SFBL Rules

South Florida Baseball League has a long-standing policy of non-discrimination for any participant, supplier, vendor or any other relevant parties, on the basis of race, color, national origin, handicaps or sex.

All teams must be in baseball uniforms when participating in official SFBL games. This refers specifically to each player wearing a uniform, which matches every other team member. Matching uniform is defined as matching jersey, pants and cap. Players wearing incomplete uniforms may not participate in any official SFBL games.

All managers and coaches must be in uniform while in the dugout or on the field.

Certain uniform exceptions may be temporarily granted by the League for unusual circumstances but such instances must be pre-approved by the League.

All batters, runners and catchers must wear protective helmets, no exceptions.

All teams are required to use the official South Florida Baseball League-designated Official Minor League baseballs, as provided to each manager at the start of each season. Each team must bring three (3) new balls to each game so that there are six new balls being provided to the chief umpire prior to the start of each official league game.

Baseball spikes may have either metal or rubber cleats.

The SFBL is a WOOD BAT ONLY league. Certain WOOD COMPOSITE BATS are permitted, but only with League approval.

To be eligible for league play, a player must first complete the online registration form, and second, ensure that his name appears on any current season Team Roster as published on the public pages of the SFBL website. The online registration explicitly includes a Liability Waiver. If a player’s name is not listed on a current season team roster, he will NOT be able to play in any League-sanctioned events. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Any team found to be violating this rule will forfeit the game in which the illegal player played. The second time such a violation occurs, the team will forfeit all of its remaining games, and will not receive any refund of Registration Fees.

The South Florida Baseball League features three age divisions:

18+ DIVISION – A player must be 18 years of age or older to play in the 18+ Division.

28+ DIVISION – A player must be 28 years of age or older, or turning 28 in the calendar year, to play in the 28+ DIVISION. However, with league approval, teams may have up to three age restriction exceptions. Each team may roster up to three players under the age restriction providing the underage players are at least 25 or older. However, a player must be 28 or older (or turning 28 in the calendar year) to be eligible to pitch in the 28+ Division. Under rare circumstances, the league may permit additional exceptions to this rule.

35+ DIVISION – A player must be 35 years of age or older, or turning 35 in the calendar year, to play in the 35+ DIVISION. However, with league approval. teams may have up to three age restriction exceptions. Each team may roster up to three players under the age restriction providing the underage players are at least 28 or older. However, a player must be 35 or older (or turning 35 in the calendar year) to be eligible to pitch in the 35+ Division. Under rare circumstances, the League may permit additional exceptions to this rule.

An opposing manager may at any time question a player’s age and request said player to provide proof of age prior to the start of play. The player must provide said proof in the form of an original photo identification. If the player does not have adequate proof at the time of play, the game will be played under protest until such time as adequate proof is provided.

Teams must carry a minimum of 13 players on their roster and are limited to a maximum of 25 players.  Certain exceptions may be granted with League approval.  

Complete team rosters are due by the deadline set by the League at the beginning of each season. Teams may add players to their team roster at any time throughout the season, even for the last game of a season, providing the players being added have 1) league approval, 2) registered online, and 3) signed the Team Waiver Form.

In order to be eligible to compete in the post-season, a player must have played in at least two (2) regular season games with the same team. Score sheets or online stats are required to document player post-season eligibility.

No team may have any Ex-Pros on their roster. Ex-pro is defined as a player that has played Triple A baseball within the last two years, or Major League Baseball within the last three years. Active Single A, Double A and college players may participate without restriction.

Teams anticipating being short players in advance of any regular season game must make arrangements to borrow players from other teams. Teams may only borrow players whose names appear on any other Team Roster page on the SFBL website. Teams may only use borrowed players to the extent required to reach nine players to play the game, plus one extra player. If a team is using borrowed players, it is prohibited from playing any more than ten players, unless otherwise approved by the League. Borrowed players may play any position, including pitcher and catcher. Teams requiring borrowed players for post-season games must obtain League approval in advance of the game.

