Major League Rules
Revised – 3/9/15
Behavior of Coaches, Team Members, Families, and Their Guests
· All Managers, Assistant Managers, Team Members, Families, and their guests are subject to the EYBSL Baseball Codes of Conduct.
· Any disputes must be arbitrated in a positive, sportsmanlike, fashion. Improper behavior, foul language, and disrespect for umpires will not be tolerated (this includes parents and spectators). The discretion of the umpire stand. If improper behavior persists in a game the head coach of the offending person will be ejected and subject to further disciplinary by the EYBSL Board.
· If any coach or player does not respect the umpire’s call and is ruled unsportsmanlike, will be ejected from the game and ruled upon by the board to decide on further action against said coach. The coach is responsible for his team’s spectators and behavior during the game.
Playing Area and Equipment
· Playing area is an imaginary line from backstop, running parallel to 1st and 3rd base foul line.
· Playing field is the area bounded by home plate down each foul line
· Base distance is 70 feet.
· Pitching rubber distance is 50 feet.
· The maximum bat length is 33’ and the maximum bat barrel diameter is 2 ¾”. Any bat used that does not meet these requirements will result in dead ball and the batter called out.
· Area behind backstop is off limits to everyone.
Regulation Game
· Six innings per game. No inning may be started after two (2) hours from the original scheduled start time; the next inning starts when the final out is made in the prior inning. This rule applies whether or not a game is to be played on the field following the game in progress. This rule also applies to restarting an inning after a rain or weather delay; a delayed inning may not be restarted after two hour fifteen minute (2:15) from the original scheduled start time. Extra innings may be played in accordance with the league time and other game completion rules. If rain, darkness or weather ends a game prior to 4 complete innings of play the game will be suspended. If the game is called after 4 innings the score will stand as a complete game reverting back to the score at the end of the last fully completed inning, including if such score results in a tie game (3 ½ innings complete with the home team winning).
Minimum Team
· A minimum team will consist of 8 players. No out shall be recorded in the ninth batting position if only 8 players are present at a game. If more players arrive after the game begins they will be added to the end of the batting order. Teams without 8 players by 10 minutes past the scheduled start time shall forfeit the game with a score of 6-0. A team may use a player from the league below, but in no case may that player pitch or play catcher. In no case may a player not registered with EYBSL play as a walk-on. Call up players must wear the team uniform of their full-time team. A team cannot call up a player if that player’s full-time team has a game scheduled at the same time. All call up player must bat last.
·
Inclement Weather/Suspended Games/Rescheduled Games
· Both team managers and the umpire shall not permit a game to begin or continue if the field and/or weather present a threat to the safety of the players. The presence of lightning or inclement weather shall result in the suspension of any game immediately at the discretion of the managers. The game or practice will not resume until the threat of lightning or inclement weather has subsided for at least 20 minutes. If a game is cancelled, postponed, rained out, etc., it is the responsibility of the home team manager to notify the Instructional League Commissioner, immediately, for rescheduling.
· Rainouts should be rescheduled as soon as possible on a date agreed to by both coaches. Both coaches should work directly with the schedule coordinator to reschedule rainouts.
Lineup/Playing Requirements
· All players on the team will be placed in the batting order and bat. The batting order will be maintained throughout the game.
· Free substitution defensively except for the pitcher. If the pitcher is taken out, he cannot pitch again in that game, but may play any other position.
· All players must play at least three innings if they are present at the start of the game.
· No player can play more than 3 innings at one position per game.
· Courtesy runner for catcher after 2 outs (last out).
· No player can sit on the bench for more than 2 consecutive innings.
· Any late arriving players will be added to the bottom of the batting order and announced to the opposing team.
