Minors Baseball Rules 2013
A. AGE:
Less than 11 years old on May 1, 2013
A player must be at the game before the first pitch of the third inning to be eligible
to play in that game. However, if there are less than 9 players an exception will be
made.
B.
MINOR LEAGUE PROGRAM:
(1) There will be one conference consisting of 9 teams. Each team will play a regular
season schedule. Team standings will be used to determine team position during the
playoffs.
(2) Playoffs will be conducted as follows:
All teams will make the playoffs. Single elimination until 2 teams are left.
(3) Championship games will be the best two out of three.
1.1st game - better regular season record team is home.
2. 2nd game - better regular season record team is visitor.
3. 3rd game - (if necessary) better regular season record is home.
C. UMPIRES:
(1) One parent, one youth or two youths (if no umpire is available for a game, then the coaches or a mutually agreed upon parent will umpire when their team is in the field - from behind the mound) will constitute the umpiring team for all games. The umpire cannot umpire a game in which his child plays or sibling plays unless both coaches agree to allow.
(2) The umpires assigned by the club are in complete charge of the games. Once a game begins, the game is completely in the hands of the umpire.
(3) The umpire has the authority to:
(a) Eject any player or coach who persist in arguing a call and/or uses profane language directed at the umpire, manager, coach or other players. The use of profane language is an automatic ejection.
(b) Eject any player or coach for flagrant unsportsman-like conduct such as fighting or throwing equipment or committing intentional over aggressive acts that could injure another player.
(c) Terminate any game in which a manager, coach, or parents persists in arguing a call. If the manager does not comply, the umpire will end the game and refer the matter to the Minor League Commissioner.
(d) Render a forfeit if a team cannot field at least 8 players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time for any game.
D. GAME LIMITS:
Each league game will be 6 innings of duration, or played to a two-hour limit.
(Playoff games will not have a time limit on them).
No inning will start after the expiration of the two-hour time limit (Championship games excluded.) (Any inning in progress will continue to its conclusion unless terminated by the umpire due to weather conditions or darkness).
Games will begin promptly at the scheduled times. Teams should be at the assigned fields AT LEAST one half hour prior to starting time. Each team will be allowed infield practice for one half of the time interval between the end of the previous game and the scheduled starting time of their games.
A game and score is official after the completion of 3 1/2 innings, with the home team leading, or 4 innings with the visiting team ahead (Championship games excluded). Losing team must have had 4 complete turns at bat. The score of an official game terminated
before the completion of six innings reverts to the score of the last complete inning.
Partial (incomplete) games or rainouts will be resumed from the point of play stoppage.
Official games that end in a tie after 6 innings, but where the two-hour time has not
expired, will continue until the time has run out. Games ending in a tie at the end of 6 innings will be recorded as "Ties". No replay or continuation will take place (Championship games will continue until there is a winner).
E. CANCELLATION:
Game cancellations will be at the discretion of both the managers. The decision should be at least one hour prior to game time.
Generally, games will be cancelled only in extreme weather conditions, (i.e., heavy rains or flooding). Threatening weather and/or damp grounds are not sufficient cause for
cancellations.
Games in progress may be "delayed" by the umpire. After a reasonable delay, games may be terminated (if official) or suspended (if unofficial), at the discretion of the umpire, based on existing conditions. Visible lightning causes immediate termination or suspension, as appropriate.
If an entire day's slate of games is cancelled, the Commissioner will reschedule a full replay program, probably pre-empting team practice and possibly requiring the playing of Sunday afternoon games.
Be prepared for Sunday or weeknight games as needed due to rainouts. Makeup games take priority over practice.
F. GAME RULES:
Basic Little league rules will be observed,
INCLUDING THE INFIELD FLY RULE, with the following exceptions:
NO BALKS
BUNTING - No Swinging Bunts. An individual player is allowed to bunt in just one at bat per game, unless both coaches agree to special circumstances prior to the start of the game.
