This page last modified:  Friday, December 12, 2008 at 08:32 PM

Rule Changes for 2009

Local League and Tournament Play Special Rules and Regulations

The Bat (16-18 Division) The Babe Ruth Baseball 16-18 Division has adopted standards for metal bats that limit the diameter of the bat to 2 5/8”.  Also, the weight-length differential can be no greater than minus three (example - 32-inch bat must weigh at least 29 ounces).  Wood bats conforming to the dimensions described in Official Baseball Rule 1.10 are approved for use in Babe Ruth League.

Shoulder Emblems - (All Baseball and Softball Divisions) - The Official Cal Ripken Baseball (4-12) or Babe Ruth Baseball (13-18) and Babe Ruth Softball (4-18) Shoulder Emblem are required to be worn and permanently affixed to the uniform jersey for World Series Competition.  (Teams will continue to have the option to use either the Shoulder Emblem or Cap Emblem Option for District, State and Regional tournament play).

16-18 Babe Ruth Baseball Division (only), rule 0.02, Paragraph 2a -Any player born prior to May 1, 1993 and on or after January 1, 1990 will be eligible for Babe Ruth 16-18 League competition - Season 2009.  Any player born in 1990, 1991, and 1992 are eligible for Babe Ruth 16-18 Division.  Players born in January, February, March and April of 1993 must play in the 16-18 Division.  Players league age 15 by Mar 1 age determination date are eligible to be swing players in the 16-18 Division.

TOURNAMENT RULE, 11.05 PLAYING RULES, Paragraph 4 - (Cal Ripken Baseball and Babe Ruth 13-15 Divisions) - No pitcher in Cal Ripken tournament play shall be allowed to pitch in more than six innings in any two successive tournament games within the same tournament level (e.g. All players have full pitching eligibility beginning at each level of tournament competition).  Example - teams advancing from District Tournament competition to State Tournament competition, players have full pitching eligibility.  No pitcher in 13-15 tournament play shall be allowed to pitch more than seven innings in any two successive tournament games within the same tournament level (e.g. All players have full pitching eligibility beginning at each level of tournament competition).  Example - teams advancing from District Tournament competition to State Tournament Competition, players have full pitching eligibility.  For the 2009 season the pitching eligibility regulations will be in effect throughout the entire tournament level.  Pitching limitations, if applicable, will not begin over (reset) at beginning of the single-elimination competition.

TOURNAMENT RULE 11.06 JURISDICTION, PARAGRAPH 9 - (All Baseball and Softball Divisions) When housing of players is required during tournament competition, the Host Family Plan will be under the jurisdiction of the respective district, state and regional commissioner as per Rule 11.06, #1,2 and 3.  The World Series will be under the jurisdiction of Babe Rueh League, Inc. Headquarters.  Any team or player refusing to comply with this rule shall be ineligible for tournament competition.

Rule Changes for 2008 (click here)

Rule Changes for 2006

Beginning with the 2006 season, the age determination date will change from August 1 to May 1.  For the 16-18 Division, Babe Ruth League, Inc. will disallow “league age” 19 year-old players from participating in the 16-18 Division.  Rule 0.02, paragraph 2(a) will indicate that any player born prior to May 1, 1990 and on or after May 1, 1987 will be eligible for Babe Ruth 16-18 League competition. 

A twelve year-old player has the option of “playing up” with the 13 year-old players providing he/she has the permission of the Cal Ripken League President.  This player may play with 12 year-olds or 13 year-olds or both during the regular season, but can only play on one post season team, and must meet all eligibility requirements in the age division he/she chooses to particpate in.

Rule Changes for 2005

For Kansas District Tournaments, 9 year-old division only, there will be a five (5) run limit per team per inning.  The 10 run rule still applies.  This rule does not apply in State Tournament competition.

Rule Changes for 2004

Charter/Franchise Fees:                                                                                                                        The charter/franchise fees for Cal Ripken Major, 13-15, and 13-Prep divisions remain at $18.  The Cal Ripken Minor, Rookie, and T-Ball fees are $13.  The Fees for 16-18 and 16-Prep divisions are $23.

Tournament Baseball:                                                                                                                             The code for the official tournament baseball for the Cal Ripken division has changed to CAL or RCAL for all Cal Ripken Baseball tournament competition.

Jewelry:                                                                                                                                                      Jewelry is prohibited.  Players shall not wear jewelry.  Medical alert and religious bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry.  If worn, they must be taped to the body so as to remain visible.

Re-entry of Used Player:                                                                                                                         Babe Ruth League, Inc. will allow re-entry of already used players if all substitutes have been used and injury occurs, or a player is ejected...This type of re-entry can only take place when an injury prevents a player from continuing in the game or a player is ejected.  The injured or ejected player, once removed from the game, cannot re-enter.  (Rule applies to local league and tournament competition.)

