2007 SHETLAND RULES

 

A.   Play is governed by Official Baseball Rules with exceptions as noted in the PONY Baseball Shetland Rules & Regulations as well as this document.  When there is a discrepancy in the rules, this document takes precedence over PONY rules and official baseball rules.

 

B.   THE GAME

1.     Games shall consist of a maximum of five innings.

2.     No inning shall start after one hour and fifteen minutes from the start of the game.  When the time limit is reached, the current inning will be completed, and the game will be called.

3.     Tie games are not to be continued beyond five innings and shall be recorded as tie games.

4.     If a game is called for any reason, it is a complete game if three innings have been completed, or if the home team is leading after two and one half innings.

a.      If a game is called with less than three complete innings and a tie score, it will be considered a suspended game and will be completed from the point it was called at a later date.

5.     Eight players must be available to start the game, or the team will be forced to forfeit the game.

6.     A team has 15 minutes from the scheduled start time to field the minimum number of players or a forfeit will be called.

7.     The ninth player and any subsequent players to arrive after the game has started will be placed at the end of the batting order in the order in which they arrive.

 

C.   THE DEFENSE

1.     Each team will field all of their players each inning.

a.      Six infielders (1st, 2nd, 3rd, SS, P, and C) are used.

b.     The remainder of the players should be evenly spaced in the outfield grass.

c.     The use of a catcher is optional and that player is considered an infielder for inning to inning rotation purposes.

2.     The outfielders must start with both feet in the outfield grass.  No outfielder will be permitted to routinely cover any base.

3.     There is no infield fly rule.

4.     Two coaches may be stationed in the field to provide verbal instruction to the defensive team.

5.     Players must be rotated between the infield and the outfield every inning.

a.      Players are not allowed to play an infield position in 2 consecutive innings unless there are not enough outfielders to replace all the infielders.

b.     Players are not permitted to play outfield in 2 consecutive innings unless there are more outfielders than infielders.

c.     Players should never play infield in 3 consecutive innings.

d.     Players are not permitted to play the same position more than 2 innings in a game.

6.     Double plays and triple plays are permitted.

7.     Players are not permitted to intentionally roll the ball to 1st base (or any other base) in an attempt to get the batter/runner out.

8.     The pitcher is not allowed to field a ball and run to 1st base for the out.  The pitcher must throw the ball to 1st base.

 

D.   THE BATTER/RUNNER

1.     All players are in the batting order.

2.     During the first half of the season, batters will hit off the tee only.

3.     During the second half of the season, the coach will pitch to the batter.

4.     The coach will pitch to his own team from the pitcher’s mound.

5.     Three pitches will be given to the batter.  If the batter fails to hit the ball fair after 3 pitches, the ball will be placed on the tee, and the batter may swing until the ball is hit fair.  There are no strikeouts.

6.     To save time, a coach should act as catcher during the 3 pitches, or the coach-pitcher should use 3 balls.  A coach may not field the catcher’s position.

7.     Batters are not permitted to bunt or swing easy at the ball.  Penalty:  If the ball is hit, it will be called a foul ball, and the batter shall bat again.  No runner may advance.

a.      A 10-foot diameter arc will be placed in front of home plate.  Any ball that does not travel to or past the arc will be considered a foul ball.

b.     If a batted ball hits the coach-pitcher, the ball is dead, the pitch counts, and no runners may advance.  If in the umpires judgment the coach-pitcher intentionally interferes with the fielder or the batted ball, the batter will be called out and the runners may not advance.

c.     The coach-pitcher should leave the field after the ball is hit and should not interfere with the defense.

8.     On a ball hit within the infield, the batter and runners may only advance one base.  Extra bases on overthrows are not permitted.

9.     On a ball hit to the outfield, the batter and runners may advance at their own peril until the ball is thrown into the infield.

a.      There will be chalk lines halfway between 1st base and 2nd base, halfway between 2nd base and 3rd base, and halfway between 3rd base and home plate.

1.     Runners who are not more than half way to the next base must return to the previous base without the risk of being put out.

2.     Runners who are more than half way to the next base may continue to run to the next base with the risk of being put out.  They may also return to the previous base with the risk of being put out, but only if another runner is not entitled to that base.

3.     Runners are not permitted to advance past the base they were advancing to when the infielder gained control of the ball.  There are no extra bases permitted on overthrows.

4.     Every forced runner must advance at least one base.

10. Base runners are not permitted to steal or lead off and shall remain in contact with the base until the ball is hit.  Penalty:  Warning.  Repeat offender is out.

11. No team shall score more than 5 runs in one inning.  If there are less than three outs when five runs are scored, the teams shall change sides.

 

E.   THE COACH

1.     The first and third base coaches must stay in the coaching boxes.

a.      Base coaches are not permitted to touch base runners.  If runners are touched, the runner will be called out.  It is the discretion of the umpire to determine if the coach is pushing/holding a player or congratulating him.

b.     Players are not permitted to be base coaches.

2.     Two coaches are permitted on the field with the defensive team.

a.      The coaches should be stationed between the infield and outfield.

b.     Defensive coaches are not permitted to physically assist any fielder or impair any base runner.

 

F.    THE SCOREKEEPERS

1.     The home team must supply an official scorekeeper who is familiar with baseball and scorekeeping.

2.     Each team should keep a scorebook.  The Home Team’s book will be the official book.

 

G.  INJURIES

1.     Please report any injuries to a Board Member as soon as possible.

2.     In the case of any injury, all play will cease immediately.

 

H.   CONDITION OF THE FIELD

1.     It is the responsibility of both teams to make sure the field/dugouts are free of any trash or debris after each game.

2.     It will be up to the Coaches and the Board to determine when a game will be called due to inclement weather.

3.     Both teams’ coaches and managers should arrive at the field early if it has been raining to help prepare the field of play.

4.     It is the HOME TEAMS responsibility to line the field, place the bases, and remove the bases at the conclusion of the game.  Bases should be returned and secured in their proper storage place for that field.

 

I.      GENERAL

1.     There are no protests in this division.

a.      Any disputes should be resolved before play is resumed.

b.     Once agreed upon, all results will be final.

2.     The managers/coaches will be required to umpire their own games.  The base coaches should call safe and out.  Any close calls should go to the offensive team.  There should be no on field disputes of the calls.

3.     The home team must supply one adult (over age 16) to run the concession stand during the game.  The game should not begin until the concession stand is properly manned.  Failure to supply a worker will result in a forfeit.  The team mom should assign games to the parent volunteers so there is no confusion when game time arrives.

4.     Equipment should be kept inside the dugout so it does not interfere with play.

5.     No tobacco or alcohol will be allowed on the field or in the dugouts at any time.

6.     The board will select an All-star manager and coach.  The manager and coach will determine who their two assistants will be.  The four coaching staff members will determine the composition of the all-star team, with the manager having the final say.

 

J.     THE LEAGUE WILL NOT TOLERATE UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT BY THE COACHES, PLAYERS, OR PARENTS/FANS.  CONDUCT SUCH AS THROWING EQUIPMENT, USING FOUL LANGUAGE, OR ANY OTHER UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR WILL BE DEALT WITH BY THE BOARD.

 

K.   PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL.  OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO TEACH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL SO THAT A SOLID BASE CAN BE DEVELOPED.  WINNING IS NOT THE MAIN OBJECTIVE.