Southeastern Indiana Youth Baseball League 2014 League Rules The Southeastern Indiana Youth Baseball League ( SIYBL ) is governed by Cal Ripkin Baseball and follows the rules defined therein. The following highlights any variations from these rules and the guidelines we use to manage our league. 1. League Divisions: Division Age Field Dimensions T-Ball 4-6 40' Mound, 60' Bases Rookie 7-8 43' Mound, 60' Bases Minor 9-10 46' Mound, 60' Bases Major 11-12 50' Mound, 70' Bases Babe Ruth 13-15 60.5' Mound, 90' Bases NOTE: Player ages are based on the child s age as of 4/30/2014. 2. General League Rules: a) The use of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in any form is prohibited on the playing field, benches, and dugouts. This includes practices. b) All kids must play a minimum of 6 outs in the field and one at bat or they will start the next game. c) Use roster batting for all divisions. A continuous batting rule will be used in all age divisions, allowing managers to bat all of the players in attendance. d) If a child does not attend practice the coach may choose not to play the child. e) Uniform - Kids on the field of play are required to wear an unaltered team hat & shirt. If they do not have one they must borrow one or they will not participate in the game. f) Any coach removed from a game must leave the park immediately and is suspended from coaching the next game. A second offense will result in a two games suspension. A third offense will result in being suspended for the remainder of the season. g) No titanium barrel bats allowed. h) A player must slide at home plate if there is a play. Calls are strictly judgmental on the part of the umpire. i) Teams are expected to clean out the dugout of their water bottles, etc. upon completion of their game.
3. Division Specific Rules: T-Ball (4-6): a) Only 1 child plays the pitcher position. b) 5 kids are allowed in the infield, the rest of the kids play in the grass outfield. c) Bat sizes 25, 26, 27, and 28 in length and less than 2¼ in diameter. d) Only safety balls used in practice & games. e) Scorebook is optional during season. Score will be kept by home team during the tournament. f) RUNNERS DO NOT ADVANCE ON OVERTHROWN BALLS TO 1ST OR 3 RD g) A ball overthrown is still live until the ball is returned to the infield within the baselines. h) If a runner is over half way to a base, he gets that base, if not the player returns to the last base. i) Each team bats their roster during the regular season or 3 outs whichever occurs first. j) Tournament is 10 Batter rule or 3 outs, whichever occurs first. k) 55 minute time limit. l) Can have up to 4 coaches on offense (1st, 3rd, home, & pitcher mound). m) Can have up to 2 coaches on defense (right & left outfield in the grass). n) Play stops when ball hit in the outfield breaks the plane of the infield. o) Play stops when infielder has possession of the ball. p) Batters and runners must always wear helmets. Intentionally taking a helmet off on the field of play will result in that player being called out. q) All runner & fielder interference rules apply. r) A player must slide at home plate if there is a play. Calls are strictly judgmental on the part of the umpire. s) First half of season coaches can choose to pitch or have players hit from the tee, during the second half of the season coaches must pitch. t) Each child gets 5 pitches. After the 5th pitch the strikes carry over and the ball is placed on the tee. i. 0 strikes 3 swings ii. 1 strikes 2 swings iii. 2 strikes 1 swings iv. 3 strikes 1 swings u) After their swing(s) on the tee, if the ball is not hit in fair play the batter has fouled out or struck out. v) No walks, No bunting, No stealing, No balk rule, No infield fly rule. w) One coach from the offensive team will pitch and one coach from the offensive team will catch. x) Coach pitch will be overhand to the batter from 25-28. y) Coaches do not touch the players during the game (do not push the kids to run, teach them in practice). First offense is a warning, and the base runner must return to the base (if bases are loaded, base runner is out). Second offense, base runner is out. z) Teams without 10 players will not be charged an out for missing players. aa) The team forfeits if only 6 players show for the game. bb) Teams with 7 or more players will not be penalized an out for missing players during the batting order. However, they will be limited to batting the number of player on the field.
