GENERAL BASEBALL RULES for the Major Division

 MANAGERS AND COACHES

Teams shall be managed by adult volunteers, usually a player’s parent from the team. Minimum age for a manager is 21; minimum age for the coaches is 18. There will be only one official manager and two official coaches per team. Managers and coaches and their children are automatically on the same team. Every manager and coach shall provide the necessary information for a background check before practices and

games start. A manager or coach must be at every practice and game. Practices and games can not occur without at least one of them in attendance. Managers and/or coaches cannot call off a game for any reason.

 

TEAMS

Teams shall be formed by means of a draft.

All players registered at that time shall be included in the draft. Late registrants will be added to teams as space allows. Each team is allowed to hold players from their prior year team. If a manager is taking over a team from the prior year due to the Manager of the prior year’s team not managing, then that manager can hold the players from the prior team. Children of managers and coaches are automatically considered holds. The limit for holds is 6 players.

 

Draft order will be determined with bottom 4 teams from last year picking playing cards 1-4. Then top 4 teams pick playing cards 5-8 to determine draft order.
Each team can keep up to 6 players from last year teams. If there are siblings each sibling counts as 1 pick. Once a team has 9 players the team with 9 players will be skipped in draft order until everyone hits 9 players. At the conclusion of the draft, teams are allowed 15 minutes to make any trades.


FIELD REGULATIONS

1. No smoking and ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES will be allowed on the field or in the dugouts at anytime. This applies to all spectators as well as managers, coaches, umpires and parents.

Failure to comply with the alcohol regulation can result in forfeiture of the game, suspensions from the league, or at worst, arrest. (Alcohol is prohibited by the law on Park District Property.)

2. No one except rostered players, managers and coaches are allowed in the dugout during the game.

3. Players are required to be at the field 30 minutes before game time. This allows proper time for warm-up.

4. Team listed second on the schedule is considered the Home Team.

5. Home Team is responsible for setting up the bases and pitcher’s mound; Home team will occupy the third base dugout.

6. No one will be permitted to stand or sit behind the backstop during the game.

7. Each team’s spectators will be responsible for keeping their area cleaned of empty cans, food wrappers,etc., following the game.

8. The umpire will determine if a contact avoidance rule is to be enforced. Any deliberate, forceful or intentional contact with a fielder will result in the runner being called “out” regardless of the location of the ball.

REMEMBER: it is the responsibility of the runner to avoid the fielder whether the fielder is fielding a batted ball, receiving a thrown ball or tagging a runner. If the fielder impedes the runner, interference will be called on the fielder and the appropriate base or bases will be awarded to the runner, but under NO circumstances should the fielder be considered “fair game” to the runner.

9. An overthrow is a dead ball. An overthrow is defined as a ball thrown beyond the boundaries of the field. The runner is entitled to the base he is facing and advancing towards plus one, unless specified differently in Division specific rules

10. A pitcher is allowed 4 pitches between innings. Any new pitcher will be allowed 6.

 

UNIFORMS

1. Uniforms are to be worn in regular season games only, not for practice.

(A) Uniform is hat/visor, shirt, socks & gray pants/shorts approved by the Association. Athletic shoes must be worn. No other head apparel will be allowed.  

(B) Player without full uniform will not be allowed to play.

2. Uniform shirts must be tucked in at all times. Failure to comply with this rule will be as follows:

Batter will be called out if shirt is not tucked in when batting. Fielder will be removed from the game for 1 inning if shirt is not tucked in.

3. All players are required to wear an athletic supporter and protective cup at all practices and games. No player will be allowed to play or practice without protective equipment.

4. All players are required to wear a helmet when at bat or on the bases, during the games and practices. Intentional removal of a helmet by a batter or base runner, while the play is in progress, will result in that player being called “OUT." (Umpire judgment).

5. A catcher’s mask must be worn by any player who warms up the pitcher, whether during practice, before a game or during a game.