Tournament Format:                                                                                                                               District, State and Regional Tournament competition shall be decided by using either a double-elimination or a pool play format.  The official tournament brackets issued by Babe Ruth League, Inc. for double-elimination or pool play formats must be used.  NOTE:  The official tiebreakers issued by Babe Ruth League, Inc. for pool play formats must be used.

Team Sponsor Advertising on Uniforms:                                                                                             NOTE:  All Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth Baseball Divisions - Official Baseball Rule 1.11(h) does not apply.

Rule Changes for 2003

PLEASE NOTE: The following will replace rule 0.02, paragraph 2.a and rule 0.05, 1.a as they pertain to the 16-18 division of Babe Ruth Baseball.  All other portions of rule 0.02, paragraph 2.a and the official birth chart as it relates to the Cal Ripken Division and 13-15 Baseball remain unchanged. The new policy has no effect on the 15-Year-Old Swing Player Option.

0.02  DEFINITION OF LEAGUE, PLAYER, SPONSOR, PLAYING RULES                                          2.  PLAYER.  August 1 shall be the deciding date.                                                                     a)  16-18 - Any player born prior to August 1, 1987, and on or after August 1, 1983                       will be eligible for Babe Ruth 16-18 League competition - Season of 2003.

0.05  TEAM COMPOSITION                                                                                                                          1.  Each team is required to conform to the following regulations:                                                 a)  16-18 - each team shall consist of not less than twelve (12) or more than eighteen                    (18) players, a manager and two (2) coaches.  Each team shall include a minimum of                   three (3) 16-year-old players, and no more than eight (8) 18-year-old, or eight (8) 19                year-old, or a combination of no more than eight (8) 18- and 19-year-old players.  The               sum of the numbers of 18- and 19-year-old players may not exceed eight (8).

        NOTE:  If a League registers with Babe Ruth League, Inc. a minimum of a four team Prep League which takes in the 16-year-old players, each 16-18 year old team shall consist of no more than twelve (12) 18-year-old, or twelve (12) 19-year-old, or a combination of no more than twelve (12) 18- and 19-year-old players.  The sum of the numbers of 18- and 19-year-old players may not exceed twelve (12).  The remaining six (6) players would be either 16- or 17-year-old players.  Sixteen-year-old players listed on the league’s 16-18 year-old team roster may also participate in the Prep League at the local league’s option.

Jewelry (All Divisions)

Beginning with the 2003 season, the jewelry rule will remain the same, except that it will now apply only to players and not to coaches and managers.

Rule 11.05, paragraph 3 (all divisions) - Beginning with the 2004 season, this rule will be changed to read, “District, State and Regional tournament competition shall be decided by using either a double elimination or a pool play format.”  The official tournament brackets issued by Babe Ruth League, Inc. for double elimination or pool play formats must be used.  The choice of using double elimination or a pool play format will be at the jurisdiction of the District, State or Regional Commissioner.  Except for the 10-Year-Old World Series, World Series level of play will continue to use a pool play format, with the teams advancing to a single elimination bracket to determine the World Series champion.

Rule 11.05, paragraph 9 (all divisions) - Beginning with the 2004 season, this rule will be changed to include “or a player is ejected”.  Therefore, the rule will read, “Babe Ruth League will allow re-entry of already used players if all substitutes have been used and an injury occurs or a player is ejected.”  If a player is ejected and all other substitutes have been used, the opposing manager shall select the substitute who will re-enter the game.

Rule 11.06, paragraph 7 - Omitted from this rule, in error, is the statement that a league may have a host team in the state or regional tournament.  However, a host team will be ineligible automatically for a bye.  The proper interpretation of this rule is that the host team, because it has not had to qualify at an earlier level, must play in the bracket that would require it to win the most games in order to be declared the champion.

Age Determination Date Remains the Same

The August 1 age determination date will remain the same for all baseball divisions of Babe Ruth League, inc. for at least the 2003 and 2004 seasons.  Babe Ruth League, Inc. has a verbal agreement with the other amateur youth groups, such as Little League, Pony, Dixie and AABC, that the August 1 date will remain intact, unless through further research we find, as a unit, there is a need to change the August 1 date.

Rule Changes for 2002

Jewelry - Jewelry is prohibited.  Players, coaches and managers shall not wear jewelry.  Medical alert and religious bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry.  If worn, they must be taped to the body so as to remain visible.

The following rule was implemented in 2001, but not written in the Rule Book until 2002:

Rule 11.06, Paragraph 7.  A league may have a host team in the State or Regional tournament.  The host team, having received eligibility approval from Babe Ruth League, Inc. shall be eligible to enter official tournament competition beginning at the district level of play rather than not be permitted to enter official tournament competition until they host.  A Babe Ruth or Cal Ripken league that has two divisions and is hosting a district, state or regional tournament MUST declare which division will be considered the host prior to the start of district tournaments.

