| February 6, 2006
RULE REMINDERS FOR
2006
Rules serve a vital purpose in all of
our lives. The purpose of rules is to create
a structure which is supportive of freedom
– freedom to learn, freedom to play and freedom
to grow
One of the primary reasons for the success
of Babe Ruth League, Inc. is our rules and
regulations. The rules and regulations were
established through democratic procedures,
with the guidance of our leagues, the International
Board of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc.,
professional recreation directors, high school
athletic authorities and college coaches.
Listed below is an explanation of the rules
which are in effect beginning with the 2006
season:
- April 30th Age Determination Date
for Baseball – Effective with the
2006 season, the age determination date
for all Babe Ruth baseball divisions,
including the Cal Ripken division, has
been changed to April 30th. This rule
change was researched and studied for
several years by USA Baseball and its
affiliated members. Such research showed
that our sport would benefit from this
change by keeping more players in programs
longer; players being better prepared
for the transition to conventional-sized
fields; and there being no diminished
eligibility for players. (The age determination
date for Babe Ruth Softball will remain
at January 1.) All baseball players’
ages are determined by the birth
chart available on our website. May
1 in any given year shall be the deciding
date.
- Cal Ripken – Any player born
prior to May 1, 2002 and on or after
May 1, 1993 will be eligible for Cal
Ripken Baseball League competition
– Season of 2006.
- 13-15 - Any player born prior
to May 1, 1993 and on or after May
1, 1990 will be eligible for 13-15
League competition – Season of 2006.
- 16-18 - Any player born prior
to May 1, 1990 and on or after May
1, 1987 will be eligible for 16-18
League competition – Season of 2006.
- 12-Year-Old Swing Player Option
– As a result of the April 30th age determination
date, Babe Ruth League, Inc. adopted a
new local league option, the 12-Year-Old
Swing Player Option for those 12-year-old
players who are more skilled and experienced.
The Cal Ripken League President may elect
to permit a 12-year-old player to play
in a Cal Ripken and/or 13-15 league. For
the tournament season, the Cal Ripken
League President will decide on which
tournament team the 12-year-old player
participates. The player must meet all
Babe Ruth League, Inc. eligibility requirements
for the respective division in which he
participates. A player can only participate
on one tournament team in any given year.
- 4-Year-Olds – This rule change
was implemented due to the age determination
date change. This allows “league age”
4-year-olds to participate at the T-Ball
level of the Cal Ripken Baseball Division
effective with the 2006 season.
- 19-Year-Old Players Rescinded
– “League age” 19-year-old players are
no longer permitted to participate in
the 16-18 division. Under the new age
determination date, if a player turns
19 after April 30, the player is considered
to be “league age” 18 and eligible to
participate in the 16-18 division. This
is effective with the 2006 season. If
we had continued to accept “league age”
19-year-olds under the new age determination
date, it would have allowed for 20-year-old
players to participate.
The rule listed below is
certainly not a new rule, but one of the
most significant rules in Babe Ruth League,
Inc. Its meaning and intent are of paramount
importance and it follows suit with the
mission of Babe Ruth League, Inc., which
is to provide every child with a desire
to play baseball or softball an opportunity
to do so.
- Babe Ruth Rule 0.01, Paragraph 5
– Geographical Boundaries – State Commissioners
shall approve geographical boundaries
established by each league in conjunction
with the District Commissioner in whose
district that league exists and operations.
Appropriate written descriptions, maps
or specifications of boundary limitations
must be certified and filed with the State
Commissioner and submitted to Babe Ruth
League, Inc. for final approval. A player
must play within the league’s geographical
boundaries in which the player resides.
This is determined according to the legal
residence of the player’s parents or legal
guardian. WAIVERS PERMITTING A PLAYER
TO PLAY OUTSIDE OF HIS/HER GEOGRAPHICAL
BOUNDARIES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN BABE RUTH
LEAGUE. The only exception would
be if a player rostered on a SB 12U, SB
16U, SB 18U, Cal Ripken, 13-15 baseball
or 16-18 baseball team moved outside of
that league’s geographical boundaries.
In this case, the player may finish his/her
playing career in the respective division
of that league.
League geographical boundaries shall be
subject to review and adjustment by the
State or Regional Commissioner and Babe
Ruth League, Inc. whenever it is deemed
advisable. Geographical boundaries
are established to eliminate competition
of an undesirable nature but shall not
be established to prevent healthy expansion
of teams and leagues within any given
area.
Even if a town or city next to or near
your league is NOT involved
with Babe Ruth League, or does not offer
a baseball or softball program to the
youth in their community, players from
that area are still NOT ELIGIBLE
to participate in your local league, unless
your league boundaries are formally changed,
signed by the State Commissioner and filed
with Babe Ruth League, Inc. as including
that town or city. Only the State
Commissioner may approve that change and
it must be in writing and on file at International
Headquarters. Babe Ruth League, Inc. will
make final approval of boundaries once
received. Note that geographical
boundaries will not be adjusted to include
only a few select players. Once a boundary
is approved to be expanded, ALL
players from within the expanded area
must be given the opportunity to play
for that league.
Remember, Babe Ruth League
is not just about learning
the game of baseball or softball. It is
about learning life lessons.
One of the most important life lessons to
be gained via participation in Babe Ruth
League is to follow and respect the rules
and regulations. As adults’ let’s make sure
we all observe and be examples of that lesson.
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