ALTA CANYON BASEBALL ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

Association Bylaws for the year 2016

Adopted by Alta Canyon Baseball Association Board of Directors

Adopted 10 Apr-2016

LEAGUE ORGANIZATION

  1. The Alta Canyon Baseball Association is governed by a set of bylaws. These bylaws will be considered the legal understanding of how the Alta Canyon Baseball Association is to be governed.
  2. The Alta Canyon Baseball Association will be managed by an Executive Board outlined as follows: See attached Board Member Contact List
  3. The Alta Canyon Baseball Executive Board members are volunteers who donate their time and efforts to the community.
  4. The Alta Canyon Baseball Association Executive Board does its best in providing a well run baseball league with good will, integrity and sportsmanship.
  5. The baseball playing rules of Alta Canyon Baseball Association will be the official 2016PONY Baseball Rules and Regulations and will only be superseded by these Alta Canyon Baseball Association bylaws.
  6. The Executive Board may make changes to the bylaws as seen needed. Any changes to the bylaws prior to the start of the season must be made by a majority decision. Any changes during the season take a majority of the board consisting of at least five members from different families, and two thirds of all coaches from the division. All changes will be made available to the coaches immediately if changes are made during the season.
  7. Alta Canyon Baseball is an equal opportunity league and makes every effort to be ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant. Therefore, with the approval of the board and/or its league commissioners, accommodations will be made as necessary for players with disabilities in order to ensure their opportunity for participation in Alta Canyon Baseball.

REGISTRATION

  1. The boundaries for Alta Canyon Baseball Association will be North to I-215, Eastto the Mountains, South to10600 South, andWest toI-15.
  2. Any person meeting the age and residence requirements of Alta Canyon Baseball Association shall be eligible for participation in Alta Canyon Baseball. Under no circumstances is a player allowed to participate in any aspect of the program without first formally registering.
  3. No child will be allowed to play in a game unless his/her fees have been paid in full or arrangements made with the Treasurer or President, prior to the draft.
  4. Players can play down if written request is received from their parents. Their skills must be equal to those that they are playing with as determined by a majority of coaches in that league. No player playing down will be allowed to pitch.
  5. Players can only play up in the next league if the player is within one year of being eligible for that league. Parent requests must be in writing and the necessary fees paid. The player’s skill level must be agreed upon by a majority of the coaches in that league. If eligible for All-Stars, the player will play with the appropriate age group.
  6. Players from the lower division can be brought up to play on a temporary basis as fill-ins, but cannot pitch and must bat in the order after all regular team members have batted.

SELECTION OF COACHES

  1. Any adult over the age of 21 will be considered for a coaching position. All coach applications will be reviewed by the Executive Board.
  2. All coaches will be selected for one season at a time.
  3. If selected, the coach must sign a statement as to their reputation as an adult youth leader and have no background of child abuse or molestation.
  4. Coaching assignments will be the responsibility of the league commissioner and must be approved by the Executive Board.
  5. Coaches will be given the following preference:

First-Board members for the current year

Second-Coaches/assistant coaches from the preceding year

Third-New candidates within Alta Canyon Baseball boundaries

Fourth-Candidates outside our league boundaries

Team Responsibilities

  1. The coach MUST contact all players assigned to his/her team within 3 days of receiving the official team roster.
  2. The coach is to instruct in batting, fielding and fundamentals at weekly practices. All coaches are encouraged to practice as much as possible, but minimally, one practice per week is required for all teams. Note: Although every effort will be made to allow for practice time at Alta Canyon Baseball fields, field use is not guaranteed, and all coaches should identify alternate practice locations (i.e. schools, parks, etc.) to ensure adequate practice time.
  3. The coach should assign a team parent.
  4. The coach (in conjunction with the league commissioner) should not hand out uniforms to any player who has not paid their league fees in full.
  5. The team parent should develop a phone tree concerning practices and games, and should assign a parent volunteer for the Snack Shack duties. Each team on the Flat Iron East field must provide at least one adult volunteer to help in the Snack Shack for their game. No one under the age of 14 will be allowed in the Snack Shack without the express consent of an Executive Board member.
  6. The home team will be responsible for conferring with the umpire about and noting the start time of the game, keeping the official scorebook for that game and for reporting the final score and innings pitched to the Division Commissioner.
  7. The away team will be responsible for assigning someone to run the scoreboard at the fields where the scoreboards are available.
  8. The coach is responsible for returning all equipment to the equipment manager at the end of the season. (All-Star coaches should return their equipment as soon as their All-Star season is completed.)

