO WILL OR MAY HAVE CONTACT WITH THE CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THEIR PROGRAM. EACH ASSOCIATION SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE A POLICY THAT DEALS WITH ANY SITUATION THAT MIGHT ARISE FROM THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
K & K INSURANCE COMPANY
INSURANCE REQUIRED ONLY AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TOURNAMENT PLAY.COST DETERMINED BY K & K INSURANCE COMPANY. ALL TEAMS MUST HAVE A COPY OF POLICY OR WAVIER WITH THEM AT TOURNAMENT. WAVIER MUST BE GRANTED FROM THE AABC NATIONAL OFFICE NO LATER THAN JUNE 1ST OF CURRENT YEAR.
V REGISTRATION
1. TO BE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER IN THE AABC OF FLORIDA EACH TEAM SHALL: A. BE A TEAM FROM AN ASSOCIATION WHICH PREFERABLY OFFERS 7/8, 9/10, 11/12 AND 13/14 AGE GROUP PROGRAMS, EACH AGE GROUP PROGRAM SHALL HAVE NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) TEAMS IN EACH AGE GROUP PROGRAM REGISTERED WITH AABC OF FLORIDA, AND B. BE A TEAM FROM AN ASSOCIATION WHICH PREFERABLY REGISTERS ALL TEAMS IN EACH AGE GROUP THAT COMPETE IN THE TEAM'S HOME PARK WITH THE AABC OF FLORIDA, AND C. BE A TEAM IN A QUALIFIED LEAGUE WHICH IS COMPOSED OF TEAMS FROM ASSOCIATIONS IN WHICH ALL TEAMS WITHIN SUCH ASSOCIATION ARE REGISTERED WITH THE AABC OF FLORIDA, AND D. BE A TEAM WHICH HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CURRENT YEAR'S AABC DIRECTORY, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE AABC OF FLORIDA DIRECTORY, RULES AND REGULATIONS. AND E. IS A TEAM WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DISQUALIFIED FROM COMPETITION BY THE PRESIDENT, OR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AABC OF FLORIDA. F. THE STATE DIRECTOR MAY GRANT AN EXCEPTION TO THE ABOVE RULES FOR AN ASSOCIATION NEWLY JOINING AABC OF FLORIDA FOR A DEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. 2. A. WHEN TEAMS FROM TWO (2) OR MORE ASSOCIATIONS PLAY AN INTERLOCKING SCHEDULE OF GAMES, THE TEAMS INVOLVED MAY ONLY OBTAIN PICK-UP PLAYERS FROM OTHER TEAMS WITHIN THEIR ASSOCIATION. B. WHEN TEAMS FROM TWO (2) OR MORE ASSOCIATIONS PLAY AS A SEPARATE LEAGUE AS DEFINED BY THE A.A.B.C. DIRECTORY, RULES AND REGULATIONS, THE TEAMS INVOLVED MAY OBTAIN PICK-UP PLAYERS FROM OTHER TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE. VI TOURNAMENT SITES
A. UMPIRES
1. ALL UMPIRES SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE STATE DIRECTOR OR SOMEONE DESIGNATED BY HIM. THE AABC OF FLORIDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL RECOMMEND UMPIRE FEES. IN THE EVENT THE FEES ARE NOT PAID, THE HOST ASSOCIATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO SUCH SANCTIONS AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE. 2. AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH TOURNAMENT GAME THERE WILL BE A MINIMUM OF TWO (2) APPROVED AND PROPERLY DRESSED UMPIRES ON THE FIELD. IF DURING THE GAME ONE OR MORE UMPIRES SHOULD BECOME UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO UMPIRE BECAUSE OF INJURY OR ILLNESS, THE GAME MAY CONTINUE WITH A SINGLE UMPIRE ONLY IF THE REMAINING UMPIRE AND THE COMMISSIONER AGREE THAT THE GAME SHOULD CONTINUE WITH ONLY A SINGLE UMPIRE.
NOTE – RECOMMENDED FULL HEAD PROTECTION.
3. EACH UMPIRE WILL BE AABC CERTIFIED AND WILL HAVE THE AABC UMPIRE PATCH DISPLAYED ON HIS SHIRT AND/OR COAT AND AABC HAT ANY TIME SUCH UMPIRE IS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY. THE AGE GROUP COMMISSIONER SHALL DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF UMPIRES TO BE USED IN EACH GAME. B. TOURNAMENT FEES AND ADMISSION FEES
1. TEAM REGISTRATION FEE; HOST TEAM MAY CHARGE EACH TEAM ENTERING THE STATE TOURNAMENT A TEAM REGISTRATION FEE NOT TO EXCEED $425.00 FOR ROBERTO CLEMENTE THROUGH SANDY KOUFAX DIVISIONS AND $500 FOR MICKEY MANTLE THROUGH STAN MUSIAL DIVISONS TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS OF HOSTING THE TOURNAMENT. THIS RECOMMENDED FEE IS ALLOWED IF NECESSARY AND MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY THE STATE DIRECTOR. 2. ENTRANCE FEES: THE FOLLOWING FEES ARE THE MAXIMUM FEES WHICH A HOST ASSOCIATION MAY CHARGE FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE PARK FOR SPECTATORS AND FANS. EACH PLAYER AND FIVE (5) ADULTS (COACHES, TEAM MOTHERS, OR OTHER ADULTS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TEAM) SHALL BE ADMITTED FREE. AT CERTIFICATION THE MANAGER SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE HOST ASSOCIATION FIVE (5) PASSES FOR COACHES WHICH SHALL BE UTILIZED BY THE SELECTED INDIVIDUALS UPON ENTRANCE INTO THE HOST PARK. THESE PASSES ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS ONLY AND SHALL NOT OBTAIN FREE ADMISSION FOR ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE HOLDER OF THE PASS. A. FOR ALL AGE GROUPS AS FOLLOWS: 3. STATE TOURNAMENT: A. ADULT: $6.00 B. CHILD UNDER 12: FREE 4. REGION TOURNAMENT: TO BE SET BY REGION, BUT IF NOT SET BYREGION THEN AS FOLLOWS: A. ADULT: $8.00 B. CHILD UNDER 12: FREE
5. WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT: TO BE SET BY AABC, BUT IF NOT SET BY AABC THEN AS FOLLOWS: A. ADULT: $10.00 B. CHILD UNDER 12: FREE B. FOR ANY TOURNAMENT A HOST ASSOCIATION MAY OFFER A TOURNAMENT PASS; THE COST OF WHICH SHALL NOT EXCEED THREE (3) TIMES THE COST OF DAILY ADMISSION TO THE TOURNAMENT FOR THE AGE OF THE PERSON PURCHASING SAME. C.WHEN A HOST ASSOCIATION HAS GAMES IN TWO (2) OR MORE ROUNDS IN ANY SINGLE DAY, THE HOST ASSOCIATION MAY CHARGE A SEPARATE GATE ADMISSION FOR EACH ROUND. D. IN LIEU OF THE ABOVE, A HOST ASSOCIATION MAY CHARGE A TEAM GATE FEE OF NOT TO EXCEED $ 150.00 FOR EACH LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT THRU AND INCLUDING STATE TO BE PAID AT CERTIFICATION. TEAMS WILL NOT BE CERTIFIED UNTIL FEE IS PAID. 2. TOURNAMENT HOST FEES: THE HOST ASSOCIATION SHALL PAY TO AABC OF FLORIDA A HOST FEE FOR TOURNAMENTS AS FOLLOWS: A.STATE TOURNAMENT: $150.00 B.INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS: $25.00 PER TEAM)+ TEAMS MUST REGISTER WITH THE AABC NATIONAL OFFICE ($25.00 PER TEAM) 3. THE ASSOCIATION CHECK FOR PAYMENT OF THE TOURNAMENT HOST FEE SHALL BE MADE PAYABLE TO FLORIDA AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (FABA) AND DELIVERED BY MAIL TO THE STATE DIRECTOR PRIOR TO THE TOURNAMENT COACHES MEETING.
C. MOVEMENT OF TOURNAMENT SITE
1. AFTER TOURNAMENT SITES HAVE BEEN AWARDED, IF THE STATE DIRECTOR DECIDES FOR ANY REASON THAT A SITE SHOULD OR MUST BE CHANGED TO ANOTHER SITE, THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL NOTIFY THE AGE COMMISSIONER WHO SHALL CONVENE A MEETING WITH THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. AT THIS MEETING BOTH THE AGE COMMISSIONER AND THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PRESENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE MOVING OF THE SITE AFTER WHICH THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL RENDER A DECISION. THE DECISION OF THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL BE FINAL.
D. BRACKET CHART
1. A BRACKET CHART SHALL BE DRAFTED BY EACH AGE GROUP AGE COMMISSIONER FOR EACH TOURNAMENT SITE. THE BRACKET CHART SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE AGE COMMISSIONER AT THE TOURNAMENT DRAW MEETING AND SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: A. THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF CERTIFICATION WHICH SHALL BE PRE- APPROVED BY THE AGE COMMISSIONER B. THE DATE & STARTING TIME FOR EACH GAME WHICH SHALL BE AS UNIFORM AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN SITES WITHIN THE AGE GROUP? C. THE NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, THE ASSISTANT TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, AND THE PARK TELEPHONE NUMBER. D. THE NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE STATE DIRECTOR AND THE ASSISTANT STATE DIRECTOR. F. A CURRENTLY ACCURATE BRACKET CHART SHALL BE MAINTAINED AT EACH SITE AND THE MANAGER OF EACH TEAM SHALL INITIAL THE CHART NEXT TO THE TIME AND DATE OF THE TEAM’S NEXT SCHEDULED GAME. NOTE -- IT IS THE INTENT OF THIS RULE THAT WHENEVER POSSIBLE ALL TOURNAMENTS WITHIN AN AGE GROUP HAVE THE SAME DATES AND STARTING TIMES FOR GAMES SO THERE WILL BE NO QUESTION ON WHAT DATE AND TIME A PARTICULAR TEAM IS TO PLAY WITHOUT REGARD TO THE SITE OF THE TOURNAMENT.
2. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PREPARE A LIST CONTAINING THE NAME & TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF EACH TEAM'S MANAGER AND DESIGNATED CONTACT PERSON. THE AGE COMMISSIONER WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS LIST ON THE FIRST DAY OF GAMES PLAYED IN THE TOURNAMENT. 3. THE MANAGER OF EACH TEAM IS SOLELY AND PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE TEAMS NEXT SCHEDULED GAME DATE AND TIME, AND SHALL INITIAL THE BRACKET CHART NEXT TO THE SCHEDULED DATE AND TIME OF THE TEAMS NEXT GAME. IN THE EVENT A CHANGE IN THE DATE AND/OR STARTING TIME OF ANY GAME IS REQUIRED FOR ANY REASON, TELEPHONE NOTICE OF THE CHANGE SHALL BE TELEPHONED TO THE TEAM MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNATED CONTACT PERSON. THE TEAM AND ITS MANAGER HAVE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING THAT THE MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNATED CONTACT PERSON IS AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES TO RECEIVE PERSONAL NOTICE.
E. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS
1. EACH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE AN OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER FOR EACH GAME WHO SHALL BE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN MAINTAINING A SCORE BOOK. THE OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER SHALL NOT HAVE AN AFFILIATION WITH A TEAM, A PLAYER, A MANAGER OR A COACH INVOLVED IN THE TOURNAMENT, BUT MAY BE AFFILIATED WITH THE HOST ASSOCIATION. 2. EACH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL MAINTAIN AND POST AT THE TOURNAMENT SITES A PITCHING CHART IN THE FORM APPROVED BY AABC OF FLORIDA. AT THE END OF EACH GAME, OR, IN THE EVENT OF A SUSPENDED GAME, A PORTION OF A GAME, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND THE SCOREKEEPER SHALL ENTER ON THE CHART AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE PITCHERS USED BY EACH TEAM IN THE GAME OR PORTION THEREOF. EACH MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNATED ASSISTANT SHALL SIGN OR INITIAL THE CHART FOR THE PITCHERS FOR HIS TEAM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EACH GAME OR PORTION THEREOF. NOTE -- SEE SECTION VII FOR SPECIFIC RULES ON PITCHING. 3. EACH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE A PROTEST COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF NOT LESS THAN THREE (3) KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSONS EACH OF WHOM SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE AGE COMMISSIONER. NO PERSON SERVING ON THE PROTEST COMMITTEE SHALL BE AFFILIATED WITH ANY TEAM OR PLAYER PARTICIPATING IN THE TOURNAMENT, BUT MAY BE AFFILIATED WITH THE ASSOCIATION HOSTING THE TOURNAMENT. A PROTEST COMMITTEE SHALL BE IN THE PARK DURING THE PLAYING OF EACH GAME IN THE TOURNAMENT. NOTE -- SEE SECTION IX FOR FILING AND CONDUCTING A PROTEST. ALL PROTESTS OCCURRING DURING A TOURNAMENT SHALL BE FILED AND CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO THE AABC OF FLORIDA RULES. 4. EACH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL HAVE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES A GAME IS BEING PLAYED THE FOLLOWING: A. A COPY OF THE SPORTING NEWS OFFICIAL RULES OF BASEBALL. B. A COPY OF THE CURRENT YEAR'S AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. C. A COPY OF THE CURRENT YEAR'S TOURNAMENT RULES. 5. EACH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL HAVE ON SITE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF BASEBALLS AS DESIGNATED AND APPROVED BY THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR EACH GAME TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE POSSIBILITY OF RAIN OR OTHER FACTORS AT THE SITE WHICH COULD AFFECT THE NUMBER OF BASEBALLS REQUIRED FOR THE PLAYING OF THE GAME. 6. EACH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL POST AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK THE PARK RULES CLEARLY STATING THE PARK'S POLICY REGARDING PETS, COOLERS, FOOD, AND ANY OTHER MATTERS WHICH AFFECT THE FANS AT THE GAMES. 7. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE AN ANNOUNCER AT EACH GAME. THE ANNOUNCER MAY ANNOUNCE EACH TEAM'S LINE-UP AT OR JUST BEFORE THE START OF EACH GAME; THE NAME, NUMBER, AND POSITION TO BE PLAYED OF EACH SUBSTITUTE ENTERING THE GAME AT THE TIME OF SUBSTITUTION; AND THE NAME, NUMBER, AND POSITION PLAYED OF EACH BATTER. THE ANNOUNCER SHALL NOT PROVIDE A RUNNING COMMENTARY OF THE GAME; ANNOUNCE BY NAME, NUMBER, OR POSITION ANY PLAYER MAKING AN ERROR; ANNOUNCE THE BALL-STRIKE COUNT ON THE BATTER; OR OTHERWISE MAKE ANY STATEMENTS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING THE CONDUCT OF THE GAME OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY PLAYER OR TEAM. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL NOT PERMIT ANY FORM OF CHEERING, COACHING, OR COMMENTS ON OR TO THE TEAMS, PLAYERS OR UMPIRES FROM THE SCORE BOOTH OR THE AREA ADJACENT THERETO. 8. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE A UNITED STATES' FLAG WHICH SHALL BE PROPERLY DISPLAYED DURING THE PLAYING OF EACH GAME. NO FLAG OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES FLAG, THE STATE OF FLORIDA FLAG, THE AABC FLAG, AND THE AABC OF FLORIDA FLAG SHALL BE DISPLAYED. 9.A. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE AN EXPERIENCED GROUND CREW CONSISTING OF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PERSONS TO PREPARE PROPERLY EACH FIELD FOR PLAY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE PROBABILITY OF RAIN OR OTHER WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH COULD AFFECT THE FIELD. B. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF TARPS AND TOOLS TO MAINTAIN THE FIELDS AT ALL TIMES AND A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF SAND, BRICK DUST, LIME AND OTHER NECESSITIES FOR THE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE FIELDS. 10. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLAYING FIELD AND SHALL ENSURE THAT THE FIELD IS READY FOR PLAY AND PROPERLY LINED NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES BEFORE THE TIME SCHEDULED FOR THE BEGINNING OF EACH GAME. 11. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL HAVE AT EACH FIELD UPON WHICH A TOURNAMENT GAME IS BEING PLAYED A PROPERLY EQUIPPED FIRST AID KIT. VII CONDUCT OF PLAYERS, MANAGERS, COACHES, & FANS
NOTE: THE TERM PERSON AS USED IN SECTION V INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, PLAYERS, MANAGERS, COACHES, FANS, AND ALL OTHER PERSONS ATTENDING TOURNAMENT GAMES. 1. AABC OF FLORIDA WILL NOT TOLERATE BAD SPORTSMANSHIP BY ANY PERSON, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FIGHTING, TEMPER TANTRUMS, ABUSIVE LANGUAGE, THROWING OF EQUIPMENT, OR OTHER CONDUCT DETRIMENTAL TO THE GAME OF BASEBALL. 2. BENCH JOCKEYING IS FINE, IF IT IS NOT OF A PERSONAL NATURE. JOCKEYING OF A PERSONAL NATURE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. 3. NO TOBACCO PRODUCTS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE DUGOUT OR ON THE PLAYING FIELD AT ANY TIME. 4. NO PROFANITY WILL BE TOLERATED AT ANY TIME IN THE PARK INCLUDING THE PARKING LOT. 5. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WILL BE TOLERATED AT ANY TIME IN THE PARK INCLUDING THE PARKING LOT. 6. NO ILLEGAL CHEMICALS SUBSTANCES WILL BE TOLERATED AT ANY TIME IN THE PARK INCLUDING THE PARKING LOT. 7. EACH TEAM AND EACH TEAM MANAGER SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FANS. RULE ONE (1) THROUGH RULE SIX (6) ABOVE SHALL APPLY TO FANS. 8. THE PENALTY FOR ANY PERSON VIOLATING ANY RULE ONE (1) THROUGH FOUR (4) ABOVE SHALL BE, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE OR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, A WARNING OR EJECTION FROM THE PARK, BUT A WARNING SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED BEFORE AN UMPIRE OR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY EJECT A PERSON, IF, IN THE UMPIRE'S OR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR'S JUDGMENT, THE CONDUCT MERITS IMMEDIATE EJECTION. 9. THE PENALTY FOR ANY PERSON VIOLATING RULE FIVE (5) OR RULE SIX (6) ABOVE SHALL BE THE IMMEDIATE EJECTION OF THE OFFENDING PERSON FROM THE PARK BY THE UMPIRE OR THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR SUCH INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION AS THE POLICE MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, HIS ASSISTANT, AND ALL PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE TOURNAMENT SHALL CO-OPERATE WITH THE POLICE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF ANY MATTER INVOLVING POTENTIAL OR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF RULES FIVE (5) AND SIX (6). 10. ANY PERSON, EXCEPT A PLAYER, EJECTED FROM THE GAME SHALL LEAVE THE PARK IMMEDIATELY. IF A PLAYER IS EJECTED FROM A GAME, HE MAY REMAIN IN THE DUGOUT, SIT ON THE BENCH, AND REMAIN SILENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE GAME. IF AN UMPIRE SHOULD DETERMINE THAT THE EJECTED PLAYER IS CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN THE OFFENDING CONDUCT, THE UMPIRE SHALL NOTIFY THE MANAGER THAT HE WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE NEXT INCIDENT INVOLVING THE PLAYER AND, UPON EJECTION OF THE MANAGER, BOTH THE PLAYER AND THE MANAGER SHALL IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE PARK. IN THE EVENT THE PERSON SHOULD FAIL OR REFUSE TO LEAVE THE PARK IMMEDIATELY, THE MANAGER OF THE TEAM AFFECTED SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF THE EJECTION OF THE PERSON. THE MANAGER WILL BE AFFORDED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE PERSON LEAVE THE PARK. WHAT SHALL CONSTITUTE A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE THE PARK SHALL BE IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE OR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR GIVING CONSIDERATION TO THE GRAVITY OF THE CONDUCT OF THE VIOLATOR. IF THE PERSON CONTINUES TO FAIL OR REFUSE TO LEAVE THE PARK, THE PENALTY SHALL BE THE FORFEITURE OF THE GAME BY THE TEAM, OR, IF THE TEAM HAS NO GAME IN PROGRESS, THEIR NEXT SCHEDULED GAME. THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF ANY SITUATION IN WHICH A POSSIBLE FORFEITURE OF A GAME MAY OCCUR. 