Post by ADMIN on May 10, 2009 14:03:27 GMT -5
Here is a discussion of issues from the Board's preseason meetings:
1. Website:
The DBA has a new website. Its address is:
dbacentral.org
There is no change in the address of the DBA message board which continues to be:
dbacentral.proboards49.com/index.cgi
The message board is accessible from the DBA homepage under the link “STANDINGS”
2. Email:
The dbacentral@aol.com address is still operating; however, an effort will be made this season to migrate the DBA email function to a new address, which is part of the new site home. The new email address, which is now up and functioning, is:
mail@dbacentral.org
3. Rule Changes:
The following rule changes were adopted at the last rules meeting. The DBA rules will be updated to reflect these rules, but please draw your managers’ attention to them in order to avoid unintended violations:
a. 10U Fastpitch: "Look Back Rule.” A batter runner may not proceed to second on a walk. A batter runner receiving a walk shall proceed to first base and shall not, as part of a continuous play or otherwise, turn into fair territory. PENALTY: Out.
EXPLANATION: Last season we had a number of problems with this which caused much confusion. We have decided is that when a batter receives a walk she will not be able to make an immediate turn and attempt to go to second. She must stop at first. Some had interpreted this as stealing which isn't allowed at 10u, whereas others argued it was a progression of a play. At 10U we believe that this causes too much confusion.
b. 10U Fastpitch: Length of Game. A Regulation Game shall be 6 innings.
EXPLANATION: As you know our 10U games have been five innings. Depending upon the number of players per team, there have been circumstances where the requirement that all players are in the game for three defensive innings is difficult to meet in a five inning game. The only workable solution appears to be to lengthen the games.
c. All Divisions: “Safe Harbor” Rule. No team shall be deemed to have violated the minimum defensive play requirement (3 defensive innings) so long as satisfying the following:
(i) Team playing “High School” substitution rule, if permitted: Substitute must be entered not later than the team’s defensive 4th inning without removal prior to either satisfaction of the 3 defensive inning requirement or game end;
(ii) Team playing Continuous Batting Order/Free Substitution: Either (A) substitute has played 2 defensive innings by conclusion of team’s 5th defensive inning; or, (B) substitute entered not later than the team’s defensive 4th inning without removal prior to either satisfaction of the 3 defensive inning requirement or game end.
EXPLANATION: DBA Rules have been previously silent on how to apply the minimum play rule in games shortened to due to “mercy rule,” time limit or other cause. A team should not be punished if making an effort to provide playing time to players, but prevented from meeting the 3 inning requirement by these circumstances. This “Safe Harbor” rule provides guidance on how to address this situation.
d. HS Sub Rule: When a team is playing by the "high school substitution " rule option, all subs must be reported to the ump and the opposing team before the play begins in the inning they enter.
EXPLANATION: The greatest number of minimum play violations have come out of games being played under the High School substitution rule. This rule is intended to address that situation and put those using that substitution method in the same position that they would be when playing an actual game under the NHSF Rules.
e. Per inning run limits in 10U and 12U Fastpitch: Over the years we have tried a variety of approaches to regualting scores in certain fastpitch games. Here is this year's attempt:
IN 10U AND 12U FASTPITCH, THE LARGEST NUMBER OF RUNS THAT A TEAM SHALL RECORD IN ITS OFFENSIVE INNING SHALL BE THE LARGER OF (A) 5 RUNS OR (B) THE NUMBER OF RUNS WHICH WOULD CREATE FOR THE OFFENSIVE TEAM
A 5 RUN LEAD. IF THE PLAY IN WHICH THE RUN LIMIT IS REACHED ALSO SCORES ADDITIONAL RUNS, THOSE ADDITIONAL RUNS SHALL NOT COUNT.
EXPLANATION:
We have used a 5 run limit per inning rule in the past, but a problem was that a team might get so far behind early in a game that it was prevented from catching up under the run limit rule. The change has been made to keep teams "in the game" as best as we can.
4. Policy Concerns:
a. Make Up Games:
The DBA has always allowed for games to be made up due to year end school events. When school has ended the only reason a game should be cancelled is due to weather. We have had a policy, and it is handed out to the managers each year, that makeup games are to be rescheduled within a week. Some managers have not been cooperative in getting this coordinated and it has caused email and phone fights. We will stress this at the managers meeting in May, but expect you to reiterate to your managers, the need to be cooperative and flexible when games have to be rescheduled.
b. Residency Rule:
The DBA does not allow a member association to take players from another member association unless it is done with DBA approval. An examples may be if one association has too many players for one team, and another association has too few. So to give these kids the opportunity to play, one team could be formed from players from different associations. It should also be pointed out that the DBA does allow associations to take players from non-DBA associations. For example, kids from Taylor could play in the DBA. But individual association rules may restrict taking non -residents. Some associations allow for non-residents if the player goes to school in that city. When rosters are submitted we will require that the players home city be listed. This way the DBA can monitor the make up of the teams.
