DIAGRAM

1. The SCMAF Rules on allowable equipment (Rule 1, Secs. 27 through 35) may not be amended by any League. Included are rules forbidding bare feet, metal cleats, and illegal bats.

2. For safety, no new inning may be started after local sunset on unlighted fields. Any League may set an earlier game termination time but not a later one.

3. For safety, all bats, balls, gloves, and other equipment and materials not in use must be kept away from the field of play in a designated dead ball area. This includes all food and beverage containers and all persons and animals that do not belong on the field.

4. Sliding is optional unless regulated by a specific League rule. Whether a baserunner chooses to slide or not to slide, he/she must avoid collision or any interference with a fielder attempting to make a legal fielding play. A baserunner who intentionally collides with any fielder (whether or not involved in the play) is automatically out, and additionally may face ejection from the game for violation of the Rules of Conduct. Note: A gentle push or shove does not constitute a collision.

5. All SCMAF rules concerning obstruction are strictly in effect and may not be amended by any League. Basically, the SCMAF rules prohibit any fielder from blocking a runner's advance to a base "unless the fielder is trying to field a batted ball or is in the act of receiving a thrown ball, or has the ball ready to touch a baserunner."

1. Enforcement of the Rules of Play is in the hands of the umpire(s). If a neutral umpire is not available, the umpire(s) must be supplied by the opposing teams. Umpires shall behave in accordance with the "Duties of Umpires" section in the SCMAF rulebook.

2. If the umpire is supplied by one of the opposing teams, the umpire's decision may be overruled by mutual agreement between both managers. A decision by a neutral umpire may not be overruled.

3. Protests of umpiring decisions on Rules of Play may be filed in accordance with SCMAF Rule 9 or applicable League Rules of Operation. All such protests must be heard in a timely manner by the League.

4. Decisions by the League on protests based on Rules of Play are not appealable to the Program Executive Council.

1. All elements of SCMAF Rule 11 (Players Code of Conduct) are part of the Program Rules of Conduct, with the following exceptions only: At the discretion of the umpire(s), the SCMAF rules concerning vulgar language, gambling and smoking may be applied loosely, and the SCMAF rules about players remaining in the dugout and prohibiting non-team members in the dugout may be waived.

2. All Rules of Conduct apply to all managers, players, and spectators, i.e., to anyone who participates in the Program in any way. All Rules of Conduct are applicable at the game site (both on and off the field of play) for the entire time the game site is reserved or used by JPL (not just the period of the game itself).

3. The team managers have sole responsibility for resolution of disputes that occur during a game. Interjection into this process by persons other than the managers is a violation of the Rules of Conduct and may result in their ejection from the game.

4. Continued or willful violation of the Rules of Play by any individual is considered to be a violation of the Rules of Conduct, and the offending individual is subject to ejection.

5. Any person who instigates a physical attack on another player or retaliates with a physical counterattack or engages in any kind of physical fighting at the game site (before, during, or after the game) shall be punished by the most severe penalty available, even for a first offense (see #7 in the section on Enforcement of the Rules of Conduct).

1. Enforcement of the Rules of Conduct at the game is the responsibility of the umpire or the managers. If a neutral umpire is in charge, the umpire alone has the right to determine such violations and the appropriate punishment. If there is no neutral umpire, such decisions must be made by mutual agreement between both managers.

2. Violations of the Rules of Conduct are punishable at the game by warning or ejection. A person ejected from a game must immediately leave the premises, or else the ejected person's team shall forfeit the game and the ejected person shall receive a second ejection.

3. Violations of the Rules of Conduct are also punishable after the game is over. The League has the power to hand out limited suspensions, and the Program Executive Council can levy unlimited suspensions. A limited suspension is for one or two League games, or one or two weeks of League play. An unlimited suspension is for an indefinite period of time (effective until rescinded), and shall specify a minimum suspension period during which appeals shall not be heard. Both limited and unlimited suspensions are Program-wide suspensions, applicable in all Leagues throughout the Program. A suspended individual may not participate as player, manager, or spectator for the duration of the suspension, or else the suspended person's team shall forfeit the game and the suspended person shall receive an automatic unlimited suspension.

