Rules and Regulations

Competition Standards The Baseball competition at the Melbourne 2002 World Masters Games will be conducted under the auspices, rules and regulations of the International Baseball Association and the Australian Baseball Federation and will conform to any special requirements of the International Masters Games Association.

The Victorian Baseball Association will conduct the competition.
MELBOURNE 2002 WORLD MASTERS GAMES
TOURNAMENT RULES
Accepted Rules of Baseball as applied by the International Baseball Federation, Australian Baseball Federation and state governing bodies apply in all circumstances other than those that follow.
All players must be fully accredited with the World Masters Games.

Players once registered with a team will not be allowed to transfer either temporarily or permanently to another team unless the transfer is sanctioned by the Tournament Committee. The exception to this rule is that it will be permissible for a team with only eight players to ¡§ borrow¡¨ a player from an opposing team.

Players must appear in 50% of the games to be eligible to play in the Medal Round. Players nominated as specialist pitchers will be required to participate in a minimum of eight (8) innings or three (3) games to be eligible to play in the Medal Round. Appearance means that the player appeared in the scorebook as having participated in the game. Courtesy running only will not constitute an appearance for participation.

Players may be replaced and re-enter the game, provided the replacement player participates in one full inning. (Bat and field)

1. To be eligible to participate in the 35+ age group, a player must be 35 years or older as at the 31/12/2002.

2. To be eligible to participate in the 45+ competition a player must be 45 years or older as at the 31/12/2002.

3. All preliminary games are to be of Two (2) Hours, or Seven (7) innings, in all games and the Ten Run "Mercy" Rule to be invoked after five (5) innings.

4. Finals are to be of Seven (7) innings, with a time limit of Two (2) hours and thirty (30) minutes "Mercy Rule" (after five (5) innings).

5. Game times will be under the control of the Games Director at each Venue.

6. Game times will be strictly adhered to and it the responsibility of each team to ensure they are at the required venue to commence play at the scheduled time.

7. Due to the tight schedule of the draw it will not be possible to guarantee pre-game on the field.

8. A minimum of three (3) innings or sixty-five (65) minutes will constitute a game.

9. If an inning has commenced then it shall be completed as required. (If the home team is leading at the middle of the inning when time is called, then the score shall remain as is). If the home team is trailing at the middle of the inning when time is called, they must have their time at bat to complete the inning. Immediately the home team is in front the game will cease. In all finals games a result shall be obtained.

10. WET WEATHER.
Should inclement weather be experienced during the preliminary rounds every effort will be made to ensure that legal games (ie sixty-five (65) minutes or three (3) innings) are completed, without compromising player safety. If any preliminary game(s) cannot be completed at the scheduled time, organisers will attempt to reschedule at another appropriate time.
If it is not possible to reschedule such matches, a point and a 0-0 draw will be
awarded to each affected team. These results will count towards finals points standing.

11. In the event of either final being WASHED OUT (ie if a legal game cannot be played), then the medal standings will be declared by the standing at the end of the preliminary rounds. First, by points (if equal), then by percentage (runs FOR divided by the total of runs FOR and AGAINST). If again equal, then by total runners on base, regardless of whether those runners scored or were retired while on base. Should all still equal the winner will be determined by the toss of a coin.

12. Pitchers are to throw a maximum of FOUR (4) innings per game, including finals.
A pitcher can be relieved and subsequently return to the mound. However, once a legal pitch is thrown in the pitchers fourth inning he will be deemed for the purposes of this rule to have thrown four (4) innings and will not be entitled to pitch in the game again should he be relieved prior to the end of the inning.

13. Courtesy Runners. 35+ division may substitute a designated runner for the pitcher and catcher at any time, however it is mandatory with two out.
45 + division will be as above, however two additional courtesy runners will be allowed for any base runner.

14. The Designated Hitter is optional for all games.

15. A minimum of eight (8) players is to take the field to start a game. If there are only eight players available and one is injured after play has commenced, the game will continue, with two "blanks" for the batting side. In this event, the opposition team is encouraged but not required to offer fielding substitutes.

16. All players, including Designated Runners and Courtesy Runners, are to appear on the team sheets at the commencement of each game to be eligible to play in that game.

17. All teams are to supply their own equipment. All players and managers whilst on the field must wear their teams nominated uniform and colours. Uniforms are to be of a baseball nature, including caps. The exception to this rule will be for a single entry participant who has been placed in a team. They will be permitted to play in the uniform they have, providing it is a proper baseball uniform.

18. Batters and runners are to wear two-eared helmets at all times on the field.

19. Time wasting tactics will not be tolerated.

20. PROTESTS. * In the event of a protest, the normal rules of baseball will apply except that the protest will be adjudicated upon immediately.
* The Games Technical committee will appoint a person who will be on hand at all games. The game is suspended until the protest hearing is completed and the game will continue from that point. The decision of the protest committee will be final.
* Fifty dollar AUD$50 fee will accompany any protest. The fee will be returned should the protest be upheld.

21. Match Cards will be supplied and are to be collected by umpires at the conclusion of each match for submission to tournament organisers.

22. Match Balls will be provided and should be returned to umpires at the conclusion of each game.

23. Umpires and scorers. Teams are asked to supply at least two competent persons to act as umpire and scorer of their games. The Games Organising Committee will supply some officials, however it is the responsibility of participating teams to supply the chief umpire with the away team supplying the base umpire.

24. Ejection from the game. Should a player or manager be ejected from the game, the player or manager will immediately leave the ground. The reporting umpire will complete an umpire report sheet, which will be signed by the team manager or representative (if the manager has been ejected) after the game.
The player/manager cannot participate in another competition game until he/she has appeared before the games judiciary.