FORT CAROLINE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Juniors Division
Local Rules of Play
- Home Team and Visiting Team Responsibilities
- The home team is determined by the official league schedule. Both teams are responsible for the following:
- Supplying one new baseball to the Head Umpire.
- Providing an Official Scorekeeper, for record keeping purposes (Home team is official).
- Home team will occupy the third base dugout.
- Field preparation before and after the game by BOTH teams. Field prep includes, but is not limited to:
- Pregame - Dragging the infield
- Raking the baselines, mound, and home plate area
- Chalking the baselines and batter’s box
- Postgame - Cleaning your respective dugout
- If last game of the day:
- Dragging the infield
- Raking the baselines
- Raking and cover home plate
- Raking and cover the mound
Failure to comply can result in lost practice time slots, suspension of manager and/or other penalty deemed appropriate by FCAA Executive Committee.
- Time Limit of Games (One hour and 50 minutes)
To facilitate the consistent start and stop of games, and to provide equitable playing time to all teams the following time limits will be observed.
Speed up rule can be used. With 2 outs, and either the pitcher or catcher on a base, the offensive coach and exercise the speed up rule. The offensive coach may substitute the last batted out player as a substitute runner for the pitcher or catcher of the last inning. The offensive coach cannot use this rule for a new pitcher or catcher for the next inning being played.
No new inning will start after 1 hour and 50 minutes have elapsed from the official start time. The umpire will declare the official start time when the defensive team is on the field and the first batter steps into the batter’s box. The umpire shall notify the official scorekeeper of the official start time, and the official scorekeeper shall record the time in the scorebook. The umpire is responsible for keeping the official time.
- Tie Games
In the event of a tied game after six innings have been played or time has expired and a full inning has been completed in a regular season game, the game will end in a tie
In the playoffs, in the event of a tied game after six innings have been played, extra innings will be played until time expires. Once time expires, each team will get an equal at bat. If the game is still tied after one full extra inning has been completed, a (1) inning Texas Tie-breaker will be played as follows:
A)Each team will receive an at-bat.
B)The last official batter from the previous inning will be placed on second base with (1) out and the next batter in the lineup at bat. If the game remains a tie after both teams have batted the game ends in a tie
C)The format above will continue until a winner is decided
- Run Rules
All games will end when the game is official and either team has a ten (10) run lead after four innings of play, and has had equal times at bat or the home team is leading.
There will also be a 7 run rule per inning for both teams.
- Official Games
A game shall be considered official when one of the following conditions is met. If terminated for any reason after reaching this point, the game results will be officially recorded.
1. The completion of 4 innings if the visiting teams winning, or
2. The completion of 3 ½ innings if the home team is winning, or
3. One hour and 50 minutes has elapsed from the official start time or
4. 6 innings have been played.
6. Player Requirements to Start a Game
Each team must have a minimum of eight (8) players at the “official start time” for a game to begin. In the event the minimum cannot be met, the game is considered a forfeit and the win goes to the team that has the required number of players. In the event both teams cannot field the minimum number of players, the game shall be declared a double forfeit.
If a forfeit occurs, both managers may petition the League President, the League Director, and the Athletic Director to reverse the forfeit and reschedule the game. Upon unanimous consent of ALL five parties (league president, league director, athletic director, and both team managers) the game may be rescheduled, played, and counted in the standings.
Once the game is started a team may continue to play even if the number of players falls below eight (8). A player who leaves a game due to injury or illness is skipped over in the batting order and is not considered an out when his or her turn at bat arrives.
If a player leaves a game for any reason other than injury or illness, and a substitute is not available, that player must remain in the batting order and is considered an out when his or her turn at bat arrives.
- Players Arriving after the Start of the Game
If a player arrives after the start of the game, the player must be added to the bottom of the batting order.
- Pitchers/Pitching
- If the starting pitcher is removed from the mound, he/she may return to the mound in a subsequent inning, as long as the removed pitcher remains in the game.
- Balks will be called. See item 13 for more details.
- The Juniors division will follow FHSAA/NFHS baseball pitch count rules
- Both coaches will notify each scorekeeper in the case of a pitching change.
- Minimum Playing Time Rules
For both the spring and fall seasons, a player cannot sit out a second time (unless disciplinary reasons/injured/sick) until all players have sat out at least one time per six (6) inning game.
Since we are playing free substitutions, neither coach or scorekeeper must be notified of substitutions except for the pitcher as mentioned above.
10. Rules In Effect
Infield fly rule is in effect. Drop third strike is in effect only when the base is unoccupied or 2 outs have been recorded in the inning.
All players must wear a protective cup. If it is determined the player is not wearing a protective cup, then the player will be removed from the game and cannot return until a cup is worn.
Bats cannot exceed 34” in length. The bat barrel cannot exceed 2 5/8 in diameter. Only metal or composite bats certified with BBCOR .50 and -3 are allowed. Wood barrel bats can be used.
11. Protest
In the event of a protest condition, the following procedures must be followed:
1. The protesting manager must call time out before the next pitch is delivered. A protest that occurs on a game ending play or condition must be made by noon of the following day to the League President or designated representative.
2. Notify the Home Plate Umpire and the Official Scorekeeper, who records the protest in the scorebook, and the opposing manager, stating the reason for the protest.
3. At this point the game continues under a “protest condition”. Discussion over the validity of the protest will not occur at this point.
4. The protesting manager must submit in writing the conditions, which he/she deems to be under protest. The report must contain the issue in enough detail for the Protest Committee ruling will be presented at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting.
A protest request will only be considered if it is in reference to a rule interpretation. A judgment call by an umpire cannot be protested. If a protest is dismissed the game’s outcome stands as played. If the protest is upheld the game is replayed from the point of the protest.
12. Batting Rules
Batters can bunt. If a batter has two (2) strikes on him/her and bunts the ball foul the batter will be called out on strikes. There will be no slash bunts. If a player squares to bunt, he either must bunt or withdrawal from the bunt. If a player does a slash bunt, the play will be called dead and the batter will be called out.
ALL PLAYERS on the roster are included in the batting order for every game, both fall and spring. No limit on the batting around the batting order.
13. Leading Off, Stealing and Balks
A runner can steal ANY base.
Applicable balk rules are in effect. Balks are left to the discretion of the assigned umpires on the field of play. Each pitcher is permitted a warning for first violation. Subsequent violations by a pitcher who has received a warning will result in applicable base advancement by the runner.
14. Scorebook
Both teams must keep accurate record of start time and score.
Home team scorekeeper will be the official scorekeeper.
15. Team Direction and Strategy
Authority for team direction, strategy and leadership rests with the team manager and coaches. Team direction, strategy and leadership during a game must come from the manager and coaches who are present on the field. Before game starts, the umpire will call a meeting to go over rules of the game. The coach that participates in that meeting is the only coach that can discuss rules, protest a rule or argue a call with the umpires. Result in another coach participating in this discussion will result in a warning from the umpire. If the said coach continues to discuss or argue a call, then the umpire will ave the discretion to eject the coach from the game.
The exception to this rule is if the official Manager has left the game, either on his own or by ejection.
Parents may NOT “coach from the stands” in the form of giving signals, calling plays, or any other type of direction.
16. Rescheduling of Games
Rain out games will be rescheduled by the League Director in the order that they occur on the next date that the field is available, subject to league conditions and umpire availability.
Protest games will be rescheduled at the end of the season if the season schedule allows.
FCAA Juniors Director