Berks Fall Baseball Rules TGoldschmidt/Mifflin 9/2/2012
BATS Berks County Fall Baseball Rules 2013 Addendum Rules 1. 13-15 using -3 bats as per PIAA rules. 2. Knee hi and Junior division are using 2 ¼ inch bats and no big barrel BASERUNNING 3. Junior division will have stealing on release with 6 lead lines. PITCHING 4. Pitching for ages 12 and under 3 innings per game 6 a weekend. Ages 13 and up 5 innings per game 7 a weekend. GAME TIME LIMITS All 12 and under games are under 2 hour time limit for starting next inning. 13 and up are 2 ½ hour limit for starting a limit. All leagues are 10 run rulerun after 4 and agreement of both coaches if wish to continue and under the time limit. LINEUP Because of the shorter time limits for games this season the lineup change was approved. There is unlimited substituition with exception of pitchers being able to pitch once per game. All teams usually bat the whole lineup however with larger roster sizes 13 and over coaches can notify opponent of choice to bat 10. However in the true spirit of fall baseball the coach should insure that over course of the season all players see equal amount of at bats and innings Table of Contents League Philosophy... 2 The goals of the Berks County Fall Baseball league are to:... 2 General Expectations... 2 Knee-Hi Division... 3 Junior Division... 5 Senior Division... 7 League Philosophy The goals of the Berks County Fall Baseball league are to: 1) Serve as spring training for next season 2) Provide a relaxed style of play with no team standings or play-offs 3) Continue to develop player skills in the fundamentals of baseball 4) Improve execution have players know their responsibilities on the field and be able to make plays in game situation with minimal coaching 5) Keep players excited about baseball by making it a fun and a confidence building experience
6) If there are any questions about the rules, please discuss them with the umpire and the other coach before the game and come to an agreement. The umpire s decision is final in all cases Summary Knee-Hi Junior Senior Bases 60' * 75' 90' Pitching Mound 46' * 53'6" 60'6" Innings/game 6 6 7 Minimum Age 8 10 13 Maximum Age 10 12 15 * Some fields may be set at 70 bases and 50 mound General Expectations 1. The initial schedule will be set by the league coordinator...after that, any changes to the schedule, including but not limited to rain-outs, will be scheduled between the two coaches involved 2. Home team will supply and pay for umpires 3. Protests will not be allowed. The decision of the umpires on the field is final Updated: 9/02/2012 Page 2 of 8
Knee-Hi Division 1. ELIGIBILITY 2. EQUIPMENT 3. GAMES a. Players shall be 8-10 years old b. The age of the player as of April 30, 20013 will be the age for the 2012 fall baseball season c. No player may reach age 11 before May 1, 2013 a. Little league approved bats and composite bats are permitted, with barrel no more than 2-1/4 inches in diameter. No Full Barrel bats. b. No metal spikes allowed a. A game will be 6 innings. Mercy rule: 10 runs after 4 innings b. 5 runs max per inning except in final inning c. An inning may not be started after 1hr 45mins d. Protests will not be allowed. The decision of the umpires is final 4. SUBSTITUTIONS a. May play 9 or 10 players (4 outfielders) on defense b. A pitcher removed from the game or the mound may not return as a pitcher in the same game c. Free substitution 5. BASE RUNNING a. Runners may not leave the base until the ball crosses home plate or is hit by the batter b. Stealing will be allowed after the ball crosses home plate. Stealing of home is permitted c. Infield fly rule is in effect d. No dropped third strike e. No head first sliding, except returning to a base. Violators will be called out after 1 team warning f. A base runner must slide or attempt to avoid a fielder who has possession of the ball and is attempting to make a play on him. If in the umpire s judgment, the contact was intentional or malicious the umpire will eject the player g. Runners may advance at their own risk on any overthrow Updated: 9/02/2012 Page 3 of 8
6. PITCHING 7. BATTING a. A pitcher will be allowed to pitch 3 innings per game, (up to 6 per weekend) b. A pitcher must be pulled from the position for the remainder of the game after hitting 3 batters in a game c. A pitcher may not throw a curve ball, screwball or any other type of pitch resulting in a sharp rotating arm motion i. One warning and the any such pitch will be called a ball d. Pitching distance is 46 feet a. Bat your entire roster. No penalty (out in batting order) for injuries. Drop the player from the batting order b. Bunting is permitted c. The batter is out on a dropped third strike Updated: 9/02/2012 Page 4 of 8
