1.a) All teams must have full baseball uniforms consisting of caps, numbered baseball jerseys, and baseball pants. Each player's uniform must be of similar design to his teammates' uniforms. Teams having sponsorship will be allowed the sponsors name on their uniforms via patch or uniform shirt.

1.b) No player out of uniform will be allowed to play without the opposing manager's consent.

1.c) All teams should have their uniforms by their first game. A grace period should be extended for newly activated players or for new teams to complete their uniforms.

1.d) All batters and runners must wear helmets for both at bats and on base. There is no option to this rule. Full double-ear flap helmets are encouraged for at bats and for the bases. Catchers are also encouraged to wear a helmet underneath their mask. Base coaches are required to wear helmets at all times.

1.e) Only baseballs provided by the local league will be permitted. The home team is responsible for providing the baseballs for each game.

1.g) Only wood bats are allowed in either division.

1.h) Metal cleats are permitted.

2.a) All games are 8 innings.

2.b) No inning will be started after 2 hours 25 minutes.

2.c) In the event of darkness, 7 innings will signify a complete a game, at the umpires' discretion. Games called on account of darkness will be suspended until such time they may be completed.

2.d) In the event of rain, 5 innings will signify a complete game. Games called on account of rain will be rescheduled by the league and restarted from the beginning.

2.e) In the event a game is tied after 8 innings before the time limit, subsequent innings may continue as per usual rules. If a game is tied after the time limit, one additional inning will be played using "speed-up" rules. Each team will begin with runners (the last two batters eligible to run from the previous inning) on first and second with no outs. All batters will begin with a count of 1-1. If the game is still tied at the conclusion of this "speed-up" inning, the game will count as a tie.

2.f) There is a 10 run mercy rule after 6 innings.

2.g) All playoff games must be played to completion (eight innings, no ties). The mercy rule does not apply in playoff games.

3.a) A player is eligible to participate in the Triad Adult Baseball 18+ division if their 18th birthday falls in the calendar year of that season.  Players under 18 at the start of the season must have parent/guardian consent via signed waiver in order to participate.  Players are eligible to participate in the 35+ division only if their 35th birthday falls in the calendar year of that season.  Each 35+ team may have on their roster no more than 4 players aged 30-34 but those players may not pitch.

3.b) There are no age restrictions or innings limits for pitchers.

3.c) All players, prior to participating in a game, must have signed waiver forms on file with the league and have paid all applicable league fees in full.

3.d) All players must sign up, waiver, and pay league dues through the league website.

3.e) The deadline for adding players to the roster to be eligible for the playoffs will be July 15. Payment must be made and forms completed at this time as well. Players on the roster but not paid by the deadline will not be eligible for the playoffs.

3.f) Any player who has completed 3 years in the league becomes a free agent and may move to any team that chooses to take him. No player may switch teams without the consent of both managers and the league president, unless he is a free agent. If this does not meet with approval, the player must sit out one calendar year from competition, from the last date of his playing, or re-enter the league's next draft, making him available to any team for selection. In the event a team disbands during the season or at season's conclusion, all players with 3 years seniority in the league will become automatic free agents and will be permitted to play for any desired team. Players not having 3 years in the league will re-enter the draft. If a player is not invited back by his manager, he must be given his release so that he may go to the team of his choosing or re-enter the draft. If a player is invited back to play and he desires not to play for his former team and cannot be successfully traded, he must sit out one entire year, or re-enter the draft, making himself available to all teams.

3.g) In the event a player wishes to leave his existing team and form a new team, he may do so. No other player can be taken from the existing team without the consent of the existing team's manager. No other players may be taken from any other team without the respective team manager's approval.

3.h) Final team rosters must have no less than 15 players. Maximum number for playoff roster is 20 (see rule 3.e).

3.i) A team must have 8 players from their roster for an official game. The opposing team is required to provide a 9th player if he is available. If the borrowing team's 9th player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player reverts back to his team. Any team not able to field 8 players from their roster will forfeit 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of their game, unless the opposing manager consents to the borrowing of a player from his team or another team. Borrowed players may not pitch. During the playoffs teams will not be required to supply players to the opposing teams, and teams may not use players from the other teams, unless the opposing manager consents.

3.j) A team manager may bat as many players as he desires, with a minimum of 10 (subject to the number of players available, if less than 10). Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game. If a team has only 9 players and therefore bats only 9, the opposing team will have the option of batting 9 as well. If team has 10 or more players at the field and only bats 9, it is up to the opposing manager to bring this up to the umpires during the first time thru the order. If it is not caught the first time thru, it will then become the official lineup. Clarification: 10 players must bat in 10 spots, lineshares are not valid for this situation.

3.k) A manager may add batters to the bottom of the lineup at any time but if a batter is pinch-hit or run for (except under courtesy runners as outlined in rule 3.o), the player may not reenter the game as a hitter but may remain in the game as a fielder or pitcher. Each team has a hitting and a defensive lineup that are independent of each other. Players may play in either lineup or both.

