Dual Participation

Can someone accurately explain the American Legion dual participation rule, what can you do, and when, and what can't you do...

I've heard this and that, players, coaches, parents, etc. need to know for sure before they get in a bind...

Is there somewhere to view it as it is written as a rule?

 

www.baseball.legion.org

 

Page 13 - Item D - Specifically:​

D. Dual Participation.

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During the regular season, American Legion Baseball players or teams may participate in other amateur baseball programs, however the Team Manager and the player must obtain written approval from the Department Baseball Chairman prior to participating in the event and/or tournament.​

Clarification

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Dual participation shall in no way interfere with a player’s responsibility to his American Legion Baseball Team. Once tournament play has begun (District Tournament up and through American Legion World Series) the Department Baseball Chairman cannot grant permission to participatein non-Legion sanctioned tournaments, exhibition games, showcases or combines.

The American Legion believes team loyalty is a key ingredient for any team sport. Any American Legion Baseball player missing any portion of an American Legion tournament because that player participated in another non-sanctioned baseball event such as exhibition game, tournament showcase, combine or other youth programs shall be ineligible for post-season tournament play.



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Gentlemen,

As a rules official for many years, please read the rule clearly. You cannot "miss" a game because of another game, showcase, etc... No where does it sate that you cannot play one game for one team in the morning, and in your legion game that night. AS long as you do not miss a Legion game to play in another event, you are eligible.

 

State Games

It has been said before that the State Games were exempt, but is that true, or just authorized due to it taking place during the regular season and not during the playoffs?

 

Maybe the rule is a bit confusing, but you can't just read the last part of the rule, you must read ALL of it. Go back and look at the next to last paragraph under Dual Participation, beginning with 2nd sentence....

"Once tournament play has begun (District Tournament up and through American Legion World Series) the Department Baseball Chairman CANNOT grant permission to participate in non-Legion sanctioned tournaments, exhibition games, showcases or combines."

I will only say, to me this sentence was pretty clear,,,, and actually as others have stated, its not asking for much more than team committment during the playoffs.

FrozenRopes, you asked a legitimate question, so to answer your question, the State Games are fine in June during the legion reg.season, but you can't do it during the legion playoffs.

 

TJ, I think there was a time that the first round of the Legion Playoffs were during the time of the State Games (one or the other moved). I can remember kids finding the prelim schedules for State Games then if they could get away driving to the games that night.

My question now is reading the rule, what is a non-sanctioned or sanctioned legion event? Does State President Roy Waters not have the right to say "I sanction this showcase?"

Theres a few legion rules that have always baffled me. Theres been a few rulings baffle me too. But maybe I am just not reading what they are.

 

Define clear in the AL dictionary...

 

So what do you do?

Do you call Roy Waters anytime you have a question?