League Rules

IMPORTANT: MLB rules shall apply to those areas not specifically addressed by Maui Adult Baseball League (MABL) rules.

MLB Rules can be found here.

The MABL was formed in 2009 to provide men age 25 and older competitive recreational baseball programs that emphasize fun, enjoyment, camaraderie and sportsmanship. Mature attitudes must prevail regardless of the competitive nature of the league. Above all, we are here to have fun and play the game we love. The responsibility of keeping this premise is equally borne by the Commissioner, team managers, players, umpires and fans.

Section 1 – Age Requirements
  1. To be eligible for participation in the Maui Adult Baseball League, players must reach 25 years of age no later than December 31 of the calendar year for the season they are playing in.
  2. Managers are required to ensure players on their roster meet age requirements.
  3. Opposing managers may challenge a player’s age at any time by requesting the player’s ID. If the player does not produce the ID, the challenging manager may file a game protest with the League Commissioner. Protests shall be filed within 24 hours by email or phone.
  4. Violation of the age rule will result in the forfeiture of all games in which an ineligible player participated with commensurate losses placed on their record. Further, ineligible players shall forfeit all payments and be unable to play until they reach the age of qualification for the league.

Section 2 – Team and Player Fees
  1. Each team will be assessed a Team Fee to participate in each season of Maui Adult Baseball. This Team Fee will be determined based on the anticipated financial requirements to operate the league and evenly distributed to the teams.
  2. Team Fees in an amount to be determined by the Commissioner shall be paid by check or cash before the beginning of each season.
    1. Each team is responsible for the collection of funds sufficient to pay their Team Fee in total.
    2. Each team may use their discretion to charge fees to their team, secure sponsorship and/or hold fund raising events to fund their Team Fee.
    3. Team managers are responsible for properly crediting each player and submitting the entire team fee to the league Commissioner on time.
  3. Team schedules and league baseballs shall not be provided to any team that fails to pay the entire Team Fee before the beginning of the season. Teams that have not paid their fee by the deadline are ineligible to play until the fee is paid.
  4. New Players who join an MABL season in progress will be required to pay a Player Fee to the league. The Player Fee will be set by the League Commissioner and will be payable prior to the New Player participating in a game.

Section 3 – Rosters and Roster Management
  1. Prior to the start of each season, teams must submit a complete roster of players to the League Commissioner, to include: Player First and Last Name, Uniform Number and Player Age.
  2. Current Rosters to include each player’s first name, last name and jersey number shall be posted on the league web site.
    1. The league web site will be maintained on a best efforts basis to ensure all rosters are current. Therefore all Roster changes should be submitted as early as possible.
    2. Failure to list any player on the Team Roster will cause that player to be ineligible for league play at the discretion of the Commissioner.
  3. Each registered team must have no fewer than 12 players and no more than 20 on the roster. 1 additional spot is allowed for an injured reserve(IR) player.
    1. If a team cannot fill out its roster and the Commissioner may assign players to the team from any unassigned players that are available.
    2. Injured Reserve Clause: Any team may carry 1 player on Injured Reserve. Any team with a 20 person roster may move this player to IR and add 1 additional player to the roster. This new player is still subject to the league’s late entry fee. If the IR player returns to the team, 1 player from the “active” 20 man roster must removed. Any added player during the season, even if replacing an IR player, must still meet playoff eligibility requirements as set by the MABL.
  4. Unlimited additions and deletions to the Team Roster are allowed.
    1. Players removed from a Team Roster may, at the discretion of the Commissioner, be placed on a different team.
    2. Players may be replaced on a roster due to injury at any time during the regular season only, as long as that player has filled out a waiver form and paid the late registration fee
    3. Players added to a roster to replace an injured player must meet the minimum play requirements for the Team they are added to, in order to participate in playoff contests.
  5. In order to be eligible to participate in the playoffs, rostered players must appear in 5 of 14 regular season games.
    1. The minimum game requirement decreases by 1 for each game less than 14 a team plays, with the exception of losses by forfeit
      1. Ex. 1: If 2 games are rained out and a team only plays a 12 game regular season, that team’s players must have appeared in 3 games to be eligible for playoffs.
      2. Ex. 2: If a team forfeits a game, but plays all other games of the scheduled 14 game season, that team’s players must have appeared in 5 games to be eligible for playoffs.
    2. In this context a game appearance is defined as a plate appearance or facing a minimum of one batter as a pitcher.
  6. An “Alumni Player”, defined as a individual who has previously played with the same MABL team and no longer lives on island, may participate in an MABL game as long as they have submitted a Player Waiver and have been approved by the Commissioner prior to any roster submission deadlines.
    1. This temporary roster addition does not count as using one of the 20 active roster spots and does not require payment of a Player Add Fee
    2. Alumni Players are limited to one appearance with a team per season before they must be added to the active roster