3.l) If a player is forced to leave a game due to injury or prior commitment, a reserve player, not previously entered into the game as a hitter, must hit in the batters place. If no reserve is present, that spot is skipped and all batters move up accordingly. No out will be recorded for skipping the spot vacated by the displaced player.

3.m) All players may be substituted for defensively, at any time, without affecting the players' offensive status in the line-up. If the pitcher is removed, he may re-enter to pitch only one time during the course of the game, but not in the same inning. The removed pitcher may play any other position after being removed or no position at all.

3.n) Triad Adult Baseball uses the Shared Lineup position to enter more than one player in any offensive batting order position.  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.  Any player entering a game as a runner (i.e., player has not played offensively to that point), thereby creating a shared position in the batting order, must bat the next time that batting order position comes to the plate. This rule does NOT require players to alternate once initiated; it requires that the runner get the next at-bat. If the runner shares in the late innings and the batting position doesn’t come up again in that game, there is no penalty.  However, if the proper hitter does not bat the next time that batting order position comes to the plate, it is handled as a batting out of order situation (ORB 6.07), and, by rule, it is the responsibility of the defense to bring the fact of the ‘improper’ batter to the attention of the plate umpire. Exception: If the ‘improper” batter reaches base and is called out on 6.07, the ‘proper’ batter (who ran as a shared position) will then be the ‘proper’ batter, so that the shared batter must bat the next time that batting order position comes to the plate.  A shared position in the offensive lineup may be initiated any time at manager’s discretion.Managers must notify umpires and opposing manager/scorebook when players in shared-lineup positions are being switched the first time in the game. (Penalty for failure to report: Handle same as batting out of order, and to challenge, follow the same rules that apply to batting out of order – ORB 6.07.)

3.o) Each team is allowed courtesy runners for two non-runners per game. The non-runners must be designated prior to the start of the game. If a batter fails to use their courtesy runner before another pitch is thrown, then the batter loses the courtesy runner privileges for the rest of the game. ***Applies if no line share is in use for the batting spot.***

Additional courtesy runners are allowed for the pitcher and catcher with any number of outs(35+ only). With 2 outs you MUST have a courtesy runner for the catcher if he is on base to allow him to get equipment on to speed up play. (Both 18+ and 35+). ***The catcher utilizing this option MUST START the next inning as the catcher.***

The last player to make a batted out shall be the courtesy runner. The exception to this rule is when there are two outs in which the pitcher(35+ Only) or catcher(Both 18+ and 35+)  is not required to be a courtesy runner if they are the last batter out.

Once the game begins, if a player sustains an injury and the full complement of 2 courtesy runners has not been used, an additional courtesy runner may be used. If two courtesy runners have already been designated, an additional courtesy runner may be allowed if agreed upon by both managers. Otherwise if no agreement is reached the injured batter must be removed from the game and is no longer eligible to participate as a player for the remainder of the game.

3.p) All teams must announce offensive additions, substitutions, and/or changes to the home plate umpire AND opposing team manager and/or scorekeeper. Only after this has been done will the added player be deemed a legal substitution. If a team fails to announce an offensive addition/change, the player will be called out as soon as he occupies the batter's box and the lineup will revert back to the lineup in effect prior to the player entering the game. The unannounced player will not have officially entered the offensive lineup and is therefore still available offensively even though an out has been assessed. 

4.a) No player while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, nor may a pitcher wear a batting glove or wristband while pitching.

4.b) One intentional walk per game will be allowed.

4.c) If a pitcher hits 4 batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the fourth hit batsman.

4.d) There is no regulation as to how many innings a pitcher may pitch in a game or a week.

5.a) Infielders are not allowed to decoy a throw or catch. If a decoy throw or catch is detected, all runners shall be allowed to advance one base beyond the base held after all play stops. If the same fielder decoys twice in the same game, the fielder shall be expelled from the game. Decoying is referred to as a false catch or throw done in an attempt to get the player to slide unnecessarily, where no strategic value is gained. Any fielder may use a decoy only if it serves a strategic purpose.For example, if a fielder, who sees a man attempting to steal second base during a hit and run, looks upward into the sky and says that he's got the pop-up when in fact the ball has been hit on ground is a legal decoy as it may cause the runner to retreat to first base and prevent him from advancing.

5.b) If a defensive player is not in possession of the ball, is not in the act of receiving the ball, or is not about to immediately receive the ball so that he is able to record an out (apparent play at any base), he cannot block the base (e.g. home plate) or be in the base path so as to impede or obstruct the base runner's right to that base. Under such circumstances, the defensive player shall be responsible to avoid collision. If a collision does occur under these circumstances, the runner will always be considered safe and the obstruction rule shall be enforced. The ball shall be declared dead. The defensive player may be ejected from the game (if the action is intentional, he must be ejected), and will be suspended from league play if the obstruction is judged to be flagrant.

5.c) Players shall not intentionally collide with any other players. In the case of a runner intentionally colliding with a fielder, the runner will be called out and may, at the umpire's discretion, be expelled from the game. All base runners must either slide or give up their right to a base (avoid a collision by stopping or leaving a base path) if the defensive player (e.g. catcher) has possession of the ball, is in the act of receiving the ball, or is about to immediately receive the ball and will be able to make an apparent play on the base runner.

