Divisions & Rules
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2016 MINOR BOYS
RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Babe Ruth Baseball (Cal Ripken Division) rules apply unless specifically superseded in this document.
Game Information
1. Games will consist of 6 innings. During the regular season, there will be no extra innings in case of a tie and tie games will not be replayed. Games will start promptly at 6:00 PM on weeknights. Saturday games will start promptly at the times indicated in the master game schedule. The visiting team will have the field for practice fifty (50) minutes before game time and the home team will have the field for practice thirty (30) minutes before game time. The home team must exit the field ten (10) minutes prior to game time to allow for field prep.
2. In April, games will end by 7:45 PM. In May, regular season games will end by 8:00 PM and playoff games will be suspended at 8:15 PM. In June, playoff games will be suspended at 8:30 PM. This rule applies to weeknight games only. The umpire may call the game earlier at his or her discretion, should they feel that it is too dark to safely continue play. If the end or suspend time is reached while a player is at bat, the player can finish his at bat.
3. In the event a playoff game is suspended due to weather or darkness, the game will continue the following day. Teams will not be permitted to play their next playoff game until the suspended game is completed. Lineups for suspended games are frozen. A player can not be added into the lineup if the player missed the suspended game unless the player is playing for an original player that can not make the continued game.
4. The home team will occupy the first base dugout and are responsible to rake the field at the end of the game and return all equipment to the shed. Visiting team will occupy the third base dugout and will prepare the field to play (rake, line, place bases)
5. During the regular season, if either team is ahead by 10 or more runs after 4 ½ innings, the game should continue per #2 above without the score being kept.
Pitching
1. A pitching “week” runs Monday through Sunday.
2. Pitchers must pitch from the pitching rubber.
3. A pitcher can pitch a maximum of 2 consecutive innings per game and 6 innings per week. A single pitch thrown in an inning counts as an inning pitched. Besides the maximum 2 consecutive innings, pitchers must be removed when said pitcher reaches the limit of 60 pitches in those two innings. If the pitcher reaches his limit during an at bat, he may finish that at bat and then be removed. Each team will be reasonable to count the number of pitches and confirm after each inning with the other team on number of pitches.
4. If a pitcher pitches more than 30 pitches in a game, he must rest one calendar day before pitching again. Example: 45 pitches on Thursday, he can’t pitch until Saturday.
5. Pitchers are limited to 5 warm-up pitches. The 5th pitch can be a throw down to 2nd base.
6. A manager or coach is permitted to make one trip to the mound in the same inning to the same pitcher. On the second trip in the same inning to the same pitcher, that pitcher must be removed. Trips for injuries do not count as long as the umpire is notified. A trip to the mound for a pitching change is not charged to the new pitcher.
7. If a pitcher is removed from the mound, the pitcher may not return to the game to pitch.
8. Balks will not be enforced.
9. Intentional walks will not be permitted.
10. Catchers do not have to catch a third strike, unless it is a foul tip.
Batting
1. The batting order shall consist of the entire team and remain consistent for the whole game.
2. Late arriving players and guest players must be placed in the last position in the batting order.
3. Bunting and fake bunts are permitted. Once a batter squares to bunt, he must either bunt or fake bunt but cannot slap bunt or take a full swing. Slap bunts or full swings after a batter squares to bunt will result in the batter being declared out.
4. A maximum of 5 runs can be scored per inning. Unlimited runs can be scored in the 6th inning and any extra playoff innings.
5. The infield fly rule will not be enforced.
Fielding
1. 4 outfielders can be used during the regular season. 3 outfielders will be used in the playoffs.
2. Each player must play at least 3 full innings per 6 inning game.
3. A player may not sit out 2 consecutive innings.
Base Running
1. MANDATORY NO CONTACT RULE (Slide or Surrender): If a runner does not slide and makes contact with a player making the play, the runner will be declared out.
2. Head first slides will not be permitted unless a runner is returning to a base. Head first slides will result in the runner being declared out.
3. Runners may not take a lead from any base. The runner cannot leave the base until the ball crosses home plate. For the 1st offense, a team warning will be issued. Subsequent offenses will result in the runner being declared out. Any base runner attempting to steal a base when not allowed will be considered in play and subject to being tagged out.