At the League President’s discretion, a state or regional host team may choose, although it is not required to participate in an official Babe Ruth Baseball tournament competition prior to its first game as host team.

If a state or regional host team participates in an official tournament trail competition prior to its first game as host team and wins, both it and the second-place team will advance to the next level.  If the host team loses in an official tournament trail competition prior to its first game as host team, it will not participate again until the tournament it is hosting, but will be eligible to participate at that time.

Rule Changes for 2001

1. Rule 0.01, Paragraph 6 now indicates the General Liability Insurance must provide coverage for all participants and league volunteers at a minimum limit of $1,000,000.

Rule 11.05, Paragraph 3 now indicates a new World Series format, which will consist of round robin competition, with the three top teams from each division advancing to a single elimination bracket to determine the World Series Champion.  This format will be used at the Cal Ripken, 13-Year-Old, 14-Year-Old, 13-15, 16-Year-Old and 16-18 World Series.  This new format will guarantee each participating team playing a minimum of four games.  The double elimination format will be used at the 10 & Under World Series.

Rule 11.06, Paragraph 7 now permits a host team to enter official tournament competition beginning at the district level of play, rather than wait until the tournament level they will be hosting.  For example, if your league is hosting a regional tournament, your host team will be permitted to compete in district tournament competition.  Should they lose at the district level or advance to the state and lose at the state level, they will still be permitted to serve as a host team at the regional tournament.  To further clarify this rule, if a league’s host team, who is hosting a regional tournament, wins the state competition, they would be considered the state champion.  However, they would compete at the regional tournament as the host team.  The runner-up of the state tournament would serve as the state representative at the regional tournament.  This change is being made for all tournament competition:   10 & Under, Cal Ripken, 13-Year-Old, 14-Year-Old, 13-15, 16-Year-Old, and 16-18.  The above rule changes are in effect for 2001; however, will not be added to the rule book until 2002.

Tournament Baseball - Rawlings is the only official Tournament Baseball to be used for all District, State, regional and World Series competition.  The Rawlings tournament baseball has a cushion corked rubber pill center.  The Rawlings baseballs marked BRO or RBRO are to be used for all 13-15 tournament competition.  The Rawlings baseballs marked BRORIP or RBRORIP are to be used for al Cal Ripken Baseball tournament competition.

2001 Changes for Kansas

Effective in 2001, the following Kansas Rules will apply:

1.  For all state tournaments, the head umpire must be Babe Ruth certified and it is strongly recommended that all others be certified.  In the year 2003, all state tournament umpires must be certified.

2.  For state tournaments, the team from the host site’s district will commute to the state tournament and any team from an adjoining district which is within a 60 mile radius of the host site must commute.

Rule Changes Implemented for the 2000 Season

1.  Rule 0.04, Paragraph 3 (Cal Ripken and 13-15 Divisions) and Rule 12.04, Paragraph 3 (16-18 Division) will be changed to allow a league to play an interlocking league schedule with other Cal Ripken, 13-15 or 16-18 leagues.

2.  Rule 11.04, Paragraph 1(b) (Cal Ripken and 13-15 Divisions) and Rule 13.04, Paragraph 1(b) (16-18 Division) will be changed to permit the League President to sign the tournament team roster verifying that each player has met the local league season participation requirement.  This will eliminate the manager having to bring score books with him to tournament competition.

3.  Rule 11.01, Paragraph 3 (Cal Ripken and 13-15 Divisions) and Rule 13.01, Paragraph 3 (16-18 Division) will be changed to indicate Babe Ruth League, Inc. will issue the League Letters of Eligibility.  The last sentence of the Letter of Eligibility will indicate that the letter is valid only if the league has complied in paying the state dues.  This will lessen the paperwork required of the State Commissioner.

RECAP OF OTHER RULES SURVEYED (2000)

1.  Rule 11.03, Paragraph 1(d) (Cal Ripken and 13-15 Divisions) and Rule 13.03, Paragraph 1(d) (16-18-Division) will remain the same.  A player will have to play in at least one half of his team’s scheduled league games played prior to the start of tournament play.

2.  Use of the Host Family Plan will remain the same.  This means when housing of players is required during tournament competition, which includes World Series level of play, the Host Family Plan must be used.  Any team or player refusing to stay in Host Family homes will be removed from the tournament.

3.  The extra hitter rule will remain a local league option; however it will not be permitted in tournament competition.

4.  In 16-18 competition, Babe Ruth League, Inc. will not adopt the usage of the designated hitter or insert any pitching regulation either at the local league level or during tournament competition.  Babe Rule League, Inc. will continue to study both of these issues.

5.  In the Cal Ripken Division, Babe Ruth League, Inc. will not make any changes in the size of the base paths or pitching distance.  We will continue to study these issues.