PLAYER ASSESSMENTS

  1. A player assessment will be conducted under the direction of the Executive Board and the league commissioner.
  2. The Executive Board will provide the player’s name and age to each manager prior to the player assessments.
  3. Any player required to attend the assessment and does not, will have their name placed in the “hat” and their name will be drawn during the draft.
  4. The child of the head coach and his assistant, if any, are automatically frozen to that team. Frozen players must also participate in the player assessment. This is necessary in order to assign the frozen players a “weighted” draft position (i.e. round taken) in the player draft for optimum competitive balance.
  5. All coaches may start their team with no more than two player freezes. The following conditions will apply to player freezes:
  6. One of the team freezes must be the child of the coach.
  7. One of the freezes must be the child of an assistant coach, unless the head coach has more than one child that will be playing on the team.
  8. All players frozen must live within Alta Canyon Baseball Association boundaries.
  9. Pinto (Advanced Machine Pitch)will have an assessment followed by a draft.However, up to 3 playerswill be placed on the same team if they specify that desire before the assessment.
  10. Shetland (Machine pitch) league players will not have an assessment.

DRAFT

  1. The player draft will be held under the direction of the Alta Canyon Baseball Association Executive Board and league Commissioner.
  2. All frozen players will be assigned a “weighted” draft position (ie. round taken) before the draft begins. More skilled players will be “weighted” with a low round, and less skilled players will be “weighted” with a higher round. Assignment of final “weighted” draft position will be agreed upon by a majority of the coaches participating in the draft and the Alta Canyon Board representative.
  3. Draft order will be determined by a cumulative “weighting” of the frozen players on each team as agreed upon by a majority of the coaches participating in the draft and the Alta Canyon Board representative. In the first round, teams with the “higher weighted” (i.e. less skilled) frozen players will draft first and teams with the “lower weighted” (i.e. more skilled) frozen players will draft last. Any disagreements in the determination of draft order should be settled by “random lottery”. The draft will then proceed in a “snake” fashion in subsequent rounds (Rd1 = 1-6; Rd2 = 6-1; Rd3 = 1-6; Rd4 = 6-1; etc.) until all eligible players are selected.
  4. Pinto players who have chosen to play togetherwill be assigned to the same team.When the first player of the group is drafted, the second (and third) players of the groupwill be weighted like frozen players.Assignment of final “weighted” draft positions will be agreed upon by a majority of the coaches. Example - player A is drafted in round 2. Players B and Care round 5and round 7 players as determined by the coaches. The team that drafts player A will also get players B and C as their 5th and 7th picks.
  5. The draft will be conducted so teams have equal numbers. The intent of the draft is to make the teams as equal as possible in their capabilities.
  6. No fewer than 10 players (9 in Shetland) will make up a team and no more than 12 players will be allowed on a team. Recommended team sizes for Mustang, Bronco and Pony (based on registered players at time of team draft): 1st = 11, 2nd = 12, 3rd = 10. Recommended team size for Pinto (based on registered players at time of team assignment): 1st = 11, 2nd = 10, 3rd = 12. Recommended team size for Shetland (based on registered players at time of team assignment): 1st = 9, 2nd = 10, 3rd = 11, 4th = 12.

Note: Exceptions for more than 12 players per team can be made with the approval of both the League commissioner and another member of the executive board (President, VP, etc.) if circumstances dictate due to insufficient numbers to field another full team.

