Playing the Games

Series Instructions

For each scheduled series not being played head-to-head, the visiting manager must send a basic set of instructions to the home manager for the series.  The instructions must include:

• A franchise file (as an attached file) with the visiting team's playing roster and starting lineups (each starting pitcher in the rotation should be marked as 'Benched' in each starting lineup)
• The name of the micromanager to be used to manage the visiting team
• The pitching rotation for the visiting team for the series (one starter for each scheduled game)
• Any special instructions that may need to be observed (such as usage limits late in the season)

The target date to send instructions for a series is the last day of the month prior to the month in which the series is scheduled.  Instructions sent on that date or earlier will receive maximum attendance credit. Instructions sent after the last day of the month will receive negative attendance credit. See description of attendance system for details.

If instructions are not received for a series by the 10th of the month in which the series is scheduled, it becomes the home manager's responsibility to play the series without instructions from the visiting manager. The home manager must contact the commissioner who will provide basic instructions for the team and the series can then be played. Attendance credit will be given as if the instructions were received on the 10th of the month so any delay on the part of the home manager in getting the series played once the 10th passes may result in reduced attendance credit.

Playing the Games

The ABA does not use the BBW features of scheduling and statistics keeping.  Thus, all ABA games are to be played as Unscheduled Games.  This will result in a box score file (.BXS) being generated for each game which must be sent to the commissioner for inclusion in the ABA database.  Ballpark effects are not to be used. 

Eligible Players for a Game

Up to 27 players may be made eligible for each series.  Once the series begins, the eligible roster may not be changed.  All 27 players are eligible to be used in the first game of the series.  For subsequent games, players may become ineligible in any of the following ways:

• If a player is injured during a game, he misses the remainder of that game only -- injuries do not carry over to the next game. Ignore the number of games to be missed specified in the play result.
• If a pitcher starts a game, he is not eligible to pitch in any of the next 3 games of the series
• If a pitcher appears in relief in a game, he is not eligible to start either of the next 2 games of the series (he may continue to appear in relief subject to the rest requirements below)
• A relief pitcher who appears in 3 innings in a game (a reliever is considered to have appeared in an inning as soon as he faces one batter in that inning) is ineligible to pitch in the next game of the series
• A relief pitcher who appears in 4 innings in a game is ineligible to pitch in the next two games of the series
• A relief pitcher who appears in 5 or more innings in a game is ineligible to pitch in the next three games of the series

Player Usage During a Game

• Players may only play at a position at which they are rated.  If a team runs out of players at a position, an unrated player may be inserted at that position if it is logical to assume he could play that position (perhaps having played it in the past).  A manager should not pinch-hit or pinch-run for a player if no other player is available to assume that player's position.
• The Hit & Run play may only be used if the batter has a Hit & Run rating of 2 or higher
• No pitcher may pitch more than 12 innings in a single game
• Pitchers may not be used as pinch-hitters.  If a team runs out of pinch-hitters, a starting pitcher may be used as a pinch-hitter.