Des Plaines Youth Baseball Ltd
Des Plaines Youth Baseball Ltd. P.O. Box 2774 Des Plaines, IL 60017 http://www.desplainesyouthbaseball.org _________________________________________________________________
AAA League Specific Rules: The League shall consist of 11 and 12 yearold players (as of May 1st of playing year). Baseball Bats Please see the section on Baseball Bat Rules found on official rules document. Baseball Bats must meet the requirements below: Maximum = 33inches Diameter Maximum = 21/4inches Drop = Unlimited (Drop = Length Weight) Regulation Game A Regulation Game shall be of 6 innings duration, or 51/2 innings if the Home team is winning. A game is considered an Official Game once 4 full innings have been completed or 31/2 innings if the Home team is ahead. Official Game It is an Official Game if it is called by the Umpire on account of darkness, rain, or other causes which, in the Umpire’s judgment, interferes with play, provided 4 or more equal innings have been played, or 31/2 innings if the Home team is ahead. If the Home team is leading after 31/2 innings, the Home team is declared the winner. After it is an Official Game, but before both teams have had an equal number of bats, and the game is called by the Umpire on account of darkness, rain, or other causes which, in the Umpire’s judgment, interferes with play – the final score will revert to the score in effect at the end of the last complete inning. If the last complete inning results in a tie score it will be considered a suspended game and is to be rescheduled and resumed from the point of curtailment. During the regular season if a game is called before it is an Official Game, it will not be suspended, or rescheduled. During post season playoffs if a game is called before it is an Official Game, it will be considered a suspended game and is to be rescheduled and resumed from the point of curtailment. Game Time Limits No inning can start after 2 hours from the game start time. Game time limit is 2 hours, 15 minutes after the start time.
Run Limits Run limits will be in effect for this division. No batting team shall score more than 10 runs per inning. Mercy Rule If a team is leading its opponent by at least 15 runs after 4 or more equal innings (31/2 if the home team is ahead), 10 runs after 5 or more equal innings (41/2 if the home team is ahead) have been played, the game is ended, and the team leading by more runs is declared the winner. In this case, both team managers and umpire could elect to complete the regulation game between the teams, but use it as a learning experience for the kids on both sides. In effect teach them skills. Substitutions AAA Managers can “bring up” a maximum of 4, 10 year old players from the system’s AA teams, while not exceeding a total of 9 players on the AAA team for that game. The AA players that are brought up cannot pitch or catch and must bat last in the batting order. Playing Time All rostered players must play a minimum of 3 defensive innings of 3 consecutive outs each by the end of the 5th inning. In a game that is called after 31/2 or 4 innings, all rostered players must have played at least 3 full defensive innings. Penalty: Forfeiture All players must play 3 defensive innings by the end of the 5th inning; before any player sits out a 2nd inning. Penalty: Forfeiture. Every rostered player must sit out one inning. (providing there are enough players to fill the roster) Penalty: Forfeiture. No player shall play any position more than 2 full innings per game. During the game, each player must play 2 positions (besides pitcher or catcher). They must play 1 full inning in the infield (1st, 2nd, 3rd or shortstop) and 1 full inning in the outfield (right, center or left). Penalty: Forfeiture. SPIRIT OF THE RULES Team Managers and Coaches will stress the importance of building a baseball team community, sportsmanship and skills, by instructing all kids on how to correctly play and demonstrate the skills related with every position on the baseball field. The importance of this is significant, as this single act will build the future for all kids and provide them the platform to grow as a player. This means that even in tough situations, all team members need to Catch, Pitch, Play all infield Positions and outfield Positions. At the same time, the Team Manager needs to realize that If a child on the team, simply does not have the coordination to catch a thrown ball, the team manager should not place that person at catcher or 1st base. Just because a player cannot throw all strikes does not mean that he does not
deserve a shot at taking the mound, and leading his team. This is how we grow baseball players. Penalty: Forfeiture
Continuous Batting Order Teams will bat a continuous lineup and each player will be required to bat in their respective spot in the batting order. Batting orders should be change significantly at every game during the regular season. Bunting Bunting is permitted. Batters who show bunt must either bunt or take the pitch. The batter may not swing the bat at the ball. Batters will automatically be called out. Swinging/Slash Bunts Not permitted. A “swinging/slash” bunt is when a batter squares off to bunt, and then pulls back and swings at the pitch. Any player who attempts a “swinging/slash” bunt is automatically called out, and runners are returned to the bases they occupied before the “swinging/slash” bunt was made. Squeeze Bunt Not permitted. Safety Squeeze Permitted. The runner at 3rd base cannot break towards home plate until the batter makes contact bunting. Runner will automatically be called out. Leadoffs Lead offs are Permitted. Stealing Permitted. However, there is no stealing of any base if the leading team attains a 7 or more run lead. Their team may not steal until their lead decreases to less than 7 runs. Exception to this rule, is if the lead runner is played upon via a throwing pickoff attempt, the runner has the opportunity to advance. If the lead runner is not the attempted pick off that lead runner may not advance a base. Delayed Steals Permitted. However, a runner may not “Delay Steal” Home Plate. Dropped Third Strike Rule is in effect. If the batter at the plate does not make any attempt to run to 1st base after the dropped strike, the batter will be called out. Infield Fly Rule is in effect. It is important that the coaches and umpires are aware of this rule. The infield
fly rule should be explained during practice to ensure that there is no confusion by the players. Avoid Contact Rule is in effect. Catcher’s Speed Up Rule is in effect. If the offensive team’s catcher is on base with 2 outs, the player who made the previous out will replace the catcher on base. Headfirst slides Only permitted when a player is returning to a base after having previously reached that base safely. Any player who violates this rule will be called out.