If a team has only eight fielders on defense, then the opposing team is required to loan the team short players a player for defensive purposes only, such that there are ALWAYS NINE PLAYERS ON DEFENSE. The team loaning players may substitute which players it loans at its own discretion, without limit. If the team required to loan a defensive player refuses to comply with this rule, then the umpires are instructed to suspend the game immediately. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL ANY INNING OR GAME BE PLAYED WITH LESS THAN NINE PLAYERS ON DEFENSE.

Schedule: All league games are played on Sundays. Teams must communicate scheduling constraints, conflicts and other team scheduling issues to the league office at the beginning of each season. This information will be used to build the Season Schedule. Best efforts are always made to accommodate team constraints. Teams are expected to be able to fulfill their schedule obligations without exception and are compelled to resolve their issues in fielding a team each week of the season by making arrangements to borrow appropriate Eligible Players or suffer a forfeit.

Postponing A Game: The League will, from time to time, postpone any and all games for a myriad of reasons. However, once the schedule is posted, a team will forfeit their game if it can’t field a team as scheduled and posted on the league website. Teams may, on occasion, be forced to request their game be postponed. Such requests must be made prior to the Wednesday noon deadline to avoid financial penalties (both umpires fees in full). Such requests may or may not be granted by the League.

Forfeits: Any team forfeiting or postponing a game after the Wednesday noon deadline must pay the umpire fees for both umpires in full in order to continue playing in the league. TO BE CLEAR – games will not be scheduled for any team that forfeits a game until both forfeit umpire fees are paid in full.

Line-Up Card / Team Roster. Managers must identify themselves to the Home Plate umpire prior to the start of the game. Team managers must submit their line-up cards prior to each game to the chief umpire and opposing manager listing the full names and jersey numbers of all players in their line-up, including bench players. Managers must also provide to the chief umpire a printed Team Roster or an i-phone display of the team’s on line roster (www.sfbl.com). In order to play in any official league game, a player’s name MUST appear on the official LINE UP CARD submitted to umpires prior to the start of any game. Players requiring a courtesy runner must be so designated on the line up card. However, any borrowed player or rostered player that shows up to the game, but was not listed on the submitted line up card, may still play, providing they are listed on the team’s roster or on SFBL APPROVED PLAYERS LIST posted on www.sfbl.com.  Games will NOT start until both official lineups have been submitted to the plate umpire.

Start Time: The game clock will start promptly at the time scheduled, regardless if the teams are ready to play or not. A 15 minute grace period is allowed if the minimum number of players required to play an official game are not present by game time. After the 15 minute grace period has expired, the game will be ruled a forfeit.

Post-Season: Team post-season eligibility and qualifications are determined and published by the League on a season-by-season basis depending on the number of teams involved. Typically, the League prefers to set the number of playoff teams to equal just under 50% of the teams competing in each division. Team standings regarding playoffs shall be determined first by total points. Should there be a tie, then proceed to tie-breaker rules.

Tie-Breaker Rules for Post-Season Qualification: (1) head-to-head competition; (2) if the teams should split games against each other, then net runs scored in the games played against each other shall be used to break the tie. Net runs scored will also be used to break a tie in situations involving three or more teams; (3) the next tie breaker is net runs scored for ALL games played during the regular season. Net runs scored is measured by adding up all the runs a team has scored and subtracting all runs allowed. The team with the higher number of net runs scored wins the tie breaker; (4) the final tie breaker is a coin flip.

Time Limits for Post-Season Games. Except for the championship game, there is a 3 hour time limit for all post-season games and all games that are tied after the time limit has expired shall be completed under Post-Season Tie-breaker rules (see below). Championship games must complete 9 innings of play and the time limit must be expired prior to implementing the Playoff Tie-Breaker Rule.

Tie-Breaker Rule for Post-Season Games. Each team will play their respective half innings starting with the bases loaded and one out. The last three batters from the previously completed inning shall serve as baserunners, with the last batter being placed at first, the second to last batter being placed at second and the third to last batter being placed at third. The game ends once a team ends any inning with the lead.

