General Rules | SD VFW Baseball

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ELIGIBILITY, GENERAL RULES, and TOURNAMENT RULES

Eligibility

1.	Competition is open to boys and girlswho have not reached hisor her 17th birthday before May 1st of the current year are eligible for the VFWVarsity Baseball Program. His or hername must be on the state roster.

2.	If a player is found ineligible he or she shall be disqualified immediately. In the case a player is found guilty of losing hisor heramateur status only, the player should be disqualified. In all other cases where the player is found ineligible the entire team shall be disqualified and all games forfeited that have been played up to that point in time.

3.	A VFW Baseball team must submit to the Departmentof South Dakota VFW Headquarters, 3601 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105the following: Registration fee is $125 per team andentry form is due May 1st. This must include Team’s name, Sponsor’s name, Coaches Name, information, phone, cell phone, address and e-mail. Mail must be postmarked by May 1st or web information must be dated on May 1st. If later than this date your team will not be eligible for tournament play in the current year. Team Rosters are due June 10th, late fee is $50 after June 10th, you may list an unlimited number of players, youmust have the following information:home address, school attended the last school year, date of birth, and age on May 1st of current year. July 15this the cutoffdate for all roster changes,there will be no late submission and you are allowed only 18 players on your rostersfor all regional and state tournaments.

4.	All protests of a player’s eligibility must be specific with definite proof. Regional Commissioners will decide on issues on the local level. If a regional commission is a coach of a team within that region consultation with the state baseball chairman should take place and if a conflict of interest is apparent, the ruling shall be made by the state baseball chairman. State VFW Baseball Chairman, State VFW Commander or State VFW Quartermaster shall render decision as they pertain to the protests directed to any of them on the state level. All appeals on all levels must be in writing to the next higher authority within 48 hours after the decision has been rendered at each level. No protests will be allowed on judgments by umpires in leagueand/or tournament competition. All protests of this nature will be settled on the field at the time of the dispute. In regional, stateor league competition on the field, decisions governing interpretation of rules may be appealed to the tournament officials; however, in most cases the umpire’s decision will be upheld. No questions of eligibility may be raised after the first pitch of the second round in tournament play if all rosters and age verification certificates have been checked and the same player’s name as appears on the score book appeared on the checked roster for the complete tournament. In league play, player eligibility may be raised until the conclusion of season league games.

5.	A team seeking entrance into a South Dakota VFW State Baseball Tournament (Regional & State Tournaments) must be sanctioned by their local VFW Post. If the local VFW Post does not provide a VFW program for its area youth, a team seeking to participate in a South Dakota VFW Regional, League playand/or State tournament must be sanctioned and/or approved by its local governing youth baseball association and/or citypark department and/orcity official. A notice of approval must be included from the governing body with registration. The entry form and fee must be presented by the local governing unit.For the purposes of clarification, the mailing address of the registering team shall be used as the point of origin. The youth baseball association nearest to a team’s “point of origin” must grant approval.

General Rules
Rules are up to date as of March 1st, 2012. All revised rules will be printed in bold.

1.	A boy or girl may not participate in VFW baseball and any other baseball program in the same season. For all purposes, July 15 will be considered as the beginning of the season. However, subject to the approval of the Regional Commissioner and the State VFW Baseball Chairman, an entire VFW Baseball team may be registered in a program covering the ages 13-14 or 15-16, for example, Babe Ruth, Pony and Colt Leagues, and if so registered all members of the VFW team shall be eligible to play even though the team is registered in the Babe Ruth, Pony and Colt Leagues or some other formally organized baseball program. Exception to this rule will be allowed for teams who are signed up in the Varsity AA, A and Varsity B VFW Programs. These teams will be allowed up to three players on their team to play also with a South Dakota American Legion B or A Program. No more than three players from a registered VFW team can play on an American Legion team and no more than three players from a register American Legion Team can play can play on a VFW Team. Names of the players, roster of American Legion Team and birth certificates of the three players must be attached to the VFW Roster and Team Entry Form. Members of teams must be part of the same organized local governing body for baseball in the community. South Dakota VFW pitching rules will always apply. These other affiliations must be noted on your VFW team registration or disqualification may result.

2.	Team roster forms must include the name of the player, complete address of the player, name of school attend the last school year, date of birth, and age as of May 1st of the current year. If this information is incomplete, it can affect the eligibility of the player. Roster information must be postmarked by June 10th and sent to VFW Department Headquarters. Send original to VFW Department Headquarters and make copies for your records. You may list up to (25) twenty-five players per roster for each team, but a boy or girl can only be listed on one 10 and under, 12 and under, 13 – 14 year old roster and one Varsity roster. : Except in 13- 14 year old AA Class a player may be listed on the both majors and minors rosters, provided each player may only be listed on one state tourney rosters.