5.d) Force Play Slide Rule--The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.

5.d.1) On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases. However, a runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. "On the ground" means either a head first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground. "Directly into a base" means the runner's entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases. If a runner goes into a base standing up and does not make contact or alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.

5.d.2) Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner makes a legal slide directly to the base, is on the ground at the time of contact and the fielder moves directly down the line between the two bases to attempt a play, makes a legal slide and makes contact with a defensive player who is on or over, but not beyond, the base. When the base runner slides beyond the base, but does not (a) make contact with, or (b) alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.

5.d.3) Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if the runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the fielder, the runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder, the runner's raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder's knee when in a standing position, or the runner goes beyond the base and either makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder, the runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg, or the runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play. "Beyond the base" means any part of the offensive player's body makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder beyond the base.

5.d.4) With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance. With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance. If the runner's slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest. If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.

6.a) There will be no beer or alcoholic beverages permitted at the field before, during or after the game. The field refers to the general playing area and ancillary areas. This applies to tobacco products for high school fields, which have rules against tobacco use.

6.b) The league has the right to suspend or expel any team member who abuses league rules, who does not exhibit a sense of sportsmanship, or who plays without regard to the safety of the umpires or other players.

6.c) An umpire has sole discretion to expel any player or manager from the game. If a player or manager has been expelled from the game they will gather their personal belongings and leave the facility immediately. This includes vacating the parking lot or any other areas directly connected to the hosting facility. Failure to do so will result in a 1 game suspension.

6.d) Fighting among players or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated and players expelled from the game for either violation will be subject to suspension or expulsion from the league. First offense for fighting will be a minimum 8 game suspension, at the discretion of the board. Second offense will be expulsion from the league.

6.e) Managers must all recognize their responsibility to the league and the perpetuity of it as to not cross the line where winning is more important than playing. An opposing manager may at anytime have the right to question a player's age. Inquiries as to a player's age or eligibility should be addressed as soon as the issue arises. Players must provide positive identification and/or verification of age at time of request. If a manager is shown to have used an ineligible player, first offense will be an 8 game suspension for both manager and player involved. Second offense will be a one-year suspension, and third offense will be expulsion from the league.

7.a) A player must be out of professional baseball for 2 complete seasons before becoming eligible to pitch.

8.a) 24 hours before game-time advance notice of player shortage to opposing manager is required. Both managers will discuss situation. If offending team has 8 players then they call 2 players from the player pool. If offending team has less than 8 players, the game will be considered a forfeit and a “win” will be awarded to the non-offending team. The two managers will decide whether to play the game as an exhibition. Offending manager would need to call the necessary players to fulfill the 10 player line-up requirement. Two forfeits and the offending team is out of the league and the manager cannot manage for the two seasons following. The players from the offending team enter free agency and can be picked up on any legal roster in the league (I.e. age and roster sizes permitting).

8.b) Whenever a manager protests a game because of alleged misapplication of the rules the protest will not be recognized unless the umpires are notified at the time the play under protest occurs and before the next pitch, play or attempted play. A protest arising on a game-ending play may be filed within 24 hours after the game is concluded. The league board shall decide all protests.

Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:

1. Lay a hand upon, shove, strike, or threaten an official. Players and managers guilty or such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.

2. Refuse to abide by an official's decision. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until his conduct is reviewed by the board of directors. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.

3. Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official's decision. Players and managers guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.

4. Discuss with an official or officials the decision reached by such official or officials, except for the manager or his designee who are authorized to participate in such discussions. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension from further participation in the game.

5. Use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.

6. Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until the board of directors reviews their conduct. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season or expulsion from the league for life.

7. Be guilty of verbal abusive attack upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall remain suspended until the board of directors reviews their conduct. Players guilty of such conduct shall be subject to suspension for the remainder of the season.

8. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or use of illegal drugs before, during, or after the game, or being upon the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition is not allowed. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game and shall be subject to probation or suspension for the remainder of the season.

9. Smoking on the field of play or in the dugout, or any tobacco use (including chewing tobacco) anywhere that our host fields prohibit is not allowed. Players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further participation in the game.

1. The board of directors may, by vote of the majority of the directors, suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, for the conduct within its opinion is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or charter of the league.

2. Except as otherwise provided, the league officers shall determine the appropriate action required for violations of the codes of conduct, and shall report their decision to the player, manager and the board of directors.

3. A player found in violation of any provision delineated in the codes of conduct, after being placed on probation for the remainder of the season shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.

4. Any player found in violation of any provisions delineated in the codes of conduct, after being suspended from further participation in a game shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.

5. Any player or manager suspended for the remainder of the season will not be entitled to any refund of league fees.

1. Grievances may be filed by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that a grievance is formally submitted to the commissioner or appropriate board. The commissioner shall adjudicate all such grievances and shall report any action taken to the board of directors.

2. An appeal of any action or ruling may be filed with the board of directors by the manager of a team provided that the appeal is formally submitted.