RULES – Summer Ball – all divisions:
Any game started, but stopped due to weather, will not be replayed.

See our Required Behavior for requirements for all participants. 

Click here for the additional rules for your specific division.

Equipment
1.   Our club provides game balls for all ages and catcher's gear for 7YO & older. Any use of non-league provided catcher's gear must follow what we supply – one piece catcher's helmet, chest protector and shin guards. 
2.   ALL baseball bats must have the "USA Baseball" factory stamp to be used. Use of any other bat results in an out called. This is treated as a dead ball where runners return to the base prior to the struck ball.
3.    ALL softball bats must comply with the rules established in the spring and fall seasons through WCPR – click here.

Before the Game
1.    Games will be cancelled due to weather on the decision of the league.
2.    Teams cannot warm up on the infield prior to the game in foul or fair territory. They must warm up in the outfield. We do this to preserve the dirt surface.
3.    Teams are to be in the dugout area ready to start the game 5 minutes prior to the scheduled game start.

Field & Game Limits
1.    Base paths are as follows:
·       60' for 8YO & younger baseball and all of softball
·       65’ for 9/10YO baseball
·       70’ for 11/12YO baseball
2.    The pitching distance is as follows:
·       35’ for 8YO & younger baseball & softball; and for 9/10YO softball
·       40’ for 11/13YO softball
·       46’ for 9/10YO baseball
·       50’ for 11/12YO baseball
3.    Music is not allowed to be played during or prior to games.
4.    The infield fly rule is only in effect for 9/10YO baseball and 11/12YO baseball.
5.    The dropped third strike rule is only in effect for 11/12YO baseball.
6.    A team receives a warning for any player slinging the bat and any slinging of a bat after the warning results in an out for anyone on the team receiving the warning. 
7.    For 7YO & older, an inning is complete when 3 outs are recorded or a team scores 5 runs, whichever occurs first.
8.    For 6YO & younger, an inning is complete when 8 batters have batted.

Player Participation
1.    All players must be in the batting order to bat.
2.    Players are not to sit consecutive innings in the field meaning a player can play 1B in the 1st inning, sit in the 2nd inning, play 1B in the 3rd inning, but cannot sit the 1st and 2nd consecutively.
3.    Players arriving after game time are to be placed at the bottom of the order.
4.    Courtesy runners are encouraged to be used for catchers. Use the last batted out as the courtesy runner.

Score keeping
1.    While innings are limited to 5 runs per team, the official score will not be kept, and scoreboards will not be used.

Coach Participation & Positioning
1.    When on defense, teams are limited to one coach being in front of the dugout. All other coaches must be in the dugout. The one coach standing in front of the dugout must remain in front of the dugout and not towards home plate or a base or the outfield.

Player Shortage & Sub Rules (applies only for 7YO & older divisions)
1.     Only players registered in our summer league may serve as a sub and those subs must be registered in the current age division or younger. What division the player is registered to is what division they are classified from.
2.    Teams using a player outside of our summer league registered players results in a forfeit and head coach suspension for next two games. 
3.   A sub may play any position except pitcher and catcher and a sub must bat in the lineup as 5th or later. Subs must wear their team's uniform shirt and not the uniform of the team they are subbing for. 
4.    Players are only allowed to participate when wearing their summer league (2024) shirt unless an exception in advance has been granted by the league.
5.   Subs cannot be added to the lineup card once the game starts.
6.    Teams may start a game with no less than 8 players but at any time they have less than 9 players, the 9th player is recorded as a batted out. The game is stopped if less than 8 players and recorded as a forfeit.
7.    Teams may start a game on time with no less than 8 players. If a team starts a game and during the game gets to only 7 players, the game will be halted and called a forfeit.
8.    If a player starts the game and leaves for any reason, they will be skipped in the order.

Base running
1.    Players must attempt to avoid contact. A player can be called out if contact is not avoided; this is a judgment call by the umpire. 
2.    On any play at home plate, players must slide feet first, if sliding and avoid a collision with the catcher. If not sliding, they must also avoid a collision. The catcher may block the plate only if the player has the ball. 
3.    A base runner is required to do whatever is needed to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball. A runner is out for running out of the baseline, only when attempting to avoid a tag.