Sandlapper Baseball Rules and Regulations
1. The Sandlapper League will sponsor a championship in both classes.
There are two classes within the league as detailed below:
Sandlapper League - open to any player rising 8th grader to rising senior. The Sandlapper League will compete for the SBL league championship and players will be eligible for annual individual awards and All-Tournament team. This division will award a SBL champion each year.
Palmetto League - open to any player rising 7th grader to rising sophomore. The Palmetto League will be built around development. However, this league will also compete for the Palmetto League Championship within the SBL each summer and players will be eligible for annual individual awards.
2. National Federation Baseball Rules will be used in all games.
a. Dead ball appeals will not be recognized.
The following speed-up rules may be used.
a. The pitcher and/or catcher may have a courtesy runner if indicated at the pre-game conference. This change can be made any time after they reach base.
Refer to the National Federation Baseball Rules book or regulations.
3. While not required it is recommended that All head coaches be CPR certified.
4. Certified umpires must be used in all games. Games will be played even though only one umpire is present. Rescheduling or postponing league games must take priority over non-league games.
5. Pitchers are limited to the pitch restriction guidelines (can be found on the Sandlapper Baseball League website) If this rule is violated, the pitcher is considered an ineligible player and the game will be forfeited. Teams are required to submit pitch count data to a league administrator and track all statistical data on GameChanger.
6. All league games must be scheduled for 7 innings. If a double header is played, the non-league game may be scheduled for 5 innings. The league has implemented a time limit of 90 minutes for the 5 inning game as long as both coaches agree to this time limit prior to the first pitch. This is not a drop dead time limit however, a new inning will not be started after the 90 minutes have elapsed.
7. All 7 inning games will end any time after 3 innings, or after 2 ½ innings when a team is 15 or more runs behind and has completed its term at bat. The game will end any time after 5 innings, or after 4 ½ innings when a team is 10 or more runs behind and has completed its term at bat.
Any doubleheader game scheduled for five innings will end any time after 3 innings, or after 2 ½ innings when a team is 10 or more runs behind and has completed its term at bat.
8. Games that are called prior to completion will be considered suspended games under the following circumstances:
a. It is not a regulation game.
b. It is a regulation game with a tied score.
c. A game will be declared a forfeit after a 30-minute waiting period for the opponent, unless other arrangements have been made.
Suspended games will be resumed from the point of interruption.
9. If the game is called (ended) by the umpire, it is a regulation game:
a. If five full innings have been played or if the home team has scored an equal or greater number of runs in four or four and a fraction turns at bat than the visiting team has scored in five turns at bat; or
b. if play has gone beyond five full innings. If the game is called when the teams have not had an equal number of completed turns at bat, the score shall be the same as it was at the end of the last completed inning; except that if the home team in its half of the incomplete inning, scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the opponent’s score the final score shall be record when the game is called.
10. When a protest is filed, the offended team must enter it at the time of the play and before the next pitch. The protest must be filed with a Sandlapper League official by the coach the day of the incident along with all related conditions at the time of the protested play. If a protest is upheld the game will be replayed from the time of the protest.
11. Postponed games during the regular season will be made up on the next available playing date unless one team has a scheduled game.
12. The host school is responsible for securing umpires. The host team unless prior arrangements amongst the teams or playing sites being used have been made will receive all gate money from their games.
13. When games are played on neutral fields (outside of tournaments), game or gate security is the responsibility of both teams and each team must control its own fans.
14. It is required that teams play each league opponent a minimum of two times in both classes. If teams choose to play doubleheaders, only the first game counts towards league standings and it must be a 7 inning game.
15. League schedules for both classes will be provided by the league. Changes to league games must be approved by the league (ie. moving a league game from Wednesday to Thursday). Venue changes do not need prior approval.
16. The Sandlapper League and Palmetto League may utilize the Extra Hitter rule as allowed per SCHSL guidelines JV/B Team Games. This means you can have 10 players in your starting lineup. Again, this must be discussed between coaches prior to first pitch and agreed upon.
HEALTH & SAFETY
1. Each team is responsible for and must provide proof of insurance which can be purchased through K&K Insurance at https://www.kandkinsurance.com/Sports/Pages/Amateur-Sports-TLA.aspx .
You can also find access from www.sandlapperbaseball.com.
WHY DO I NEED THIS INSURANCE?
Whether or not your league is negligent, you can be sued. Even if you are found innocent, you have investigation and legal expenses. If you are found liable, you will have to pay all judgments. You need to be protected:
- To protect yourself and your team from lawsuits that may arise as a result of baseball-related activities.
