Minor League Rules

EQUIPMENT/GEAR

1. Tennis shoes or rubber cleats must be worn during the game. No metal cleats.

2. No jewelry should be worn during the game, and no foreign objects will be allowed in pockets.

3. Catchers are required to wear all catching gear whenever catching for a pitcher or machine.

PRACTICES (Fields & Cages)

4. Practice times include diamond and IF practicing on the North field, the batting cage. If you sign up for practice time on the South field the batting cage is only available if the field is open or the coach on the North field agrees to share the cage.

5. On game nights batting cage rules are:

• Visitors use the cage from 1 hour prior to 35 minutes prior to game time; the home team uses the cage from 35 minutes prior to 10 minutes prior to game time. 

• The same time frame will apply to weekend games as well.

• The machine must be unplugged when you are done and the doors must be locked.

TEAMS

6. Each team will start all players. All players will play the field and bat. If a player is unable to continue, it is not an out.

7. Teams can start a game with a minimum of 7 players before a forfeit is called. If you have less than 9 players, 3rd & 4th graders may sub for minor league teams.  Teams can field a maximum number of 10 with subs.

8. It is the coach's responsibility to secure subs and to ensure the subs are legal.

GAME DAY RESPONSIBILITIES:

First game (only game):

HOME TEAM - lining of the field (put bases away)

VISITING TEAM - sets out bases and pitching machine (rakes field)

Second game:

HOME TEAM - puts bases away (puts pitching machine away)

VISITING TEAM - rakes the field

GAME RULES

9. ASA rules will govern any rules not addressed here.

10.  Players are required to wear a face mask.  If parents choose to allow their fielders to play without a mask, the appropriate waiver form must be filled out. Pitchers are always required to wear a mask.

11. Only 6 positions will be played in the infield. All other players must be in the outfield on the grass. 

12. If a minor team has 8 players, they may play without a catcher.  A coach must catch but cannot be involved in any play.

13. Each game will be 6 innings or 1-1/2 hours, whichever comes first. A “new” inning is considered to start when the 3rd out of the previous inning is made. If a game is tied with 10 minutes or less remaining to play after the conclusion of the inning, international rules will be used. If one team is ahead with 10 minutes or less remaining to play after the conclusion of the inning, the game will be done. The 10-run rule applies after 4 complete innings. A game will be considered complete after 4 complete innings (or 3-1/2 if the home team is ahead). The second game for each night will start 15 minutes or less after the first game has ended, under the umpire’s discretion. Coaches must be prepared to begin play early and are responsible for letting parents know this rule.

14. A maximum of seven (7) runs can be scored each inning in the first three (3) innings. Innings four through six (4-6) do not have the 7-run rule.

15. In case of a tie only one (1) extra inning will be played. International rules will apply (the last out of the previous inning will be placed on second base to start the inning - for both teams). Pitchers will be allowed to pitch one extra inning. Tournament rule - the game will be played until there is a winner.

16. If a game is called due to rain BEFORE four (4) complete innings, or 3-1/2 innings if the home team is ahead, the game will be rescheduled and will be picked up where the game was called. Any game interrupted after four (4) complete innings will become FINAL. 

17. Thirty-minute rule - Once lightning has been recognized, we will wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning is witnessed or thunder is heard. Any subsequent lightning or thunder after the beginning of the 30-minute count should reset the clock and another count should begin.

18. The infield fly rule does not apply.

PITCHING

19. Pitchers are required to wear a protective mask when fielding at the pitching machine and live pitching. If they do not have one we will have a mask available in the concession stand for players to use. 

20. The first three (3) innings with the pitching machine will be used in place of a pitcher. The last three (3) innings will be played with live pitching.

21. The pitching machine is set at 38-40 mph, placed at the 36-foot mound. The home plate umpire will feed the ball into the pitching machine. The umpire will present the ball prior to placing it in the machine.

22. A pitcher may only pitch two (2) innings per game. If a pitcher throws one pitch in an inning, it counts as a full inning. Once a pitcher has been pulled, they may re-enter as a pitcher one time in that same inning.