3.	VFW Baseball Varsity, 13-14 Year Old, 12 and Under and 10 and under divisions will be determined by using the South Dakota High School Athletic Associations enrollment figures as a guide to determine the enrollment figures for each class in each division. To determine Class A and B teams an ADM of 115 and below will be Class B. Two players may be registered on a team from a higher or same class schools without changing the base school ADM. More than two players from a school or combination of schools will require the addition of ADM to the base school. The Advisory Board will determine extenuating circumstances such as player living with non-custodial parents/grandparents in the summer and not enforcing the added ADM rule. The player must also have a release form from the team he is leaving.

4.	All charter applications, roster forms, and other necessary material used to carry out the VFW Baseball program shall be mailed to the regional commissioners by April 15th of each year.

5.	It is the duty of the state chairman to set up regional and state tournament dates and facilitate league schedules.

6.	It is the duty of the state chairman to make the drawings for the state tournaments. AA format is seeded based on seasonal league games final standings. A and B classes Regional Champs vs. Regional Runners up will be drawn by State Chairman at the State Annual Meeting.

7.	Each commissioner and duly authorized representative of a registered team is entitled to one vote at the annual meeting but in no instance may one person be entitled to more than one vote.

8.	All proposed rule changes must be submitted in writing to the VFW Baseball Chairman no later than November 15th of each year or they will not be considered at the annual meeting unless two-thirds of those present and eligible to vote so determine. Rules committee 2nd Sunday of December.

9.	Proposed rule changes must be submitted to all participating teams 3 weeks prior to annual meeting to be held on the 3rd Sunday of January.

Regional and State Tournaments

A regional tournament consists of teams from one area or region participating against each other.

Rosters for Regional tournament play cannot exceed 18 players boys or girls.

Entrants in the District or Regional Tournaments must be decided by the Regional Commissioners and State VFW Baseball Chairman as soon as possible.Regional Tournament sites will be determined by the Regional Commissioners and approved by the State VFW Baseball chairman. Regional Commissioner will make the drawings for Regional Tournaments. In a situation where the Regional Commissioner is also a coach of a team within the region, a drawing must take place in front of one or more coaches within the region or an official from the Department Headquarters. Before any Varsity A or Varsity B Regional Tournaments are held, the State A and B 13-14 Year Old Tournament must be completed. This is to facilitate teams who use 13 or14 year olds for their Varsity A or B teams.

All VFW Baseball Tournaments games shall be 7 innings duration unless a team is leading by 10 runs at the end of 5innings, 4 ½ innings if the home team is leading by 10 runs, or if a team is leading by that number of runs any complete inning thereafter. A team leading by 15 runs or more after 3 complete innings, or any complete inning thereafter until the ten run rule becomes effective will be declared the winner.

All of the umpires for regional and state tournaments must be registered. A certified umpire shall act as the umpire-in-chief. All games must have at least two umpires in state tournaments.

All varsity regional tournaments shall be double elimination or pool play with the decision to be made by the coaches and regional commissioner involved. All Varsity and 13-14 A and B State Tournaments shall be single elimination. The AA Varsity and 13-14 Majors and Minors State Tournament format maybe single elimination, double elimination or pool play. When a four region (champion and runner-up advancing to the state tournament) format is used the four regional champions will be awarded home team status in the first round. All registered teams must play in a qualifying regional tournament. If pool play format is used in an “open” state tournament, there would be no need for a qualifying regional tournament.

Insurance is mandatory for each team in tournament play. A copy must be placed on file with the State VFW Headquarters by June 10th, at the same time team rosters are required.

All teams, including coaches, shall be in baseball uniforms for tournament play. If a coach or team player is not in uniform they will not be allowed on the field.

A state AA Varsity Major tournament consists of the top four teams of each division, AA Varsity Minor tournament consists of all teams register for the yearand Class A Varsity and Class B Varsity tournaments consists of two teams from each region the champion and runner-up. The region hosting the state tournament will have a host team, that team will replace the runner-up if it does not place 1st or 2nd in the regional tournament.

10.

A State AA 13-14 year old tournament will have a Major and Minor Division. The Class A and B 13-14 year old tournaments will have two teams from each region the champion and runner-up. The region hosting the state tournament will have a host team, that team will replace the runner-up if it does not place 1st or 2nd in the regional tournament.

11.

