RULES – 9YO, 10YO, 11YO, 12YO OPEN Divisions:

In case of rain, see our Rain out Policy link for how games are completed.

See our Required Behavior for requirements for all participants. 

Equipment
1.  While we do not provide our open teams with catcher's gear, only one-piece catcher's helmets are allowed at all of our facilities.
2.  Teams are to only use the game balls we provide, all unused at the start of the game.
3.  Big Barrel Bats are permitted. Bat rules will follow those used in USSSA, BPA and Game7.
4.  A drop 3 bat is only allowed on 60/90 fields, which those fields start at 13YO.
5.  Use of an illegal bat, not following the above, results in an out called. This is treated as a dead ball where runners return to the base prior to the ball batted into play.


Before the Game
1.  Games and practices will be cancelled due to weather on the decision of the league. Rescheduled games have priority over any practice schedules. We will provide 48-hour notice on rescheduled games.
2. Unless playing on turf, 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 five minutes prior to the scheduled game start.
4.  The coach that attends the plate meeting prior to the game will be the only coach that communicates with the umpire throughout the game concerning rule interpretations. Judgement calls may not be disputed.


Field & Game Limits
1.  Base paths are 65' for 9YO, 10YO divisions and then 70’ for 11YO division.
2.  Pitcher rubber to home plate is 46’ for 9/10YO and 50’ for 11/12YOs.
3. Music is not allowed to be played once the game starts.
4.  The infield fly rule applies.
5.  The dropped third strike rule applies.
6.  Fake bunting and swinging for a pitch is not allowed and the batter will be called out.
7.  There are no bunting limits.
8.  There are 3 outfielders, 4 infielders, a pitcher and a catcher on defense. Players must be in their position as shifting is not allowed.


Player Participation
1.  There are no player participation requirements in the open division. Playing time is not monitored and managed by the league.
2.  Team can choose to bat 9 or bat 10 with EH or bat 9 with DH or bat 10 with EH & DH (still only batting 10) or bat the entire roster.
3.  If coaches are batting the entire lineup, which we recommend in league play, coaches use free substitution in the field.
4.  Players arriving after game time must have been listed in your lineup card as a sub to be eligible to play. If you are batting all players, they may be added to the bottom of your order.
5. Only players that played in more than half (i.e. 5 of 8) of the regular season games would be eligible to participate in the end of season tournament.


Coach Participation & Positioning
1.  No more than 4 coaches can participate to coach during a game.
2.  When on offense, teams can have a 1st base coach, a 3rd base coach and the pitching coach. All other coaches must be in the dugout.
3.  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.


Score keeping
1.  No new inning starts after 90 minutes. There is a 6-inning limit.
2.  There is a 10-runing mercy rule after the 4th inning.
3.  Games will stop when the losing team cannot score enough remaining runs to tie the game.
4.  Regular season league games excluding the tournament may end in a tie


Stoppage of Play
1.  This is a stop the runner format but once the pitcher is on the mound, the ump can stop the play.


Pitchers
1.  New pitchers to an inning are allowed EIGHT warm-up tosses that include any in front, behind or on the mound. In case a pitcher is replaced due to injury or illness, the new pitcher will be given additional pitches to properly warm up.
2.  Existing pitchers are allowed FIVE pitches after their second and following innings.
3.  If three batters are hit during the game by a pitcher, that pitcher must be pulled from pitching and cannot return to pitch later in the same game.
4.  The pitcher must be pulled on the 2nd trip to the mound in the same inning.
5.  A pitcher may re-enter the same game unless he was pulled due to 2nd trip in same inning.
6. Pitching limits are as follows:

- Counted pitches are only those thrown to a live batter and exclude warm up pitches. 
- A pitcher once reaching the limit on a batter they started before reaching their planned max will be allowed to complete that batter. For example, the first pitch to a batter is 35. To complete the batter requires 4 more pitches. If pulled or inning ends, the count is recorded as 35.
- One day of rest, for example, means if a pitcher threw 28 pitches on Monday, they cannot pitch until Wednesday.


Player Shortage & Sub Rules
1.   Only players registered in our 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 league results in a forfeit and head coach suspension for next two games. 
3.   A sub may play any position but must bat in the lineup as 5th or later. Subs must wear their team's uniform and not the uniform of the team they are subbing for. 
4.    Subs cannot be added to the lineup card once the game starts.
5.    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.


Base running
1.  Lead offs are allowed.
2.  Any base can be stolen. 
3.  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.
4.  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 he has the ball. 
5.  Courtesy runners are to be used for catchers. Use the last batted out as the courtesy runner. The catcher of record is the only one that can have a courtesy runner, not a catcher in the next inning.


End of Season Tournament Seeding
1.  The seeding for the tournament will occur in the following order:
a. Win percentage
b. Head-to-Head
c. Runs Allowed (across all games)
d. Runs Scores (across all games)