Rookie (7-8): Cal-Ripken rules will be followed with the following exceptions and or additions. a) First half of the Rookie league season plays 5 innings or 75 minute time limit. b) Second half of the Rookie league season plays 5 innings or 90 minute time limit. If time limit is reached before all 5 innings are completed, umpires will make a ruling on that game based on: a) An inning that has started before the time limit will be completed b) Extra innings will NOT be played out due to a tie score c) All kids must play a minimum of 6 outs in the field and one at bat or they will start the next game. d) Defensive Substitution: Up to 10 kids may play on defense. If a team does start 10 players and for some reason decides to take the 10th player out, the team will not be charged with an out, but the player cannot return to the field of play during that inning. You may sub a child at any time on defense. e) Offensive: Use roster batting (All of the players in attendance will bat) f) During the regular season, an inning will end after each team bats their roster or 3 outs; whichever occurs first. If one team has more players present for the game than the other team, then the team with fewer players present will bat the number of players equal to the other team. Meaning team A = 12 and team B = 10, team B will also bat 12. g) Tournament is 10 Batters per inning rule or 3 outs, whichever occurs first. h) Pitching Machine will be used for all Play. i) Each batter will receive a maximum of 7 pitches or 5 swinging strikes unless batter fouls off the 7th pitch or 5th strike. Then continue batting until a strike out or ball is hit into play. No base for hit batter. j) The umpire will call time out to adjust the pitching machine as needed. k) A player may not throw the bat after he hits the ball. Team will be warned one time, on the 2nd offense per team, the player will be called out and the ball will be dead. l) No walks, No bunting, No leading off, No stealing, No Balk Rule, No infield fly rule. m) A batted ball hitting the pitching machine is a dead ball & the batter gets first base and any runner on base will be awarded the next base. n) Base Runners may advance until an infield player gains control of the ball within the base lines. Once the ball is in control, Base Runners on the base path but not halfway to the next base will be placed back on the previous base by the umpire. Base Runners beyond halfway may advance to the next base however they can be called out if a play is made on them. THIS APPLYS TO THE LAST BATTER AS WELL. o) A player must slide at home plate if there is a play. Calls are strictly judgmental on the part of the umpire. p) RUNNERS DO NOT ADVANCE ON OVERTHROWN BALLS TO 1ST OR 3 RD (whether the ball goes out of play or not). After a ball is overthrown, the play is dead and runners cannot advance. This rule is in place to encourage players to try to make a play on the bases without penalty of an errant throw or catch. This rule is also in place to encourage coaches to rotate kids to every position on the field. q) Teams will play with only 1 pitcher. The pitcher position is next to the pitching machine. The pitcher can stand on either side or behind, but not in front of machine. No fielder may play any closer to home plate than the radius of the pitcher s mound from base line to base line. Teams will not be permitted to play more than 1 person (at a time) at any infield position. Outfielders must be in the grass area until the ball is hit. They cannot start in the dirt. Once ball is hit, they can move forward into the dirt. r) Bat size may not exceed 2¼ in diameter. s) Helmets will be worn always during a game for batters and runners. Intentionally taking a helmet off on the field of play will result in that player being called out. t) Players cannot warm-up a pitcher without a facemask & athletic cup. u) When your team is on defense, no coaches shall leave the dugout to confer with a player or umpire. The coach must request a timeout before entering the field. v) When your team is on offense, you are allowed 2 coaches on the field, 1st & 3rd base coaches boxes. A third coach is allowed when coach pitching. w) Equipment must be kept inside the dugout during the game; otherwise interference will be called.
Minor (9-10): Cal-Ripken rules will be followed with the following exceptions and or additions. a) Minor league plays 6 innings or 90 minute time limit. If time limit is reached before all 6 innings are completed, umpires will make a ruling on that game based on: i. An inning that has started before the time limit will be completed ii. Extra innings will NOT be played out due to a tie score b) All kids must play a minimum of 6 outs in the field and one at bat or they will start the next game. c) Pitching Rules: i. 6-innings maximum per week, 3 innings maximum per game. A week is Sunday thru Saturday. ii. Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched an inning. iii. Innings pitched in games declared No Contest or Regulation draw games shall be charged against the pitcher innings for that week. iv. A pitcher cannot make two consecutive starts, regardless of the time between starts. v. The starting pitcher must pitch until the first batter has reached base safely or has recorded an out. vi. When the pitcher is on the pitching rubber and has the ball in his possession the runner cannot lead off or advance to the next base. vii. Walks & hit by pitch rules are in effect. viii. The only balk rule in effect is when the batter squares to bunt and the pitcher stops his pitch, the pitch will be a ball, no advancement of runners. ix. Pitchers cannot wear batting gloves while pitching. d) Infield fly rule is in effect. e) Defensive Substitution: Up to 10 kids may play on defense. If a team does start 10 players and for some reason decides to take the 10th player out, the team will not be charged with an out, but the player cannot return to the field of play during that inning. You may sub a child at any time on defense. f) Offensive: Use roster batting (All of the players in attendance will bat) g) This division will use a RUN LIMIT for all innings. Scored as follows: five (5) runs or three outs end the inning. The inning ends IMMEDIATELY after the 5th run crosses the plate. Example: Team "A" has bases loaded, no outs, and the 5th run will be scored by the runner on third base. Even if the batter hits a grand slam home run, ONLY THE RUN ON THIRD BASE COUNTS. It will remain in effect for all innings. h) Tournament; all rules are the same as the regular season. i) Minimum of 9 players is required to begin a game and minimum of 8 to continue playing or the game is considered forfeit. j) Bat size not to exceed 2¼ in diameter. k) Helmets will be worn always during a game for batters and runners. Intentionally taking a helmet off on the field of play will result in that player being called out. l) Players cannot warm-up a pitcher without a facemask & athletic cup. m) When your team is on defense, no coaches shall leave the dugout to confer with a player or umpire. The coach must request a timeout before entering the field. n) When your team is on offense, you are allowed 2 coaches on the field, 1st & 3rd base coaches boxes. o) Equipment must be kept inside the dugout during the game; otherwise interference will be called. p) Stealing on ball past the plate only (no lead offs). q) A player must slide at home plate if there is a play. Calls are strictly judgmental on the part of the umpire. r) Bunting permitted. s) A player may not throw the bat after he hits the ball. Team will be warned one time, on the 2nd offense per team, the player will be called out and the ball will be dead. t) Dropped third strike rule does not apply, the batter is OUT whether the ball is caught or not.
