RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR

DONIPHAN COUNTY SUMMER RECREATION

BOY’S BASEBALL AND GIRL’S SOFTBALL

Updated May 15, 2007

          It should be understood that the league objective is to teach baseball and softball to the children of our community in such a manner that the children have fun, gain confidence, and develop the spirit needed to play in a competitive program.

 

          The players are the concern of this program. REMEMBER THIS AT ALL TIMES!  There will be no heckling from any team.  Players should offer encouragement to their own team.  This will be enforced by the umpire.  After one warning, the umpire will award first base to the batter or assess an out, whichever case applies.

 

          Players and managers are expected to follow rules of good conduct.

 

AGE REQUIREMENTS

 

                             BOY’S K-BALL                    1ST & 2ND GRADES

                             BOY’S MINOR LEAGE            3RD & 4TH GRADES

                             BOY’S LITTLE LEAGUE          5TH & 6TH GRADES

                             GIRL’S K-BALL                    1ST & 2ND GRADES

                             GIRL’S MINI LEAGUE            3RD & 4TH GRADES

                             GIRL’S MISSY LEAGUE          5TH & 6TH GRADES

 

 

PLAYING RULES

 

(1)  Time Limit: One hour and thirty minutes – no new inning will start after that time limit has expired.

(2)  One throw and back to the pitcher after an out is made.

(3)  Only three players may huddle on the pitching mound at any time.

(4)  Innings played per game:     K-Ball - -4

                                           Minor- -5

                                           Little - -6

                                           Mini - -6

                                           Missy - -7

 

LEAGUE                         BASE DISTANCE                       PITCHING DISTANCE

Boy’s and Girl’s K-Ball          60 feet                        40 feet- -Arc 20 feet;

(Coaches Pitching Box) 10 feet hash marks in from each baseline

                                                                        Pitching circle 16 feet

 

Minor League                     60 feet                        46 feet

 

Little League                     70 feet                        50 feet

 

Mini League                       60 feet                        35 feet (Adopted 4-3-05)

 

Missy League                     60 feet                        40 feet

 

 

RUN RULES

 

     Should a team be ahead by ten runs or more at the end of the fourth inning for Mini, Minor, and Little League; and the fifth inning for Missy, the game shall be stopped.  The fifteen run rule will apply after three innings in all leagues.  K-Ball run rule is eleven runs for the girls and 10 for the boys after the third inning.

 

 

SUBSTITUTION RULE

 

     A coach may substitute freely from the bench.  The player who was substituted for must re-enter at the same spot in the batting order.  In case of injury, a player may re-enter at a different spot in the batting order, even if at a higher spot.

 

CLOSE PLAYS AT All BASES

 

     Collisions at any base should be avoided for the safety of the players.  If in the discretion of the umpire, the runner tried to run over the fielder at any base on a close play, the runner will be called out and if judged to be flagrant, the runner will be ejected from the game.  The base runners should give themselves up or slide on all close plays.  Fake tagging will result in an extra base given.

HELMETS

 

     All boys and girls must wear batting helmets.

     All catchers must wear a mask with a helmet, chest protector, and shin guards.

     Warm-up catchers must wear a helmet and mask if they are part of the playing team.

 

 

OTHER RULES

 

·         A Player can only play in an older age league if the team cannot find nine players.  This applies in league and tournament play.  A team MAY play with one less player than a full team without forfeiting.

·         If a player is “good standing” with his coach, he will play at least one full inning of each league game and all such players must be declared before the game.  The one inning rule is not in effect for tournament play.

·         All league tournaments will be double elimination and will be held at the end of the season.  Medals will be awarded to the first three places in tournaments.

·         All players must play for the recreation program of the school they attend.  In order to transfer to another program a waiver must be granted by both Recreation Departments involved in the transfer.

·         All Players must be on their team’s roster as of June 1 to be eligible to play in league tournament.

 

 

DELAYS AND RAIN OUTS

 

            The Recreation Director of each town shall be the person who calls off a scheduled game because of rain.  Coaches, please check with your Recreation Director in the event of rain.  Once teams have arrived at the playing sit, the umpire shall determine if the game is to be delayed or canceled due to inclement weather.  One delay not to exceed twenty minutes is allowed; and shall be added to the allotted time for the game.  The safety of players, coaches, and spectators should be of utmost importance where lightning or impending severe storms are involved.

