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League Rules and Regulations
Leon County Youth Association Boundary Guidelines
A parent may sign their child up within the following boundary guidelines
· Place of residence – school district
· Where the child attends school – if not within the residence school district
· If a player lives in one school district but attends school in another school district, they are eligible to signup with either affiliate. Once a decision has been made on where to play, a player must complete the current age division with that affiliate. Once the current age division has been completed, only then will the player be eligible to transfer to the other boundary affiliate.
Roster Size for League Play
Maximum roster size shall be no more than 13 player and no fewer than 9. Each team that advances to post season play may add 3 pickup players following the local qualification tournament.
Coaching Sign Up – Selection
A head coach will be selected by the local board of directors through a coaching signup prior to the player signups for each team. Coaches need to be selected based on prior coaching status and performance. If it is anticipated that two or more teams will be formed in an age division, the board will need to name two head coaches. The head coach with the highest coaching status and performance from the previous year will be Team 1 and selected to coach if only one team is formed.
Per TTA rules, the kid belonging to the person selected as head coach is automatically protected. Because of this rule stipulation, the head coach’s kid is automatically on the team regardless of signup order. If two head coaches were selected but only one team is formed, the kid belonging to the coach for team 2 will be inserted #1 in the signup order, regardless of signup order. All assistant coaches’ kids must go through the player signup guidelines and rules as listed, meaning that an assistant coach’s kid is not automatically on a team and must be available per the rules on signups and draft process.
New - Effective based on coaching status from the 2019 season - If a coach coaches out of division where they do not have a kid playing on a team, or if a coach coaches in an age division above where they have a kid playing, such coach will have no rights to returning players or coaching seniority status from that team. Only coach's coaching a roster where they have a kid playing, in the second or subsequent years in the same age division will be allowed rights to returning players being available per the player retention rules.
Player Sign Up Guidelines
See Current TTA Rules
Player Sign Ups
See Current TTA Rules
Sibling Rule
See Current TTA Rules
Coaching Status and Performance Ranking
Coaches will be given a coaching status and performance ranking by the local board following the coaching signup and prior to the selection of coaches for each team. Coaching status will be given based on the previous year coaching status, the ranking is as follows:
- 1. Head coach remaining in an age division
- 2. Assistant coach remaining in an age division
- 3. Head coach moving into a new age division
- 4. Assistant coach moving into a new age division
- 5. Did not coach
Past performance of a coach, based on their service as a volunteer coach, ability to develop skills necessary to aid in player development, are some of the areas the local board needs to assess when selecting coaches. The higher ranked coach based on both previous coaching status and past performance will be considered by the board when selecting coaches.
New - Effective based on coaching status from the 2019 season - If a coach coaches out of division where they do not have a kid playing on a team, or if a coach coaches in an age division above where they have a kid playing, such coach will have no rights to returning players or coaching seniority status from that team. Only coach's coaching a roster where they have a kid playing, in the second or subsequent years in the same age division will be allowed rights to returning players being available per the player retention rules.
TTA Protected Player Rule (frequently asked questions answered)
· Each coach may name 1 or up to 3 protected players their first year in an age division
· The head coach’s kid or kids are automatically protected per TTA rules
· Protected players lose their protection once they move into a new age division, the head coach must re-establish their protected players when moving into a new division
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Drafting Guidelines
See Current TTA Rules
Season Start Dates
Season start and end dates to be determined by current TTA tournament dates
Qualification Tournaments
The county board of directors will meet after league signup dates to allocate and set dates for all affiliated age groups within the association. Once dates have been established, there will be a one week extension for any conflicts to be resolved. After this extension, umpires will be booked and no changes to the dates will be made unless the county board finds it unavoidable. The dates will not be changed for players or coaches being unavailable or not having enough players to play. Teams will be allowed to pull out of the tournament bracket up to one week out from the start date without penalty. After such time has elapsed, the host town will pay umpire fees for any bracket games that are forfeited. With all divisions that require pitch count totals, forfeit games will not be played. All other divisions, the choice to play a forfeit game will be left up to the affected coach that did not forfeit the game.
The number of teams that advance to the TTA district tournaments will be determined by the area state director. If a qualifying team cannot advance, that coach will need to pull out prior to certification of the teams following the local qualification tournament. We will then offer the playoff spot to the team that finished next in qualification order, unless deemed impractical by the area state director.
