SFBL Rules

Non-Discrimination Policy

South Florida Baseball League maintains a non-discrimination policy for all participants, suppliers, vendors and related parties regardless of "race, color, national origin, handicaps or sex."

Uniforms

All teams must wear matching baseball uniforms consisting of jersey, pants, and cap. Players in incomplete uniforms cannot participate in official games.

Managers and coaches must be uniformed while in the dugout or on field.

League approval required for uniform exceptions.

Equipment

• All batters, runners, and catchers must wear protective helmets
• Teams must provide three new official SFBL-designated Minor League baseballs per game
• Metal or rubber cleats permitted
• Wood bat only league (certain wood composite bats allowed with approval)

Player Registration and Eligibility

Players must complete online registration and appear on current season team rosters published on the SFBL website to be eligible.

Teams violating this rule forfeit the game where the ineligible player participated. A second violation results in forfeiture of all remaining games with no fee refund.

Age Limits

18+ Division: Minimum age 18

28+ Division: Minimum age 28 (or turning 28 that calendar year). Teams may roster up to three players aged 25-27. "A player must be 28 or older (or turning 28 in the calendar year) to be eligible to pitch."

35+ Division: Minimum age 35 (or turning 35 that calendar year). Teams may roster up to three players aged 28-34. Pitchers must be 35+ (or turning 35 that year).

Opposing managers may request age verification via original photo identification before play begins.

Rosters

• Minimum 13 players; maximum 25 players
• Complete rosters due by league deadline
• Players may be added throughout the season with league approval, online registration, and signed Team Waiver Form
• Post-season eligibility requires participation in at least three regular season games
• No ex-pros allowed (Triple-A within 2 years or MLB within 3 years); Single-A, Double-A, and college players eligible

Borrowed Players

Teams short players may borrow from other teams to reach nine players plus one extra (maximum 10 total).

If a team has only eight fielders, the opposing team must loan a defensive player so nine always defend. The loaning team may substitute borrowed defensive players at will.

Teams requiring borrowed players for post-season must obtain league approval in advance.

Schedule, Postponing Games, and Forfeits

Schedule: All league games played Sundays. Teams must communicate scheduling constraints at season start.

Postponing: Requests must be made before Wednesday noon deadline to avoid full umpire fees.

Forfeits: Teams forfeiting or postponing after Wednesday noon must pay both umpire fees in full to continue in the league. No games scheduled until fees are paid.

Starting a Game, Run Rules, Time Limits, and Timeouts

Lineup: Managers submit lineup cards with full names and jersey numbers to the chief umpire and opposing manager prior to game start. "In order to play in any official league game, a player's name MUST appear on the official LINE UP CARD."

Players not on the submitted card but rostered may still play if on the team roster or SFBL Approved Players List.

Start Time: Game clock starts at scheduled time. A 15-minute grace period allowed if minimum players absent; forfeit called after.

Eight Batter Rule: Teams needing only eight batters must borrow a ninth player for defense only. The ninth batting slot becomes automatic out.

Official Game: 9 innings; 7 innings (darkness) or 5 innings (rain) constitute complete games.

10 Run Rule: "If there is a 10 run margin after 7 innings or any inning thereafter, the game will be ruled final."

15 Run Rule: "If there is a 15 run margin after 6 innings, the game will be ruled final."

Time Limits: Regular season games have 3-hour limit (no new inning started after). Ties permitted in regular season only.

Timeouts: Managers get one free mound trip per inning; second trip requires pitcher removal.

Post-Season Rules, Tie Breakers, and Time Limits

Eligibility: Determined season-by-season by the league, typically ~50% of teams per division.

Tie-Breaker for Qualification: (1) head-to-head; (2) net runs in head-to-head matchups; (3) net runs all regular season games; (4) coin flip.

Post-Season Time Limits: 3 hours (except championship, which must complete 9 innings).

Tie-Breaker Rule: Each team plays innings with bases loaded and one out. "The last three batters from the previously completed inning shall serve as baserunners" (last at first, second-to-last at second, third-to-last at third). Game ends when a team ends an inning with the lead.

