22U AAA Competitive (Rep) Baseball

22U AAA plays in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League

The following is from the Baseball Nova Scotia handbook pertaining to the 22U AAA League

National Eliminations

22U AAA teams from across the province will participate in the National Elimination Tournament held in late July to determine which 22U AAA team advances to the represent Nova Scotia in the 22U AAA National Tournament in early August. Please visit the Baseball Canada website for more information on the 22U AAA National Tournament.

There are no Provincial Championships at the 22U AAA Level

5.3.10. National Elimination Tournament Draws

5.3.10.1 The draws contained in section 5.3.10 shall be used for all BNS tournaments; Qualification, Provincial Championship and National Elimination.

5.3.10.2 Where more then three (3) games are required in a tournament; at least one game will be scheduled on the Friday.

5.3.10.3 If a tournament consists of four (4) or less teams, no game shall be scheduled to start prior to 11:00 AM on the first scheduled day of the tournament.

5.3.10.4 Teams shall be assigned tournament positions as follows:

In a six (6) or eight (8) team event, BNS will seed teams into the schedule.

In all other draws, Team A will be the host, B the closest team to the host, C is the next closest, etc.

When determining a team’s distance from the host, The shortest possible driving (land) distance from the team’s home field to the tournaments main field.

In cases of dispute or uncertainty, the decision of the BNS office shall be final.

When two (2) or more teams use the same home field, the BNS office shall determine the placing’s.

League Play

22U AAA League Play begins the 3rd week of May and consists of 22U AAA teams from, potentially, all across the Province.

2.7. Rosters

2.7.6.1 Teams participating in National Elimination tournaments must have rosters which meet the rules of the National Championship they are qualifying for.
2.7.7 If a coach or manager is also a player, such player or players are to be counted among the 12 (min) registered players.
2.7.8 Athletes participating in BNS National Elimination tournaments must meet the eligibility criteria to attend a Baseball Canada National Championship (per rule 1.2 Eligibility Rules for Athletes in the Rules and Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships). Should the athlete not meet the requirements outlined by Baseball Canada, he/she will be ineligible to participate in the National Elimination tournament. Baseball Nova Scotia will permit athletes that do not meet this Baseball Canada criteria to participate in events that do not serve as qualifying tournaments for Baseball Canada events (Bluenose League, association tournaments, and BNS Provincial Championships).

2.8. Affiliation

2.8.7 (Rule Amendment) Teams can call up from their affiliated team for Bluenose League, Provincial Championships, Qualification Tournaments, or National Eliminations with no limits on the amount of games those players are eligible to be used (with the exception of 18U athletes being called up to 22U. See 18U and 22U Roster Policy).

2.8.5 Since Senior and Intermediate are both “open” age categories, they may affiliate with any team 18U or higher but cannot affiliate with a team within their division. Example, an Intermediate AAA team cannot affiliate with an Intermediate “AA” or “A” team. An Intermediate “AAA” can affiliate with a 22U or 18U team.
2.8.6 For any team affiliating with a club in the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League, the roster deadline is July 7th.
2.8.7 Following affiliation, a player registered with a lower age division team may play with a higher age division team from the lower age division team. Teams can call up from their affiliated team for Bluenose League, Provincial Championships, Qualification Tournaments, or National Eliminations with no limits on the amount of games those players are eligible to be used (with the exception of 18U athletes being called up to 22U. See 18U and 22U Roster Policy).

[NOTE: Exception – Players on teams who affiliate with senior league teams (18U, 22U, and intermediate) may play six games after July 6th, but cannot play the 7th game or they cannot return to their original team.]

2.8.8 Any team registering, playing or attempting to play an ineligible player or playing while an ineligible coach is coaching shall result in the ineligible person being disqualified.
2.8.9 Should a player or coach be ruled ineligible at a pre-tournament meeting, such player or coach may be subject to further discipline by the BNS Executive.