  1. “Hat” Draws – Any player that does not attend the player assessment will have their name placed in a “hat” in order to determine the team they are placed on. “Hat” draws will take place at the beginning of the draft. All “hat” draws will be weighted for draft round (based on the previous knowledge of the player) before being placed in the “hat.” If a player is completely unknown, they should be placed in Round 10 by default. The selection order for “hat” draws will be by “random” lottery. All “hat” draws will then be selected first by the random order determined above and placed on the team roster in the draft round that player was weighted for. The draft will then proceed in the order (starting from #1) determined according to #3 above.
  2. Siblings. Prior to the beginning of the draft, players as a “sibling set” will be weighted by a majority of coaches based on the player assessment and a determination will be made about the appropriate draft round for the siblings. Once the higher ranked first sibling is selected in the draft, the second siblings is automatically placed on the same team in the predetermined round as indicated above.
  3. Following the draft, coaches may trade the players who were drafted, but all trades must be finalized within 72 hours of the draft or within 72 hours of final roster assignment if players are added following the draft. All trades must be approved by an Executive Board member. Only two trades per team will be allowed. No further trades will be allowed after that time.
  4. No special requests will be allowed to be made prior to the draft selection.
  5. Once the teams have been set after the draft, any new registrants will be placed on a waiting list with no guarantee of being assigned to a team. They will be placed on a “first come, first serve” basis, with priority given to returning players. The players that are on a waiting list are added to a team that does not have a full roster. If more than one team does not have a full roster, the player is placed on a team in the order of the draft. If a team has a player that quits, that team gets the next player on the list, assuming that all teams have a full roster. If other teams do not have a full roster, the next player on the list is placed in the order stated above (with the intent to have an equal number of players on all teams).

BEHAVIOR/CONDUCT GUIDELINES

  1. At no time shall parents, fans or coaches loiter behind the backstop of any field for the purposes of observing umpire strike zones, observing and coaching batters, catchers or pitchers. Only the official scorekeepers and/or scoreboard operators, official umpires, or league officials acting in such capacity (i.e. president, commissioner on duty, etc., be allowed to occupy the area behind home plate while any game is being played.
  2. Managers, players, umpires and spectators are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages, use any tobacco products or use any illegal drugs while at the playing field or park. Any violation of this rule will result in suspension.
  3. Managers, players, umpires and spectators involved in a fight or altercation will be suspended.
  4. Any manager or player who is ejected from a game must leave the ballpark. Failure to leave will result in forfeiture of the game and suspension.
  5. Any manager, player or spectator who abuses an umpire by physically touching them or abuses them in any manner (i.e.: spitting, vulgar or abusive language) will be suspended and may be reported to the legal authorities. Only the managers and scorekeeper may stop the game to talk with the umpire.
  6. Any player exhibiting unsportsmanlike behavior will be ejected from the game at the umpire’s discretion (i.e.: throwing a batting helmet, equipment, etc.). The Executive Board may suspend any player from the league if the player or their parents exhibit unsportsmanlike behavior.
  7. Any coach who does not conform to the rules of Alta Canyon Baseball or does not return equipment to the league will be suspended from the league until the equipment is returned.
  8. No intentional delay of game is allowed. On offense: The first offense (in the judgment of the umpire)will result in a warning. A second (or additional) offense will result in the batter being called out. On defense: The first offense will result in a warning. The second (or additional) offense will result in a balk (ball to the batter, all runners advance one base).
  9. All suspensions will be in effect until the Executive Board conducts a hearing, at which time the terms of the suspension will be finalized.
Parent Interference and Unsportsmanlike Conduct
  1. Parents will not be allowed to challenge calls made by umpires and/or coaches.
  2. Parents will receive one warning from the coach or coaches on the first offense.
  3. Second offense will result in parent being asked to leave the field area for the duration of the game and will receive written notice from the league president.
  4. Third offense will result in parent and youth being suspended from the Alta Canyon Baseball League for the duration of the season.

PONY (13-15 yrs), BRONCO (Major - 11/12 yrs) andMUSTANG (Minor - 9/10 yrs) LEAGUE RULES