6. All batters must remove jacket, sweater, sweatshirt, etc. so that the uniform number is visible while batting. (In cold weather, a jacket or sweater may be worn over the uniform shirt on the bases and in the field.)

7. No metal spikes or opened toe shoes shall be allowed.  Pony players are allowed to wear metal spikes.

8. Absolutely No jewelry is to be worn by any player during practice or games. Any player caught wearing jewelry during or after the game while on the playing field or in the dugout will be ejected from the game and will automatically be suspended from the next game. If caught after the game then that player will be suspended from the next game. This rule is for the safety of all players on the field and will be strictly enforced. Band-Aids or other forms of concealment will not be allowed. If a player is ejected for wearing jewelry the manager is also ejected and suspended for the next game in that division.

9.  Only non-reflective sunglasses may be worn during games.

 

 

ATTENDANCE

1. A player must notify his manager ahead of time if he/she will be unable to be at a practice or a game.

2. No player may be dropped from a team without prior notification in writing and a hearing before the Board of Directors.

3.  If a player is late to the game that player will lose one inning of play.

 

 

MANAGERS AND COACHES FIELD DECORUM

1. The manager or acting manager will be the only person to hold discussions with the umpire once the game is underway. No one other than the manager or acting manager will be permitted to approach the umpire. This applies to players, spectators, parents and other coaches. Failure to comply with this rule may result in forfeiture of the game.

2. Managers are responsible for the behavior of all their players, coaches, and fans.

3.  Managers are responsible for making sure the backstop is clear of all parents and fans.

4. Managers and coaches should wear team shirt and hat at all games.

5. Only the team on offense may have a coach in each coach’s box at first and third bases. All other coaches, offensive and defensive, must remain in the dugout.

6. No verbal abuse of any kind should be allowed by one team toward the other. (Opposing team should not say “swing” when opponents are at bat.) Derogatory remarks about a specific batter to the pitcher should be strongly discouraged. (He can’t hit! or “Easy Out!” for example)

IN THE INTEREST OF SPORTSMANSHIP, ONLY POSTIVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO ONE’S OWN TEAMMATES SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

7. At the conclusion of the game, teams should line up behind their managers and, in a sportsmanlike manner, shake hands at the center of the field.

8. Managers will instruct their players not to spit in their hands before shaking hands with the opposing team. Any players found guilty of spitting in his hand may be subject to suspension of one or more games. (Per board approval)

9. No cell phones allowed on while on the playing field.

SPORTSMANSHIP - Negative Comments Between Opponents
Chants, intentional distractions and loud noises direccted at the opponent's pitcher prior to his/her pitching, the batter getting ready to hit, or a fielder getting ready to make a play do not represent good sportsmanship.

Forfeit Time

Forfeit time for all games shall be fifteen (15) minutes after the official scheduled starting time.

 

Practice Time Prior to Games

The Home team has the field 15 minutes prior to game time for warm-ups

 

INJURIES

When a player is injured a time out will be called immediately by the umpire. Runners will be entitled to the base(s) as determined appropriate by the umpire. Home Plate Umpire’s decision is final on all matters related to injuries.

 

 

SUBSTITUTIONS

Games can begin a game with a minimum of seven(7) players. A Team may call up no more than two players from the Minor division.  Players 8 and 9 will no longer be considered an out if they are vacant.

 

1. When less than nine members of a baseball team are present for a game, the manager may substitute from a lower (younger) division, of Portage Park rostered players and only if that player does not have a scheduled game at the same time, to make nine players.

A forfeiture of a game occurs when a team has six or less players. Forfeit score is 6-0 as its 1 run per inning played.

On the 3rd occurrence of this situation, for any one team, after a report from the Vice-President, the Board of Directors may review for possible action to remedy the situation.

2. Substitutes will abide by rules of division in which they are substituting.

3. Substitutes can play on any team that calls for a specific game.

4. If a substitute is called up for a game and for any reason there are now nine or more rostered players of the team that called the substitute up, the substitute can not play for the team that called him/her up,  unless an injury occurs and there are now less than nine players.