11. THE UMPIRE AND THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL EACH HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EJECT A PERSON FROM THE PARK FOR THE REMAINDER OF A GAME IN PROGRESS IF A GAME INVOLVING THE TEAM IS IN PROGRESS OR FOR THE NEXT SCHEDULED GAME INVOLVING THE TEAM IF NO GAME IS IN PROGRESS. 12. IN THE EVENT THE UMPIRE OR THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHOULD DETERMINE THAT THE CONDUCT OF THE PERSON IS A SERIOUS INFRACTION OF THESE RULES EITHER SHALL NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE AGE COMMISSIONER WHO MAY, UPON HEARING AS PROVIDED IN THESE RULES FOR AN APPEAL, ENTER SUCH STRONGER PENALTIES AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE WITH THE RIGHT OF APPEAL TO THE STATE DIRECTOR AS PROVIDED IN THESE RULES FOR APPEALS OF PROTESTS. 13. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTIES CONTAINED WITHIN THESE RULES, THE PENALTY FOR ENGAGING IN A FIGHT SHALL BE A FINE OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($400.00) WHICH FINE SHALL BE PAID BY THE TEAM IN CASH TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR BEFORE THE TEAM SHALL BE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE A GAME IN PROGRESS OR BEGIN ITS NEXT SCHEDULED GAME IF NO GAME IS IN PROGRESS. IF THE FINE IS NOT PAID WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES OF ITS IMPOSITION, THE GAME IN PROGRESS SHALL BE FORFEITED. THE FINE SHALL BE EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE HOST ASSOCIATION AND AABC OF FLORIDA. 14. ANY MANAGER, COACH, PLAYER OR TEAM WHO HAS BEEN SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED FROM ANY PARK OR ASSOCIATION SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY AABC OF FLORIDA TOURNAMENT UNTIL HE OR THEY HAVE BEEN REINSTATED INTO THAT PARK OR ASSOCIATION WITH THE RIGHT OF THE MANAGER TO APPEAL AS SET FORTH IN THESE . 15.ANY MANAGER, COACH, PLAYER OR OTHER PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH A TEAM WHO IS EJECTED FROM A GAME OR PARK SHALL BE INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OR BE IN THE PARK FOR THE TEAMS NEXT SCHEDULED GAME, AND THE PENALTY SHALL BE ENFORCED AT THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT IF THE TEAM IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE. 16. ALL COACHES IN ALL AGE DIVISIONS WHO COACH FIRST OR THIRD BASE MUST WEAR AN APPROVED BATTING HELMET.HELMET CAN EITHER BE A SKULL CAP, SINGLE EAR FLAP OR DOUBLE EAR FLAP.FAILURE TO WEAR A BATTING HELMET BY THE COACH UPON DISCOVERY BY THE UMPIRE AND AFTER BEING WARNED WILL RESULT IN THE COACH BEING EJECTED FROM THE GAME.
VIII. TOURNAMENTS:
A. SELECTION OF TEAMS AND PLAYERS, & DISQUALIFICATION
1. THE TEAMS SHALL BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN STATE TOURNAMENT AS SPECIFIED BY THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE AMERICAN AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION. THE RULE THAT ONE (1) TEAM FROM EACH (6) SIX REGISTERED SHALL BE THE MINIMUM ONLY AND THE MAXIMUM SHALL BE TWO (2) TEAMS FROM EACH SIX (6) AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF EACH AGE DIVISION, THE DETAILS OF NUMBER OF TEAMS SELECTED TO BE DETERMINED BY THE STATE DIRECTOR BY THE REQUIREMENTS TO FILL EACH TOURNAMENT SITE. HOST TEAMS MAY BE IN ADDITION TO TEAMS SELECTED ABOVE WITHIN THE STATE DIRECTOR'S DISCRETION. 2. ALL LEAGUES SHALL BE TREATED FAIRLY BY THE STATE DIRECTOR WITH NO LEAGUE BEING OFFERED AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN PERCENTAGE OF TEAMS SELECTED OVER ANOTHER LEAGUE; HOWEVER, ONCE THE STATE DIRECTOR OR HIS DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE HAS MADE AN OFFER OF ADDITIONAL TEAMS TO A LEAGUE WHICH THE LEAGUE HAS REJECTED, THEN THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SELECT TEAMS FROM OTHER LEAGUES WHICH MAY RESULT IN A DISPROPORTIONAL PERCENTAGE OF TEAMS FROM A LEAGUE TO COMPETE. 3. PRIOR TO THE TOURNAMENT DRAW MEETING EACH TEAM SHOULD DECLARE IN WHICH TOURNAMENT IT WILL PARTICIATE, ONCE THE TEAM HAS MADE THIS SELECTION THE TEAM SHOULD BE INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIATE IN ANY OTHER AABC TOURNAMENT. 4. NO PLAYER SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE AS A PICKUP BY ANY TEAM UNTIL HIS TEAM HAS BEEN ELIMINATED FROM COMPETITION. 5. ONCE A TEAM HAS BEEN SELECTED TO COMPETE IN STATE TOURNAMENT COMPETITION AND THE BRACKET FOR THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN DRAWN IN THE TOURNAMENT MEETING, THAT TEAM SHALL COMPETE TO A CONCLUSION IN ALL LEVELS OF TOURNAMENT PLAY FOR WHICH THE TEAM IS ELIGIBLE THROUGH AND INCLUDING THE WORLD SERIES. THE FAILURE OF THE TEAM TO DO SO, THE MANAGER AND THE COACHES OF THAT TEAM MAY BE SUSPENDED FROM POST SEASON PLAY FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED TWO (2) YEARS, THE LENGTH OF THE SUSPENSION TO BE DETERMINED BY THE AGE DIVISION COMMISSIONER, AND THE ASSOCIATION SHALL PAY A FINE NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00) AS SET FORTH BELOW TO THE AABC OF FLORIDA WHICH UPON COLLECTION BY AABC OF FLORIDA. A MANAGER OR A COACH MAY APPEAL THE SUSPENSION OR AN ASSOCIATION MAY APPEAL THE FINE ONLY BY STATING IN WRITING AND DELIVERING TO THE STATE DIRECTOR WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS THE REASONS FOR THE APPEAL WITH EVIDENCE OF JUSTIFICATION FOR NON-PARTICIPATION. THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL, UPON RECEIPT, SHALL CONVENE AN APPEAL HEARING AS SET FORTH IN THESE RULES. A.WHEN THE FORFEIT IS THE TEAM’S FIRST LOSS IN A TOURNAMENT FOR FAILURE TO START A GAME, THE FINE SHALL BE THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00). B.WHEN A TEAM FAILS TO START A GAME WHICH RESULTS IN THE TEAMS SECOND LOSS IN A TOURNAMENT OR THE TEAM’S FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT FOR WHICH THE TEAM IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE THE FINE SHALL BE THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00). C.WHEN A TEAM FORFEITS BOTH GAMES IN A TOURNAMENT, THE FINES SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE CUMULATIVE. D.THE FINE SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE PAID IN CASH TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IN CASH BEFORE BEGINNING PLAY IN THE TEAM’S NEXT GAME OR HAVE A VALIDLY FILED APPEAL, WHICH MAY BE FILED WITHOUT AN APPEAL FEE, PENDING. 6. THE MANAGER AND THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR EACH TEAM CERTIFYING FOR STATE TOURNAMENT SHALL SIGN A STATEMENT OF INTENT TO FULFILL THE TEAM’S OBLIGATION UNDER PARAGRAPH 3. IF AN AGE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES DURING A STATE TOURNAMENT OR BETWEEN LEVELS OF TOURNAMENT THAT A TEAM DOES NOT INTEND TO COMPLETE ITS OBLIGATION, THE TEAM SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM FURTHER PARTICIPATION IN AABC TOURNAMENT, THE MANAGER AND COACHES SHALL BE SUSPENDED AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 3, AND THE ASSOCIATION SHALL PAY A FINE IN THE SUM OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00). THE MANAGER, ANY AFFECTED COACH OR THE ASSOCIATION MAY FILE AN APPEAL AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 3. ALL GAMES PLAYED PRIOR TO THE REMOVAL SHALL STAND AND THE BRACKET WILL NOT BE REDRAWN. THE SUBSEQUENT GAMES SHALL BE CONSIDERED FORFEITS; WITH NO ADDITIONAL FORFEIT FEES IMPOSED. 7. THE MANAGER AND THE COACHES OF A TEAM WHICH HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED FROM TOURNAMENT COMPETITION DUE TO THE VIOLATION OF THE AABC OF FLORIDA RULES, REGULATIONS AND DIRECTORY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO FALSIFYING RECORD OF GAMES PLAYED OR TEAMS PLAYED, FALSIFYING BIRTH CERTIFICATES, OR PRESENTING OTHER FALSE OR FORGED DOCUMENTS SHALL BE SUSPENDED AND THE ASSOCIATION SHALL BE FINED AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 3 ABOVE WITH THE RIGHT OF APPEAL AS SET FORTH IN 3 ABOVE. 8. ANY TEAM THAT HAS QUALIFIED TO ADVANCE TO AN S.E. REGIONAL TOURNAMENT BY WINNING A FLORIDA STATE TOURNAMENT AND DOES NOT SHOW UP AND PARTICIPATE, THE TEAM SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE NEXT YEARS SEASON, THE MANAGER AND AFFECTED COACHES SHALL BE SUSPENDED AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 3, AND WILL PAY A FINE IN THE SUM OF FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS ($400.00).THE MANAGER AND AFFECTED COACH MAY FILE AN APPEAL AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 3. 9. IF A TEAM HAS PARTICIPATED IN A WORLD SERIES THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT TEAM WILL BE AWARDED A BERTH IN THE NEXT SEASON'S S.E. REGIONAL TOURNAMENT. HOWEVER, THEY MUST FIRST PLAY A PLAYOFF WITH THE WINNER OF THE STATE TOURNAMENT FROM THE AREA OF THE STATE IN WHICH THEY ARE REGISTERED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE SEEDING. IF A TEAM HAS PARTICIPATED IN A WORLD SERIES THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WON THAT WORLD SERIES THEY WILL BE AWARDED A BERTH IN THE S.E. REGIONAL TOURNAMENT WITHOUT THE NEED TO PLAY IN A PLAYOFF. THEY WILL BE AWARDED THE NUMBER # 1 SEED FROM FLORIDA. B. CERTIFICATION
1.A. NO TEAM SHALL HAVE MORE PLAYERS THAN PERMITTED BT THE AABC NATIONAL HANDBOOK. B. ALL PLAYERS SHALL BE CERTIFIED BEFORE THE FIRST GAME OF A TOURNAMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THAT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT. ANY PLAYER NOT SO CERTIFIED SHALL BE INELIGIBLE TO PLAY OR PARTICIPATE IN THIS LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT, BUT SHALL NOT OPERATE TO DISQUALIFY SAID PLAYER FROM BEING CERTIFIED FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT IF THE TEAM IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT.
