USABL RULES
USABL Rules
A. 46/60 Programs will follow Little League rules with the exception of USABL rules
B. 50/70 & 60/90 will follow High School rules with the exception of USABL rules
C. 18 & Over will follow Major League rules with the exception of USABL rules
1. All games will be 6 innings long on the 60ft and 50/70 diamonds. All games on the 90ft. diamond (12U- 18U) will be 7 innings long. 18 & Over games will be 9 inning unless playing a DH it will be two 7 inning games.
2. Rainouts shall be determined by the league office. Once the game begins rainouts will be determined by the umpires
3. Protest shall be considered only when there is use of an ineligible player. No protest shall be considered on a decision involving an umpire's judgment. Likewise Protests based upon an official’s judgment or misinterpretation (misapplication) of the playing rules will not be honored (same rule as High School). Equipment which does not meet specifications must be removed from the game and shall not be the basis for a protest.
Protest made due to use of ineligible player may be considered only if made to the umpire before the final out of the game. Whenever it is found that an ineligible player is being used, that player shall be removed from the game, and the game shall be continued under protest or not, as the protesting manger decides. Protests must be submitted by the manager first to the umpire on the field of play and then in writing to the league president within 24 hours. The umpire chief shall also submit a report as well. Protests will be ruled upon by the league office and committee composed of chief umpires. All protests must affect the outcome of the game. Protest after the game is complete will not be accepted.
4. All players must wear the complete uniform while on the field of play and in the dugout or bench area.
5. Players may wear plastic or rubber spiked shoes on the 60 & 50/70 diamonds. Players may wear metal spiked shoes on the 90ft diamond.
6. Players must wear approved batting helmets while at bat and while running the bases. Helmets with one flap are acceptable on the 90 ft diamond only. One flap helmets must have the flap on the side that faces the pitcher.
7. Bat Rules:
- Players must use Little League approved bats on the 60 ft diamond. No bat larger than 2 ¼ barrel size will be allowed. USABL will be following the Little League ruling on composite bats on the 46/60 diamond. Composite handle bats are approved.
- 50/70 will be allowed to use any 2 1/4 or 2 5/8 bats metal or composite barrel and handle. No bat larger than 2 5/8 will be allowed on the 50/70 field.
- 90 ft. diamond bat rules.
i. 12U (Fall) will need to follow the same standards as the 50/70 program.
ii. 13/14 may use up to a minus 8 ½ bats, metal or composite barrel and handle.
iii. 14/15 & 15/16 bats must meet current High School rules & standards. All non-wood bats must meet Batted Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard.
iv. Any league on the 90ft diamond that is a wood bat only league will be allowed to use wood bats, including composite wood bats.
a. ** A batter may not use an illegal bat. PENALTY – If the infraction is discovered by the umpire or the defence before the next pitch to a batter of either team, the defence may elect the penalty - batter out, runners return to the Time of the Pitch. No appeal is allowed after the next pitch to a batter.
b. Teams playing on a field with bat restrictions must notify their opponent at least 4 days prior to game day. Teams must conform to a facilities bat restricition policies if provided with the proper notification about the restricition.
8. All team catchers must wear complete catching equipment, including mask, a protective helmet or skullcap, chest protector, leg guards and protective cup.
9. No family or friends on the bench.
10. When a team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of 4 innings on the 60 & 50/70 diamonds and after 5 innings on the 90ft diamond, the team with 10 or more run lead will be declared the winner. The game will be declared over and complete.
11. All teams have the option to bat as many players as they select. In order for a player to play defense he must be listed in the current batting order. Starters may reenter the game one time for the player that was substituted for him. He must remain in the same spot in the batting order.
12. A pitcher that is replaced on the mound but remains in the batting order my not reenter as a pitcher but will be allowed to play any other defensive position.
13. Managers will have the option before the first pitch is thrown to elect to use speedup rules. A runner for the catcher or pitcher can be used with two outs. Runners should be a player not in the batting order at the time or the last batted out. When pitchers are the last batted out, they will not be obligated to run. If teams cannot agree speed up rules will not be used.
