12 KiB
Lockport Church Dartball League *Amended April 2011, August 2013, August 2014
Bi-laws
Article I: Dartboard and Dart Information
Section 1: Dartboard Regulations
The fundamental dartboard is a square piece of 1/4” thick dense fiberboard measuring 48” by 48”. To provide rigidity, this board requires backer plywood to be either glued or stapled to its back. The bottom of the board should be positioned 24” from the floor, placing the board’s center at 48” from the floor. The board is printed with seven distinct bright colors and displays various elements of a baseball game, including first base, second base, third base, home run, strike, ball, out, foul, double play, and sacrifice hit. The board is wired, allowing players to determine how to score their darts. Wires are run between each distinct spot on the board. For instance, if a dart lands precisely between the first base box and the out, the player can determine whether it should be scored as a hit or an out by observing which side of the wire the dart has landed on. These wires effectively act as the umpire. Host teams have the option of using the “tilt board setup method,” which is popular among other dartball leagues.
Section 2: Pitching Line
The pitching of the darts shall be 20' from the base of the board to front edge of pitching line. The preferred pitching line shall be 6 long and 2" wide directly in front of board and adhered to the floor. The batters foot may be on the pitching line up to the very front edge without penalty. If he oversteps the line, a warning should be issued by any player. Continued overstepping the line will result in the batter being called out.
Section 3: Dartboard Information
These boards are available through the league or from the supplier, Davis manufacturing at www.dartballusa.com
Section 4: Dart Information
All darts must be thrown underhand. Apex #2 three feathered darts are the only darts approved for play. Loading or modifications of darts is prohibited.
Article II: Playing Regulations
Section 1: John Doe
A. Regular Season A team is required to have seven players as the minimum during the regular season, with no maximum amount of players. If a team does not have seven players, John Doe [s] must be added to bring the team to the required minimum of seven players. No more than four John Does are recommended, but the teanm captain can decide either to play or forfeit the evening's games if they have less than four players. Each John Doe counts as an out as it comes up in the batting order. Women will be allowed to play in place of a John Doe if a team is short but only during regular season games. John Doe[s] can be present anywhere in the batting order. When a late player arrives, his name can be inserted in place of a John Doe or at the end of the line up. Lineups may be changed at the beginning of each game. Any team may postpone or reschedule a game night as long as it is agreeable between both captains and every effort is made to make up the games in the same half as the occurrence. B. Postseason (Bezold and Championship Games) Same rules apply from the Regular Season except a team must have a minimum of eight players. C. Tournament Same rules apply from the Regular Season except a team must have a minimum of nine players.
Section 2: Batting out of Turn
Any player batting out of turn (A dart must be thrown] will be called out. Any hit or subsequent runs do not count. Any skipped batter can then continue with his turn. The out of turn batter then loses his next turn with no penalty whether it is in the same inning or the next.
Section 3: Throwing Darts
Any darts sticking for 3 seconds or more is considered a live dart. Umpires must call out each dart's disposition and keep the thrower aware of his count [balls and strikes]. Darts will be used to indicate base runners and placed on the board near the represented base. The batter is automatically out if the dart fails to hit the board or hits any other object in flight before hitting the board. Dropping of darts at the throwing line is not considered a penalty. If a dart falls to the floor immediately [or within 3 seconds] after striking the board It shall be ruled a dead dart with no penalty to the thrower. If a dart is thrown into a board in such a way that the wire dividers cannot be used to determine the call, then the dart shall be considered a dead dart with no penalty to the thrower. If a thrown dart sticks into the body of another dart already in the board, the last thrown dart shall be ruled a dead dart with no penalty to the thrower. Darts shall be removed from the board only when the thrower completes his time at bat. The dart shaft must be completely encircled by green board to be considered a foul ball, otherwise it is a "woody". If a dart hits any board mounting hardware, and fails to stick, it's considered a dead dart unless there is no question as to its determination.
A. Center Strike Rule If a player is batting .199 or less they are allowed to have the center strike area around the 2BS considered as a single. Batters must have played two weeks in the season and captains must have current stats.
Section 4: Running the Bases
All runners shall advance one base on a single, two bases on a double, three bases on a triple and four bases on a home run. On a two-base single (2BS), all runners advance two bases and the batter goes to first base. On a double play (DP), the batter is out as well as the lead runner. Remaining runner/runners advance one base. On a sacrifice hit (SH), all runners advance one base including any runner on third. If no one is on base, both the DP and SH are just a strike. The batter is out for computing batting averages. A walk is considered a hit for computing batting averages. If the walk forces a run to be scored the RBI counts for season statistics. 2BS, SH and Walks should be recorded as described to insure that RBI's are appropriately computed.
