Quad State Travel Baseball League 13U AGE DIVISION RULE BOOK 2015 www.qstbl.com
INSURANCE: All teams must have proof of Insurance Coverage at every QSTBL game. Starting Spring 2016 The policy must show the following as Certificate Holder: Quad State Travel Baseball League. The address of the certificate holder: 112 Julasar Drive; Winchester, Virginia 22602 AGE CUTOFF: All players participating in Quad State Travel Baseball League must be of proper age. Players must be 13 years of age or younger on: May 1, 2015. FIELD DIMENSIONS The Bases will be set at 90 feet. The Pitching Rubber will be set at 60 feet 6 inches PRE/POST GAME REQUIREMENTS HOME Team must secure the playing field. HOME Team must secure 2 umpires for 60/90 fields. HOME Team shall contact VISITING Team 3 days in advance to confirm game time(s), field location, Umpire fees, & extra amenities at your field (ie. Batting cages, concession stands, bathrooms, available seating for fans, pet friendly, etc) HOME Team shall have their choice of Dugout. HOME Team shall provide 2 game balls and one back up for the first game. VISITING Team shall provide 2 game balls and one back up for the second game. HOME Team pays for one umpire. VISITING Team pays for the other umpire. HOME Team must inform the VISITING Team of any Time Restrictions before the game due to Field Allocation restrictions. HOME Team shall inform VISITING Team as early as possible if the game is cancelled as well as inform the umpires as early as possible. WINNING Team must submit Game Results to qstblscores@gmail.com within 48 Hours EQUIPMENT BAT: USSSA Rule 7.01.C All bats must have The Official USSSA / BPF 1.15 Stamp on the handle or barrel. There is NO Restriction on Barrel Size. Big barrel bat rules. A big barrel bat (no more than 2¾ inches diameter and no more than 36 inches in length) must be manufactured by an approved USSSA bat licensee, and must have the new USSSA mark on its taper, or be a qualified BBCOR bat, or be a wood bat. BALL: For this division all balls must have the NFHS stamp. HELMET: All helmets must have the meet or exceed NOCSAE standards sticker. Helmets must cover both ears and be worn while warming up, while batting and on the base paths. CLEATS: The use of metal cleats are allowed but not required. CATCHERS: USSSA Rule 7.01.G The catcher shall wear all appropriate protective gear including a catcher s helmet with facemask and either a built in extended throat guard or a separately attached throat guard, chest protector, shin and / or leg guards, and protective cup. In age divisions 4U 12U, the catcher s helmet shall fully cover both ears. PLAYERS: USSA Rule 7.01.C.O All Players must wear appropriate boys protective gear. GAME LENGTH A game is defined as 7 innings or 2 hours (no new inning can start after two hours). In the case of a rain shortened game, that game will be considered official only after 5 complete innings (or if the home team is ahead after 4 ½ innings). Each double header will consist of a home game and visitor s game for both teams. Once the 7th inning is reached AND the time limit has not been reached and both teams are tied, we will then go to International Tie-breaking rules. Both teams will play to win an inning, starting with a runner on second base playing until there is a winner. To start the tie breaker, the last batted out from the previous inning becomes the runner on second when starting the tiebreaker inning. o Note: The 2 hour rule is NOT a drop dead rule. The inning will be completed if it has been started before the 2 hour limit has been reached. After the 7 th inning, if any Extra Inning reaches the limit 1 w ww.qstbl.com
of two hours, that inning will be the last, and if the teams are still ties, they will remain tied. Mercy (Run) Rule: 15/10/8 15 run rule is in effect after a minimum of 3 innings (2 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. 10 run rule is in effect after a minimum of 4 innings (3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. 8 run rule is in effect after a minimum of 5 innings (4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. GAME PLAY RULES Approved Line Ups: USSSA Rule 7.02.D. Teams may bat a nine (9) player line-up, ten (10) player line-up using an Extra Hitter (EH) or continuous line-up of all present, eligible, uniformed players. Such line-up must be declared before the start of the game and used the entire game. If a team uses a line-up that contains substitute players, all starting players may be removed and re-enter the game once, but must re-enter in their original position in the batting order. Non-starters are not allowed to re-enter. When a starter re-enters, the player in the starter s batting position in the batting order must be removed from the game and is ineligible for the remainder of the game. If a team uses a line-up that contains ten (10) players, the player in the Extra Hitter position, while not actually playing a defensive position, will be treated as such for substitution purposes. If a team uses a continuous line-up, all players other than the nine (9) defensive position players are Extra Hitters and may move freely in defensive positions with the exception of the pitching position. Any player(s) arriving after the game has begun, shall be added to the bottom of the batting line-up. When using the continuous lineup and a player has to 11 leave the game for any reason, that position in the line-up becomes an out when that at bat comes around. Courtesy Runner: At any time, the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record the previous inning on defense. