2007 RHWS Rules
Roy Hobbs Note I: Roy Hobbs Baseball used the Official Rules of
Baseball as its base, with the following adaptations. The adaptations are for use at the annual Roy
Hobbs World Series and any Roy Hobbs-sanctioned event where the promoter chooses
to use them. These rules have been
distributed to members of the Roy Hobbs Umpires Association.
Note II: These rules adaptations apply directly to Open,
Veterans, Masters & Legends age divisions, with further
adaptations for Classics, Seniors and Family ties, which are listed separately.
Note III: The Women’s Division follows Official Rules
of Baseball and the general High School re-entry rules, with such adaptations as
approved by the tournament director.
Note IV: The Roy Hobbs’ rules amplifications, exceptions
and adaptations as follows in this World Series program supersede any other
written copy of Roy Hobbs Rules.
Note V: In case of protest, the
Official Rules of Baseball, supplemented by the ORB Professional Baseball
Umpires case book, will be the basis of rules decisions.
u Rules of play
Strike zone: Roy Hobbs encourages umpires to call a “full”
strike zone as described in Official Rules of Baseball: “. . . that area over home plate, the upper
limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the
shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at
the hollow beneath the kneecap. The
Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is
prepared to swing at a pitched ball.”
Roy Hobbs notes: 1) Over
home plate is strictly a judgment call for each umpire. 2) Batters who duck a
pitch do not compress their strike zone.
Batters box: Batters must keep one foot in the box at all
times during their at bat, with the following exceptions:
1. When batter is driven
out by a pitch or has swung at a pitch.
2. Defense calls time out
or pitcher is off the mound.
3. Defense attempts a
play or a wild pitch / passed ball occurs.
4. Catcher leaves his
position.
5. Offense (or batter)
calls time out.
6. Batter feigns a bunt
or assumes possible ball 4 (this does not mean go all the way to first base).
When the batter is out of
the box, he may not leave the dirt area around home plate except in the case of
a substitution, a conference or an equipment problem.
The intent of this rule is to keep the game flowing. When a player is in violation of this rule,
the umpire will ask that the batter return to the batter’s box – one warning
per offending player. If the offending
player does not return to the batter’s box immediately (or if the violation is
repeated), a strike will be called without a pitch being thrown.
Player contact & sliding: Any player who initiates intentional and
forceful contact with an opponent shall be called out and ejected from the
game. This includes barreling, roll
blocks, pop-up slides, or sliding out of the baseline to initiate contact. Slides must be directly to the bag – defined
as being within an arm’s length of the bag – and the slide may go past the bag
as long as it is NOT in the direction of the defensive player handling the
baseball. Malicious contact is prohibited. While there is NO “must slide” rule at the
plate, it would be advised to slide on any close play. Catchers will not block the plate (or the
baseline) unless the ball is in their possession or the catcher has a reasonable opportunity in the umpire’s
judgment to make a play on the runner.
Anything less will be considered obstruction.
Decoy tags: Decoy tags or inducing a runner to slide
unnecessarily are prohibited. An offending player will be ejected, with the
runner awarded at least one base or as many bases as he would have made without
the obstruction. There will be no
warnings.
Ejections: Ejected players must leave the field of play
immediately and must leave the playing site upon gathering their
belongings. Any further contact with the
umpires, even after the game finishes, could bring possible disqualification
from the remainder of the event. All
ejections carry automatic suspension for the player and require a written
report from the umpire to be submitted to the Chief of Umpires and Tournament
Director immediately upon completion of the game.
Ejection reinstatement: Ejected players are
suspended from further competition until they meet with the World Series
Tournament Director or his representative.
Failure to do so will result in a team forfeiture and further
disqualification. Any player ejected
twice during the World Series, regardless of reason, is disqualified from further
competition (players ejected in previous World Series competition risk similar
consequences). Appeal: Any player ejected
twice must file a written appeal for a hearing with the Tournament Director and
his Competition Committee. Decision of
the committee is final.