 

 

OUTFIELD FENCES

 

          A ball hit over the outfield fence is a homerun.  A runner may take any number of bases when the ball remains inside the fence.  Any pop-up behind the plate must be six feet high to be caught for an out.  Unless the batter already has two strikes for Mini, Missy, Minor and Little Leagues.

 

K-BALL RULES FOR DONIPHAN COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS

 

(1)              (4) Four innings constitutes a ball game unless weather of darkness causes a game to be shortened, the (3) three innings constitutes an official game.  In this case, the score will revert back to the last complete inning.  The umpire will be the sole judge as to when the game shall be called.

 

(2)              If a team does not have enough players at game time, it may start the game with one less than normal, (8) eight boys, (9) nine girls. A forfeit shall be declared and the score will be recorded 5-0 in favor of the opponent if your team does not have enough players.  If neither team has enough players, it will be declared a loss for each team.

 

 

(3)              The team at bat is allowed (9) nine boys, (10) ten girls, to count for scoring.  The team at bat will be allowed (9) nine boys, (10) ten girls, to bat or three outs are made, whichever happens first, to count for scoring.  Each team is allowed (15) batters per inning.  The team at bat when the (9th) ninth male batter, (10th) tenth female batter, and last batter is forced out at any bas preceding the runner, when the ball is in control of the fielder, at that particular base the team at bat is retired or stop scoring runs at the point or time.

 

(4)              Every player on the team, up to (15) fifteen, is included in the batting order, but only (9) nine players in baseball and (10) ten in softball will be placed on the field at one time.  Every player must play in the field, with free substitution allowed by the manager for fielders at any time.  FREE SUBSTITUION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BATTING ORDER.  If a player arrives late, his name will be inserted at the bottom of the batting order.

 

(5)              Each team may choose a designated pitcher.  This player may be an adult.  The designated pitcher will pitch to his own team and may throw the ball in any manner, from any distance.  The prime purpose is to let the batter hit the ball.  The designated pitcher will not be included in the batting order and will not field the ball.

 

(6)              The designated pitcher must make an attempt to keep from interfering with the defensive team.  If the ball hits the designated pitcher, it is a dead ball and will be replayed.  If in the judgment of the umpire, no attempt was made to get out of the way, the ball or the batter will be called out.

 

(7)              A fielder will be positioned on the pitcher’s rubber, forty feet from home plate, and must have one foot on the pitcher’s rubber until the ball leaves the designated pitcher’s hand.

 

(8)              If the batter does not hit the ball fair within four pitches, he or she shall be called out.

 

(9)              Any batter that throws his bat after hitting the ball will be called out. No Warnings.

 

(10)          The catcher must play behind the batter and wear catcher’s mask.

 

(11)          Base runners must remain on their base until the ball is hit.

 

(12)          Base runners may advance one base on an overthrow at first and third.  If the ball remains in fair territory, the runner may advance as many bases as he can safely make.  All play is frozen when the ball is in control of the pitcher in the (16) sixteen foot circle; the base runner may advance only (1) one base on the overthrow back to the pitcher.

 

(13)          It is a foul ball if the batted ball does not cross the arc in front of home plate.  A fielder may enter the arc to catch a fly ball; but may not enter the arc to field a grounder.  PENALTY: RE-PITCH.

 

(14)          Any situation that is not covered by these rules will be left to the judgment of the umpire and that decision will be final.  There will be no protest considered.

 

(15)          NO BUNTING.

 

(16)          A line half way between first and second, second and third, third and home will be placed.  If the pitcher of the team in the field has control of the ball inside of the circle, all play is dead.  If the base runner is not across the line between the bases, the runner has to go back to the near base.  If the runner is across the line, the runner can go on to the next base.

 

(17)          ADULT PITCHER: After a hit ball that is fair, the adult pitcher needs to go to the first base out-of-bounds area, being sure not to interfere with h defensive team and/or the batter.  The adult pitcher shall not hinder the vision of the child pitcher. 

 

          Penalty: (1) One warning.

              Second time the batter is automatically out.

 

          Coaches: Please check with each child pitcher on each and every pitch.

 

(18)          If field set-up is wrong, finish the inning and then make the corrections to make it right!  Coaches should check the field before the game and if there is any doubt, the host team has to check the field and make the corrections to make it right.