- To protect current and future assets that may be at risk as a result of a bodily injury, personal injury, or property damage claim.
- To provide excess medical benefits for accidental injuries to your players & volunteers.
The following limits are recommended:
General Liability Limit: $1,000,000
Medical Payments for Participants Limits: $100,000
Deductible for Medical Payments: $500
PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR
- Participant and Spectator Bodily Injury and Property Damage
- Claims resulting from injuries to participants
2. While not required, it is recommended that all teams must have Emergency Action Plans (EAP) on file.
3. All teams must determine safe conditions for practice and/or competition during periods of high heat and humidity.
SPORTSMANSHIP
The Sandlapper League will emphasize sportsmanship by our players, coaches and fans. Good sportsmanship and good conduct go hand in hand for a successful experience for all involved. Leagueadministrators, coaches, players and fans have the greatest responsibility to see that conduct and sportsmanship are at the highest level possible.
Coaches and other team officials are responsible for ensuring that their players and fans understand that poor conduct and poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated.
Coaches must exemplify through their own actions and behavior an acceptable example of good sportsmanship and conduct. Coaches have access to their players on a daily basis and they need to take time to stress the importance of good conduct and sportsmanship by players in contests.
Baiting and taunting will not be tolerated at any league event. It should be the goal of everyone to have the outcome of each contest determined by athletic skills and hard work and to never let baiting and taunting or other negative actions be a factor. Examples of baiting and taunting are finger pointing, shooting motions to imply superiority, gestures with obscene connotations, excessive talking to distract or intimidate. This will also include signs or flags used to incite spectators and interfere with the orderly flow of the game. The above list is not complete, but it should give enough direction to coaches and officials to make reasonable judgments.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
Unsportsmanlike acts that take place at the site of a league contest are league matters. All ejections must be reported to a league official by the next business day.
1. An athlete who is ejected for using abusive language, flagrantly or maliciously contacting another person, making obscene gestures to opponents or spectators, shall be ineligible for a minimum of the next contest, depending on the seriousness of the violation.
a. Player(s) ejected from a contest may remain in the bench area.
b. A suspended athlete may be in the bench area provided they are not in uniform.
2. Any attempt to verbally abuse, make obscene gestures to, threaten or strike an official or member of the opposing coaching staff, shall be considered a serious violation making the athlete ineligible for a minimum of the next contest to the maximum end of the season. Any other action(s) that result in an ejection with the possibility of additional penalties.
3. Any athlete who leaves the bench area to become involved in an altercation, either physical or verbal, will be disqualified from that game and will be subject to a minimum of a next game suspension depending on his or her involvement. Teams may be subject to forfeiture penalties depending on severity of the incidents.
4. Any post-game unsportsmanlike activities that involve athletes, coaches and/or other school personnel while at the playing area.
5. A coach will be in violation of the standards for good sportsmanship established by the Sandlapper Baseball League for:
a. making degrading/critical remarks about officials during or after a contest either on the field of play, or from the bench.
b. arguing with officials using profane language or gestures.
c. detaining the official following the contest to request a ruling or explanation of actions taken by the official; or
d. being ejected from any contest.
6. A coach's action that leads to an ejection will be considered as serious unsportsmanlike conduct.
a. Coaches ejected from a contest must leave the facility/stadium immediately and not return and will be subject to a one game suspension.
7. Teams must control their spectators. In cases where spectators physically assault an official, coach, or athlete, the team shall be given one of two options: (1) To take legal action against the offender(s) or (2) be disciplined by the League.
8. Teams shall not allow vulgar chants by its supporters.
9. Should there be an altercation caused by players, staff, or fans, only the coaches, or security, will go on the playing field or court to stop the participants. All assistant coaches are to keep the remaining members of the team off the playing area. Officials are instructed to take all steps possible to prevent an altercation from increasing and to bring it to a stop as quickly as possible. Officials should not be involved in controlling the persons involved once it gets underway. All cameramen must be instructed to keep the camera running and film all of the altercation. This is vital to our investigation of the responsible parties.
10. REPEATED UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOR. Repeated unsportsmanlike behaviors by teams involving multiple student athletes during the same season may subject the team to possible probation and/or suspension.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
While at the site of a League sponsored activity, neither a participant, game official nor a coach shall use, be in possession of or be under the influence of alcohol or any other mood-altering drug.
