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1. Northern Division - National League Rules, no designated hitter. Northern Division teams will have the option of allowing a designated hitter to be used when a Southern Division team visits. Southern Division - American League rules, designated hitter will be used.
2. Implementation of Rule 6.02 (d)(1) known as the "Batters Box Rule" currently in experimental use throughout minor league baseball. Requires a batter to have at least one foot in the batter's box between pitches to improve the pace of the game.
3. Two or three man umpire crews required 

Roster Rules:

1. - 23 active player rosters maximum.
   - May play with less.
   - No roster changes after August 15^th with the exception of being able to replace a player  acquired by an MLB team.
2. No player classifications 
3. Players that are 32 or older on January 1st of 2011 are eligible to play in the NAL only if they have had AA, AAA, Major League, top level international experience, or previously played in the forming leagues of the NAL -- Golden Baseball League, Northern League, or United League. Any 1978 birth date or older must have the experience listed above to be eligible.
4. There is no minimum or maximum salary.
5. Each team is allowed two coaches and a trainer in addition to the manager. 
6. Player/coaches are allowed and are included against roster limits.
7. Salary Cap includes $60K floor, $90K cap.  Teams may exceed salary cap and pay a luxury tax of 25% for first $20K over cap, 50% of second $20K over cap, %75 of third $20K over cap, and 100% of fourth $20K overcap and beyond.  

Transaction Rules:

1. Disabled List: There is no Disabled List. An injured player must be carried on the active roster placed on the Inactive List, or released.
2. Waiver Wire: There is no Waiver process.
3. Suspended List: Players on disciplinary suspension may not be replaced unless released.
   Players on Suspended List for failure to report or contract abandonment may be replaced.
4. Inactive List: Players that are under contract but unable to play may be placed on the Inactive List with their consent. Normally, they will not receive pay but may be replaced on the roster. If they do receive pay they will not be counted against the roster limit but their pay will count against the salary cap. A player must be on the Inactive List for a minimum of 7 days.
5. Roster Move Cap: There is no roster move cap, teams may sign and release as many players as they desire during the season.
6. Teams may trade players within or outside of the NAL and provide or acquire: Players, Cash, Player to be named later, Future Considerations, and Goods or Services. 

Schedule Rules: 

1. The NAL plays a 96 game season.
2. Regular Season will begin no sooner than 1 week before Memorial Day and end no later than one week after Labor Day.
3. All Double-headers are 7 innings each with the exception of Day/Night which must be sold as separate 9 inning games 
4. Division structure, full-season format.
5. Four teams qualify for playoffs -- winners of each division plus teams with the next best overall season record. Each round will be a best-of-five series.