RULES SERVE A VITAL PURPOSE…
…ON THE PLAYING FIELD…
…AND IN REAL LIFE, TOO!

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 professional recreation directors, high school athletic authorities and college coaches.

When a league charters with Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball or Babe Ruth Softball, they receive geographical boundaries from which they can select their players. These boundaries are approved by the State Commissioner, in conjunction with the District Commissioner in whose district that league exists and operates. Appropriate written descriptions, maps or specifications of boundary limitations must be filed with the State Commissioner and submitted to Babe Ruth League, Inc. for final approval.

If a League President is not sure of his/her geographical boundaries, s/he should contact his/her District and State Commissioners. A League President should never assume a certain area is part of his/her geographical boundaries. It is the League President’s responsibility to know and enforce the league’s geographical boundaries.

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.

Geographical boundaries are meant to eliminate recruitment of players and competition of an undesirable nature. One of the goals of Babe Ruth League, Inc. is to assign every player who tries out for the program to a team. Our principle is to let the youngster decide for himself/herself whether or not they should play the game of baseball or softball. No one can predetermine when a young participant will reach their full potential as a ball player.

When the District and State Commissioners approve a league’s geographical boundaries, they must be assured that the league will make every attempt to place on a team ALL youngsters within their boundaries who try out. If a District or State Commissioner finds that a league is turning away a significant number of participants, they must review the league’s boundaries to determine whether an adjustment to those boundaries is needed, dependant upon each community’s unique situation.

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.

It is the responsibility of Babe Ruth League, Inc. to be consistent with our rules and regulations, especially when it comes to player eligibility. Our leagues, managers, coaches and parents rely on us to enforce the rules and regulations so that the playing field remains even for all participants.

It is in violation of Babe Ruth rules, and is unethical, when a legal player, who has attended all practices and games during the local league season, is denied a spot on the tournament roster in order to make room for an illegal player whose skills may be more developed at the time. Further, such illegal player(s), upon discovery, will cause his or her team to forfeit tournament games and end any chance to advance to the next tournament level for the legal players.

Babe Ruth League, Inc.’s primary emphasis continues to be on participation for all players at all levels of athletic ability and making sure the participants have FUN within the rules and regulations of Babe Ruth League, Inc. Without rules and regulations, this goal would be impossible to accomplish. Rules serve a vital purpose – in life and on the playing field.

In every setting where we spend time with a child, we must take the responsibility for knowing and upholding rules and regulations. As adults, we must set the example for our children of taking responsibility for our own actions. Whether an illegal player was put on a team by accident or by design, the parents and adult leadership of the league should own up to that mistake and its consequences.

Avoid sending the message to the child or to each other that it is okay to go against the rules because you feel the “system” is wrong. When each league initially charters with Babe Ruth, the league president signs a document certifying that the league will abide by the rules and regulations of Babe Ruth League, Inc. You agreed to those conditions.

Blaming others for one’s own actions is a not a good philosophy for children to adopt at any point in their life. Concern for the players and a sense of fair play should always be foremost in our minds. Children watch and learn from us, whether intentional or not. That is why it is so important for us to continually re-evaluate our own moral behavior and respect for the rules.

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 teach that lesson together.