PARK RIDGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION BASEBALL RULES 2018 SEASON Overview - All Minor and Major League games will be played in accordance with the PRAA Rules and Official Regulation Rules of Little League Baseball, including field dimensions. All Senior League games will be played in accordance (including field dimensions) with the PRAA Rules, Official Baseball Rule Book of the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the Kinderkamack Junior Baseball League (to be provided to coaches each year). When these sets of regulations conflict with each other, the PRAA Rules will prevail. Grade Kindergarten Training I Rules PRAA PRAA PRAA PRAA PRAA Kinderkamack League Play In-town In-town In-town In-town / Inter-town In-town / Inter-town Inter-Town Location Atkins Glen Atkins Glen / Colony Atkins Glen / Colony Colony / Sulak Small Sulak Small Sulak Big Umpires None None None 1 carded umpire required. (2 for postseason) 1 carded umpire & 1 JR umpire required 2 carded umpires required. Games (Innings) 4 4/6 4/6 6 6 7 Game (Official) n/a n/a n/a 4 complete innings, or 3-1/2 if home team is leading. Game Time (For regular season only; may be adjusted for playoffs if agreed to by all coaches &commissioner beforehand) Game Time (See note above) (June & July) Two hour limit. (June & July) Two hour limit. (June & July) Two hour limit. (June & July) Note: 7:45 if there is a game waiting to be played afterward. 4 complete innings, or 3-1/2 if home team is leading. 10PM 4 complete innings, or 3-1/2 if home team is leading. 10PM 2 hours and 15 minutes of playing time. Jersey (no duplicate numbers), cap, pants. Uniforms Jersey, cap, pants. Jersey, cap, pants. Jersey, cap, pants. Jersey (no duplicate numbers), cap, pants. Jersey (no duplicate numbers), cap, pants. Jewelry Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Gum Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Mercy Rule (Game) No scores are kept. No scores are kept. No scores are kept. 10 runs after 5 complete (Regular Season Only) innings. Mercy Rule (Inning) n/a n/a One turn through batting 5 runs per inning, except 5 runs per inning, except n/a (Regular Season Only) order. for last inning. for last inning. Min # of Players Required n/a n/a n/a 8 to start or forfeit. 8 to start or forfeit. 8 to start or forfeit. Ball Size SFT-1 SFT-1 SFT-5 LL1 LL1 LL2 Bases n/a n/a 60 60 70 90 Pitching Distance n/a n/a 42 46 50 60-6 Pitching Rubber n/a n/a Pitcher must pitch from Pitcher must pitch from Pitcher must pitch from Pitcher must pitch from 1 of 6
Pitching Limits n/a n/a First 5 games or first half 1-20 pitches: 0 days rest of the season a maximum 21-35 pitches: 1 day rest of 1 inning per game and 36-50 pitches: 2 days rest two innings per week with 51-65 pitches 3 days rest a maximum of 30 pitches 66+ pitches 4 days rest per appearance and at - 75 pitch MAX least 2 days of rest in A pitch count sheet must between games. be filled out by the Home Second 5 games (or Team Coach (attested to second half of season) a and signed by the Visiting maximum of 2 innings per Team Coach) & submitted game and 4 innings per to the appropriate week, with a maximum of coordinator within 48 50 pitches per hours. Failure to do so appearance and at least 3 may result in forfeit of days rest in between game and/or suspension games. from coaching duties. At all times, there is coach s discretion rule in A pitcher, who delivers effect that allows a coach more than 41 pitches, to pitch, replacing the may not play catcher. A existing pitcher. The catcher may pitch after purpose of this is to keep having played catcher. the game flowing at a reasonable pace. Mound Visits n/a n/a n/a Limit 3 per inning. Pitcher removed on 4 th visit (not counting injury). Hit Batters n/a n/a Limit 2 per inning or 3 per game results in removal of pitcher. (Batter must attempt to avoid pitch). Pitching (Special Rules) n/a 1 st grade players may not pitch. 2 nd grade may begin to pitch in accordance with pitch limits above. Balks: n/a Walks: None. After 5 balls, coach steps in to finish batter. If there are 2 strikes on the batter, it resets to 1. Limit 2 per inning or 3 per game results in removal of pitcher. (Batter must attempt to avoid pitch). Balks: Not Called Walks: Pitcher must be removed after 6 walks in 1 inning. No intentional walks allowed. Dead Ball: Play stops when the pitcher has sole possession of the ball in the mound area. This is umpire judgement call. 1-20 pitches: 0 days rest 21-35 pitches: 1 day rest 36-50 pitches: 2 days rest 51-65 pitches 3 days rest 66+ pitches 4 days rest - 85 pitch MAX A pitch count sheet must be filled out by the Home Team Coach (attested to and signed by the Visiting Team Coach) & submitted to the appropriate coordinator within 48 hours. Failure to do so may result in forfeit of game and/or suspension from coaching duties. A pitcher, who delivers more than 41 pitches, may not play catcher. A catcher may pitch after having played catcher. Limit 2 per inning. Pitcher removed on 3 rd visit (not counting injury). Limit 3 per game results in removal of pitcher. (Batter must attempt to avoid pitch). Balks: Umpires may call balks, but it will not be enforced. It is to be used to instruct the pitcher on proper technique only. Walks: No limit. No intentional walks allowed. 