NYBSAMajorLeagueBaseballRules

Updated Jan 2014

TheofficialrulesofDixieYouthBaseballshallapplyexceptasalteredbythefollowingexceptionsand/oradditions. NYBSAchoosestotakeadvantageofthelocaloptionclauserelatingtoplayingrules. ThefollowingGeneralPlayingRulesmayalsoapplytotheotherbaseballleagues.

GENERALPLAYINGRULES:

  1. StartTime:Gameswillstartontime. Timelimitsarespecifiedforeachleague. Theofficialstarttimeofthefirstgameofthedaywillbethescheduledstarttime. Itisuptotheteamstobereadytoplayatthistime. Therewillbea15-minutegraceallowed,ifenoughplayershavenotarrivedtomeettheminimumrequirementstofieldateam. Anadditionalexceptiontothisrulewouldbethattheumpiresarenotreadytobegin. Forthesecondandsubsequentgames,theumpireshalldeclarethestarttimeofthenextgametobetenminutesfromthetimeplayershaveclearedthefieldfromthepreviousgame. Itisuptotheteamstobereadytoplayatthistime.
  1. Expirationoftimelimit:Noinningwillbestartedafter1hour25minutes(85minutes)hasbeenreached. Anewinningisconsideredstartedatthemomentthelastoutismadeintheprecedinginning. Anewinningisalsoconsideredstartedatthemomentthefifthrunisscoredinthebottomoftheprecedinginning.
  1. LessThanNinePlayers:Ifateamfailstofieldnineplayersatgametime,theymayplaywitheightplayers. Theninthplayer’sspacemusttakeanoutthefirsttimethroughthebattingorder. Themanageroftheteamwitheightplayershastheoptiontotaketheoutatanypointinthebattingorder. Themanagermusttelltheumpireandtheopposingmanager/scorekeeperwheretheoutwillbetakenbeforethegamebegins.
  1. SuspendedorRainedOutGames:IntheeventofrainedoutorrainsuspendedgametheBaseballCommissionerwillreschedulegamesonthefirstavailableopendateandnotifytheTeamManagerspriortotheplayingdate. Rainsuspendedgamesshallbeplayedfromthepointofthesuspension. Teamsfailingtoappearformake-uporsuspendedgamesshallforfeit.
  1. TeamLine-Up:Beforeeachgame,eachmanagerisrequiredtosubmitonecopyoftheteamline-uptotheofficialscorekeeperandtheopposingmanager. Anyplayerwhoarrivesaftertheline-uphasbeenturnedinshallbeaddedtothebottomoftheline-up. Aplayerwhoarrivesafterateamhascompletedonerotationthroughthebattingordershallbeallowedtoplayafternotifyingtheopposingmanager.
  1. ParticipationRequirements:Noplayershouldsitoutofthegameondefenseformorethanoneinning,unlesseveryonehassatatleastonce. Battingwillbeinrotationofthecompleterosterregardlessofthenumberofplayerspresentontheopposingteam. Penaltyforviolationofthisruleshallbeforfeitureofthegameintheeventtheviolatingteamisthewinner. Ifaplayermustleavethegameduetoinjury,ejectionorpersonalreasons,theyshallnotbecalledoutformissingsubsequentturnsatbat. Ifaplayerdoesnotstartdefensivelyforonegame,inwhichheplays;hemuststartforthenextlocalleaguegame.
  1. PlayerMustRemaintheDugout:Allplayersmustremaininthedugoutduringthegameunlesstheyareplayingdefense,batting,onbase,ortheyareondeck.
  1. DivisionChampionship: DivisionChampionshipshallbedeterminedbyadivisiontournament.
  1. UniformsEquipment:Playersmustwearleagueprovideduniformsandequipmentduringthegames. Personalequipmentmaybeusediftheyaredeemedbytheumpiretobeofequivalentqualityastheequipmentprovidedbytheleague.
  1. Helmets: Battersandbaserunnersmusthaveahelmetonwithchinstrapfastenedfromthetimetheyleavethedugoutuntiltheyreturn. Aplayerremovingahelmetontheplayingfieldwillreceiveonewarning. Thesecondtimetheplayerwillbecalledout.
  1. Bats: DixieYouthorequivalentapproved.

MAJORLOCALOPTIONS:

