YOUTH BASEBALL BY LAWS

Transcription

1 831 South 55 th Street Kansas City, Kansas OFFICE: FAX: WEBSITE: WEATHER LINES: YOUTH BASEBALL BY LAWS The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) rules shall govern play with the following exceptions. Turner Recreation Commission sets the rules and reserves the right to interpret the rules in the best interest of the Turner Recreation Commission s Youth Baseball League Purpose of the TRC Youth Baseball League: To provide an opportunity for youth of any skill level, who wish to play baseball under proper supervision. The program stresses sportsmanship and character development. Baseball skills are to be developed while maintaining an appreciation for clean, friendly competition and a true spirit of cooperation between sponsors, managers, players, parents/spectators, and league officials. STRESS SPORTSMANSHIP ABOVE ALL!!! Rowdiness, profanity and gestures of poor sportsmanship are not be tolerated. TRC has developed the sportsmanship card. It is designed to be a preventative tool, not a punitive device. It is a warning to an individual coach, athlete, fan, group of fans or any team follower for unsportsmanlike behavior. It is possible that the first instance of an unacceptable unsportsmanlike act could be the catalyst for game termination without issuing a sportsmanship card. The sportsmanship card serves as an effective deterrent to abusive behaviors, and creates a set of constraints that should: eradicate unsportsmanlike behavior, strengthen sportsmanship, contribute to the retention of officials/umpires/coaches and honor the game. 1. Organization Leagues are organized by the TRC office. Age groups can be combined by Turner Recreation Commission. Leagues will be organized as follows: Baseball Leagues: Birthday Range: 10U May 1 of current year 12U May 1 of current year a) Age Cutoff: baseball age is determined as of May 1. Example: if a player is 10 years old on May 1of current year that player will be considered a 10U player for the 2010 season. If a player is 11 years old on or prior to May 1, 2010 that player will be considered a 12U player for the 2010 season. b) Minimum Age: minimum age is 8 on May 1of the current year to play in 10U division c) Option: all participants are encouraged to play in their respective age divisions, but have the option to move up if they meet TRC s criteria. i. Parent approval ii. Coach approval iii. One year age difference from next age division iv. Sports Coordinator approval Note: TRC has the final approval of a participant playing in a higher age division 2. Team Registration Process: All team managers/coaches shall file a team roster of players providing their first and last name, address & phone number(s). Team roster and coach background check forms must be submitted to the TRC office before the registration deadline of (4 Wednesday of April). All roster changes must be completed through the TRC office.

2 Player Restrictions: All players participating in TRC baseball leagues are bound by rosters. No player may play on more than one TRC team during the same season unless approved by both teams and TRC Sports Coordinator. a) Minimum Players: Teams must carry a minimum of 10 players on their roster. b) Maximum Players: Teams may carry a maximum of 12 players on their roster. More than 12 players must be approved by the TRC Sports Coordinator. c) Ineligible Players: Any team playing a player who is ineligible in any way will forfeit all games in which that player participated and the player will be ineligible for the remainder of the season. False Information: A coach guilty of recording false information on team rosters will be held accountable to the TRC Code of Conduct. 3. Diamond Size: League Pitching Distance Base Distance Youth 10U: Youth 12U: Dugouts: Home Team is listed 2 nd on the schedule and occupies the 1 st base dugout. 5. Game Time: a) Lineups: a lineup must be presented to the head umpire at least (10) ten minutes before game time, and to the home team s scorekeeper (5) five minutes before game time. b) Minimum Players: teams failing to field (7) seven players at the scheduled starting time will forfeit. If a team has at least seven (7) players present at game time, the game must be started on schedule. Under no circumstances, shall a team forfeit a game for failing to finish the game with the same number of players they started with. c) Automatic Outs: will not be charged for a team playing with less than a full line-up unless both head coaches agree on outs for absent players. d) Adding Players: additional players may be added at the bottom of the line-up as they arrive. e) Forfeited Games: the time reserved for forfeited games belongs to those who showed. They may use the diamond for a pick up game. Officials shall not work such a game and shall call the game 15 minutes before the start time of the following game. Teams will be allotted a 5 minute grace period prior to receiving a forfeit. Time limit restrictions will apply from original schedule game time. 6. Game Length: Leagues Innings Time Limit 10U 5 1 hour & 30 minutes 12U 6 1 hour & 45 minutes a) Time: No new inning will begin 5 minutes prior to the game time limit. b) Ties: Games will be played out until a winner is determined. 7. Complete Games: The stated minimum number of innings shall constitute a game, regardless of the reason for discontinuation of play (includes inclement weather, darkness, etc which is up to the umpire s discretion). a) 10U: 3 innings if Visiting Team is ahead; 2.5 innings if Home Team is ahead b) 12U: 4 innings if Visiting Team is ahead; 3.5 innings if Home Team is ahead 8. Run Rules: a) 10U-12U: every half inning consist of three (3) outs or six (6) runs, whichever occurs first. b) 10U-12U: 12 run rule after 3 innings (2.5 innings if home team is ahead) or 10 run rule after 4 innings (3.5 innings if home team is ahead). c) A game may be terminated at any time during play by mutual agreement of both managers if the score is so one-sided that completion of the game is undesirable. If a game is stopped for this reason, it shall be an official game regardless of the number of innings that have been completed. The score at the time of cessation shall be the official recorded score. Both managers and the umpire must sign a note in the game report attesting to the agreement.

