Mercersburg Youth Baseball Minor League Rule Book AWS
Revised for the 2018 Season
Mercersburg Youth Baseball Minor League Rule Book Facility Guidelines It is the intent of Mercersburg Youth Baseball to promote the “Life Skills” of team work, fair play, endurance, justice and sportsmanship, by the use of supervised competition and volunteerism. All players, managers, coaches, parents/caregivers and umpires should conduct themselves in a manner that promotes and reinforces these “Life Skills”. Guidelines Safety will be a priority concern at all times. Managers are responsible to maintain order on the practice field, game field, dug outs, and in the stands. Ridicule, taunting and foul language are prohibited. Teams are responsible for leaving the dug outs and fields clean and orderly. Taking with them all equipment and ensuring all trash and other debris has been placed in the trash cans. The HOME team is responsible for the preparation of the field prior to the game. The VISITING team is responsible for the press box during the game. Ensuring that all trash and other debris in the press box have been placed in the trash cans after the game. A maximum of three people, ages 18 and up, will be allowed in the press box at any given time. The stand manager is responsible for raising the flag before the game and lowers the flag after. They will also in charge of playing the National Anthem promptly at 6:00 pm to signal the start of the games. Spectators are not permitted behind the backstop during game play. Smoking and vaping is prohibited on league grounds. Intentional or deliberate non-compliance to these guidelines may result in the following:
Loss of game Ejection from the grounds Meeting with the Board of Directors
If there is an 8:00 pm game played on the front field, a new inning may not be started after 10:30 pm, and all games end precisely at 11:00 pm due to the noise ordinance of the Mercersburg Borough. No 8:00pm games Monday-Thursday Mercersburg Youth Baseball is an independent recreational league, with programs for children 4 through 12 years of age.
1
Rules of Play for Mercersburg Youth Baseball
Revised for the 2018 Season
1. Team and Players a. The minimum age for managers and coaches shall be 18 years old. b. Following registration, all new player candidates will try-out to be placed on a team c. Quitting: When a player quits before the season ends, the parent or guardian must appear before the Board of Directors and provide a legitimate reason for quitting if they wish to be eligible to play next season d. Every player on the team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of 12 consecutive outs (6 offensive and 6 defensive) if 11 or more players roster. A player for the home team shall be considered to have played the minimum required playing time if he has played the entire 5th and 6th inning and has had one at bat. e. Bat Boys are not required but may be used. The bat boy must wear a helmet. Each team is allowed to have ONE bat boy. They are not permitted to play in the game. f. Coaches cannot pull players from other minor league teams, if a coach wants to add players to help for a game, they must pull a player up from a T-ball team (player ages 56). g. Coaches MUST make every effort to field a team by asking younger league players to play upon guardian approval (Major League may bring up 8-9 year olds and Minor League may bring up 5-6 year olds) h. Any player who shows up late will play after the child “brought up” has played their minimum number of innings. i. All teams in Mercersburg Youth Baseball must abide by the 5-5-5 rule in regard to ages on teams. No more than 5 of the same age is allowed on a single team. j. All 9 year olds MUST tryout to determine the league in which they will play (Minor or Major) k. A 6 year old may tryout to determine their ability to play in the Minor League 2. Dugout a. No more than 5 adults are allowed in the dugout. b. Managers and coaches take primary responsibility for the actions of the player in the dugout. Ridicule, taunting and foul language are prohibited. c. There will be an emphasis on good sportsmanship, as well as clean and timely play. d. Players must hustle when entering and exiting the playing field as not to delay the game. e. The catcher should keep shin guards on in the innings that he is not expected to be “At bat”. 3. Starting and ending the game: a. Batting orders need not be provided to the umpire-in-chief but must be submitted to the opposing team’s scorekeeper prior to the start of the game. b. First and Third base coaches shall be adults c. A game in progress shall not be forfeited if a team cannot place eight players on the field. Play shall continue with available players.