Section 4 – Player Qualifications
  1. In order to play a player must:
    1. Meet the age requirement for the division of play. Currently, MABL has a 25+ division, requiring players turn 25 years old before the end of the year of play.
    2. Sign a Participation Waiver (waiver of liability):
      1. All players must sign a waiver of liability to be eligible to participate in any league activity or game. Players must agree not to hold MABL, its Commissioner and agents responsible for any injury, damage or loss resulting from participation in the MABL games, scrimmages and related events.
      2. Waivers must be signed and delivered to the team manager before a player can participate in any games.
      3. Waivers must include each player’s name, date of birth, mailing address, email, phone number and emergency contact.
      4. Any team that uses a player who does not have a participation waiver on file with the League is subject to forfeiture of all games the player participated in, at the discretion of the Commissioner.

Section 5 - Uniforms and Equipment
  1. All teams must have reasonable uniforms and be in full uniform for the opening of the season. Uniforms shall be consistent with the standards of Major or Minor League Baseball. Jersey numbers must be easily visible. Team names cannot be duplicated.
  2. All batters and runners must wear an approved batting helmet that includes a least one ear flap which, when the player is batting, faces the pitcher.
  3. Cracked helmets shall not be worn and must be removed at the direction and discretion of the home plate umpire.
  4. All catchers are required to wear complete catcher’s equipment, including a protective “skull cap” and mask or a one-piece “goalie” mask when in the catcher’s box.
  5. Metal spikes are permitted.
  6. Wood and wood-composite bats are required for all MABL games without exception. Aluminum bats are not allowed in MABL games.

Section 6 - Baseballs
  1. The League Commissioner shall choose the official baseball to be used in league play prior to the start of each season.
  2. Each team shall receive an allotment of four (4) new baseballs to use for each of their home games during the season.
  3. The home plate umpire will be furnished with four (4) new and unused official baseballs prior to each game.
    1. If a team runs out of new baseballs, used ones may be allowed at the discretion of the home plate umpire and both managers.
  4. Remaining baseballs shall be returned to the home team upon the game’s completion.

Section 7 - Alcohol and Smoking
  1. The consumption and use of drugs, alcohol and smoking tobacco products on the baseball fields or in the dugouts is strictly prohibited.
    1. This is a “zero tolerance” policy and will be enforced at all times.
    2. Players who smoke should do so 25′ or further away from the dugouts and the baseball field.
    3. The use or possession of illegal drugs at or near a field is prohibited at all times.
  2. Anyone violating this policy is subject to suspension to disciplinary action or removal from MABL at the League Commissioner’s discretion.
  3. Any team or player whose intentional violation of this policy results in the loss of any field for MABL use shall be responsible for repaying all funds lost as a result.
  4. Any player who consumes alcohol within 2 hours of the start of a game, or during a game, shall be ineligible to pitch in that game.

Section 8 – Code of Conduct
  1. No member of the MABL shall engage in, or threaten, physical altercation with any player, manager, umpire, or spectator before, during, or after any MABL event. Any such incident will lead to an immediate ejection and suspension.
  2. Objectionable demonstrations of dissent regarding an umpire’s decision are forbidden and are punishable by immediate ejection. Only the team Manager (or designated replacement) is authorized to initiate a discussion with an umpire questioning a decision made by that umpire; such discussions must remain civil and respectful.
  3. Any manager or player who refuses to abide by an official’s decision shall be immediately suspended from all league functions until further review of the incident by the MABL Board.
  4. No manager or player shall verbally abuse any player, manager, umpire, or spectator before, during, or after an MABL event. Such behavior is grounds for immediate ejection and additional suspension of future MABL events, upon review by the Board.
  5. No member of the MABL shall consume alcohol, any illegal substances, or smoke on the field of play or in the dugout during any MABL game. Any manager, player, or umpire on the field of play in an intoxicated condition shall be ejected immediately.

