New Haven Youth League Baseball and Softball Official Rules, 2015
UNIVERSALRULESFORALLDIVISIONS
1. UNIFORMS.All players mustwearshoes.Theshoes mustbe the type generallyconsideredas safe, those withouthooks or snaps,which cancause injuries.Molded athleticshoes are acceptable.Metal spikes or cleats areprohibited exceptin the Juvenile Division. Ifagreement cannotbe reached,contactrespective division chief.
2. SHIRTSTOBETUCKED IN.Managers,coaches,and players willkeep their shirts tucked in once the game begins.The league does notsupplyuniform pantsnor socks and thesewill not be required for players toplay.League supplied uniform should be worn unless thereare extenuating circumstances.
3. CATCHER’SGEAR.Catchers must wear a catcher’smask and helmet,with a throatprotector, chestprotector,andshin guards for all practicesessions and games.Boys mustwear a groin cup.All umpires with the exception ofadultumpires will wear mask,chestprotector,andshin guards duringall practice sessions and games.
a. Exception:Atom and Pixie Divisionswill wear helmet, face mask,and chestprotector.
4. HOMETEAM.First team listed on the schedulewill be the home team. Itwill be the home team’s responsibility to keep an accurate countof the score.
5. GAMETIMES/TIMELIMITS.Game times will begin at6:15 and8:15 pm (7:30 if following a tball, Pixie, or Atom game).Anew inning willnot startif the time limithas been reached.If the firstgame extends past the time listed, the second game willstartas soon aspossible after the end of the firstgamewith no infieldpractice for either team.The time limitofall gameswill be1 hour and 30 minutes from the beginning ofeach game (except tball, Pixie, and Atom). The umpire shall be responsible for enforcing the time limit.
6. NUMBER OFPLAYERS.Each team is expected to field the normal number ofplayers for their division at thescheduled time to play.The gamewill be allowed tostartas an official gamewith 8 players.The 9thspotin thebatting orderWILL NOT be an automatic out. In the eventa team cannot field 8playerswithin 5 minutes after the scheduled starting time of the game, the game
will be a forfeit.
a. Exception:T-Ball and Coach Pitch divisions maystartwith less than 8 players b. Exception:The Petite 2 Division mayplaywith 7 players
c.If, for anyreason, the number ofplayers falls below the required number after the game hasstarted,the game maycontinue to be played. Ifaplayer leaves the game due to injuryor illness,his positionin the batting order will beskipped andno outwill be
recorded.
7. UNOFFICIALGAMEMAYBEPLAYED. Itis the intentof the league to provide asmuch enjoyment aspossible for the players. Ifan official game cannotbeplayed in thescheduled time slotdue to a lack ofplayers,an unofficial game canbe played providing the opposing manager agrees and itdoes notinterfere withsubsequent scheduled games.
8. STAND-IN PLAYERS.Ateam can selectno more than 2 stand-inplayers froma lowerdivision to bring the team to the normalnumber ofplayers.(Example:A team thatcan play10 playerson the field onlyhas9 of their ownplayers available.Only1 stand-in player can be used.) Stand-in
Players MUSTBEona New Haven Roster to playona New Haventeam.Players thatare notregisteredinNew Haven Youth Leagueare noteligible to play.NO EXCEPTIONS.
a. Exceptions:Atom and Pixie division players maycome from another team in their own division.Juvenile Divisionmaycome from either their own divisionor a lower division.
b. Aplayer on your roster can never sitoutwhen youare using stand-in players. Astand-in player MUST batbehind allrostered players in the line-up.The players on your own
roster atall times take precedence overstand-in players.
c.Stand-in players are notallowed to pitchin anypitching division.Stand-in players may playin more than 1 game per day.
9. PLAYERS WHO ARRIVELATE.Arostered player arriving late for the game willnotbe allowed to play,under anycircumstances,if the third inning hasstarted (a minimum of1 pitch has been made to the firstbatter in the third inning).The late rostered player will always batlastin the batting orderunless astand-in player isreplaced.Ifarostered player arrives late for a game and a stand-in player is being used,provided the preceding paragraph is not violated, the stand-inwill
always complete an inning once theyofficiallyappear in it.The rostered player will take the stand- in player’s place in the batting order.
