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  Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association
Association de Baseball Inter-Universitaire Canadienne
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 Playing Rules & Policies
  1. MEMBERSHIP
    1. Application
      1. Application for membership in the CIBA/ABIC must be received no later than October 1st of each year for consideration at the next general meeting.
      2. Applications shall be made by an accredited post secondary school or club acting on behalf of that school.
      3. A $50.00 application fee must be paid with each new member application.
      4. Once accepted, each new member must pay $150.00 as an initiation fee.
    2. Probation
      1. Each new member shall be on probation during the first year.
      2. Full membership is conferred automatically for year two, once the new member has demonstrated the ability to fulfill all obligations to the league.
      3. Failure to fulfill all obligations requires the membership be reviewed at the next general meeting.
  2. ELIGIBILITY
    1. Academic Eligibility
      1. Only full time students in good standing, academic and otherwise, are eligible to participatein any CIBA/ABIC league. playoff or national championship game.
      2. The accepted definition of full time and good standing is as defined by each individual institution.
    2. Player Eligibility
      1. Individuals may only play for a school at which they attend as a full time student and must qualify under Rule 1.1
      2. Any team using an ineligible player shall forfeit all games played by that player.
      3. Any team using an ineligible player at a National Championship, shall be suspended from participation in at least the following National Championship.
      4. Only amateur players are eligible.
      5. Former professional players may play once they are reinstated to amateur status under the rules of Baseball Canada.
      6. There is no limit on the number of years a player may play.
      7. On appeal, the President or his designate may allow exceptions to this rule on compassionate grounds.
    3. Rosters
      1. Each team shall submit an official team roster to the Commissioner on an annual basis.
      2. The roster shall be submitted prior to the first game of each playing season.
      3. The roster may be amended by adding but not deleting names.
      4. The roster may allow up to 25 players and shall include:
      5. The full names of all coaches and players.
      6. The home address of all coaches.
      7. The phone number of all coaches.
      8. The roster and any amendments shall be considered final at midnight on September 20th of each playing year.
      9. Only players listed on the official team roster may participate in any CIBA/ABIC league, playoff or national championship game.
      10. Players not on the official team roster, sometimes referred to as “red shirts”, may practise and participate in exhibition games.
  3. COACHES
    1. Coaches Certification
      1. Coaches certification under the National Coaching Certification Program is encouraged.
  4. UMPIRES
    1. Registration
      1. Umpires shall register annually with the CIBA/ABIC.
      2. Only registered umpires shall work in CIBA/ABIC sanctioned games.
    2. Certification
      1. Umpires must be certified under the National Umpire Certification Program as administered by Baseball Canada.
      2. Umpires must have at least a current Level III certification.
    3. Supervision
      1. An umpire-in-Chief (UIC) for Canada shall be appointed annually by the President
      2. The UIC shall appoint an assignor or UIC for each conference.
      3. The conference assignor shall assign umpires, for each regular season and play-off game within the respective conference.
      4. A schedule of umpire assignments, including umpire phone numbers, shall be published in advance of each season.
      5. The UIC, in consultation with the President, shall assign umpires for the National Championship.
    4. Fees
      1. Umpire game fees shall be determined annually at a General Meeting.
    5. Dress Code
      1. All umpires shall wear the official uniform of the CIBA/ABIC, consisting of:
        1. Cap - plain navy, fitted (no adjustables and no logos)
        2. Jacket - Fechheimer plate coat or AL style pullover, navy with red/white trim (CIBA/ABIC logo or no crests)
        3. Sweater - v-neck pullover, plain navy (CIBA/ABIC logo or no crests)
        4. Shirt - pro style golf shirt, navy with red/white trim (CIBA/ABIC logo or no crests)
        5. Undershirt - T-shirt, plain navy or red
        6. Pants - Fechheimer pro pants, heather grey
        7. Belt - black leather
        8. Socks - plain black
        9. Shoes - plain black (avoid coloured or white stripes and logos as much as possible)
        10. Gloves - black
    6. On Field
      1. The two or three umpire system may be used for all regular season and play-off games.
      2. The three umpire system shall be used at the National Championship for all round robin games.
      3. The four or six umpire system shall be used at the National Championship for all tie breaker, semi final and championship games.
  5. SCHEDULING
    1. Length of Season
      1. The season shall begin no earlier than August 15th of each playing year.
      2. Teams may be active during the winter and spring, but no team play or practice is permitted between May 15th and August 15th.
    2. Schedule
      1. The schedule for the subsequent season shall be drafted by the CIBA/ABIC.
      2. The schedule shall include all playoffs and sixteen regular season games.
      3. The conference schedule shall be communicated, by the end of May, to each team in the conference, the President, the national umpire-in-chief and the league statistician and media liaison.
      4. Each team must play all games, as scheduled.
    3. Change of Schedule
      1. The posted schedule may only be changed in exceptional circumstances and only with the consent of the Commissioner.
      2. A request for a schedule change must be made to the Commissioner, citing the reason or reasons for the request.
      3. The Commissioner shall confer with the scheduled opposition and the umpire assignor of the conference prior to making a decision on the request.
      4. If a schedule change is approved, the Commissioner shall inform the teams involved, the umpire assignor for the conference, the league statistician and media liaison and the President.
    4. Postponement
      1. Games may be postponed due to inclement weather or adverse field conditions, at the discretion of the home team manager.
