DBA Post Season Meeting

[dbaprez18ubbgm]

We will be holding a post season meeting to go over the 06 season. There are a few rule issues we need to tighten up. If anyone has any issues they want to have addressed please post them.

The meeting will be sometime in September and we will let everyone know the date and time in the coming weeks.

Bill Ehred

[dcba]

On the softball side, there could be better guidance about base running rules during the throw back to the pitcher, i.e. in the circle versus out of the circle, etc. I recommend that we base this on the NFHS rules. It may not be important for 10U, but it became a common question near the end of the 12U season.

I think the 5-run per inning rule worked pretty good this year. We had a few games that lasted longer than some people wanted, but the girls got to play full games.

[dbaprez18ubbgm]

DCBA: The first page of the DBA rules a paragraph states the following:

"To the extent not inconsistent with the express provisions or intent of the following rules, play in all divisions of the Downriver Baseball Association ("DBA") shall be governed by the rules for high school play applicable in the high school season for that calendar year."

So the HS rules regarding the circle were applicable during the season.


In my opinion,time limits create more problems than they solve, especially when games are close in score. But at 10u we really have no choice.

Thanks,
Bill Ehred

[dcba]

For the younger age groups, there are very few people familiar with HS softball rules. My suggestion is to add a short section with rules that are unique to softball. The baserunning rules generated the most questions as the 12U season went on. Maybe this is a local association issue for coach and umpire education.

My comment on time limits is to support the current rule. I mentioned it because I expect that the board will hear feedback on both sides of this issue.

[dbaprez18ubbgm]

I don't know the best means to address this other than the individual associations need to make sure their managers know the rules, and have access to HS rules.

We have issues which arise each year which are specifically addressed in either the DBA or HS rules. If we supplemented our rules with additional explanations which simply reiterate what a HS rule book states we would have a document which would be out of control and nobody would read it.

Managers have a responsibility to learn the basic rules, and have a rule book in the event something arises.

When an rule may need clarification, such as you mentioned, this needs to be brought to the attention of the division GM, and we can deal with it by having the GM contacting the managers of the division and explaining the rule. We do follow this procedure and I think it works well, but folks have to tell us what they are confused about. I don't recall this rule being brought up?

Perhaps we need to do a better job making sure the managers are all aware they should be asking GM's for guidance regarding rule clarifications.

Though, I am tempted to do as you suggest with the dropped third strike rule. This has to be the most improperly called/understood rule in youth BB and SB; perhaps all of youth sports. It seems every year this comes up in more than one division.

Bill Ehred

[dbaprez18ubbgm]

DBA meeting to discuss prior season: 11 September; 7pm;Copeland Center in Wyandotte.

[dbaprez18ubbgm]

All: Here are some notes from the post season meeting held on 11 September. If anyone has any questions please let me know.

The dramatic change relate to 10U SB. We figure if you eliminate the time limit , reduce the game by two innings, and have a five run limit per inning (except for the last inning) it will provide a better flow to the game.

Bill Ehred

10USB: 5 inning game;no time limit; 5 runs per inning except for the last inning.(This eliminates the rule on the top of page 11) . If during the particular play a 6th ,7th, or 8th run happens to score the runs do not count, but the play shall continue until it ends.

12U BB: No curve balls allowed. This is already a rule but Neill will provide verbiage to be more specific.

General Rules:

1.Rule II (c):(reword) Individual associations may allow a younger player to play in an older division as a regular team member, or on a temporary basis to avoid a forfeit. In no circumstances shall an older player be allowed to play in a younger division.

2. Rule VIII (4)(reword)All players must play a minimum of (3 ) three defensive innings per game, and bat once. Violation of this rule will result in a forfeit.

3. Rule XII (C) (3). Any game halted due to darkness or weather, shall be considered complete if the home team is ahead and at least 4 and 1/2 innings have been played.

4. Rule X (G): First sentence needs to be removed concerning the two hour time limit for 10U SB.

5.Rule X (a) (reword)Official game is seven (7) innings except for 10U SB, and any game prolonged due to a tie score. See other exceptions in section XIII.

6. Rule X (b).the time needs to be changed to 6:30pm

7. Not sure where to put this but I think it may be a good idea to mention the need to exchange lineups before the game, which include names, numbers, and substitutes.

SB pitching rubber rule: Bob Nagy to get a clarification.

Neill is tasked to clean-up the rules document by eliminating paragraphs which are not longer relevant