10.BATTING ORDER.All players mustbatconsecutivelyin the order selected by the manager prior to the game.Both the opposing team’sscorekeeperand the official scorekeeper (home team) will copy these on their scorepad prior to the startof thegame.Line up cards are optional.
11.THREE INNING RULE. Each rostered player must playa minimum of three innings per game.
This rule maybe waived atthe manager’s discretion for disciplinarypurposes;i.e.notattending practice. (Does notapplyin games when only3 innings are played)
12.PITCHING RULES.Pitchers up throughMidgetdivision maypitchno more than6 innings in any
2 consecutivegames.Juvenile division mayonlypitch 7 innings inany2 consecutive games.
13.PITCHERSWHO HIT THREEBATTERS IN AGAME**RULE NO LONGER APPLIES FOR 2015** The chief umpire mayejecta pitcher for deliberatelyhitting an opposing batter atany time.
14.PITCHERSMAYNOT RE-ENTER ASPITCHER.Pitchers in anyboy’s divisionafter being removed as apitcher maynotpitch again in thatgame.
15.PITCHING RULESEXCEPTIONS.During the local league tournament,exceptions to the above pitching regulations may be used.
16.FREESUBSTITION.Freesubstitution is in effectondefense onlyin all divisions.New Haven Youth League will use a continuous batting order in all divisions.Pinch hitters are notallowedin anydivision.
17.COURTESYRUNNERS.Courtesy runners are allowed ONLY for the catcher and ONLY when there are twoouts.This rule is designed to speed playso the catcher has time to gethis /her gear on between innings.
a. Exception:Atom &Pixie Divisions – a courtesy runneris notallowed for anyother runner except for medical reasons.
18.TIEGAMES. Anygame ending in a tie at the end ofregulation playmaycontinue within the time limits set forth.Agame ending in a tie after the time limithas been reached will remain a tie game.
19.UNSPORTSMANLIKEBEHAVIOR.Ifateammemberiscaughtthrowingortossingabatorhelmetin anunsportsmanlikefashion,ordisplayinganyotherbehaviorjudgedbytheumpiretobe
unsportstmanlike,theplayerandtheteamwillbewarnedonceandasecondoffensebythesame playerwillresultinejectionfromthegame.
a. Exception:Atom and Pixie players throwing or tossing the batin an unsafe manner while batting will begiven a warning the first time.The second time the same player is observed throwing the bat, the player willbe called outif theyreachbase or warned
again if theyare out.The third time theplayer is observed throwing the bat, the player will
be called outand will be required to siton the bench for the restof the game.
20.ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO.Alcoholic beverages and/or tobacco use is notallowed on the
playing field during a game.Agame includeswarm-ups prior to the game,during the contest,and immediatelyafterwards during equipmentgathering and team meetings.Anyoneinvolved in the contest,i.e.,the manager,coaches,andplayerswill be warned once. Ifnotimmediatelystopped once the warning is issued, the game will be forfeited to the opposing team. In the eventboth teams are involved, the game becomesa double forfeit.
21.INCLEMENTWEATHER.The Youth League officers working in cooperation with the Cityof New Haven Parksand Recreation Department,will have primary responsibility for calling a game due to inclementweather. Ifinclementweather strikes during warm-ups or during a game, the chief umpire,with the aide ofboth team managers,shouldmake aswiftdecision concerning inclement weather.Gamesshould be delayed or suspended as quickly as possible during inclement weather.Games thatare rescheduleddue to inclementweather shall resume playwhere the game was initiallystopped.Anygame thathas completed a minimum of1 hourofplayor the requirements for a complete game havebeen metwillbe considered a complete game and will notbe rescheduled.
22.BIG BARRELBATS.Big barrel batswill be allowed inall baseball divisions.The league has opted at the present time not to require the USSSAlogo on all bats.