General Rules

  1. The rules of the Alta Canyon Baseball Association will be the 2016 official PONY Baseball Rules and Regulations and will only be superseded by these Alta Canyon Baseball Association bylaws.
  2. A team can play with seven or more players. Fewer than seven players will result in a forfeit.
  3. A team will forfeit their game if they do not have a full roster (at least 7 players) at game time.
  4. Every player must play. A defensive player cannot sit on the bench two innings in a row. A defensive player who sat out the previous inning must play the next inning in its entirety. All players present are included in the batting lineup.
  5. Intentional walks are not allowed in the Mustang and Bronco divisions.
  6. Catchers in Pinto, Mustang, Bronco and Pony must wear a protective cup.
  7. An injured player can come out of the game and a replacement may take their position.
  8. Alta Canyon Baseball has open substitution with the exception of pitching. Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, he or she may not pitch again for the remainder of the game; however, he or she is still eligible to play any other position. All other pitching guidelines still apply.
  9. A non-contact rule at home, not a must-slide rule, applies. A runner must try to avoid running into the catcher.
  10. Three outs or six runs (seven runs for Pony) will result in the end of that half of the inningwith the following exception: all base runners scoring on the final play will be counted even after 6 runs (7 for Pony) have scored.The play will continue until an out is recorded or the base runners have stopped and the umpire has called time out.
  11. The run rule applies to all innings, including the last inning.
  12. All games will be played until the inning limit or time limit is reached regardless of score (unless the home team is ahead entering the last half inning of play), with the exception of the “10-Run Mercy Rule” below.
  13. If a team is ahead by more than 6 runs (7 innings in Pony) entering the last inning, coaches are encouraged to use this inning for instructional purposes to allow pitchers and other position players the opportunity to play positions they may not ordinarily play when the outcome of the game is still in doubt.
  14. There will be a “10-Run Mercy Rule” enforced if a team is behind by 10 runs at the end of the fourth inning or after 3 ½ innings (4 ½ for Pony)if the home team is ahead.
  15. Alta Canyon Baseball has a speed up rule including the following elements:
  16. A catcher may be replaced as a runner by the player in the line-up that got the last out, if there is at least one out.
  17. There is no “around-the-horn” after outs.
  18. New pitchers to the game have eight warm-up pitches. Returning pitchers in the same inning have four warm-up pitches.
  19. Bat barrelsup to2 ⅝”are LEGAL (i.e. “big barrel” bats are LEGAL). The first offense for use of an illegal bat (larger than 2 ⅝”is that the batter is declared “out” (all runners must return to their original base) and the coach receives a warning. A second (or additional) offense will result in the ejection of the coach from the game.
  20. Steel spikes are NOTallowed in the Shetland, Pinto, Mustang or Bronco divisions. Steel spikes may be worn in the Pony division (or above)
  21. In case of inclement weather, there will be a hotline number that may be called 45-60 minutes before the game is scheduled to find out about cancellations. If there is no message canceling the game, that game will be played. Weather conditions will be evaluated for each game individually.

League Hotline Number: 801-246-8510-or-

  1. Make-up games will be played on the next open date in the schedule, including Saturdays, in the order that the games were cancelled or postponed, schedule permitting. Note: Exceptions may apply with the approval of the executive board.
  2. Only players and coaches may be on the playing field or in the dugout. When a team is at bat, all the team members must remain in the dugout unless they are batting or on deck. All offensive players must wear a batting helmet if on the playing field.
  3. Players must be in full uniform during scheduled games. An out will be assessed as the first out (and only that out) of the game for that team for any player not deemed to be in full uniform. Wearing of All-Star jerseys over team jerseys during regular season will not be permitted. Pitchers, if wearing a long sleeve undershirt, must have an undershirt that matches one of the primary colors of their team’s jerseys (Note: Black or Navy undershirts are always allowed for pitchers). Absolutely no jewelry will be allowed to be worn by players, unless it is medically necessary.

Time Limits/Maximum Innings

  1. Games go to a maximum of six innings (seven in Pony) unless tied.
  2. No new innings may be started within 15 minutes of the next scheduled game, or after reaching the time limits below:
  3. Mustang Division:Preseason 75 min;Regular and Post Season: 90 min
  4. Bronco Division:Preseason 90 min;Regular and Post Season: 105 min
  5. Pony Division:Preseason 105 min;Regular and Post Season: 120 min
  6. If you start an inning, you must finish the inning (unless the home team is ahead).
  7. If a game is suspended for weather or darkness, it will count as a completed game if it has gone a minimum of 3 innings (4 innings for Pony), or 2 ½ innings (3 ½ for Pony) if the home team was ahead. If more innings were played, the score reverts back to the last completed inning for win/loss/tie record.
  8. If one inning was completed, but less than 2 ½ innings (3 ½ Pony), the game will be rescheduled and resumed where it left off, schedule permitting. In the event the game cannot be rescheduled, it will be counted as a tie
  9. Tie games will not be made up. If seeds in a tournament cannot be determined without a tie-breaker, a coin flip will be used.

Batting

  1. All players present bat in the order.
  2. The “dropped third strike rule” is in effect for the Pony and Bronco divisions. The “dropped third strike rule” is NOT in effect for the Mustang Division. The “dropped third strike rule” is summarized below:

The batter becomes a runner when the third strike (called by the umpire or a swinging strike) is not caught by the catcher, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out. Note: When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be declared out.