Tadpole Spring Season 2015

Tadpole Spring Season 2015

1) Before a game, each Head Coach must give a copy of his/her batting Line-up to the opposing team and the home plate Umpire.

2) DJBA's Umpire in Chief will schedule all Umpires for each game.

3) Each team much provide its own scorekeeper. The home team is also responsible for keeping the “Tadpole Leagues' Official Book”, which will be kept in the concession/ base lock up box. It is to be returned there after each game so the standings can be kept accurately and it is there for the next games use. All coaches must email the final scores of the game to Leah at

4) During a game, coaches and/or parents cannot position themselves on the outside of the backstop behind the Umpire in order to coach the team or Umpire.

5) Bad Mouthing Umpires by Coaches/parents will NOT be tolerated. If there is a problem, both coaches can talk to the Umpire in a Non-Threatening way. The Umpire's decision is FINAL.

6) If an Umpire misses a rule call, both teams' coaches may talk to the Umpire to clarify the rule in a calm and dignified manner. (They are learning too).

7) The length of a legal game is 4 complete innings but more than 6 innings of pitched baseball.

8) 10 players are allowed on the field per inning. Five infielders and 5 outfielders (Catcher being counted as an outfielder).

9) The following pitching Rule will apply:

• There is no coach pitch in this league
• There is no batting tee in the games in Tadpole
• Players will pitch for the first innings only. All other innings will use the pitching machine.
• Pitching machine only is used for games up to and including May 15th.
• On May 16th –any player will pitch the first inning of each game. Each pitcher may only pitch to a maximum of 2 batters. (They will have a generous strike zone).
• On June 1st Players born 2006 may pitch to four batters and players born in 2007 may pitch to two batters.

◦ Not all teams will have equal pitching. So for the development of the sport the following rule will apply:

▪ “No matter how many runs are scored during live pitching inning(s) – At the inning when the pitching machine begins getting used the score will start at 2-2”

• If a pitchers thrown ball hits a batter, the batter is awarded first base.(No base will be awarded when hit with a ball from the pitching machine).
• Any pitcher that hits 2 batters must be removed from the pitching mound.
• Any pitcher who delivers one pitch to a batter shall be considered to have pitched.
• Any violation of pitching rules will result in the disciplinary action towards the coach.
• The pitcher may pitch from the “set position” without coming to a full stop before delivery. No “Balk Balls” will be called against the pitcher.
• Pitching shall be from 42 feet.
• With the pitching machine, each player must get three strikes or a hit. There will be no walks from the pitching machine.

• Coaches will be loading the pitching machine for their own batters.

10) Teams must have a minimum of 8 players prior to the start of the game. If a team has less than 8 players in attendance players should be borrowed from the other team-and a game played that way.

11) 3 outs or a maximum of of 4 runs per inning, with the last inning of play having a (10 run) maximum limit.

12) The umpire will announce the final inning to each coach before the start of the final inning.

13) All players must play both the infield and outfield positions in a game. No player may play more than 2 innings in one position with the exception of the catcher, who may play a maximum of 3 innings per game. ( After a player plays 2 innings in the infield – this is a good time to give them time in the outfield. As coaches it makes it much easier to be certain you are following this rule).

14) All payers must sit once before another player sits twice.

15) There is a no Mercy rule in affect. If the home team is leading in the last inning, they will not have to take their last at bats.

16) When at bat, teams should pull their catcher off the bases to dress them for the next inning when there are two outs. The last player OUT will replace them.

17) Everyone bats

18) Lead offs are not allowed. The ball must cross home plate before any runner(s) can leave the base(s).

19) Overthrows: This rule has 2 parts.

A) For overthrows to any base that go out of the field of play or into a dugout, all

runners will be awarded ONE extra base from that which they already acquired.

B) All overthrows to the pitcher (unless touched) or to any base which remain within the field of play will be considered “live” and runners may advance at their own risks.

20) No stealing home …...... EVER

21) The play is over on a hit ball when a throwback to the pitcher, the pitcher has touched the ball, even if it is not fully under control. Base runners may continue to advance to a base, at their own risk, IF they were fully committed BEFORE the ball was touched by the pitcher.

22) Players overrunning first base may only be tagged out if there is an ATTEMP to go to second base. It does not matter in this league, which way they turn after overrunning the base.

23) Once the ball is in possession of the pitcher, base runners may no longer advance. Players can only advance to the bag they are headed to when the ball gets to the pitcher. Any runner that stops advancing to a base, when the pitcher has possession of the ball on the mound, the runner must return to the base he/she came from.

24) Any base runner that overruns another base, runner is declared out.

25) Sliding is allowed and should be encouraged in plays to second, third and home. No sliding to first base.

26) Headfirst slides are NOT allowed. Runner will be declared out.

27) The slide or avoid rule is in effect.

28) The infield fly rule is in effect.

29) Bunting is allowed. A bunt is considered a strike if missed or fouled. A batter that fouls on strike 3 is out.

30) A batter cannot run on a third strike dropped by a catcher.

31) Catcher interference rule is in effect. “No Pitch” is to be called. One warning is to be issued to the catcher and if interference occurs again the batter will be awards first base.

32) The Umpire will call interference on a defensive player if the bag or plate is not partly exposed. The runner will be awarded a base.

33) Calling a player out for throwing the bat will be at the Umpires discretion. Batter will receive a warning the first time. On next offense the batter will be called out. No base runners advance.

34) Chinstraps must be worn and done-up on all batting helmets.

35) Jocks/Jills are mandatory.

36) No Shorts!- Long pants or preferably Baseball pants should be worn.

37) The on-deck batter must be in the on-deck circle behind the batter(run behind the Umpire to get there).

38) Home team is in the dugout down the third base line.

39) No new inning is to start after 7:15 on weekdays or after 1.5 hours on the weekends thru May 15th. Starting on May 16th – Weekday and weekend time limits will be the same at 1.5 hours.

40) Standing are kept and used for placement of teams in play-offs. Two points are given for win, and one point per team for a tie.

41) RAINOUTS – COACHES ONLY!!!!! Please visit Duncan Junior Baseball on FACEBOOK and the decision will be posted there. Field conditions will also be posted on the website at Coaches cannot call off a game because of weather. Only the Park president, Baseball or Fast-pitch presidents can do this. If a team fails to show up and games haven't been canceled that team will show a forfeit and the win will go to the opposing team.

42) Any games that need to be rescheduled must go thru the player agent and both affected teams with as much notice as possible. Every effort must be made to reschedule all missed games.

43) At the end of each game the PARENTS are responsible for raking the fields, filling any hole and returning the pitching machine and bases to the clubhouse, while the coach has his/her post game talk with the players.

44) If a game has been played before yours the other team will rake out the field but your PARENTS will need to re-line the fields and make necessary adjustments to base placements etc, as needed, while the coach is warming up the team.

These rules are for Regular Spring Season Play only .

Rule adjustments are made when it comes time for pay-offs to begin.