23.PROTESTS.Aprotestmaybe filed for Age,Roster,Stand-In Player and Pitching Rule violations only.Protestsmustbe declared to the Umpire inCharge prior to the nextpitch after the dispute, and thenshall be putin writing and given to the umpires before theyleave the field.No protests will be allowed after the game is over unless the disputed callis thelastplayof the game.Then the protestmustbe declared as explained above.A$25 protest fee MUST be paid at the time the protestis filed and will be returned onlyif the protest is upheld.League officialswill rule on the protestand their decision will be final.Managerswho deliberatelyattempt to circumventleague rules may face suspensionor removal from their position in the league.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. ROSTEREDPLAYER.Arosteredplayerisaplayerwhosenameislistedonthemasterlistofall teamsintheirrespectivedivision.TheDivisionChiefmaintainsthemasterlistwithacopykeptinthe concessionstands.EACHMANAGERWILLHAVEALISTINGOFALLROSTEREDPLAYERSON HIS/HERTEAMWITHTHEMATALLGAMES.Itisavailableforreviewbytheplateumpire.
Opposingmanagersmayrequesttheplateumpiretocheckofficialrosters.Thegameistobeforfeited ifaplayerisnotlistedontheofficialroster.
2. 10RUNRULE.Thehomeplateumpirewillterminatethegameifeitherofthe2followingconditions exists:
a. Thehometeam,after41/2ormoreinningshavebeenplayed,isleadingby10ormoreruns attheendofthehalfinning.
b. Thevisitingteam,after5ormoreinningshavebeenplayed,isleadingby10ormorerunsat theendofacompleteinning.
Theteamleadingthegamewillwinanofficialgame.
3. 7RUNRULE.Nomorethanseven(7)runscanbescoredinaninning,whentheseventh(7)run scores,theinningisover.Whenthe7runruleisineffect,the10runruledoesnotapply.
4. 5RUNRULE.Nomorethanfive(5)runscanbescoredinaninning,whenthefifth(5)runscores,the inningisover.Whenthe5runrulesisineffect,the10runruledoesnotapply.
5. STAND-INPLAYER.Aplayerlistedonanyteam’srosterwhohasbeenaskedbyateammanagerto playagameduetotheabsenceofanormalrosteredplayer.Theplayermustbeacurrentplayerin
theNewHavenYouthLeague.Noexceptions.Standinplayerscannotbeginafterplaycommencesin thefirstinning.Onepitchtoabatterconstitutescommencementofaninning.
GENERALRULES OF PLAY
The New Haven Youth League uses official USSSABaseball and Softball rulebooks to govern the rules ofplay,as well as the Official Baseball Rulebook.Thespecial League rules for each division shall apply. Ageneral overview of therules for eachdivision is in the table on the following page:
New Haven Youth League rules summary
BOYS / T-BALL / ATOMS / BANTAM
I / BANTAM
II / MIDGETS / JUVENILE
Age / 4 / 5to6 / 7to8 / 9to 10 / 11 to12 / 13 to14
PitchingDistance / 36' / 40' / 46' / 46' / 50' / 60'6"
Base Distance / 60' / 60' / 60' / 60' / 70' / 90'
Max InningsPitchedPer
Game / N/A / N/A / N/A / 3 / 4 / 6
Time Limit / 1Hr / 1hr / 1hr
30min / 1hr
30min / 1hr
30min / 1hr30min
Innings perGame / 5 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 7
Runsper Innings / 5 / 5 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 10
Stealing / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES / YES
InfieldFly Rule / N/A / NO / NO / YES / YES / YES
Balk / N/A / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES
Lead Offs / NO / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES
Drop 3rd Strike / N/A / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES
Bunting / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES / YES
Ball Size / N/A / 9" / 9" / 9" / 9" / 9"
Minimum # ofUmpires / N/A / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2
GIRLS / T-BALL / PIXIE / PETITE I / PETITE II / CHIC / SOPHOMORE/DEBUTANTE
Age / 4 / 5 to 6 / 7 to 8 / 9 to 10 / 11 to 12 / 13 to 17
Pitching Distance / 36' / 30-35' / 35' / 35' / 40' / 43'
Base Distance / 50' / 60' / 60' / 60' / 60' / 60'
Innings Pitched Per Game / N/A / N/A / N/A / ALL / ALL / ALL
Time Limit / 1hr / 1hr / 1hr 30min / 1hr 30min / 1hr 30min / 1hr 30min
Innings per Game / 5 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 7
Runs per Innings / 5 / 5 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 10
Stealing / NO / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES
Infield Fly Rule / N/A / NO / NO / YES / YES / YES
Balk / N/A / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES
Lead Offs / NO / NO / NO / NO / NO / YES
Drop 3rd Strike / N/A / NO / NO / NO / YES / YES
Bunting / N/A / NO / NO / YES / YES / YES
Ball Size / N/A / 10" / 10" / 11" / 12" / 12"
Minimum # of Umpires / N/A / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2
