THE GHVBL

8U, 9U & 10U - (6 inning games) – Teams Split Cost of 1 Umpire @ $80 per game. 

11U & 12U - (6 inning games) – With 2 Umpires, each Team pays 1 Umpire @ $80 per game.

13U, 14U, 15U & 16U - (7 inning games) - Teams Split Cost of 2 Umpires @ $90 per Umpire per game game – Each team pays one Umpire. 

VARSITY DIVISION (7 inning games) – Teams Split Cost of 2 Umpires @ $110 per Umpire per game – Each team pays one Umpire. 

COLLEGE DIVISION – (7 inning games) - Teams Split Cost of 2 Umpires  @ $120 per Umpire per game. Each team pays one Umpire.

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MERCY RULE 

8U - 12U - A team trailing the leading team by 10 Runs after 4 FULL innings (3 ½ with the home team ahead) shall concede. 

13U+ – A team trailing the leading team by 10 Runs after 5 FULL innings (4 ½ with the home team ahead) shall concede.  

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* 6 or 7 INNING GAMES - NORMAL 2 MAN GAMES - WORKING BY YOURSELF ONLY *

11U & 12U (50/70) - * WORKING BY YOURSELF ONLY * 

(6 inning games) 

Teams Split Cost of 1 Umpire @ $120 per game. 

13U (50/70) - * WORKING BY YOURSELF ONLY * 

(6 inning games) 

Teams Split Cost of 1 Umpire @ $120 per game. 

13U, 14U, 15U & 16U - * WORKING BY YOURSELF ONLY * 

(7 inning games)

Teams Split Cost of 1 Umpire @ $135 per Umpire per game.

VARSITY DIVISION - * WORKING BY YOURSELF ONLY *

(7 inning games) 

Teams Split Cost of 1 Umpire @ $165 per Umpire per game.

COLLEGE DIVISION - * WORKING BY YOURSELF ONLY *

(7 inning games) 

Teams Split Cost of 1 Umpire @ $180 per Umpire per game.

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9 INNING GAMES 

13U -  16U - Teams Split Cost of 2 Umpires @ $120 per Umpire per game – Each team pays one Umpire.

Varsity  - Teams Split Cost of 2 Umpires for each game @ $140 per Umpire per game. Each team pays one Umpire.

COLLEGE DIVISION - Teams Split Cost of 2 Umpires for each game @ $150 per Umpire per game. Each team pays one Umpire.

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MERCY RULE - 9 INNING GAMES 13U+ – A team trailing the leading team by 10 Runs after 5 FULL innings (4 ½ with the home team ahead) shall concede. 

* 13U - COLLEGE DIVISION ONLY * - One Umpire Working a game alone receives 1 and 1/2 Game Fee Pay Games postponed last minute (after umpires are en route) are entitled to 1/2 Game Pay (Travel Fee)

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TIME LIMITS
6 Inning Game: 2 Hours - NO NEW inning can start after 2 hours.

7 Inning Game: 2:20 - NO NEW inning can start after 2 hours and 20 minutes.

9 Inning Game: 2:45 - NO NEW inning can start after 2 hours and 45 minutes.

NO HECKLING OF PITCHERS WILL BE PERMITTED – HITTING TEAM MAY CHEER FOR OWN TEAM, BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO OUTBURSTS WHEN PITCHER IS IN WINDUP. SPORTSMANSHIP IS THE SPIRIT OF THE LEAGUE & THE RULE.

“Heckling” Penalty 

1st Offense – TEAM warning

2nd Offense – Umpire awards pitch (ball or strike) to team subjected to offense. 

3rd Offense – Umpire may award base or out. 

4th Offense – GAME DECISION (umpire discretion)

8U – 10U & Fall 11U(60) – (All 46′ x 60′ fields) – Wood or USABat (non-wood bats must have USABat stamp or label)

11U – 12U & Fall 13U(70) (All 50′ x 70′ fields) – Wood, USABat, or BBCOR (non-wood bats must have USABat or BBCOR stamp or label)

13U – 14U (60′ x 90′ fields) – Wood, USABat, or BBCOR (non-wood bats must have USABat or BBCOR stamp or label)

15U & Older (60′ x 90′ fields) – Wood or BBCOR (non-wood bats must have BBCOR stamp or label)

RECENT NEWS – 30/20 GHOST X IS NO LONGER USA CERTIFIED – http://usabat.com/Decertified-Bats/

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR FALL 2018 & BEYOND…..

Does the GHVBL allow USSSA 1.15 BPF bats? NO – BPF 1.15 bats are illegal.  Please do not use these bats, they are NOT ALLOWED.

Is the GHVBL allowing Big Barrel Bats in 8U – 14U? YES – If the bat has a USABat label, it is legal, and there are several USABat stamped bats that are Big Barrel. 

Is there a specific drop requirement in the 8U – 14U divisions? NO – Again, if the Bat is USABat approved, then it may be used in 8U – 14U, no questions asked. 

Is the BBCOR standard going away? NO – the USABat standard ONLY APPLIES to 8U – 14U. So where you are supposed to use BBCOR in 13U & 14U today – you may now use USABat which includes larger drops than -3. BBCOR is in place and allowed in 11U+ but required for 15U and above. FYI – ALL BBCOR bats are -3 

Is Wood legal in all divisions? YES – Wood bats are welcome in all divisions!