NO APPEALS - The umpire will call a runner out for missing a base or failing to tag up (leaving early) on a fly ball caught by a fielder, without the necessity of an appeal.
INTENTIONAL WALKS ARE NOT ALLOWED
BATTING - Batting order: A rotating batting order will be used. If 12 players are listed in the line-up the batting order will go from #1 - #12 then back to #1. Batting orders must be exchanged between managers at home plate before the game. Any player reporting late must be added as the last batter in the rotation. If a player arrives after 2 full innings have been played he cannot play in the game. If a defensive player is injured and removed from the field, the manager will have one inning (before his team takes the field n the next inning) to decide whether the player is able to resume. If unable to resume, the player's spot in the batting order will be skipped.
NINE BATTER RULE: There will be a maximum of 9 batters in any half inning, providing three outs have not occurred before the 9th batter comes to the plate.
If the 9th batter makes contact with the ball, play continues and the runner will advance until an "out" is made or until the ball is "dead" or "out of play" or until the catcher gains possession of the ball.
The nine batter rule does not apply to the 6th inning.
**When the 9th batter is up, it will be as if there are two (2) outs regardless, although, if there is a runner on third and the batter grounds out to the infield, the run will count.
G. COACHING:
Only one coach is allowed per coaching box. Any player (base runner) touched by a Coach or
manager when the ball is in play is declared out and the ball is dead. In order for a
manager or coach to go to the mound, they must first request and receive a "time-out"
from the umpire for that purpose. The umpire will limit the duration of the visit. There is
a two-visit limit to the mound, per pitcher, per inning. The third visit will result in the
removal of the pitcher.
Coaches are asked not to argue calls with the umpire so as to set an example for the
players. If a coach feels the umpire is performing inadequately, the coach should
talk privately to that umpire in between innings in a non-confrontational manner.
H. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
Players must wear protective batting helmets when "at bat" or waiting On-deck to bat (at
London Woods in the on deck area - at Woodlands there will be no on-deck batter) .
. All players on base must wear a protective running helmet. A player losing his or her
helmet while running the bases must stop at the next base. If overrun by a subsequent
runner, the subsequent runner is out.
. All players must wear a protective cup.
. All players with the exception of those on the field or at bat must remain behind the
dugout fences.
. No spectators, players or coaches will be permitted to stay behind the home plate
backstop.
. Players shall not wear jewelry during the game or during practices.
. Players shall not throw equipment. Such players are subject to ejection from the game
by the umpire.
. Players shall not wear shorts during practice or games.
. A player must slide into 2nd, 3rd, or home, whenever in the umpire's opinion, a play is
close.
. Obstruction or interference will be called as appropriate. Fielders not in possession of
the ball must make way for base runners. Likewise, base runners must evade batted balls
that have not yet reached a fielder.
Dugout Rule- Only 1 coach and 1 manager will be permitted in each dugout. If a coach
cannot make the game, it is up to the head coach to designate a replacement coach.
No parents, scorekeepers, children or batboys will be allowed in dugouts at any time.
I. GAME RECORDS
A completed game report form for each game must be completed and retained by each
manager. Game record forms should be signed by the umpire for that game.
All players first and last names should be included in the box score details.
Game results and team standings will be available from the League Commissioner upon
request. This info will be e-mailed to all the Head Coaches weekly by the League
Commissioner.
Managers are encouraged to rotate players within the batting order and out in the field
from game to game. All players must play at least one inning in an infield position during
the game.
J. BATTING OUT OF ORDER:
Players are required to bat in order for the entire game. Players discovered batting out of
order will be dealt with as follows:
1. If improper batter is discovered before completing time at bat, improper batter may be
replaced by proper batter, who inherits the existing count.
2. If improper batter is discovered after completing time at bat and before the first pitch is thrown to the subsequent batter, the following applies:
a. Any hits, walks, RBI's, base runners advancing, etc., are nullified.
b. Players whose turn it was to bat is called out.
a. Any hits, walks, RBI's, base runners advancing, etc., are nullified.
b. Players whose turn it was to bat is called out.
i.e. the improper batter will leave the base he gained and return to the bench, but the out
will be recorded against the next, "proper" batter. All base runners return to position
when improper batter came to plate.
