Field preparation, rain and lightning procedure;
"Make every effort to play the game."
Field preparation is the responsibility of both teams that are playing. The home team is responsible for lining the field. The home team dugout is on the first base side.
League Directors and Board Members are responsible for determining if the fields are playable or not. To avoid being charged, Umpires have to be cancelled at least 2 hours before the scheduled start time of a game. This only applies to rainouts.
In the divisions that use paid umpires (Mustang, Bronco, Pony, Colt and Palomino), once a game has started only the umpire can suspend the game. If there is visible lightning, the umpires will call for a 15-minute delay and the delay will continue until no lightning can be seen for 15-minutes or until the league and the umpires agree to suspend the game for the day.
When a game is underway and it starts to rain, only the umpire can suspend the game. Usually play can continue until players slip or puddles start to form on the field. Suspended games are continued from the exact point of where they left off. The home team keeps the book that counts.
In both Shetland and Pinto, the rules are a little more relaxed. In these two divisions, there is no record of wins or losses. The games do not have to be completed. Still the League directors or Board members are the only people who can cancel games. We do recommend that when visible lightning or rain develops during a game that these younger players do not have to finish their games.