4 innings per game 8 innings per week (M-Su) 1-20 pitches: 0 days rest 21-35 pitches: 1 day rest 36-50 pitches: 2 days rest 51-65 pitches 3 days rest 66+ pitches 4 days rest - 95 pitch MAX A pitcher, who delivers more than 41 pitches, may not play catcher. A catcher may pitch after having played catcher. Limit 2 per game. Pitcher removed on 3 rd visit (not counting injury). Limit 3 per game results in removal of pitcher. (Batter must attempt to avoid pitch). Balks: Until May 11th there will be 2 balk warnings per pitcher. A balk will be called on the 3rd pitch. After May 11 th, there will be 1 balk warning per pitcher, a balk will be called on the second pitch. In the playoffs there will be NO balk warnings, balks will be called from the first pitch. 2 of 6
Curve Balls n/a n/a Curve Balls: Deliberately attempting to throw curveballs at all age levels covered by PRAA Baseball is prohibited. The pitcher will receive a warning by the umpire upon first attempt and shall be removed as pitcher following a second violation Curve Balls: Deliberately attempting to throw curveballs at all age levels covered by PRAA Baseball is prohibited. The pitcher will receive a warning by the umpire upon first attempt and shall be removed as pitcher following a second violation Curve Balls: Deliberately attempting to throw curveballs at all age levels covered by PRAA Baseball is prohibited. The pitcher will receive a warning by the umpire upon first attempt and shall be removed as pitcher following a second violation n/a Coach Pitch Batting tee. 1 st grade may use batting tee for first half of season (and additional games if needed). When a coach is pitching, each child will be allowed up to 10 pitches to hit the ball successfully. After 10 pitches, the child will hit off the tee. Participation (Field) Participation (Batting) 100%. Extra fielders play outfield. Coach will play position of catcher. 2 defensive coaches may be used for safety and instruction. Full roster bats each inning. 100%. Extra fielders play outfield. Coach will play position of catcher. 2 defensive coaches may be used for safety and instruction Full roster bats each inning. Coach will pitch after 5 balls have been observed. Pitcher will field position and return to pitch to next batter. Child may play position of catcher. n/a n/a n/a Bunting Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Allowed. Limited to 2 per inning. Throwing Bat Not allowed. Not allowed. First incident: Warning to First incident: Warning to both teams. Subsequent both teams. Subsequent occurrences result in occurrences result in batter being called out. batter being called out. Continuous batting order. Continuous batting order. Continuous batting order. Continuous batting order. Allowed. First incident: Warning to both teams. Subsequent occurrences result in batter being called out. Allowed. First incident: Warning to both teams. Subsequent occurrences result in batter being called out. At Bats Helmets All batters remain on base even if team in field records out. No walks or strikeouts. Outs may be recorded and base runners removed. See Coach Pitch rules above. 3 strikes only. No walks. 4 balls or 3 strikes. 4 balls or 3 strikes. 4 balls or 3 strikes. 3 of 6
Bats T-Ball Bats T-Ball Bats See Notes Below See Notes Below See Notes Below See Notes Below Athletic Cups Required. Required. Required. Required. Required. Required. Heart Guards Stealing Not allowed. During the play, runners may advance one base at a time. Not allowed. During the play, runners may advance one base at a time. Not allowed. 