      2. Any dispute over the propriety of the decision must be reported to the Commissioner.
      3. On review of the circumstances for postponement, the Commissioner may rule the game be played as scheduled.
      4. The home team must inform the visiting team, the scheduled umpires, the Commissioner and the league statistician and media liaison.
      5. Notice must be given at least two hours before the scheduled game time or the total of one hour pregame activities plus the appropriate travel time of the visiting team, whichever is greater.
      6. In the event that the umpires are not properly notified under this rule, the home team shall pay one half of the applicable umpire game fee.
    5. Playoffs
      1. The top four teams from the regular season standings shall enter the conference playoffs.
      2. The first place finisher shall play the fourth and the second shall play the third in the conference semi-finals.
      3. The two semi final winners shall meet in the conference finals.
      4. In a four team conference, only the top three teams shall advance to the playoffs. The second and third place finishers shall meet in the semi final and the winner will advance to meet the first place finisher in the conference final.
      5. In a three team conference, only the top two teams shall advance to the playoffs. The first and second place finishers shall meet in the conference final.
      6. The semi-finals and finals shall be a best two out of three.
      7. The team finishing higher from the regular season standings shall host the first two games of each playoff as a double header. Game three, if necessary, shall be hosted by the lower finishing team.
      8. The Conference Champion shall represent the conference at the National Championship.
  6. TIE BREAKING
    1. Regular Season
      1. No team shall be eliminated from conference playoffs by virtue of a tie.
    2. Playoff Positions
      1. To break a tie for conference playoff positions first, second or third, first check the tied teams record against each other.
      2. If still tied, check the runs allowed per defensive inning in the games played against each.
      3. If still tied, check the runs scored per offensive inning in the games played against each other.
      4. If still tied, check the runs allowed per defensive inning for the entire regular season.
      5. If still tied, check the runs scored per offensive inning for the entire regular season.
      6. If still tied, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin toss.
    3. Final Playoff Position
      1. In keeping with policy 6.a.i, any teams tied for the final playoff position shall play a one game tie breaker.
      2. The Commissioner shall conduct a coin toss to determine who shall have the option for home field.
      3. If more than two teams are tied, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin toss to determine the order in which the teams shall play and who shall have the option for home field.
  7. PLAYING RULES
    1. Rule Book
      1. The Baseball Canada rule book shall generally apply.
    2. Tobacco Rule
      1. For the purposes of this rule, possessing tobacco products is not a violation. Only use of the products constitutes a violation.
      2. The tobacco rule shall be further strengthened to also include ejection of the team manager.
    3. Designated Runner
      1. There shall be no runner designated to run for the catcher.
  8. DISCIPLINE
    1. Game Ejection
      1. Any player, coach, manager or team official ejected from a game by an umpire shall automatically be suspended for the next scheduled game.
      2. In the event a player or coach is ejected from a game as a result of the tobacco rule, the team manager shall also be ejected.
      3. The automatic game suspension under rule 8.a.i shall apply to the offender of the tobacco rule but not to the team manager unless the team manager was the offender.
      4. The umpire shall report any game ejection to the Commissioner, immediately following the game. For the purposes of this rule, e-mail is preferred. If the report is communicated by telephone, it must be followed with a report in writing.
      5. The Commissioner may issue further suspensions based on the nature of the game ejection or for repeat offenders.
  9. GAMES
    1. Pregame Activities
      1. The home team and visiting teams shall alternate use of the field for batting and infield practices.
      2. The home team shall have batting practice first.
      3. The visiting team shall have the field, unencumbered, one hour before the scheduled game time.
      4. The home team shall regain the field one half hour before the scheduled game time.
      5. The visiting team shall regain the field twenty minutes before the scheduled game time.
      6. The visiting team shall vacate the field ten minutes before the scheduled game time to allow for field maintenance.
      7. The umpires shall conduct the pregame meeting at the plate five minutes before the scheduled game time.
      8. The game shall start on time as scheduled.
      9. Any breech of this procedure must be reported to the Commissioner who may report it to the President for possible disciplinary action.
    2. Regulation Game
      1. All games shall consist of seven innings, unless shortened by the mercy rule or any other rule as defined in the official playing rules of Baseball Canada.
      2. There is no curfew unless required by a local or municipal law.
    3. Mercy Rule
      1. A game will be considered complete if one team leads by ten or more runs after five or more complete innings of play or if the home team leads by ten or more runs after four and one half innings of play.
      2. The mercy rule shall not be used in Conference Playoffs or the National Championship.
    4. Official Baseball
      1. The All-Star model ASPro-1 or ASCL-1, shall be the only baseballs used in any league, playoff or championship game.
      2. Teams are encouraged to use All-Star baseballs during exhibition games.
  10. SPONSORSHIP
    1. Precedence
      1. Sponsors and benefactors of the CIBA/ABIC shall have precedence over any and all sponsors of team or member institutions.
      2. National Championship venues shall be clear of all sponsor identification and advertising except for that approved by the CIBA/ABIC.
      3. CIBA/ABIC meetings, functions and gatherings of any description shall be clear of all sponsor identification and advertising except for that approved by the CIBA/ABIC.
      4. Teams will terminate any local, conference or regional sponsor or benefactor agreement deemed by the CIBA/ABIC to be in conflict with or not in the best interest of the CIBA/ABIC.
      5. Each team will abide by the agreements reached with any and all sponsors or benefactors of the CIBA/ABIC.
  

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