The International Board of Directors has approved the following rule changes beginning with the 2015 season. These changes will be reflected in the 2015 Babe Ruth League, Inc. Rules and Regulations.

• Background Checks (All Divisions of Babe Ruth League, Inc.) – Effective with the 2015 season, a volunteer who successfully passes a nationwide background check; this background check will be valid for a three-year period. For example, a volunteer who successfully passed a background check in 2014; this background check will be good through the 2016 season, and the next background check for this volunteer would not be required until the 2017 season. A volunteer who successfully passes a background check during the 2015; the background check is good through the 2017 season.

• Cal Ripken Division – Fake Bunt – Slash Bunt *Effective 2015 Tournament Season* – A batter is out for illegal action when the player fakes a bunt and then takes a full swing, thus eliminating a player from fake bunting the ball.  Penalty:  Batter is out, the ball is dead, no runners may advance.

• Babe Ruth Baseball 16-18 Division – The Designated Hitter has been replaced with an Extra Player “EP” for local league and Babe Ruth tournament competition, which includes District, State and Regional competition, as well as the 16-18 World Series. Prior to the beginning of each tournament game, the manager may elect to add a tenth hitter to the batting order. The player will be indicted in the line-up as the “EP”. The “EP” cannot be added to the line-up once the game begins. The “EP” will be treated as any other starter, and cannot be eliminated during the course of the game. If a team starts with 10 players, the team must finish with 10 players. Penalty shall be a forfeit.

• Rulebook – Rule 0.01 – REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARTER (paragraph 5) (All Divisions of Babe Ruth League, Inc.) – State Commissioners shall approve geographical boundaries established by each league in conjunction with the District Commissioner in whose district that league exists and operates. Appropriate written descriptions, maps or specifications of boundary limitations, must be certified by and filed with the State Commissioner and submitted to Babe Ruth League, Inc. for final approval. A player must play within the league’s geographical boundaries in which the player resides. This is determined according to the legal residence of the player’s parents or legal guardian. Waivers permitting a player to play outside of his geographical boundaries are not permitted in Babe Ruth League. League geographical boundaries shall be subject to review and adjustment by the State or Regional Commissioner and Babe Ruth League, Inc. whenever it is deemed advisable. Geographical boundaries are established to eliminate competition of an undesirable nature, but shall not be established to prevent healthy expansion of teams and leagues within any given area. The only exceptions to the above rule are as follows:
  

1. If a player rostered on a Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball or Babe Ruth Softball team moved outside of that league’s geographical boundaries. In this case, the player may finish his/her playing career in the respective division of that league.

2. NEW – If the physical location of the school where a player attends classes during the traditional academic year is within the boundaries of an established league, the player is permitted to participate in the established league. (Note: This excludes home schools, cyber schools, sports-related schools, sports academies, or after school where a student participates outside of the primary school in which the player is enrolled.) Once a player selects to participate in a league where the player is eligible, the player must finish the current season in the same league under the school boundary rule.
   
   Players and their parents/guardians are advised that a false statement of residence or school attendance may lead to ineligibility to participate in Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball or Babe Ruth Softball. Any league who fails to comply with the “Geographical Boundaries and School Attendance Player Eligibility Requirements” may result in the disqualification of a player, team from regular season and/or tournament play.

• Babe Ruth Baseball and Cal Ripken Baseball (All Divisions) – Contact Rule – If a runner attempting to reach home plate or another base intentionally and maliciously runs into a defensive player in the area of home plate or a base, he will be called out and ejected from the game.

• Babe Ruth Baseball and Cal Ripken Baseball (All Divisions) Anyone warming up a pitcher at any location shall wear a mask. A throat protector is considered part of the catcher’s mask.

• Babe Ruth League, Inc. – All Divisions – If any bat in Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball or Babe Ruth Softball cannot be clearly identified for its make and model to determine the barrel composition, then the bat should be removed from the game.

• Babe Ruth Softball (14U, 16U and 18U Divisions) Rule 2.00 – Definition of Shoes Metal cleats are permitted in the 14U, 16U and 18U divisions. In the 10U and 12U divisions, only rubber cleats will be permitted.