RULES and REGULATIONS
of the
GLEN ROSE YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I – The Glen Rose Youth Baseball Association, hereinafter referred to as the "League", and shall adopt the Rules and Regulations of “USSSA” for governance of the playing of baseball, legality of players and other related issues with modifications adopted by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II — The League shall adopt the Rules and Regulations of “PONY” for governance of the playing of softball, legality of players and other related issues with modifications adopted by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III -- The Board of Directors will adopt a procedure for the selection of managers and coaches which shall require an application form to be completed by any Manager/Head Coach, Assistant Coach. 

Team Manager and Head Coach are defined as one in the same and may be used interchangeably.  

ARTICLE IV – Player Registration.  A Registration Form and Medical Release Form must be completed and filed with the League along with a copy of the potential player's Birth Certificate before a potential player is deemed as a registered player or player.  Only registered players will be allowed to participate in the League.  A potential player must become a registered player before the League will allow the player to be assigned or selected to a team.  

ARTICLE V - Player Selection & Draft.  The intent of player selection and draft is to create equity between teams and promote fair competition.  Any situations arising that may be deemed unfair by the Board shall be resolved prior to the announcement of team rosters. All Players must play within their respective age division unless extenuating circumstances exist.  A majority vote of the Board of Directors will then be required as well as the consent of the player’s parents to play outside of their age division.

The procedure for selecting and assigning players to teams shall be conducted as follows:
		  	           Age Bracket		  Method
		      		 3-4 Yrs			Open Draft
				 5-6 yrs.			Evaluation and Draft
			      	 7-8 yrs.			Evaluation and Draft
		    		 9-10 yrs.		Evaluation and Draft
			  	11-12 yrs.		Evaluation and Draft
		  		13-14 yrs.		Evaluation and Draft

Order of Team selection or draw will be selected by a blind draw.

Manager (Head Coach) and one (1) Coach (Assistant Coach) Draft Options shall be allowed per Team.  No other Draft Options (such as Sponsor Options) will be allowed.  With these Draft Options the Manager and/or Asst. Coach are provided the ability for parents to pre-select their child or step-child.  No other relationships (such as uncle, grandfather, etc.) will be honored unless given permission by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.  The maximum number of Coach Options is two.  The first Coach Draft Options must be pre-selected and placed in the Round 1 position for that Team.  The second Coach Draft Option must be pre-selected and placed in the Round 2 position for that Team.  If there is only one Coach Draft Option being taken by a team, it must be assigned to the Round 1 position. 

Sibling Draft Options which allow siblings to play on the same Team will be allowed as follows.  With the selection of the first sibling (example Round 4), the Sibling Option must be declared and the second sibling is assigned to the same team and placed in the next immediate round (example Round 5), etc.

In all Divisions, the draft will be conducted in a reverse wrap around procedure as shown in the example below where the numbers represent the 1st, 2nd, 3rd players selected.

Team		A	B	C	D	E	F
Round 1		1(C)	2(C)	3(C)	4(C)	5(C)	6(C)
Round 2		12	11	10	9	8	7
Round 3		13	14	15	16	17	18
Round 4		24	23*	22	21	20	19
Round 5		25	(S)	27	28	29	30	
Round 6		36	35	34	33	32	31
Round etc........

*Denotes that this draft choice has a sibling.
 S - Sibling preselect (must be chosen in the next open round)
 C - Assistant Coach preselect (Round 1)

Tryouts will be conducted for all age brackets of registered players with the intent that all registered players regardless of their ability will be given the opportunity to participate and be assigned to a team.  Following the tryouts, drafting of registered players participating in the tryouts, in each Division will be conducted by the same procedures (Team order by blind draw, reverse wrap around, and Coach and Sibling Options) as detailed above.  There will be no age grouping or drafting by age within each Division.

All registered players who were absent at Tryouts will be selected by the Blind Draft procedure.  Team order will also be selected by blind draw.  Players will not automatically be assigned to the Team who was next in line for selection.  Late sign-ups will also be placed in a Blind Draft Pool and will be selected by the Blind Draw procedure.  All efforts will be made to avoid assigning a player to a team in an effort to eliminate "player holdouts".  This method ensures that no player or coach can predict the assigning of any player to a specific team.

The Vice President of the League shall be responsible for Player Selection and Draft process in cooperation and coordination with the Board.

ARTICLE VI – Teams.  The number of players per team and the number of teams shall be based on the number of registered players and availability of managers and coaches.  Both amounts shall be agreed upon by the Board.  Selection of Team Name shall be conducted by the following procedure:

Team Names shall first be selected by Pony, then Bronco, then Mustang then Pinto, then Shetland.
Within the age division the Team Name shall be selected by reverse draft order.
No Team Name shall be duplicated within its Division

ARTICLE VII - Practice Schedules.  Utilization of public fields by teams for practice shall be organized by set times and fields picked by reverse wrap around order and age bracket oldest to youngest.  Managers and coaches are encouraged to build and maintain their own practice fields.  