Section 9 – Disciplinary Actions
  1. An umpire has the authority to eject a player, manager, or spectator for a violation of the MABL Code of Conduct. Once ejected, the individual(s) must promptly gather their belongings and leave the facility before play will resume. In the event of non-compliance, an umpire may rule the game a forfeit against the ejected individual’s team which will carry with it the usual forfeit penalties.
  2. Any in-game ejection automatically comes with an additional suspension of 1 game, to be served during the ejected individual’s team’s next MABL game. The length of the suspension may be extended at the discretion of the MABL Commissioner and Board and is dependent on the severity of the infraction.
  3. The 2nd instance of a player or manager being ejected during a season comes with an additional 5 game suspension (subject to extension). A player or manager who is ejected 3 times in a season will be suspended from MABL events, at minimum, for 1 year.
  4. The second time any member of a team is ejected or suspended in a season, the team manager is also ejected (or suspended, in congruence with the offending penalty).
  5. Any player, manager, or spectator who has been ejected or suspended may not attend any MABL game during their suspension. A violation of this provision will lead to automatic suspension for the remainder of the season, and may constitute a forfeit, at the umpire’s discretion.
  6. In addition to the penalties listed above, MABL members or spectators may be subject to additional disciplinary measures for flagrant or malicious acts, whether or not such acts lead to an in-game ejection. Additional penalties may include suspensions, forfeits, fines, loss of managerial privileges, and/or lifetime expulsions as decided by the MABL Commissioner and Board.
  7. Eyewitness accounts of umpires, players, and spectators may be gathered by the MABL Commissioner and Board when reviewing an incident. Unless there is strong evidence to suggest that an umpire is obviously biased, great weight will be given to an umpire’s account of an incident.
  8. Suspensions that are decided by the Board shall be communicated by the MABL Commissioner to the Manager of the offender’s team. The team Manager is responsible for ensuring the communication of and compliance with the suspension.
  9. In addition to an ejection or suspension handed down by an umpire or the MABL Commissioner, a Manager may (and should) prevent any member of their team from attending an MABL function if they believe it is in the MABL’s best interest for that individual to not be present.
  10. An ejection, suspension, or expulsion does not warrant a refund of a player’s registration dues.

Section 10 – Schedule and Official Games
  1. Games shall be scheduled at times and locations determined by the Commissioner.
  2. Games at Maehara Stadium are subject to a 2 hour 45 minute time limit. At 2 hours 45 minutes, the current inning will be considered the last inning of the game and will be played out. The score after the 2 hour 45 minute time limit expires will be considered the final score.
  3. There is no 2 hour 45 minute time limit at any other field besides Maehara Stadium.
  4. All games tied after nine (9) innings will extend to extra innings. Games will continue until there is a winner (except in Maehara Stadium) or the umpire ends the game for safety reasons. (For example: Darkness or rain)
    1. During regular season games, extra innings will be modified such that each half-inning following the ninth inning will begin with a runner on second base. This does not apply to Playoff games.
      1. The batter (or a substitute for the batter) who leads off an inning shall continue to be the batter who would lead off the inning in the absence of this extra innings rule.
      2. The runner placed on second base at the start of each half-inning shall be the player (or a substitute for such player) in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter. By way of example, if the number five hitter in the batting order is due to lead off the tenth inning, the number four player in the batting order (or a pinch-runner for such player) shall begin the inning on second base. However, if the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter otherwise designated to receive a courtesy runner, the runner placed on second base at the start of that half-inning may be the player preceding the player preceding the batter in the batting order (recursively as needed). Any runner or batter removed from the game for a substitute (not a courtesy runner) shall be ineligible to return to the game.
      3. For purposes of calculating earned runs, the runner who begins an inning on second base pursuant to this rule shall be deemed to be a runner who has reached second base because of a fielding error, but no error shall be charged to the opposing team or to any player. The official scorer shall keep records of the number of times each batter and runner is placed at second base in accordance with this rule.
      4. Starting in the tenth inning and until the game has ended, the plate umpire shall check the offensive team’s lineup card to verify the proper runner starting at second base. If an improper runner is placed, the plate umpire shall inform the offensive manager immediately and have the proper runner placed at second base. If an improper runner is noticed by an umpire or either manager after play has commenced, he shall be replaced with the proper runner and all plays made will be legal, unless a batting out of order situation nullifies the advancement. There is no penalty for an improper runner before or after scoring.
    2. Tie games called as a result of darkness, curfew, or time limit shall be scored as a tie.
    3. Playoff games must be played until a winner is declared.
    4. Playoff games called because of darkness or curfew shall be resumed at the next available date.
    5. Teams playing a resumed Playoff game may only use players that appeared in the original contest or roster players who were unavailable at the game, must be placed at the end of the lineup.
  5. MERCY RULE: A game shall end after the fifth inning if one team is leading by at least 15 runs, or after the seventh inning if a team is leading by at least 10 runs.
  6. Managers may request schedule changes only with the agreement of the opposing team manager.
    1. All efforts will be made to accommodate reasonable requests for a schedule change.
    2. Managers must review season schedules and alert league officials promptly of any conflicts or problems. Otherwise schedules are deemed to be acceptable.