1. Website:
The DBA has a new website. Its address is:
dbacentral.org
There is no change in the address of the DBA message board which continues to be:
dbacentral.proboards49.com/index.cgi
The message board is accessible from the DBA homepage under the link “STANDINGS”
2. Email:
The dbacentral@aol.com address is still operating; however, an effort will be made this season to migrate the DBA email function to a new address, which is part of the new site home. The new email address, which is now up and functioning, is:
mail@dbacentral.org
3. Rule Changes:
The following rule changes were adopted at the last rules meeting. The DBA rules will be updated to reflect these rules, but please draw your managers’ attention to them in order to avoid unintended violations:
a. 10U Fastpitch: "Look Back Rule.” A batter runner may not proceed to second on a walk. A batter runner receiving a walk shall proceed to first base and shall not, as part of a continuous play or otherwise, turn into fair territory. PENALTY: Out.
EXPLANATION: Last season we had a number of problems with this which caused much confusion. We have decided is that when a batter receives a walk she will not be able to make an immediate turn and attempt to go to second. She must stop at first. Some had interpreted this as stealing which isn't allowed at 10u, whereas others argued it was a progression of a play. At 10U we believe that this causes too much confusion.
b. 10U Fastpitch: Length of Game. A Regulation Game shall be 6 innings.
EXPLANATION: As you know our 10U games have been five innings. Depending upon the number of players per team, there have been circumstances where the requirement that all players are in the game for three defensive innings is difficult to meet in a five inning game. The only workable solution appears to be to lengthen the games.
c. All Divisions: “Safe Harbor” Rule. No team shall be deemed to have violated the minimum defensive play requirement (3 defensive innings) so long as satisfying the following:
(i) Team playing “High School” substitution rule, if permitted: Substitute must be entered not later than the team’s defensive 4th inning without removal prior to either satisfaction of the 3 defensive inning requirement or game end;
(ii) Team playing Continuous Batting Order/Free Substitution: Either (A) substitute has played 2 defensive innings by conclusion of team’s 5th defensive inning; or, (B) substitute entered not later than the team’s defensive 4th inning without removal prior to either satisfaction of the 3 defensive inning requirement or game end.
EXPLANATION: DBA Rules have been previously silent on how to apply the minimum play rule in games shortened to due to “mercy rule,” time limit or other cause. A team should not be punished if making an effort to provide playing time to players, but prevented from meeting the 3 inning requirement by these circumstances. This “Safe Harbor” rule provides guidance on how to address this situation.
d. HS Sub Rule: When a team is playing by the "high school substitution " rule option, all subs must be reported to the ump and the opposing team before the play begins in the inning they enter.
EXPLANATION: The greatest number of minimum play violations have come out of games being played under the High School substitution rule. This rule is intended to address that situation and put those using that substitution method in the same position that they would be when playing an actual game under the NHSF Rules.
e. Per inning run limits in 10U and 12U Fastpitch: Over the years we have tried a variety of approaches to regualting scores in certain fastpitch games. Here is this year's attempt:
IN 10U AND 12U FASTPITCH, THE LARGEST NUMBER OF RUNS THAT A TEAM SHALL RECORD IN ITS OFFENSIVE INNING SHALL BE THE LARGER OF (A) 5 RUNS OR (B) THE NUMBER OF RUNS WHICH WOULD CREATE FOR THE OFFENSIVE TEAM
A 5 RUN LEAD. IF THE PLAY IN WHICH THE RUN LIMIT IS REACHED ALSO SCORES ADDITIONAL RUNS, THOSE ADDITIONAL RUNS SHALL NOT COUNT.
EXPLANATION:
We have used a 5 run limit per inning rule in the past, but a problem was that a team might get so far behind early in a game that it was prevented from catching up under the run limit rule. The change has been made to keep teams "in the game" as best as we can.
4. Policy Concerns:
a. Make Up Games:
The DBA has always allowed for games to be made up due to year end school events. When school has ended the only reason a game should be cancelled is due to weather. We have had a policy, and it is handed out to the managers each year, that makeup games are to be rescheduled within a week. Some managers have not been cooperative in getting this coordinated and it has caused email and phone fights. We will stress this at the managers meeting in May, but expect you to reiterate to your managers, the need to be cooperative and flexible when games have to be rescheduled.
b. Residency Rule:
The DBA does not allow a member association to take players from another member association unless it is done with DBA approval. An examples may be if one association has too many players for one team, and another association has too few. So to give these kids the opportunity to play, one team could be formed from players from different associations. It should also be pointed out that the DBA does allow associations to take players from non-DBA associations. For example, kids from Taylor could play in the DBA. But individual association rules may restrict taking non -residents. Some associations allow for non-residents if the player goes to school in that city. When rosters are submitted we will require that the players home city be listed. This way the DBA can monitor the make up of the teams.