RULE 4 STARTING AND ENDING A GAME

            Section 1: Starting a Game

Article 1...The Home Team coach or a tournament official charged with that duty of the Head Umpire shall decide if the grounds and other conditions are suitable for starting the game.  After the game has started, the Umpire and other game officials are sole judges as to whether conditions are fit for continued play, or whether conditions are suitable for starting a second game on that field in a double-header or tournament series.

Article 2...If there are unusual conditions, such as spectators or obstacles on or too near the playing field, the home team coach or tournament officials shall propose special Ground Rules.  If sanctioned by the Visiting Team, these rules shall be in effect for the duration of that game and subsequent games played on that field on the same day with the same teams.  If the teams cannot agree, the Umpire(s) and other game of tournament officials shall formulate ground rules.  All special rules shall be announced.

Article 3...Before Game Time, the home team and the visiting team shall deliver their respective batting orders in duplicate to the Head Umpire.  The head umpire shall then permit inspection by both captains and/or coaches.  At this time, the regulations governing substitution (Rule 3) shall go into effect.

Article 4...The Visiting team shall be the first to take its turn at bat.  On a neutral field or by agreement, either team may be designated as Home team.

Article 5...The Game begins when the Umpire calls “Play” at the scheduled game time.

Section 2: Ending a Regulation Game

Article 1...A Regulation Game consists of six innings (turns at bat) for each team, unless extra innings are necessary because of a tie score; or unless shortened due to time limit, inclement weather, darkness on an unlighted field, or because the home team needs less than its complete half-inning at the bottom of the last inning of play.  Each team must have six blindfolded players in its line-up throughout the game, plus a pitcher, catcher, and at least one spotter, otherwise the game may be forfeited (see EXCEPTION Rule 4, Sect. 4, Art. 1-f).  A forfeited game is regulation, regardless of the number of innings played

Article 2...The Game ends when the team behind in score has completed its turn at bat in the sixth inning, or any inning thereafter if extra innings are necessary.  If the home team scores a go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth or subsequent inning, the game is terminated at that point.

Article 3...If weather or darkness interferes with play so that the game is called (ended) by the Umpire, it is a regulation game: (a) if four full innings have been played, or if the home team has scored an equal or greater number of runs in three and a fraction turns at bat than the visiting team has scored in four turns at bat; or (b) if play has gone beyond four innings.  In (b), if the game is called when the teams have not had an equal number of completed turns at bat, the score shall be the same as it was at the end of the last completed inning; except that if the home team has scored a run to tie the score or take the lead in its half of the incomplete inning, the final score shall remain as recorded at the time the game was called.

Article 4...A game called due to exceeding a pre-set time limit is a regulation game: (a) if both teams have completed an equal number of turns at bat; or (b) if the home team has scored a run to tie the score or take the lead at or prior to the expiration of the pre-set time limit.  In both (a) and (b), it shall be a regulation game regardless of the number of innings played.  If an inning is started before the pre-set time limit has expired that inning will be completed, unless; 1) the visiting team does not tie the score or take the lead in its half of the inning, or 2) the home team scores a go-ahead run before its half of the inning is complete, thus ending the game.

            Section 3: Called Game

Article 1...If a game is called before the completion of the number of innings and/or conditions as specified in Sect. 2, Art. 3 and/or 4; the Umpire shall declare the contest “No Game”.  A game called for any reason where a winner cannot be determined, or a game called at any time due to mechanical failure (i.e., lack or failure of artificial lights, lack of properly functioning bases or balls, etc.) will be treated as a suspended game.  If the game is to be completed at a later time, it will be continued from the point of suspension, with the line-up and batting order of each team the same as it was at the moment of suspension, subject to the rules of the game.  If the game is not to be completed, it shall count as ½ game won, ½ game lost for both teams.

            Section 4: Forfeited Game

Article 1...A game shall be Forfeited to the offended team by the umpire when a team:   

[a] Is twenty minutes late in appearing or in beginning play after the umpire calls “Play” at scheduled game time.  This may be set aside if the umpire deems the delay unavoidable; or

[b] Refuses to continue play after the game has begun; or

[c] Delays more than a reasonable amount of time in resuming play, or in obeying the umpire’s order to remove a player, coach, spectator, or other team personnel for violation of the rules; or

[d] Persists in tactics intended to delay or shorten the game; or

[e] Willfully and persistently violates any of the rules after being warned by the umpire, even though a warning is not mandatory; or

[f] Cannot provide six players or the necessary support personnel to complete the game.  EXCEPTION: If it is necessary because of illness, injury, or penalty, a team may be allowed to complete a game with five players.  An out will be called each time the empty sport in the line-up comes to bate [Rule 3, Sect. 1, Art.1]; or

[g] If a team drops below five players due to ejection, penalty, injury, or the pitcher, catcher, or the last or only spotter is eject and there is no legal replacement; or

[h] On its home field fails or refuses to comply with the umpire’s order to put the field in condition for play.

Article 2...score of a forfeited game is 6 to 0 except if the game is forfeited after the number of innings required for a regulation game and the offending team is behind in the score.  Then the score remains as recorded.  If the offending team is leading the score is 6 to 0.

            Section 5: Protested Game

Article 1...It is optional on the part of a Tournament Committee and officials as to whether protest are permitted.  When protest are allowed, they must be submitted in accordance with a prescribed procedure.  The Protest Procedure for the National Beep Baseball Association is in Rule 10, Section 4.