Youth Baseball, Softball and T-ball rules

2009 T-BALL, BASEBALL & SOFTBALL RULES

I. GOVERNING AUTHORITY:

The Governing body of each league shall be the Dooly County Recreation Department. Final authority on all actions and appeals lies with the Recreation Board.

II. GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. AGE/ELIGIBILITY: The Age control date for Baseball is May 1st & the control date for Softball & T-Ball is January 1st.

B. DIVISIONS: T-BALL AGES: 5 & 6

PEE WEES AGES: 7 & 8

MITES AGES: 9 & 10

MIDGETS AGES: 11 & 12

JUNIORS AGES: 13 & 14

SENIORS AGES: 15, 16 & 17

III. RULES:

1. Dooly County Recreation Department follows the rules and regulations of G.R.P.A (Georgia Recreation & Parks Association), with the exception of the local rules listed below.

2. Players must wear approved team uniforms and soft-soled shoes or cleats. Metal cleats may be worn by the SENIOR BOYS ONLY!

3. Umpires will govern all play and any outside interference that may disrupt the game. They will be instructed to give a warning and then, if necessary, remove the disruption from the complex if they offer excessive abuse!

4. If any coach or player gets ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, he or she will be suspended from the next two (2) games. If any coach or player is ejected for a second (2nd) time, they will be subject to suspension from the league and will not be eligible for any All-Star games.

IV. GENERAL RULES:

1. There will be a continual batting order in leagues T-Ball through Midgets.

2. Each player may not sit out more than one (1) consecutive inning defensively. Injury or Disciplinary action are the only reasons for a player to not play at least half of each game.

3. No head first slides if you are wearing a batting helmet with a face guard. Runners will be called out for violating this rule! Runners may dive back to the base!

4. Batting helmets must remain on each batter and baserunners head! Automatic out will be called for violating this rule! Helmets may be removed in the dugouts or with the umpire’s permission!

5. A new inning will be considered to have started once the third out of the home team has been registered.

6. Ties will remain ties, unless there is time left in the game for extra innings!

V. GAME TIME LIMITS:

BASEBALL TIME SOFTBALL TIME

T-BALL (5&6) 1:00 (Or 5 Innings)

PEE WEES (7 & 8) 1:15 (Or 6 Innings)

MITES (9 & 10) 1:15 (Or 6 Innings) 7-10 1:15

MIDGETS (11 & 12) 1:30 (Or 7 Innings) 11-12 1:30

JUNIORS (13 & 14) 2:00 (Or 7 Innings)

SENIORS (15-17) 2:00 (Or 7 Innings)

Time limits should not be exceeded unless the additional time is needed to finish an inning started. Leagues with run rules per inning should declare the last inning prior to starting an inning with less than twenty (20) minutes remaining in the time limit.

7. Run rules apply for all leagues. Run rules are 10 runs after 5 innings, 15 runs after 4 innings and 20 runs after 3 innings.

Dooly COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT 5 & 6 T-BALL RULES SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

1. There will be a continual batting order. The ball is not pitched. It is hit off a batting tee.

2. Every player will bat, but only 10 players are allowed on defense. (NO PLAYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIT OUT MORE THAN (1) CONSECUTIVE INNING DEFENSIVELY.)

3. There are no strikeouts or walks (base on balls).

4. There will be a playing line between first base and third base.

5. No infielder may cross the playing line until the ball is hit.

6. The ball must be hit 10’ or it is foul.

7. When the ball is hit, don’t throw the bat.

8. Runners must stay on the base until the ball is hit. There is no stealing!

9. The inning is over when all players have batted once.

10. Safety helmets must be worn when at bat or running the bases.

11. REMEMBER: Recreational athletics are learning experiences for participants and that mistakes are often made. Praise athletes in their attempt to improve themselves as young athletes and as people.