ARTICLE VIII – Uniforms.  As outlined by Pony or USSSA, however, metal cleated shoes will not be permitted in the Shetland, Pinto, or Mustang Leagues.

ARTICLE IX - All Stars.  The League shall follow the process and procedure as outlined in the By Laws for the selection of All Star coaches and players for each age division.

ARTICLE X – Profanity will not be tolerated, and the use of profanity may result in removal from a game, field, team, or membership warning, suspension, dismissal or being barred from the League. Use of alcoholic beverages and tobacco in any form by any player, member of the coaching staff, or any umpire is prohibited.

ARTICLE XI — The Home Team will be responsible for “setting the bases”, “marking the field”, and making it ready for play prior to each game.  The Visiting Team will be responsible for “pulling and storing the bases”, storing other equipment as needed, and turning off the lights following the game.  If additional games are to be played on the field, following their game the Visiting Team will not have to perform these duties. Each team will be responsible for clearing trash from the dugout and exiting promptly following the end of their game.

ARTICLE XII — In the event a game needs rescheduling, Both Team Managers/Coaches involved in the game needing rescheduled (i.e., rain-out) will meet with their League’s Commissioner who will coordinate with the Vice-President of the League to schedule the make-up game.  It is the goal of GRYBA to never place individuals in danger because of playing baseball in inclement weather.  Make-up games will be scheduled, and played as soon as possible.

ARTICLE XIII –    Dismissal.  In the event of a dismissal of a board member by a majority vote, dismissed board 
member shall become banned from ever participating as a GRYBA board member for all future years.

ARTICLE XIV – PONY Rules and Regulations Modifications for Softball.

Section 1 - The home team will provide the official scorekeeper.
Section 2 - Fifteen minutes after the starting time is considered forfeit time. All teams will be able to start with eight 		(8) players, taking one (1) out in the ninth spot in the batting order.
Section 3 - There will be time limits in all age group games. Fast Pitch games will be:  
	06U-8U - One Hour 
	10U-14U – One hour and fifteen minutes.
 	6U,8U and 10U games will be six innings long, all other age groups will be seven innings long.
Section 4 - Run rules per inning will be Five (5) runs per inning in all age groups. In 8U, there will be no intentional 		walks. 
Section 5.1- Guest players are allowed to help a team field enough players for 9 players only. Guest players must be within the same division and registered with GRYBA. The addition of guest players must be agreed upon by both coaches, and the GRYBA board before the game.
Section 5.2 - 8U will have 4 pitches or 3 strikes with continuous foul balls.
	8U Time will not be called until the pitcher has the ball in the circle. 
Section 6 - The Lineup will list every girl on the roster in a batting sequence and each girl will bat in turn even 		though she may not occupy a defensive position in that inning.
Section 7 - 10U will play with 4 girls in the outfield
Section 8 - A player arriving late may be added to the bottom of the team’s lineup. 

ARTICLE XV — USSSA Rules and Regulations Modifications for baseball:

Field Dimensions: 
Age Division        Base Paths            Pitching Distance
       4U                       60’                               NA
       6U                       60’                               NA
       8U                       60’                               NA
      10U                      60’                               46’
      12U                      70’                               50’
      14U                      90’                              60’6”                                                                

Game Length:				
Age Division		Time Limit		Innings	
 	 	 	 	 	
4U	 	45 Minutes	 	2	
6U	 	1 Hour	 	6	
8U	 	1 Hour 15 Minutes	 	6	
10U	 	1 Hour 15 Minutes	 	6	
12U	 	1 Hour 30 Minutes	 	6	
14U	 	1 Hour 45 Minutes	 	6	