2
Revised for the 2018 Season
4. Official Playing Rules: Playing rules shall comply with The Official Playing Rules of Little League Baseball. As amended by the Mercersburg Youth Baseball Board of Directors and referred to as “The Rules of Play for Mercersburg Youth Baseball”. a. All player on the team MUST bat b. 15 run rule after 5 innings. Home team must bat c. 5 runs allowed per inning, except the last inning. In the last inning, any number of runs may be scored. d. On an over throw the runner advances one base maximum. The ball will be considered dead once the runner is granted the additional base. The over throw rule applies to first, second, and third bases. e. Once the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runners will be placed at the umpire’s discretion. f. If the game goes into extra innings, the coach will pitch all extra innings g. NO ARCH is allowed on the ball when the coach is pitching, the arch should not be higher than the pitcher’s head and it is the umpire’s discretion h. One coach is permitted behind 2nd base until Memorial Day i. There is No infield fly rule 5. The Runner a. No stealing is permitted b. The base runner cannot lead off and cannot leave the base until the ball is hit. Each player will be granted a warning and will be called out with the second offense in the game. c. Intentional Collisions i. If the catcher or baseman has possession of the ball and is in the base path to apply the tag, a base runner trying to avoid the tag may: 1. Turn back 2. Step around 3. Slide under the tag ii. The base runner is not permitted to jump over, high slide (in the Ty Cobb fashion), or intentionally collide with the catcher or any baseman. The base runner will be called out. 1. To avoid the fielder while running in the baseline, a runner may run behind the fielder iii. The Umpire in Chief shall determine if contact is incidental or intentional. iv. A base runner that intentionally collides with a catcher or baseman will be called out and the ejected. (The objective is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate and unwarranted action by the runner for the obvious purpose of crashing in the defensive player, rather than trying to reach the base.) d. Head first slides are only permitted when returning to the base e. If a hit ball contacts a run, the runner will be called out and the play is dead at that time. f. When the ball is returned to the mound, the players must throw the ball to the player on the mound, not the coach. If an attempt is made to throw the ball to the circle, play is then stopped. The player does not necessarily have to control the ball. g. To speed up play, a courtesy runner may be used for the catcher when there are two outs. The courtesy runner must be a player not in the line-up. This does not count as a substitution or an inning played. 3
Revised for the 2018 Season
6. The Pitcher a. Pitchers will pitch at 42 feet b. Pitcher shall be given a minimum of 10 preparatory pitches per inning. c. A player of any age can pitch only 2 innings per game. d. A team may only pitch one 9 year old per game e. Coach pitches after 3 walked batters, or 2 hit by pitch, or 2 walks and 1 hit by pitch. Regardless of how many pitchers threw that inning. f. One pitch thrown counts as an inning pitched g. A coach pitching is considered a part of the field of play, if the coach is hit with a batted ball it is considered live and play will continue. h. A coach pitching should pitch from the rubber and should stand to pitch i. Pitching will be as follows: Kids will pitch innings 1, 2, and 6. Coaches will pitch innings 3, 4, and 5. j. NO ARCH is allowed on the ball when the coach is pitching, the arch should not be higher than the pitcher’s head and it is the umpire’s discretion k. When the coach pitches, the fielder playing the pitcher position must be even with or behind the pitching rubber and outside the established pitching circle. Not directly behind the coach pitching l. Managers or coaches may warm up pitchers 7. Substitutes a. Substitutions need not be reported to the Umpire in Chief, but must be identified to the scorekeeper of the opposing team. b. A substitute must complete one time at bat and played defensively for a minimum of 6 consecutive outs. c. Only players in the starting line-up whom have been removed for a substitute may reenter the game. d. The player may re-enter the game once, a player re-entering the game cannot be put in a position in the line-up that would allow them to bat before they would have batted had they not been removed from the game. (A number 5 batter can bat in the slots 6 through 9 spots, but not the 4 and above). 8. Inclement Weather a. The manager from both teams must agree on the fitness of the field before the game begins. If the managers cannot agree the Umpire in Chief makes the decision. b. Once the game has started the Umpire in Chief shall be the sole judge as to inclement weather and when a game shall be suspended, due to inclement weather. Play will resume at the judgement of the umpire. c. Inclement weather involving strong winds or lightning shall not continue before a 30minute waiting period has occurred. d. The umpire shall also decide whether to resume or terminate a game. e. The umpire can wait up to 30 minutes before calling a game and may delay longer if there is a reason to believe that conditions will improve. f. If a game precedes another game, it has to begin within 30 minutes of the original start time. If it cannot then, it will then need to be rescheduled. g. **Also see “Rain-Out Procedures” for more information