New Haven YouthLeague Rulespage5
T-BALL DIVISION RULES
1. Allhitterswillhittheballfromabattingtee.Theteewillbeadjustedtosuchaheightthebatterwillbe abletoswinglevel.
2. Allplayersmustbatconsecutivelyintheorderselectedbythemanagerpriortothegame.Boththe opposingteam’sscorekeeperandtheofficialscorekeeper(hometeam)willcopytheseontheir scorebookpriortothestartofthegame.
3. Nobuntingisallowed.
4. Pitchershouldbeincontactwiththerubberwhichwillbeplacedat35feetforthisdivision.
5. Aninningisoverwhen9playershavebattedor3outsaremade,whicheveroccursfirst.Theninth batteroftheinning,oncereachingfirstbasesafely,mustcontinuetocirclethebasesuntilheorsheis eithertaggedoutorscores,eitherofwhichwillendtheinning.
6. Battinghelmetsmustbeusedatbatandwhenonbase.
7. Whentheballishit,itmustgoatleast5feet,whichisshownbyanarcdrawnfromfoullinetofoul
line.Ifabatterhitspartoftheballandpartoftherubbertee,itisafairballifitgoespastthe5footarc. Ifabatterhitsallrubberortheballdoesnotgopastthe5footarc,itisafoulball.
8. Threecompletemissesoftheballwhilebattingconstitutesastrikeout.
9. Nostealingorleadingoffpermitted.
10.Ateammayplayagamewithonly5players.
11.Fielding:Only10playersonthefieldatanyonetime.
a. Eachplayerpresentmustplayaminimumof2inningsdefensively.
b. Twodefensivecoachesmaybeonthefieldofplay,buttheymustpositionthemselvesbehind theplayer’spositionsplayingtheoutfield.Thecoachcannotintentionallymakecontactwith theplayerswhentheballisinplay.
12.Game:Thetimelimitis1hour.Aregulationgamewillbe6inningslongiftimepermits.
BASEBALL DIVISION RULES (APPLICABLE TOALL DIVISIONS)
1. Playerswillwearprotectivehelmetswhilebattingorrunningthebases.Playerisautomaticallyoutif thisruleisnotcompliedwith,i.e.,apitchisthrownandplayerisnotwearinghishelmet.No Exceptions.
2. GroincupswillbewornbycatchersinallgamesandpracticesessionswiththeexceptionoftheAtom
Division.
3. Onlyoneplayerotherthanthebatterandbaserunnersmaybeoutofthedugoutatanytime.This playermustbeintheon-deckcircle.
ATOMDIVISION
1. Coachpitchwillbeplayedinthisdivision.ThegameballwillbesuppliedbytheLeague.
2. Thedistancebetweenthebasesis60feet.
3. Thenormalnumberofplayerstheteamisexpectedtofieldis10.
4. Apitchingrubberisnotmandatory.
5. The5runruleisineffect.
6. Theinfieldflyruleisnotineffect.
7. Two defensive coaches maybe on the field ofplaybut theymustposition themselves behind the players’ positions playing the outfield.The coaches cannotintentionallymakecontactwith the players when the ball is in play.
8. Whenany infielderisincontroloftheballintheinfield(withinthebaselines),theballisdead andnostealingoradvancingisallowed. However,iftheinfieldermakesanattemptonabase runnertheplayis aliveandrunnersmay advance.Base runner'spositionwilldeterminebase advanceorsendback (umpire'scall).