14. The league will not use a pitch count or monitor innings pitched. Innings pitched will be coach’s decision.
15. Teams may carry as many players as they wish.
16. Playing time will be solely determined by the team manager or coach. The league strongly suggests that manager and coaches give the maximum amount of playing time to the maximum amount of players.
17. Players must appear in 5 regular season games or have played at least 21 innings to be eligible for play-offs. Players who are on the roster and have paid the registration fee before the first game will need 21 innings of league play to qualify for play-offs. Any players joining after the first game will be subject to the 5 games or 21 innings rule.
17 A. 18 & Over Only: players must appear in at least half of the regular season games played to qualify for the playoffs.
18. Players may switch teams after the last game in the play-offs and the first game of the new season. Players switching teams in mid-season need the approval of both team managers and the league office. Players switching teams must requalify for the play-offs with the new team. They may not switch back to their former team for post season play.
19. Players may not turn the next age before May 1st, 2014
20. If a team has 8 players to start a game, they may borrow a defensive player from their opponent or play the game with 8 players. The borrowed player will be a different player each inning and will not bat for the team with less than 9 players. In the event, a ninth player arrives; he will be inserted in the batting order in the ninth spot. If a team has less than 8 players it will be a forfeit. *You may play a play-off game with 8 players.
21. A team will be allowed 20 minutes to produce at least eight players.
22. If a teams batting order shrinks at any point during the game for any reason the team will be awarded an out for the lost spot one time. The next time the spot comes due that place in the batting order will be skipped over without penalty. It is the obligation of the defensive team to point out to the umpire that they are taking the out when that spot comes due. If the defensive team does not point the vacant spot out to the umpire at the time that the spot comes due there will be no penalty awarded and the spot will be skipped over at that time and all other times.
23. When a team’s batting order falls to eight players during a game they will be subject to the penalty stated above, however the opponent has the option to supply a rotating defensive player in order to finish the game. When a teams batting order falls below 8 the game will be declared complete and the teams with less than eight will be awarded a loss regardless of the game score at the time of this occurrence.
24. When two teams finish in a tie for a play-off or tournament spot the following tie breaking formula will be used..
- Best record head to head competition
- Run differential in head to head competition
- Fewest runs allowed against all opponents. Games played will be made equal.
- Coin Flip
When three or more teams are tied.
- When all tied teams have played each other and one team has beaten the others tied teams without a loss, that team will be awarded the play-off spot. The other teams will continue to apply the tie breaking formulas, if more spots exist.
- Teams with the most wins will be awarded the higher seed. If two or more teams are tied with points/wins and not one team has beaten the other team(s) without a loss we will proceed to tie breaker rule #3.
- Fewest runs allowed in all games played. Games played last will be eliminated until all teams have played the same number of games.
- Coin Flip
25. Players on the 60 ft and 50/70 diamonds must slide feet first. They may slide head first when returning to a base. Players on the 90ft diamond may use any method of sliding they wish. Base runners must slide or make every possible effort to avoid serious contact with a defensive player. Jumping over or running into a defensive player can be grounds for immediate ejection from the game. This is an umpire judgment call and is not protest situation.
26. Players or coaches that are ejected from games by umpires will serve a one game suspension. Any physical contact with umpires will result in more severe punishment as determined by the league office.
27. Players may not play on two different teams in the same division or age group. Players will be allowed to compete on two different teams if these teams play in different age groups or divisions where no possibility of the two teams meeting, including play-offs. Players may participate on two different teams in the same age bracket if the league before the start of the season declares that there will be two different champions and the league has scheduled no crossover play between American & National.
28. Teams playing in the 13U year old division will be allowed to have no more than two 14 year old players. Teams in the 14U year old division will be allowed to have no more than two 15 year old players. The 15/16 division may have any number of 15’s or 16’s.
29. If an umpire agrees to balk warnings, their may be only one warning given per team/per game. Balks or balk warnings are never intended to penalize the offensive team for their efforts on any play.
30. Teams will be allowed a manager, first base coach, third base coach and one scorekeeper, in the dugout or on the field during the game.