23. The pitcher is allowed five (5) warm-up pitches in their first inning and three (3) for every inning after (or a one-minute time limit between innings). Warm-up balls are allowed between the infielders and outfielders also. The pitcher may have one or both feet in contact with the pitching plate at all times prior to the forward step. They may step back off the pitcher's plate to start the pitching motion. In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher shall not take more than one forward step.

24. Pitchers must stay at the 43-foot mound in line with home plate, and in the circle, when the batter is hitting the ball via self toss. The catcher must wear all equipment and stay in the catcher’s box until the ball is hit.

25. The pitcher’s mound is 36 feet from home.

BATTING

26. Bats must have both the ASA and USSA certification stamps. It is recommended that players have their own bat and helmet with a mask.  

27. The batter must wear a helmet with a facemask at all times. If a batter intentionally removes her helmet while running the bases, she will be called out. The batter must wear the helmet until she leaves the field. If a batter is called out for intentionally removing her helmet, any runs scored prior to the out will count.

28. The batter and the on-deck batter are the only two allowed outside the dugout.

29. No bunting is allowed. If the batter does not make the effort to make a full swing, it will be called a bunt. This is a dead ball and the batter will be called out. 

30. A batter may take one pitch off of the pitching machine without it being called a strike. All other pitches will be strikes. Exception- if the ball comes out of the machine improperly, the umpire will call no pitch, even if the batter swings.

31. If a hit ball hits any part of the pitching machine, the protective barrel, or the umpire, it will be considered a dead ball. The batter will advance to 1st base, and the other base runners will advance to the next base if it were a forced base.

32. There shall be no base earned on a ball four count during live pitching. After a batter gets ball 4, the batter will toss the ball up and hit it until a hit is made or strike three is reached. The batter will get one free toss without swinging, after that if the batter does not swing the toss is a strike. 

33.  Batters must make an attempt to avoid being hit by a pitch. If an attempt is not made, the base will not be granted.  A pitched ball that hits the dirt before it hits the batter does not count as “hit by pitch”.

BASE RUNNING

34. A player may not stand on or guard a base in a manner that interferes with a base runner. If obstruction is called, the base runner will be awarded an extra base.

35. Dead balls will be called on overthrows (with the exception of plays being made at first base).  Runners will be allowed to advance, at their own risk, one extra base on an overthrow to first base. 

36. Players may not advance more than two bases on a batted ball that rolls into the outfield.  Players may advance more than two bases on a batted ball that flies into the outfield. Once the ball is being thrown from the outfield to the infield, if the runner is advancing to the next base they may continue at their own risk.

37. The base runner must slide FEET FIRST into home. If the runner does not slide, they will be out.

38. Stealing bases is not permitted. The base runner cannot leave the base until the ball is hit. If the base runner leaves early, the umpire will call her out. There will be no pitch counted against the batter. There are no lead-offs in the minor league.

39.  Teams must use a courtesy runner for catchers when there are two outs but may pull the catcher with one out.

ETIQUETTE/MISCELLANEOUS

40. There will be no throwing of the bats and helmets, abusing any equipment, digging holes in the field, foul language, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, or arguing with the umpire during the game. A participant will receive one warning. Umpires have complete authority to eject any player, coach, or fan from the game. Board members also have the authority to eject any player, coach, or fan from the game.

41. Coaches and/or parents may discipline a player by keeping them out of a game or start of a game (for a set number of innings). This must be reported to the opposing coach, umpire, and one board member prior to the game. The disciplined player’s name must be listed on the roster, and the batting order and the number of innings they will not be playing must be stated. If a coach is disciplining a player for the second time, the coach needs to talk to one of the board members and set a time for the player’s parents, coach, and board member to meet and resolve the issue.

42. You must participate in the league in order to play 10U and 12U.

43. If a parent, coach, or fan is asked to leave the game for any reason, the board will have a meeting following the game to decide future attendance. The individual will not be allowed to attend a game or practice until the meeting occurs.