2.LEAGUE PLAY: A. DURING LEAGUE PLAY, A PLAYER MAY NOT PLAY WITH MORE THAN ONE (1) AABC OF FLORIDA TEAM. NOTE -- ANY PLAYER PICKED UP FROM A TEAM NOT REGISTERED WITH AABC OF FLORIDA, FROM A TEAM NOT WITHIN ITS LEAGUE OR IS NOT ELIGIBLE AS DEFINED BY THE AABC DIRECTORY RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL BE AN ILLEGAL PLAYER AND SHALL RESULT IN THE TEAM FORFEITING ANY GAME OR GAMES IN WHICH THAT PLAYER PARTICIPATED. IN THE EVENT A STATE DIRECTOR SHOULD DISCOVER THE EXISTENCE OF AN ILLEGAL PLAYER ON THE ROSTER OF A TEAM, THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL IMMEDIATELY DECLARE THE PLAYER INELIGIBLE AND FORFEIT ANY GAME OR GAMES IN WHICH THAT PLAYER PARTICIPATED.THIS RULE SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE PARTICIPATION OF AN INELIGIBLE PITCHER WHICH SHALL BE HANDLED UNDER SECTION VI. B. DURING LEAGUE PLAY, A TEAM MAY PLAY IN MORE THAN ONE (1) AABC OF FLORIDA REGISTERED LEAGUE IF THE TEAM DECLARES TO THE AGE DIVISION COMMISSIONER, IN WRITING, THE LEAGUE FROM WHICH IT MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN STATE TOURNAMENT THIRTY (30) DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE STATE TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR PLAYING. C. THE FAILURE OF A PLAYER TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION A ABOVE SHALL DISQUALIFY THE PLAYER FROM ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE IN ANY AABC OF FLORIDA TOURNAMENT, AND THE FAILURE OF A TEAM TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION B ABOVE SHALL DISQUALIFY THE TEAM FROM ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE IN ANY AABC OF FLORIDA TOURNAMENT. EACH ADDITIONAL PLAYER ADDED TO A TEAMS ROSTER FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY SHOULD BE A PLAYER WHO WAS ON A TEAM ROSTER IN THE SAME AGE GROUP AND HAS MET ALL AABC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. 2.IN ADDITION TO RULE 2 ABOVE: NO PLAYER MAY PLAY IN A HIGHER AGE DIVISION WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF HIS LEAGUE OR ASSOCIATION. ONCE A PLAYER HAS PARTICIPATED IN AN AABC OF FLORIDALEAGUE GAME IN A HIGHER AGE DIVISION, HE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LOWER AGE DIVISION. 3. EACH MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL PROVIDE TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR THE FOLLOWING: A. FOUR (4) COPIES OF THE TEAM'S ROSTER ON THE FORM APPROVED BY AABC OF FLORIDA WITH PICK-UP PLAYERS DESIGNATED ON THE FORM BY AN "X." TWO (2) COPIES OF THE ROSTER ARE FOR THE CERTIFICATION PACKAGE, ONE (1) COPY FOR THE SCOREKEEPER/ANNOUNCER, AND ONE (1) COPY FOR THE STATE DIRECTOR. B. FOR EACH PLAYER A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, OR LEGIBLE COPY OF SAME, OR A BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS OF THE CITY, COUNTY, OR STATE IN WHICH BORN; OR IN THE CASE OF FOREIGN BORN, A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE CERTIFICATION UPON FIRST ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY OR CERTIFICATION OF SAME BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOTE -- ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CERTIFICATION OF A CHILD THAT IS ADOPTED, ORPHANED, DOES NOT SHOW A LAST NAME OR ANY OTHER FACTOR OR REASON THAT MIGHT CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT TO A CHILD OR FAMILY SHALL BE HANDLED IN A VERY DISCREET MANNER. ANY CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE STATE DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY, AND THE DECISION OF THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL BE FINAL, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS FOR AN APPEAL AS SET FORTH IN THESE RULES. C. A SCORE BOOK OR SCORE BOOKS WHICH WILL SHOW THE FOLLOWING: 1. THAT EACH TEAM HAS PLAYED A MINIMUM OF SIX (6) LEAGUE (AS DEFINED BY THE AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK) GAMES WITH TEAMS LISTED ON THE AABC LEAGUE AND TEAM REGISTRATION FORM FILED WITH AABC OF FLORIDA. 2. THAT EACH PLAYER, INCLUDING EACH PICK-UP PLAYER, HAS PLAYED IN A MINIMUM OF THREE (3) LEAGUE GAMES WITHIN THE LEAGUE LISTED ON THE AABC LEAGUE AND TEAM REGISTRATION FORM FILED WITH AABC OF FLORIDA AND IS AN ELIGIBLE PLAYER AS DEFINED BY THE AABC DIRECTORY, RULES AND REGULATIONS. NOTE -- ANY PLAYER PICKED UP FROM A TEAM NOT REGISTERED WITH AABC OF FLORIDA, FROM A TEAM NOT WITHIN ITS LEAGUE OR IS NOT ELIGIBLE AS DEFINED BY THE AABC DIRECTORY RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL BE AN ILLEGAL PLAYER AND SHALL RESULT IN THE TEAM FORFEITING ANY GAME OR GAMES IN WHICH THAT PLAYER PARTICIPATED. IN THE EVENT A STATE DIRECTOR SHOULD DISCOVER THE EXISTENCE OF AN ILLEGAL PLAYER ON THE ROSTER OF A TEAM, THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL IMMEDIATELY DECLARE THE PLAYER INELIGIBLE AND FORFEIT ANY GAME OR GAMES IN WHICH THAT PLAYER PARTICIPATED.THIS RULE SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE PARTICIPATION OF AN INELIGIBLE PITCHER WHICH SHALL BE HANDLED UNDER SECTION VI. 3. EACH SCORE BOOK SHALL CONTAIN ALL AABC OF FLORIDA GAMES PLAYED AND THAT THE PICK-UP PLAYERS ARE FROM OTHER TEAMS WITHIN THE LEAGUE. 4. IF A TEAM USES A LOOSE LEAF SCORE BOOK, THE TEAM SHALL ALSO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE LEAGUE SCHEDULE AND THE PAGES SHOWING THE SCORING OF THE OPPOSING TEAM IN EACH GAME, AND THE SCORE BOOK SHALL BE CERTIFIED BY THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT AS THE OFFICIAL SCORE BOOK FOR THAT TEAM AND AN ACCURATE RECORD OF LEAGUE GAMES PLAYED BY THE TEAM. D. TWO COPIES OF A TEAM MEDICAL RELEASE ON THE FORM APPROVED BY AABC OF FLORIDA. E. AFFIRMATION OF INSURANCE COVERAGE SIGNED BY THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT ON THE FORM APPROVED BY AABC OF FLORIDA. F. A FIGHT LETTER SIGNED BY THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT ON THE FORM APPROVED BY AABC OF FLORIDA. 4. THE ORIGINAL OF EACH DOCUMENT A THROUGH G ABOVE ARE TO BE PLACED WITHIN AN ENVELOPE, SEALED WITH TAPE ACROSS THE OPENING, AND SIGNED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND THE TEAM MANAGER OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE ACROSS THE TAPE. A COPY OF THE ROSTER AND THE MEDICAL RELEASE ARE TO BE AFFIXED TO THE FRONT OF THE ENVELOPE. THE CERTIFICATION ENVELOPE SHALL NOT BE OPENED FOR ANY REASON EXCEPT BY THE AGE COMMISSIONER UNLESS A SECOND MEDICAL EMERGENCY REQUIRING THE USE OF THE TEAM MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION SHOULD OCCUR. IN THE EVENT OF A SECOND MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY OPEN THE CERTIFICATION PACKAGE AND SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE AGE COMMISSIONER OF THE FACTS REQUIRING THE OPENING OF THE ENVELOPE. THE CONTENTS OF THE ENVELOPE SHALL THEN BE VERIFIED BY THE AGE COMMISSIONER AND RESEALED BY THE AGE COMMISSIONER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND THE TEAM MANAGER WHO SHALL EACH SIGN THE RESEALED PACKAGE. 5. THE SCOREKEEPER'S/ANNOUNCER'S COPY OF THE TEAM ROSTER IS TO REMAIN WITH THE SCORE BOOK. 6. WHEN THE TEAMS ADVANCING TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT PLAY ARE ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL PICK UP PLAYER OR PLAYERS, AND THE EXACT NUMBER OF ADVANCING TEAMS CANNOT BE DETERMINED WITH CERTAINTY, THE MANAGERS OF ALL POSSIBLE TEAMS SHALL MEET WITH THE AGE GROUP COMMISSIONER TO SELECT THE ADDITIONAL PICK UP PLAYER OR PLAYERS FOR THE TEAMS. THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL MAKE A LIST OF THE SELECTED PLAYER OR PLAYERS SELECTED BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF TEAMS ADVANCING WITH CERTAINTY. THEN THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL MAKE A SEPARATE ADDITIONAL LIST OR LISTS OF THE SELECTED PLAYER OR PLAYERS BASED UPON THE CONTINGENCY OF ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL TEAMS ADVANCING WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CONTINGENT MANAGERS. ALL SELECTIONS SHALL CONFORM TO THE AABC RULES FOR THE SELECTION OF ADDITIONAL PLAYERS FOR TOURNAMENT. NO SELECTED PLAYER MAY PARTICIPATE IN ANY FORM OF TEAM ACTIVITY UNTIL THE EXACT NUMBER OF ADVANCING TEAMS IS DETERMINED.