4 of 6 Stealing from second to third only, will be permitted at any time. No other bases can be stolen. Once safely at third base, the runner must stay there for that play and cannot advance to home on an overthrow. Runners may not leave the base until the ball reaches the plate. The first time there is a base running violation, there is a team warning. The second time, the base runner is out and there is no pitch. Stealing of any base is permitted; maximum of 3 steals per inning. A runner may advance 1 base on pitcher or catcher overthrows on pick-off attempts; these will count as a stolen base. Unlimited. Leading Not allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed. Runners may not leave Permitted. Permitted. the base until the ball reaches the plate. Overthrows (Catcher) n/a n/a n/a Runner may not advance. Runner advances at own Runner advances at own Overthrows (Other) May not advance. May not advance. Advance one base only. Advance one base only. Runner advances at own Runner advances at own Throws from Catcher to Pitcher n/a n/a n/a Ball is NOT in play. Ball is live at all times. Ball is live at all times. Pickoff Throws (Catcher) n/a n/a n/a Runner cannot advance. Runner does not need to be tagged returning to base. It is a force play. Sliding Encouraged. Encouraged. Encouraged. Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder with the ball who is waiting to make the tag. It is the responsibility of the runner to slide in order to reduce the potentially injurious contact. Head first slides are not permitted, except when returning to the previous base. Runner can advance. Runner needs to be tagged returning to base. Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder with the ball who is waiting to make the tag. It is the responsibility of the runner to slide in order to reduce the potentially injurious contact. Head first slides are not permitted, except when returning to the previous base. Runner advances at own Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder with the ball who is waiting to make the tag. It is the responsibility of the runner to slide in order to reduce the potentially injurious contact. Head first slides are not permitted, except when returning to the previous base. See league rules.
Tagging Up n/a n/a n/a Allowed. Allowed. Allowed. Blocking Base (Interference) Not allowed. Not allowed. Fielders may not block base or base path without the ball or being in position to catch ball Fielders may not block base or base path without the ball or being in position to catch ball Fielders may not block base or base path without the ball or being in position to catch ball Fielders may not block base or base path without the ball or being in position to catch ball Sacrifice Fly n/a n/a n/a In effect. In effect. In effect. Pinch Runner (Injury) Runner is last batted out. Runner is last batted out. Runner is last batted out. Runner is last batted out. Runner is last batted out. Runner is last batted out. Pinch Runner (Pitcher/Catcher) n/a n/a n/a Runner is last batted out. Pinch runner required for catcher with two outs. Runner is last batted out. Pinch runner required for catcher with two outs. Runner is last batted out. Substitutions n/a n/a Free field substitution is be put on and off the field as desired except that a player may not be taken off the field during an inning, except for injury or disciplinary reasons. No player may change position during an inning, except for: Health, injury, pitching change. Continuous batting will be in effect. Free field substitution is be put on and off the field as desired except that a player may not be taken off the field during an inning, except for injury or disciplinary reasons. No player may change position during an inning, except for: Health, injury, pitching change. Continuous batting will be in effect. Free field substitution is be put on and off the field as desired except that a player may not be taken off the field during an inning, except for injury or disciplinary reasons. No player may change position during an inning, except for: Health, injury, pitching change. Continuous batting will be in effect. Free field substitution is be put on and off the field as desired except that a player may not be taken off the field during an inning, except for injury or disciplinary reasons. No player may change position during an inning, except for: Health, injury, pitching change. Continuous batting will be in effect. Player Call-Ups See Notes Below. See Notes Below. See Notes Below. See Notes Below. See Notes Below. See Notes Below. Infield Fly No. No. No. No. No. In effect. Dropped 3 rd Strike n/a n/a n/a Batter may not run. Batter may not run. In effect. Cancellation Notice 24 hours. 24 hours. 24 hours. 24 hours. 24 hours. 