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the line-up. If no players not presently in the line-up are available, the courtesy runner shall be the player making the last batted out. The re-entry status of the courtesy runner, pitcher, and catcher shall not be affected by this rule. If at any time, a courtesy runner is determined to be ineligible, a proper replacement pursuant to these rules (if available) will be used without penalty. Lead Off & Stealing: Lead Off Leading off and stealing will be allowed in this age division in accordance with MLB rules. The hitter may advance to first base on a dropped third strike, in accordance with MLB rules. Sliding: It is the base runner's responsibility to avoid contact with the fielder when he has the ball. Slide or avoid is in effect at all times when fielder is in possession of ball. Intentionally running into a fielder who is in possession of the ball is grounds for ejection. Slide at Home: At all ages divisions. A player sliding head-first into home base will be called out. Thrown Bat - Safety rule: Any player that intentionally throws his/her bat will automatically be called out and receive a warning from the umpire. If the umpire believes the thrown bat was unintentional, a warning will be given to the team. If it happens a second time (intentional or unintentional), the player will be called out and ejected for the remainder of that game. On any thrown bat event, all play will stop. All runners will return to their base at the time of the pitch. Infield Fly Rule: Yes, MLB Rules 2.00 In the event you are playing a team from a lower age division both teams will follow the rules from the lower division. The last page of this rule book provides a breakdown cheat sheet of the basic rules by division. PITCHING RULES Pitcher s Warm-up: When a pitcher takes his position at the beginning of each inning, or when he relieves another pitcher, he shall be permitted to pitch not to exceed eight (8) preparatory pitches to his catcher during which play shall be suspended. Such preparatory pitches shall not consume more than one minute of time. If a sudden emergency causes a pitcher to be summoned into the game without any opportunity to warm up, the umpire-in-chief shall allow him as many pitches as the umpire deems necessary. 2 w ww.qstbl.com
Time limit: When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within twelve (12) seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call Ball. The twelve (12) second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball. The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the umpire. Pitcher removal: USSSA Rule 7.05. This rule limits the number of visits a manager or a coach may make to any pitcher in any one (1) inning. A second (2nd) visit to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher s automatic removal from the pitching position. The manager or a coach is prohibited from making a second (2nd) visit to the mound while the same batter is at bat, but if a pinch-hitter is substituted for this batter, the manager or a coach may make a second (2nd) visit to the mound, but must remove the pitcher. A manager or a coach is considered to have concluded his visit to the mound when he leaves the eighteen (18) foot circle surrounding the pitcher s rubber. A player removed from the pitching position (starting pitcher or subsequent relief pitcher) may not return to the pitching position for the remainder of the game. Pitch Counts: 13 age division has a pitch limit of 95 pitches in a day. If the pitcher reaches this limit with in an at bat they may finish the at bat, but must be removed after that batter. Balks: In the 13u division each pitcher will be given one (1) warning for balks. o Note: USSSA Rule 7.05.D It is a balk if the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw: Pitchers may still feint a throw to second. o A pitcher can not feint toward third (or second) base, and then turn and throw or feint to first base if his pivot foot disengages the rubber after his initial feint. This is called the "fake to third, throw to first" play. Intentional Walk: USSSA Rule 7.04.A An Intentional Walk may be issued upon announcement from either the pitcher or catcher. The four (4) pitches need not be thrown. COACH/PLAYER CONDUCT Coaches Outside of Dugout Teams are limited to 3 coaches outside of the dugout during play. Umpires should monitor their proximity to the field. Player Ejection Policy Player is suspended from participation in QSTBL for the next game. Parent Ejection Policy Parent is suspended from participation in QSTBL for 8 calendar days from the date of ejection. Ejected parent s child is also suspended for 8 calendar days and may not participate in any QSTBL practices or games. Manager/Coach Ejection Policy 1 st occurrence - Manager/coach is suspended from participation in QSTBL for 8 calendar days from the date of ejection. 2 nd occurrence Manager/coach is suspended from participation in QSTBL for the remainder of the season and may not be allowed to participate in future seasons. RULES GOVERNING PLAY WITHIN QSTBL (IN PRIORITY ORDER) 1 st QSTBL Age Division Specific Rules. - 2 nd USSSA Rules. - 3 rd MLB Rules. 3 w ww.qstbl.com
Quad State General Rules Cheat Sheet by Division 8u 9u 10u 11u 12u 13u 14u Pitcher Mound 46' 46' 46' 50' 50' 60' 6" 60' 6" Base Path 60' 60' 60' 70' 70' 90' 90' Max Pitches Per Day 50 75 75 85 85 95 95 Innings 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 Leading Off NO NO NO YES YES YES YES Drop 3rd Strike NO NO YES YES YES YES YES Balk Rule NO NO Yes - After 1 warning YES Manager Mound Visits per Inning 2-OK 3-pitcher comes out 1 visit per inning per pitcher, must remove pitcher on 2nd visit of inning Infield Fly Rule Max Runs per inning NO YES YES YES YES YES YES 5 except final inning 7 except final inning Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Metal Cleats NO NO NO NO NO YES TES Run Rule 15 Runs after 3 rd innings, 10 runs after 4 th innings, or 8 after the 5 th inning Time Limit Bat Requirements The time limit for a game is a max of 2 hours. No new inning may be started after 2 hours. This is NOT a "Drop Dead Rule. The inning will be completed if it has started before the 2 hour limit has been reached. No Restriction on barrel sizes. 7.01.C Big barrel bat rules. A big barrel bat (no more than 2¾ inches diameter and no more than 36 inches in length) must be manufactured by an approved USSSA bat licensee, and must have the new USSSA mark on its taper, or be a qualified BBCOR bat, or be a wood bat. 4 w ww.qstbl.com