Dooly COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT 7 & 8 BASEBALL RULES SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

1. Games will be 6 innings or 1 hour 15 minutes.

2. There will be a continual batting order. Every player will bat, but only ten players are allowed on defense. (4 outfielders)

3. Teams must have at least 8 players to start a game.

4. Offensive coaches must stand in the coaches’ boxes.

5. Coaches can not touch the players, baseball or enter the field of play while the ball is in play.

6. The umpire will call the bases and at the coaches request feed the pitching machine. The umpire’s judgment is final and indisputable.

7. Players will get 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes. Foul on the last strike does not count.

8. There will be a 5 run limit per inning except in the last inning. The last inning will have a 10 run limit and will be declared in the 6th inning or at the start of an inning that will begin with less than twenty (20) minutes left in the time limit.

9. The end of a half inning will occur when the last out is made or the 5th run that inning is scored. (Except during the last inning, then the 10th run.

10. If a batted ball makes contact with the pitching machine, this will result in a dead ball, all runners will return to their base and the batter will return to the plate with the same count.

11. Time shall be awarded to a team once the ball is controlled inside the baselines. If a runner is halfway when time is awarded, he will go to the next base and if he was not halfway, he must return to the previous base.

12. NO STEALING OR BUNTING WILL BE ALLOWED!

13. Each team coach will have 3 defensive time outs per game.

14. Each team shall have 1 offensive time out per inning. Coach is allowed to go to the plate for batting instructions. (if needed)

15. No infield fly rule will be called.

16. All bats must be League Approved.

17. Runner must maintain contact with the base until the ball crosses the plate. The penalty is an out.

18. Batting helmets are required by all players while batting, running bases and when on deck. Face masks and chin straps are MANDATORY!

Dooly COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT 9-10 BASEBALL RULES SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

1. Games will be 6 innings or 1 hour 15 minutes. However, if at any time after 55 minutes, the home team is ahead after the visiting team bats, the game will be called and will be considered complete and an official game.

2. There will be a continual batting order. Nine players may play defense. (3 outfielders)

3. Mites may field 9 players and may start with 8 players with the 9th batter being an out each time he is scheduled to bat. The 9th player may enter the game at any time.

4. Offensive coaches must stand in the coaches’ boxes.

5. Coaches can not touch the players, baseball or enter the field of play while the ball is in play.

6. Batting helmets are required by all players while batting, running bases and when on deck. Face masks and chin straps are MANDATORY!!

7. 3 strikes constitute an out and a batter is not allowed to run if the catcher drops the ball! Fouls do not count as 3rd strike!

8. No player removed because of injury or ejection may re-enter!

9. No pitcher may pitch more than 9 innings in one (1) calendar week.

10. No pitcher may re-enter as a pitcher.

11. BUNTING WILL BE ALLOWED!

12. STEALING WILL BE ALLOWED, BUT UNDER MODIFIED RULE! A base runner is required to stay in contact with the base until the pitched ball has reached the plate. At this point the runner is permitted to advance at his own risk. RUNNER IS AUTOMATICALLY CALLED OUT FOR LEAVING THE BASE BEFORE THE PITCHED BALL REACHES THE PLATE. The ball is dead and subsequent action on the pitch is cancelled. All runners must return to the base held at the time of the pitch.

13. Each teams coach will have 3 defensive time outs per game.

14. Each team shall have 1 offensive time out per inning.

15. The infield fly rule will be called.

16. All bats must not exceed 33” in length and 2 ¼” in diameter. The bat may be measured by an ASA bat ring. NO SOFTBALL BATS ALLOWED!

Dooly COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT  11-12 BASEBALL RULES  SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

1. Games will be 6 innings or 1 hour 30 minutes. However, if at any time after 1 hour and 10 minutes, the home team is ahead after the visiting team bats, the game will be called and will be considered complete and an official game.

2. There will be a continual batting order. Nine players may play defense. (3 outfielders)

3. Midgets may field 9 players and may start with 8 players with the 9th batter being an out each time he is scheduled to bat. The 9th player may enter the game at any time.