Starting in 2008 the State Varsity AA Tournament and starting in 2005 the 13-14 year old AA Tournament when a pool play format is used, will be divided into two divisions called Major and Minor. Major Division will consist of teams with more advanced players than minor division teams. In the 13-14 year old AA class major teams should consist of your most advance thirteen and fourteen year old player. The AA class minor teams should be predominantly your program thirteen year olds, with exceptions for some fourteen year olds. A baseball program must have a team in the major division before they can have a team or teams in the minor division. The format will be a pool play format and regional tournaments will be eliminated. Number of teams and baseball diamonds will determine if the tournament will be played over a three day or four day period. The format for the tournament will be determined by the registered teams in the Varsity AAor 13 -14 year old AA Class. One vote per team. Tournament can be played at one site or two sites with the Major Division at one location and the Minor Division located at another site.The state Varsity A Tournament will be rotated each year starting in 2011 with Region 2 as the host and following each year there after in the order 4, 1, 3, and 2. The State Varsity B will be rotated each year starting in 2011 with Region 3 as the host and following each year there after in the order 4, 1, 2 and 3. The State A 13-14 year old Tournament will be rotated by regions each year starting in 2011 with Region 4 as the host and following each year in the order 2, 1, 3 and 4. The State B 13-14 year old Tournament will be rotated by regions each year starting in 2011 with Region 4 as the host and following each year in the order 3, 1, 2 and 4 .The regional commissioners in each class will pick the site of the State Tournament during the annual VFW Baseball Committee Meeting. State Tournament Fees will be as follows:

Varsity AA Majors	$400	13-14 Year Old AA Majors	$500
Varsity AA Minors	$200	13-14 Year Old AA Minors	$500
Varsity A	$400	13-14 Year Old A	$400
Varsity B	$400	13-14 Year Old B	$400
12 and Under	$600	10 and Under	$600

Fee shall be paid to the State VFW Headquarters within 30 days prior to the tournament. The Regional Commissioners shall select a host site at the annual meeting the year the tournament will be played in.

12.

Rosters for State Tournament play cannot exceed 18 players for AA, A and B tournaments.

13.

The game to determine 7th and 8th place in the A and B State Tournaments will not be played in any of the tournaments.

14.

Any team that does not report to play or notify the tournament officials at any regional or state tournament of a bonafide reason for being late by 30 minutes past the time established to play, shall forfeit the game.

15.

State tournaments will not be played on any diamond where another baseball tournament is being played on the same diamond on the same dates.

16.

Trophies shall be furnished for state tournaments by the Department of South Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars. Trophies for all state tournaments with eight team format shall be awarded to the winner, runner-up, third and fifth place winners. Individual medals will also be presented to the members of all the teams that participate in the tournament. Trophies for all state tournaments with a pool format shall be awarded to the winner, runner-up and third place winner and in some tournaments there maybe an 4th place trophy. Individual medals will be presented to members of the top four teams. Sportsmanship Team Plaque will be presented in the memory of Louie Thury by the South Dakota Baseball Umpire Association for the Varsity AA, A and B Tournaments. Sportsmanship Team Plaque will be presented in memory of William Radigan by the South Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars for 13-14 Year Old AA and A Tournaments. These awards are the only awards presented at a VFW State Tournament.

17.

Photo copies of Birth, Baptism or Hospital Certificates, Certified Copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics or a valid Driver’s License must be presented at the regional and state tournaments.

18.

Age verification certificates and team rosters for state tournament play should be submitted to the tournament chairman at the tournament meeting held before the tournament starts. It is also necessary to check birth age verification certificates and rosters at regional tournaments.

19.

Tournament officials have complete autonomy on taking whatever action is necessary in behavior problems of participants. Severe cases may result in a team being disqualified.

20.

In interest of time all rained out or postponed championship round ball games in tournament play will begin from point of stoppage unless the Ten Run Rule has taken effect. It is recommended during regular league play that if a game is rained out it should be called a game if five or more innings have been played.

21.

Pool Play Tie Breakers Formats for all VFW Baseball Tournaments.

Win-Loss record in pool play.
Head-to-head competition provided all teams have played each other.
Fewest runs allowed (overall).
Best run differential in all pool play games (maximum per game run differential of +10 or -10).
If, in the event of a 3-way tie or more, the 3-way tie is broken either before step #4 or upon completion of step #4 and a 2-way tie still remains, the two remaining tied teams will revert back to step #2 and repeat the tie-breaker criteria from that point in order to break the tie.
In the event of forfeit in Divisional/Pool Play, the non-forfeiting teams will be credited with a 10 run differential victory. Teams that forfeit a game cannot advance in tournament play.
Coin Toss

Equipment

1.	Bat requirements for Varsity Team Divisions. All bats cannot be lighter than -3 ounces under the length of the bat and the barrel cannot be larger than 2 5/8 inches in diameter. Starting in the 2013 season all bats for varsity team players must be wood, bamboo, composite wood or BBCOR.