3 9. Infield Fly Rule: Applies in all age divisions. 10. Game Officials: a) Control: Under no circumstances shall a manager permit any of their players to enter into any dispute. b) Time Limit: The head umpire is in charge of the time limit on the field. Head umpire will announce the start time, which in turn is written down in the score book by the scorekeepers. c) 2-person system: 10U-12U leagues shall use the 2-person system d) Substitutes: Officials shall be furnished for all league games. In those games that two umpires are assigned and one fails to report, the other umpire shall work the game from whatever position he/she feels best to control the game. 11. Mandatory Playing Rules: a) Minimum Playing Time: every youth who attends a scheduled game shall be entered in the batting line-up and play at least (2) two defensive innings & (1) one at bat in all divisions. Violations of this rule will result in: i. 1 st Offense: team warning ii. 2 nd Offense: ejection of head coach, (two game suspension), game forfeiture iii. 3 rd Offense: suspension of head coach for remainder of season b) Practice/Game Attendance: unexcused player absences for practices and/or games can reduce the amount of playing time, but the coach still must abide by the minimum playing time rule stated above if the player has a valid excuse as determined by the head coach for missing practice/games. (Protests will be recorded by the field supervisor & reviewed by the TRC Sports Coordinator). c) Under no circumstances should a player be penalized from baseball participation because of their participation in other summer activities such as camps, vacations and other recreational/educational pursuits. 12. Substitutions: a) SUBSTITUTE - A player who replaces a player that is in the game (offense or defense). Teams are required to immediately report all substitutions to the plate umpire. Upon notification by either team, the umpire shall announce the legal substitute and make the appropriate lineup card changes. An unreported legal substitute brought to the umpire s attention will result in a penalty, all prior play shall stand. b) PENALTY: For unreported substitution, i. First offense: A team warning is issued. ii. Second offense: The illegal player shall be restricted to the bench/dugout for the duration of the game. 13. Pitch Substitution: a) If the starting pitcher is replaced, the pitcher may play or re-enter at another position, but shall not return to the pitching position in the same inning. b) A defensive team manager and/or coach is permitted to have only (1) one conference with the pitcher during an inning. A second (2nd) visit to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher s automatic removal from the pitching position. 14. Illegal player is a player who enters the line-up without the right to an offensive or defensive position. Examples of an Illegal player(s) but not limited to be: Starter and/or substitute who re-enters in an incorrect batting position. Using a player to pitch who was removed in the same inning from the pitching position. Penalty: i. First offense: A team warning is issued. ii. Second offense: The illegal player shall be restricted to the bench/dugout for the duration of the game. Note: Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered once, provided such player occupies the same batting position in the lineup. 15. Stealing: Unlimited advancement on all overthrows and open stealing of bases in the 12U divisions. 10U may steal 1 st -3 rd. Baserunner can only go home on a batted ball or a walk in 10U.

