Updated 1/14/2010

American Legion Baseball

Division III

 

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s)

The rules below were adopted for all league play.  Updated at the Jan. 14, 2010 meeting.

Changes from last year are bolded.

·         League schedules must be completed and sent to the commissioner by May 31st. 

 

·        Date to be determined from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., all teams will present their paperwork (Form 1’s, Form 2’s, team photos, etc.) to their District commissioner at 45th & Park in Tacoma.  The penalty of not showing any paperwork will result in no post-season eligibility even if not completed.  If not submitted by June 15th, then you will be disqualified.

 

·         June 15th will be the designated cut-off date for rescheduling league games for reasons other than weather and umpire shortages. After this date, any rescheduling must be agreed upon by BOTH teams. If the game is unable to be rescheduled, the rescheduling team will have to forfeit the game. 

 

·         Refundable entry fee of $100.00 per team is due to the commissioner by a date to be set at the fall meeting. 

 

·         The Division teams voted to assess themselves a $75 fee which is to pay for the cost of umpires at the Divisional AAA, AA, and A Playoffs.

 

·         All State and Divisional fees are to be paid by May 1, 2010.

 

·         A team must complete the league schedule to be a contender for the league championship and post-season play. 

 

·         Teams that do not finish their League or Post-Season schedules, or *forfeit two League games in a season may compete the following season with no penalty if approved at next year’s meeting by the majority of the coaches voting in favor.  Otherwise they would be a exhibition team without the eligibility of post-season play for that season.  If this were to happen a 2nd time to the same team/coach, then depending on votes, the team could be banned  the team would be banned for one year without being involved in the league even as an exhibition team. 

 

·         A new team is defined as follows: 

A)    A team that did not play in American Legion Division III the previous season. 
 OR

B)    A team that played in American Legion Division III the previous season but has a new coach and or manager and no more than 3 returning players. 

 

·         Players who dual participate (play in another league outside of American Legion Baseball) must have a dual participation letter completed by June 8th, approved by the Senior Commissioner and comply with the dual participation rule to be eligible for post season. 

 

·         Teams must have a copy of the league SOP’s in their "Team Notebooks.”  Team Notebooks must be present at every league game.  If they are not present at the games, the team will forfeit the game. 

 

·         Visiting teams must call the evening prior to the start of the game if they are unable to play the game.  If they do not, they will need to cover the home team’s umpire costs. 

 

·         Both coaches will call in case of inclement weather, bad field conditions, postponements, etc. 

 

·         Make up games must be made up on the first available date.  League has priority over non-league games. 

 

·         Teams must use association umpires for all league games.

 

·         The home team will call or email the scores of league games to Richard Norris:   (253)471-1266 or rickn@emeth.com WITHIN 48 HOURS from the completion of the game.

 

·         Players ejected from a LEAGUE game must be reported to Richard Norris by the coach of the ejected player within 48 hours. The player must sit out the very next LEAGUE game. All LEAGUE games after the ejection will be forfeited if the ejection is not reported to the commissioner or if the ejected player fails to sit out the next LEAGUE game. 

 

·         The league ball will be Diamond D-1, Rawlings R-100, or Baden 3 B Pro or Pro 9.  No Exceptions. 

 

·         The ten-run rule will apply to all league games; after 4 ½ innings in a 7 inning game, after 6 ½ innings in a 9 inning game. 

 

·         Coaches must be in the same uniforms as players in all league games.

 

·         American Legion patches will be on all uniforms prior to the team's first game.

 

·         Helmets must be worn by all coaches while occupying a coach's box during the time that your team is batting.

“Senior AAA” League Specific
Standard Operating Procedures

·         The league schedule will consist of each team playing 4 league games against each team within the league. 

 

·         The Senior AAA division will not have a Divisional Tournament and the top teams in league (3 or 4, depending on the number of seeds) will represent our division for the Senior AAA Regional Tournaments.

