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This document will cover some of the rules and policies to be in place for this season.  For more detailed information, please consult your manager’s handbook.


  1. Home team is responsible for calling off any rainouts.  Rainouts MUST be called off 2 hours ahead of the scheduled start time.  The first phone call should be to the umpire’s association to cancel the game.  Second phone call should be to the opposing manager, and the last call should be to the league.  You can either call or use the form on the website to report a rainout.  When you report a rainout, you MUST include information as to whether you called off the umpires or not.
  2. The winning team is responsible for reporting all scores.  Your scores are due by noon on Mondays.  Your scores may be phoned in, or preferably, reported via the website.  When reporting via the website, don’t forget to include highlights from the game as they will be included in the weekly newsletter.  Highlights from phoned in scores will not be included.
  3. Teams from all leagues may add players who are late to the game to the bottom of the batting lineup.  The catch is that you must finish your game with that number of hitters, meaning that if you have 9 guys in the lineup, add a 10th during the game, you must finish with 10.
  4. The 8 man start and finish rule will be in place again this season.  This means that you can start and finish a game with 8 players.
  5. If a player is ejected from a game, he must sit out the next game scheduled game.  That being said, if the manager wishes to appeal the decision, he may do so within 48 hours of the game by phone call, or e-mail.  Any and all appeals will require a $25 appeals fee.  If the player is found “innocent”, the $25 is returned, and the player may play the following weekend.  The board will issue a response no later than Saturday the following weekend.  The board also reserves the right to enforce additional fines, or suspensions depending on the circumstances of the incident.  It is also VERY important that when you report an ejection, or are questioned about an ejection, that the CORRECT player’s name is submitted.  Falsifying this information will result in additional action taken by the board.  In the end, the manager is the sole person responsible for this information.
  6. If a team forfeits 3 games at any time during the season, for any reason, they will be removed from the schedule for the remainder of the year. 
  7. Temporary roster substitutions will be allowed this year, but under the following conditions.  The player who is being substituted for must remain inactive for a period of 4 consecutive weeks before he can be put back on your roster.  Should that player decide to move to another team, he must pay the appropriate fee for his new team.  Should you wish to keep the player who was used as a substitute, he would also be required to pay the appropriate fee.  This process is commonly used for injured players, or players who will be out of town for extended periods of time.  You many only do 3 roster substitutions during a season.
  8. Double headers will be a two 9 inning games regardless of whom you play in the second game. 
  9. Each team is guaranteed  a minimum of 15 games during the regular season.  18 games can not be guaranteed due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will guarantee you 15 games for the season.  If you are unable to get 15 games in during the season due to weather, field availability, forfeit, or any other reason deemed to be out of the control of the league, There will be no refunds whatsoever.  The league will do everything in its power to ensure you get the 18 games that you have scheduled but there are many unforeseen circumstances that the league cannot control which is the reason for this rule. 
  10. Time allotment for any game will be dictated by the field schedule.  In other words, just because you have a 7 inning game doesn’t mean it is 2.5 hours in length.  The schedule will have this information.
  11. Players that are on multiple rosters during the regular season may play on both teams during the playoffs.  This is a change from years past.  That being said, there is a limit of 4 players who may be on both team’s rosters for the playoffs.  For example, of a manager has a team in both the American and National leagues in the 18+ division, and has more than 4 players who have paid to play on both rosters, he is limited to only 4 players who may play on both teams.  Outside of the 4 allotted players, the manager must put these players on one roster or the other.
  12. There are several NABA wide rules you need to be aware of.  These are no-contact rules (slide and avoid), starter re-entry and free defensive substitution.  Refer to your manager’s handbook for more information.
  13. If you touch and umpire in a confrontational manner before, during or after a game, you will be banned from the league permanently with no refund!
If you ever have questions on league rules, please contact Pat, or anyone else on the board of directors.


You should always have a copy of the NABA rulebook at every game, along with a Major League Baseball rule book.  We play by the Major League rule book (contrary to what some umpires may think) plus the unique NABA rules.  It is the manager’s responsibility to know the rules of the game.


