1) 1) What is the length of the game ?
6
innings for single game, 4 or 5 for double-header subject to 1 hour maximum.
Regular season games which are tied after 6 innings will result in a tie
game. Playoff games which are tied
after 6 innings will continue into extra innings until the score is not tied at
the end of the full inning.
2) 2) What is the mercy rule ?
6
runs per inning, except for the final inning, where there is a ten run
cap.
If Team A bats
first and Team B bats last, and Team B is down significantly - The coaches may
agree at the end of the 5th inning to have Team B continue right into a
6th inning. Should Team B score
enough runs to tie or pass Team A, then Team A would play the bottom half of
the 6th inning. Otherwise, the game ends after that half inning.
3) 3) Safety Rules ?
Batters
must wear helmets in all age groups.
There is no on-deck circle.
The only person swinging the bat should be the batter once he/she comes
to the plate. He/she can take a few
practice swings at the plate
4) 4) Who pitches ?
Kindergarten/T-Ball
may hit off a batting tee, if desired.
Otherwise, an adult pitcher pitches underhand.
Boys
1st-2nd Grade AND Girls 1st to 3rd
Grade: Parents or other adult pitches.
The adult pitcher should pitch to its own team, although the same adult
pitcher can pitch both the top and bottom of a given inning. The adult pitcher should pitch
underhanded.
Boys
3rd- 4th Grade - the following rules apply:
·
The
players (3rd and 4th graders) pitch the first 3 innings
of the game. Adults pitch the final 3 innings of the game, and any extra
innings.
·
Each
player-pitcher has a maximum pitch count of 50 pitches per day. A pitcher may finish pitching in the
same at-bat, even if he is over 50 pitches in the middle of the at-bat.
·
Unless
there is a doubleheader, each pitcher may only pitch a maximum of two innings
per game.
·
If
a pitcher walks three batters in one inning then an adult pitcher should take
over for the rest of the inning.
·
All
adult pitchers should pitch overhand
Boys 5th
- 7th Grade - the following rules apply:
·
The
players (5th to 7th graders) pitch the entire game.
·
Each
player-pitcher has a maximum pitch count of 75 pitches per day. A pitcher may finish pitching in the
same at-bat, even if he is over 75 pitches in the middle of the at-bat.
5) 5) What are the Field Dimensions ?
All bases will be 60 feet
apart. For adult pitching, they may
stand anywhere within the designated pitching circle. For 3rd and
4th grade kids pitching – the pitching rubber will be placed
40 feet from the back of home plate. For 5th grade and higher kids
pitching – the pitching rubber will be placed 45 feet from the back of
home plate.
6) 6) Who catches ?
An
adult should catch for Girls and 1-4 Boys. If the 5/6/7 boys do not have
enough players to spare for a catcher, a parent may catch but cannot be
involved in a play.
7) 7) Is it 3 strikes, 3 swings or 6 pitches ?
For
children pitching – it is the standard 4 balls and 3 strikes, with
unlimited foul balls on 2 strikes.
For parent
pitching – It is a maximum of 3 swings and a maximum of 6 pitches. If the batter fouls off the ball on the
last pitch, he/she will get another pitch (unlimited). A lousy pitch should not
counted towards the 6 pitches.
8) 8) Foul Circle / Foul Arc ?
For all divisions other than 5/6/7 Boys -
A foul circle / foul arc should be
drawn in front of the plate at a distance of 10 feet. The territory from the plate to the edge
of the foul circle / foul arc is considered to be foul territory. Any ball that is picked up in that territory, or that ultimately ends up there on an untouched
ball is considered foul.
8) 9) When is a play over (if a live ball
is hit, when is a play considered dead) and what happens to runners
?
For Girls
1st-3rd Grade AND Boys 1st to 4th
Grade – It is when the ball is returned to the pitcher’s circle.
The play is still dead, despite an errant throw to the pitcher (or if the
pitcher does not catch the ball), as long as the throw was directed in the
direction of the pitcher’s circle.
For
Boys 5th-7th Grade – it is the standard rule of
when the ball is returned to the infield, and either
the pitcher has it close to the mound, or fielder is approaching the mound, and
runners are not trying to advance.
As far as advancement of runners - For second and third base, runners are awarded the next base if they are at least halfway between the two bases OR if there is a force. Otherwise runners will be returned to the previous base. For home plate, the runner is only awarded the base if he/she has actually reached home plate.
9) 10) Minimum number of players ?
Teams need at least 6 players to
play, and 7 players for boys 5/6/7. If a team has fewer players than that, they
can avoid forfeit by bringing in a younger player, or
an older player if the other coach agrees. If an older player is used for one
team to make the minimum, then the other team will be allowed one additional
older player as well.
Last Updated on: April 10, 2018 at 10:00 AM EDT by Ariel Cohen