2.9. 18U and 22U Roster Policy

2.9.1 Players turning 19 in the calendar year do not require a release from their current association to transfer to a new association or team.
2.9.2 Players turning 18 in the calendar year (or younger) require a release from their current association to transfer to a new association or team.
2.9.3 Players turning 18 in the calendar year are eligible to tryout for 22U (within their association or the closest 22U program in their region) with permission from their current association.
2.9.4 Players turning 17 or younger in the calendar year must play in the 18U division, unless they are granted Exceptional status (outlined in rule 2.9.9 to 2.9.12).
2.9.5 Players turning 16 in the calendar year must play in the 18U division (cannot apply for Exceptional status).
2.9.6 Players turning 17 in the calendar year must obtain approval from their current association and Exceptional status to play in the 22U division. The player would only be eligible to tryout for the 22U team in their association, or the closest 22U team in their Region. their association, or the closest 22U team in their Region.
2.9.7 Players turning 18 in the calendar year must obtain approval from their current association to play in the 22U division. Should this request be denied, the player will be eligible to request Exceptional status. The player would only be eligible to tryout for the 22U team in their association, or the closest 22U team in their Region.
2.9.8 Players unsuccessful in trying out for a 22U team must return to their 18U team.
2.9.9 Players wishing to apply for Exceptional status must provide the BNS office with an official letter for review and a $300 non-refundable fee. The letter must include rationale for the request based on skill level, playing experience, references (if available), and overall reasoning for playing in the 22U division.
2.9.10 The letter will be reviewed by committee consisting of the BNS Technical Director, High Performance Committee members and/or Provincial team coaches (minimum of three).
2.9.11 An official decision will be communicated to the requesting player within seven (7) days of receipt.
2.9.12 Should the request be successful, $200 will be returned to the applicant.
2.9.13 All rosters for 18U AAA and 22U AAA teams must be submitted by June 1st.
2.9.14 All 18U aged players on a 22U roster as of June 1st are ineligible to participate in 18U National Eliminations and Provincials.
2.9.15 Players on an 18U AAA roster as of June 1st, are eligible to be called up for a maximum of 5 games (exhibition, league or in-province tournaments) to their 22U AAA affiliate after the June 1st date. Any out of province competitions would not count towards the 5-game cap, as long as the team receives writing permission from the athlete 18U team to attend the event. This written permission must be submitted to Baseball Nova Scotia. Failure to do so will result in all out of province games counting towards the 5-game cap.
2.9.16 Players on an 18U AAA roster as of June 1st, can play in a maximum of 1 (one) game with their 22U AAA affiliate at the National Elimination Tournament, and 1 (one) game at Provincial Championships.
2.9.17 Once an affiliate player has played their (one) game, they will not be permitted on the bench for subsequent games. A player must enter the game in some capacity (pitching, hitting, base running, fielding) to be considered to have played their 1 (one game).
2.9.18 A maximum of 20 players (roster + affiliate players) will be permitted on the bench for 22U National Eliminations.

3. Coaching

3.1. Coaching Requirements For 22U AAA National Eliminations:

3.1.16. 22U AAA Requirements (Head & Assistant Coaches)

- - Online Initiation in Sport Module
  - Online Initiation in Baseball Module
  - Initiation Module
  - Teaching and Learning Module
  - Absolutes Module
  - Planning Module
  - Pitching & Catching Module
  - Strategies Module
  - Making Ethical Decisions (MED) Online
  - Skills Module
  - Safe Sport E-Learning
  - Making Ethical Decisions (MED) Online
  - 16+ Portfolio, Game Evaluation, and Practice Evaluation (Head Coach only)

4. Provincial Team Programs

4.1. 17U Provincial Team

To systematically identify and train the province’s best baseball players. This program seeks to prepare these athletes to showcase their talents at the country’s elite tournament, the Canada Cup/Canada Games. This program is the Learn to Compete stage (Elite level) and progresses athletes to National/University programs.

Note: The 17U Provincial Team will play a full schedule in the 22U AAA league and attend the Canada Cup or Canada Games (every four years)

5.2.6. Bat Rule

5.2.6.4 18U, 22U, Intermediate and Senior – In all levels (AAA, AA, A) Only wood bats, bamboo bats and wood composite bats will be allowed. Wood composite bats include wood bats with fiberglass sheathing and wood barreled bats with composite handles. Wood composite bats do not include any bat that has any metallic component.

Note: Females playing on all boys’ teams at this level must adhere to rule 5.1.6.4. If the team consists of all female player’s, they will be permitted to use an aluminum bat with a maximum weight-length differential of minus (-)5. There are no restrictions on wood bats.

5.2.6.5 Colored Bats – BNS permits the use of colored bats, but does prohibit any bat that, in the opinion of the umpires, discolors the ball. Any such bat shall be removed from the game.