Protesting Games – GHVBL Protest Policy – The protesting manager must notify the home plate umpire of a protest before the next pitch is thrown. The umpire must note the point of protest in the scorebook of the protesting manager and then notify the umpire coordinator after the game. All protests must be accompanied by a $25 check made payable to the Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League, from the protesting manager, emailed to and received within 24 hours by the League Email. The protest should include the game situation, the rule being protested, and the teams and umpires involved. If a protest is upheld, the $25 check will be refunded.

PROTESTS DURING A PLAYOFF/CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MUST BE HANDLED IMMEDIATELY

Any conduct deemed detrimental to the game by the game umpire shall result in a game ejection or forfeiture. If anyone associated with a team (coach or player) is ejected from a game, that person will have an automatic one (1) game suspension, for the following game, the first time. In the event the following game is not played due to inclement weather or schedule conflicts, the suspension applies to the next game played; The second time that same person is ejected, the GVHBL Director will review the matter for further disciplinary action. Game umpires will notify the appropriate league director of the suspended player’s name and game conduct.

The ONLY TIME an automatic out is recorded is in the event of an ejection the next time the players spot comes up in the order OR the 9th position in order if team only has 8 players.

Team may bat 9 players, the entire lineup or in-between. Once the number of batters is determined, it must remain for the entire game. No automatic outs unless an ejected player’s turn comes up and there are no subs available or if a team plays with 8 (9th position in order is automatic out). Those are the only scenarios that will result in an automatic out. Once a substitution bats or runs for a player, the sub and the original starter are locked into that batting position. Either one may bat or run in that position ONLY and are interchangeable for the game – no limit on re-entry.

GHVBL has adopted the Pitch Smart Compliance Program. Please adhere to the very specific documented pitching limits here. This is a ENFORCED RULE.Pitch limits and “Daily Max” are HARD STOPS – meaning there is no exception for the pitcher to finish the batter. Teams should communicate between innings – to properly document pitch counts. In areas of disagreement – HOME TEAM owns OFFICIAL PITCH COUNT. Pitch Smart is a safety rule, so ALL PITCHING, regardless of league is relevant. Meaning a pitcher’s daily limit would include pitching in a local rec game, in addition to the GHVBL game the same day.

ADDITIONAL PITCHING RULES – On 46/60 fields & games, a pitcher once removed MAY NOT RETURN TO THE MOUND in the same game. While this practice is not encouraged, in 50/70 & 60/90 games, this is allowed as long as the player is under their daily limit. Also not encouraged, but a pitcher may pitch in multiple games in a day as long as they are under their daily pitch limit.

8U: 2 trips per inning, the third he must be removed. At any time in the game – the third visit to a pitcher must result in the removal of the pitcher.  Once a pitcher is removed he can no longer pitch in that game.

10U: Coach may make two trips per inning (for each new pitcher). At any time in the game, any pitcher receiving  a third visit must be removed for another pitcher.  Once a pitcher is removed he can no longer pitch in that game.

11U - 12U: Coach may make two trips per inning (for each new pitcher). At any time during the game, a pitcher receiving a 3rd visit from a coach MUST result in removal of the pitcher.

13U and Above – HS Federation Rules – Coaches receive 3 free pitcher conferences for the game – removing a pitcher DOES NOT COUNT AS A PITCHER CONFERENCE.

Courtesy Runners  are permitted  – for Catcher and/or Pitcher OR INCOMING Catcher and/or Pitcher (not required). 

THE RUNNER MUST BE ANNOUNCE PRIOR TO AN BAT. 

THEY CANNOT USE A COURTESY RUNNER DURING AN AT BAT. 

Courtesy Runner must be last batted out. 

The use of a courtesy runner is not mandatory.

8U – 12U: All games tied after 6 Innings go straight to the California Rule (inning starts with last batted out at 2nd base & zero outs). 

THERE IS NO LONGER A COMPLETE EXTRA INNING NEEDED TO BE PLAYED. 

Game is a TIE GAME after 9 innings. Regulation games called due to darkness or weather related MAY end in a tie. 

PLAYOFF EXCEPTION – play 10th inning and beyond with California rule until decision.

13U and Above: Time limit if home team has defined slot for game & both teams are communicated to before game), all games in a tie after 7 innings shall  go directly to the “California Rule” (Last Batted out goes to 2nd base with no outs). 

THERE IS NO LONGER A COMPLETE EXTRA INNING NEEDED TO BE PLAYED.

If the game is TIED after 10 innings, play should be stopped. Regulation games called due to darkness or weather related MAY end in a tie. 

Playoff exception – play California Rule until decision.

Thunder and lightning necessitates that games be suspended. The occurrence of thunder and/or lightning is not subject to interpretation or discussion ‐ thunder is thunder, lightning is lightning. With any weather in the forecast, please set up a plan for shelter prior to the start of a game. When thunder is heard and/or when lightning is seen, the following procedures should be adhered to:
Suspend play and direct participants to go to shelter, a building normally occupied by the public or if a building is unavailable, participants should go inside a vehicle with a solid metal top (e.g. bus, van, car). Do not permit people to stand under or near a tree; and have all stay away from poles, antennas, towers and underground watering systems. After thunder and/or lightning have left the area, wait 30 minutes after the last boom is heard or strike is seen before resuming game. 

IF A LIGHTNING STRIKE IS OBSERVED AFTER THE 30 MINUTE DELAY (meaning 31 minutes or more after the first visible strike) - THE GAME SHOULD BE CONSIDERED POSTPONED. 

If a cancellation occurs within 24 hours of game time – the cancelling team is subject to forfeit & must pay the umpire crew if we can not reassign for the game (or games if a doubleheader).