LCYA Local Ground Rules
League Alignment
League age – see current TTA rulebook for age dates
Non-competitive T-ball Girls & Boys – 4 & Under
T-ball Girls & Boys – 6 & Under
Machine Pitch Girls & Boys – 8 & Under
Girls & Boys 10 & Under
Girls & Boys 12 & Under
Boys 14 & Under
Girls 15 & Under
League Time Limits and Innings for Local League Play - Tournament Play may be different (see TTA rules)
Age Division Girls Time Girls Innings Boys Time Boys Innings
4U 1:30 3 1:30 3
6U` 1:30 5 1:30 5
8U 1:30 6 1:30 6
10U 1:30 6 2:00 6
12U 1:30 6 2:00 6
14U N/A N/A 2:00 7
15U 1:30 6 N/A N/A
Run Limits
6U & 8U - Maximum of 7 runs or 3 outs per inning
· 15 run lead after 3.5 (Home team ahead) or 4 innings
· 8 run lead after 4.5 (Home team ahead) or 5 innings
6 Inning Games – 10 run lead after 3.5 (Home team ahead) or 4 innings
7 Inning Games – 10 run lead after 4.5 (Home team ahead) or 5 innings
**An inning must be completed after it has started unless run rule – A new inning starts after the 3rd out is recorded in the previous inning
League Rules and Regulations
1. Forfeit time will be 15 minutes after the scheduled game time unless the game before runs over
2. The home team will be responsible for having the field ready to play
3. All postponed or rainout games need to be rescheduled through the League President
4. Substitutions in all league games will be in accordance with LCYA rules
5. All tournament games will be played in accordance with TTA rules for all affiliated ages
6. All managers shall comply with LCYA and/or TTA rules in all games
7. The local chapters will have, on file, a copy of each player’s birth certificate to verify age eligibility and vital records for rosters. Failure of a parent to provide such records will result in a player being ineligible to play
8. Each team manager will be responsible for any player or parent associated with their team. Everyone will be expected to display good conduct and behavior. Should a problem arise from a player or fan acting in an un-sportsman like manner, the umpire or league officials will have the following authority:
a. Umpire or league official shall warn the manager
b. Umpire or league official shall remove the fan or player from the game or complex and explain the next offense will result in a forfeit
c. Any fan or player ejected needs to be reported to the League President for review or further disciplinary action if necessary
d. There will be zero tolerance and no warning on abusive or profane language by any person or player involved in any game. Result will be immediate removal from the sports complex. Any violation needs to be reported to the League President for review or further disciplinary action if necessary
9. No person except players, allowed number of coaches by rule, officials and official game record keepers will be allowed on the field or in the dugout area during a game
10. A facemask must be worn by anyone under the age of 18 when warming up a pitcher
11. A team unable to start the game with the required number of players shall forfeit the game, The required number to start a game is 9. Exception will be under the shorthanded rule in the TTA rulebook. League game can be played and are encouraged to be played, even if the game is a forfeit
12. The home team will be the official book keeper and pitch counter during league games. Both coaches will sign the records indicating their agreement following the game
13. If an ineligible player participates in a game in any capacity, the game shall be a forfeit
14. All affiliated age divisions will play by LCYA rules, TTA rules, USA/ASA rules
15. Non-competitive t-ball shall play under LCYA rules
16. Umpires during league play shall be the best available in your area and may be under 18 (high school age) for league play only. It is recommended that all umpires attend a pre-season umpire clinic to certify TTA prior to calling games. Tournament umpires will be assigned by League President or area TTA State Director
17. It will be at the team manager’s discretion as to what constitutes disciplinary action for his/her players, however, the manager must be unbiased and fair in their decision to administer disciplinary action.
a. First offense – Give a warning to the player and players parent(s) and clearly explain the action you will take if a second offense occurs
b. Second offense – Depending on the severity of the offense, a manager may suspend a player. All suspensions and length of suspensions need approval by the Local and County League Presidents.
18. Mandatory Play Rule - League Games Only - All players must play 3 consecutive outs in the field and have at least 1 at bat during each league game the player attends. Both do not have to occur in the same inning, just at some point during the game both have to occur.
a. Exceptions
i. Tournament play, LCYA or TTA. All tournaments will be under TTA rules
ii. Short games – games shortened by run rule or weather, where the game is complete based on innings completed and will not be finished. If the game is resumed at a later date, all players will be expected to participate.
iii. Player being disciplined under rule #17 – the team manager will need to notify the Umpire and opposing coach.
iv. Injury to a player
b. Penalty – if all plyers are not played in a completed full game, the opposing coach will notify their local league President and County President for disciplinary action. Disciplinary action will be at minimum a one game suspension up to the entire season/post season depending on repeat offenses.