4. A courtesy runner for the catcher, to speed up play, is allowable when there are two outs. The runner being substituted for must be the starting catcher for the subsequent half-inning. The courtesy runner will be the batter in the order who made the previous out.
5. A runner that walks may not steal 2nd base until the next pitch to a new batter crosses home plate.
6. Sliding into first base will not be permitted. Runners sliding into first base (from home) will be declared out.
7. Stealing of home is not permitted. Runners on 3rd base may only advance home by the following: a. A hit ball; a bunt; batter hit by pitch or a walk with bases loaded; tagging up on a fly ball or a base awarded on an overthrow (other than a steal).
8. Runners are not permitted to steal on the throw back to the pitcher.
9. If, in an attempt to throw out the base runner stealing second or third, the ball is overthrown, the play will be considered dead and complete and the runners may not advance to the next base beyond the stolen base.
10. If a ball is thrown out of bounds (overthrown) on a play, the ball will be declared dead and runners will advance to the base to which they were running and be awarded one additional base.
11. Runners may not advance beyond the base they are approaching once the ball is controlled in the infield.
Protective Equipment and Safety
1. Catchers must wear a protective cup, catcher’s mask with throat protector, chest protector and shin pads.
2. Any player warming up a pitcher, whether on the field or on the sidelines, must wear a catcher’s mask.
3. One on deck batter is permitted. This batter must remain behind the batting cage, wear a helmet and will not swing a bat near the dugout.
4. All players are required to wear protective cups during practice and games.
5. All batters and base runners must wear helmets during practice and games.
6. All players must remain seated on the bench when not in the field, on the bases or at bat.
Miscellaneous
1. Only Managers, coaches, players, umpires and League officials are permitted in the dugout during a game.
2. Only a Manager may question an umpire’s ruling. The Manager shall not allow any coaches, players or parents to question or harass an umpire.
3. Protests are not allowed during the regular season. During the playoffs, protests are allowed for rule interpretations only. The umpire and Commissioner (or his designee) will resolve the protest before play resumes. Judgment calls are not subject to protest.
4. Players may not wear any jewelry or non-baseball headwear. Medical or religious tags or medallions can be worn if taped to a player’s body.
5. Base coaches must be team coaches. Players are not permitted to coach at first and third base. Base coaches must stay within the base coach area and may not touch runners while a ball is in play. Touching a runner while a ball is in play will result in the runner being declared out.
Call Up Players Program for Major League
1. The call up program allows a short-handed Majors team to play with a full team and exposes younger players to a higher level of play. As such, calling up a player should not be used as a mechanism to improve a team. The league commissioner will identify a pool of highly-skilled 10 year-old players that will be available for temporary use by short-handed teams. This list will be distributed to the managers of the higher league. Managers may call up a player or
2. Call up players may NOT pitch
3. Call up players must bat at the bottom of the batting order
4. Call up players may only play three innings in the infield, including catcher
5. Call up players can’t play more than a rostered player
6. Call-up players are permitted in the playoffs only to avoid forfeits or to reach the minimum of (9) players. A team may only call up the same player twice during the playoffs. The playing time rules for call up players are the same as in the regular season.
7. Uniforms – kids will wear their Minors uniform.
Borrowing players from other Minor League Teams
1. Borrowing a player from another minor league team to field a team of 9 players is permitted during the regular season only.
2. The borrowed player may play any position except pitcher.
3. The borrowed player may only play a maximum of 3 innings in the infield. Playing catcher is considered an infield position.
4. The borrowed player must be placed last in the batting order.
5. If a team starts with a borrowed player and a regular player of the team appears after the game has started the borrowed player must be removed from the game immediately.
6. The umpire will not enforce this policy.
Playing with less than 9 players
1. A team may play with 8 players. If a team does not have 8 players to start the game the game with be declared a forfeit.
2. If a team starts with at least 8 players and because of injury or illness ends up with less than 8 players the game may continue.