4. Offensive coaches must stand in the coaches’ boxes.

5. Coaches can not touch the players, baseball or enter the field of play while the ball is in play.

6. Batting helmets are required by all players while batting, running bases and when on deck. Face masks and chins traps are MANDATORY!

7. 3 strikes constitute and out and a batter is not allowed to run if the catcher drops the ball! Fouls do not count as 3rd strike!

8. No player removed because of injury or ejection may re-enter!

9. No pitcher may pitch more than 9 innings in one (1) calendar week.

10. No pitcher may re-enter as a pitcher.

11. BUNTING WILL BE ALLOWED!

12. STEALING WILL BE ALLOWED, BUT UNDER MODIFIED RULE! A base runner is required to stay in contact with the base until the pitched ball has reached the plate. At this point the runner is permitted to advance at his own risk. RUNNER IS AUTOMATICALLY CALLED OUT FOR LEAVING THE BASE BEFORE THE PITCHED BALL REACHES THE PLATE. The ball is dead and subsequent action on the pitch is cancelled. All runners must return to the base held at the time of the pitch.

13. Each teams coach will have 3 defensive time outs per game.

14. Each team shall have 1 offensive time out per inning.

15. The infield fly rule will be called.

16. All bats must not exceed 33” in length and 2 ¼” in diameter. The bat may be measured by an ASA bat ring. NO SOFTBALL BATS ALLOWED!

Dooly COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT 10 & UNDER SOFTBALL RULES  SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

1. Games will be 6 innings or 1 hour 15 minutes.

2. Every player will bat, but only ten players are allowed on defense. (4 outfielders)

3. Teams must have at least 8 players to start a game.

4. Offensive coaches must stand in the coaches’ boxes.

5. Coaches can not touch the players, baseball or enter the field of play while the ball is in play.

6.  The umpire will call the bases and at the coaches request feed the pitching machine. The umpire’s judgment is final and indisputable.

7. Players will get 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes. Foul on the last strike does not count.

8. There will be a 5 run limit per inning except in the last inning. The last inning will have a 10 run limit and will be declared in the 6th inning or at the start of an inning that will begin with less than twenty (20) minutes left in the time limit.

9. The end of a half inning will occur when the last out is made or the 5th run that inning is scored. (Except during the last inning, then the 10th run).

10. If a batted ball makes contact with the pitching machine, this will result in a dead ball, all runners will return to their base and the batter will return to the plate with the same count.

11. Time shall be awarded to a team once the ball is controlled inside the baselines. If a runner is halfway when time is awarded, he will go to the next base and if he was not halfway, he must return to the previous base.

12. NO STEALING OR BUNTING WILL BE ALLOWED!

13. Each team coach will have 3 defensive time outs per game.

14. Each team shall have 1 offensive time out per inning. Coach is allowed to go to the plate for batting instructions. (if needed)

15. No infield fly rule will be called.

16. All bats must be League Approved.

17. Runner must maintain contact with the base until the ball crosses the plate. The penalty is an out.

18. Batting helmets are required by all players while batting, running bases and when on deck. Face masks and chin straps are MANDATORY!

Dooly COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT  11 & 12 SOFTBALL RULES  SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

1. Games will be 6 innings or 1 hour 30 minutes.

2. Nine players may play defense. (3 outfielders)

3. Teams can start/continue a game with eight (8) players, whenever a player leaves the game for any reason other than ejection. If the ejected player is a base runner they shall be declared out. When playing short-handed, the missing players spot in the batting order shall be declared an out.

4. Stealing is from pitcher’s point of release.

5. If the third strike is dropped by the catcher, the batter is out and the ball is still live. All other runners can advance at their own risk.

6. Helmets with chin straps and face masks must be worn by batters base runners and on deck players. No player can play without a chin strap and a face mask. The penalty will be treated as illegal equipment.

7. Catchers must wear mask with throat protectors and a catcher’s helmet with ear flaps or a batting helmet with a wire face guard and throat protector. (The helmets must cover the ears and the back of the head). Wearing a chest protector and shin guards is MANDATORY!

8. All other rules are covered by ASA Softball Rule book.