Major (11-12): Cal-Ripken rules will be followed with the following exceptions and or additions. a) Plays 6 innings or 90 minute time limit. If time limit is reached before all 6 innings are completed, umpires will make a ruling on that game based on: i. An inning that has started before the time limit will be completed ii. Extra innings will NOT be played out due to a tie score b) All kids must play a minimum of 6 outs in the field and one at bat or they will start the next game. c) Pitching Rules: i. 6-innings maximum per week, 3 innings maximum per game. A week is Sunday thru Saturday. ii. Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched an inning. iii. Innings pitched in games declared No Contest or Regulation draw games shall be charged against the pitcher innings for that week. iv. A pitcher cannot make two consecutive starts, regardless of the time between starts. v. The starting pitcher must pitch until the first batter has reached base safely or has recorded an out vi. Balk Rule in effect. vii. Pitchers cannot wear batting gloves while pitching. d) Infield fly rule is in effect. e) Defensive Substitution: Up to 10 kids are permitted to play on defense. If for some reason a team decides to take the 10th player out, the team will not be charged with an out, but the player cannot return to the field of play in the same inning. You may sub a child at any time on defense. f) Offensive: Use roster batting (All of the players in attendance will bat) g) Tournament; all rules are the same as the regular season. h) Minimum of 9 players is required to begin a game and minimum of 8 to continue playing or the game is considered forfeit. i) Teams are permitted to play with 9 defensive players and have a 10th as an AH. j) Bat size not to exceed 2¼ in diameter. k) Helmets will be worn always during a game for batters and runners. Intentionally taking a helmet off on the field of play will result in that player being called out. l) Players cannot warm-up a pitcher without a facemask & athletic cup. m) When your team is on defense, no coaches shall leave the dugout to confer with a player or umpire. The coach must request a timeout before entering the field. n) When your team is on offense, you are allowed 2 coaches on the field, 1st & 3rd base coaches boxes. o) Equipment must be kept inside the dugout during the game; otherwise interference will be called. p) Stealing & lead-offs permitted. q) A player must slide at home plate if there is a play. Calls are strictly judgmental on the part of the umpire. r) Cal Ripken Baseball, Major Division Dropped Third Strike 6.09(b) The batter becomes a runner when the third strike called by an umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied or (2) first base is occupied with two outs. s) A player may not throw the bat after he hits the ball. Team will be warned one time, on the 2nd offense per team, the player will be called out and the ball will be dead.
Babe Ruth (13-15): MLB rules will be followed with the following exceptions or additions. Also listed are the general league rules. The use of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in any form is prohibited on the playing field, benches, and dugouts. This includes practices. All kids must play a minimum of 6 outs in the field and one at bat or they will start the next game. o Pitching Rules: 7-innings maximum per week, 4 innings maximum per game. A week is Sunday thru Saturday. Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched an inning. Innings pitched in games declared No Contest or Regulation draw games shall be charged against the pitcher innings for that week. A pitcher cannot make two consecutive starts, regardless of the time between starts. Balk Rule in effect. Pitchers cannot wear batting gloves while pitching. Use roster batting for all games (All of the players in attendance will bat). Defensive Substitution: You may sub a child at any time on defense. If a child does not attend practice the coach may choose not to play the child. Uniform - Kids on the field of play are required to wear an unaltered team hat & shirt. If they do not have one they must borrow one or they will not participate in the game. Any coach removed from a game must leave the park immediately and is suspended from coaching the next game. A second offense will result in a two games suspension. A third offense will result in being suspended for the remainder of the season. No titanium barrel bats allowed. A player must slide at home plate if there is a play. Calls are strictly judgmental on the part of the umpire. Teams are expected to clean out the dugout of their water bottles, etc. upon completion of their game.