Junior Division Rules for the Junior Division are based on National League (MLB) rules with the following exceptions/clarifications: 1. ELIGIBILITY 2. EQUIPMENT 3. GAMES a. Players shall be 10-12 years old b. The age of the player as of April 30, 20013 will be the age for the 2012 fall baseball season c. There are no minimum innings rules for players, but it is suggested that all players play a reasonable amount of time...remember, there are no playoffs and no standings a. Little league approved bats and composite bats are permitted, with barrel no more than 2-1/4 inches in diameter. No Full Barrel bats. b. No metal spikes allowed a. A game will be 6 innings b. A 10 run rule will be used after 4 innings. The home team will always get last bats, if needed. The home team will NOT bat if ahead by 10 or more after 3 1 / 2 innings c. An inning may NOT be STARTED after 2 hours of play d. Bases at 75 and pitching rubber at 53 6...10 lead line and players may advance when ball crosses home plate. e. A maximum of 5 runs will be counted per half inning (unlimited after 5th inning) if on the play that scores the 5 th run, other runs are scored, they will also count f. Infield fly rule is same as major league rules (fair ball, less than two outs, first and second base occupied, and in umpire s judgment a routine fly ball for the infielder) 4. SUBSTITUTIONS a. Games can be started/played with 8 players and players may be borrowed from opponent to meet this requirement upon mutual agreement by both coaches b. A pitcher removed from the game or the mound may not return as a pitcher in the same game c. All players present will be included in the batting order (9 players in field) Updated: 9/02/2012 Page 5 of 8
d. Courtesy runner required for pitcher and catcher with two outs, optional for pitcher and catcher at any time (use player not in field if available, otherwise use last batted out) e. Free substitution 5. BASE RUNNING 6. PITCHING 7. BATTING a. If there is a play at any base, runner must slide OR avoid contact...no head first sliding except when returning to a base b. Batters may run on a dropped third strike same as major league rules (first base unoccupied or two outs) c. There will be a 10 foot lead line at 1B, 2B, and 3B on 75 base paths, and 8 foot lead line on 70 base paths. The base-runner may attempt to steal the next base and only cross the lead line after the pitched ball crosses home plate. A base-runner attempting to steal may advance on an errant throw. i. A player may NOT steal when the ball is in the pitchers hand and in the proximity of the mound. a. One balk warning per pitcher (minor/technical balks should be coached and not called) b. Pitchers may pitch up to 3 innings per game (up to 6 per weekend) c. A pitcher may not throw a curve ball, screwball or any other type of pitch resulting in a sharp rotating arm motion i. One warning and the any such pitch will be called a ball d. Change-ups and knuckle balls are allowed a. Once a batter shows bunt on a pitch, the batter may not swing at that pitch. Violators will be called out - no warnings Updated: 9/02/2012 Page 6 of 8
Senior Division Rules for the Senior Division are based on National League (MLB) rules with the following exceptions/clarifications: 1. ELIGIBILITY 2. EQUIPMENT 3. GAMES a. Players shall be 13-15 years of age i. The age of the player as of April 30, 2013 will be the age for the 2012 fall baseball season b. There are no minimum innings rules for players, but it is suggested that all players play a reasonable amount of time...remember, there are no playoffs and no standings a. BBCOR, WOOD, and WOOD/COMPOSITE bats are permitted. BESR bats are prohibited. i. Any non wood bat must have the BBCOR certification code marked on the barrel of the bat. ii. Bats must be -3 or greater b. Metal spikes ARE allowed a. Games will be 7 innings b. A 10 run rule will be used after 5 innings. The home team will always get last bats, if needed. The home team will NOT bat if ahead by 10 or more after 4 1 / 2 innings c. There is NO TIME LIMIT d. Bases at 90 and pitching rubber at 60 6 (same as major league dimensions) e. Games can be started/played with 8 players and players may be borrowed from opponent to meet this requirement upon mutual agreement by both coaches f. Protests will not be allowed. The decision of the umpires on the field is final 4. SUBSTITUTIONS a. Courtesy runner required for pitcher and catcher with two outs i. optional for pitcher and catcher at any time (use player not in field if available, otherwise use last batted out) b. All players present will be included in the batting order (9 players in field) c. Free substitution on defense Updated: 9/02/2012 Page 7 of 8
5. BASE RUNNING 6. PITCHING 7. BATTING a. If there is a play at any base, runner must slide OR avoid contact a. One balk warning per pitcher i. Minor/technical balks should be coached and not called b. Pitchers may pitch up to 5 innings per game (up to 8 per weekend) a. Once a batter shows bunt on a pitch, the batter may not swing at that pitch i. Violators will be called out - no warnings Updated: 9/02/2012 Page 8 of 8