All other players must remain behind fence, out of play. On deck batter should advance to
a designated batter's circle, also located behind the fence.
K. INFIELD FLY RULE:
Applies only with runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd and with less than two outs.
The umpire should call it, any time a catchable pop fly ball is hit within the infield
territory (from the edge of the outfield grass to homeplate). The batter will be called
out. The runners may advance at their own risk if in fair territory.
L. PITCHING:
No existing pitcher may pitch more than 3 innings a game and no new pitcher
may pitch more than 2 innings in a game (one pitch constitutes an inning) and no more than
6 innings in a week (Sun - Sat). Pitchers must pitch in consecutive innings and to
consecutive batters in an inning, i.e.: a pitcher may not return to the mound later in the
game and may not return to the mound later in an inning.
A pitcher must have ONE night's rest for every inning pitched before eligible to pitch
again in an official game.
A league age 9 year old must pitch at least 2 innings by the conclusion of the 5th inning.
In this instance only, 2 innings will be considered 6 outs. The managers will assume
responsibility to make sure that the pitching rules are observed. NO PROTESTS. This rule
does not apply to catching.
Umpires/coaches will carefully observe the condition of the pitcher. If the pitcher
appears abnormally tired or has thrown a number of consecutive wild pitches, the manager
is encouraged to replace the pitcher.
A pitcher who hits 2 batters within one inning must be removed from the mound.
Curveballs are not allowed. If in the opinion of the umpire an illegal pitch is delivered and
a base hit results, the hit will stand and the pitcher warned. If an illegal pitch is delivered
and a hit resulting in the batter being retired before reaching first base, the batter will
be returned to the plate with the same count resuming from prior to the pitch. If an
illegal pitch is delivered and the ball is not hit, the umpire will call the pitch a ball and
warn the pitcher. In all cases the second occurrence will result in the pitcher being
removed from the mound.
NOTE: In the event of games scheduled on consecutive days, the following exemption
will apply:
. A player will be permitted to pitch 2 innings during the first game and 2 innings during
the second game, on ONE NIGHT'S rest.
. All other pitching rules apply.
. All pitching rules remain the same during the Playoffs and World Series.
M. BASE RUNNING:
Runners may "tag up" and advance at their own risk following the catch of a fly ball
(whether fair or foul) with one out or no outs. Wild throws and the subsequent awarding
of bases will depend on whether or not the ball is playable by a fielder. The umpire will
make a call based on his judgment within the following guidelines.
Base runners and/or batters will be awarded one automatic free base when an unplayable
or dead ball situation exists: that is when the ball enters a spectator or player bench area
or is touched in these areas or is thrown under, over or through a fence or becomes stuck
in a fence or rolls into an uncleared area.
A base runner and/or batter may attempt to advance, at his own risk, when an overthrow is
playable by a fielder and is considered a live ball.
STEALING IS ALLOWED at 2nd or 3rd Base.
Runner may advance only after the ball reaches the catcher. 1 base per pitch. Balls
thrown in dead ball territory ... Automatic 1 base except from 3rd base.
A base runner may steal anytime after the pitch reaches the catcher and before the
pitcher has received the ball back from the catcher and returned to the area of the
pitching mound.
If a catcher attempts to pick a runner off 1st or 2nd and throws the ball into the live area,
the base runner may advance one base. If a fielder attempts to pick off a runner on
any base and the ball is thrown into dead territory each baserunner advances one base.
Base runners leaving the base before the pitch has crossed the plate will result in the
following:
. If the base runner is thrown out, the out will stand.
. If the base runner is safe, he will go back to the base of origin and a team warning will be
issued (1 warning per game). On the second offense (by any player), the base runner will be
called out.
There is no stealing allowed for a team that has a 5 run lead. If the lead should be cut to
less than 5 runs, the team may resume stealing.