Our
Fall Baseball League offers additional instruction for returning players, and
an introduction to the kid's-pitch program for new players as well as those
coming up from the coach-pitch level. The rules and structure of the fall
season relax a few of the rules from spring competition, while still holding
true to the nature of the game. Our goal is to create a positive environment
that fosters education and good work ethic by reinforcing the fundamentals of
baseball.
Fall 2015 Format:
- Teams
will consist of one Team Manager (Head Coach) and up to three assistants
(Coaches)
- Managers will be required to submit signed paperwork consisting of the Background Consent Form, and Team Information Form NO LATER than Saturday, August 1st.
- Background checks for supporting coaches are due by August 12 th.
- Coaches may bring (freeze) a maximum of six (6) players, the remainder of players will be assigned by the league. All players frozen to a team must be registered and paid in full by August 1 st or they will be placed in the unassigned pool and placed on a team using the leagues lottery system.
- Team
Sponsors must be paid ($300) by August 10
th
- Every
player present will bat. Players may only sit (benched on defense) one inning
per game.
- Each
coach must submit the score of their game to the league within 24 hours.
- Teams
will play 2 to 3 times per week. Weeknight games will begin at 5:30 pm and 7:00
pm
- Possible
game days are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
- The
season will end with a playoff and championship series.
Fall 2015 - Playing Rules:
- Balls and strikes are not disputable - argument is grounds for immediate ejection from field, if comments
continue off the field, the parent or coach will be ejected from the park
and suspended two games.
- Base-runners may not lead off. Runners
leading off or leaving early will be an automatic out.
- There will be one umpire for all 10U
games, they will officiate from behind the plate.
- Home team will be determined by the
schedule. Dugouts are first come, first choice.
- Maximum of 4 coaches
allowed inside the field gates. An automatic out will be assessed for
violation of this rule on each occurrence, to be enforced during the
current at-bat (or next at bat if the offending team is on defense). No
coaches allowed on the field of play unless time out is called. Any coach
who steps over the foul line will count as on the field of play, the
second time in an inning must result in a pitching change. Coaches who
step over the foul line without being granted a time-out while on offense
will incur an automatic out for their team, enforced immediately. The only
exception is to care for an injured player who is not responding (as
determined by the umpire).
- Base coaches MUST remain
within three feet (36 inches) of their box when game is in play. Failure
to comply will result in a warning for the first offense, and an automatic
out for each subsequent offense �?�¢?? enforced immediately. Once one base
coach is warned, it serves as a team warning.
- Games will be 80 minutes or 5 innings
max. No new inning will be started under the 10 minute mark. If
home team is behind AND up to bat when clock expires, they may finish
their at bat, If clock expires during top half of the inning or any time
BEFORE the first pitch of the bottom half of the inning, the score will
revert back to the last completed inning.
NO EXCEPTIONS - games may end in a tie.
- Each team must go through the batting
order at least once. If time expires, or a mercy rule is enacted, any team
that has not batted their lineup will be given the opportunity to do so as
a courtesy. Runs scored will not count toward the final score. If the team
is fielding when regulation play ends, the sides will immediately switch
to allow those hitters to bat, if the team is at bat, play will continue
off the books until they are through the lineup.
- Mercy rules are in effect: 10 runs after
3 innings.
- Big barrel bats are not allowed - maximum
diameter is 2�?�¼.
- No "Fake Bunts" - batter cannot show
bunt, then pull back and swing away, this results in an automatic out.
- Batter is out on a dropped third strike.
Base runners advancing on dropped third strike do so at their own risk.
- Once the pitcher is in possession of the
ball and on the rubber, base runners may not steal until after the next
pitch crosses home plate. There are no "delayed steals" where the
runner "baits" the catcher into throwing the ball.
- Batting order is whole line-up. Everyone
bats and cannot sit on the bench more than one inning per game. If a coach
issues a benching for disciplinary action, or a player voluntarily sits
out an inning, the coach must notify the umpire before the first pitch of
that inning.
- You may pinch-run (courtesy runner) for
your catcher or pitcher using the last player to make an out (last batted out,
NOT the last player to score) Notification must be made to the umpire for
the pinch runner.
- Pitchers are limited to 2 innings per
game. One pitch is considered an inning. It is BOTH teams' responsibility
to know when their pitcher reaches this limit. The umpire is NOT
responsible for knowing the status for pitchers. Once a pitcher is removed
from the mound, he may not pitch again in that game.
- There is no balk penalty for the 10U
division, umpires can call a balk, but runners do not advance.
- Teams play with 4 outfielders. All
outfielders must be an equal distance from home plate. No short fielder
allowed.
- A team needs 8 players to start a game. A
team can pick up no more than one player to field a team of 8 players, but
cannot pick up a player to field a team of 9 players. The player picked up
MUST be suited up for the game immediately preceding or following and they
MUST play right field and bat last. If a team plays with 8, the ninth
batter is an
automatic out - no exceptions. Players arriving late
may be added to the bottom of the batting order and any player picked up
to get to 8 players will be removed from the game.
- Teams that have fewer than 8 players present
at game time will forfeit the game. However, the teams may still play an
unofficial game if there are enough players from the opposing team to "loan" for the scrimmage. Umpires will still officiate the game, even though it
will go down as a forfeit in the official book.
Modification of the preceding
rules for the 12U Division
:
- Batter can advance on a dropped third
strike if 1
st base in unoccupied - a runner on 1st
that leaves to steal 2nd is still considered to be occupying 1st
base.
- Runners on base can lead off and be
thrown out (picked off).
- Balk rule and penalty are in effect.
- There will be two umpires for each 12U
game, one behind the plate and one in the field.
- All teams will play with a maximum of 3
outfielders.
All coaches, players, parents, and spectators are expected to abide by the Zero Tolerance policy.
If a parent or spectator is not abiding by the Zero Tolerance policy, then the umpire will instruct the head coach to give a warning to that parent or spectator. If that same parent or spectator continues with this behavior, then the umpire will instruct the head coach to ask that parent or spectator to leave the park property immediately. Failure by this person to leave the park property within 3 minutes will result in a forfeit by the team associated with this person. (This rule applies to all players and coaches as well.) Any coach ejected from the a game will serve a one-game suspension enforced on the next scheduled team game.
Coaching Code of Conduct
I will follow all league and park rules at all times.
I will not use profanity or any other negative language or gestures.
I will be a positive role model to all players.
I will create an environment for my players where they can develop skills, enjoy playing the game and learn the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship.
I will abide by all rulings made by umpires. If I have a disagreement, I will discuss it with the umpire in a calm, reasonable manner.
I will interact with other coaches in a non-provoking manner, resolving conflict peacefully.
I will exhibit good sportsmanship at all times, win or lose - setting a good example to all in attendance.
I will interact with parents and spectators in a positive, respectful manner.