2024 LEAGUE RULES   

LOCAL RULES

1. Umpire Fee. Umpires must be paid $120 per game for each umpire in a 2-man team this season (pay in cash prior to the game). A 1-man crew must be paid $150.
   
   
   

2. Game Length. Game length is 3 hours and 0 minutes with no new inning to start after 2 hours and 45 minutes. No new inning may begin after 2 hours and 45 minutes. There will be a 3 hour and 15 minute drop dead limitation. If the home team is losing and was unable to complete it’s last at bat at the drop dead limit, the league management Board and Commissioner will make a determination as to whether the game score will revert back to the prior inning or whether it will be continued at a later time. The umpires will announce the official time. If the game is tied after conclusion of the game time, then the game will end in a tie.
   Exception - Playoffs can not end in a tie and must use the extra innings rules. If any regular season game ends in a tie and time remains, then the game may proceed to extra innings within the existing time limits. All extra innings will be played starting with a runner at 2B and 0 Outs. The runner at 2B is the last recorded out of the previous inning.

3. New MLB Rules. We are NOT using new 2023 - 2024 MLB Rules of play this year pertaining to time clock, shifts, extra large bases, mound visits, pitcher disengagments, etc.

4. Non-Runners. 18s get 2 non-runners and 38s get 3 non-runners. Non-runners must be declared on the lineup submitted to the umpire at the pre-game meeting. Use the last recorded out as the runner.

5. Runner for Catcher. Teams are encouraged to use an optional runner for the catcher with 2 outs (for conserving time). Have your runners ready to go. Umpires are not going to wait around for you to find the last recorded out (maximum of 30 seconds). The batter/runner will have to run for themselves if you don’t comply. Use the last recorded out as the runner.

6. NABA Managers Rulebook. The NABA Rulebook will be the place to look up items for you and your players and that is found at dugout.org. Don't expect the Commissioner or the umpires to know it by heart so make yourself familiar with it. We do have some different rules that we play by and the umpires do their best to be up on it but they are human. The better you know where to look in the NABA Rulebook, the quicker things can be sorted out. Remember the clock is running (no extra time allowed for protests). Upload the NABA Rulebook to your phone (or keep a paper copy). If you feel there was a mistake made on the rules, then show the umpires what it is you are questioning.  NABA Managers Rulebook

7. Dugout. Home team is assigned to the 3rd baseline dugout. Visiting team is assigned to the 1st baseline dugout. This rule may be modified by mutual agreement of both managers.

8. Report Scores. Both teams promptly report your score to the league website within 2 hours after your game.

9. Player Registration. ALL players must be registered via the league website prior to Friday 8 pm prior to the first game they play.

10. Forfeits.

    1. Forfeiting teams must pay umpire fee for both teams. At least one umpire fee must be paid at game time and the other fee before your next game is played. Failure to pay 1 umpire fee on game day then a suspension is issued to the manager of 1 game.

    2.  TWO Forfeits in one season makes your team ineligible for playoffs!  A third forfeit "may" see your team dropped from the league for the remainder of the year or even longer. No we are not trying to run you off, just get teams playing on Sundays!

    3. You can contact the Commissioner Friday evening before 8pm and avoid paying umpire fees!

    4. You must have 8 qualified team players listed on the line-up card and ready to play at game start time. We have a 5 minute drop dead time for late comers. However, the 5-minute period comes with a ONE RUN penalty !  DO NOT ASK FOR MORE time from the umpire or opposing managers! 

11. Protests.

    1. Protests must be reported to the umpire before the last out of game is recorded. When you ask to have a protest heard it must state what you're protesting. It can't be a blanket shot and by that I mean multiple items choose one and go for it, if you must protest! You have 24 hours to post a filing fee from your games start time.

    2. For a protest to be heard a filing fee of $100 must be paid to the Commissioner by the filing team. This is REFUNDED if your protest is upheld in your favor. NABA and MLB Rules apply so check these before filing a protest and save money or win a protest. This will go a long way to keep things running smoothly for all of us. It costs nothing to ask an umpire to record a protest !  It does cost to have a protest heard if you lose it!

12. Bats.
    All divisions are wood bat only.  Composite-wood and metal-wood bats (wood barrel required)  are permisable for wood bat divisions.

    1. For 18+ - wood only.

    2. For 38+ - wood only.

13. Rosters. Team fees include a maximum of 15 players and 1 manager (total of 16). The league charges an additional fee of $35 per player for each player beyond 16. This fee must be paid to the Commissioner within 7 days of adding the extra player.

