Rule 11 - Protests

Sec. 1 PROTESTS THAT WILL NOT BE RECEIVED

a. Protests shall not be received, or considered, if they are:

1) Based solely on a decision involving the accuracy of judgement on the part of an umpire; or
2) If the team lodging the protest won the game.

EXCEPTION: If a game or tournament is played utilizing run differential criteria, a protest by the winning team will be considered.

b. Examples of protest that will not be considered are:

1) Whether a batted ball was fair or foul.
2) Whether a runner was safe or out.
3) Whether a pitched ball was a strike or a ball.
4) Whether a pitch was legal or illegal.
5) Whether a runner did or did not touch a base.
6) Whether a runner left the base too soon on a caught fly ball.
7) Whether a fly ball was or was not caught legally.
8) Whether it was or was not an infield fly.
9) Whether there was or was not an interference.
10) Whether there was or was not an obstruction.
11) Whether a player or a live ball, did or did not, enter a dead ball area or touch some object or person in a dead ball area.
12) Whether a batted ball did or did not clear the fence in flight.
13) Whether the field is fit to continue or resume play.
14) Whether there is sufficient light to continue play.
15) Any other matter involving only the accuracy of the umpire’s judgement.

Sec. 2 PROTESTS THAT WILL BE RECEIVED

Protests that shall be received and considered include matters of the following types:

a. Misinterpretation of a playing rule.
b. Failure of an umpire to apply the correct rule to a given situation.
c. Failure to impose the correct penalty for a given violation.

NOTE:

1. Protests for the above must be made before:

a. The next pitch, legal or illegal.
b. All infielders have left fair territory.
c. On the last play of the game, before the umpires leave the playing field.

2. After one pitch (legal or illegal), no change can be made on any umpire’s ruling.

d. Eligibility of a team roster member.

NOTE:

1. Protests for the above are to be submitted to the appropriate authority (not the umpires).
2. The protest for Eligibility may be made at any time, subject to the provisions of Rule 11 Section 5.

Sec. 3 PROTESTS INVOLVING JUDGMENTS AND INTERPRETATION OF RULE

Protests may involve both a matter of judgment and the interpretations of a rule. An example of a situation of this type follows:

With one out and the runners on second and third bases, the batter flied out. The runner on third tagged up after the catch, the player on second did not. The runner on third crossed the plate before the ball was played at second base for the third out. The umpire did not allow the run to score.

a. The question as to whether the runners left their bases before the catch and whether the play at second was made before the player on third crossed the plate are solely matters of judgment and are not protestable.

b. The failure of the umpire to allow the run to score was a misinterpretation of a playing rule and was a proper subject for protest.

Sec. 4 NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO LODGE PROTEST

The notification of intent to protest must be made immediately before the next pitch.

EXCEPTION: Player ineligibility.

a. The manager or acting manager, of the protesting team shall immediately notify the plate umpire that the game is being continued under protest. The plate umpire shall, in turn, notify the opposing manager and official scorekeeper.

b. All interested parties shall take notice of the conditions surrounding the making of the decision that will aid in the correct determination of the issue.

Sec. 5 TIME TO LODGE AN OFFICIAL PROTEST

The official written protest must be filed within a reasonable time.

a. In the absence of a league or tournament rule fixing the time limit for filing a protest, a protest should be considered if filed within a reasonable time, depending upon the nature of the case and the difficulty for obtaining the information on which to base the protest.

b. Within 48 hours after the scheduled time of the contest is generally considered a
reasonable time.

Sec. 6 INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR WRITTEN PROTEST

The formal written protest should contain the following information:

a. The date, time and place of the game.
b. The names of the umpires and scorers.
c. The rule and section of the Official Rules, or local rules, under which the protest is made.
d. The decision and conditions surrounding the making of the decision.
e. All essential facts involved in the matter protested.

Sec. 7 RESULT OF PROTEST

The decision made on a protested game must result in one of the following:

a. The protest is found invalid and the game score stands as played.

b. When a protest is allowed for misinterpretation of a playing rule, the game is replayed from the point at which the incorrect decision was made, with the decision corrected.

c. When a protest for ineligibility of a team roster member is allowed, the game shall be forfeited by the offending team.