 

·         Since we have no tournament this year the rest of the Senior AAA Divisional Tournament information doesn’t exist for this year but will stay in place in the SOP’s for future if an AAA Divisional Tournament is played.

 

·         The Senior AAA Legion Divisional Tournament it will be a 4 team double elimination tournament format.

 

·         The Senior AAA Divisional tournament host team must pay all expenses (including baseballs) except the cost of umpires, but will make sure the umpires are assigned for the entire tournament.

 

·         If the Senior AAA Divisional tournament is rained out without a game ever being played, the league standings will be used to represent Division III at the Senior AAA Regional Tournament(s).

 

·         If the Senior AAA Divisional Tournament is rained out while the tournament is in progress, the highest seeded teams with the best tournament winning percentage will represent Division III at the Senior AAA Regional Tournament(s).

“Senior AA” League Specific
Standard Operating Procedures

·         No graduated senior may play in any Senior AA Legion LEAGUE game or during any Divisional playoff games.   

 

·         The league schedule:
The Senior AA division is divided into 3 leagues: North, East, and South.  Each team will 3 league games against other teams within their league with teams alternating the 2 home games every other year. 

 

·         The Senior AA Legion Divisional Tournament will consist of eight teams and will be hosted by Capital and they will get an automatic berth, leaving 7 berths left.

 

·         Senior AA Legion Divisional Tournament format is as follows: (bracket click here)
8 team double elimination; the top 2 teams from the N League, the top 2 teams from the E League, the top 2 teams from the S League, the pigtail winner (N3 vs. E3, highest winning percentage will host the pigtail game, if tied then a coin flip will be determine the host), and the host (Capital)  The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams will advance to the Senior AA state tournament.
Seeding to the Divisional Playoffs for each Senior AA League will be based on the number of teams that finish the schedule and are eligible for the playoffs. If a league finishes with 2 less teams than the others, it loses one of its seeds to the league with 2 more teams. If a league finishes with 4 less teams than the others, it loses two of its seeds to the other leagues with 4 more teams. If all teams finish the season and are eligible for the playoffs, each league receives and equal number of seeds as established at the beginning of the season. (Approved by e-mail vote 4/12/07)

 

·         The Senior AA Divisional Tournament host team must pay all expenses (including baseballs) except the cost of umpires, but will make sure the umpires are assigned for the entire tournament.

 

·         If the Senior AA Divisional Tournament is rained out without a game ever being played, the two highest seeded league champions and the next team with the higher winning percentage of League games.

 

·         If the Senior AA Divisional Tournament is rained out while the tournament is in progress, the highest seeded teams with the best tournament winning percentages will represent Division III at the Senior AA state tournament. 

 

·         If a tie cannot be broken by the above criteria, the tied teams must travel to a playable location and play one game to determine the Division III representatives to Senior AA State Tournament.

“Junior A” League Specific
Standard Operating Procedures

·         The Junior A league schedule will consist of each team playing 3 league games against each team within the league. 

 

·         The Junior A division will not have a Divisional Tournament and the top team in the league will represent Division III at the state Junior A Tournament.

 

·         Since we have no tournament this year the rest of the Junior A Divisional Tournament information doesn’t exist for this year but will stay in place in the SOP’s for future if an Junior A Divisional Tournament is played.

 

·         The Junior A Legion Divisional Tournament format is as follows: 
 4 team double elimination tournament and the host will be determined each year.

 

·         The Junior A Divisional tournament host team must pay all expenses (including baseballs) except the cost of umpires, but will make sure the umpires are assigned for the entire tournament.

 

·         If the Junior A Divisional tournament is rained out without a game ever being played, the regular season champion will represent Division III at the Junior A State Tournament. 

 

·         If the Junior A Divisional Tournament is rained out while the tournament is in progress, the highest seeded team with the best tournament winning percentage will represent Division III at the Junior A State Tournament.

*Exhibition team – Can’t participate in playoffs but games count in league standings.
*Forfeiture of double header will only count as 1 forfeited game, but 2 losses in the league standings.