UNION PARK LITTLE LEAGUE
GROUND RULES AND BY-LAWS

General


0. ALL players, Managers, Coaches and Umpires shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the start of each game.
   
   
0. ALCOHOL OR DRUG use by any person, or the appearance by any person under the influence of alcohol or drugs, at ANY Little League function, which the players are present, is strictly prohibited. Tobacco, in any form is NOT permitted on the field or in the dugout during games and practices.
   
   
0. No Food, Candy or Drinks with the exception of water, PowerAde or similar product will be allowed in the dugouts. Players many not leave the dugouts to go to the Concession stand during the game. Managers, Coaches and Players are only allowed one soda, after the game and must come to the Concession Stand in person.
   
   
0. No player will be carried on the injured list for more than eight (8) games in the spring and three (3) games in the fall. Board approval may be requested for extension.
   
   
0. No bullhorns, whistles or other load noisemakers are allowed in the Union Park Little League Ballpark, which includes the school fields. At the Umpire’s request radios or any other device causing interruption will be turned off.
   
   
0. The Instructional teams will be coach pitched only and the Rookie and Minor teams will be player pitched only.

Safety


0. Any Board Member can suspend game play where the safety of players is at risk.
   
   
0. Any player at bat, all base runners and all player base coaches must wear a batting helmet. A helmet with facemask protection must be utilized in the Major division. A helmet with facemask protection and chinstrap must be utilized in the Minor, Instructional and T-ball divisions.
   
   
0. There will be NO warm-up balls thrown or hit outside the playing fields or batting cages within the complex by players or other persons present. NO ADULT will warm up the pitcher in any division.
   
   
0. There will be no balls intentionally hit against any fences at Downey Park Ballfield Complex.
   

Conduct


0. Any player fighting or using foul language at any Union Park Little League function, in or out of uniform, will be referred to the Board of Directors for disciplinary action. Union Park Little League has adopted a zero tolerance policy regarding the use of foul language.
   
   
0. If a player is benched, for disciplinary reasons, three (3) times in a season, that player, his/her parents or guardians, along with the Manager and/or Coach MUST meet with the Grievance Committee, the Player Agent and Coach Coordinator of that Division. The Grievance Committee will make recommendations to the Board of Directors. Also, the Player will lose his/her eligibility for All Stars. It is the manager’s responsibility to report any benched players to the Player Agent immediately.

Managers, Coaches & Umpires


0. All Managers are required to attend the Manager’s meeting prior to picking up their equipment.
   
   
0. All Managers and Coaches at Union Park Little league are required to attend a minimum of one (1) Umpire Clinic (District III or local clinic) and one (1) Coaches Clinics as scheduled by the Board of Directors, prior to the start of the season. All Managers shall be required to attend a First Aid class or provide the league with proof of certification. Failure to do so may result in the Manager and/or Coach not being able to participate in any game. All umpires shall be required to attend the Umpire Clinic(s) unless they are district certified.
   
   
0. Managers and Coaches are not eligible to Umpire in their division in the Rookie Division and above.
   
   
0. It is the Manager and Coaches responsibility to report any player that has missed practices and games for two weeks to the Player Agent. The Player Agent will contact said player and determine whether or not to make a replacement.
   
   
0. One (1) Board approved Manager and two (2) Board approved Coaches or one (1) Coach and one (1) Team Parent will be permitted in the dugout or on the playing field during the game. Two adult base coaches are allowed at all levels. (Instructional and T-ball may have 4 in the dugout and 3 on the playing field). However, a Board approved Manager, Coach or Team Parent must be in the dugout at all times during the game.
   
   
0. No one under 16 years of age shall coach a team.  A Player may umpire providing the following conditions are followed:
   
   
   0. He/She has attended an Umpire Clinic and/or is certified by the League’s Umpire-in-Chief
   0. He/She may umpire only in the division below their own.
   0. At least one Adult (18 or over) assists in umpiring the game.
   
   
   
0. All playing equipment shall be turned in to the Equipment Manager after the last regular scheduled season game. EXCEPTION: If a team is to be involved in Top Team Tournament, playing equipment may be retained until the last game of tournament play. (All Star equipment will be handed out after All Stars are announced and not before). If equipment is not turned in at the appropriate time, those Managers and/or Coaches may not get a team again and will be billed for the replacement costs of the equipment.
   
   
0. Managers and/or Coaches are responsible for notifying the Team Parents of Concession Duty. In addition, the Manager and/or Coaches are responsible for confirming that the appropriate number of individuals be present at the Concession Duty.

Player Trades/Changes


0. The Board of Directors must approve all Player Trades/Changes in the Baseball Rookies, Softball Minors and above. Until the board approves, the player will remain on the original team. Said player cannot practice with the new team, until such Board approval is given. The League Player Agent must approve changes made in Baseball Minors, all Instructional and T-ball divisions.
   
   
0. Any player refusing to move up a division upon request will be moved to the team to replace the player agreeing to the move. The refusal will negate future consideration for moving up and/or tournament eligibility..

Games


0. All official score books must be kept in ink. Home team is the Official Scorekeeper and Visitors should keep the scoreboard.
   