AAA: General Pitching Rules Only players rostered on an individual team are eligible to pitch for that specific team. Maximum per Day Maximum per Week Maximum Innings Consecutive Days 3 Innings Per Day or 75 pitches whichever comes first. 7 Innings Per Week 3+1 = 4 innings Over two Day period A calendar week is from 12:01 am Monday to 11:59 pm (midnight) Sunday. A pitcher is charged with the number of innings pitched in the specific calendar day and week in which they are pitched, regardless of whether they are league games or the suspension of postponed or suspended games. A single pitch thrown during an inning is considered an inning pitched. Examples: 1) A pitcher can throw 3 innings on Monday, and 3 innings on Wednesday and 1 inning on Thursday to fulfill the 7 inning limit. 2) A pitcher throws 3 innings on Monday, can pitch a maximum of 1 inning on Tuesday. That pitcher would be able to pitch again on Thursday for 3 inning, after resting on Wednesday to fulfill the 7 inning limit. 3) A pitcher could pitch 3 innings on Monday, 1 inning on Tuesday, Rest on Wednesday, pitch 2 inning on Thursday, and 1 inning on Friday to fulfill the 7 inning limit. 4) The Maximum innings per week cannot be exceeded. That pitcher must have a minimum of 1 calendar day of rest before pitching again.
A pitcher is charged with the number of innings pitched in the specific calendar day and week in which they are pitched, regardless of whether they are league games or the suspension of postponed or suspended games. Managers and Coaches should be aware of the number of pitches that the players are throwing. If a pitcher is throwing around 75 pitches per game, it would be our recommendation to allow that pitcher to rest for the rest of the game. Pitched Ball Restrictions (Breaking Balls) No breaking balls, including a “curve ball,” “slip pitch” or “slider,” will be allowed. Only the umpire will deem a pitch a breaking ball. 1 warning will be given. On subsequent breaking balls, the pitch will be deemed an illegal pitch. Penalty: If there are no runners on base, the penalty is a ball awarded to the batter. If there are runner(s) on base, the penalty is a balk. The ball is dead and all runner(s) advance 1 base. Intentional Walks Teams are allowed only 1 Intentional Walk per game. The pitches must be thrown and the ball continues to be a live ball and inplay. Enforcement of “Hit by Pitch” rule If pitches from the same pitcher hit opposition batters 2 times in one inning or 3 times in same game, the offending pitcher is immediately removed from the mound and cannot pitch again in that game. There will be no “quick pitch.” The batter will be allowed to get set in the batters box, and the pitcher will come to a set position before he pitches the ball. Balks The balk rules will be enforced after 1 Umpire Warning at the start of the 2nd half of the baseball season. This includes all Playoff, Championship, and AllStar games. There will be 1 warning per pitcher, per game. 3 obvious ways to balk are as follows: 1. Pitcher drops the ball while in contact with the rubber. 2. While in the stretch, the pitcher fails to come to a complete stop before delivering the pitch. 3. If the first move is to 1st base or home and the pitcher fails to throw the ball. Penalty: If there are no runners on base, the penalty is a ball awarded to the batter. If there are runner(s) on base, the ball is dead and all runner(s) advance 1 base.
