2026 PBL Info Guide

Registration:

In 2026 clubs/regions will be using RAMP Interactive, Baseball Manitoba’s online registration system. For those regions, rosters will be created online directly with Baseball Manitoba.

Roster size must be 11-18 players.

Per section 1.01.04 of the Baseball Manitoba Rulebook:  “There is no limit to the number of coaches that may be on a roster. However, the number of coaches allowed on a roster for a qualifier or provincial championship is four (4). If a team has more than four coaches on their roster prior to a qualifier or provincial championship, they must declare the four that will attend as official coaches. A fifth coach is allowed if one of the coaches is registered as an apprentice coach.” 

Team Dress:

Team uniforms of the players, managers and coaches shall be matching and numbered. Any team jacket or wind shirt worn by coaches must be consistent with the team’s uniform.

Apprentice Coaches:

The apprentice coach program will apply for all divisions in 2026. Consult the Baseball Manitoba website, https://www.baseballmanitoba.ca/content/training-and-development.

Protective Equipment:

1. A sports elbow brace worn by a pitcher must be covered by a sleeve and not distracting in any way.
2. A double earflap helmet is required for all batters at all times.
3. Any player or coach, when crouching, must wear a mask, and helmet when warming up a pitcher. If they are standing, only a mask is required.

Rules: 

1. The rules of the PBL shall be the rules of Baseball Canada (BC) and Baseball Manitoba (BM), unless otherwise stated in an official rules document, and may be amended by the Board of Directors.
2. The PBL shall create and operate under a separate rules document which shall be reviewed, updated and shared annually with its members.
3. Baseball Manitoba pitch-count rules are to be in effect for all PBL regular season, playoff, exhibition, and tournament games.

Prior to Baseball Manitoba Provincial Championships, Western Canadian, and Baseball Canada National Championships

Ensure you review the Baseball Canada Rule Interpretations and Baseball Canada Rules and Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships.

Shoes - 13U

1. Shoes with metal cleats are prohibited in the 13U Division.

Length of Games

1. Regulation game is 7 innings.
2. Complete game is 5 innings, or 4.5 innings if home team is ahead.
3. Ten (10) run mercy rule applies after 5 innings or 4.5 innings if home team is ahead.
4. Tied games will play extra innings using the rules for extra inning play in Baseball Manitoba Rulebook and be continued until darkness.
5. Tied games that are called due to darkness, or weather will be played to conclusion immediately prior to the next scheduled regular-season game between the two teams. The PBL encourages the teams to consider an earlier start time to facilitate finishing the tied and following games.
6. If the two teams have no more regularly scheduled games during the season, the PBL will declare the game a tie and record it as such in the standings.
7. If a game is called after the visiting team has taken the lead in the top half of an inning, Baseball Canada rules governing suspended games will be followed.

Bat Restrictions 

1. In 13U metal (USSA -10) bats are allowed. Maximum barrel diameter is 2 ¾ inches.
2. Wood, wood composite, and metal (BBCOR (-3)) bats are allowed for both the 15U and 18U Divisions. Female players may continue to use metal (USSA -5) non-BBCOR bats.
3. Bat restrictions for all players apply to their team’s division and not to the player’s age.

Re-Entry Rule

1. The re-entry rule is in effect for all age divisions in league play and Provincials.

Designated and Extra Hitter Rules

1. The designated hitter rule applies only for 18U. 
   • At the 18U age category teams will have the option to declare on lineup card at the plate meeting with the umpires whether they will use the DH, EH or none of the options for that game.
   • Any declaration on the lineup card at the plate meeting is final and cannot be changed for the duration of the game.

2. The extra-hitter rule is optional for teams in 13U, 15U and 18U. An extra-hitter (EH) may be placed anywhere on the lineup card. The EH may be interchanged with any other position during the game and can be changed multiple times. The Re-entry Rule would apply for the EH and the team would continue to bat ten players.

Use of Temporary Players

1. During exhibition and regular season play, teams may use a temporary player from their own Area Association only. These players must be on a lower (younger) age “AAA” team or on a “AA” or “A” team from the same age group. In order to use a temporary player, the team must first get permission from the coach of the player’s regular team. Failure to do so will result in that player being ineligible for future use as a temporary player.  Temporary players from the same age group (e.g., 15U AA players at 15U AAA) are allowed to pitch, but not from a lower age group (e.g., 13U AAA players may not pitch at 15U AAA). AAA coaches who intend to pitch a temporary player must get permission from that player’s home coach.
2. Temporary players may play an unlimited number of games.
3. In order to be eligible for the Baseball Manitoba provincial championship, however, the player must be on the team’s roster.
4. Temporary players must be identified on the lineup card as follows:
   • TP-M for 18U AA or A players
   • TP-B for 15U AA or A players
   • TP-P for 13U AA or A players.

            This is to ensure that the umpires and opposing coaches know which players are temporary and which are allowed to pitch.

5. Temporary players must be registered through their home team with Baseball Manitoba.

Baseball Manitoba PBL Coaching Requirements

All coaches will be required to maintain the appropriate coaching requirements for their Division and Roles.  The coaching requirements can be found on the Baseball Manitoba Website.

League Operations:

Game Scoring & Updating Results

All PBL games must be scored using GameChanger. The Home team will be the official scorer and will be responsible to enter the score, within 24 hours, on the Baseball Manitoba PBL website. 