Section 11 – Missing Players and Pool Players
  1. Teams must field at least 8 players to play an official MABL game, including at least 7 players who appear on the team’s roster. If a team fields less than 8 players, the game will be considered a forfeit.
  2. A game forfeited due to lack of players shall not be rescheduled.
  3. Any team with less than 9 rostered players present may add up to two Pool Players to their lineup to reach 9 players.
    1. A team with less than 9 players must first request to borrow players from the opposing team. If this request is declined (by choice or due to lack of available players) any MABL player otherwise eligible for participation in MABL games may be recruited to fill in. This may include:
      1. Any player who is not on a team roster, but has paid a Player Fee and submitted a Participation Waiver.
      2. Any player who is on another team’s roster, and has met the eligibility requirements for MABL participation.
    2. A team with 7 players present may add 2 Pool Players.
    3. A team with 8 players present may add 1 Pool Player.
  4. Any team who has less than 8 players at the field at game time may be allowed 15 minutes past the normal start of game time to wait for an arriving rostered players or find pool players.
  5. If a team causes a delayed start they shall revert to the Visiting team should it have been the scheduled Home squad.
  6. The game must start on time if a team has 8 players at the field at game time
  7. A Pool Player is defined as:
    1. Any Player who has is not on a team roster, but has paid a Player Fee and is eligible to play in an MABL game, or
    2. Any Player who is on another Team Roster, has paid their portion of Team Fees and is available to play.
  8. Pool players may only be used in the following manner:
    1. Pool players may only be used in regular season games. Pool players can not be used in any Playoff game. If a team is short players in a playoff game, they must field their team as is. Teams with less than 8 players present automatically forfeit playoff games.
    2. Pool players must bat last in the batting order. If two Pool Players are present, they shall bat 8th and 9th respectively.
    3. Pool players may not pitch in the game but may play any other position in the field.
    4. Pool players will be removed from the game if a roster player for the team short players arrives at the game.
      1. If 2 Pool Players are playing in the game, the player batting 8th shall be removed and replaced with the roster Player.
      2. If 1 Pool Player is playing in the game, they will be removed from the game and replaced with the roster Player.
  9. Umpires shall begin all games on time when both teams have an eligible number of players.
  10. Teams with seven rostered (7) players that lose a player during the game shall have 15 minutes to add a pool player or the contest shall be stopped and declared a forfeit regardless of the score or inning.
  11. A team with eight (8) players shall leave the ninth batting position vacant and skipped without penalty.
  12. If, as the result of an ejection, a team has less than 7 remaining roster players, the team forfeits the game and the game ends regardless of inning or score.
  13. If, as the result of an ejection, a team has 7 or 8 remaining players, and at least 7 remaining roster players, the game may continue and the team may add pool players to fill any spots to reach a 9 player roster. However, the batting position of a pool player added to replace an ejected player shall be declared an automatic out each time it is reached in the lineup.

Section 12 – Weather/Darkness Delays and Cancellations
  1. Team Managers shall be responsible for determining whether a game shall be begin or called on account of poor weather. Once the game begins the discretion remains with the home plate umpire on delaying or calling a game.
  2. Games canceled on account of weather shall be rescheduled at the soonest possible date. Late-season cancelations shall only be rescheduled if the game is necessary to determine playoff seedings.
  3. Games stopped early due to weather shall become official and not rescheduled if the Home team is ahead after 4-1/2 innings or the Visiting team is ahead after 5 innings.
  4. Games stopped early due to darkness, either natural or by malfunction of lighting shall become official and not rescheduled if the Home team is ahead after 4-1/2 innings or the Visiting team is ahead after 5 innings.
    1. All playoff games called for darkness shall resume at the earliest convenient time to both teams at the discretion of the league.
      1. If a Playoff game is called for darkness and cannot be rescheduled then a winner shall be declared based on the score of the previous fully-completed inning of the game. If that score is a tie then the game is declared a tie.
      2. Teams shall maintain the same line ups from the suspended game upon resuming play where possible.

