Rhode Island Independent Amateur Baseball League
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Site Index |
| Rule No. | Rule | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The League plays by Official Major League Baseball Rules with some exceptions. Where discrepancies exist between rules of the two Major Leagues, American League rules apply. | 6/03/04 |
| 2 | The NCAA slide/collision rules are in effect for plays on bases and at home plate. These are, respectively, Sections 4 and 7 in Rule 8 of the Official NCAA Baseball Rules. | 4/18/08 |
| 3 | Faking of tags on bases is not permitted. Runner will be awarded one base beyond the one to which he was advancing at the time of the fake tag. If a fake tag is attempted at home plate, each runner will be awarded one extra base at the conclusion of the play. | 5/03/09 |
| 4 | Only wood or wood-composite bats are permitted. However, teams may mutually agree to allow metal bats on a per-game basis. The minimum allowable weight in ounces is 5 less than the length in inches (a.k.a. "-5"). | 9/12/09 |
| 5 | The umpire and opposing team must be informed of any curfews and ground rules at the pre-game meeting. | 5/12/08 |
| 6 | Regular season and playoff games shall be 7 innings. The sole exception is for single games played with wooden bats which may be 9 innings by agreement of both teams. The head umpire must be notified in advance in order to ensure the umpires can work the extended game time. | 5/03/09 |
| 7 | If one or both teams does not have enough players at the designated starting time, they are allowed a 15 minute grace period before a forfeit is declared. If a team still does not have enough players at the end of the grace period, they will forfeit the game and must pay each umpire full fee. Once both teams have enough players, the game shall begin. Teams will not be allowed to take pre-game practice after the scheduled start time once enough players have arrived. | 5/03/09 |
| 8 | If the visiting team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of the 5th/7th inning, or if the home team is ahead by 10 or more runs during the bottom of the 5th/7th inning of a scheduled 7/9 inning game, the game is over. | 5/17/05 |
| 9 | A game which is called before 3 innings have been completed must be replayed entirely (umpires receive half fee). A game which is called after 3 innings but before 5 innings have been completed becomes a suspended game (umpires receive full fee) and must eventually be completed to the number of innings originally scheduled unless shortened by the 10-run rule. | 5/06/06 |
| 10 | Only baseballs with an NFHS stamp or equivalent ones (e.g. Diamond D1-PRO without a stamp) are approved for use in league games. | 4/14/07 |
| 11 | The team which provides the field is allowed its exclusive use from 30 minutes to 15 minutes prior to the start of the game. The traveling team, which is not necessarily the visiting team, has its exclusive use from 15 minutes prior to game time. | 5/22/05 |
| 12 | A team may choose to bat 9, 10, or 11 players but must complete the game with the same number of batters. Each spot in the batting order which cannot be filled by an eligible player will be an automatic out. A player already removed from the game will not be allowed to re-enter a different spot in the batting order. If a team has less than 9 eligible players, that team will forfeit the game. | 6/03/04 |
| 13 | If a player is injured during the game, and the team does not have any more eligible players, that spot may be skipped in the batting order provided there are still at least 9 players. However, if a player leaves for any other reason, without any more eligible players, the vacated spot is an automatic out each time through the batting order. In both cases, when there are less than 9 eligible players, the game is forfeited to the opposing team. | 5/17/05 |
| 14 | When completing a suspended game, if a team has at least 9 players but less than the number with which they started, they will be allowed to resume the game without penalty. At the opposing manager's discretion, each missing player's spot in the batting order may either be skipped or filled with a player already removed from the game. Once the game is resumed, normal substitution rules apply. | 6/03/04 |
| 15 | Any starting player except the pitcher may re-enter the game provided he left on defense and returns on defense. For a DH/EH, the substitutions must be announced to the opposing team while on defense. The player must return to the same spot in the batting order. The starting designated hitter may only return if a DH is still being used at the time of re-entry. If the game pitcher pinch-hits or pinch-runs for the DH, this shall terminate the role of the DH for the remainder of the game, and the DH may not return. If the DH assumes a defensive position, the player being removed from the game can only return to his own spot in the batting order (i.e. the spot now occupied by the new batter). | 5/12/08 |
| 16 | A manager who is playing an infield position, including catcher, is allowed to make multiple trips to the mound without having to remove the pitcher. | 5/14/08 |
| 17 | A starting pitcher qualifies for a win provided meets the criteria of MLB rule 10.17 with the exception that he need only pitch 4 innings of a scheduled 7-inning game. | 5/27/08 |
Here are the complete Rules & Bylaws as PDF and PostScript files.
| League Notices |
| The umpires assigned to each game are posted on Aribiter Sports. |
| View the Fall River Independent League's Fall schedule and standings. |
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Questions should be directed to the League Office.