24 hours. Protests n/a n/a n/a Any team must verbally notify the opposing manager, the umpire, and league coordinator, within 24 hours. The protesting team must submit in writing within 24 hours the protest to either the Commissioner and/or League Coordinator. Any team must verbally notify the opposing manager, the umpire, and league coordinator, within 24 hours. The protesting team must submit in writing within 24 hours the protest to either the Commissioner and/or League Coordinator. Any team must verbally notify the opposing manager, the umpire, and league coordinator, within 24 hours. The protesting team must submit in writing within 24 hours the protest to either the Commissioner and/or League Coordinator. Reporting of Scores n/a n/a It is the responsibility of the winning coach to email the final score to the League Coordinator within 24 hours. The winning coach shall also supply the Coordinator with the names of each player who pitched in that game and the number of pitches thrown. See Kinderkamack Rules. 5 of 6
Additional Notes: Call-up Players PRAA baseball rules don t prohibit calling up players to fill a roster spot. However, in an effort of competitive fairness the following rules must be observed. The player must be from the same grade level i.e.: 3 rd & 4th. You cannot call up a player in 4 th grade to play in the 5 th -6 th grade league. The team calling the player up must be down to 8 players, where an automatic out for the 9 th position would occur, as per rule. The called-up player can only play left or right field; and must bat last - 9 th in the order. If the regular team member arrives late & the game is in progress he will be substituted at the ½ inning point. The called-up player will remain in the batting lineup (batting last) and cannot play the field. The same player should NOT be called up more than 2 times in a season for the same team. Coaches should make every effort to follow this rule. Coaches should, to the best of their ability, try and replace rostered player with call ups of a similar skill set. No Call ups can be used for the playoffs; you must play with 8 Call ups must be in uniform and use the required equipment (i.e. Cup, heart-guard, etc.) The idea behind the Call-Up is so the game can be played & not forfeited as per PRAA Rule. Since there are no standings & we are administering a Recreation league all attempts to be fair should be adhered to. Coaches found to be in violation of these guidelines will be brought to the attention of the PRAA for disciplinary action. Bat Specifications & Restrictions Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1 st Grade, 2 nd Grade, Minor & Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1 st Grade: No large barrel bats, greater than 2-1/4 inches. For these T-Ball levels, older non-usabat standard bats (26 or less) may still be used, provided they are equipped with the official USABat sticker, as supplied by the PRAA. 2 nd Grade,, : The bat barrel size may not exceed 2-5/8" (2-3/4" barrels strictly prohibited). The PRAA will be following the USABat standards that have been implemented nationwide. Please refer to the following website for further information as well as for which bats that will be allowed under PRAA Baseball Rules. https://usabat.com/faq/ When PRAA teams play out-of-town teams, which require the use of wood bats, the PRAA will provide teams with wood bats for use during these games. The team head coach shall be responsible for player adherence to Licensed/Approved composite bats. Any bat found in violation of these bat rules is illegal Any player found using an illegal bat shall comply with the following: o o For the first infraction by the team, the illegal bat(s) shall be removed from play and the head coach will be given a warning by the umpire. For the second and subsequent infractions, the bat(s) shall be removed from play and the game may result in forfeit and the head coach may be suspended form coaching duties. The umpire will call the infraction, but it is up to the head coaches of both teams to acknowledge the forfeit. The game can be played to conclusion and the illegals bats removed from play. Kinderkamack League () The bat barrel size may not exceed 2-5/8" (2-3/4" barrels strictly prohibited). 2-1/4 Little League bats are prohibited. Difference between weight in ounces and length in inches may not exceed negative 5. (For reference, high school rules require a negative 3 ratio) Composite-barreled baseball bats in this division must meet BBCOR (Batted Ball Co-Efficient of Restitution) standards, and must be so labeled. Note that all composite-barreled baseball bats that meet the BBCOR standard have a drop of no more than minus-3. However, bats that do not have composite materials in the barrel (i.e., all metal, all alloy, all wood), and meet all other applicable standards, can have drop weight no greater than minus-5. 6 of 6