BYRON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Baseball Rules 5th– 6th Grade
ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OFFICIAL LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL RULES OF THE AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION AND/OR RULES PUT IN PLACE BY THE BYRON YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (BYBA).
General Rules:
1. A team shall consist of 9 (or 10 with coach’s agreement) players in the field.
2. All games shall be 5 innings in length. No new innings will start after 1:15 min.
3. Official baseball bats and balls will be used for all league games.
· Any bat bearing a BYBA red dot on the bat is considered a legal bat.
· Legal bats may be 2 3/4" or 2 5/8" diameter with length - weight ratio of minus 10 or less. All 2 1/4"diameters are allowed.
· Other legal bats include those that are stamped USSSA Approved 1.15 BPF, Babe Ruth Approved 1.10 BPF, or BBCOR or approved by the league.
4. Players cannot wear watches, rings, necklaces, earrings or any jewelry.
5. Batters and base runners must wear protective helmets during games, as well as practices.
-Catcher’s helmets, mask, chest protector, shin guards and throat protectors must be worn by the catcher.
- An athletic supporter and cup are required.
6. All players must wear plastic/rubber molded cleated shoes. No metal cleats, tennis shoes or sandals can be worn.
- Baseball pants must be worn, no shorts.
7. All coaches will comply with the coach’s code. Coaches are required to have a signed copy on file with BYBA. Any adult which works with the players (at practice or a game) must have a signed copy of the coach’s code on file with BYBA.
8. Sportsman like conduct will be required of all coaches and players.
9. Any player or coach may be ejected from a game by the umpire, if so they must proceed immediately away from the game area before play may resume. Failure to do so immediately will automatically result in a forfeit by that team.
10. Only the head coach may dispute a call by the umpire. If anyone other than the head coach disputes the call, they can be ejected from the game and will need to leave the game area immediately. If the head coach is absent, then only the 1st Assistant coach more protest the umpire and so on.
11. Rescheduling of games due to rain cancellations may occur if dates are available.
12. Each player must play 2-3 defensive innings based on a five inning game.
13. If for any reason a player is not allowed to play in a game, his coach must inform the opposing coach as to why he is not playing. Each coach needs to enforce his own discipline.
14. Weather conditions, darkness, rain etc. It is up to the coach’s/umpire whether or not the game shall be called for any of the above reasons. The game shall be called IMMEDIATELY if any lightning or severe weather conditions occur in the immediate area. The coach’s/umpire does also need to be aware of any changing weather conditions. If coach’s / parent observe lightning or other dangerous weather conditions, they must immediately notify the umpire.
15. No team can score more than 8 runs per inning. The team down by more than 8 can score up to 8 runs ahead.
16. If a bat or helmet is thrown in disgust or in an argumentative fashion one warning will be given by the umpire. The second offense will result in an ejection. His missed turn will not count as an out. Coach can be subjective to this rule.
17. If a team does not have enough players they may pickup players from another BYBA team. The players must play outfield and bat at the end of the line up.
18. Infield fly rule will be in affect.
19. Each team is responsible for cleaning out the dugout when the game is completed. The home team is responsible for assisting the umpiring with bases and field maintenance before and after each game.
20. Mercy Rule: If a team is ahead by at least 15 runs after innings, the game is over (3-1/2 innings if home team is ahead).
Batting:
1. Hoffman rules for batting (all players bat). Tardy players may be placed at the end of the lineup.
2. A batter hit by a pitch gets 1st base.
Pitching:
1. 6th Gr. pitchers may pitch up to 3 innings per game. 5th Gr. pitchers may pitch up to 3 innings per game.
2. No more than two 6th Gr. pitchers may pitch from the same team during a given game. 6th Gr. Traveling pitchers may not pitch a total of more than 3 innings per game.
3. One pitch constitutes an inning.
4. These rules may be deviated from if and only if the home / away coaches and the umpire come to an agreement. If no agreement can be arranged, these rules stand fast.
5. Pitching Rubber distances: 5th grade pitchers may throw from 46 feet. 6th grade pitchers must throw from 52 feet.
6. Up to a maximum of 5 pitches between innings. New pitchers will get a maximum of 7. If a substitute pitcher is required due to an injury there are no limit on the number of warm up pitches. Coach’s, plan ahead and have the relief pitcher throw on the side between innings whenever possible.
Base running:
1. Bases will be at 75 feet.
2. Runners may steal after the ball leaves the pitchers hand.
3. A runner on 3rd base:
a. May advance at his/her own risk on a wild pitch or pass ball if his/her team is not leading by 8 or more runs. After an 8 run lead, home plate is closed to advancing on a passed ball or wild pitch. He may advance home only if a play is made on him at third or a batted ball is
hit. When an infielder has control of the ball and is not making a play
on a runner, advancement of runners will stop.
b. A maximum of 3 runs per inning per team may score on wild pitches or passed balls after which home plate is closed or follows the above underlined rules.
c. Home plate is CLOSED to stealing unless a play is made directly on the runner at third base.
5. If a catcher (for the upcoming inning) reaches base a courtesy runner can be substituted immediately regardless of the number of outs. A courtesy runner must be used for the catcher with two out. The courtesy runner must be the last out made. If the catcher is not ready to take the field, a coach should go out to warm up the pitcher.
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