Baseball Rules 8u-15u

8u Coach Pitch Baseball Cal Ripken
Revised 03/06/2024

1. Time Limit of 50 minutes or 5 innings. Games can end in a tie.
2. A runner cannot leave the base before the ball has been hit. If the runner leaves early, the umpire will call the runner out.
3. The infield fly rule is not in effect.
4. A team may score a maximum of 6 runs per inning.
5. A batter receives a maximum of five (5) overhand or underhand pitches. A foul ball counts as a pitch. The batter is out after five pitches in the judgment of the umpire.
6. No bunting is allowed.
7. A thrown or hit ball striking the pitching coach is a dead ball. If the ball is a batted ball, the batter will be awarded first base. Base runners will advance only if forced.
8. No stealing is allowed at any time.
9. The catcher must make the play at home plate unless he is out of position attempting a play. Defense obstruction will be called. The intent of this rule is for each player to learn his position.
10. Ten (10) players will play in the field, with four (4) outfielders. The fourth outfielder is not allowed to assume an infield position. All outfielders must stay on the outfield grass.
11. Fair Ball Arc: There will be a 20' arc drawn from the back point of home plate, from the 1st baseline to the 3rd baseline in front of home plate. A batted ball must go past this line to be a fair ball.
12. Safety Arc: There will be a 30' arc drawn from the back point of home plate, from the 1st baseline to the 3rd baseline in front of home plate. Infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit.
13. The number of coaches allowed on the field (inside the fences and /or dug-outs) during the game must not exceed three (3); four (4) if the team is batting.
14. The positions coaches may occupy during the game will be:
    1. One coach is in the first and third base coaching boxes when their team is at bat, and one coach is pitching to the batter. The 4th coach must manage the dugout.
    2. Only one coach is allowed in the outfield when the team is on defense, allowing them to adjust, teach, and correct fundamental errors on the spot.
    3. In the dug-out.
    4. When his or her team is at bat, the pitching coach is allowed, if needed, to help his players prepare to bat, and once the ball is hit, the coach must get off the field past either foul line.
    5. Coaches must stay inside the fences unless special situations require that they leave (i.e., illness, injury, or personal or official business not related to the game in which they are involved). Under no circumstances will a coach be allowed to watch or coach the game from the spectator areas of the park.
    6. Coaches cannot touch a player at any time the ball is in play. This includes both offensive and defensive play. Penalties are as follows:
       1. Defensive - Dead ball - Runner advances two bases.
       2. Offensive - Dead ball - The runner is out.

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Live Arm: 10u Baseball Cal Ripken Minor League
Revised 3/6/2024

1. Time limit of one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes or six (6) innings. NO new innings will begin after we hit the one (1) hour mark of the game. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it is a tied game.
2. A team may score a maximum of 6 runs per inning.
3. All league pitching rules apply. If a pitching rule is violated, the game may be protested (by the head coach) up to one week after the infraction. If the protest is upheld, the game will be ruled a forfeit.
4. Any defensive timeout called by a coach will be charged as a visit to the mound, except for an injury or equipment repair timeout.
5. The infield fly rule is NOT in effect.
6. The batter is not allowed to run to 1B on a dropped 3rd strike. It is a strikeout, and the batter is out.
7. Teams play with four (4) outfielders, and they must be lined up like true outfielders, not one as a rover. Additionally, if one team only has 9 or fewer players, then the other team must play with a maximum of three outfielders. For example, Team A has eleven (11) players, and Team B only has nine (9) players; both teams can only have three (3) outfielders.
8. Pitching distance is 46 feet, base distance is 65 feet, and players may not lead off but can steal after the ball crosses home plate.
9. Run Rules are as follows: if the home team is winning, the game is over.
   • 15 after 3 innings
   • 12 after 4 innings
   • 10 after 5 innings

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Live Arm: 12u Baseball Cal Ripken Major League
Revised 3/6/2024

1. Time limit of one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes or six (6) innings. NO new innings will begin after we hit the one (1) hour mark of the game. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it is a tied game.
2. A team may score a maximum of 6 runs per inning.
3. All league pitching rules apply. If a pitching rule is violated, the game may be protested (by any head coach) up to one week after the infraction. If the protest is upheld, the game will be ruled a forfeit.
4. Any defensive timeout called by a coach will be charged as a visit to the mound, except for an injury or equipment repair timeout.
5. Pitching distance is 50 feet, base distance is 70 feet, and players may not lead off but can steal after the ball crosses home plate.
6. Run Rules are as follows: if the home team is winning, the game is over.
   • 15 after 3 innings
   • 12 after 4 innings
   • 10 after 5 innings

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League Game Time Limits
Revised 3/6/2024

• Age Group: 10u Live Arm
  Game Length: one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes or six (6) innings
  
  
• Age Group: 12u Live Arm
  Game Length: one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes or six (6) innings
  
  
• Age Group: 15u Live Arm
  Game Length: one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes or seven (7) innings

League Pitching Rules: 10u, 12u, and 15u Live Arm
Revised 3/6/2024

1. One pitch constitutes an inning.
2. Once relieved from a game, the pitcher cannot return to the pitcher position for any reason. However, the player can assume any other defensive position for the remainder of the game.
3. When a team is charged with its second trip to the mound, in the same inning, to the same pitcher, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game. The pitcher may be moved to another defensive position.
4. A timeout charged to a team in the defensive position is considered a trip to the mound, except for an injury or equipment repair timeout.
5. The pitching week is Sunday through Saturday.