C. GENERAL RULES
1.A. ALL PLAYERS MAY WEAR THEIR REGULAR SEASON UNIFORMS. B. NO PLAYER, MANAGER, OR COACH MAY DISPLAY UPON HIS UNIFORM ANY PATCH OR PRINTING WHICH SHALL DESIGNATE AN AFFILIATION WITH ANY FORM OF YOUTH BASEBALL OTHER THAN AABC, AABC OF FLORIDA, OR HIS HOME ASSOCIATION. THE HOME ASSOCIATION DESIGNATION SHALL NOT DESIGNATE AN AFFILIATION WITH ANOTHER FORM OF YOUTH BASEBALL. 2. ALL PLAYERS ON A TEAM'S ROSTER ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PLAY IN EACH GAME. 3. EACH MANAGER OR DESIGNATED COACH SHALL GIVE THE OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER ONE (1) COPY OF THE TEAM'S LINE-UP NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF EACH GAME LISTING IN BATTING ORDER THE FIRST AND LAST NAME OF EACH PLAYER, UNIFORM NUMBER, AND STARTING POSITION OF EACH STARTER; THE FIRST AND LAST NAME AND UNIFORM NUMBER OF EACH SUBSTITUTE; AND THE FIRST AND LAST NAME OF THE MANAGER AND EACH COACH. AT THE HOME PLATE MEETING BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF EACH GAME EACH MANAGER OR DESIGNATED COACH SHALL GIVE THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE TWO (2) COPIES OF THE TEAM'S LINE-UP. ONE (1) COPY OF THE LINE-UP IS FOR THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE AND ONE (1) COPY OF THE LINE-UP IS FOR THE OPPOSING MANAGER. THE FAILURE OF A MANGER OR DESIGNATED COACH TO INCLUDE THE FIRST AND LAST NAME AND UNIFORM NUMBER OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL NOT RENDER THE SUBSTITUTE INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GAME AND THE INCLUSION OF THE INFORMATION ON THE SUBSTITUTES IS INTENDED AS A CONVENIENCE FOR AND COURTESY TO THE OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER AND ANNOUNCER. 4. A TEAM MAY HAVE A MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) ADULTS/COACHES IN THE DUGOUT AT ANY TIME. IF MORE THAN FIVE (5) ADULTS/COACHES ARE IN A DUGOUT, THE UMPIRE SHALL WARN THE OFFENDING MANAGER WHO SHALL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME IF THE NUMBER OF ADULTS/COACHES IS NOT IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO FIVE (5) IN NUMBER. NO CHILDREN SHALL BE ALLOWED IN THE DUGOUT EXCEPT A TEAM MAY HAVE A BATBOY WHO SHALL ALWAYS WEAR A BATTING HELMET. IF THE BATBOY IS NOT WEARING A BATTING HELMET, HE SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE DUGOUT BY AN UMPIRE AND NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE GAME. 5. A. ALL PLAYERS SHALL REMAIN IN THE DUGOUT DURING THE GAME IF NOT ACTIVELY PLAYING DEFENSE OR OFFENSE IN THE GAME OR OTHER GOOD CAUSE. THE UMPIRES SHALL ENFORCE THIS RULE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PLAYERS. ANY PLAYER WHO VIOLATES THIS RULE SHALL RECEIVE A WARNING FROM THE UMPIRE WHICH SHALL CONSTITUTE TO THE TEAM. UPON A SECOND VIOLATION BY ANY PLAYER ON THE TEAM, THAT PLAYER SHALL RECEIVE A SECOND WARNING OR BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME, WHICHEVER, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE IS THE APPROPRIATE PENALTY; HOWEVER, A SECOND WARNING SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED BEFORE A PLAYER MAYBE EJECTED FROM THE GAME. B. NO PERSON SHALL “SWING” A BAT IN ANY DUGOUT. THE UMPIRES SHALL DETERMINE WHAT CONSTITUTES A “SWING.” THE PENALTY FOR SWINGING A BAT SHALL BE IMMEDIATE EJECTION OF THE OFFENDER FROM THE GAME. NO WARNING SHALL BE GIVEN BY AN UMPIRE. UPON A SECOND VIOLATION OF THIS RULE IN A GAME, NOT ONLY SHALL THE OFFENDER BE EJECTED, BUT ALSO THE MANAGER OF THE TEAM SHALL BE EJECTED. C. THE “ON DECK” BATTER SHALL BE BEHIND THE BATTER AT THE PLATE AT ALL TIMES. THE UMPIRES SHALL MOVE THE “ON DECK” BATTER TO THE APPROPRIATE POSITION; HOWEVER, IF THE UMPIRES IN THEIR DISCRETION DETERMINE THAT A TEAM IS USING THIS RULE TO DELAY OR OTHERWISE IMPEDE THE PROGRESS OF THE GAME, THE OFFENDING PLAYER AND THE TEAM MANAGER ARE SUBJECT TO EJECTION IN THE DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE. 6.A. THE HOME TEAM FOR EACH TOURNAMENT GAME WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE FLIP OF A COIN BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IN THE PRESENCE OF BOTH MANAGERS OR DESIGNATED TEAM REPRESENTATIVE UNLESS DETERMINED AT A PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED TIME CONSENTED TO BY BOTH MANAGERS OR DESIGNATED TEAM REPRESENTATIVE. THE TEAM WHICH WINS THE COIN TOSS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SELECT HOME TEAM OR VISITING TEAM. B. IN APPRECIATION TO THE HOST ASSOCIATION FOR CONDUCTING THE TOURNAMENT, THE HOST TEAM WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION OF ELECTING TO BE HOME TEAM OR THE VISITING TEAM AND CHOICE OF GAME NUMBER IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT WHICH SELECTION SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER "A" ABOVE. THIS CONSIDERATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE HOST TEAM ONLY IN THE TEAMS FIRST GAME, AND IF NOT UTILIZED IS FORFEITED. C. ALL GAMES WILL START AT THE TIME SCHEDULED SUBJECT ONLY TO CONCLUDING PRIOR GAMES IN PROGRESS. IN THE EVENT A TEAM SHOULD NOT HAVE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN UNIFORM AND ON THE FIELD AT THE TIME SCHEDULED FOR THE START OF THE GAME, THE TEAM WILL BE GRANTED A FIFTEEN (15) MINUTE GRACE PERIOD AT THE END OF WHICH THE GAME WILL BE A FORFEIT IF THE TEAM CANNOT PLACE UPON THE FIELD THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN UNIFORM. D. FOR ANY GAME OTHER THAN THE FIRST GAME OF THE DAY, THE GRACE PERIOD SHALL BEGIN AT THE TIME SCHEDULED FOR THE START OF THE GAME ACCORDING TO THE BRACKET CHART AND SHALL EXPIRE FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES LATER WITHOUT REGARD TO THE ACTUAL STARTING TIME OF THE GAME. E. AFTER THE THIRD (3RD) ROUND OF PLAY AND IN EACH ROUND THEREAFTER WHEN A TEAM MAY HAVE A CHOICE OF GAME TIME, THE UNDEFEATED TEAM SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELECT A GAME TIME. WHEN TWO (2) OR MORE UNDEFEATED TEAMS REMAIN IN THE TOURNAMENT, THE RIGHT OF SELECTION SHALL BE DRAWN UNLESS THE MANAGERS OF THE TEAMS AGREE ON GAME TIMES. 7. ALL TOURNAMENT GAMES WILL BE PLAYED TO COMPLETION EXCEPT:
A. MERCY RULE: 1. IN 7/8 ONLY: A.IN STATE TOURNAMENT: IN THE EVENT A TEAM IS EIGHT (8) OR MORE RUNS BEHIND THE OPPOSING TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS TURN AT BAT OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF A COMPLETE INNING, THE GAME WILL BE DETERMINED COMPLETE AND FINAL AFTER THE LOSING TEAM HAS HAD FOUR (4) OR MORE COMPLETE TURNS AT BAT. 2. IN 9/10 ONLY: A.IN STATE TOURNAMENT: IN THE EVENT A TEAM IS EIGHT (8) OR MORE RUNS BEHIND THE OPPOSING TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF its TURN AT BAT OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF A COMPLETE INNING, THE GAME WILL BE DETERMINED COMPLETE AND FINAL AFTER THE LOSING TEAM HAS HAD FOUR (4) OR MORE COMPLETE TURNS AT BAT. 3. 3. IN 11/12 ONLY: A.IN STATE TOURNAMENT: IN THE EVENT A TEAM IS EIGHT (8) OR MORE RUNS BEHIND THE OPPOSING TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS TURN AT BAT OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF A COMPLETE INNING, THE GAME WILL BE DETERMINED COMPLETE AND FINAL AFTER THE LOSING TEAM HAD FIVE (5) OR MORE COMPLETE TURNS AT BAT. 4. IN 13/14 ONLY: A.IN STATE TOURNAMENT: IN THE EVENT A TEAM IS EIGHT (8) OR MORE RUNS BEHIND THE OPPOSING TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS TURN AT BAT OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF A COMPLETE INNING, THE GAME WILL BE DETERMINED COMPLETE AND FINAL AFTER THE LOSING TEAM HAD FIVE (5) OR MORE COMPLETE TURNS AT BAT. 5. IN 15/16 & 17/18 ONLY: A.IN STATE TOURNAMENT: IN THE EVENT A TEAM IS EIGHT (8) RUNS BEHIND AFTER FIVE (5) INNINGS, THE OPPOSING TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS TURN AT BAT OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF A COMPLETE INNING, THE GAME WILL BE DETERMINED COMPLETE AND FINAL AFTER THE LOSING TEAM HAS COMPLETED its TURN AT BAT. A GAME IN WHICH A CHAMPION COULD BE DECLARED WILL BE PLAYED TO IT’S THE CONCULSION. 