Courtesy Runners

Managers may designate up to two courtesy runners per game, notifying the home plate umpire and opposing manager before first pitch.

"The player that made the 'last batted out' must act as the courtesy runner." If none exists, use the last batter in lineup.

Once designated, a player must use that courtesy runner throughout the game.

Catcher Speed-Up Rule

"No matter how many outs there are, the catcher must be replaced by a courtesy runner."

Decoys, Mandatory Sliding, and Collisions

If an infielder decoys a throw forcing a runner to slide, all runners advance one base. A second decoying in one game results in ejection.

"A mandatory slide rule is in effect for all League games." Runners must slide at bases where potential plays exist. Head-first slides permitted.

Fielders cannot block bases or plates; must allow access via:

• Clear path between legs
• Clear path left or right
• Direct path with fielder behind base/plate

"In the event a fielder is determined by the umpire to be blocking said base or plate...the runner shall be automatically awarded said base."

Intentional collisions (especially "barreling" into catchers) result in ejection and possible suspension/expulsion.

Intentional Walks

"An intentionally walked batter must not be pitched to."

"There is a MAXIMUM LIMIT OF ONE INTENTIONAL WALK PER BATTER in the lineup."

Offensive Lineup – Player Substitutions

Teams bat minimum 9 players but may bat additional roster players as Extra Hitters. Once expanded, lineup cannot reduce without incurring automatic out (unless pinch hitter unavailable; thereafter slot skipped).

Teams may add batters to lineup end anytime, provided they haven't batted yet.

If reduced to eight players, automatic out each time ninth slot appears.

If ejection reduces team to eight, borrow a defensive player; automatic out for ejected player's spot in order.

Managers may use one A/B alternating batter slot.

Defensive Lineup – Player Substitutions

Free defensive substitution permitted. Teams may rotate any non-pitcher players defensively repeatedly without affecting batting order.

Pitchers follow normal MLB rules except for Pitcher Re-Entry Rule.

Pitchers

Pitcher Re-Entry: Removed pitchers may re-enter as pitchers only after three outs recorded. Individual pitcher may re-enter once per game only.

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

Hit Batters: "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."

Warm-Up Pitches: Maximum 8 before game start; 5 at each inning start. Exceptions: new pitcher (8 allowed) or injury (reasonable period by home plate umpire).

Dugout Privileges

"NO BEER NO ALCOHOL NO TOBACCO NO WEED on school premises and/or at the baseball field/dugout."

Only rostered players, managers, and scorekeepers permitted in dugout.

Home team uses third base dugout unless waived.

Violations may result in game forfeiture. League insurance prohibits family, friends, and pets in dugout.

Umpires

SFBL uses South Florida Collegiate Baseball Umpires Association. Once games begin, "umpires have complete and total control over the game. Their rulings are final."

Compliments and complaints filed online via Umpire Evaluation link.

Only managers may dispute calls; players receive warning then ejection.

Protests

Field umpire decisions deemed final. Protests considered only if materially impacting game outcome.

"Notification of a Protest must be filed with the League via text message and with the Chief Umpire at the time of the infraction."

Written protests submitted post-game via email. League convenes Rules and Protest Committee (three randomly selected managers) to investigate.

Player Behavior

"The SFBL has set a standard of sportsmanship and player misconduct and/or alcohol, tobacco or weed infractions will not be tolerated."

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

Manager Responsibilities

Maintain accurate online roster and team/player fee accounting.

Maintain accurate game score sheets; submit online by Sunday 9 pm.

Report player ejections and injuries to league within three hours of game completion.

Maintain field and dugout cleanliness—remove all equipment and litter post-game. First and last game teams responsible for tarps and batting cages.

Notify league if unable to fulfill maintenance obligations.

"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."

Free Agency

Playing rights belong to the team on which player plays. No mid-season transfers except approved trades.

End-of-season free agency requires written notification to manager and league within one week after final game. Failure to file results in $120 transfer fee to losing team.