• Go to: https://www.aaabaseballmanitoba.ca/
• Scroll to the bottom of the home page and click "Admin Login"
• Enter username and password
• On the left hand menu, click "League Games"
• Find the appropriate game and click the GREEN square Game Sheet icon (looks like a pencil).  Please note that only home teams can enter scores, as the Game Sheet icon only appears for each team's home games.
• Enter Home Score; Enter Visitor Score
• Check off "Game is Finished"
• Click "Submit"
• Scroll back to the top of the page and click BLUE "Roster" button
• Select all players by clicking the top check box above for both the HOME and AWAY rosters.
• Click "Submit"
• Scroll back to the top of the page and click BLUE "Pitch Count" button
• Add the Jersey Number and Number of Pitches for each pitcher in the game.
• Click "Submit"
• Scores and pitch counts should now show up on the front-end of the website.

* YOU HAVE 48 HOURS TO DISPUTE SCORES. 

If, as a visiting team, you notice errors, please contact Brendan Harz @ baseball.operations@sportmanitoba.ca. 

Baseball Manitoba Pitch Count Website

• The new Baseball Manitoba Pitch Count Website will be introduced for the 2026 Season.
• The Baseball Manitoba Pitch Count website is a free tool for coaches to easily keep track of every pitch thrown in a game and view statistics from other Manitoba teams.
• The Baseball Manitoba website provides helpful tutorials for using the website. https://www.baseballmanitoba.ca/content/tools-and-resources.

* YOU HAVE 48 HOURS TO DISPUTE PITCH COUNTS. 

If, as a visiting team, you notice errors, please contact Brendan Harz @ baseball.operations@sportmanitoba.ca. 

Baseballs

1. Official game ball is the Rawlings R100 or ROML for all divisions.
2. The Rawlings ROMC ball is acceptable for the 13U division.

Game Cancellations

1. If games are cancelled due to weather, lack of a diamond or field conditions, the Home Team must immediately notify:
   • The opposing coach
   • The Umpire Assignor (minimum 90 minutes before game time). Failure to do so may result in umpire fees being charged to your team.
   • baseball.operations@sportmanitoba.ca
2. Any team wishing to cancel a game because they are entering a tournament (or related event) must do so 7 days prior to the scheduled game. If they fail to do so the following will apply:
   • The team will be fined $200.
   • The opposing team will be given the right to reschedule the game at their convenience and at their park.
   • If the rescheduled game is not played it will result in default.
3. The Baseball Canada Severe Weather Policy will be enforced. Games will be stopped at the first sound of thunder and will not resume until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.
4. The Baseball Manitoba Air Quality Policy will be enforced.
5. Preseason Games - Every attempt must be made to reschedule preseason games, prior to the start of the regular season. While these are an important part of the season, they do not count toward regular season standings.

Rescheduling Cancelled Games (Home Team)

1. Confer with the other team, check with the Umpire Assignor for Umpire availability, and reschedule as soon as possible.
2. If game is not rescheduled within seven (7) days, it can be rescheduled by the PBL.

League Champions and Provincial Seeding

1. League Champions for 15U and 18U will be determined by the regular season standings.
   • Two points awarded for a win and one point awarded for a tie.
2. There will be 2 League Champions for 13U, Zone 1 and Zone 2.
   • Zone 2 will be determined by the highest regular season standings in Zone 2 vs. Zone 2 games only
   • Zone 1 will be determined by the highest regular season standings in Zone 1 vs. Zone 1 games only
3. Seeding for 15U and 18U Tier 1 and Tier 2 Provincials will be determined by the regular season standings. The top 6 teams will attend Tier 1 Provincials, and the rest of the teams will attend Tier 2 Provincials, to a maximum of 6.
4. Seeding for 13U Tier 1 and Tier 2 Provincials will be determined by:
   • Zone 2 - regular season standings in Zone 2 vs Zone 2 games. The top 3 teams will attend Tier 1 Provincials, and the remaining teams will attend Tier 2 Provincials. The teams will be ranked in the order they are in the standings.
   • Zone 1 - regular season standings in Zone 1 vs Zone 1 games. The top 3 teams will attend Tier 1 Provincials, and the remaining teams will attend Tier 2 Provincials. The teams will be ranked in the order they are in the standings.

Baseball Manitoba Provincial Championships

• 13UAAA Tier 1 / Tier 2 @ Optimist Park (Winnipeg) from July 31^st- August 2^nd, 2026
• 15UAAA Tier 1 / Tier 2 @ Optimist Park (Winnipeg) from July 31^st - August 2^nd, 2026
• 18UAAA Tier 1 / Tier 2 @ Quarry Park (Stonewall) from July 24^th  - July 26^th, 2026

Player Transfers / Releases

1. PBL will recognize all transfers and releases approved by Baseball Manitoba.

Coaches, Players and Umpires

1. PBL supports and encourages a respectful environment for all players, coaches, and officials who participate in our games, and we insist that any disagreements that arise be resolved in a respectful and civil manner.
2. If a team has any concerns about the proficiency or conduct of any of our umpires, these should be raised privately, in writing, by the Head Coach of the team with the PBL Umpire in Chief who will then determine what additional training or mentoring is warranted for that official.
3. PBL will deal with discipline issues according to the attached PBL 2026 Discipline Policy.
4. When a coach or player is ejected, umpires will notify the official scorer to record their names on the game sheet along with the inning and number of outs when the ejection occurred. A report by the umpire with other details will then be sent to the Umpire-in-Chief and the Baseball MB Office.