Section 1 - ALL LEAGUES Bats   Must have the 1.15 BPF USSSA/USA stamp on the taper OR Have the Certified 	.50 BBCOR stamp (-3) OR Be a Wood Bat Barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 ¾” All must be manufactured 		by an approved USSSA/USA bat manufacturer.
Section 2 - ALL LEAGUES No metal cleats in any division (Exceptions are 14U)   
Section 3 - ALL LEAGUES The entire roster of players present for the game shall bat in rotation in all Divisions   
Section 4 - ALL LEAGUES It is recommended that each player on the team play defensively in at least two innings 		of each game in all Divisions   
Section 5 - ALL LEAGUES If an inning has begun more than 5 minutes prior to a time limit expiring, it is played to 		its natural conclusion.  No new inning will start within 5 minutes prior to the conclusion of the game.  
Section 6 - ALL LEAGUES If the score is tied at the end of regulation in League play, no extra innings are played.  		A tie is a tie.  
Section 7 - ALL LEAGUES If a game is called due to rain, Weather, light failure or other acts of Nature and cannot 		be resumed it is a regulation game if: Game is official if three (3) full innings have been played, or if the 		home team is leading after two and one half (2 ½) innings. Any game that has not reached the required 		inning length to be an official game, will be rescheduled.
Section 8 - ALL LEAGUES The number of league games played per season will be based upon available dates for 		the league.    
Section 9 - ALL LEAGUES A team failing to field at least eight uniformed players within 15 minutes after the 		scheduled starting time of a game, or at any time during the game, shall forfeit the game. If a team is 		playing with less than nine, an out is taken at the ninth spot in the batting order.   
Section 10 - ALL LEAGUES A player must play in the catcher position in the following divisions: 6U modified, 		8U, 10U, 12U, 14U.  
Section 11 - 4U Two full innings are played    
	4U No score is kept  
 	4U No outs are recorded      
	4U Last batter of a half inning clears the bases   
	4U Parents and coaches are allowed on the field   
	4U All players on the roster play defensively each inning    
Section 12 - 6U Once play has begun in a game, the game shall be played to a one hour time limit for 6U or 		regulation length (six innings), whichever comes first, unless the home team is leading and does not need 		its half of the final inning. Maximum five runs per inning except in the sixth inning, where they may score 		ten runs. Run rule is 10 runs after 4 innings.   
	6U Two adult coaches may be stationed on the playing field, in the outfield grass, to provide verbal 		instructions to the defensive team.   
	6U Each player will receive one warning for throwing the bat.  The second time in a game the batter throws 	the bat, the batter is out   
	6U Defensive position can only be played in two consecutive innings before the player must play 			somewhere else   
	6U Outfielders must throw the ball into the infield. An outfielder may not run from the outfield and tag a 		runner or base to record an out.   
	6U If the ball is hit and fielded inside the Pitcher’s Circle, the fielder must throw to a base to record an out, 		not run down a base runner.   
	6U A coach cannot set the tee or physically position the player in the batter’s box   
	6U On an overthrow at 1st base, the base runner can only advance one additional base.  A play can be made 	on that runner advancing to the next base.   
	6U The coach will pitch from 1 knee 30 feet from the batter.  If the coach gets hit by a batted ball during 		the at bat:  1st time is a foul ball, 2nd time is an out.   
	6U The batter will receive a maximum of 4 pitches from the coach. There are no continuous fouls.  If no 		ball is put in play, the batter will receive 1 swing off of the tee. If on that swing, the ball is not put in play, 		the batter is out.   
	6U The batter and all runners on base may only advance one base if the ball is hit from the tee. Runners 		may not advance on an overthrow if the ball is hit from the tee.   
Section 13 - 8U Ten players shall be used defensively. The four outfielders must be positioned 15 feet behind the 		baselines when the pitching motion is made.   
	8U The player fielding the pitcher’s position shall take position always to the rear of the pitching plate, and 		on the left or right side of the coach-pitcher with one foot in the Pitcher’s Circle when the pitch is made.   
	8U Once play has begun, the game shall be played to a one hour and fifteen minute time limit or regulation 		length (six innings), whichever comes first, or five and a fraction if the home team is leading.  Maximum 		five runs per inning except in the sixth inning, where they may score ten runs.  Run rule is 15 runs after 3 		innings, 8 runs after 4 innings.     
Section 14 - 10U Free substitution on defense, excluding the pitching position.  Once removed, a player may not 		return to the pitching position.   
	10U Baseball- OPEN BASES.
        10U Once play has begun, the game shall be played to a one hour and fifteen minute time limit or 			regulation length (six innings), whichever comes first, or five and a fraction if the home team is leading.  		Maximum five runs per inning except in the sixth inning, where they may score ten runs.  Run rule is 15 		runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 innings.   
Section 15 - 12U Free substitution on defense, excluding the pitching position.  Once removed, a player may not 		return to the pitching position.  
	12U Once play has begun, the game shall be played to a one hour and thirty minute time limit or regulation 		length (six innings), whichever comes first, or five and a fraction if the home team is leading.  Run rule is 		15 after 3 innings, 12 after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings.
Section 16 - 14U Free substitution on defense, excluding the pitching position.  Once removed, a player may not 		return to the pitching position. 
	14U Once play has begun, the game shall be played to a one hour and forty-five minute time limit or 		regulation length (seven innings), whichever comes first, or six and a fraction if the home team is leading. 		Run rule is 15 after 3 innings, 12 after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings.