Rules

Calgary North Baseball League Rules & Regulations

Games will be played according to the Baseball Canada Rulebook unless superseded by these League rules:

1. What we are about: Please understand that this CNBL is a recreational level league. It is the intent of those that established this league to provide an environment for young players to extend their opportunity to play baseball, and as such it is first and foremost very important for all involved to understand that theses rules have been developed to keep the spirit of the game in mind. It is a must that all coaches demand a good sportsmanship attitude from their players towards other players, coaches, and umpires.

2. Game Start Times: All weekday games will start at 6.30 p.m. with no new inning to start after 2 hours and 15 minutes. If it is agreed during the plate meeting with coaches and umpires to play a full 7 inning game that is fine.

3. In the case of inclement weather, all teams are to expect to play unless otherwise notified. A decision on whether or not a game will be played must be made by 5:00pm of the game day.

4. Minimum players: To keep in the spirit of good sportsmanship and to maintain the intent of this league all games will be played even if one team is short players. If a team has 7 or less players, that team will forfeit the game.
   It is however our intent that the other team will then lend players to even up the two teams and a game will be played anyway and umps will be paid. A game will only be played and scored if a minimum of 8 players per team is present. When playing with 8 players there will be NO automatic out for the 9th batter. 

5. Participation Rule - We encourage coaches to play all players who are in attendance. The CNBL does not have a minimum inning or at bat participation rule.

6. Pitching Limits: Baseball Alberta pitch counts to be followed for both U18 and U22 divisions. 

LOW
MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH HIGH MAXIMUM

1-30 NONE 31-44 1 DAY 45-64 2 DAYS 65-79 3 DAYS 80-100 4 DAYS 100. Pitchers will be allowed to complete the current batter when reaching each threshold, however the 100 pitch limit is "hard stop". A 101st pitch is not permitted. The scorekeeper shall warn the coaches when a pitcher is nearing their threshold, so that an opportunity for correction is given.

6. Pitchers will only be allowed 8 warm-up pitches when they enter the game and 5 pitches during subsequent innings. It would be appreciated if the coaches would warm up their pitchers on the sidelines whenever possible.

7. Field Dimensions: Per baseball Canada rules.

8. Equipment: Per baseball Canada rules.

   Baseballs - Rawlings ROML Rawlings ROMC are both approved for use

   *Please Note* - the CNBL will be using Rawlings ROML baseballs ONLY.

    

9. Wood/wood composite bats only for the 2023 CNBL season. Maximum length is 36 inches. Maximum diameter is 2 5/8th"

10. Substitutions: Players may leave and re-enter the game, as long as they re-enter in the same position in the batting order.

11. 1. All coaches must provide an official line-up card to the umpire prior to the game.

    2. Coaches must indicate on the line-up card which players are overage.

    3. Any players who will be late for a game must be listed on the line-up card prior to the

       start of the game.

i. They are to be placed at the bottom of the line-up and must be designated as absent.

ii. No “automatic out” will be recorded for absent players listed on the line-up card. The absent players batting spot will be skipped.

10. All base runners are permitted to lead off.

11. No DH / EH will be permitted

12. There shall be 7 innings per game, with 5 being the minimum required for an official game in the event of inclement weather or darkness, or 4.5 innings if the home team is leading.

13. Mercy rule: in effect (10 run differential when the losing team has completed their 5th offensive inning/at bat)

14. Umpires: Home team is responsible for booking certified 2 umpires through their Little League Association Umpire in Chief, or assignor. If a team is not playing at their home diamond, but is designated the home team, they shall still be responsible for payment of umpires. Chestermere, Davisburg, High River, Bow Valley and Keoma will pay umpires on site, following home games, as per the protocol of Baseball Alberta.

    Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are we to allow anyone that isn’t registered with Baseball Alberta as a Player, Coach or umpire to be on the field.

    1. Payment of Umpire Fees: The team designated as the “HOME TEAM” is responsible for paying the umpires fees. At no time is the “VISITING TEAM” responsible to pay for any umpire fees.

    2. Payment of the umpires is the responsibility of each participating association. Each team should be aware of its Association’s policy on paying umpires for CNBL games and follow those guidelines.

    3. If a team is designated as the “HOME TEAM” but are playing at someone else’s field, thecoach of the designated “HOME TEAM” MUST pay the umpires at the field after the game.

    4. Umpire fees are $60.00 for each umpire. If only (1) umpire is available 1.5 times this amount is paid to that (1) umpire ($90.00 for Midget). The home team coach will pay the umpires.

    5. Any mileage for umpires is calculated at $0.40/km. (See Baseball Alberta League Rules)

15. All coaches are encouraged to let the players experience playing all positions during the course of the season unless in the coach’s opinion the safety of a player is jeopardized by playing a particular position.

16. A courtesy runner for the catcher may be used when there are 2 outs in the inning, and the catcher is on base (this is designed to help speed up the game)

Schedules and Standings will be available for viewing at www.calgarynorthbaseball.ca 

18. Makeup games: Should circumstances prevent a League game from being played (per schedule), the host/home club is responsible for giving the opposition suitable advance notification for re- scheduling the game. Notification must also be given to Tam Rosnau at least 48 hours prior to the game. These games need to be made up as soon as possible, but if all efforts have been made to make the game up, but uncooperative weather etc. makes this difficult the game can be assessed a 1 all tie. The arbitration committee can make the decision to award a loss to any team that does not take reasonable steps to make themselves available to make up the game.

19. Play-offs: will take place over the final 2 weeks of June.

20. Zero Tolerance: Adhering to schedules must be taken seriously. If your team cannot make it to a game or if you are not 100% sure whether the fields are open or not, you must establish communication with the other team well in advance of anyone heading to that diamond. Teams that do not show up for games will be in violation of this very strict rule and will have their fate decided by the “Disciplinary Committee”. We do not want people travelling to a scheduled or re-scheduled game to find the other team did not show up. This could lead to an immediate removal from this league!

21. It is up to the home team to make sure that everything is good order on their diamond and that the field condition is well kept up. They must also ensure that certified umpires show up on time for games and that at least (2) new baseballs are provided for each game.

22. Over aged players: Teams are allowed a maximum of 3 overage players on their roster, unless approved by the CNBL. There are no restrictions are the overage player(s) participation in the game.

23. Respect in Sport:  All head coaches for each team should complete the Respect In Sport E-Learning online module offered by Baseball Alberta. Failure to complete this module will result in coaches not being permitted on the field and/or forfeiture of games played at the Provincial level in Baseball Alberta sanctioned championships.

24. NCCP Certification: The HEAD COACH of each team should complete the online initiation certification module.

25. Discipline Policy - All incidents and matters that require disciplinary action will follow the guidelines of the Baseball Alberta discipline policy.