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sac river league rules 2021

THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEAGUE IS TO TEACH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL. WE AS COACHES, PARENTS, AND FANS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OUR KID’S, TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS PROGRAM.

 

EVERYONE INVOLVED SHOULD MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO TEACH AND PROMOTE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. REMEMBER, WINNING ISN’T EVERYTHING. POOR SPORTSMANSHIP WILL NOT BE TOLERATED; THIS INCLUDES COACHES, PLAYERS, AND FANS. COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THEIR PLAYERS AND FANS, AND WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. ANY COACH WHO BREAKS THE RULES, OR ACTS IN AN UNSPORTSMANLIKE MANNER WILL BE SUSPENDED BY THE LEAGUE.

General rules

GENERAL RULES

1. Birthday cutoff date is May 1.

5 and 6 years old…………Little Coaches Pitch

7 and 8 years old…………Big Coaches Pitch

9 and 10 years old………..Pee Wee League

11 and 12 years old………Little League

13 - 15 years old………Jr. Boys / Jr. Girls

2. Boys are to play baseball, Girls are to play softball. Except Coaches Pitch.

3. Rosters with the names and birthday of each team member must be sent to the league commissioner 15 days before the first season game. Coaches’ names and telephone numbers must be included on each roster.

4. Any player not on a league roster by May 27th shall not be eligible to play in any game after May 27th.

5. Towns with more than 1 team in a division must divide ages as evenly as possible.

6. All players will play in their own age group, or may move up to the next level. Exceptions to this rule will be dealt with on a per player basis at the Sac River League meeting before the season starts.

7. If a team is short on players, a younger (roster) player (of the same sport) may play on that team, but can only move up 1 level. (This will not be allowed to happen every game. If a team becomes that short of players, a younger player should be moved up permanently for the remainder of the season.)

8. If a team has to have a younger player play, the coach has to inform the other team before the game starts.

9. No younger player will play in place of a roster player, unless that team is short the proper number of roster players. At any time the team ends up with the proper amount of roster players, the younger player must leave the game. No exceptions, Offenders of this rule will forfeit the game.

10. All baseball and softball leagues must start the game with at least 8 players. Late arrivals may enter the game only at the top of an inning. The vacant spot in the batting order can be anywhere in the order and is an automatic out when that place in the order comes to bat. (Except Coaches Pitch see LCP rule #10 & BCP rule #8).

11. If a game is rained out, the home team shall propose 2 make-up dates (excluding Sundays), Holidays or dates which other games are already scheduled) to be played within 2 weeks of the original scheduled date. If the visiting teams cannot play on either of these dates, they shall forfeit.

12. If a game starts and you can’t play the number of inns to be a complete game, the game will start over. 4 inns constitutes a complete game.

13. No smoking or alcohol by players, coaches, or umpires is allowed on or close the field.

14. No In-Field fly rule in coach pitch.

15. Eligible roster players must play in at least 5 of the regular season games to be eligible to play tournament games.

16. PWG, LLG and JRB Grils Pitcher, 1st Baseman, and 3rd Baseman will be required to wear a protective face mask. Penalty for not wearing the face mask will be 1 out in the teams next at bat.

GENERAL GAME RULES

1. Only players, coaches, and umpires are allowed on the field unless authorized. This includes benches.

2. Every eligible player in uniform at game time will participate in the game for a minimum of 3 consecutive defensive outs and 1 full at bat (4 balls, 3 strikes, base hit or putout). Offenders of this rule will forfeit. No exceptions! Remember this is for the kids!

 (Exception: See Coaches Pitch General Rule # 15).

3. All players must wear a number on the front or back of their jersey.

4. All players must wear helmets at bat, on the bases, or in the coaching boxes. Any batter entering the batter’s box without a helmet shall be called out.

5. All catchers must be fully protected by helmet, mask, chest protector, shin guards, and throat protector. Except Coaches Pitch, Coaches Pitch need only wear a helmet, mask, and throat protector. (This includes batting helmets with protective masks.)

6. Game time begins after first pitch has ended: forfeit time is 10 minutes after game time.

7. The last out of an inning constitutes the beginning of the next inning.

8. 1 pitch constitutes an inning.

9. There will be no balks. (Exception: LL boys and Jr. Boys)

10. A pitcher may have only 3 warm-up pitches after the first inning.

11. There will only be pre-game infield warm-up in JRB if time allows.

12. Home town must supply at least 2 new balls per game.

13. A player may not block any base without possession of the ball.

14. Slide Rule: A runner will only be required to slide to avoid contact with a defensive player if:

1. A defensive player has possession of the ball at the base, or;

2. A defensive player is directly attempting to field a ball at the base.

3. If a runner is called out for not sliding, it is a dead ball and any other runners should return to their previous base. THIS IS AN UMPIRES JUDGMENT CALL!! SUBSTITUTIONS

1. Free substitution is allowed in all leagues. One or both teams may use this rule. If you use free substitution, you must start and end the game with it. This means you can bat all the players on your bench. You must give your batting lineup and field positions, and all fielding substitutions as they occur before and during the game, to the other team’s scorekeeper. If you don’t use free substitution Rule 2B will apply. If a player is in the lineup and does not show, it will be on out in the spot of the lineup. (Except Coaches Pitch)

2. A substitute can go in and out for the starter more than once, but they must stay in the same spot in the batting order. (Except Coaches Pitch)

3. A pitcher may move from pitcher to another field position but cannot return at pitcher in that half inning.

PROTESTS

Protests should be filed only as a last resort. We recommend settling the dispute at the game site. If as a coach, you know the umpire has made a rulebook call wrong, and the other coach brings it the umpire and wants to protest you should be big enough to change the call, as to avoid a protest.

There is a 15 minute limit on settling any disputes.

In the event of a protest, a $25.00 deposit will be given to the umpire at the time of the protest. The time and spot in the game should be noted in both teams’ scorebooks.

As soon as the game finished, the umpire and both coaches will write out a statement as to what took place to cause the protest. The umpire will then give the deposit and the statements to the hometown representative. The town representatives of the 2 towns will try to resolve the issue. If the matter cannot be resolved, it will then be presented to the league rules interrupter and, or the league Commissioner for a ruling. If the protest is lost, the deposit will be forfeited to the league.

If the protest is upheld, the game will be replayed from the point of the protest.

Remember, you cannot protest a judgment call by an umpire. Only rule applications. There will be no refunds on any illegal protests. Protests will not be heard if they do not follow the above guidelines.

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