MINI GIRLS – FAST PITCH RULES

 

(1)              7 run limit per team per inning during regular season games.

 

(2)              Each team will field ten players with at least four outfielders.

 

(3)              All games will be played with an 11” ball.

 

(4)              A runner can steal any base excluding home, after the ball has been released from the pitcher’s hand.  If the runner leaves early, they will be called out.  No Warnings.  Home must be earned.

 

(5)              If the ball in play in controlled by the pitcher inside the circle, the base runner must commit to either advance or stay on present base.

 

(6)              The pitcher will start with both feet touching the rubber.  All motion must be in a forward continuance toward home plate.  Violation will be a ball.

MISSY GIRLS

 

NFSHSA Rules will be followed with following modifications:

 

(1)              7 run limit per team per inning during regular season games. (Adopted Mar-23-06)

 

(2)                Each team will field nine players with a nine player batting order. (Modified Apr-30-04)

 

(3)              All games will be played with a 12” ball.

 

(4)              A runner can steal any base, including home, after eth ball has left the pitcher’s hand.  If the runner leaves early they will be called out.  No Warnings.

 

(5)              If the ball in play is controlled by the pitcher inside the circle, the base runner must commit to either advance or stay on present base.

 

(6)              The catcher must catch and hold the third strike.  The batter may advance to first if it is unoccupied with no or 1 out, and may also advance to first with 2 outs if the base is occupied.

 

(7)              The pitcher will start with both feet touching the rubber.  All motion must be in a forward continuance toward home plate.  Violation will be a ball.

 

(8)              Girls who do not turn 13 before Jan. 1 of that school year are eligible.

 

MINOR LEGUE RULES

 

1.      7 run limit per team per inning during regular season games

 

2.      The catcher is not required to catch and hold the third strike.  The batter is out on three strikes.

 

3.      Steel spikes cannot be worn.

 

4.      A baserunner must be in contact with a base until the pitched ball crosses home plate.

 

5.      If the base runner leaves to early, he is called out. NO WARNING.

 

6.      The runner can steal any base excluding home.  Home must be earned.

 

7.      There is no balk violation.

 

 

 

LITTLE LEAGUE RULES

 

1.                  Steel spikes cannot be worn.

 

2.                  Players are allowed to lead off and steal including home.

 

3.                  A pitcher on the rubber must follow through with his intended pitch and must not break this motion when throwing to first or home.  He does not have to throw to third or second.

 

4.                  Seventh grade boys age 12 may play Little League if they have only played 1 year of Little League.  Must be cleared by county Commissioners.

 

5.                  The catcher must catch and hold the third strike.  The batter may attempt to advance to first if it is unoccupied with no or 1 out, and may attempt to advance with two outs even if first base is occupied.

BASEBALL PITCHING REGULATIONS

 

(1)                                                  Any player on a team roster may pitch. Once a pitcher leaves the field of play he is no longer eligible to pitch in that game.

 

(2)                                                  If a player in less than four innings, one calendar day of rest is mandatory.

 

(3)                                                  If a player pitches four or more innings, three calendar days of rest must be observed.  A player may pitch in a maximum of seven innings in a calendar week.  Delivery of a single pitch in a maximum of seven innings in a calendar week.  Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched in an inning.

 

EXAMPLE:

 

          If a player pitches in                                        And is still eligible

          Four or more innings on:                                   that player can pitch

                                                                             Again on:

 

          Sunday                                                         Thursday

          Monday                                                         Friday

          Tuesday                                                        Saturday

          Wednesday                                                    Sunday

          Thursday                                                       Monday

          Friday                                                           Tuesday

          Saturday                                                       Wednesday

 

PENALTY FOR EACH VIOLATION OF PITCHING REGULATIONS; FORFEITURE OF GAME INVOLVED

 

(4)                                                  Opposing coaches should sign each other’s scorebook to verify innings pitched.

 

(5)                                                  For tournament play, the pitcher will be allowed to pitch nine innings in a calendar week; if the TOURNAMENT IS TWO WEEKS, THE PITCHER WILL BE ALLOWED SEVEN INNGINS, EACH WEEK.

 

(6)                                                  If field is set up wrong, both teams are to finish the inning and then make the corrections so that the field is right.  Coaches should check the field prior to the game and if there is any doubt, the host team has to check the field and make it right.