Regular Season Pitching Rules:

• Age Group: 10u Live Arm
  Innings Allowed Per Game: 3
  Innings Allowed per Week: 6

   

• Age Group: 12u Live Arm
  Innings Allowed Per Game: 3
  Innings Allowed per Week: 6

   

• Age Group: 15u Live Arm
  Innings Allowed Per Game: 3
  Innings Allowed per Week: 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mountain Home Recreational Youth Baseball Ground Rules
The following rules apply to ALL leagues.
Revised 2/4/2020 9:23 AM

ANY rule not specifically covered here or in the rules for each individual age group will be governed by USSSA.

1. There will be no profanity, obscene gestures, or throwing of any equipment. This can result in automatic ejection from the game in which it occurs and suspension from the net game. The second time one of these violations occurs, the person or persons involved will meet with the Mountain Home Youth Baseball Board. At this meeting it will be decided if the person or persons involved will be allowed to continue in the Mountain Home Youth Baseball League.
2. In case of a discussion, only the manager or head coach will speak to the chief umpire. All other coaches or players will either stay at their positions or in the dug-out. If this is violated, the person or persons involved may be ejected and suspended for one game. If it happens a second time, the person or persons involved will have to meet with the board where it will be decided if the party involved can remain in the Mountain Home Youth Baseball League.
3. A player, coach, or a fan ejected from the game must leave the park.
4. There will be no yelling of personal or personal pronoun names. There will be no banging of bats against the dug-out fencing, floor, or bench. There will be nothing done to distract players from the other team. If any of the above violations take place, the umpire will warn the person or persons involved. A second warning means automatic ejection from the game. If the umpire is unable to tell who the guilty party is, the head coach will be ejected from the game. Managers should remember whatever their players do - good or bad - reflects directly on them. Again, managers are expected to have control of their players.
5. No smoking or chewing tobacco will be allowed in the confines of the playing field. Alcoholic beverages and drugs are not permitted anywhere in the ballparks.
6. There will be no soft toss allowed against a fence at any ballpark during practice or before a game.
7. Home team can be in either dug-out.
8. Before the start of each game, the managers will meet with the umpires at home plate to discuss the ground rules and anything else important for the game.
9. All equipment shall be kept in the dug-outs during the game. All players, unless they are on the field playing a position, on base, in coach's box, up at bat, or in the on-deck circle, will be in the dug-out.
10. Managers should have their players in uniform with their shirts tucked in.
11. Batting helmets: When a player is at bat, in the on-deck circle, being used as a coach, or a base runner, they must wear a helmet. This includes the team bat-boy. Helmets must be worn.
12. Catchers mask and helmet: Any player warming up a pitcher must have on a helmet. This applies for both practices and games. Managers are to make sure a catcher has on a protective cup. If the catcher is not wearing a protective cup, they will be prevented from catching until they are wearing one.
13. All on deck batters will use the third base on deck circle when a right-handed hitter is at the plate and will use the first base on deck circle when a left-handed batter is at he plate.
14. All players will be listed in the batting order at the start of the game and bat in turn throughout the game. If the player arrives after the start of the game, their name is to be added to the end of the batting order.
15. Free substitution on defense. However, each player will play at least two innings on defense unless prevented by injury or illness. If he/she does not, the player will start the next game in the field and play at least two innings on defense before being substituted for. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture.
16. Due to a possible shortage of players, teams will be allowed to play a game with only seven (7) players. The team will be charged with only one (1) automatic out, not two (2), for the 8th and 9th spots.
17. When playing with seven (7) players, a team may leave one infield position (other than the pitcher or catcher) open so the team may have two (2) outfielders.
18. No team will be assessed an automatic out for the vacant 10th or later batting position.
19. A line-up card must be turned in to the umpire ten (10) minutes before the game starts. All line-up changes are to be communicated directly to the home plate umpire by the team manager.
20. Delaying of the game by runners will not be tolerated. The runner will receive one (1) warning by the umpire when a delay occurs. He will be called out if another infraction occurs.
21. Stalling: If in the opinion of the umpire, a team exhibits stalling tactics, the umpire will give the team a warning. If in the opinion of the umpire, the team exhibits further stalling, the umpire shall stop the game and award a forfeit to the other team.
22. All bats that meet any Baseball Organizations standards are legal unless they have been altered.
23. The batter must not throw the bat after hitting the ball. If, in the umpire's judgement, the batter has thrown the bat, the batter will be called out and any baserunners go back to their original base.
24. Between Innings Time Limit: For ages 9 - 15, there will be a one (1) and a half (1/2) minute time limit between innings. The umpire will have a stop watch to keep the time. Please have your pitcher and catcher ready to start warming up as soon as the other teams at-bat is over. A pitcher gets a maximum of five (5) pitches to warmup unless it's a new pitcher then they will be given the normal eight (8) pitches. Your catcher should have their gear on and ready to go when the inning is over.
25. Courtesy Runners. A courtesy runner is required for a catcher that's on-base once there are two (2) outs in the inning. A courtesy runner is recommended, but not required, for the pitcher on-base once there are two (2) outs in the inning. The courtesy runner is the last batted out. This rule is implemented to help facilitate the time limit of one (1) and a half (1/2) minutes between innings.
26. Run Rules: See age division.
27. Division of  Play Base Paths Pitching Distance:
    • 8u
      • Pitching: 40
      • Bases: 60
    • 10u
      • Pitching: 46
      • Bases: 65
    • 12u
      • Pitching: 50
      • Bases: 70
    • 15u
      • Pitching: 60'6"
      • Bases: 90