Section 13 – Home Team and Infield Practice
  1. The home team shall occupy the first base dugout.
  2. Subject to local field rules, the visiting team shall begin infield practice no later than 40 minutes prior to the official game time and limit the practice to 15 minutes. Infield practice is not guaranteed and teams may be asked to begin without it to keep game times on schedule.
  3. As time allows, home teams have the right to infield practice the final 15 minutes before game time regardless of whether the visiting team has practiced or has received its own 15 minutes.
  4. Infield practice is not allowed at Maehara Stadium due to time restraints and to allow the infield to be raked for the next game.

Section 14 – Forfeits
  1. Managers must contact the League Commissioner and the opposing team manager as soon as they know they will be unable to field a team for a particular game. Contact should be made by phone and with advanced notice to avoid players scheduling to play and traveling to a forfeited game.
  2. Teams unable to play a scheduled game shall forfeit the game. Forfeits shall be scored 9-0 to maintain run differentials.
  3. Teams that forfeit two (2) games at any point of the season because it could not field the minimum number of players shall be forced to add another player to their roster or face immediate suspension.
  4. A team that forfeits at least two (2) games in a season for unsportsmanlike conduct, violation of the code of conduct, or other serious offense — shall be ejected from the league immediately and in not entitled to a refund of any team funds
  5. A team that forfeits a game is responsible for paying the umpires on the scheduled date of the game, regardless of whether they are scheduled as the home or away team.

Section 15 – Lineups
  1. Starting lineup must include at least 10 lineup spots
    1. If a team only has 9 players present, they may hit a 9 player lineup with no penalty and the opposing team will also have the option to bat 9 players
    2. If a team has more than 9 players present and still only bats 9, there will be an automatic out each time the 10th spot comes up
    3. Any spot in the starting lineup may be an individual slot or an A/B slot
  2. Players can be added to the bottom of the lineup at any time
    1. Players can be added in an individual spot or in an A/B slot
    2. Any player added to the bottom of the lineup must notify the opposing manager. If no notification is made, an automatic out will be assessed to the manager upon proper protest
    3. Batting slots may not be deleted or skipped over, regardless of position or when they were added to the game (if a team increases their lineup to 15 slots, they must always have 15 slots). Exceptions are described below by rule 15.4.1.
  3. Pinch hitters (or runners) may be used in any lineup slot
    1. A pinch hitter or runner must come from the bench
    2. If a player is pinch hit/run for, he may not re-enter the game as a hitter
    3. A pinch hitter may be used in an A/B slot or an individual slot
    4. Pinch hitters must notify the opposing manager. If no notification is made, an automatic out will be assessed upon proper protest
  4. If a player is forced to leave a game due to injury, ejection, work, etc. a reserve player, not previously in the lineup, must hit in the replaced batter’s spot.
    1. If there are no reserves available the spot is skipped.
      1. An explanation must provided to the opposing manager prior to skipping the lineup slot and to the Commissioner at the conclusion of the game.
      2. If a substantial case can be made that a team skipped a spot with the intent to gain a competitive advantage, a protest by the opposing team may retroactively be ruled as a forfeit.
  5. All eligible substitutes must be listed on the original lineup card provided to the opposing manager at the beginning of the game
    1. If a team bats a player not designated on the lineup card given to the opposing manager, upon proper protest, that player will be found illegal and declared out after one pitch is thrown (penalties are not retroactive)
  6. Defensive player need not be in your batting order
    1. Defensively, all players may be substituted for at any time except for the pitcher.
    2. If the pitcher is removed from the mound during an inning, he may only re-enter as a pitcher once in a game, and must wait until the start of the next inning.
  7. In order to receive credit for game participation (for the sake of playoff eligibility) a player must record at least one plate appearance or have pitched for 3 outs.

Section 16 - Courtesy Runners
  1. Courtesy runners may be used to run the bases in place of the current pitcher, the current catcher, and one additional player who must be denoted on the lineup card given to the opposing team prior to the first pitch of the game.
    1. The current pitcher or catcher are defined as the players at those positions to end the previous half inning. During the top of the first inning, the pitcher and catcher listed on the lineup card are considered the current players at those positions.
    2. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out, unless no outs have been recorded in the game, in which case the last batter in the lineup will be deemed the courtesy runner.
    3. If the last batted out happens to be a player eligible to receive a courtesy runner, the next to last batted out is the courtesy runner.
    4. A player may only serve as the courtesy runner 1 time in an inning. The next eligible last batted out would become the designated runner.
  2. If an ineligible courtesy runner is used (as defined above), the runner is ruled out when the infraction is brought to the attention of the umpire.
  3. A player who is not designated to receive a courtesy runner, but needs a runner due to injury must be removed from the lineup and from playing in the field for the remainder of the game.

