Hello Everyone:

We would like to clarify to all how our rain-out policy works and the criteria we follow before we cancel games. Please allow us to let you know up front that the last thing we want to do is cancel any games. In fact over the last 5 years we have cancelled games very few times. Everyone wants to play but if there is a choice of losing a field or not playing on a day then we have to not play. The fields we have are hard to get anyways and to possibly tear them up during the high school baseball season becomes not much of a choice.

So everyone knows, part of the criteria is the amount of rain after 12 noon on Saturday. We also get reports from the various areas and managers from teams who go to the fields on Saturday and Sunday who will let us know the field conditions. The decision is made Saturday night or early  Sunday morning only after someone who has been assigned to the field files a report. Then and only then is a decision made if we must cancel or postpone games. So typically games are not cancelled until Sunday morning at 7:30am. Here is what our National Rulebook says.

Paragraph 2, page 17:

Umpires are not accountable to the schools for the condition of the field, however the league is. Therefore, consideration should be given to the condition of the field after the game has been completed. Will it be possible to restore the field to its original condition before the next game. Teams and umpires are subject for playing on a field that effectively makes the field unplayable after the game. Decisions on playability of a field are made for the sake of the field and the league, not for the convenience of teams or umpires. Fields are a very important part of a league IT DOES NO GOOD TO RUIN A FIELD AND LOSE IT FOR THE SEASON JUST TO PLAY ONE GAME THAT COULD BE POSTPONED AND RESCHEDULED.

DO NOT HAUL DIRT OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL ON OR OFF A FIELD TO MAKE IT PLAYABLE. LOSS OF A FIELDS USE TO THE LEAGUE DUE TO THE IMPROPER ACTIONS OF A TEAM OR TEAMS WILL RESULT IN THE SANCTIONS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SUSPENSION/EXPULSION OF THE OFFENDING PLAYERS/TEAMS, FINES, AND REIMBURSEMENT BY THE OFFENDING PLAYERS/TEAMS TO THE FIELDS OWNER FOR DAMAGES.

If the field can not be made ready with light raking, do not play on it!!! Do not mess up a wet or muddy field with foot prints or heavy raking. The NABA will make every reasonable attempt to reschedule rained out games. This may not apply to special events and tournament play.

If anyone, player or coach are interested in helping with the league in these manners please let us know by e-mailing us.

Players and coaches should either check the website or call the league line at 951.538.3773.

For the Betterment of Baseball,

NABA So Cal League