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The Americanism Commission has approved the following rule changes for the 2024 American Legion Baseball season:
Please refer to the rule within this rule book for official language.
Rule 1.V. Uniform – Clarification added that no other baseball organizations’ emblems or insignia may appear on the uniform.
Rule 2.C.4. Clarification – Allows for any player who signs a professional contract to be replaced on National Form #1 by an eligible player.
Rule 6.D. Dual Participation – Clarification of dual participation regarding department and national post-season tournaments.
Rule 6.E.1. Dual Roster – Allows for players on an affiliated junior team to dual roster on the senior team without utilizing a roster spot on the senior team Form #1.
Rule 6.E.5 Team and Player Certification – Allows for any player who signs a professional contract to be replaced on National Form #1 by an eligible player.
Rule 9.A. National Tournament Registration – Establishes the 2024 department deadline date for the department championship team to be certified by Aug. 1, 2024.
Rule 9.D. National Tournament Player Eligibility Protest – Adds clarification for players who miss any part of a department post-season tournament due to a non-baseball-related matter.
Rule 9. E. ALB Risk Management Policy. Per NEC Resolution No. 17 October 2023, all adult participants (coaches, managers, volunteers and players, 18 years of age or older) are required by Public Law 115-126 to have adult abuse awareness training and background checks to be eligible to participate in national tournaments hosted by The American Legion.
Definitions – Adds new definition for affiliated team:
AFFILIATED TEAM: Affiliated senior and junior teams must share the same base school and high school enrollment combination.
Attached you will find a memorandum identifying MLB rules that The American Legion Baseball Committee have NOT adopted for the 2024 season. Please share this document with all coaches as needed. Please make sure to save this document.
The following is a list of MLB rules that have NOT been adopted by The American Legion Baseball Committee for use during the 2024 season.
1. Larger Bases
2. Ohtani Rule (DH for pitcher only is still in effect)
3. One Way Communication
a. Not an official MLB Rule
b. ALB Rule: The use of one-way electronic equipment in the dugout is prohibited. A tablet computer used for scorekeeping purposes only is permissible.
4. Extra Inning Rule (Runner at 2B)
5. Pitch Timer
a. MLB Rule 5.07.c (Pitcher Delays) will be observed but not timed.
b. When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call “Ball.”
6. Mound Visits Per Game
a. MLB recognizes 5 visits per 9 innings.
b. ALB will continue to follow the 2 visits per inning requires a change of pitcher rule.
It is important to note that MLB rule changes are not automatically adopted by ALB when introduced. A transition period will be observed to analyze, discuss, and vote to adopt or deny all such changes. New ALB rules are voted on in odd numbered years.
Montana/Alberta ALB will allow the following during the 2024 season:
1. Ohtani Rule
2. One Way Communication using electronic equipment in the dugout
All MLB/ALB rules changes will be in full effect for all national tournaments including the AA Regionals and the World Series.
Below is a summary of the major rule changes. The wording may or may not be identical to the wording in the National Rule Book.
EFFECTIVE FOR 2022 SEASON:
Rule 1.R.3. Pitching Rule – Remove the word “scheduled” and to read “If a pitcher throws 45 or fewer pitches in game one of multiple games on the same day, he may return to pitch in game two, up to 105 pitches total for the day. If a pitcher were to throw more than 45 pitches in game one, he would be ineligible to pitch in game two.”
Rule 1.J. Fake Tag – Insert new rule to read “A fake tag is an act by
a defensive player without the ball that simulates a tag. A fake tag is considered obstruction.”
Rule 3 & 4 Player Recruiting – Combined total enrollment of high
schools cannot exceed 7,500 for 10th, 11th and 12th grades.
Rule 9.A. National Tournament Registration – To read “The
department championship team must be certified to the Americanism Commission by the authorized department baseball official no later than 11:59 p.m. July 30, 2022. However, departments that fly to regional sites must certify their department champion no later than 11:59 p.m. July 28.”
Rule 9.J.2. Suspended Games – Add paragraph “2. Pitch Count Rule 1.R. applies to suspended games.”
Rule 9.K. Minimum Active Players – Change the word “transfer” to “bring up” and to read “Teams with fewer than 12 players are permitted to bring up players registered on their affiliated Junior American Legion Baseball team roster to the senior team in order to have 12 players but may not bring up a player to exceed 12 players.”