22U Distance between bases: 90’
22U Pitching distance: 60’ 6”
22U Baseballs: ROML
22U Pitcher’s Mound to be elevated

5.2.11. Mercy Rule

The mercy rule shall be applied in the following situations: a team is ahead; 20 runs after 3 innings (2.5 innings with the home team ahead), 15 runs after 4 innings (3.5 innings with the home team ahead) and 10 runs after 5 innings (4.5 innings with the home team ahead).

5.2.12. Pitch Count 22U AAA

- No Rest 1-45
- 1 day rest 46-60
- 2 days rest 61-75
- 3 days rest 76-90
- 4 days rest 91-115
- Daily Max 115

5.2.13. Pitch Count Three Day Maximum A pitcher cannot pitch in 3 consecutive days UNLESS a pitcher’s first 2 days combined does not exceed: 22U – 45 pitches

5.2.14.1 Pitchers will not be permitted to exceed the maximum daily allowable number of pitches in any two-day period.

5.2.14.2 A 22U pitcher’s combined 3-day pitch count cannot exceed: 115 pitches

5.2.14.3 Pitch Counts will be used for all BNS sanctioned tournaments (Qualifications, Provincial, Atlantic’s, Bluenose league play & National Eliminations).

5.2.14.4 Pitch Counts will be used in 22U AAA level.

5.2.14.7 In all Baseball Nova Scotia sanctioned competitions, once a pitcher is about to throw the pitch which would lead him/her to reach any one of the pitch count thresholds and the coach wishes not to throw this pitcher past this threshold, the coach will call time and indicate to the umpire this would be the last batter. Once that at-bat is completed, the pitcher must be withdrawn and be credited with only throwing the limit of pitches for that particular threshold.

For example, in 11U, if a coach wants a pitcher to be withdrawn at 40 pitches, they will signal to the umpire prior to the throwing of the 40th pitch. “Last batter”. Once the pitcher finishes that batter, he/she would be withdrawn from the game and credited with throwing 40 pitches even if they threw any additional pitches to retire the batter.

5.2.14.8 When the pitcher reaches their daily max, they may finish the batter.

5.2.14.9 Should a pitcher throw under the daily threshold in their first game of the day, and pitches a second time that day, they must announce the last batter before the two-game total reaches the daily threshold.

For example, in 15U, a pitcher throws 20 pitches Saturday morning, and returns to pitch again in another game Saturday afternoon. If the coach wants to have the pitcher available for Sunday, the coach must announce the last batter before the pitcher throw pitch number 15 in game two (which would be 35 pitches on the day).

5.2.14.10 Calling last batter is only applicable to the daily pitch thresholds as defined in the Pitch Count chart. It cannot be called to stay under limits as it relates to two and three day thresholds.

For example, an 11U pitcher throws 25 pitches on day 1. Last batter can be called prior to the 26th pitch. If the pitcher throws on day 2, last batter CANNOT be called prior to pitch 15 on the day to stay under the two day threshold. Once the pitcher has thrown the 16th pitch to pass 40 pitches for the two days, the two day threshold has been passed and the pitcher would not be eligible to pitch again in the tournament).

5.2.14.11 Players who hit their two day limit in the first game of the day are not eligible to pitch for the rest of the day

For example, an 11U pitcher throws 20 pitches on Friday. They throw 25 pitches in game 1 on Saturday. Since they’ve passed the 40 pitch threshold that requires two days rest, they are not eligible to pitch again that day)

5.2.14.12 For the purposes of recording pitch count in situations where a pitcher was removed in the first game of a day after the last batter is announced, the pitches thrown will reflect the threshold (not the exact number of pitches thrown).

For example, in 15U, the last batter is announced as a pitcher reaches their daily 35 pitch threshold. The pitcher throws 37 pitches to complete the batter. The pitches shall be recorded as 35, and the pitcher would be eligible to pitch 60 pitches in game 2 that day.

5.2.14.13 Players playing in an older age division must abide by the Pitch Count rules for the age division they belong in.

For example: 18U eligible player pitching in 22U must abide by 18U pitch count rules.

5.4.4.5 Game Time Limits

5.4.4.5.5 22U All divisions – games must be completed in 2 hour and 15 minutes (2:15). Should a game reach the end of the time limit the current inning is to be completed (top and bottom).

APPENDIX B – BNSUD Umpires Rates & Fees

The following information will be used for all Baseball Nova Scotia sanctioned tournaments including National Eliminations, Provincial Qualifications and Provincial Championships

22U AAA Game Fees – Plate $65.00 / Base $55.00 = $120.00 Total

22U AAA Competitive (Rep) Baseball