Hernando Desoto League Rules

The rules described herein are in addition to the Official Rules of Baseball, which are recognized in all baseball leagues.  The rules listed are specific to HDL (also referred to as the “League”) in conjunction with the Official Rules of Baseball.  The rules are enforced in general by the League officers and more specifically on the field by the umpires officiating the games.

League Structure

Hernando DeSoto League is an organization that exists for the purpose of providing a competitive outlet for baseball players (also referred to as “Members”) that are 30 years old and/or older; it further exists for the players.  The League consists of all of the players that are active, dues paying members.  The League will be governed by a set of officers voted on by its members.  The officers must be active, dues paying members at time of nomination.  The offices are to include a President, a Vice President and a Secretary/Treasurer elected by the members.  These are the only official positions to be held in the League and are the only officers of the League.  The responsibilities of the officers are as follows:

President – General overview of the League to include sportsmanship,

                    umpire procurement, finances, equipment, public relations, 

                    recruitment and field availability.

Vice Pres.- This position is to be responsible for the duties of quipment,

umpire and field procurement as well as recruitment The Vice President will, further, fill in for the President when he 

 is not available.

Secretary/- The finance of the League will be the responsibility of the

Treasurer   Sec./Treas. in charge Treasurer   with the oversight of the

                    League president to ensure a system of checks and 

                    balances.  This position is charged with collecting all dues,

                    fines and other monies due to the League.  The Sec./Treas.

                    must keep a balanced book for the League and account for

                    all dues and expenses (i.e., paying umpires, purchasing

                    equipment to include baseballs, etc.)  This position will,

                   also, be responsible for verification of accurate meeting

                    minutes and League stats among other obligations.

Officers shall be elected to a term of two years.  The election of officers is be held before or at the beginning of the playoffs of even numbered years (i.e., 2002, 2004, 2006, etc.).  The terms of the officers elected will commence immediately following the League Championship game after elections are held.  The current officers at the time of the Championship game shall present to officers-elect any and all collateral, equipment and finances to include access to the aforementioned.  In order to be eligible as an officer the following criteria must be met:

1.                  President – Member in good standing with at least 5 years of HDL service.

2.                  Vice Pres. – Member in good standing with at least 2 years of HDL service.

3.                  Secretary/ - Member in good standing with at least 2 years of Treasurer    HDL service.                                                           

League Dues

1.                  The annual dues are to be paid by every player in order to participate in the League and play in games governed by the League.

2.                  The dues are $125 per season and are made payable to Hernando Desoto League.  This may be paid in check or cash directly to the Secretary/Treasurer responsible for finance as elected by the members.

3.                  The dues are to be paid in full no later than the first game of the season.  Anyone that does not have their dues paid in full by that date shall not be eligible to take the field until they have paid in full.  

4.         New players to the League after this date may pay a pro rated amount for the remainder of the season as determined by the League officers.                       

5.         Any personal check returned for insufficient funds will require cash payment to include any processing fee incurred by the League for NSF.

League Eligibility

1. A player must be at least 30 years of age to participate in the League.

2. A player that is turning 30 years of age by the end of the season is qualified to participate.

3. The minimum acceptable age allowed to participate in the League is 28 years of age by the start of the season and is by consent of the officers' by a majority vote.

4. Only exceptions to the age rule, other than previously stated, in order to preserve the integrity of the League and number of players required to make up a team are at officers' discretion by a majority vote.

5. Any player that is not 30 years of age is not eligible for post season awards (i.e., batting title, MVP, etc.).

6. Any player that is not 30 years of age is not eligible to pitch in a regular season or playoff game.

7. Any new pitcher to the League may not pitch more than three innings in any one game before amassing 15 total innings (i.e., 3 innings x 5 games = 15 innings).

   8.   A player must play at least half of his team’s regular season    scheduled games and have dues paid in full to be eligible for the playoffs.  If he has not, then he may not participate in the playoffs and championship games.  This is to ward off the temptation to bring in “ringers” for the sake of the championship playoffs. 

Umpires

1.                  The League VP is responsible for umpires, with oversight by the President, and shall procure officials for each game. 

2.                  This VP is responsible for ensuring that a roster of umpires is kept and that the Secretary/Treasurer assures that umpires are paid after each day’s game(s).

3.                  The umpires are the officials for ensuring that rules are observed and enforced on the field during games.  In this capacity, they are the last word on any play, call or decision regarding a contest between two teams.  The only exception to this would be an officer overriding a call, in conference with home plate umpire, on the field as it pertains to the HDL specific rules.

4.                  All judgement calls pertaining to play during the game made by an umpire are final. 

5.                  The only player on the field that may contest HDL specific rules are the manager and/or an officer. 

6.                  Umpires are only to officiate the game as it pertains to the rules of baseball and are not to express any action to unfairly alter the outcome of the game to include: engaging in

any conduct which seeks to incite confrontation with a player,

declaring an intent to alter the course of the game directed at

any player, or exhibiting poor sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship

General sportsmanship and decorum is the expectation of all HDL players.  Players should conduct themselves in a manner that exhibits healthy competition.  Disagreements in baseball are imminent and part of the game. There is a line that can never be crossed, however. 