9. Aplayermayplayapositiononlytwo(2)inningsinaseven-inninggame.Inningsmaybeconsecutive.
Theleaguerecommendsrotatingtheplayerseachinning.
10.Catchersmustwearfacemask,helmet,andchestprotectorinthisdivision.Shinguardsarenot requiredforAtomDivisionplay.
11.Adefensiveplayerwillbeinthepitcher’sposition.
12.Batterwillhittheballfromacoachpitchedball:
a. Battermustbestandinginthebatter’sbox
b. Thecoachmaypitcheitheroverhandorunderhand
c.Eachbatterwillbelimitedtonomorethan6pitches.Ifafairballisnothitafter6pitches,the batterisout.3strikesonthebatterwillbeconsideredanout.Ifthebatterfoulsaballonthe
6thpitch,hewillbeallowedanotherpitch.
d. Playwillendonaninfieldplaywhenanoutismadeoranattemptatanoutismade.The runnerswillnotbeallowedtoadvanceonanoverthrow.Norunnercanadvancebeyondthe nextbaseonaninfieldplay.
13.Basestealingisprohibited.Therunnercanadvanceonlyasaresultofthebatterhittingaballthatisin play.Runnersleavingthebasebeforetheballishitwillbecalledout.Eachteamwillbegivenone warningbeforerunneriscalledout.Agraceperiodwillbeobservedatthebeginningoftheseason,of whichwillendthebeginningofthesecondweekofJune.
14.StandinplayersmustcomefromwiththeAtomdivision.Nomorethan2standinplayersareallowed andmustberosteredwithNHYL.
15.Ateammayplaywithonly5players.
BANTAM1 DIVISION
1. Thenormalnumberofplayerstheteamisexpectedtofieldis11players.Afourthoutfielderisused alongwithapitcherbeingplacedoneachsideofthepitchingmachine.
2. The7runruleisineffect.
3. Theinfieldflyruleisnotineffect.
4. Apitchingmachinewillbeusedinsteadofahumanpitcher.Themachinewillbeplacedsuchthatits dischargepointis46feetfromtheplate.Themachinewillbesetina6’diametercircle,whichis considereda“NoMan’sLand”forthedefense.Whenthebattedballstrikesthemachineortheball feeder,oraflyballdropswithinthepitchingcircle,theballisconsideredadeadball.Theballmustbe fieldedbyadefensiveplayeroutsidethecircleeitheronthegroundorintheair.Theballcannotbe fieldedfromwithinthepitchingcircleeitheronthegroundorintheair.Suchcontactwillcausetheball tobecomeadeadball.Anyballcomingtorestwithinthepitchingcirclebecomesadeadballandall playstops.Ifaballistouchedbyorthrownbyadefensiveplayerandtheballhitsthemachine,the
ballisinplay.Theumpirecandeclaretheballdeadtopreventadangerousplayaroundthemachine asnecessary.
5. Umpirediscretionisusedtoadjustthemachine.Themanagersmayrequestanadjustmentafterthe completionofahalfinning.Themachinewillbecheckedafterbeinghitbyabattedball.Ifatsuchtime thatthemachinebeginsthrowingconsistentlyoutsidethestrikezoneandtheumpiredoesnotattempt tocorrecttheproblemafterthreepitches,themanagersshouldcalltimeoutandconferwiththe
umpiretocorrecttheproblem.(Theobjectisforthebattertoputtheballintoplay,therearenowalks, thusmorepitcheswillonlydelaythegameandpreventthebatterfromputtingtheballintoplay.)No walksareallowed. Suggestedsettingsforthepitchingmachinesare:
Micro:“4” ReleaseBlock:“3” PowerLevel: “7”
6. Themanager,coach,ordesignatedpersonofthebattingteamwillinserttheballintothepitching machineratherthantheumpire.Ifthepitchingmachinemalfunctions,thegamewillbecalledthe sameasifitwererainedout.
7. Adefensiveplayerwillbeplacedoneachsideofthepitchingmachinewiththeirfoottouchingthe playerlinesthatextendfromthecircleitself.