6. IN 19 & OVER ONLY: A.IN STATE TOURNAMENT: IN THE EVENT A TEAM IS EIGHT (8) OR MORE RUNS BEHIND AT THE END OF FIVE (5) INNINGS IN A 7 INNNG GAME. EIGHT (8) RUNS BEHIND AFTER SEVEN (7) INNINGS IN A 9 INNING GAME. THE OPPOSING TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS TURN AT BAT OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF A COMPLETE INNING, THE GAME WILL BE DETERMINED COMPLETE AND FINAL AFTER THE LOSING TEAM HAS COMPLETED ITS TURN AT BAT. A GAME IN WHICH A CHMAPION COULD BE DECLARED SHALL BE A 9 INNING GAME AND PLAYED TO IT’S THE CONCULSION. 7. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTIONS A AND B ABOVE, ALL GAMES ARE PLAYED TO LEGAL COMPLETION SUBJECT TO RULE 4.12(A) OF THE OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES MODIFIED TO FOUR (4) INNINGS IN A SIX (6) INNING GAME (3˝ IF THE HOME TEAM IN WINNING) AND FIVE (5) INNINGS IN A SEVEN (7) INNING GAME (4˝ IF THE HOME TEAM IS WINNING). A GAME STOPPED BEFORE BEING LEGALLY COMPLETED SHALL BE SUSPENDED AND SHALL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED GAME SHALL START. 8.A. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIELD PLAYING CONDITIONS AND SHALL DETERMINE IF A GAME SHOULD BE STARTED. ONCE THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE HAS ANNOUNCED "PLAY BALL," THE PLAYING CONDITIONS ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UMPIRES CALLING THE GAME WITH NO CONSIDERATION GIVEN EXCEPT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GAME. IF CONDITIONS REQUIRE ADJUSTMENT OF THE DATES AND/OR TIMES OF ANY GAME OR GAMES, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL RESCHEDULE THE GAME, GAMES, OR PARTS THEREOF ONLY AFTER RECEIVING PRE-APPROVAL FROM THE STATE DIRECTOR.
B. INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
1. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. BEGIN OR CONTINUE PLAY WHILE WATCHING FOR SEVERE WEATHER. IF WEATHER BECOMES SEVERE OR IF WARNING IS ISSUED, STOP PLAY AND SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. RESUME PLAY ONLY AFTER SEVERE WEATHER HAS LEFT THE AREA, AFTER ANY WARNINGS ISSUED HAVE BEEN CANCELED AND IF FIELD CONDITIONS PERMIT. 2. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING. DO NOT BEGIN OR CONTINUE PLAY. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. RESUME PLAY ONLY AFTER SEVERE WEATHER HAS LEFT THE AREA, AFTER ANY WARNINGS ISSUED HAVE BEEN CANCELED AND IF FIELD CONIDTIONS PERMIT. 3. LIGHTNING. USE THE 30-30 RULE: WHERE VISIBILITY IS GOOD AND THERE IS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING YOU’RE VIEW OF THE THUNDERSTROM. WHEN YOU SEE LIGHTNING, COUNT THE SECONDS UNTIL YOU HEAR THUNDER. IF THAT TIME IS 30 SECONDS OR LESS, THE THUNDERSTROM IS WITHIN 6 MILES AND IS DANGEROUS. DO NOT BEGIN OR CONTINUE PLAY. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. THE THREAT OF LIGHTNING CONTINUES FOR MUCH LONGER THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE. WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINIUTES AFTER THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER BEFORE LEAVING SHLETER AND RESUMING PLAY. DON’T BE FOOLED BY SUNSHINE OR BLUE SKY! IF IT IS CLOUDY OR OBJECTS SUCH AS BUILDING OR MOUNTAINS ARE OBSCURING YOUR VISION, GET INSIDE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS ALWAYS SAFER TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS THAN TO WAIT. 4. ENFORCEMENT. PARK SECURITY AND /OR PARK STAFF WILL RELAY THE SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION AND THE PROPER PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW TO COACHES, PLAYERS, UMPIRES AND SPECTATORS THROUGH THE USE OF A BATTERY POWERED MEGAPHONE OR OTHER SUCH DEVISES. 5. IN THE EVENT ONE FIELD STOPS PLAY DUE TO THE ABOVE ALL FIELDS AT THAT SITE WILL STOP PLAY. 6. IN THE EVENT A TOURNAMENT CANNOT BE COMPLETED BEFORE TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO BE AT THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT PLAY THE ORDER OF FINISH WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE AABC TIE BREAKER RULE. IN THE EVENT ONE FIELD STOPS PLAY DUE TO THE ABOVE ALL FIELDS AT THAT SITE WILL STOP PLAY. 7. A. TOURNAMENT BYE RULES AND PAIRING RULES SHALL BE DETERMINED ACCORDING TO AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. B. IF TWO (2) TEAMS ARE ELIMINATED IN THE SAME ROUND AND ONLY ONE (1) TEAM WILL ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT, THE TEAMS WILL PLAY A CONSOLIDATION GAME TO DETERMINE THE ADVANCING TEAM ONLY IF THE TWO TEAMS HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY PLAYED IN THIS TOURNAMENT. IF THE TWO TEAMS HAVE PREVIOUSLY PLAYED, THE WINNER OF THE PREVIOUS GAME WILL ADVANCE. IF A CONSOLIDATION GAME IS NECESSARY, THE AGE GROUP STATE DIRECTOR WILL SET THE DATE AND TIME FOR THE CONSOLIDATION GAME. IF BOTH OF THE ELIMINATED TEAMS ARE TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT, THIS GAME NUMBER OF THE ELIMINATION OF THE TEAMS WILL DETERMINE THE PLACING OF THE TEAMS IN THE NEXT LEVEL OF TOURNAMENT. 8. IN THE EVENT A PLAYER SUSTAINS AN ILLNESS OR INJURY IN A GAME WHICH ILLNESS OR INJURY IN THE OPINION OF THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE WOULD PREVENT THE PLAYER FROM FURTHER SAFE PARTICIPATION IN THE GAME, AND THE PLAYER'S TEAM HAS NO SUBSTITUTE AVAILABLE, THE OPPOSING MANAGER WILL SELECT A ROSTER PLAYER FROM THE BENCH TO RE-ENTER THE GAME FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING A FORFEIT. THIS RULE WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE EJECTION OFA PLAYER. AT ANY TIME, IF UPON THE EJECTION OF A PLAYER, THE TEAM DOES NOT HAVE AN ELIGIBLE SUBSTITUTE PLAYER, THE TEAM SHALL FORFEIT THE GAME. 9. THE CATCHER SHALL WEAR A DOUBLE EAR FLAP HELMET, A FULL FACE MASK WITH A THROAT PROTECTOR AN CHEST PROTECTOR, SHIN GUARDS AND A CUP (MALE) OR A THICK FEMININE PAD (FEMALE) OF A SIZE & CONFIGURATION SUITABLE FOR THE AGE & SIZE OF THE PLAYER. EXCEPTION: STAN MUSIAL (19-OVER) MAY WEAR SKULL CAP. 10. ALL EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THE CATCHERS EQUIPMENT IN RULE 11 ABOVE SHALL BE IN GOOD REPAIR, SIZED TO FIT THE PLAYER, AND SUITABLE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PLAYER. THE UMPIRE SHALL HAVE THE SOLE DISCRETION TO REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF ANY PIECE OR ARTICLE OF EQUIPMENT WHICH, IN HIS OPINION, DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THIS RULE AND THE INTENT THEREOF. IN ALL CASES, THE UMPIRE'S SOLE CONSIDERATION SHALL BE THE PROTECTION OF AND SAFETY OF THE PLAYER. 11. WHEN AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER IS OUT OF THE DUGOUT AND WITHIN THE FENCES OF THE FIELD OF PLAY DURING A GAME, EACH PLAYER SHALL WEAR A PROPERLY FITTING, DOUBLE-FLAP BATTING HELMET AT ALL TIMES. A. IF, IN THE JUDGMENT OF AN UMPIRE, A PLAYER INTENTIONALLY REMOVES OR CAUSES THE REMOVAL OF HIS HELMET AND, THEREFORE, IS NOT WEARING A HELMET AT A TIME WHEN THE DEFENSIVE TEAM IS MAKING A PLAY UPON HIM, THE UMPIRE SHALL CALL SUCH PLAYER OUT. B. IF, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE, THE HELMET FALLS OFF THE HEAD OF THE PLAYER BECAUSE IT DOES NOT PROPERLY FIT THE PLAYER OR THE PLAYER REMOVES OR CAUSES THE REMOVAL OF HIS HELMET AT A TIME WHEN THE DEFENSIVE TEAM IS NOT MAKING A PLAY UPON HIM, THE UMPIRE SHALL ISSUE A WARNING TO THE TEAM MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER. UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF A SECOND INCIDENT OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR NATURE IN THE SAME GAME, THE UMPIRE SHALL EJECT THE MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER. C. THE UMPIRES HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO USE THEIR DISCRETION IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS RULE IN THE T-BALL AGE BRACKET AND TO ISSUE MULTIPLE WARNINGS TO THE MANAGER IF THEY REASONABLY BELIEVE THE MANAGER IS ATTEMPTING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH THE PLAYERS. NOTE --THE UMPIRES HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO STRICTLY ENFORCE THIS RULE. 12. THE OFFICIAL BASEBALL AS SET FORTH IN THE AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK SHALL BE USED IN ALL LEVELS OF TOURNAMENT PLAY.