3. If a team plays with 8 players there will be no automatic out for a missing player in the 9 hole position.
4. The same rules regarding 8 players will be used in the playoffs.
2016 MINOR BOYS
RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Babe Ruth Baseball (Cal Ripken Division) rules apply unless specifically superseded in this document.
Game Information
1. Games will consist of 6 innings. During the regular season, there will be no extra innings in case of a tie and tie games will not be replayed. Games will start promptly at 6:00 PM on weeknights. Saturday games will start promptly at the times indicated in the master game schedule. The visiting team will have the field for practice fifty (50) minutes before game time and the home team will have the field for practice thirty (30) minutes before game time. The home team must exit the field ten (10) minutes prior to game time to allow for field prep.
2. In April, games will end by 7:45 PM. In May, regular season games will end by 8:00 PM and playoff games will be suspended at 8:15 PM. In June, playoff games will be suspended at 8:30 PM. This rule applies to weeknight games only. The umpire may call the game earlier at his or her discretion, should they feel that it is too dark to safely continue play. If the end or suspend time is reached while a player is at bat, the player can finish his at bat.
3. In the event a playoff game is suspended due to weather or darkness, the game will continue the following day. Teams will not be permitted to play their next playoff game until the suspended game is completed. Lineups for suspended games are frozen. A player can not be added into the lineup if the player missed the suspended game unless the player is playing for an original player that can not make the continued game.
4. The home team will occupy the first base dugout and are responsible to rake the field at the end of the game and return all equipment to the shed. Visiting team will occupy the third base dugout and will prepare the field to play (rake, line, place bases)
5. During the regular season, if either team is ahead by 10 or more runs after 4 ½ innings, the game should continue per #2 above without the score being kept.
Pitching
1. A pitching “week” runs Monday through Sunday.
2. Pitchers must pitch from the pitching rubber.
3. A pitcher can pitch a maximum of 2 consecutive innings per game and 6 innings per week. A single pitch thrown in an inning counts as an inning pitched. Besides the maximum 2 consecutive innings, pitchers must be removed when said pitcher reaches the limit of 60 pitches in those two innings. If the pitcher reaches his limit during an at bat, he may finish that at bat and then be removed. Each team will be reasonable to count the number of pitches and confirm after each inning with the other team on number of pitches.
4. If a pitcher pitches more than 30 pitches in a game, he must rest one calendar day before pitching again. Example: 45 pitches on Thursday, he can’t pitch until Saturday.
5. Pitchers are limited to 5 warm-up pitches. The 5th pitch can be a throw down to 2nd base.
6. A manager or coach is permitted to make one trip to the mound in the same inning to the same pitcher. On the second trip in the same inning to the same pitcher, that pitcher must be removed. Trips for injuries do not count as long as the umpire is notified. A trip to the mound for a pitching change is not charged to the new pitcher.
7. If a pitcher is removed from the mound, the pitcher may not return to the game to pitch.
8. Balks will not be enforced.
9. Intentional walks will not be permitted.
10. Catchers do not have to catch a third strike, unless it is a foul tip.
Batting
1. The batting order shall consist of the entire team and remain consistent for the whole game.
2. Late arriving players and guest players must be placed in the last position in the batting order.
3. Bunting and fake bunts are permitted. Once a batter squares to bunt, he must either bunt or fake bunt but cannot slap bunt or take a full swing. Slap bunts or full swings after a batter squares to bunt will result in the batter being declared out.
4. A maximum of 5 runs can be scored per inning. Unlimited runs can be scored in the 6th inning and any extra playoff innings.
5. The infield fly rule will not be enforced.
Fielding
1. 4 outfielders can be used during the regular season. 3 outfielders will be used in the playoffs.
2. Each player must play at least 3 full innings per 6 inning game.
3. A player may not sit out 2 consecutive innings.
Base Running
1. MANDATORY NO CONTACT RULE (Slide or Surrender): If a runner does not slide and makes contact with a player making the play, the runner will be declared out.
2. Head first slides will not be permitted unless a runner is returning to a base. Head first slides will result in the runner being declared out.
3. Runners may not take a lead from any base. The runner cannot leave the base until the ball crosses home plate. For the 1st offense, a team warning will be issued. Subsequent offenses will result in the runner being declared out. Any base runner attempting to steal a base when not allowed will be considered in play and subject to being tagged out.