8. Eachbatterwillbelimitedtonomorethan“6”pitches.Ifafairballisnothitafter6pitches,thebatteris out.3strikesonthebatterwillbeconsideredanout.Ifthebatterfoulsaballonthe6thpitch,hewillbe allowedanotherpitch. Anyballthathitsthemachineoriscalleddeadbecauseitlandsinthecircle willnotcountasapitch.
9. Thebatterisoutonthethirdstrikewhetherthecatchercatchestheballornot
10.Therewillbenostealingofbases.Runnerscannotleavethebaseuntilthebatmakescontactwiththe ball.Runnersleavingthebasebeforetheballishitwillbecalledout.Eachteamwillbegivena warningontheirfirstoffense.
11.Theballfeedermaycoachthebatterbutmaynotcoachtherunners.
12.Playersmayplaythesamepositiononlythreeinnings.(The2pitchingpositionsareconsidered1 position,soaplayermayonlybeatthepitchingmachinefor3innings.)
13.Adefensivecoachisallowedintheoutfield.
BANTAM2 DIVISION
1. Thenormalnumberofplayersateamisexpectedtofieldis10.
2. The7runruleisineffect.
3. Playersmayplaythesamepositiononlythreeinnings,includingpitchers.Onepitchinaninningis consideredaninningplayedatthatposition.
4. Stealingisallowed.Baserunnersmaynotleavethebaseuntiltheballreachesthebatterand/or homeplate.Eachteamwillbegivenawarningontheirfirstoffense.Afterateamhasbeenwarned, anybaserunnerwholeavespriortotheballreachinghomeplateshallbecalledout.
5. Thepitchingdistancewillbe46feet.
6. Batterisoutonadroppedthirdstrike.Baserunnersmayadvanceattheirownrisk.
MIDGET DIVISION
1. Thenormalnumberofplayerstheteamisexpectedtofieldis10.
2. Thepitchingdistancewillbe50feet.Baseswillbe70feet.Pitchersarelimitedto15consecutiveouts inagame.Pitchersmayonlypitch7inningsinacalendarweek(MondaythroughSunday)andmust have2calendardaysbetweenoutings.Onepitchinaninningisconsideredaninningpitched.
3. Balkswillbecalledinthisdivision.Onewarningperpitcherwillbeassessed.Themanagermay accompanytheumpiretothemoundtoexplainthebalkcallandwillnotbeassessedasa“Trip”tothe mound.However,ifintheumpire’sjudgmentthemanagerexceedsthebalkexplanation,hemay assessatriptothemoundagainstthemanager.
4. The10runruleisineffect.(Thegameisoverifthehometeamisaheadby10runsafter4½innings, ortheawayteamisaheadby10runsafter5innings.Thereisnomaximumnumberofrunsper
inning.
5. Battersmayadvanceonadropped3rdstrikeiffirstbaseisnotoccupiedorifthereare2outs.
6. SuicideSqueezeisnotallowedinthisdivision.Therunneron3rdbasecannotbreakforhomeonthe firstmovementofthepitcher.Therunnercancomehomeafterthebuntislaiddown.
JUVENILEDIVISION
1. Thepitchingdistanceis60'6"with90'bases.Pitchersarelimitedto18consecutiveoutsinagame.
Pitchersmayonlypitch8inningsinacalendarweek(MondaythroughSunday)andmusthave2 calendardaysbetweenoutings.Onepitchinaninningisconsideredaninningpitched.
2. The10runruleisineffect.(Thegameisoverifthehometeamisaheadby10runsafter4½innings, ortheawayteamisaheadby10runsafter5inn).Thereisnomaximumnumberofrunsperinning.
SOFTBALL DIVISION RULES (APPLICABLE TOALL DIVISIONS)
1. Fastpitchsoftballwillbeplayed.Exceptions:PixiewillbeCoachPitch,Petite1willbepitching machine.
2. Thenormalnumberofplayerstheteamisexpectedtofieldis10.
3. Protectiveheadgearwithfacemaskwillbewornwhilebattingandrunningthebases.Playeris automaticallyoutifthisruleisnotcompliedwith,i.e.,apitchisthrownandplayerisnotwearingher helmet.Noexceptions.