  1. Home Team Responsibilities:
  1. Home team prepares the field for play (install bases, scoreboard console, pitchers mound and line the field.)
  2. Occupy the 1st base dugout.
  3. Utilize the batting cage 60 minutes prior to the start of each game.
  4. Keep Official Scorebook
  5. Swap Lineups with other team
  1. Visiting Team Responsibilities:
  1. Visiting team breaks down the field including lights, tarp, and scoreboard brains.
  2. Occupy the 3rd base dugout.
  3. Utilize the batting cage 30 minutes prior to the start of each game.
  4. Provide an adult to operate the scoreboard
  5. Swap lineups with other team
  1. FieldSet-up:
  2. Moundsetat50ft.(fromfrontofrubbertobackpointofplate)
  3. Basessetat70ft.
  1. TimeLimit: Gameswilllast1hourand30minutes.
  2. Anewinningwillnotbestartedafter1hourand25minuteshaveexpired.
  3. Gameswillbeconsideredcompletedafter6innings(5½ifthehometeamisleading).
  4. Ifthegameistiedafterthecompletionofthetimelimit,thegameshallbeconsideredcompleteandtheteamstied.
  5. Ifthehometeamisdownbymorethan4runsandthegametimelimitiswithin7minutesofexpiring,theywillnotbatinthelastinning.
  6. Ifafter4inningsateamisleadingbymorethan10runsthegamewillbecalled.
  7. Aninningisconsideredstartedthemomentthefinaloutismadeorwhen4runsarescored.Thisisbeingdonetoavoidendingagameinthemiddleofaninning. Youshouldhaveyourcatcherreadytogoeveryinningpriortotakingthefield. Thegoalistomaximizetheplayingtimeforthekids. Youshouldnottrytodelaythegameinordertowin.
  8. The6:00gamemuststartontime,sohavethefieldreadytoplayat6:00.Thetimelimitforthe6:00gamestartsat6:00.Thereisa15-minutegraceperiodforteamstogetenoughplayerstoplaythe6:00PMgame,butthegameclockstillstartsat6:00. Itisuptotheteamstobereadytoplayatthistime. Theumpirewillnotifyeachmanageroftheofficialstartingtime.
  1. RunLimit: 4runsperteammaximumperinninginallinnings.
  2. SuspendedorRainedOutGames: Intheeventofasuspendedgame,thegameshallbeconsideredcompleteifthegamehascompleted3½inningsandthehometeamisleading. Ifthevisiting teamisleadingseepointIVintheGeneralPlayingRulesabove.
  3. Participation: Noplayershouldsitmorethan1inningagame,unlesseveryonehassatatleastonce.
  4. Strivetowardsimilar#ofinningsonbenchforallplayersandkeeprecordsthroughouttheseason.
  5. Thosecoacheswiththeirownchildrenontheteamhaveanextraresponsibilitytotheleagueandtotheirteaminthattheydonotshowfavoritismtotheirownchildinthenumberofinningsplayedinaseason.
  6. Everyplayermustplayatleastoneinningofinfieldeachgame.
  7. Pitching:
  8. Ifapitcherpitchesmorethan2inningsinagame,hecannotpitchinthenextgamenomatterwhatweekitfallsin.Hecannotpitchmorethan4inningsinagame.
  9. Throwingawarm-uppitchinaninningiscountedasaninningpitched.
  10. Aplayerisallowedtopitch6inningsinaweek.
  11. Ifapitcherpitches3inningsinonegamehehastotake36hoursoffandskipthenextgamebeforehecanpitch,nomatterwhatweekthegamesfallin.
  12. AweekisconsideredtorunSaturdaythroughFriday.
  13. PitchersHittingBatters: Ifapitcherhits3battersduringaninningor4battersduringagame,hemust beremovedaspitcher.
  1. Bunting: Buntingisallowedatanytimeduringanatbat.
  2. Onceabattersquarestobunthe/sheMUSTeitherbuntattheballortakethepitch. ThebattermayNOTtakeafullswingattheballoncehe/shehassquaredtobunt.
  3. If a batter swings at a pitch after they square to bunt they will be called out
  4. Foulingoffabuntwithtwostrikesisastrike-out.
  5. Stealing: Stealingisallowedanytimeduringplay. Leadingoffisallowed.
  1. Timeoutcanonlybecalledoncethefieldingteamhascontroloftheball,andtherunnerhasstoppedhismovementtowardsthesucceedingbase(plate).
  1. BaseRunning:
  2. ArunnerMUSTslidefeetfirstintoallbasesUNLESSheisreturningtothebaseheleft. Failuretodosowillresultintherunnerbeingcalledout.
  3. Runnersmustslideathomewhenthereisaplayattheplate. Ifthereisaplayattheplateandtherunnerdoesnotattempttoslideoravoidacollisionwiththefielder(withinreasonabledistancetothebaseline),hewillbecalledout. Itwillbethediscretionoftheumpirewhetherornotthereisalegitimateplayattheplate.(Thisisasafetyissueforboththerunnerandthedefensiveplayerattheplate).
  1. Catcher/PinchRunnerSubstitution:
  2. Whentherearetwooutsintheinningandyournextinning’scatcherisonthebases,hemustbepinchedrunforbythelastplayertomakeanout. Thiswillspeedupthegameaccordingly.
  1. PlayerConduct:
  2. Batterswillnotbeallowedtotryanddistractthepitcherwhilepitching. Catcherswillnotbeallowedtotryanddistractbatterswhilebatting.
  3. TrashtakingbetweenplayerswillNOTbetoleratedatanytimeprior,during,oraftergames.
  1. SubstitutePlayers: Ifyouhavelessthannineplayers,youmayrecruituptothreeNYBSAregistered playersofequaltalentfromanotherMajororMinorteamtobringyourteamuptonine players. Thoseplayersmustplaytheoutfieldandbatattheendofthelineup. Ifateam onlyhasfiveregularplayers,oneoftherecruitsmayplayaninfieldposition(except Pitcher)
  1. PracticeMounds:Aparentorplayerwarmingupapitchermustwearacatcher’smask. Thepitchermustbeprotectedbyanotherpersonfromfoulballs.
  1. GameScores: Thehometeamisresponsibleforemailingthegamescoretothecommissioner(OnlyduringtheTournament,notfortheRegularSeason).
  1. DisputedCalls: TherewillbeNOarguingwithumpires.Ifyoudisagreewithacall,calmlydiscussitwiththeumpireinprivate.Whatevertheumpiredecidesisfinal. Ballandstrikecallsarenotopentodiscussion. Rememberthisisrecleaguekids’ baseball,notthemajorleagues.Sharethisrulewithyourparents,asyouwillbeheldresponsibleforyourparent’sactions.
  1. Manager – PlayerInteraction: Thegoalofrecreationbaseballisthatkidshavefunandbecomebetterbaseballplayers.Youshouldnotopenlycriticizeaplayerformakingamistake. Encouragehimtodobetternexttime.

