I think those guidelines are outdated. MLB grant money is paid directly to the MLB-approved leagues (meaning the league and all teams must be 501(c)(3), and must submit financial and other info to MLB as requested). Some players get part-time jobs but I have never heard of anyone reporting those jobs to the NCAA. Summer leagues do have be be wary of NCAA eligibility rules to make sure a player doesn't inadvertently become ineligible; for example if the team has a D 1 or D 2 coach, the team cannot sign JUCO players. As for recruiting, teams can recruit pretty much however they please. I have even seen summer teams use Twitter looking for prospective players. Our team recruits by our GM contacting the college coaches that he routinely has worked with over the years. And it goes both ways-colleges often contact us to determine if we have interest in and room for players. During our season, replacing players can get a bit hectic-travel plans, getting unis from departing players, updating the roster, coordinating with the host family about their "new" player (we tell our hosts not to fall in love with their players, but they often still do..our veteran hosts have seen that players can come and go and handle changes very well). Our league has increased the allowed roster size to 35, and most teams that fill their limit have at least 20 pitchers. That sounds like a lot, and it is, but with innings limits, pitch count limits, college guys needing more rest between outings than pros, etc., and with weather sometimes playing havoc with schedules, a lot of arms are needed and by the end of the summer, all of the pitchers have gotten plenty of work. We had a stretch this summer playing 11 days in a row, and another stretch with 5 games in 3 days. Our league plays a 42 game schedule and we try very hard to be finished by early August, if not late July, so players can have some "home time" before going back to school. And we are truly nonprofit. Our coaches and trainer are paid. Everyone else is a volunteer. And a lot of people put in a lot of time with fund-raising, caring for the field, coordinating host families, etc. simply out of a desire to provide a good experience for our players, and provide a place where locals can go and watch good baseball during the summer at a cheap price (admission has been $5 forever, and most kids get in free). There is no local economic benefit except for players' families visiting and using local hotels and eateries. Our fans socialize with their friends as they watch the games and its a good warm atmosphere. Some players appreciate what's done for them and some don't, and that's all perfectly fine. Lots of relationships have formed through the years between players and their hosts that continue long after the player's career ends-weddings, birth announcements, Mother's Day cards, graduations, visits-all of this happens, and it's the coolest part of summer ball-relationships.