2.	A batter without protective headgear including ear protectors will be declared out when the pitcher comes to the set position, or begins his motion. Protective helmet including ear protectors is required for all base runners, and if the base runner refuses to put on a helmet after being advised by the umpire, he shall be automatically out.

3.	Catchers must wear protective headgear, throat protectors and catcher’s cup. Warm-up catchers must wear protective headgear and throat protectors. Courtesy runners may be used for catchers attaining first base at any time. Courtesy runners are not allowed for pinch hitters for catchers. A player who has already participated in the game, is not eligible to be a courtesy runner.

4.	Bat requirements for 13-14 Year Old Team Divisions. Starting in 2012 all bats can’t be lighter than -9 ounces under the length of the bat.

Regulations

1.	If a pitcher is removed from the mound during the game he may not return to the mound in the same game though he is retained in the lineup. Designated hitters may be used in VFW Baseball for any position.Starting in 2012 South Dakota VFW Baseball will adopt the NFHS rule for re-entry. Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re‐entered once, including a player who was the designated hitter, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever he is in the lineup. A substitute who is withdrawn may not re‐enter.

2.	All protests will be decided by the official on the level where they occur, but may be appealed to the next higher authority.

3.	Adult managers who are at least 18 years of age only will be allowed in the coaching boxes, with permission granted to use one player in one box through state tournament play. Players in the coaches box must wear a helmet with ear protection. Coaches must wear helmets in the coaching box.

4.	Professional rules of baseball will apply to all VFW Baseball games except in all cases where VFW League Rules and Regulations conflict with major league professional rules, VFW League rules will supersede professional rules. In the event of a serious injury and there are no players on the bench who have not played, the last player taken out may be placed back in the game in place of the injured player or players. In the alternative, in a serious injury situation, a team may continue to play with eight players and the team shall receive an automatic out at such player(s) turn at bat. The applicability of the rule shall be determined by the head umpire.

5.	This pitching rule is for Varsity and 13-14 Year Old Divisions. Fourteen (14) innings will be the maximum total number of innings a pitcher may pitch in any consecutive seven (7) day period. A pitcher may not pitch more than a total of seven innings in any one day or on two consecutive days. The fifth through seventh inning must be followed by four (4) days of rest. If a pitcher pitches on two consecutive days with the combined total fewer than five innings, he will follow with two days off for rest. In summary, the pitching limitation rule is seven innings on any given day, followed with four days of rest (i.e. Pitch on Monday, eligible to pitch again on Saturday.) If a pitcher pitches more than four innings, up to a maximum of seven innings on any two consecutive days, he will follow with four days of rest. The maximum number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a week is 14. This rule will be in effect beginning 2005 VFW Baseball season. One pitch to home plate will be considered an inning. Teams advancing to the state tournament must provide pitchers records of the regional tournaments.

6.	All games scheduled on a definite date will be considered part of that day’s play even though the scheduled is not completed until past midnight. In the event of interruption due to weather conditions and participating teams leave the ball park because the complex is closed for that session, all pitching records will be counted for the calendar day that they are started in.

7.	No more than two complete games will be played by any one team in any one day, except when an “open” pool play tournament format is used.

8.	A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, he must slide within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot. A runner may slide or run in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. A slide is illegal if: The runner uses a rolling, cross‐body or pop‐up slide into the fielder, or The runner’s raised leg is higher than the fielder’s knee when the fielder is in a standing position, or The runner goes beyond the base and then makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder, or The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg, or The runner tries to injure the fielder, or The runner, on a force play, does not slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases. Any player may be ejected from a game for flagrant conduct ,which in the umpire’s judgment either injures or is intended to injure another player.

9.	The State Baseball Chairman is authorized to move a team to a different class after reviewing and consulting the situation with the commissioners of the regions involved, and the final decision will be approved by the Department Commander. Such ruling must be made by July 10th.

13-14 Year Old Regulations

1.	Competition is open to boys and girls who are 13 and 14 years of age and eligible to play VFW Baseball. A boy or girl who has reached hisor her 15th birthday beforeMay 1st of the current year is not eligible for the 13-14 year old programs. A boy or girl who is under 13 years of age may play if permission is secured from the regional commissioner prior to the time of play.

2.	The games will be played on a regulation field.

3.	The 13-14 year old State A and B Tournament will be completed before any A Varsity or B Varsity region tournaments are held. The 13-14 year old State AA Tournament will be completed one week before the AA Varsity State Tournament is held.

4.	VFW Baseball rules will apply to all games unless a change is listed above.