4. A courtesy runner for the catcher, to speed up play, is allowable when there are two outs. The runner being substituted for must be the starting catcher for the subsequent half-inning. The courtesy runner will be the batter in the order who made the previous out.
5. A runner that walks may not steal 2nd base until the next pitch to a new batter crosses home plate.
6. Sliding into first base will not be permitted. Runners sliding into first base (from home) will be declared out.
7. Stealing of home is not permitted. Runners on 3rd base may only advance home by the following: a. A hit ball; a bunt; batter hit by pitch or a walk with bases loaded; tagging up on a fly ball or a base awarded on an overthrow (other than a steal).
8. Runners are not permitted to steal on the throw back to the pitcher.
9. If, in an attempt to throw out the base runner stealing second or third, the ball is overthrown, the play will be considered dead and complete and the runners may not advance to the next base beyond the stolen base.
10. If a ball is thrown out of bounds (overthrown) on a play, the ball will be declared dead and runners will advance to the base to which they were running and be awarded one additional base.
11. Runners may not advance beyond the base they are approaching once the ball is controlled in the infield.
Protective Equipment and Safety
1. Catchers must wear a protective cup, catcher’s mask with throat protector, chest protector and shin pads.
2. Any player warming up a pitcher, whether on the field or on the sidelines, must wear a catcher’s mask.
3. One on deck batter is permitted. This batter must remain behind the batting cage, wear a helmet and will not swing a bat near the dugout.
4. All players are required to wear protective cups during practice and games.
5. All batters and base runners must wear helmets during practice and games.
6. All players must remain seated on the bench when not in the field, on the bases or at bat.
Miscellaneous
1. Only Managers, coaches, players, umpires and League officials are permitted in the dugout during a game.
2. Only a Manager may question an umpire’s ruling. The Manager shall not allow any coaches, players or parents to question or harass an umpire.
3. Protests are not allowed during the regular season. During the playoffs, protests are allowed for rule interpretations only. The umpire and Commissioner (or his designee) will resolve the protest before play resumes. Judgment calls are not subject to protest.
4. Players may not wear any jewelry or non-baseball headwear. Medical or religious tags or medallions can be worn if taped to a player’s body.
5. Base coaches must be team coaches. Players are not permitted to coach at first and third base. Base coaches must stay within the base coach area and may not touch runners while a ball is in play. Touching a runner while a ball is in play will result in the runner being declared out.
Call Up Players Program for Major League
1. The call up program allows a short-handed Majors team to play with a full team and exposes younger players to a higher level of play. As such, calling up a player should not be used as a mechanism to improve a team. The league commissioner will identify a pool of highly-skilled 10 year-old players that will be available for temporary use by short-handed teams. This list will be distributed to the managers of the higher league. Managers may call up a player or
2. Call up players may NOT pitch
3. Call up players must bat at the bottom of the batting order
4. Call up players may only play three innings in the infield, including catcher
5. Call up players can’t play more than a rostered player
6. Call-up players are permitted in the playoffs only to avoid forfeits or to reach the minimum of (9) players. A team may only call up the same player twice during the playoffs. The playing time rules for call up players are the same as in the regular season.
7. Uniforms – kids will wear their Minors uniform.
Borrowing players from other Minor League Teams
1. Borrowing a player from another minor league team to field a team of 9 players is permitted during the regular season only.
2. The borrowed player may play any position except pitcher.
3. The borrowed player may only play a maximum of 3 innings in the infield. Playing catcher is considered an infield position.
4. The borrowed player must be placed last in the batting order.
5. If a team starts with a borrowed player and a regular player of the team appears after the game has started the borrowed player must be removed from the game immediately.
6. The umpire will not enforce this policy.
Playing with less than 9 players
1. A team may play with 8 players. If a team does not have 8 players to start the game the game with be declared a forfeit.
2. If a team starts with at least 8 players and because of injury or illness ends up with less than 8 players the game may continue.
3. If a team plays with 8 players there will be no automatic out for a missing player in the 9 hole position.
4. The same rules regarding 8 players will be used in the playoffs.