The substitute would be eligible to play on another team that was short on players, if the situation occurred.

5. Managers are expected to work together to field full teams for all games.  For example, under  no circumstances should a team with ten players (Nine rostered players and one call-up) win by forfeit over a team that has only six rostered players. The other team should transfer the call-up to the other team and the game played to completion.

6.  Players that are substituting for a division above their own will not be allowed to pitch.  Example, minor players substituting in a major game will not be allowed to pitch.

 

Weather

Unless notified by their manager or the league, all players must report to the playing field as scheduled.

In the event the field is determined playable by the umpire, the forfeiture rule goes into effect automatically.

Some games may be permitted on the grass for t-ball: subject to board approval.

The decision to cancel a game will be delayed as long as possible, right up to game time, if necessary.

All cancelled games will be scheduled at the next available open date.

Once the game has begun, stopping , or cancelled it becomes the responsibility of the home plate umpire or division commissioner.

 

Length of games- Regular season

 

In regularly scheduled Six (6) inning game,  three (3) innings will be considered a complete game and two and a half (2 ½) innings if the home team is leading.

 

In regularly scheduled Four (4) inning game, Three and a half (3-1/2) innings will be considered a complete game and four and a half (4 ½) innings if the home team is leading.

There are no tie games for all leagues unless a time limit is in effect.

 

If an uncompleted (as defined above) game is stopped by darkness or rain it shall be rescheduled as a new game, if it is not a completed game as described above.

 

If a game is stopped by darkness or rain when the score is tied and it is a complete game (as defined above) it shall be suspended and continued from that point on the next available date. The only players that are allowed to play in the continuation of the game are the players present at the original game and pitching rules apply as if the game never stopped.

 

If a complete game, as described above, is called for any reason and the home team is losing and did not have a chance to bat, the score will be reverted back to the previous full inning.

Ex. In a six (6) inning game, the fifth or sixth inning begins and the home team is winning 1-0.  The visiting team bats and scores two runs and now leads 2-1. The game is then called due to darkness/weather before the home team has a chance to bat.  The score will revert back to the previous innings score.

Ex. In a seven (7) inning game, the sixth or seventh inning begins and the home team is winning 1-0.  The visiting team bats and scores two runs and now leads 2-1. The game is then called due to darkness/weather before the home team has a chance to bat.  The score will revert back to the previous innings score.

No inning may start after two (2) hours.  Once the inning has begun prior to the time limit it can only be called by the umpire.  The bottom of an inning must be completed unless called by the umpire or determined unnecessary due to the score of the game.

 

Slaughter Rule:

 

Majors- - A team is winning by 15 runs after 4 innings or 10 runs after 5 innings.  Once a team is up by 10 runs, it is 6 batters or 3 outs, whichever comes first.

 

Batting

 

Majors- All rostered players present will be in the line-up regardless of offensive position.

 

Bunting- Fake bunting is not allowed.  If a player decides to bunt they must continue with the bunt or pull the bat back.  A player cannot show bunt and then take a full swing. 

First occurrence will result in a warning to both teams, if the ball was in play it will be called a dead ball and a strike will be issued against the batter.  If this becomes strike three the batter will be out, regardless of warning.  Runners cannot advance as a result of a dead ball.

 

Base Running

Lead offs and stealing bases are allowed upon pitcher release.  Stealing home is NOT allowed in the major division only.

 

Bat Rules

Major- 2 and 1/4' barrel, any drop.  2 5/8 barrel bats are allowed only if USA stamped.  No softball bats.

Wooden bats are allowed.

Using a bat that does not follow league rules will result in forfeit of game. 

 

Length of games- Playoffs 

 

All above rules apply exception, during the playoffs if a game is postponed or called at any point during the game, the game will continue where it left off.  For playoffs all 7 innings are to be played(except if slaughter rule occurs)

Pitch count does not continue it will be determined by the days rest.