Section 17 – Baserunning
  1. All players must make reasonable efforts to avoid collisions with a fielder who is in the act of making a play.
  2. Runners who fail to make a reasonable effort to avoid a fielder shall be automatically called out.
  3. Runners must slide directly to a base — not to the sides of a base — or fall away opposite the fielder in order to avoid a collision. Failure to do so shall, at the discretion of the umpire, result in the runner being called out and the batter called out.
  4. Home plate collisions must always be avoided.
  5. Catchers may not stand up the line unless actively attempting to catch a thrown ball and must not block the base path.
  6. Catchers must not block the plate with his body or foot, but may use his mitt only.
  7. Catchers who illegally block the plate shall, at the discretion of the umpire, forfeit the play and the runner shall be called safe.
  8. Runners must not lower their shoulder to collide with a catcher or use excessive force will be called out and ejected.
  9. The umpire has the discretion to award a base to a runner who gives himself up to avoid a certain collision.
  10. Umpires may eject a player whose actions in a collision are deemed malicious.

Section 18 - Substitutions
  1. Managers may substitute defensive players without limitation except for the pitcher.
  2. Pitchers may leave the game and may only return to pitch in a different inning.
  3. A pitcher who has been removed from a game a second time is ineligible to return as the pitcher that game.
  4. Players, except pitchers, may be substituted defensively without affecting their offensive status in the line-up.

Section 19 – Intentional Walks and Hit Batsman
  1. One intentional walk is permitted per game only. All four balls must be thrown.
  2. A pitcher who intentionally hits a batter, in the opinion of the umpire, will be removed as a pitcher and will be ejected from the game.

Section 20 – Fake Tags and Trick Plays
  1. Runners shall move up a base, at the declaration of the umpire, if an infielder makes a fake tag at any base with the intent of making a runner slide.
  2. Violators shall be warned on a first offense and ejected from the game for a subsequent offense.
  3. The Hidden Ball trick is allowed in league play at this time.

Section 21 – League Statistics and Scorekeepers

Every effort will be made to maintain and share accurate game statistics on the league website.

  1. Each team is responsible for maintaining an official scorebook for each game for the purposes of recording the official score, to settle potential score disputes, and for tracking player stats.
  2. Scorebooks should be kept using commonly accepted baseball scoring notations.
  3. Team managers are responsible for submitting box scores to the designated league stats email within 48 hours of the game.
  4. Players on teams that do not submit stats from each regular season game may be deemed ineligible for league awards at the discretion of the league Statistician.

Section 22 – Professional Players
  1. The following applies to any player who has played for a Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliated team, at any level, hereafter called an “ex-pro”:
    1. Two years after their final appearance in an MLB-affiliated game, an ex-pro is eligible to play in the MABL, without restriction
    2. An ex-pro is eligible to play in the MABL immediately on either of the two bottom teams from the standings of the previous season. After two seasons with this team, they are no longer restricted to one of the last two place teams and are eligible to switch teams if they so desire (for the sake of this rule, a “season” is defined as meeting requirements to be eligible for playoffs)
  2. No restrictions exist for players who have played for non-MLB affiliated professional baseball teams.

Section 23 – Playoffs and League Tournaments
  1. All playoff bracketing and seeding shall be in announced before the beginning of the season.
  2. Playoffs games will be played until a winner is determined.
  3. Games suspended due to darkness or malfunction shall be resumed at the next available date.
  4. Bracket seedings shall be determined as follows:
    1. In the order of finish based on win/loss record.
      1. Ties shall be broken in the following order, moving to the next if a tie remains:
        1. Number of forfeits
        2. Head-to-head record vs. tied opponents
        3. Overall “runs for” differential in all head-to-head games of the opponents
        4. Overall record vs. teams that are above the tied teams in the current standings
        5. Team with least runs allowed for the season
        6. Overall run differential for the season
      2. Ties of three or more teams shall be broken in the same manner as above.
  5. First place teams shall be seeded highest based on win/loss record, followed by the remainder of the division in the order win/loss record. Ties to be broken according to the rules stated above.
  6. Only rostered players who were on the team’s opening day roster or were added with at least 5 games left in the regular season are eligible to play with that team in any post-season contest.
  7. Pool players and alumni players are prohibited in post-season games.