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SFLL GAME TERMINATION POLICY We have not really had a definitive policy on when games end that encompasses all situations and all divisions. While most coaches and umpires make solid decisions about this, in years past, we have had some bad situations occur related to the gray area of when games should be declared over. We also have received requests from parents for some greater certainty about game length. These requests tend to increase in climate periods like we are currently having when San Francisco is one of the coldest places in California, if not the entire US. So what follows is our new policy on game termination. Of course, games will continue to be over when the appropriate number of innings have been played or the 10 run rule is relevant. And, as always, no inning shall start later than 8pm no matter what the circumstances. The following policy establishes additional provisions for when games will be declared over. 1. Games are ended 'early' when one of the following occurs:
2. Exception: no game can be ended prior to 90 minutes (120 minutes
for
In such a situation where the actual start was unavoidably delayed, the game will be declared to be in the last inning when the 90 minute (or 120 minute for Juniors) time limit has been reached from the actual start time. The actual start time will be defined as the time when the field was available for play. If teams choose to have infield practice or other warm up time, that comes out of their game time. 3. As always, umpires can end any game at any time for reasons of safety (rain, field conditions, darkness, etc). 4. Games ended by these time limit definitions will be counted as
complete 5. Playoff games will be played under their own set of rules and not be subject to these definitions. We ask all of our umpires to follow this new policy without exception and for our coaches to learn the rule, distribute it and/or explain it to parents and to remember that this policy takes precedence over any agreement between coaches. By following this new policy, we hope to eliminate arguments about when a game should be ended, provide parents with some greater degree of certainty about game ending times and still provide for every game to have a substantial amount of time in which to be completed. We remind coaches that often 3 minutes pass between innings which would account for about 30-35 minutes of time. And, of course, coach time-outs, discussions with umpires and other non-action events can further eat into the allowed playing time. Some attention to these aspects of game time management can make huge differences in whether games end after 4 innings or go the full 6 or 7 innings. We also remind coaches that playoff games will be played under different rules to make it more likely that they will be completed. Finally, this policy does is does not apply to Seniors or Big League
baseball nor does it apply to Seniors softball which have their own
rules governing when games end. Farm baseball and softball can and should
end at or before the two hour limit regardless of where the game stands.
2521 Judah Street | San Francisco, CA 94122 | (415) 263-0510 (voice mailbox) | Email us |
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