C. PITCHING
1. A. THE ELIGIBILITY OF EACH PITCHER IS DETERMINED ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND LIMITATIONS CONTAINED IN THE AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. REMEMBER, ANY DAY ON WHICH ANY SCHEDULED GAME OR GAMES ARE NOT PLAYED BECAUSE OF RAIN OR OTHER FACTORS ARE CONSIDERED A DAY OF REST. B. THE PITCHING LIMITATIONS AND DAY OF REST RULES CONTAINED WITHIN THE AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK SHALL BE CARRIED FORWARD FROM ONE TOURNAMENT TO THE NEXT TOURNAMENT FOR EACH PITCHER. EACH TEAM ADVANCING TO THE NEXT TOURNAMENT SHALL, AS A PART OF THE TEAM'S CERTIFICATION PACKAGE, HAVE THE ORIGINAL OR A LEGIBLE COPY OF THE PITCHING CHART FROM THE PRECEDING TOURNAMENT. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL REVIEW THE PITCHING CHART WITH THE MANAGER TO DETERMINE IF THERE MAY BE ANY POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE PITCHING LIMITATIONS, BUT THE ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PITCHING LIMITATIONS SHALL BE UPON THE MANAGER AND COACHES OF THE TEAM. 2. ANY PITCHER WHO IS REMOVED FROM THE POSITION OF PITCHER UPON THE FIRST CHARGED VISIT TO THE MOUND IN AN INNING BY THE MANAGER OR A COACH MAY RETURN TO THE MOUND ONLY ONCE THEREAFTER. 3. UPON THE SECOND CHARGED VISIT TO THE PITCHER IN AN INNING BY THE MANAGER OR A COACH, THE PITCHER SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE PITCHING POSITION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO REMAIN IN THE GAME AT ANOTHER POSITION, BUT SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO THE POSITION OF PITCHER IN THE GAME IN PROGRESS. 4. IF A GAME STARTS BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND CONCLUDES AFTER MIDNIGHT, THE INNINGS PITCHED BY A PITCHER SHALL COUNT ONLY ON THE DAY THE GAME BEGAN AND NOT BOTH DAYS. 5. THE OFFICIAL SCORE BOOK IS THE ONLY LEGAL RECORD OFPITCHING. THE PITCHING CHART IS PROVIDED AS A MEANS FOR THE MANAGER AND COACHES TO MONITOR A PITCHER'S CHARGED INNINGS AND PORTIONS THEREOF, BUT IN THE EVENT OF A PROTEST OR CHALLENGE TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF A PITCHER, THE OFFICIAL SCORE BOOK SHALL BE THE LEGAL RECORD. EACH MANAGER SHALL SIGN OR INITIAL THE PITCHING CHARTS FOR BOTH TEAMS PITCHERS AT THE CONCLUSION OF EACH GAME TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THE CHART. 6. IF THE SCOREKEEPER RECOGNIZES THAT AN INELIGIBLE PITCHER IS ABOUT TO PITCH TO A BATTER EVEN IF THE RECOGNITION IS MADE DURING THE PITCHERS WARM-UP PITCHES, BUT BEFORE DELIVERING THE FIRST PITCH TO A BATTER, THE SCOREKEEPER WILL NOTIFY THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE WHO WILL ADVISE THE MANAGERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INELIGIBLE PITCHER. THE PITCHER MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE POSITION AS PITCHER WITHOUT PENALTY AND WITHOUT BEING REQUIRED TO PITCH TO ONE BATTER AS CONTAINED IN THE OFFICIAL RULES OF BASEBALL. 7. THE MANAGER HAS THE ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP UP WITH HIS PITCHER'S INNINGS OF ELIGIBILITY. REMEMBER, A SINGLE PITCH BY AN INELIGIBLE PITCHER WILL RESULT IN THE FORFEITURE OF THE GAME - NO EXCUSES!!!
D. STATE TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES 7-8 9-10 11-12 AGE DIVISIONS ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AABC OF FLORIDA AND/OR AABC NATIONAL RULES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MODIFCATIONS PROVIDED BELOW:
1. ENTRY FEE: $250.00 PER TEAM TO PLAY/NO GATE. MAXIMUM 16 TEAMS. 2. PITCHING REGULATION WILL FOLLOW THE AABC OF FLORIDA RULES AND/OR THE AABC NATIONAL HANDBOOK. 3. (7-8 ONLY) NO PLAYER MAY PITCH NO MORE THAT 3 INNINGS IN ONE DAY. A PLAYER MAY PITCH ON TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS AFTER WHICH THE PLAYER MUST REST THE THIRD DAY. ALL GAMES WILL BE 6 INNINGS IN LENGTH. 4. (9-10 AND 11-12 ONLY) NO PLAYER MAY PITCH NO MORE THAT 6 INNINGS IN ONE DAY OR 6 INNINGS IN TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS AFTER WHICH THE PLAYER MUST REST THE THIRD DAY. ALL GAMES WILL BE 6 INNINGS IN LENGTH. 5. LIMITED TO 5 RUNS PER INNING. (EXCEPTION) IF A BATTER HITS A HOMERUN OVER THE FENCE ALL RUNS COUNT. 6. TIME LIMIT: 7-8 NO INNING STARTS AFTER 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES. 9-10 NO INNING STARTS AFTER 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES. 11-12 NO INNING STARTS AFTER 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES. 7. MERCY RULE: 8 RUNS AFTER THREE AND ONE HALF (3˝) IF HOME TEAM IS WINNING OR FOUR (4) INNINGS IF VISITING TEAM IS WINNING. 8. ROSTERS MUST BE TURNED IN NO LATER THAN YOUR FIRST GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OR STATE DIRECTOR OF THAT AGE GROUP. 9. COIN TOSS FOR HOME TEAM (EVERY GAME). 10. IF GAME IS TIED AFTER 6 INNINGS OR TIME LIMIT WE WILL GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER FORMAT. THE LAST BATTER OF THE PREVIOUS INNING, WHOSE TURN AT BAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED STARTS AT SECOND BASE. THIS WILL LAST FOR TWO INNINGS; IF SCORE IS STILL TIED THE GAME IS OVER. 11. TIE BREAKER: PER THE AABC NATIONAL TIE BREAKER RULE 13-14, 15-16,17-18,19 thru unlimited AGE DIVISIONS 1. ENTRY FEE: $350.00 PER TEAM TO PLAY/NO GATE. MAXIMUM 16 TEAMS. 2. PITCHING REGULATION WILL FOLLOW THE AABC OF FLORIDA RULES AND/OR THE AABC NATIONAL HANDBOOK.
3. TIME LIMIT: 15-16 NO INNING STARTS AFTER 2 HOUR 17-18 NO TIME LIMIT 19u NO TIME LIMIT 4. MERCY RULE: 8 RUNS AFTER FOUR AND ONE HALF (4˝) IF HOME TEAM IS WINNING OR FIVE (5) INNINGS IF VISITING TEAM IS WINNING. 5. ROSTERS MUST BE TURNED IN NO LATER THAN YOUR FIRST GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OR STATE DIRECTOR OF THAT AGE GROUP. 6. COIN TOSS FOR HOME TEAM (EVERY GAME). 7. IF GAME IS TIED AFTER 7 INNINGS OR TIME LIMIT WE WILL GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER FORMAT. THE LAST BATTER OF THE PREVIOUS INNING, WHOSE TURN AT BAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED STARTS AT SECOND BASE. THIS WILL LAST FOR TWO INNINGS; IF SCORE IS STILL TIED THE GAME IS OVER. 11. TIE BREAKER: PER THE AABC NATIONAL TIE BREAKER RULE 12. BUTCHER BOY / SLASHING SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED IN THE 7/8U, 9U, 9/10U, 11U, OR 11/12U DIVISIONS. IX. PROTESTS AND APPEALS
NOTE: PROTESTS AND APPEALS TAKE ONE OF THREE FORMS AS SET FORTH HEREIN. PROTESTS INVOLVING PLAYER ELIGIBILITY OR LEGALITY SHALL BE HANDLED AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH “A”. PROTESTS ARISING FROM A DECISION MADE BY AN UMPIRE OR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR DURING A GAME IN PLAY SHALL BE HANDLED BY THE RULES SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH “B.” ALL OTHER APPEALS AND PROTESTS SHALL BE HANDLED BY THE RULES SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH “C.”
A. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY: 1. A PROTEST OF PLAYER ELIGIBILITY OR THE PARTICIPATION OF AN ILLEGAL PLAYER SHALL BE MADE IN WRITING DIRECTLY TO THE STATE DIRECTOR WITH THE PROTEST FEE OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) WITH THE RIGHT OF APPEAL TO THE AGE COMMISSIONER UPON PAYMENT OF THE APPEAL FEE AS SET FORTH HEREIN. B. GAME IN PLAY: 1. THE MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER SHALL BE THE ONLY PERSON ELIGIBLE TO FILE A PROTEST. 2. THE PROTEST SHALL BE MADE VERBALLY TO THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE WHICH IS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PROTEST AND BEFORE THE PITCHER MAKES HIS NEXT PITCH OR MAKES A PLAY UPON A BASE RUNNER AFTER TOEING THE PITCHING PLATE. THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD INVOLVE PROTESTS OF PLAYER ELIGIBILITY OR VIOLATION OF PITCHING LIMITATIONS WHICH SHALL BE MADE TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR BEFORE THE FIRST GAME IN THE NEXT ROUND STARTS. 3. UPON RECEIVING NOTICE OF THE FILING OF A PROTEST, THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE SHALL SUMMON THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR TO THE HOME PLATE WHO SHALL IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE FROM THE PROTESTING MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER THE CASH PROTEST FEE OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00). IF THE PROTEST FEE IS NOT RECEIVED IN CASH WITHIN FIVE (5) MINUTES OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AT THE HOME PLATE, THE PROTEST SHALL BE DEEMED WAIVED AND THE GAME RESUMED. 4. UPON RECEIPT OF THE PROTEST FEE IN CASH, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WILL CONVENE THE PROTEST COMMITTEE AT A LOCATION REMOVED FROM THE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND FANS TO CONDUCT A HEARING ON THE PROTEST. THE GAME WILL BE IN DELAY PENDING THE RESOLUTION OF THE PROTEST. ONE MEMBER OF THE PROTEST COMMITTEE SHALL SERVE AS CHAIRMAN AND CONDUCT THE HEARING ON THE PROTEST. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL INFORM THE PROTEST COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE FILED PROTEST. THE MANAGERS OR ACTING MANAGERS OF BOTH TEAMS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO BE PRESENT DURING THE ENTIRE HEARING ON THE PROTEST EXCEPT THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE PROTEST COMMITTEE WHICH SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN PRIVATE WITH ONLY THE MEMBERS OF THE PROTEST COMMITTEE BEING PRESENT. THE PROTESTING MANAGER SHALL CLEARLY AND CONCISELY STATE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROTEST. THE OPPOSING MANAGER SHALL CLEARLY AND CONCISELY STATE HIS POSITION REGARDING THE PROTEST. THE PROTEST COMMITTEE, UPON THEIR INITIATIVE OR UPON THE REQUEST OF EITHER MANAGER OR BOTH, SHALL SUMMON AND QUESTION THE UMPIRES, OR ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE UMPIRES; THE OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER WITH THE OFFICIAL SCORE BOOK; AND ANY OTHER PERSONS IF SUCH PERSONS HAVE OR MAY HAVE RELEVANT INFORMATION ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROTEST. THE PROTEST COMMITTEE SHALL RENDER A DECISION, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PROTEST COMMITTEE SHALL ANNOUNCE THE DECISION TO THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE AND THE MANAGERS OF BOTH TEAMS. 5. IN THE EVENT THE PROTEST COMMITTEE RENDERS A DECISION IN FAVOR OF THE PROTESTING MANAGER, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL RETURN THE PROTEST FEE TO THE MANAGER. 6. EITHER MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER WHO IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE DECISION RENDERED BY THE PROTEST COMMITTEE MAY THEN IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCE TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AN APPEAL OF THE DECISION TO THE AGE COMMISSIONER. SUCH APPEAL SHALL BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE RESUMPTION OF THE GAME. THE APPEALING MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER SHALL PAY TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AN APPEAL FEE OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) SANDY KOUFAX AND BELOW, ($300.00) MICKEY MANTLE AND ABOVE IN CASH WITHIN FIVE (5) MINUTES OF ANNOUNCING THE APPEAL OR THE APPEAL IS WAIVED. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE STATE DIRECTOR OR AGE COMMISSIONER OF THE FILING OF THE APPEAL. IN THE EVENT THE STATE DIRECTOR OR AGE COMMISSIONER, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, DETERMINES THAT THE APPEAL CANNOT BE DECIDED EXPEDITIOUSLY OR THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR CANNOT REACH THE STATE DIRECTOR OR AGE COMMISSIONER WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES, THE GAME SHALL RESUME AS THOUGH NO APPEAL WERE FILED, BUT NEITHER TEAM INVOLVED IN THE GAME CAN BEGIN A GAME IN THE NEXT ROUND UNTIL THE APPEAL IS RESOLVED. UPON THE ARRIVAL OF THE STATE DIRECTOR OR AGE COMMISSIONER AT THE PARK, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL DELIVER THE APPEAL FEE TO THE STATE DIRECTOR OR AGE COMMISSIONER IN CASH AND SHALL INFORM HIM OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROTEST, THE DECISION, AND THE APPEAL. IF THE GAME WHICH IS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PROTEST IS IN PROGRESS UPON THE ARRIVAL OF THE STATE DIRECTOR AT THE FIELD, THE STATE DIRECTOR MAY, IN HIS DISCRETION, SUSPEND THE GAME AT THAT TIME AND HEAR THE APPEAL IMMEDIATELY. THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL CONDUCT A HEARING ON THE APPEAL IN THE SAME MANNER AS PROVIDED FOR THE HEARING ON A PROTEST BEFORE THE PROTEST COMMITTEE WITH THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PROTEST COMMITTEE ALSO ENTITLED TO BE PRESENT. 7. IF THE STATE DIRECTOR RENDERS A DECISION FAVORABLE TO THE APPEALING MANAGER, THE APPEAL FEE SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE APPEALING MANAGER. 8. EITHER MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER WHO IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE DECISION RENDERED BY THE AGE COMMISSIONER MAY THEN IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCE AN APPEAL TO THE STATE DIRECTOR. THE TEAM MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER SHALL PAY TO THE AGE COMMISSIONER AN APPEAL FEE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00) SANDY KOUFAX AND BELOW, ($500.00) MICKEY MANTLE AND ABOVE IN CASH WITHIN FIVE (5) MINUTES OF ANNOUNCING THE APPEAL OR THE APPEAL IS WAIVED. IN THE EVENT THE AGE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE DIRECTOR OR HIS/HER ASSISTANT THAT THE APPEAL CANNOT BE EXPEDITIOUSLY DECIDED OR THE AGE COMMISSIONER CANNOT REACH THE STATE DIRECTOR WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES, THE GAME SHALL RESUME AS THOUGH NO APPEAL WERE FILED, BUT NEITHER TEAM INVOLVED IN THE GAME CAN BEGIN A GAME IN THE NEXT ROUND UNTIL THE APPEAL IS DECIDED. IF THE GAME WHICH IS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE APPEAL IS IN PROGRESS UPON THE ARRIVAL OF THE AGE COMMISSIONER AT THE FIELD, THE AGE COMMISSIONER MAY, IN HIS DISCRETION, SUSPEND THE GAME AND CONDUCT AN IMMEDIATE HEARING ON THE APPEAL. THE AGE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONDUCT A HEARING ON THE APPEAL IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR HEARING BEFORE THE STATE DIRECTOR WITH THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE PROTEST COMMITTEE AND STATE DIRECTOR ALSO ENTITLED TO BE PRESENT. 9. IF THE AGE COMMISSIONER RENDERS A DECISION FAVORABLE TO THE APPEALING MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER, THE APPEAL FEE SHALL BE RETURNED. 10. THERE IS NO APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF THE AGE COMMISSIONER WHICH DECISION IS FINAL! C. OTHER APPEALS AND PROTESTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FORFEIT FINES AND SUSPENSIONS: 1. THE MANAGER OR ACTING MANAGER SHALL BE THE ONLY PERSON ELIGIBLE TO FILE AN APPEAL OR PROTEST. 2. THE APPEAL OR PROTEST SHALL BE MADE VERBALLY TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OR TO THE AGE COMMISSIONER IF THE APPEAL INVOLVES THE INTERVENTION OF THE AGE COMMISSIONER IN LEAGUE ACTIVITIES WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE DECISION WHICH IS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE APPEAL OR PROTEST AND SHALL PAY IN CASH AN APPEAL FEE OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00). UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL A GAME IN PROGRESS BE DELAYED OR STOPPED FOR THE APPEAL OR PROTEST. 3. UPON RECEIPT, THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL NOTIFY THE AGE COMMISSIONER OR, IF DIRECTLY TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, THE STATE PRESIDENT WHO SHALL CONVENE AN APPEAL PANEL TO HEAR AND DECIDE THE APPEAL OR PROTEST. THE APPEAL PANEL SHALL CONSIST OF THE AGE COMMISSIONER, AND ONE OTHER AGE COMMISSIONER WHO IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE AGE GROUP WHICH IS INVOLVED IN THE APPEAL OR PROTEST. 4. THE HEARING ON THE APPEAL OR PROTEST SHALL BE CONDUCTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ACCORDING TO THE RULES SET FORTH FOR THE HEARING ON A PROTEST DURING A GAME IN PLAY. IN THE EVENT THE APPEAL IS SUSTAINED, THE APPEAL FEE SHALL BE RETURNED. 5. THERE IS NO APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF THE APPEAL PANEL WHICH DECISION IS FINAL! PLEASE REMEMBER THAT EACH GAME IS FOR THE PLAYERS. WE, ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AABC OF FLORIDA, HOPE THAT THE TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE IS REWARDING, EDUCATIONAL, AND FUN FOR EACH PLAYER, PARENT, MANAGER, COACH, AND FAN. GOOD LUCK!