Intentional walk: Pitches must be thrown.
Hit Batters: Any pitcher who hits three (3) batters with
pitches during a game must be removed from the pitching position (immediately
upon hitting his third batter). He may
continue to play offense and defense.
u Playing guidelines
Games: All games are scheduled for 9 innings unless noted on the
schedule. Tournament Director has
discretion to shorten the length of games due to weather or other logistical
conditions that are beyond World Series control. Other exceptions include:
1. 10-run rule: Rule will be in effect after 7 innings (6½
if home team leads). In
the case of 7-inning games, the 10-run rule will be in effect at the end of 5
innings of play. (Both teams must
have the same number of at-bats, unless the home team is leading.)
2. Time Limit: No new inning will begin after 3:10 of playing time in a scheduled 9-inning
game; no new inning will begin after 2:25 of
playing time in a scheduled 7-inning game.
Special Notes: While it is each team manager’s responsibility
to monitor time issues, umpires are requested to notify both benches at least
one full inning ahead of reaching time limits.
Umpires will ‘stop the clock’ on a) weather suspensions, b) injuries
where a player requires medical attention on the field, c) to handle protests,
and d) any other unavoidable delay.
Weather issues:
Weather-shortened games are suspended pending the decision of the
tournament director.
Extra innings: Games where scores are
tied at the completion of 9 innings shall go into extra innings provided
time-limit rules allow. If the score is
tied when time limit is invoked, the tie will be resolved by Roy Hobbs Shootout
rules, which are:
1. Play one inning at a time, with the last batted out from the
previous inning starting the new inning at second base.
2. Each hitter comes to the plate with a 3-2 count. If the pitch
is a called strike or missed on the swing, the batter is out; if the pitch is
fouled off, the count remains 3-2; if the pitch is a ball, the batter
walks. Or the batter hits the ball fair.
3. Each team gets 3 outs. If the score remains tied after each
team has batted, repeat the process until you have a winner.
Lineup cards: Both managers, prior to or at the home plate
meeting at the start of the game, will give the home plate umpire and the
opposing manager a copy of their lineup, which MUST include:
1. First Initial or first and last name. (Last names only are subject to challenge.)
2. All players (including all substitutes and relief pitchers)
MUST be listed on the lineup card, even if they are not starting offensively or
defensively, to be eligible to play in the game. (If a player is delayed, make sure he is
listed so he can play when he arrives.)
3. Correct corresponding uniform number. (Incorrect numbers will
incur the same penalty as batting out of order, and to challenge, follow the
same rules that apply to batting out of order.)
4. Umpires will be responsible for lineups during the game to
handle eligibility questions, scorebook discrepancies, incorrect numbers, and batting
out of order issues.
Batting order rules: 9-, 10-, 11- or 12-man
batting orders. Batting order may not be
reduced or enlarged after the umpire receives the lineup.
1. Team may start a game with 8 players; the ninth batting slot is
an “out” each time it comes to the plate; when ninth player shows up, he will
be inserted into the ninth spot in the batting order without penalty.
2. If the batting or fielding contingent is fewer than 8 at any
time, the game is ended with the deficient team forfeiting.
3. If a team begins play with 9-or-more players and all are in the
offensive order (therefore, no substitutes available), and a player is forced
to leave the game (offensive & defensive lineup) for an injury, no
“out” will be declared when that player’s position comes to the plate. However, if the offensive player leaves the
lineup for any other reason (i.e., ejection or leaving the playing site), an
“out” will be declared for that vacant spot in the batting lineup each time it
comes to the plate. Notes: If a player is injured
and out of the game, he is removed both offensively and defensively. If an injured player wants to hit in a 9-man
scenario, he must also run the bases should he reach safely.
4. Exception to the
automatic out: A game may not end on
the automatic out.
Offensive substitution: Roy Hobbs uses the Shared Lineup
position to enter more than one player in any offensive batting order position.