Game Results Reporting
· Home team Coach is expected to log into the EBS website and report their scores in the results area of their home page within 24 hours. This needs to be done to be able to set the brackets for the playoffs at the end of the season. If a score is not reported at the time the tournament is scheduled, a tie score of 0-0 will be entered. To record the games scores see below.
o First make sure you are signed in as manager/admin.
o Select "Team" from the menu tabs from the at the top of the page (you may have to select season, league and team at the top of the page)
o Select "Results" from the menu pages at the left
o On the team results page, find the game you wish to edit and click on the "Edit" icon to the right of the game
o Enter score or any additional result changes and optionally, game commentary
o Click submit to confirm changes
Runs Scored
· Innings 1-5 are finished when 3 outs or a maximum of 5 runs are made, whichever occurs first. Inning 6 is finished when 3 outs are made.
Pitching
· Pitchers are allowed to pitch a total of 6 innings in a 7 day calendar week. No more than 3 innings in a game. Calendar weeks roll over Saturday at midnight.
· Three additional innings will be allowed for a makeup game, with 9 innings maximum for the week.
· Any partial inning or single pitch counts as an inning.
· For the benefit of the players, coaches are urged to carefully follow these rules.
· Balks are called after one warning (per individual pitcher) from the umpire. Umpires should stop the game and explain to the pitcher why the balk was called.
· Coaching staffs may visit the defense including the pitcher during the game. Visits should be limited to 1 minute. On the second trip in an inning to confer with the defense with the same pitcher on the mound, that pitcher must be removed.
· Pitchers must not wear anything distracting on their arms (i.e. white sleeves, wrist bands, etc.)
· The pitcher must be removed if he hits two batters in one inning, or 3 batters total in the game.
Defense
· Catchers must use catcher’s mitt.
· It is mandatory that catchers wear full protective gear, including cup protection, while catching. The game will be forfeited if one team is unable to play a catcher without cup protection.
· Catchers cannot intentionally block the whole plate without the ball. The runner must be given the opportunity to touch the base.
· A defensive player cannot promote contact by intentionally impeding a runner.
Batting/Ball in Play
· On deck batter must be on same side of the plate as batter.
· Overthrow out of the playing area is a dead ball. The runner(s) is/are entitled to one base only.
· Overthrow in the playing field, the runner(s) may advance as far as possible at their own risk. When a defensive player has the ball at the pitcher’s mound area, the runner(s) must hold to their base. If the runner is halfway between bases when the pitcher gets the ball, they can continue to advance at their own risk.
· Lead offs are allowed.
· Stealing is allowed up until a 5 run lead is established. Once this happens, lead offs are still allowed but any runner attempting to steal a base, including at hit and run situation, will be sent back to the base they were at.
· Runners may advance on a passed ball, regardless of the score.
· Bunting is allowed. Players are not allowed to offer a bunt, pull back and full swing. This action will result in a dead ball and an automatic out.
· Sliding: The base runner must slide to avoid contact when a play is pending. The offensive or defensive player that promotes avoidable contact will be ruled against. Sliding is always deemed as an attempt to avoid contact. Any contact that is deemed flagrant by the board will receive a 2 game suspension. Penalties carry over to playoffs games.
· Home plate, if contact is possible, (close play), the player must slide into home to avoid unnecessary contact. A player positioning his body between a runner and his destination (blocking the plate), is considered to be promoting contact. The umpire’s discretion will stand.
· Intentionally throwing equipment (helmets or bats), and swearing at an umpire are grounds for dismissal from the game.
· Throwing bats: 1st time team – warning. 2nd time team will result in an out.
· The infield fly rule is in effect.
· The drop third strike rule is in effect.
Coach Responsibilities
· Sportsmanship with healthy competition is to be stressed. It is the expectation of the EYBSL Board that our coaches model the EYBSL Code of Conduct at all practices and games. We expect them also to hold their parents accountable for their behavior at practices and games also.
· The home team must provide 2 new game balls to the home plate umpire. The home plate umpire is always asked to umpire behind home plate.
· Coaches meet prior to start of each game with the umpire to discuss field of play rules, and any field circumstances.
· Home team is responsible for putting the bases and mound away if it is the last game of the day. Also, rake up around the bases and mound after every game.
· Please clean up trash in dugout and around field. The players should be encouraged to help.
Umpires
· Umpires should inspect bats in dugout for proper size prior to start of the game.
· Only head coaches may address umpire.