4. Every League shall impose an automatic one-week limited suspension on any person ejected from a game in any JPL League. This automatic suspension shall be enforced by all Leagues in which the ejected person participates (even as a spectator), and it shall be effective for seven days from the date of the ejection. Furthermore, the suspension shall include a minimum of one game in the League in which the ejection occurred (extending beyond seven days if necessary in that League only).

5. Any League may also impose a limited suspension of one or two games or one or two weeks for any violation it deems worthy of ejection (on the basis of game reports or other testimony), regardless of whether an ejection was actually enforced during the game. After such action by one League, a limited suspension of at least one week shall be enforced by all Leagues in which the suspended person participates (even as a spectator), and it shall be effective for seven days from the date of the action taken by the League in which the violation occurred.

6. The Program Executive Council shall impose an automatic unlimited suspension on any person receiving two limited suspensions for separate offenses in the same season, unless the Council decides that one of the limited suspensions was unwarranted or unfairly applied. This unlimited suspension shall remain in effect and shall not be reviewed until the next season at the earliest.

7. The Program Executive Council shall impose an automatic unlimited suspension on any person who instigates a physical attack on another player or retaliates with a physical counterattack or engages in any kind of physical fighting at the game site (before, during, or after the game), even for a first offense. This unlimited suspension shall remain in effect and shall not be reviewed for a minimum of one year from the date of the violation.

8. Ejections and limited suspensions may be reviewed within the League (if League rules so prescribe), but they are not reviewable by the Program Executive Council, except to determine whether an unlimited suspension should be levied.

9. Any person receiving an unlimited suspension may appeal to the Program Executive Council for reinstatement following completion of the minimum suspension period. Each person is allowed only one appeal for reinstatement per year. The suspended person must provide sufficient evidence either that the suspension was unjust or that his/her behavior has been sufficiently reformed to preclude future violations.

League Structure Rules

1. League Formation Requirements

2. League-Specific Rules

Each league shall be required to have a set of approved rules prior to the start of league play. The following regulations apply to the creation and approval of these rules:

Registration & Eligibility Rules

1. General Registration Requirements

2. Individual Eligibility Requirements

3. Team Registration Dates

4. Team Roster Requirements

5. Cross-Registration Restrictions

Suspension of Teams and Individuals

1. A team shall be suspended indefinitely for nonpayment of team fees, for two or more forfeited games, or for repeated violations of the Rules of Conduct. All team suspensions are levied by the Program Executive Council, which shall notify the suspended team of the reasons for suspension and the conditions on which its reinstatement to the Program will be considered.

2. A suspended team remains on suspension until the Program Executive Council votes to lift the suspension. The team may request reinstatement before the start of the next season if it can demonstrate correction of the problems that led to its suspension.

3. Individuals (including players, managers, and spectators) may be suspended by the League or by the Program Executive Council for violations of the Rules of Conduct (see Program Rules of Conduct).

Reporting Requirements

1. The managers of both teams must report to the League Commissioner all forfeited games and all exceptional problems, disputes, and violations of the Rules of Conduct that occur in any game.

2. The League Commissioner must notify the Program Registrar every time a person is ejected from a game or given a limited suspension. Every time a person receives a suspension (limited or unlimited), the Program Registrar must notify the League Commissioners of all the Leagues in which the individual is registered, because suspensions are enforced in all Leagues throughout the Program. An ejected or suspended individual also must inform each of his/her team managers of the ejection or suspension.

1. The Rules of Operation shall be enforced by appropriate action of the League Commissioner, the Program Executive Council or authorized officer of the Council. Any League, team, manager or player not in compliance with the applicable Rules of Operation shall be restrained from further participation in the Program, pending compliance with the rules.

2. The League Commissioner shall enforce forfeit penalties for violations of any Program or League Rules of Operation that prescribe such penalties.

3. Violations of the Rules of Operation which have an impact on the play of the game (such as use of an unregistered player) must be resolved by mutual agreement between the opposing managers. If the managers do not agree, either manager may file a protest with the League, which is the final arbiter for determining whether the game's outcome should be reversed or replayed because of the purported violation.