4
Revised for the 2018 Season
9. Suspended or make-up games a. All suspended games will begin “where they were” at the time of suspension. b. All pitcher restrictions will apply to the suspended or make-up game. c. All forfeiture rules will apply to the suspended or make-up game. d. The head coaches of a rescheduled game have a one week maximum to have a makeup date scheduled on the game calendar. If the makeup game is not scheduled within that one week time period of it being cancelled, it will be scheduled at the discretion of the Mercersburg Youth Baseball President and dependent upon the availability of the umpires. e. **Also see “Rain-Out Procedures” for more information 10. Protesting a Game a. The protesting manager shall serve notice to the Umpire in Chief immediately, and before any succeeding play begins, that game is being played “under protest”. b. The protesting manager must present his protest to the league Board of Directors in writing within 3 days. c. The league Board of Directors shall hold a protest hearing within 7 days. d. The protesting manager and opposing manager and Umpire in Chief of the game shall be present for the league Board of Directors for questioning, during the protest hearing. e. Failure of a manager to show for the hearing will result in a favorable judgement for the manager present. 11. Umpires a. The minimum age for an Umpire in Chief shall be 18 years of age. b. The minimum age for a base umpire shall be 16 years of age. c. Umpires will conduct themselves in a professional manner. d. The umpire is responsible for the conduct of the game on the field. e. The umpire shall enforce all rules and regulations of game play. f. The umpire shall have the authority to warn, reprimand, or eject any player, coach, spectator from a game for any actions he deems un-sportsman like. g. It is the responsibility of all managers, coaches, parents, and guardians or caregivers, to support the umpire in all matters of behavior and sportsmanship. 12. End of the Season Championship Play a. The end of season championship games/series will be determined by the Board of Directors and the minor league managers prior to scheduling the regular season games 13. All-Star Manager/Coach Selection a. The winner of the league championship will be the manager of the All-Star team b. The first runner up of the league championship will be coach number 1 c. The second runner up of the league championship will be coach number 2 d. If the winner of the championship team’s manager declines the manager’s position, then the first runner up will be asked to manage the team. If the first runner up decline’s then the second runner up will be asked e. If all three decline the position, then the Board of Directors will select a manager
5
Revised for the 2018 Season
6
Mercersburg Youth Baseball Minor League Rule Book Facility Guidelines It is the intent of Mercersburg Youth Baseball to promote the “Life Skills” of team work, fair play, endurance, justice and sportsmanship, by the use of supervised competition and volunteerism. All players, managers, coaches, parents/caregivers and umpires should conduct themselves in a manner that promotes and reinforces these “Life Skills”. Guidelines Safety will be a priority concern at all times. Managers are responsible to maintain order on the practice field, game field, dug outs, and in the stands. Ridicule, taunting and foul language are prohibited. Teams are responsible for leaving the dug outs and fields clean and orderly. Taking with them all equipment and ensuring all trash and other debris has been placed in the trash cans. The HOME team is responsible for the preparation of the field prior to the game. The VISITING team is responsible for the press box during the game. Ensuring that all trash and other debris in the press box have been placed in the trash cans after the game. A maximum of three people, ages 18 and up, will be allowed in the press box at any given time. The stand manager is responsible for raising the flag before the game and lowers the flag after. They will also in charge of playing the National Anthem promptly at 6:00 pm to signal the start of the games. Spectators are not permitted behind the backstop during game play. Smoking and vaping is prohibited on league grounds. Intentional or deliberate non-compliance to these guidelines may result in the following:
Loss of game Ejection from the grounds Meeting with the Board of Directors
If there is an 8:00 pm game played on the front field, a new inning may not be started after 10:30 pm, and all games end precisely at 11:00 pm due to the noise ordinance of the Mercersburg Borough. No 8:00pm games Monday-Thursday Mercersburg Youth Baseball is an independent recreational league, with programs for children 4 through 12 years of age.