 

 

Defensive positions

 

Bases will be set at 70 feet

 

Major- All 9 positions are to be represented by the rostered players.  All players present must play a position and cannot sit out for two consecutive innings.

 

 

Pitching:

 

The pitching mound will be set at 48 ft

 

Major- In Major if an older player is kept down that player is not allowed to pitch.

 

In the event that a pitcher hits a batter with a pitched ball 3 separate times in 1 game or twice in 1 inning, the pitcher must be removed from pitching for the remainder of the game but is still eligible to play another position.

 

Pitchers will adhere to a pitch count as follows:

 

85 pitches maximum for a game.  If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until the end of that at bat.

 

Pitcher throws 66 or more four calendar days rest

51-65  three calendar days rest

36-50  two calendar days rest

21-35 one calendar day rest

1-20 no days off

85 Daily Max

If any player is held back to play in this division, they cannot pitch or play catcher.

 

Pitchers are not allowed to fake to third and throw to first, it is considered a balk.  Balk rules will be applied.

BALKS ARE NOT ALLOWED Balk warnings are as follows:  First 10 games, Majors receive 1 warning from umpire then balk rule is enforced.   After game 10 only 1 warning will be issued then balk rule will be enforced.

 

The following are rules every umpire, manager, and coach should know

1) A foul is a batted ball:

a) that first lands in foul territory beyond first or third base.

b) that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory.

c) that settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base.

d) that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or a player or any object foreign to the natural ground.

2) A ball cannot be called foul until a player, coach, or fan touches it before it reaches first or third base in foul territory.

3) A ball is fair when:

a) it hits the base on a fly or bounce.

b) it hits the pitchers mound or defensive player in fair territory and then rolls to foul territory.

c) it lands on the chalk line on a fly beyond first or third base.

Note: the position of the ball dictates fair or foul not the fielder.

4) A pitch must not be called a ball or strike until after it crosses home plate.

5) On a dropped third strike situation the umpire must only call “strike three”. Batter is called “out” only after he/she turns to the dugout and fails to run to first base, or is tagged with the ball by the catcher, or is tagged or thrown out before reaching first base.

6) On non-dropped third strike situations the umpire calls “strike three, batter is out!”

7) Dropped third strike rule is in effect only when first base is un-occupied with less than two outs or first base is occupied with two outs.  )

Drop third strike- "6.09 The batter becomes a runner when ... (b) the third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out.

"When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out."

8) The infield fly rule is in effect when first and second or first second and third base are occupied with less than two outs. Umpire must call “infield fly, if fair!” as soon as possible after the ball is hit. An infield fly is a fair fly (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort or an outfielder. Batter is out and runners may advance at their own risk.

9) A pitched ball bounced into towards home plate:

a) shall be called a strike if swung at and missed by the batter.

b) shall be called a ball if the batter does not swing.

c) shall be called a “hit batsmen” if the ball comes in contact with the batters person or clothes and batter does not swing. Dead ball is announced and the batter is awarded first base.

10)A batter hit by the pitch while swinging at the ball gets a strike call and is not awarded first base because of being hit.

11)A batter is awarded first base when the pitched ball comes in contact with any part of the person or uniform and the batter does not swing, whether on a bounce or in the air.

12) A ball becomes dead immediately when:

a) a pitched ball touches a batter or his or her clothing.

NOTE: a ball becomes dead even though a batter strikes at it.

b) a batted ball touches a runner.

c) a foul ball:

I) touches an object other than the ground or any person other than the fielder

II) or goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s protector, mask, or person without first touching the catcher’s glove or hand.

III) or becomes an uncaught foul.

d) The ball is illegally batted or is intentionally struck a second time with the bat.

NOTE: in which case runners may not advance and the batter is called out.

e) the batter enters the batters box with an illegal bat.

f) there is interference by a runner, batter/runner, or retired runner, the batter, or any person.

g) a pitch hits the pitcher’s body as the pitch is made and rolls towards the plate or anywhere else in the infield or the ball slips out of the pitchers hand and lands near the mound.

