Tri-County Baseball///Softball Association Rules

THIS LIST OF RULES CAN BE DOWNLOADED ON THE HANDOUTS LINK ON THIS SITE


A.General Rules

1...Alcoholic beverages will not be permitted at any time on practice and / or playing fields.

2. Smoking will not be permitted on playing fields.

3. Any spectator, coach, or player engaged in profane, rude or threatening speech, gestures or actions are subject to ejection by the umpires or a member of the board of directors of either Tri-County or Local affiliates, and subject to disciplinary action by the Tri-County board.


B.Standing Rules

1. TTAB/TTAS Rules will govern the current season along with the following Tri-County Rules. Each team manager should have a copy of the TTAB/TTAS rules and a copy of the Tri-County Rules. A copy of the ASA or MLB rules that may apply is also recommended.

2. 8U machine pitch will have one hand movement to load the pitching machine. The coach may not change the hand movement for different batters. Infraction results in removal of coach from the field. No warnings given. Time limit of 1 1/2 hour game.

3. In Midget Girls (Ages 10 & Under) all TTAS/ASA rules apply at the time the ball is put into play. After the 7th run is scored and normal play is stopped and the half inning will be complete.

4. There will be no tie ball games. All Games will be played until a winner is determined, however no game will last longer than 2hrs below the junior level. Games ending in a tie due to the time constraint will be treated as a suspended game. Games will finish as necessary to determine a league championship.

5. Midget boys (10 and under) and midget girls (10 and under) will play 1hr and 45 minute games or 6 innings whichever comes first, after the time limit has expired the inning will be completed.

6. Freshman Boys (12 and Under)will play 1 hr and 45 minute games or 6 innings whichever comes first, after the time limit has expired the inning will be completed.

7. Tri-County will allow a team to start a game and finish with a minimum of 8 players with the following provision: The team with 8 players receives an out each time the 9th player would bat. When the 9th player arrives he/she will be allowed to enter the game as the 9th batter only. This does not apply to tournament play.

8. Every child (12-yrs and under) playing on a Tri-County Baseball or Softball team should have reasonable playing time provided he/she has attended practice regularly, has no disciplinary actions pending and the game is of reasonable length.

9. Team managers are responsible for collecting copies of birth certificates and verifying the ages of all their players.

10. It is the responsibility of the host town to provide the Tri-County web Site with the game results. This site address is http://www. leaguelineup.com/tricounty-youth (CLICK ON THE REPORT A SCORE LINK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PAGE). It is recommended that game results be reported to your local newspaper.

11. It is the responsibility of the home team to furnish the official score keeper for the game.

12. All teams must play everyone in their division an equal number of contests.

13. Leagues with two divisions may play both division and non-division games. The division champion will be the team with the best record within their division. In case of a tie, there will be a single playoff contest in order to determine a divisional champion. If there is a three way tie after regular season play, a three way coin flip will determine the team with the bye that will advance to playoff championship. The remaining two teams will play and winner will advance to championship.

14. If coaches’ agreement can not be reached on game time rescheduling, league presidents from each town will reschedule the game. If they can not reach an agreement then the Tri-County President will set a time and place for the game. (Game Time Is Forfeit Time)

15. A player shall remain the property of the same team until age eligibility shall move him/her to the next division.

Exceptions to the rule are:

A. Player must be released from their team by their coach at the request of their parent or guardian. Parent or guardian must appear before the local board to obtain release approval.

B. Local board must report all releases to the Tri-County board before local draft.

C. If a returning team has more than 8 returning players in the oldest age group, the coach has the discretion as to which player will be released back to the draft in an attempt to meet TTAB-TTAS guidelines.

15. Drafting procedures will be decided by local boards. A Tri-County delegate from a town other than the one involved in the draft must be present for all local drafts.

16. All tournament pick-up players will be selected from their respective division for tournament play. That means that a league with two divisions can pick from their division only.

17. In 6U Boys and Girls, 8U Boys and Girls, and 10U Boys and Girls there will be a drop dead after 7 runs per inning. If the game is unreachable for the home team after 31/2 innings the home team WILL get to bat before the game is called for a run rule.

12U Boys and 12U Girls as well as 15U Boys and 15U girls will not have a run per inning rule in Tri County. 

Field set up: The field will be set up with the pitchers mound for boys and girls at 35'. There will be a 10' circle drawn around the mound. There will be half way marks between 1st and 2nd base and 2nd and 3rd base. There will be a batters arc drawn from the point of home plate to each foul line 5' in front of home plate.

Bats: Any T-Ball Bat or a bat that is 2 1/4" diameter and not longer than 33" may be used.

Ball: T-ball

Game Length: 5 innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes will be a complete game. A game will be called if a team reaches a lead of 15 runs after 3 innings or 10 runs after four innings. There is a maximum of 7 runs per team per inning.

Umpires: Only one Umpire is required for 6U Tri County Ball. The Umpire will call time after every hit ball when the LEAD RUNNER has stopped.

Catchers: All catchers will wear the proper catchers equipment. The catcher must be in the squat position during the pitch.

Batters: All batters must wear a batting helmet. Girls must wear a face mask and a chin strap on their helmet. The entire lineup will bat before batter 1 will bat a second time.

Pitcher: The offensive player playing pitcher must remain behind the pitchers mound until the ball is pitched.

Pitch:   Machine Pitch

Pitching Coach: The pitching coach MAY COACH. The pitching coach can pitch from any where as long as they have one foot inside of the pitching circle. They do not have to be on the mound.

Ball out of play: If the ball is hit in play and the ball is thrown out of play by the defense then the umpire will call DEAD BALL and award all runners the next base. ( Out of play is over a fence, in a hole, in a dugout, anything agreed upon prior to the game)

Rover: On defense a team may play 10 defensive players. A rover may be played in the OUTFIELD not the infield. 

Minimum amount of players: a game may be played with 8 players with the agreement of the 9th batters position is an out.

Live ball: If the ball is live and a coach assist a player running the umpire will call DEAD BALL and the runner will be declared out. All other runners will be awarded their last base touched. There is no lead off. If a player is off the base or leaves the base early and the ball is hit, the umpire will call DEAD BALL and the runner who left early will be declared out. The batter will be awarded first base and all other runners will remain on their bases. (Exception if there is a runner on 1st they will move to 2nd to allow the batter 1st base).