4. Onlyoneplayerotherthanthebatterandbaserunnersmaybeoutofthedugoutatanytime.This playermustbeintheon-deckcircle.
PIXIE DIVISION
1. Coachpitchwillbeplayedinthisdivision.Thegameballwillbesuppliedbytheleague.
2. Thedistancebetweenbasesis60feet.
3. Thenormalnumberofplayerstheteamisexpectedtofieldis10.
4. Apitchingrubberisnotmandatory.
5. The5runruleisineffect.
6. Theinfieldflyruleisnotineffect.
7. Whenany infielderisincontroloftheballintheinfield(withinthebaselines),theballisdead andnostealingoradvancingisallowed. However,iftheinfieldermakesanattemptonabase runnertheplayis aliveandrunnersmay advance.Base runner'spositionwilldeterminebase advanceorsendback (umpire'scall).
8. Twodefensivecoachesmaybeonthefieldofplay,butmustpositionthemselvesbehindtheoutfield playerpositions.Thecoachcannotintentionallymakecontactwiththeplayerswhentheballisinplay.
9. Aplayermayplayapositiononlytwo(2)inningsinaseven-inninggame.Inningsmaybeconsecutive.
10.Catchersarerequiredtowearhelmet,facemask,andchestprotector.Shinguardsarenotrequiredin thisdivision.
11.Adefensiveplayerwillbeinthepitcher’sposition.
a. Batterwillhittheballfromacoachpitchedball:
b. Battermustbestandinginthebatter’sbox
c. Coachmaypitcheitheroverhandorunderhand
d. Batterwillbelimitedtonomorethan6pitches.Ifafairballhasnotbeenhitafterthe6 pitches,thebatteriscalledout.3strikesonthebattershallbeconsideredanout.Ifthebatter foulsaballonthe6thpitch,hewillbeallowedanotherpitch.
e. Playwillendonaninfieldplaywhenanoutismadeoranattemptonanoutismade.The runnerswillnotbeallowedtoadvanceonanoverthrow.Norunnercanadvancebeyondthe nextbaseonaninfieldplay.
12.Basestealingisprohibited.Therunnercanadvanceonlyasaresultofthebatterhittingaballthatisin play.Runnersleavingthebasebeforetheballishitwillbecalledout.Eachteamwillbegivenone
warningbeforearunneriscalledout.Agraceperiodwillbeobservedatthebeginningoftheseason, ofwhichwillendthebeginningofthe2ndweekofJune.
13.StandinplayersmustcomefromthePixieDivision.Nomorethan2standinplayersmaybeused.
StandinplayersmustberosteredwiththeNewHavenYouthLeague.
14.Ateammayplaywithonly5players.
PETITE 1 DIVISION
1. Gameballswillbesuppliedbytheleagueandwillbea10-inchball.
2. Thenormalnumberofplayerstheteamisexpectedtofieldis11.
3. The7runruleisineffect.
4. Theinfieldflyruleisnotineffect.
5. Apitchingmachinewillbeusedinsteadofahumanpitcher.Themachinewillbeplacedsuchthatits dischargepointis35feetfromtheplate.Themachinewillbesetina6footdiametercirclewhichis considered“NoMan’sLand”forthedefense.Whenthebattedballstrikesthemachineortheball feeder,oraflyballdropswithinthepitchingcircle,theballisconsideredadeadball.Theballmustbe fieldedbyadefensiveplayeroutsidethecircletobeinplay.Theballcannotbefieldedfromwithinthe pitchingcircleeitheronthegroundorintheair.Suchcontactwillcausetheballtobecomeadeadball andallplaystops.Ifaballistouchedbyorthrownbyadefensiveplayerandtheballhitsthemachine, theballisinplay.Theumpirecandeclaretheballdeadtopreventdangerousplayaroundthe
machineasnecessary.