Managers may designate up to two (2) courtesy runners each game. Managers must notify both the Home Plate Umpire and the opposing manager prior to the first pitch as to the name and number of any player that will be using a courtesy runner during the game. Managers retain the option of designating unused courtesy runners later during the game for injured runners only. Once a player is designated as having a courtesy runner, that player must be replaced by a courtesy runner throughout the game.

The player that made the “last batted out” must act as the courtesy runner. A “batted out” is defined as a player who made an out while at the plate (by way of contrast, a runner forced at second is not a batted out). If there is no previous batted out to act as a courtesy runner (i.e. first inning rally), the manager shall use the last batter in his lineup.

There is a mandatory catcher speed-up rule, whereby, no matter how many outs there are, the catcher must be replaced by a courtesy runner.

If an infielder decoys a throw and a runner is forced to slide as a result, all runners will be entitled to advance one base. If the same fielder decoys a throw twice in one game, he will be ejected from the game. Decoying refers specifically to a situation where a runner on base slides unnecessarily due to a decoy.

All base runners and fielders must avoid intentional collisions with opposing players. In the event of a non-intentional collision resulting from the fielder’s blocking of the base or plate, the runner will be awarded the base or run, whichever is applicable. In the event a non-intentional collision is caused by the runner, and the fielder did not attempt to block the base or plate, the runner will be ruled out. A mandatory slide rule is in effect for all League games. This rule requires that runners must slide at all bases in the event there is a potential play at said base or plate. Head first slides are permitted. Any player not sliding appropriately when required to do so may be ruled out by the umpire, with the exception of situations in which a runner is clearly out and veers out of the base line to avoid blocking a throw (i.e. double plays). Any runner determined to have caused an intentional collision with a fielder, particularly with reference to “barreling” into a catcher, shall be ejected from the game and, at the sole discretion of the League, be subject to a suspension or expulsion from the League.

Fielders may not block said base or plate with or without the ball and must allow access via:
a. a clear path between the fielder’s legs;
b. a clear path to the left or right of the fielder’s position;
c. a direct path with the fielder positioned behind the base or plate.

In the event a fielder is determined by the umpire to be blocking said base or plate, or is found to be blocking the base path, the runner shall be automatically awarded said base or plate. This rule is particularly directed at catcher’s blocking the plate and will be strictly enforced.

Speed up Rule: An intentionally walked batter must not be pitched to.

NEW RULE

* Intentional walks may be issued at any time during the game; however, there is a MAXIMUM LIMIT OF ONE INTENTIONAL WALK PER BATTER in the lineup. 

This new rule is effective immediately.

Each team must bat a minimum of 9 (nine) batters in their line-up, but may choose to bat as many players as listed in their official roster as Extra Hitters. However, once the lineup has been expanded, it cannot be reduced without incurring an automatic out the first time that the vacated slot would have appeared in the lineup, if a pinch hitter is unavailable. Thereafter, the vacated slot is skipped over without consequence for the remainder of the game.  A team may add batters to the end of its lineup at any time throughout the game, providing these players have not yet been part of the batting lineup. Managers may elect to use the A/B alternating batters scheme but only one A/B slot is permitted in the lineup.

If a team if forced to bat eight players for any reason at any time during a game, then it shall suffer an automatic out each time that ninth unoccupied slot in the order comes up. Should an eligible ninth player show up late, then that player shall be inserted into the ninth unoccupied slot in the batting order and the automatic out is removed.

If a player ejection reduces the team to eight (8) players, the team must borrow a defensive player from the opposing team for defensive purposes only. However, an automatic out will be recorded each time the ejected player’s spot comes up in the lineup.

Free defensive substitution is permitted.  With the exception of pitcher, teams are permitted to rotate any and all players defensively at any time and repeatedly without affecting the batting lineup. Pitchers are subject to normal MLB rules with the exception of the Pitcher Re-Entry Rule.

