London Men’s Baseball League Constitution

V3.2 Amended March 6, 2007

 1. PURPOSE: The League’s purpose is to provide an opportunity for men to enjoy recreational baseball in an environment where goodwill dominates competitiveness.

2. BOARD OF CONTROL: League management is the responsibility of the Executive and one representative of each team.

2.1 QUORUM: The Quorum for a Board Meeting is 50% plus 1 of the Board Membership.

2.2 BY-LAWS: By-laws can be established, withdrawn and revised by the Board.

3. EXECUTIVE: The following Executive Members are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to service until the next Annual Meeting.

President

Vice President

Past President – who must have served as President at one time

Secretary/ Treasurer

3.1 VACANCIES: Should an Executive position become vacant a replacement may be elected by the Board.

4. MEMBERS: Every player whose fees are fully paid is a member of the League.

5. ANNUAL MEETING: A membership meeting will be held following each playing season. Notice of the meeting will be posted on the website 30 days prior to the meeting.

6. AMENDMENTS: The Constitution may be revised by a majority of the members at the Annual Meeting. A member desiring the revision must provide the revision in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.

BY-LAWS OF LONDON MEN’S BASEBALL LEAGUE

1.0 Player and Team Rules

1.1 Each player must agree to comply with the LMBL Constitution and By-laws

1.2 All players and league officials (scorekeepers, umpires) accept all the risks, foreseen and unforeseen, of the game of baseball.

1.3 All players must pay an annual fee set each year by the Board. No player will be allowed to play until the annual fee has been paid.

1.4 All players must wear a full uniform including full length pants and a numbered team shirt.

1.5 Each team will maintain a $100 performance bond. A forfeiting team will make a payment of $50 per forfeited game to the league. 2 forfeits by the same team in the same season will result in the LMBL taking the appropriate measure to ensure that team can field 9 players. Forfeited game scores will be recorded as 7-0.

1.6 Players must play in a minimum 6 regular season games to be eligible for playoffs.

1.7 Spares who have played 3 games for the same team in the same year can continue playing for that team only if they agree to become a regular player and pay a pro-rated fee.

1.8 Fighting, violence, threatening, undue physical contact, extended arguing or unsportsmanlike conduct, actions or comments detrimental to the spirit of the league, may lead to a suspension or expulsion from the league.

1.9 A player ejected from a game will be suspended from playing in his team’s next game. This suspension is not subject to appeal.

1.9.1 A player ejected from a game for the second time in a season will be suspended from playing in his team's next three (3) games.

1.9.2 A player ejected from a game for the third time in a season will be expelled from the league.

1.9.3 Any suspension of more than one (1) game or an expulsion may be appealed. The appeal must be in writing and given to the League Secretary within 48 hours of the end of the game of the ejection or of notification of a League imposed penalty. The appeal will be dealt with within three (3) days by a committee of the League Executive and the Representative of the two teams of the game in which the ejection occurred.

1.10 A player is allowed to spare (regular season only) if he meets 1 of the following criteria:

1. He has previously played in the league (must be proved if disputed).

2. He has been approved by the league executive prior to playing.

3. The opposing manager agrees prior to the start of the game

Spares cannot play as a pitcher and cannot play more than 3 games for the same team.

2.0 Playing Rules

2.1 The Official Rules of Baseball will apply with these exceptions:

2.1.1 The OBA non-contact rule applies.

2.1.2 The OBA rule on the prohibition on the use of tobacco products applies.

2.1.3 Beginning in 2008 metal bats may be used only by a player with a handicap such as age (60 or over) who has been approved by the LMBL Board.

2.1.4 There will be a time limit with no new inning starting after 2 hours and 20 minutes. Games will be 7 innings if time allows. Extra innings will be played in tie games if time allows.

2.1.5 There will be unlimited defensive substitution.

2.1.6 Pitchers may pitch only until 9 outs have been made. If a pitcher hits 3 batters he must be removed from the pitching position.

2.1.7 Teams will present a batting order at or before the first game of the season. This order will remain for the first seven games but may be revised for the balance of the regular season and may be further revised for playoffs. The batter due to be the next batter in a game will be the first batter in the next game. Late arriving players will take their assigned place in the order.

2.1.8 With 2 outs, a catcher on base may be replaced as a base runner by the player who was the second out of the inning.

2.1.9 If a team that had 9 players to begin a game is reduced to 8 players due to an ejection, they forfeit the game. If reduced to 8 players for another reason, they may continue the game.

2.1.10 Ejected players will count as an automatic out each time their turn at bat comes up.

2.1.11 If a player is injured during an at bat and cannot complete his turn at bat, he will be an out. If a player is injured while a base runner, he may be replaced by the last out of his team. If replaced, he can not return to the game in any capacity.

2.1.12 Innings 1 to 6 will end after the play in which the 6^th run of the inning is scored.

3.0 Game Rules

3.1 Rainouts: The managers of the first game (at each location) must decide whether or not to cancel a game. If the first game is cancelled, then the second is automatically cancelled. It is the responsibility of the home team manager of the first game to contact the umpires and managers of the second game.

3.2 No game may be postponed without prior executive approval.

3.3 In the case that the start of the first scheduled game at Labatt Park is delayed the following shall apply:

a) If the first game cannot begin within 40 minutes of its scheduled start time, that game shall be postponed. The second game shall be played at its normal time.

b) If the first game can begin within 40 minutes, the playing time for that game shall be extended by one half of the duration of the delay and the start of the subsequent game shall be delayed by that same time.

3.4 A game is forfeit if either team is not ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled start time.