CHICAGO SUBURBAN LEAGUE BY-LAWS

1. The League plays by American League rules, with one exception: teams may use composite wood bats. (Courtesy runner for catcher eliminated 9/25/2001).

2. The host team may choose to be the home team but then must provide the baseballs. Otherwise, the official home team will provide the baseballs for each game.  Each team will provide the officiall CSBL baseball.

3. All single games are nine innings except for weekday evening games on fields without lights. Games played during a double header are seven innings. (Move to from 7 to 9 innings games made 9/25/2001).

4. Each team will pay for one umpire at each contest. The umpires will be paid before the game begins. The umpires will enforce a "mercy rule" - ten run lead after five innings of play in a seven inning game or after seven innings in a nine inning game.

5. Schedule for infield will be arranged at the request of the visiting team.

6. Schedule for batting practice: Batting practice is the privilege of the home team if they can get it in. Consideration does not have to be given the visiting team.

7. Before the season begins, each team in the league:

a. Shall secure proper insurance.

b. Declare its official end of the season. Having done so, that team will not be expected to make up rained out games outs after that date.

c. Make its own league schedule.

d. Submit a tentative roster to the league office.

8.The league is affiliated with the AABC. Invitations to the post-season tournament will be granted on the basis of winning percentage, provided a team has played at least 75% of its league schedule.

9. The league plays with an open roster through the summer. However, once a person plays for a team in the league and participates in a league game, that player must receive a written or verbal release before participating with another team in the league (modified 3/5/00).

10. In order for a team to claim prize money it should complete its schedule. If the commissioner determines that the completion of the schedule is not necessary, money would be awarded on the basis of winning percentage. If there is a tie for prize money positions, the commissioner will decide the winner on the basis of head on competition. If that is inconclusive, the record within the division will be used.

11.New Teams

a. Requests for entrance into the league shall be considered during the winter meeting of the league.  A majority vote of active teams will result in the expansion of the league. A new team, however, shall be received on a probationary basis for one year.

b. A second majority vote of active teams (the following winter) will result in a team becoming a full member of the league. Once a full member, a 2/3 vote of active teams is necessary to terminate a team's relationship with the league.

c. Teams may be received as Associate Members. Associate members have all the rights and privileges of full members except: they are not required to play every team in the league and their games don't effect league standings. Associate members pay the forfeit fee, the AABC fee, the umpire fee, and statistician fee. 

12.  Player Ejections

a. If a position player or relief pitcher is ejected from a game, he will be fined $50 by the league office (to be collected by team manager) and automatically suspended from playing in the next league contest.

b. If a pitcher is ejected from a game, he will be fined $50 by the league office (to be collected by team manager) and automatically suspended from playing in the league for the next five days.

c. If a manger or coach is ejected from a game, he will be fined $100 by the league office.

13.  Disciplinary Policy for players who are ejected and abuse umpires both on and off the field.

a. Players who display disruptive or abusive conduct after an ejection, during or after the game, will be suspended from league play for two weeks. The time of the suspension will be determined by the commissioner.

b. Any player who physically assaults an umpire at any time during the season will be suspended from league play for the remainder of the season.

c. The league commissioner shall be given authority by the managers of the league to enforce this policy.

14. All players and coaches (1st and 3rd base) shall be in full uniform.

15. Incomplete games suspended for the following reasons shall be treated like rain outs: park curfew or a lack of sunlight at field without lights. 4 2/ completed innings are required to count as a complete game.

16. Each team will make every effort to field its best team, complete its schedule, and provide excellent playing fields. If a contest is delayed by rain, the home team is expected to do everything within its power to get the field playable. The umpire's decision is final on games canceled in process due to rain.

17. Each team will deposit a $200 forfeit fee and the agreed upon league fee at the annual meeting in February. The forfeit fee will be used to pay umpires when a team fails to show up for a game. (Increased 9/24/2001)

18. If a team suspends its operation during the season and does not complete its league schedule, we will not count the games that have been played. No forfeits will be granted.

19. The league shall consist of divisions determined annually during the league meeting. Teams will play each divisional opponent four times and play opponents outside of their division two times.

20. The league will employ a statistician ($60 per team) to compile positive statistics for league play. 

21. During its fall meeting, the league will make several post season awards, including: Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Player (position) of the Year, Umpire of the Year (adopted 2/99).

22. The league will utilize a web site ($50 per team) to keep all members of the league informed (adopted 3/5/00).

23. The league schedule compiled by the commissioner will be final 30 days after the winter meeting. If after the official league schedule has been completed:

a. If, at least, one day before a game is scheduled to be played, the home team loses its field and the visiting team for that same game on that same date has access to its field, the game will be played on the field of the visiting team; the scheduled home team will be the home team;

b. Or, on the day of the game the home team loses his field and the game can not be played, the visiting team will be given a win by forfeit (adopted January 29, 2002).