Altoona Baseball League
8u Supplemental Rules
All USSSA League Baseball Rules shall apply, with the following exceptions or additions:
Rule 1.00: This organization will be known as Altoona Baseball League (ABL)
Rule 2.00: Membership, Participation, and Classification of play will be determined by the Altoona Baseball League Board.
Rule 3.00: Player and team eligibility will be determined by the Altoona Baseball League Board.
Rule 3.06.F: Coaches will be selected by the Altoona Baseball Recreational League Board, only after filing all appropriate paperwork, passing of a background check, and attending all mandatory classes offered by the Altoona Baseball League Board.
Rule 4.00: Players are selected via a draft conducted by League Representative.
Rule 7.01.A: Playing Fields shall be laid out in accordance to the dimension of fields located at Sam Wise Youth Complex in Altoona, Iowa.
Pitching Distance is 40’ feet. Base Path Distance is 60 feet.
Rule 7.01.B: The official ball may be licensed by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). It will be a safe soft ball.
Rule 7.01.C: Bats may be any that conform to the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA).
Rule 7.01.F: Player uniform hats and shirts will be provided by ABL. Teams are encouraged to have matching baseball pants. Metal cleats are not allowed.
Rule 7.02.A: Home team will be designated per schedule and will prepare field for play (i.e. chalk batter’s box and baselines). Home team scorebook and pitching record are official. Visiting team will rake/repair mound and plate areas.
Rule 7.02.B: Time Limit: No new inning starts after 1 hour 30 minutes.
Rule 7.02.D.1 (a): Batting Order – all roster players will bat in same continuous order during the game. Players arriving late shall be added to the end of the batting order. If a player must leave early or is injured and must miss his turn in the batting order, the opposing coach must be notified prior to the at-bat. No automatic out will be taken if proper notice is given. If notice is not given, then an out shall be recorded for that player and that at-bat only. The continuous batting order shall be maintained of all team roster players at the game.
Rule 7.02.D.1 (b): Defensive Substitution – Free, except pitcher. See Rule 7.05 in USSSA rules.
Rule 7.02.E: Does not apply.
Rule 7.03.A.1: Time limit see Rule 7.02.B and Ties; if there is a tie at the end of a regulation game or when time limit has been met then a new inning will start. The last batter in the previous inning will be placed on 2nd and the next to last batter will be placed on 3rd base, with one out given to the team at bat. The game will continue in this format until there is a winner.
Rule 7.05.C.1-7: Rules in USSSA will apply to the player pitcher.
Rule 8.03: Rules will be enforced (related to leading off, stealing, and drop 3rd strike)
Rule 8.03.A: Rule will be enforced – Batter is automatically out on a dropped/missed third (3rd) strike by the catcher
Rule 8.03.B: See League Rule 9.15
Rule 8.05.D: Balks will be no be enforced. This rule does not apply.
Rule 9.01: Does not apply
Rule 9.02: Does not apply
Rule 9.03: Does not apply
Rule 9.04: Does not apply
Rule 9.06: Rule will be enforced related to Ten (10) defensive players, with four (4) in outfield.
Rule 9.13: Defensive Pitcher will pitch until 4 balls has been reached per batter, then the defensive coach will enter the game and pitch no more than three (3) pitches, but the current pitch count continues from where the pitcher left it at.
Once the batter has reached three (3) strikes, they are out. During coach pitch strikes only occur when the batter swings the bat. A player may not be out on a foul ball, they will receive an additional pitch. No walks will occur in this division.
Rule 9.15: Rule will be enforced – Runners shall not lead-off or steal bases. A Runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home. On overthrows players may advance one (1) base from first (1st) to second (2nd) or second (2nd) to third (3rd), but may not advance home. ALL plays are halted ONLY when the pitcher has control of the ball in the pitchers circle.
Rule 9.16: Does not apply – No courtesy runners are allowed, except for injured players.
Rule 9.17: Rule will be enforced with max of seven (7) runs per inning, including the last inning or record three (3) outs.
Rule 14.00: Umpires must be certified, either by the Unites States Specialty Association (USSSA), Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSSA), or the Des Moines Umpire Association.
Rule 15.01: A protest must be filed with the ABL Board Member of the Day in accordance to the USSSA listed guidelines. ABL Board Member decisions will be final.
Rule 15.02: Does not apply. (No protest fee in this league)
GENERAL ITEMS
Dropped Third Strike: This division will NOT use the rules pertaining to “dropped third strike”.
Minimum Playing Time: All roster players must play at least 6 defensive outs and 1 at bat per game. It is encouraged that all coaches play each player a minimum of every other defensive inning to avoid a player sitting on the bench in consecutive innings.
Score Reporting: Winning coach must record game score at AltoonaBaseballLeague.org following completed game.
Game rescheduling: All games will be played as follows with as little as 7 players. When only 8 players no outs will be taken, if only 7 players then 1 out each time the missing 8th player comes up to bat. All cancelled games will be rescheduled by League Representative.
Call-up players: If additional players are needed to fill a roster of 9 players, the coach must contact the League Representative for a player. Call-up players cannot pitch or catch at any time during the game. Call-up players must meet the minimum playing time guidelines as previously indicated. Violation of these rules will result in forfeit.
Catcher Assistance: In this division, a defensive coach will stand behind the catcher and umpire to shag passed pitched balls only. This will aid in keeping the game moving.