All managers and named coaches must be Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y certified as set forth in the attached letter from the GRBA President.

All managers, coaches, umpires, parents/guardians, players, and spectators must adhere to the attached GRBA Policy Against Abuse and Violence in Sports Activities.

Managers, coaches, and adult paid umpires should have training in first aid.  Attendance by managers, named coaches, and parents/guardians at first aid style clinics offered by GRBA is strongly encouraged. At a minimum, each manager and coach should be familiar with the attached “dos and don’ts” list when dealing with injuries. Managers, coaches, and umpires should be familiar with the proper use of the first aid supplies provided by GRBA. Small first-aid kits are provided to all managers; bigger first aid kits are located in the field boxes.

No games or practices should be held when weather or field conditions are not good, particularly when lighting is inadequate, or lightning is imminent or present. At the first sign of lightning:

Game/practice must stop immediately.

Managers/coaches should instruct everyone to stay away from metal fencing and benches and not to hold metal bats.

Managers/coaches should instruct their players to walk to a car and wait for a decision on whether or not to continue the game or practice. Decision to suspend or resume a game will be made by the managers/coaches or, if there is an adult paid umpire, by the umpire.

Each League has adopted rules as to when games must be suspended due to darkness.  

Play area should be inspected frequently for holes, damage, stones, glass, and other foreign objects.  Report all problems to the applicable League Commissioner or GRBA’s  Director of Fields.  

Only managers, coaches, umpires, and players are permitted on the playing field or on the benches during games and practice.  

Procedures should be established for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play.  

Foul balls batted out of playing area should be retrieved in a controlled and safe manner.  

During practice and games, all players should be alert and watching the batter on each pitch.  

During warm-up drills, players should be spaced so that no one is endangered by wild throws or missed catches.  

All pre-game warm-ups (i.e., playing catch, pepper, etc.) must be performed in a controlled manner within the confines of the playing field or, in the case of bat swinging, in the safety cages, where available, and not within areas that are frequented by spectators.  

Equipment provided to managers and in the field boxes should be inspected regularly to determine its condition and proper fit.  Remove damaged equipment from play and report this to the applicable League Commissioner.   

Batters must wear NOSCAE-approved protective helmets while batting and on deck during games and practices. Each field box has been stocked with a helmet with a face mask and with chinstraps. Managers and coaches are strongly encouraged to have their players utilize these.  

Catchers must wear NOSCAE-approved catcher’s helmet, mask (with throat protector), shin guards, long model chest protector, and protective cup with athletic supporter (supporters and cups for girls are available) while catching in  games and practices.  Catchers equipment should be adjusted for proper fit from player to player. Catchers must wear catcher’s helmet and mask (with throat protector) when warming up pitchers.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  Managers are strongly encouraged to have all other players wear protective cups and supporters for games and practices.  

Baseball bats for all Leagues (except Senior League) must bear the “Little League” logo.  Softball bats must bear the Little League or the Amateur Softball Association logo. No bat used in the Senior Leagues may weigh more than 7 ounces less than its length in inches, and in the Pony Leagues weigh more than 9 ounces less than its length in inches. In order to comply with standards GRBA anticipates will then be in effect, starting in 2004, no bat used in the Senior Leagues may weigh more than 3 ounces less than its length in inches and the maximum permitted diameter for a baseball bat used in the Senior Leagues will be 2 ¾ inches (2 ¼ inches will remain the maximum permitted in all other Leagues). 

Only the balls provided managers may be used in games or practices.

No player is to be left behind without a manager, coach, or that player’s parent/guardian after a practice or game or during an evacuation.

Except when a runner is returning to a base, headfirst slides are not permitted.

Bases should not be strapped down or anchored, and double “safety” bases must be used in T-ball and all PeeWee and Junior Leagues during games and practices.  

At no time should “horse play” be permitted during games or practices on the playing field or the benches. Managers are strongly encouraged to have a bench coach to help maintain order.  

Parents of players who wear glasses should be encouraged to provide “safety glasses.”  

Mouthpieces are recommended for all players. They are strongly recommended for all players wearing braces or other dental apparatus.  

Players may not wear watches, rings, pins, or metallic items during games or practices.  

Field boxes must remain closed during games or practices.  

Managers, coaches, players, and spectators may not stand behind the home plate area.  

On-deck batters are not permitted except where safety cages are available or, if safety cages are not available, in the Pony and Senior Leagues only, behind the backstop.

Any injury to a manager, coach, player, umpire or spectator resulting in medical intervention must be reported to the Director of Safety following the attached procedure.

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