Our Policies

Albany Babe Ruth League Code of Conduct.

Jurisdiction:

All competition - local, district, state, regional, national or international - shall be played under the jurisdiction of Babe Ruth League, Inc. This code is adopted as the Albany Babe Ruth League Official Code of Conduct within the guidelines allowed by Babe Ruth League, Inc.

1. Profanity, vulgarity or inappropriate gestures, directed at another player, coach, manager, or umpire, is prohibited.

2. Harassment, intimidation or deliberate detraction, physical or verbal, of any player, manager, or coach of the opposing team, is prohibited.

3. There will be no throwing of equipment.

4. Any player, manager, or coach involved in an altercation in the vicinity of the ballpark will be suspended for the balance of game and the following game, and must leave the area immediately. Failure to do so may lead to legal action. Any additional suspension will be pending review by the Grievance Committee.

(a) The Grievance Committee consists of the President, Player Agent, and a Board member appointed by the President.

(b) The decision of the Grievance Committee is final, in all cases.

(c) While under suspension a manager/coach/player may not be in the dugout or press box during any game.

5. Only the manager will be allowed on the field to question/protest an umpire's call or to discuss a ground rule. Time-out shall be asked for, and only the respective managers & chief umpire will conference on ruling or call.

6. All protests shall be lodged with chief umpire before the end of game.

7. Judgment calls cannot be protested.

8. All protests shall be registered in writing within 48 hours with the league President.

Local League Options (In-house Rules)

Ten (10) Run "Mercy" Rule

Any game will be terminated once becoming regulation if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs and both teams have had equal times at bat or the home team is leading. This rule applies to both the 13-prep division and the Babe Ruth (14- & 15-year-old) division.

5-run Limit

In the 13-prep division, when three offensive players are legally put out, OR when the offensive team scores 5 runs, that team takes the field and the opposing team becomes the offensive team. This 5-run limit on scoring does not apply in the last inning of a regulation game or any extra inning.

League Playoffs

A division champion will be determined through play-offs, in which seedings are established by regular-season standings. Tournament pitching rules apply during play-offs.

Time Limit

In any game that is followed by another game on the same day: No new inning may start after two hours of play (i.e., two hours after the actual start of play, notwithstanding the scheduled start time). Games called because of the time limit will be considered regulation games regardless of the number of innings played.

Extra Hitter

In the Babe Ruth (14- &15-year-old) division, a team may elect to add a tenth hitter to the batting order during in- house league games. This player will be indicated in the lineup as the "EH." The EH will be treated as any other starter. The EH may appear in any position in the batting order.

In the 13-prep division: a continuous batting order will be used.

In both divisions: Each player must play a minimum of two innings on the field and one time at bat.