31. Intentional bases on balls may now be issued by informing the home plate umpire of a team’s intention to walk the batter. No pitches need to be delivered. This must be declared before any pitches have been thrown. If any pitches have been thrown to the batter the defensive team must then complete the at bat by delivering pitches.
32. The league does not have a guest player policy. Any players being brought onto the team, at any point in the season, must complete a player registration form. If the team has opted to pay the individual player fee instead of the team fee, the new player to the team must pay a fee. Players playing on two different teams must pay a fee for both teams unless one of the two teams has paid the team fee.
33. In the 8 year old division only: A runner cannot steal home or advance home on a wild pitch/pass ball. A runner can advance home on an over throw to 3rd base or a pick off play to 3rd base only. Runners can only advance home if it is a play on 3rd base. If the play is not at 3rd base they must be forced home. FAQ on this rule: Runners on 1st and 3rd, the runner steals 2nd the catcher throws the ball to 2nd the runner on 3rd CANNOT advance on that play. If the ball is thrown into the outfield the runner that just stole 2nd and runner on 3rd must stay put. It must be a play on 3rd base or else the runner must be forced home by walk or batted ball..
#1 FAQ on Rule #33: Runners on 1st and 3rd, the runner steals 2nd the catcher throws the ball to 2nd the runner on 3rd CANNOT advance on that play. If the ball is thrown into the outfield the runner that just stole 2nd and runner on 3rd must stay put.. It must be a play on 3rd base or else the runner must be forced home by walk or batted ball.
#2 FAQ on Rule #33: Runner on 2nd tries to steal 3rd. The catcher throws the ball away while making a play on the runner stealing 3rd. The runner that just stole 3rd can advance home at their own risk.
34. For 12U Fall only. No new inning will begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes when the total amount of runs by both teams combined is more than 11. If the total amount of combined runs by both teams is 11 or fewer, the time limit does NOT apply (e.g., a 6-5 game would continue.) *The time limit is not in affect for any playoff games.
35. No slap bunt/slashing is allowed in any 46/60 division. A “slap or slash bunt” is defined as the act of showing or faking a bunt and swinging at the pitch instead. A slap or slash bunt will automatically be ruled a strike and a dead ball whether the batter makes contact with the ball or not.
35. Make up policy: Games must be rescheduled within a week of the game being rained out or canceled
36. Forfeit Procedure: If your team is seeking a forfeit you must ask your opponent to play the game(s) (give them an option if possible) or to concede to a forfeit. If they do not concede to a forfeit the league must hear from both teams why the game was originally canceled and not rescheduled. If the game was canceled for any reason other than field conditions, it should be an easy decision. If it was canceled because of field conditions (rain out) we will need to hear from both teams and the league will make a decision from there. You may win your forfeit request, or it may go down as a no contest if both teams showed effort & flexibility in trying to make the game(s) up.
If a team cancels a game for any other reason other than field conditions, it is the canceling team’s responsibility to be flexible with rescheduling the game to when their opponent can accommodate it (field, players, etc.) If the game is not rescheduled for any reason prior to playoff seeding the opposing team that was canceled on will be awarded a win, 3 points if they ask for the forfeit. Players will only receive credit for innings for a forfeit if the forfeit occurs at the field or if the league commisioner signs off on the players that missed out on the innings from a forfeit.
37. Each team is required to get the last names when receiving your opponent’s lineup.
- Each team is required to be able to prove the games a specific player has played in for a playoff game. If an opponent request to see who a specific player has played against on your regular season schedule be prepared to prove it to the coach and league at the field.
- A player without the proper uniform the coach must automatically prove to the other team that the player is on your roster and that he has enough innings to qualify if it is a playoff game.
38. At the 46/60 level the batter cannot advance on a dropped third strike.
39. There is an infield fly rule at the 8U and older levels. However, if both teams agree to not use the infield fly rule at the start of the game at ground rules with both the umpires and both managers present that is fine.
40. 8U does not use a max run per inning rule. However, if both coaches agree with the umpires present at ground rules you can put the following rule in place: Maximum of 5 runs per inning, with the exception of the last inning..
41. Trips to the mound: 1 free trip per inning, 2nd trip in the inning pitcher must come out.