1. Offensive substitution is unlimited, provided said player stays
in the same spot in the lineup once he is placed there (i.e., a batter and a
runner for that batter may occupy the same position in the offensive lineup;
the manager must declare who is batting at that lineup position if there is a
change. Neither player may appear in any
other offensive lineup slot.) A manager
may use an unlimited number of players in any lineup slot, but those players
cannot be used elsewhere offensively.
2. A shared position in the offensive lineup may be initiated at
any time, at manager’s discretion.
3. Managers must notify opposing manager when players in
shared-lineup positions are being switched.
4. There are no courtesy runners.
Use shared lineup position.
Defensive substitution: There will be free and unlimited defensive
substitutions, without reporting to the umpire, the official scorekeeper (in
playoffs) or the opponent’s scorekeeper (although it is a courtesy to do
so). Exception: Pitching changes must be reported to the
umpires and to both team’s scorekeepers.
1. Defensive players are not required to play offense, and
offensive players are not required to play on defense.
2. All pitchers are allowed unlimited re-entry as pitcher provided
they have remained in the game defensively.
One re-entry per inning.
Scorebook: During pool play, the home team scorebook is
the official scorebook unless the home team cedes the responsibility to the
visiting team and informs the umpire.
During semifinals & championships, designated official scorer’s book
is the official scorebook.
Dugout access: Non-uniformed individuals are not allowed in
open dugouts during the play of a game.
Screened dugouts are exempt.
Protests: Protests are allowed on misapplication of game rules. Protests on a judgment call by an umpire will
automatically be declined. Retroactive
protests will not be accepted. Protests must be made at the point at which a
rule has been misapplied. To protest a
game, a manager must:
1. Stop the game before the next pitch is thrown.
2. Notify the umpire and the opposing manager that the game is
being played under protest.
3. Write in the HOME team’s scorebook the situation and on what
grounds the game is being protested. The
protesting manager must sign the notations.
4. The umpire must sign the HOME team’s scorebook, noting the
situation of the game (including the count on the hitter) when the protest was
lodged.
5. Protesting teams must write a check for $50 to Roy Hobbs
Baseball and give it to the plate umpire (who gives it to Field Manager or
event official addressing the protest).
(If the protest is upheld, the $50 will be returned; if not, the $50 is
forfeited.)
6. Umpires and managers will meet with complex Field Manager and/or
Roy Hobbs Baseball representative, who will contact either the Tournament
Director or Roy Hobbs President (via phone if not on site) and resolve the
protest before resuming the game.
Decision is final.
u Uniforms, equipment
Uniform: All participating players, coaches and
managers must be in full, numbered, baseball uniform while within the confines
of the field of play.
1. Uniforms must be buttoned up and tucked in.
2. Players on composite teams may wear the uniforms of their
respective teams, although matching uniforms are encouraged.
3. Duplicate numbers are legal, but switching jerseys once play
has begun is prohibited. (Teams with
duplicate numbers are required to note on the lineup card distinguishing
features of the players with duplicate numbers.)
4. T-shirts as uniform jerseys are prohibited.
5. No cutoff sleeves are permitted, either on sleeved jerseys or
on T-shirts under vest jerseys.
Helmets: Batters and runners are required to wear
NOCSAE-approved helmets. Batters are
required to wear helmets with an earflap toward the pitcher. Cracked helmets are prohibited. No catchers helmets
allowed while at bat. No exceptions.
Bat Boys: Bat boys (or girls) are
required to wear a double-ear helmet whenever out of the dugout.
Skull Caps: Catchers are required to wear a skull cap or
helmet when catching. No exceptions.
Wood bats: Composite, wood and wood/metal bats are
allowed. Bats must be manufactured by an
authorized supplier and cannot be altered in any way. Note: Metal bats are allowed in the women’s
divisions only.
Shoes: Metal spiked shoes are
allowed; however, only those manufactured for baseball. No track or golf shoes allowed. Metal spikes may not be sharpened.
n n n
Roy Hobbs Note VI: These rules are effective with the RHWS
editing of September, 2007, and supersede any previous version –