Pitcher Re-Entry Rule. If a pitcher is removed from the mound, regardless of whether or not he goes to the dugout or takes another position on the field, he may re-enter the game as a pitcher later in the game, but he may not re-enter the game as a pitcher until at least three outs have been recorded after his departure. An individual pitcher may only re-enter the game under these conditions one time during any game.

No white or gray pitching sleeves, no batting gloves or wrist bands, and no sunglasses will be permitted for pitchers.

If a pitcher hits 4 (four) batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed upon hitting the fourth batsman. If a pitcher hits twelve (12) batters in one season he is prohibited from pitching for the remainder of the season.

Each pitcher is entitled to a maximum of eight (8) warm up pitches prior to the start of the game, and five (5) warm-up pitches at the start of each inning. The only exceptions to this rule are if the pitcher is new and did not throw at least one pitch during the previous inning, in which he case he is entitled to eight (8), or an injury to the previous pitcher, in which case the new pitcher is granted a reasonable warm up period by the Home Plate umpire.

NO BEER NO ALCOHOL NO TOBACCO NO WEED on school premises and/or at the baseball field/dugout. Only roster players, managers and scorekeepers are permitted in the dugout area. Violation of these rules may result in forfeit of said game. League insurance does not allow for family members, friends and pets to be present in the dugout area. Please avoid this practice at all times.

SFBL uses the services of the South Florida Collegiate Baseball Umpires Association and all games are assigned umpires by this organization. Once a game begins the umpires have complete and total control over the game. Their rulings are final. The League will at all times support the decisions and authority of the umpires.

Umpire compliments and complaints must be filed online via the SFBL website under the link UMPIRE EVALUATION.

Only the manager may dispute a call or discuss a situation with the umpire. Any player doing so will be warned and then ejected.

All decisions regarding rules and the interpretation of rules must be made by the field umpires during play. These decisions are deemed to be final. In the event it is determined that an umpire has issued an incorrect ruling or has misinterpreted an existing rule, a protest may be filed with the League. However, the protest will not be considered unless it has a material impact on the outcome of the game.

Notification of a Protest must be filed with the League via text message and with the Chief Umpire at the time of the infraction and will not be accepted after the fact.  After the game, protests must be bona-fide, documented in writing and submitted to the League via email. If necessary, the League will convene a Rules and Protest Committee comprising of three randomly selected active managers in the League, which will investigate and render a ruling in an expeditious fashion.

The SFBL has set a standard of sportsmanship and player misconduct and/or alcohol, tobacco or weed infractions will not be tolerated. Read between the lines. Suspensions or expulsions are likely outcomes.

Any player ejected from an official league game will serve an automatic one game suspension, unless overturned by the League.

In addition to running his team on game day, each manager is responsible for maintaining an accurate roster online and an accurate accounting of team and player fees paid to the League.

Managers must maintain an accurate score sheet of each game played. Managers are required to submit game score online by Sunday 9 pm.

Managers are responsible for reporting any and all player ejections and/or player injuries to the League via text message or phone call within three (3) hours of the game’s completion.

Each manager/team is responsible for the proper maintenance and cleaning of the field and dugouts. This requires that all equipment and litter be removed from the premises following each game. Additionally, teams playing the first and last games of the day are responsible for removing/replacing any tarps and/or batting cages. In the event a manager is unable to fulfill these obligations, he must notify the League prior to the scheduled event so that alternative arrangements can be made. Teams violating or ignoring this policy are subject to disciplinary action by the League.

Finally, under no circumstance shall any player or players, or umpires, “work'” the field and do grounds crew field maintenance without explicit and prior approval from the League.

Each player’s playing rights belong to the team on which he plays. Players may not switch teams during the season with the exception of bona-fide trades or personnel changes approved by the League.

Any player requesting a release from his present team at the end of the season with the intent of moving to another team may do so by filing for free agency, i.e. notifying his team manager and the League of his intentions within one week after the completion of the final game of the season, including make-up games or post season games. Failure to do so will result in a $120 transfer fee payable to the team losing the player to complete the transfer.