1
Rules of Play for Mercersburg Youth Baseball
Revised for the 2018 Season
1. Team and Players a. The minimum age for managers and coaches shall be 18 years old. b. Following registration, all new player candidates will try-out to be placed on a team c. Quitting: When a player quits before the season ends, the parent or guardian must appear before the Board of Directors and provide a legitimate reason for quitting if they wish to be eligible to play next season d. Every player on the team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of 12 consecutive outs (6 offensive and 6 defensive) if 11 or more players roster. A player for the home team shall be considered to have played the minimum required playing time if he has played the entire 5th and 6th inning and has had one at bat. e. Bat Boys are not required but may be used. The bat boy must wear a helmet. Each team is allowed to have ONE bat boy. They are not permitted to play in the game. f. Coaches cannot pull players from other minor league teams, if a coach wants to add players to help for a game, they must pull a player up from a T-ball team (player ages 56). g. Coaches MUST make every effort to field a team by asking younger league players to play upon guardian approval (Major League may bring up 8-9 year olds and Minor League may bring up 5-6 year olds) h. Any player who shows up late will play after the child “brought up” has played their minimum number of innings. i. All teams in Mercersburg Youth Baseball must abide by the 5-5-5 rule in regard to ages on teams. No more than 5 of the same age is allowed on a single team. j. All 9 year olds MUST tryout to determine the league in which they will play (Minor or Major) k. A 6 year old may tryout to determine their ability to play in the Minor League 2. Dugout a. No more than 5 adults are allowed in the dugout. b. Managers and coaches take primary responsibility for the actions of the player in the dugout. Ridicule, taunting and foul language are prohibited. c. There will be an emphasis on good sportsmanship, as well as clean and timely play. d. Players must hustle when entering and exiting the playing field as not to delay the game. e. The catcher should keep shin guards on in the innings that he is not expected to be “At bat”. 3. Starting and ending the game: a. Batting orders need not be provided to the umpire-in-chief but must be submitted to the opposing team’s scorekeeper prior to the start of the game. b. First and Third base coaches shall be adults c. A game in progress shall not be forfeited if a team cannot place eight players on the field. Play shall continue with available players.
2
Revised for the 2018 Season
4. Official Playing Rules: Playing rules shall comply with The Official Playing Rules of Little League Baseball. As amended by the Mercersburg Youth Baseball Board of Directors and referred to as “The Rules of Play for Mercersburg Youth Baseball”. a. All player on the team MUST bat b. 15 run rule after 5 innings. Home team must bat c. 5 runs allowed per inning, except the last inning. In the last inning, any number of runs may be scored. d. On an over throw the runner advances one base maximum. The ball will be considered dead once the runner is granted the additional base. The over throw rule applies to first, second, and third bases. e. Once the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runners will be placed at the umpire’s discretion. f. If the game goes into extra innings, the coach will pitch all extra innings g. NO ARCH is allowed on the ball when the coach is pitching, the arch should not be higher than the pitcher’s head and it is the umpire’s discretion h. One coach is permitted behind 2nd base until Memorial Day i. There is No infield fly rule 5. The Runner a. No stealing is permitted b. The base runner cannot lead off and cannot leave the base until the ball is hit. Each player will be granted a warning and will be called out with the second offense in the game. c. Intentional Collisions i. If the catcher or baseman has possession of the ball and is in the base path to apply the tag, a base runner trying to avoid the tag may: 1. Turn back 2. Step around 3. Slide under the tag ii. The base runner is not permitted to jump over, high slide (in the Ty Cobb fashion), or intentionally collide with the catcher or any baseman. The base runner will be called out. 1. To avoid the fielder while running in the baseline, a runner may run behind the fielder iii. The Umpire in Chief shall determine if contact is incidental or intentional. iv. A base runner that intentionally collides with a catcher or baseman will be called out and the ejected. (The objective is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate and unwarranted action by the runner for the obvious purpose of crashing in the defensive player, rather than trying to reach the base.) d. Head first slides are only permitted when returning to the base e. If a hit ball contacts a run, the runner will be called out and the play is dead at that time. f. When the ball is returned to the mound, the players must throw the ball to the player on the mound, not the coach. If an attempt is made to throw the ball to the circle, play is then stopped. The player does not necessarily have to control the ball. g. To speed up play, a courtesy runner may be used for the catcher when there are two outs. The courtesy runner must be a player not in the line-up. This does not count as a substitution or an inning played. 3
Revised for the 2018 Season