It is also recommended that you have a set of throw down bases in case the field is not supplied with bases.  Games will not be re-scheduled for a field that does not have bases as it is each managers responsibility to carry bases in case the field doesn't have them available for us.


Fields:


There have been complaints from field maintenance personnel in the past few years that we need to be very cognizant of and address.  The rules regarding these complaints are outlined below.  Non conformance to these policies will result in a fine.


  1. There are NO sunflower seeds allowed on any turf fields.  This is common sense and yet, this happens every season.  Please be aware of this and police your teams accordingly.  If your team is caught violating this rule, you will not play on turf fields again!
  2. Do not climb a fence to get into a field!  For most fields, we have a contact name that can get the field unlocked for us.  Even if you are able to get into the field, the umpires will not be able to since it is against their policy.  Also, this is technically trespassing although the league will have scheduled the field.  If a field is locked, call the contact person for the field, or call Pat.
  3. If there is a youth game going on at a field where you are scheduled to play, do not disrupt the game.  Simply call Pat or anyone on the board, and we will address it afterward.  Youth leagues ALWAYS get priority!
  4. Wet fields are a way of life around here, but there are good ways and bad ways to deal with them.  Whatever you do, do NOT add kitty litter, extra dirt or any other substance to a field.  In most cases, this extra material ends up getting in the grass and causes damage.  At the same time, do not remove dirt from a field either.  It is always good to have a rake handy, but please use it appropriately.
  5. There is NO tobacco products allowed at ANY high school field, period.  If evidence of these are found, your team will be fined.
  6. Always clean out your dugout after every game.  The idea is to leave the field in better condition than what you found it in.

Sea-Tac NABA fineable offenses


Fines are not negotiable, and must be paid in full by your next scheduled game or you will forfeit that game.  If you are fined more than once, and do not pay the fine, you will be removed from the league, with no refund. 


The list below are team fines.  There are individual fines that can be levied, and will generally do so based on the umpire’s game report.  The league in general does not fine individual players unless there are extreme circumstances.  In most extreme circumstances against players, said player will usually be black balled from the league.


In general, we have a 3 strikes and you are out policy, with some exceptions.


Team Fines:


  1. Not reporting your game score on time.  “On time” is Monday at noon for games on Sunday.  Scores can be reported either by e-mail, or preferably via the statistics website.  You get one instance for free, but second instance is $25 per incident.
  2. Tobacco use on high school fields.  Fine is $50 for first instance, $100 for second, and 3rd strike and you’re out (i.e. your team is removed from the league).
  3. Alcohol use on any field or in the parking lot of a field.   Fine is $50 for first instance, $100 for second, and 3rd strike and you’re out.
  4. Spitting sunflower seeds on an astro turf field.  Fine is $50 for first instance, $100 for second, and 3rd strike and you’re out (i.e. your team is removed from the league).
  5. Illegal roster moves.  These can be adding a player who does not meet the requirements of your division (i.e. a person under 28 playing in the 28+ league), adding a player who is currently under contract with another team, adding a player and not submitting his players fee by the following week, etc..  Fine is $50 for first instance, $100 for second, and 3rd strike and you’re out (i.e. your team is removed from the league).
Player fines:


  1.  Fighting before, during or after any game.   Fine is $50 for first instance, and if it happens a second time, you are removed from the league with no refund.
  2. Player ejections.  If a player is ejected form a game for any reason, he must sit out the following game.  If a player is ejected from game 3 times during the season, he will be removed from the league with no refund.
  3. Manager ejections.  Any manager who is ejected from a game 3 times during the season will be fined $100, and face possible expulsion to the league.
  4. Infractions of any other NABA specific rules not listed here will be subject to the decision of the board of directors.
Note that for player fines, the league does not contact the players in question.  This is the manager’s responsibility as the manager is the representative of his team to the league.


Any returned checks for fines levied will incur a $20 charge.


For other NABA related infractions, please refer to your manager’s handbook.  It is the responsibility of each and every manager to enforce league rules on the field.  This is your responsibility, and the reason why you get to play for free.  Contact Pat, or anyone on the board of directors, if you have any questions on any of these infractions.


All fine amounts and policies are subject to change without notification.