MAJORLOCALOPTIONS – TournamentPlay:

  1. Seeding: Tournamentseeding/pairingswillnotbebasedonregularseasonrecords. Pairingswillbebasedonarandomdrawingbythecommissionerandteamrepresentativesaftertheregularseasonends.
  1. HomeTeamDetermination: Hometeamwilldecidedbyacoinflipbetweenthetwomanagerspriortotheteamsoccupyingthefield.
  1. Stealing: Stealingrulesusedduringtheseasonwillbeusedduringthetournament
  1. GameTimeLimits:
  2. Allgames(otherthanthechampionshipgame)willbeamaximumofSIXinningsor1hourand30minutes(whichevercomesfirst)
  3. Cannotstartanewinningafter1hourand25minutesunlessthereisatie
  4. Thechampionshipgame(orpotentialchampionshipgame)willbeSIXinningswithNOtimelimit
  1. RunLimits: 4runsperteammaximumperinninginallinnings.
  1. TenRunRule: Agamewillbeconsideredaregulationgamewhenateamisaheadbyten(10)runsandbothteamshavebattedfourtimes,orinthecaseofthehometeamifitisleading,threetimes.
  1. Participation:NOSUBSTITIONSALLOWEDFORTOURNAMENTPLAY
  2. NoplayermaysitoutmorethanONEinningpergame (or in a row)ondefenseunlesseveryplayerhassatoutatleastonce.Infieldplayingrequirementsarewaivedforthetournament.
  3. Aplayershowinguplateforthegamewillbemovedtotheendofthebattingorderifhemisseshisoriginalplaceintheorder.
  4. Ifaplayerarrivesaftertheteamhascompletedonerotationinthebattingorderhewillnotbeeligibletoplaythatgame.
  5. AteammayplaywithaslittleasEIGHT playersbutmusttakeanoutatsomepointduringthefirsttimethroughthebattingorder. ThepointatwhichtheoutistakenmustcommunicatedtotheopposingManagerandtheumpirepriortothestartofthegame
  6. AteamwithlessthanEIGHTplayersmustforfeitthegame.
  7. IfateamstartsthegamewithatleastNINEplayersandlosesenoughplayerstobringtheteambelowEIGHT,theteamwillnotbesubjecttothosepenalties
  1. Pitching:
  2. MaximumnumberofinningsaplayercanpitchinasinglegameisFOUR.
  3. Thereisnoweeklylimitoninningspitchedduringa tournament
  4. Apitchercanpitchupto12inningsfortheentiretournament
  5. Consecutiveinnings:
  6. IfaplayerpitchesmorethanTWOinningsinonegamehemustskipthenextgame
  7. IfaplayerpitchesFOURinningsinonegamehemustskipthenextgameANDhehastowait36hours(fromthetimeheleavesthemound)beforehecanpitchagain(i.e.hemaymisstwogamesiftheyareplayedwithina36hourtimeframe)
  8. Apitcherisconsideredtohavepitchedaninningifhethrowsatleastonewarm-uppitchinthatinning
  9. Onceapitcherhasbeenrelievedfromthemound,hemaynotreturntothemoundinthesamegame(evenifthegameissuspendedandplayedanotherday)
  1. SuspendedorRainedOutGames: Intheeventofasuspendedgame,thegameshallbeconsideredcompleteifthegamehascompleted3½inningsandthehometeamisleading. IntheeventofarainedoutorrainsuspendedgametheCommissionerwillreschedulegamesonthefirstavailableopendateandnotifytheTeamManagerspriortotheplayingdate Rainsuspendedgamesshallbeplayedfromthepointofthesuspension. Ateamfailingtoappearformake-uporsuspendedgamesshallforfeit. IfitistheChampionshipgame,theteampresentwillbedeclaredtheChampion.
  1. PitchingLog: ApitchinglogwillbekeptintheJoBoxwheretheManagers(oractingManager)willrecordtheirpitchers’ innings. ThismustberecordedimmediatelyaftereachgameandsignedbybothManagers. FailurebyaManagertorecordhis/herspitchers’ inningspriortoplayofhis/hersteam’snextgamecouldresultinforfeitureofthatnextgame.