6. Umpirediscretionisusedtoadjustthemachine.Themanagersmayrequestanadjustmentafterthe completionofahalf-inning.Themachinewillbecheckedafterbeinghitbyabattedball.Ifatsuchtime thatthemachinebeginsthrowingconsistentlyoutsidethestrikezoneandtheumpiredoesnotattempt tocorrecttheproblemafterthreepitches,themanagersshouldcalltimeoutandconferwiththe
umpiretocorrecttheproblem.(Theobjectisforthebattertoputtheballinplay,therearenowalks, thusmorepitcheswillonlydelaythegameandpreventthebatterfromputtingtheballintoplay.)The suggestedmachinesettingsare: Micro:“2” ReleaseBlock:“4”PowerLevel: “5”
7. Themanager,coach,oradesignatedpersonofthebattingteamwillinserttheballintothepitching machineratherthantheumpire.Ifthepitchingmachinemalfunctions,thegamewillbecalledthe sameasifitwererainedout.
8. Adefensiveplayerwillbeplacedoneachsideofthepitchingmachinewiththeirfoottouchingthe playerlinesthatextendfromthecircleitself.
9. Eachbatterwillbelimitedtonomorethan“6”pitches.Ifafairballisnothitafter6pitches,thebatteris out.Ifthebatterhitsafoulballonthe6thpitch,shewillbeallowedanotherpitch.Threestrikesonthe batterwillbeconsideredanout.Ifthebatterfoulsaballonthe6thpitch,hewillbeallowedanother pitch.
10.Anyballthathitsthepitchingmachineoriscalleddeadbecauseitlandsinthecirclewillnotbe countedasapitch.
11.Thebatterisoutonthethirdstrikewhetherthecatchercatchestheballornot.
12.Runnerscannotleavethebaseuntilthebatmakescontactwiththeball.Runnersleavingthebase beforetheballishitwillbecalledout.Eachteamwillbegivenawarningfortheirfirstoffense.
13.Theballfeedermaycoachthebatterbutmaynotcoachtherunners.
14.Playersmayplaythesamepositiononlythreeinnings.
15.Adefensivecoachmaybeintheoutfield.
PETITE 2 DIVISION
1. Thenormalnumberofplayerstheteamisexpectedtofieldis10.
2. The7runruleisineffect.
3. Thisdivisionwilluselivepitching (against Washington league)andwillhaveapitchingdistanceof35 feet.Thegameballwillbean11inchballandwillbesuppliedbytheleague. Against Hermann, Gerald, New Haven and Owensville teams the pitcher will be given a chance to pitch but if the pitcher throws 4 balls the coach will come in and pitch the remaining 3 pitches for a total of 7 pitches. The pitcher will remain pitching as long as they don’t throw 4 balls.
4. Thebatterisoutonthethirdstrikewhetherthecatchercatchestheballornot.
5. Runnerscannotleavethebaseuntilthebatmakescontactwiththeball.Runnersleavingthebasetoo soonwillbecalledout.Eachteamwillbegivenawarningforthefirstoffense.
6. Stealingisnotallowed.Thisincludesadvancingpastfirstonawalk,wildpitches,passedballs,and catcher’soverthrowbacktothemound.
7. Playersmayplaythesamepositiononlythreeinningsincludingpitcher.
8. Theinfieldflyruleisnotineffect.
CHIC DIVISION
1. Thepitchingdistanceis40feet.Thegameballisa12-inchballandwillbesuppliedbytheleague.
2. The10runruleisineffect.(thegameisoverifthehometeamisaheadby10runsafter4½innings, ortheawayteamisaheadby10runsafter5inn)Thereisnomaximumnumberofrunsperinning.
3. Abattermayrunonadroppedthirdstrike.
4. Runnersmayleavethebaseafterthepitcherreleasestheball.Anyrunnerwholeavesthebasetoo soonwillbecalledout.
5. Thenormalnumberofplayersateamisexpectedtofieldis10.
SOPHOMORE/DEBUTANTE
1. Thepitchingdistanceis43feet.Thegameballisa12-inchballandwillbesuppliedbytheleague.
2. The10runruleisineffect.(thegameisoverifthehometeamisaheadby10runsafter4½innings, ortheawayteamisaheadby10runsafter5inn)Thereisnomaximumnumberofrunsperinning.
3. Abattermayrunonadroppedthirdstrike.
4. Runnersmayleavethebaseafterthepitcherreleasestheball.Anyrunnerwholeavesthebasetoo soonwillbecalledout.
5. Thenormalnumberofplayersateamisexpectedtofieldis10.