14. Playoff Eligibility. Both divisions will require all players to have played in a minimum of 33 percent of the games to be eligible for the playoffs. Playing in a game means at least one of the following: batter gets a minimum of one at-bat, pitcher gets a minimum of 3 outs, or player plays a minimum of 2 innings on defense. The pitchers name and or defenders name must be written in the scorebook to count. It is recommended to notify the opposing team also. It is recommended to log the games played for each player via the league website. 

  15. Playoff Teams.

​​​​​​​           18+ Division: for 2024 all 12 teams will make the playoffs. top team in each bracket (2) plus next two (2) best records make the playoffs (total of 4 teams).

38+ Division: top 4 teams make the playoffs (total of 4 teams). The games are seeded by regular-season standings. Playoff schedule to be determined by the Commissioner based on field availability.

16. Sportsmanship. We can not allow poor sportsmanship to affect our enjoyment of the game and rental of fields. Poor sportsmanship (such as fighting, cursing, verbal abuse, throwing equipment, etc.) will not be tolerated. All players and managers are warned now. If you get ejected, then you may receive an additional game or more if the Commissioner determines it is warranted.  

17. Suspensions and Expulsions. The VABL Management (Franchise Owner and Advisory Board) reserves the right to suspend or expel any member from the league if their behavior or attitude affects the VABL in any negative manner.

18. Rule Changes. The VABL Management reserves the right to make changes to these rules for the benefit of the League. All managers will be notified as soon as any change is made.

FIELD PREP PROCEDURES

1. Fields.

   1. Harding, Fillmore & Villanova - Prep field after your game. Field may need to be prepared prior to the first game of the day also (see below for duties).

   2. Huntsinger and Camino- Prep field before your game. After the last game of the day – home team only preps mound, visiting team only preps plate (see below for duties).

2. Home Team Duties.

   1. Duties

      1. Rake and water mound.

      2. Drag and water left side infield and 3rd baseline.

      3. Bases – first game team installs all 3, last game team returns all 3 to box.

      4. Remove trash in the dugout after the game and also trash around your fans area.

      5. Last team of the day must sweep the home dugout after the game.

      6. Infield grass - Last team of the day must brush loose dirt from the left side of infield grass onto the dirt at Harding only.

   2. Managers are responsible to confirm all of the equipment is put away. Manager for the last game locks the equipment storage box. Notify the Commissioner by text of any missing or damaged field equipment (photos are helpful). Look around the field area and report items in need of attention that may be the City/School responsibility to repair.

3. Visiting Team Duties.

   1. Duties

      1. Rake and water home plate.

      2. Drag and water right side infield and 1st base line.

      3. Remove trash in the dugout after each game and also trash around your fans area.

      4. Last team of the day must sweep the visitors dugout after the game.

      5. Infield grass - Last team of the day must brush loose dirt from the right side of infield grass onto the dirt at Harding only.

   2. Managers are responsible to confirm the equipment your team used gets back to the box. Notify the Commissioner by text of any missing or damaged field equipment (photos are helpful).

4. Dugouts
   Teams must be out of the dugout including all your player's equipment within 5 MINUTES of finishing your game. All teams must remove trash from the dugout after each game. The next team may enter the dugout 10 MINUTES after the prior game.

5. Equipment
   Each team has the following gear to use for field prep work: 1 drag, 1 rake, 1 broom, and 1 hose.  There is also a hose nozzle and hose connector (dual-hose Y-connector) that should be installed WITHOUT hoses attached; once that's completed attach your hose.
   Note:  Take care of the equipment and we will save money/team fees. If you don't care about money, realize that if the field gets flooded by a broken pipe from guys trying to install the connector with hoses attached the plastic pipe may break, then nobody gets to play after that happens!

6. Bathrooms.
   City of Santa Paula asked us to lock up the Harding bathrooms after our last game each week. Home Team will be responsible for replacing the lock (Murdock will provide the lock combination). Unlock the locks on the Mens and Womens bathrooms. You must line up the numbers with a little mark and if you do they both work with this code. Close the door, reset the door hasp in the locked position, replace and close the lock, and spin the combination dials several times. If the City park workers are on hand they will do it, but if not we should help out. Some of you may ask, “Why should we do this”? Answer – the City can always find another group to rent the field.