These boundaries are as follows:

1.                  Any physical altercation initiated by a player toward another player and/or umpire is grounds for suspension or expulsion from the League. A fine could result from these actions.

2.                  Any equipment used as a weapon whether swung or thrown at anyone is grounds for suspension or expulsion from the League.  A fine could result from these actions.

3.                  Unsportsmanlike conduct perpetrated by a player against another player to include but not limited to:

a)      sliding into a base “spikes up”

b)       unnecessarily blocking a base without possession of the ball

c)       or a blatant disregard for any and/or all players on the field including themselves are grounds for ejection from the game and suspension and/or fines.

4.                  If a player argues an umpire’s call too aggressively, a warning can be leveled upon the player.  After one warning, the player may be ejected from the game by the umpire.  No one is authorized to reverse this decision unless an officer is consulted because it could force a forfeit of the game due to lack of players on the field.  The player will be fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.

5.                  Any foul or inappropriate language deemed audible beyond the dugout or playing field is unacceptable.  Violations will incur a fine not to exceed $2. 

Uniform Rule

1.      All players should wear the designated uniform as set forth by the Hernando DeSoto Baseball League.

2.      The uniform is to include the jersey designated by the League as the official jersey for their team.  The uniform should include gray baseball pants (i.e., candy stripe, paisley, hearts or any design pants that are pajama bottom in nature are not allowed). 

3.      If the HDL vests are used, then weather conditions making the wearing of the vest uncomfortable, the team manager may allow members of his team to play in the PLAIN t-shirt that is provided by the league.

4.      All pitchers for the team with the white t-shirts must pitch with the gray vest or a similar baseball type jersey.  The white sleeves may not extend past the elbow onto the forearm.

5.      All players must wear uniforms in the proper manner.  All shirt tails must be tucked into the pants. All caps must be worn forward, no visors allowed.

6.      All players are required to wear a baseball cap on defense or while running the bases.

7.      A helmet is required at bat and strongly recommended on the bases.

8.      No sleeves are allowed to be split, frayed or cut-off.

9.      Any player violating the above rule is subject to fines at the discretion of the league officers.  Uniform fines may not exceed $2 per game.

Courtesy Runner Rule

1.      A courtesy runner is allowed only for the pitcher, catcher or an injured player designated prior to first pitch.

2.      The player who made the last out is the scheduled courtesy runner. If that player is unable to run the next available player is used.  (ex. player in #7 spot of order singles to left to lead off the inning, player in #6 spot of order is the catcher, player #5 in order is injured, player in #4 spot is the pitcher, player #3 in batting order is the courtesy runner.)

3.      The courtesy runner should be ready when the play ceases and a player wants a courtesy runner.  The player that requires a courtesy runner is designated prior to the game and the runner must be ready to run and on base within 20 seconds.  If courtesy runner is not on base ready to participate, then player requiring must either run for himself or come off the base, in which case he is out.

      4. The manager is responsible for insuring the courtesy runner is available and ready to run.

5.      After a pitch is thrown to the next batter a courtesy may not be used.  Exception if a catcher or pitcher reaches base with less than two outs and a subsequent player makes the second out, a courtesy runner may replace the pitcher or catcher.  The pitcher or catcher is defined as the last player who defensively played that position.  In the top of the first the scheduled pitcher and/or catcher may be ran for.

6.      A courtesy runner may advance on a wild pitch or passed ball only after tagging the base that he occupies.

7.      A courtesy runner who is in violation of the above is put out when the defensive team throws to and tags the original occupied base.

Additional rules

1. After the first inning of play, the pitcher will receive 7 warm up pitches before start of his team’s defensive half of the inning.  Any pitching change will warrant enough time for a reliever to sufficiently warm up as to avoid injury.

2. The game will be played 9 innings or 3 hours and 15 minutes, whichever occurs first.  No new inning may start after 3 hours into the game.

Fines

Fines will be noted in the score book and/or by an officer.  The Secretary/Treasurer is responsible for collection of any fine levied on a player.  The uniform rule above is an example of what may be deemed worthy of a fine.  The officer’s are the only people on the field or involved with the League that may levy a fine.  An umpire is not authorized to levy fines against players.  An umpire’s decision to eject a player from a game or observance of unsportsmanlike conduct as referenced above, are grounds for a fine.  These fines are levied by an officer.

The amount an infraction may be charged against a player for any instance is to be determined by the officers either in advance of a season or based upon the infraction.  Any fine that has not been paid by a player as indicated by the Secretary/Treasurer shall be deemed ineligible for play until the fine is paid.

Amendments, Deletions and Changes

These rules can only be altered if a majority vote of officers (2 out of 3) agree to suggest such change, amendment or deletion.  Thereafter, the rule can only go into effect if voted on and approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the League members.