RULE 9-PROTESTS

Section 1. UNCONSIDERED PROTESTS

A protest will not be received or considered if they are based solely on a decision involving the accuracy of judgment on the part of an umpire. Examples are as follows:

            A. Whether a batted ball was fair or foul.

            B. Whether a runner was safe or out.

            C. Whether a pitched ball was a ball or a strike.

            D. Whether a pitched ball was legal or illegal.

            E. Whether a runner did or did not touch a base.

            F. Whether a runner did or did not leave a base too soon on a caught fly ball.

            G. Whether a fly ball was or was not caught legally.

            H. Whether it was or was not an infield fly.

            I. Whether there was or was not interference or obstruction.

            J. Whether the field is or is not fit to continue to resume play.

            K. Whether there is or is not sufficient light to continue play.

L. Whether a player or live ball did or did not enter a dead ball area or touch some object or person in a dead ball area.

            M. Whether a bated ball did or did not clear the fence in flight.

N. Whether a batted ball was or was not touched by a fielder before clearing the fence in flight.

            O. Any other matter involving only the accuracy of the umpire’s judgment.

Section 2. TYPES OF PROTESTS

A. Misinterpretation of a playing rule: must be made before the next pitch or, before all infielders have left fair territory, or if in the last play of the game, before the umpires leave the playing field.

B. Illegal player: must be made while they are in the game and before the umpires leave the playing field. NOTE: An umpire cannot reverse a decision after a pitch (legal or illegal) to the next batter.

C. Ineligible player: can be made any time. Eligibility is the decision of the tournament director.

Section 3. COMBINATION PROTEST

A protest may involve both a matter of judgment and the interpretation of a rule.

EXAMPLE: With one out and runners on second and third, the batter flies out. The runner on third base tags up after the catch, but the runner on second does not. The runner on third crosses the plate before the ball is played as second base for the third out. The umpire does not allow the run to score. The questions as to whether the runners left their bases before the catch or whether the play at second base was made before the runner on third crossed the plate are solely matters of judgment and are not protestable. It is a misinterpretation of a playing rule and a proper subject for protest however, if the umpire fails to allow the run to score.

Section4. NOTIFICATION OF PROTEST

            A. The manager, acting manager or captain of the protesting team shall immediately notify the plate umpire         that the game is being played under protest. The plate umpire shall in turn notify the opposing manager and    official scorekeeper. To assist in the correct determination of the issue, all interested parties shall take            notice of the information, detail and conditions surrounding the decision to protest.

            B. The official written protest must be filed within a reasonable time. A protest will be considered if filed

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            within a reasonable time, depending upon the nature of the call and the difficulty of obtaining the             information relevant to the protest.

            C. The written protest should contain the following information:

                        1. The date, time and place of the game.

                        2. The names of the umpires and scorers.

3. The rule and section of the official rules or local rules under which the protest is made.

4. The information, details and conditions pertinent to the decision to protest.

5. All essential facts involved in the matter protested.

            D. The decision rendered on a protested game must result in one of the following:

1. The protest is considered to be invalid and the game score stands as played.

2. When a protest is determined to be valid because of the misinterpretation of a playing rule, the decision will be corrected and the game shall be replayed from the point at which the incorrect decision was made. If the protesting team wins the game the protest then becomes meaningless.

3. When a protest for ineligibility is determined to be valid, the offending team shall forfeit the game being played or the game last played to the offended team.