4 16. Crash Rule: Whenever a tag play is evident, runners must slide, go around or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and or catcher. Attempting to jump, leap, or dive over the fielder and or catcher is not an act of avoiding contact. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Baserunner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the umpire s discretion. 17. Batting Line-Up: a) All leagues will bat entire roster (no courtesy runner is allowed) b) Batting orders shall be provided by each manager to the opposing team scorer before the meeting of the managers and umpires at home plate prior to game time. These batting orders are official at the time the opposing managers meet at home plate. Team line-up cards shall list the last names of all registered players, with appropriate notations of those ineligible to participate in that game due to absence, sickness, injury or disciplinary action. However, if a player arrives at the game after the line-up cards have been exchanged listing them as absent, it is the manager s option to insert player into the lineup, and if so, they must be inserted as the last batter. 18. Player Equipment: a) All players must wear a batting helmet during offense at all times on the field. b) No steel cleats are allowed in 10U-12U divisions c) The use of protective headgear and mask is mandatory for any player who is warming up the pitcher. d) It is recommended that all players wear a plainly numbered shirt. e) Players are prohibited from wearing watches, rings, pins, jewelry or other metallic items, plastic or rubber bracelets and other items with hard surfaces, excluding protective cups, eye glasses, sunglasses, hard shelled shin and elbow guards. Once player is on base, the player must remove hard shelled shin and elbow guards before play can resume. f) Players will not be permitted to play without wearing their team shirt. Each player s uniform must bear an identifying number (no smaller than five inches in height) conspicuously displayed subject to prior authorization by TRC. 19. Player/Coach/Bat Boy or Girl Uniform: a) There will be a requirement covering all managers and coaches appearing on the playing field to have as a minimum uniform consisting of an identifying T-shirt or sport shirt of like color. Bat persons will be required to wear a uniform similar to the players, manager or coaches. 20. Coaches: a) Do not play soft toss into our fences. b) Remember to tell your players & spectators to stay off of the fences (climbing, hanging, etc.) c) All coaches must pass a national background screening and all coaches must attain a badge, which must be worn outside their shirt during practices and games. d) It is the responsibility of each manager to police the dugout and surrounding area, placing all gum wrappers, cups and trash in trash barrels. e) Everyone must help us maintain the park. f) Any member of the coaching staff who is not the head coach leaving the vicinity of the dugout or coaching box to dispute a judgment call by an umpire. The penalty for this infraction is that both the head coach and the offending coach will be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game. If severe enough, the umpire also has the authority to eject the offending coach and or the head coach. 21. Scorekeepers: The home team supplies the official scorekeeper, and fills out game reports with the TRC Field Supervisor at the completion of their game. Both teams can supply scorekeepers. 22. Pitcher Balk : If there is a runner, or runners on base, it is a balk when: a) The pitcher, while touching the pitcher s plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery; Comment: If a left-handed or right-handed pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second (2nd) base on a pick-off-play. b) The pitcher, while touching the pitcher s plate, feints a throw to first (1st) base and fails to complete the throw. c) The pitcher, while touching the pitcher s plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base.

5 General Statement Concerning Balks: Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If there is doubt in the umpire s mind, the intent of the pitcher should govern. However, certain specifics should be borne in mind: Straddling the pitcher s rubber without the ball is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled a balk. In age divisions 10U, pitchers should be allowed some leniency in regards to balks. Pitchers should be called for all major violations and warned for minor violations that do not affect the outcome of play, including one warning per pitcher. In age divisions 12U 16U, balks shall be strictly enforced without warning. 23. Pitch hits the ground rule If a pitch touches the ground before reaching the plate, it is by definition a pitch. The batter may hit it, and the hit is legal. If the batter is touched by it and was trying to avoid it, the batter is awarded first base. If the batter swings and misses it, it is a strike. The only thing a pitch that touches the ground can never be; is a CALLED strike. 24. Drop 3 rd Strike: 12U-16U divisions will play under USSSA ruling. 10U will not play the drop 3 rd strike COLUOLUMN B 25. Innings Pitched Limit: A B 10U U 3 6 Column A: The maximum number of innings a player can pitch in one (1) day. Column B: The maximum number of innings a player can pitch in three (3) consecutive days. Note: One pitch is counted as one inning 26. Intentional Walks: are issued by announcement of such at the 10U and above by the coach, pitcher or catcher. No pitches have to be thrown. 27. Team Standings will be maintained for the 10U-16U divisions. 1 st & 2 nd place medals will be awarded only to the top 2 teams in the 10U-12U divisions. 28. Team Placement: determined according to following criteria: a) Win/Loss Record b) Head-to-Head c) Least total runs scored against (head-to-head teams only) when both scorebooks show no discrepancies. d) Runs scored for (head-to-head teams only) when both scorebooks show no discrepancies. e) Coin Flip. 29. Schedules: All games schedules will be available no later than 1 week prior to start of the season. 30. Game Times & Locations: All games are played at Riverview Complex 200 S. Riverview KCK 66111