19. Unlimited Substitutions – League Games Only
a. Allows you to re-enter starters and substitutes unlimited times throughout a game. The starter and sub can only sub in and out for each other and remain in the same batting slot in the book. All starters and subs must qualify under rule #18 before the end of the game.
b. The two players substituting for each other can’t be in the field at the same time or bat in the same inning unless the offensive team bats through the batting order more than once in one inning.
c. If you sub a 3rd player in a batting slot, the starter will be ineligible to re-enter the game (league games only)
d. Once a player has reached base, you may not sub for that player while on base
(league games only) unless you are using the courtesy runner rule in the TTA rule book. Normal substitutions in league games while on offense must take place prior to an at bat or after a player has been put out or score. Penalty – Pitcher removed from the game
20. Batting The Lineup – League Games Only
a. A manager may choose to bat their teams entire lineup during league play
b. This action must be declared prior to the game and may not be changed once the game has started
c. When you use this option, all players are entered in the game. Defensive substitutions may take place any time during the game since all players are entered in the lineup.
d. All players must still qualify under rule #18
e. If a player is removed from the game at any point for any reason, an out will be calculated when that batting slot comes up
21. Injury Substitutions – League Games Only
a. If during a game you have a player get injured and you have already used all available subs, you may move a sub that has already been entered in the game by moving that sub from their batting slot to the injured players slot.
b. Prior to moving the sub to the injured players slot, you must first re-enter the starter
c. The injured player may not return to the game
d. If you are batting your lineup and have an injury where a player has to come out, you will just record an out when the injured players batting slot comes up
22. There is no slide rule, however, if the player chooses not to slide and there is a collision, the runner will be called out. If determined by the Umpire that the contact was malicious in intent, the runner will be ejected. Safety of the players will be the right call and Umpire judgment calls cannot be protested
Non-Competitive T-Ball Rules
Conduct
a. There will be at least one coach in the dugout to maintain order
b. If a player is not batting or playing in the field, then he or she shall remain in the dugout
Playing Field
a. An arc measuring 10 feet from the tip of home plate from foul line to foul line. This arc will be used to determine fair or foul when hitting from the tee
b. The distance between all bases shall be 60 feet
c. A 6 foot circle shall be marked for the pitchers position 38 feet from the tip of home plate. The pitcher shall have both feet inside the pitchers circle prior to the ball being hit and have control of the ball on a defensive play inside of the circle before time can be called on the field
d. There shall be chalk lines marked between 1st & 2nd, 2nd & 3rd, 3rd & home. When time is called, runners behind the line shall return to the previously held base unless forced to advance
e. The grass line between the outfield and infield shall distinguish between outfield and infield. Outfielders shall remain in the outfield prior to the ball being hit
Batting
a. Teams will bat their entire lineup. When the last batter hits the ball, an out on the batter/runner or a defensive play that stops the advance on the runner(s) will be the end of the half inning
b. Each batter will be allowed 5 swings per at bat
c. All batters shall wear protective head gear
d. Batters will receive a warning for slinging the bat on the first offense, then called out thereafter
e. The ball shall not be ruled in play if it does not cross the 10 foot semi-circle
f. There will be no outs recorded, all players in the batting lineup will bat
g. If a player is injured just move to the next batter and keep playing
In the Field
a. There will be a maximum of 10 players on defense
b. No catcher will be used
c. There will be 5 outfielders behind the infield/outfield grass
Base Runners and Fielding
a. Runners may not advance if the ball is not hit outside the 10 foot arc
b. Runners will be called out if they run outside of the 3 foot area to avoid a tag
c. Two runners may not occupy the same base, If this happens and time has been called, the lead runner shall be safe
d. All infielders must make an attempt to record an out on a cleanly fielded infield hit before returning the ball to the pitching circle. If no attempt is made, all runners will advance one base
e. If the ball is overthrown on an attempted play to a base, then the ball shall be ruled dead and runners may not advance (this is to encourage the defense to attempt to make a play without penalty) If a player throws the ball back to the circle on a cleanly fielded infield hit, the all runners shall be awarded one base after time has been called
f. A runner must return to the dugout after being put out, after 5 swings
Control of Playing Action
a. The ball shall be ruled dead and time called when a player has control of the ball and both feet in the pitching circle
b. Three coaches will be allowed to coach on the field when their team is on defense, from behind the outfield grass line. When on offense, one coach will place the ball on the tee and instruct the batter while the other two coaches, coach the bases
c. The coaches will serve as umpires. The two base coaches will call outs. It is recommended that if a player gets put out, to send them back to the dugout. The players need to understand and learn the game
General Rules
a. There will be no official score book, only a batting order
b. Baseballs will be safe-soft baseballs or softballs. Home team will provide the game balls
c. Each team will provide their own batting tee
Each team will be invited to compete in a year end tournament where each team member on all teams will receive individual awards