Article III: Governance
Section 1: Umpiring
In league play, each captain will designate a player from their team to serve as an umpire. These umpires shall make all decisions. It is recommended that the non batting team umpire call or announce the play but this is not enforced as long as the two umpires are in agreement. In the case of a dispute, the umpires may call upon the captains to make a determination on the call. If no agreement is made the said dart will be ruled a dead dart with no penalty to the thrower. In league play, each team shall provide an umpire, score marker and a pitching line judge. The pitching line judge and the umpire can be the same person. Teams must announce if a separate line judge is being used and only he can call a player out for overstepping the line. This is only to be used after warnings have not corrected the batters overstepping of the line. Under no circumstances shall one umpire remove darts from the board before the other umpire has had a chance to verify the location of the darts.
Calling of [ it doesn't matter darts ] All darts regardless of immediate impact will be called. In an effort to speed up play, the side umpire nearest will call the close dart and leave it available for inspection after the play.
Section 2: End of the Year Awards
The minimum number of at bats to qualify for any trophy is 150.
A. MVP The most valuable player will be selected by ballot. Each team will select its most valuable player with the names turned into the statistician the last night of regular season play. At the single elimination tournament each team will be given a ballot with all teams' selection for MVP except that of their own player. It is the captain's responsibility to have his men to vote for MVP of each members choosing. The ballots will be returned to the league statistician and another officer. The ballots should be counted by individuals who are not on the ballot. The MVP will be announced at the banquet.
B. Rookie of the year: A rookie is defined as his first year in any dartball league. If rookie has less than 75 at bats he is considered a fill in player and not considered for Rookie of the year. To be considered, the batter must have at least 150 at bats with no more than 75 at bats for the previous season. Rookie of the year will be selected by ballot along side and in the same manner as the MVP. A team may vote for their own teammate.
Section 3: Dues
The annual team dues are payable at the captains meeting at the beginning of the season or make arrangements with the Treasurer to pay the dues. The officers and league board will determine the amount due. Currently at time of revision this amount per team is $50. All team players with the exception of 1s timers must contribute $1 to the host church every night that a game is played including postseason.
Section 4: Manners
Profanity and alcoholic beverages on church property is not acceptable. If after warnings this rule is not followed, the host church captain has every right to ask them to leave and they will have the full support of the officers and league board. If a team and or any of their team members are consuming alcohol on church property, the team will forfeit all 3 games.
Section 5: Officer Duties
The Treasurer is responsible for all dues, collection for supplies and sponsor donations to be deposited in league account for audit and review at any time by the officers and league board. All bills for needed equipment and supplies including the banquet must be paid for from the league account and subject for review at anytime. Treasurer must retain checks and statements for 84 Months and subject for review at any time. All funds collected for league use [banquet, sponsors, dues, ect ] will be given to treasurer directly.
Section 6: Postseason Play
The team captains will flip a coin to determine who will have home field advantage for all postseason play (1s and 2nd half Bezold, Championship and Tournament games).
A. Bezold playoff guidelines: The 1s Half Bezold is to be played between the 1$ and 2n place team at the mid-season break. The 2nd Half Bezold is to be played between the 1st and 2nd place teams at season end. If the winner of the first half Bezold is the 1t or 2nd place team then the 3e place team will play. No one team can win both Bezold trophies. The team that wins the best of three games wins the Bezold. For the Bezold games, each team must have a minimum of eight players.
B. Championship Playoff Guidelines: The championship game will be played between the team with the best 1st half record and the team with the best 2nd half record. If a team has the best record for both halves, then they will be named the League Champion. For the Championship game, each team must have a minimum of eight players.
C. Tournament Guidelines: The tournament will be played by all teams. Teams ill be randomly drawn in order to determine matchups. There is also a consolation bracket for teams that lose their 1 game. Each team must have a minimum of nine players.
Section 7: Tie Breakers
In the event we have ties between teams based on their league won/lost records, the tie breaker will be based on heads up play between the two or more said teams. If still no clear winner then total runs for that half. If that continues a tie then Highest total team batting average based on all players that have participated. In the highly unlikely event that this ends in a tie we will base the tiebreaker on total triples for the half.
Section 8: Captains Meeting Protocol
Topics can be introduced and reviewed as normal business. Motions must be announced prior to any voting. A second to the motion must be announced or the motion will not be considered. After the second to the motion, each captain and officers allowed to present opinions and ask questions to the person originating the motion. The secretary will take roll call and include in the minutes of all attending the meeting. A majority is required to pass a motion.
Section 9: Minimum Age
There is no minimum age.
Section 10: Other
No one is to pass behind the board while play is happening.