13) Batting out of order:

An improper batter is considered to be at bat as soon as he/she is in the batter’s box and the ball is live. When the improper batter’s infraction is first discovered by either team, time may be requested and the improper batter replaced by the proper batter with the improper batter’s ball and strike count still in effect, provided the infraction is detected before the improper batter is put out or becomes a base runner. A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when he fails to bat in his proper turn and another batter completes a time at bat in his place.

NOTE: only the defensive team may appeal batting out of order at this point after the illegal batter has completed their turn at bat.

The defensive team must appeal batting out of order before the next batter receives a pitch. If they fail to do so, no infraction has occurred.

If however the defensive team does appeal before the first pitch to the next batter after the improper batter, then the umpire shall call the proper batter out and return all runners to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

NOTE: an out made for batting out of order supersedes an out by the improper batter on a play.

14) If a batter/runner safely touches first base and then overruns it, except on a base on balls, he/she may immediately return to first base without liability of being tagged out, provided they did not attempt to run or feint to second. This means they may return to first turning towards foul or fair as long as they do not attempt to run to second they may turn either way without the worry of being tagged out. Any fake or intentional move towards second and the

runner can be tagged out. To many times the coaches yell out “tag them” as soon as the runner turns to the left to return.

NOTE: umpire’s judgment as to whether an attempt at second has been made

15)  Coaches are only allowed 2 visits per pitcher to walk out on the field to visit the mound during a game.  If third visit to mound, coach must bring in a new pitcher.

16)  Home team must post scores and pitch counts within 12 hours of end of game.  Away team has 24 hours then to input their pitch count.  Failure to accurately update scores and pitch counts with render any pitcher from that game ineligible for 2 games.  Any scores not posted after 5 days will result in an automatic forfeit, no exceptions.

17)  Only kids who are present for the start of the game are to be put in the lineup.  A player that comes in late will be put in the last batting spot once he/she arrives.

18)  Pitcher and catcher can be pitch ran for at either 1 or 2 outs but catcher must be pitch ran for with 2 outs, the last batted out is the pitch runner.

 

Umpires

All decisions by the umpires are final.  Umpires have the authority to eject players, managers, coaches and spectators from the game.  They also have the authority to call a game a forfeit if actions of the spectators or participants warrant.

Umpire has final judgment on all calls.  A manager or acting manager may appeal which may be granted at the umpire’s discretion.

In the event of two umpires, the home plate umpire has the final word on any play.  In certain situations, he/she may confer with the base umpire if requested to do so by the manager or acting manager.  In those cases, the decision may or may not be overturned depending on the outcome of the conference.  The home plate umpire still has the final decision in these cases.

 

Any problems or questions regarding the umpires should be directed to the Vice-president or President.

 

Protests

There are no protests.  Only head coach to speak to umpire.

 

 

Ejections

Any manager, coach or player that gets ejected from the game will automatically be suspended for the next 2 games.  There are no exceptions.

NOTE: Until the umpire leaves the playing field you can still be thrown out.

 

Any person ejected will have to leave the playing area.  Playing area is dependent on the umpire’s judgment.

 

IF A MANAGER OR COACH GETS EJECTED FROM A GAME THEY CANNOT MANAGE OR COACH ANY TEAM IN ANY DIVISION UNTIL THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR SUSPENSION FOR THAT DIVISION THEY WERE EJECTED FROM.   THIS INCLUDES IF THE MANAGER OR COACH IS A SPECTATOR AT ANOTHER GAME IN ANOTHER DIVISION.

 

 

 

 

Zero Tolerance Policy

 

Any conduct detrimental to the league will be grounds for immediate dismissal from Portage Park Baseball Association.


It is the responsibility of the parents, players and the coaches to read and understand all the rules.  There will be no exceptions made for parents, player or coaches who are not familiar with the rules.  "Ignorance of the law is no defense."