6. The Pitcher a. Pitchers will pitch at 42 feet b. Pitcher shall be given a minimum of 10 preparatory pitches per inning. c. A player of any age can pitch only 2 innings per game. d. A team may only pitch one 9 year old per game e. Coach pitches after 3 walked batters, or 2 hit by pitch, or 2 walks and 1 hit by pitch. Regardless of how many pitchers threw that inning. f. One pitch thrown counts as an inning pitched g. A coach pitching is considered a part of the field of play, if the coach is hit with a batted ball it is considered live and play will continue. h. A coach pitching should pitch from the rubber and should stand to pitch i. Pitching will be as follows: Kids will pitch innings 1, 2, and 6. Coaches will pitch innings 3, 4, and 5. j. NO ARCH is allowed on the ball when the coach is pitching, the arch should not be higher than the pitcher’s head and it is the umpire’s discretion k. When the coach pitches, the fielder playing the pitcher position must be even with or behind the pitching rubber and outside the established pitching circle. Not directly behind the coach pitching l. Managers or coaches may warm up pitchers 7. Substitutes a. Substitutions need not be reported to the Umpire in Chief, but must be identified to the scorekeeper of the opposing team. b. A substitute must complete one time at bat and played defensively for a minimum of 6 consecutive outs. c. Only players in the starting line-up whom have been removed for a substitute may reenter the game. d. The player may re-enter the game once, a player re-entering the game cannot be put in a position in the line-up that would allow them to bat before they would have batted had they not been removed from the game. (A number 5 batter can bat in the slots 6 through 9 spots, but not the 4 and above). 8. Inclement Weather a. The manager from both teams must agree on the fitness of the field before the game begins. If the managers cannot agree the Umpire in Chief makes the decision. b. Once the game has started the Umpire in Chief shall be the sole judge as to inclement weather and when a game shall be suspended, due to inclement weather. Play will resume at the judgement of the umpire. c. Inclement weather involving strong winds or lightning shall not continue before a 30minute waiting period has occurred. d. The umpire shall also decide whether to resume or terminate a game. e. The umpire can wait up to 30 minutes before calling a game and may delay longer if there is a reason to believe that conditions will improve. f. If a game precedes another game, it has to begin within 30 minutes of the original start time. If it cannot then, it will then need to be rescheduled. g. **Also see “Rain-Out Procedures” for more information
4
Revised for the 2018 Season
9. Suspended or make-up games a. All suspended games will begin “where they were” at the time of suspension. b. All pitcher restrictions will apply to the suspended or make-up game. c. All forfeiture rules will apply to the suspended or make-up game. d. The head coaches of a rescheduled game have a one week maximum to have a makeup date scheduled on the game calendar. If the makeup game is not scheduled within that one week time period of it being cancelled, it will be scheduled at the discretion of the Mercersburg Youth Baseball President and dependent upon the availability of the umpires. e. **Also see “Rain-Out Procedures” for more information 10. Protesting a Game a. The protesting manager shall serve notice to the Umpire in Chief immediately, and before any succeeding play begins, that game is being played “under protest”. b. The protesting manager must present his protest to the league Board of Directors in writing within 3 days. c. The league Board of Directors shall hold a protest hearing within 7 days. d. The protesting manager and opposing manager and Umpire in Chief of the game shall be present for the league Board of Directors for questioning, during the protest hearing. e. Failure of a manager to show for the hearing will result in a favorable judgement for the manager present. 11. Umpires a. The minimum age for an Umpire in Chief shall be 18 years of age. b. The minimum age for a base umpire shall be 16 years of age. c. Umpires will conduct themselves in a professional manner. d. The umpire is responsible for the conduct of the game on the field. e. The umpire shall enforce all rules and regulations of game play. f. The umpire shall have the authority to warn, reprimand, or eject any player, coach, spectator from a game for any actions he deems un-sportsman like. g. It is the responsibility of all managers, coaches, parents, and guardians or caregivers, to support the umpire in all matters of behavior and sportsmanship. 12. End of the Season Championship Play a. The end of season championship games/series will be determined by the Board of Directors and the minor league managers prior to scheduling the regular season games 13. All-Star Manager/Coach Selection a. The winner of the league championship will be the manager of the All-Star team b. The first runner up of the league championship will be coach number 1 c. The second runner up of the league championship will be coach number 2 d. If the winner of the championship team’s manager declines the manager’s position, then the first runner up will be asked to manage the team. If the first runner up decline’s then the second runner up will be asked e. If all three decline the position, then the Board of Directors will select a manager
5
Revised for the 2018 Season
6