   
0. No inning shall start within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled start time of the next game. If the actual start time of the current game shall be delayed from its scheduled start time, the scheduled start time for the next game shall be delayed by the same amount of time for the purpose of applying this rule, (e.g. if a game was scheduled to start at 10:00, but started at 10:20, and if the next scheduled game was to start at 12:00, its start time should be adjusted to 12:20, for the purposes of this rule). The next game, in fact, will start as soon as possible after the conclusion of the current game. NOTE: Game will not be called on this time limit, unless it is an official game. This only refers to back-to-back games. Official Scorekeeper should note start time. No new inning shall begin after 9:30 PM, with play stopping at 10:00 PM.
   
   
0. If a player is not eligible to play, reason must be given to the official Umpire and Scorekeeper in the Official Lineup and be written in the Official Score Book prior to the start of the game and may not be rescinded during the game. This includes injuries, sickness or disciplinary actions.
   
   
0. Both teams will be responsible for chalking and raking their fields and ensure that all equipment, rakes, etc. are returned to their proper place prior to the start of the game. All chalk liners will be returned to the equipment shed after the last game of the day is played.
   
   
0. Each team is responsible to clean out the dugout area and parents are responsible for the bleacher area after each game.
   
   
0. There will be a 5 run rule in the Minor Division.

Instructional/T-Ball


0. All players on T-ball and Instructional teams must play every inning. There will be 6 infielders and the remaining players will be outfielders.
   
   
0. All players present on the Instructional and T-Ball teams shall constitute the line-up for batting purposes. On the T-ball teams the side batting is retired upon all players batting or 3 defensive outs. On the Instructional teams the side batting is retired upon completion of 10 batters or 3 defensive outs.
   
   
0. On the Instructional teams utilizing Coach pitching a limit of 5 pitches is allowed per batter and on the T-ball teams a limit of 5 swings is allowed per batter. If the ball is not put in play or an out made after the 5 pitches/swings the batter returns to the dugout and counts for rule # 30 above as a batter not a defensive out.
   
   
0. No Score will be applied to the Instructional and T-ball divisions.

Top Team


0. . Top team in all Divisions except Major Baseball (one under each charter, American and National) will be the winner of the 1 st half and the winner of the 2 nd half. If the same team wins both halves the overall 2nd place team goes also. If there is a tie, a one (1) game playoff will decide the winner.
   
   
0. Top team in the Major Baseball Divisions will be determined by the winner of the 1 st half, playing the winner of the 2 nd half (unless same team wins both halves). One (1) game playoff will decide the half. Best two (2) out of three (3) will determine the overall winner.
   

Revised 04/05/2005

ALL-STARS

0. Each All-Star team will have 12 Players, 1 Manager and 2 coaches.
   
   
0. All-Star Managers will be appointed by the President and presented to the Board of Directors for approval. The criteria used will consist of:
   
   
   0. Overall record
   0. Manager’s attitude and behavior throughout the season
   0. Manager’s dedication to the team and the league in general
   0. Knowledge of baseball/softball rules and game strategies
   
   
   
0. All Star Managers may select 2 Coaches and present them to the President. The President may appoint the coaches and present them to the Board of Directors for approval.
   
   
0. The League Player agent will prepare ballots to include rostered players in each age group. The following are the age groups for each All-Star team:
   
   
   0. Senior Baseball - League Age - 15-16
   0. Junior Softball - League Age - 13-14
   0. Junior Baseball - League Age - 13-14
   0. Major Softball - League Age - 11-12
   0. Major Baseball- American - League Age - 11-12
   0. Major Baseball- National - League Age - 11-12
   0. Minor Softball - League Age - 9-10
   0. Minor Baseball- American - League Age - 9-10
   0. Minor Baseball- National - League Age - 9-10
   
   
   
0. The rostered players, approved coaches and volunteer umpires in each will vote for 18 players in each of the above groups.
   
   
   0. Senior Baseball Teams vote for group A
   0. Senior Softball Teams vote for group B
   0. Junior Baseball Teams vote for group C
   0. Major & Minor Softball teams vote for group D & G
   0. Major & Rookie Baseball teams vote for group E,F,H & I
   
   
   
0. All-Star ballots will be sealed by the Player Agent and given to the President until such time that the President and League Player Agent can count the ballots and order uniforms.
   
   
0. The President and League Player Agent will count the ballots. These results will be placed in sealed envelopes until June 14 th .
   
   
0. On June 15^th the Divisional Player Agents will be given the list of players. These players will be contacted and invited to attend tryouts on June 16^th and 17^th.  Both tryout dates are mandatory.
   
   
0. The Managers and Board of Directors will vote for 10 players for each All-Star team on June 17^th.
   
   
0. The All-Star Manager will select 2 players from the list of players attending tryouts.
   
   
0. Practices will begin June 18^th.
   
   
0. Any tie breakers will be determined by the League Player agent putting the names in a hat and selecting a player randomly.
   
   
0. The League Player agent will determine any replacement players. The next player on the list from tryouts will be placed on the team. No player who did not attend the tryouts will be placed on a team unless there are NO players remaining on the tryout list.
   
   
0. Union Park Little League will provide the following to All Star teams winning District 24 and traveling beyond 40 miles:
   
   
   0. $15.00/player per day for meals
   0. $.26/mile for up to 3 vehicles for transportation
   0. $45.00/night for up to 3 hotel rooms
   0. One banner per team with player’s names
   0. Recognize the team on the following Cap Night wilh medallinons and T-shirts