Rules - Junior Girls

The rules for the Jr. and Sr. Girls are essentially those of 'real' baseball, with some exceptions. The league is competitive, so scores are kept and the rules matter - it is in some cases and in others the second occasion with the LBA that the kids experience real ball.

We provide plate umpires but not field umpires, and the decisions of the umpires are final. If there is a disagreement about an umpiring decision please take it up with the League Director AFTER the game - not during the game in front of the ump and in front of the parents. We cannot and will not tolerate grown-ups remonstrating with our umps, each of which is a young teen-ager and not equipped to deal with an angry grown-up. Remember: part of what we are trying to teach the kids is good sportsmanship - so we have to set an excellent example.

•  Junior Girls : The field will be 60 feet down the base paths, and 36 feet to the pitching rubber.

•  Senior Girls : The field will be 60 feet down the base paths, and 40 feet to the pitching rubber.

•  The strike zone will be from the "top of the lettering" (i.e. from about the underarm level) to the knees, based on the player's height while in a reasonable, knees-bent stance. If a player has a very small crouch stance strikes may be called at shoulder level. Tip: spend some time in practice pitching to your kids without a bat and having them call out "ball" or "strike" to help them learn the strike zone.

•  Each game will last six innings, although no innings may start later than 25 minutes prior to the scheduled end of the game. Once an inning is started it should be finished even if time runs slightly over.

•  Four completed innings will constitute a minimum regulation game for which the results will count. If the home team is ahead after three and a half innings and the game is called, it shall be declared the winner.

•  There will be a maximum of 9 players on the field at any one time (upon both coaches' agreement, one outfielder may be added for a total of 10 players). Substitute the fielders to keep only 9 (or 10) on at any one time but let fielders sitting out continue to bat when it is their turn (i.e. all players bat in order throughout the game). Every team member must be allowed to bat in a batting order established before the game, whether or not they are currently playing in the field. Late arrivals must be added at the end of the established batting order.

•  The minimum number of players required to play an official game is six (6). In the case of 6 players only, the coach or a parent may play catcher only, representing player #7. The coach or parent playing catcher may not participate in throw outs or put outs; the pitcher or infielders must cover all plays (even routine force-outs) normally done by the catcher. If a team has less than 6 players then the game is forfeited. Spectators may join in an unofficial game if desired.

•  No player may pitch more than three innings in a game. The delivery of a single pitch constitutes pitching an inning. (There is an exception in the case of extra innings as specified below.)

•  Pitching shall be of the underhand variety and not "fast pitch" and not "High-lob." Flat pitches are acceptable.

•  Each player must play at least two full innings in the field, assuming a complete game (except for injury or disciplinary reasons). Players may be substituted during a game at any time the ball is dead. Except for pitchers (who once removed as pitcher, may not re-enter the game at that position except in the case of injury). Re-entry is possible for all players, even if they have been previously removed from the field.

•  All players on deck, at bat, and on base, as well as all 1 st and 3 rd base player- coaches, must wear a batting or running helmet. Catchers must wear a mask, helmet, and chest protector. Leg protection is recommended but not required. Keep all persons well back from the plate to avoid injuries. No metal cleats are allowed, though rubber ones are fine.

•  Bunting is NOT permitted.

•  The infield fly rule will NOT apply.

•  Junior Girls : Six (6) balls constitute a walk, three strikes constitute an out, whether the catcher drops the ball or not.

•  Senior Girls : Four (4) balls constitute a walk, three strikes constitute an out, whether the catcher drops the ball or not.

•  Base stealing is NOT permitted. Also, base runners are NOT allowed to lead-off. Runners must remain in contact with the base until a pitch crosses the plate or are forced to advance by another runner. If a player is ruled to have left the base before the pitched ball crosses the plate, time is automatically called and a warning issued. If, after one warning, a player continues to leave the base early, the player will be called out.

•  The base runner may not advance on a wild pitch or a passed ball. When a ball in play is overthrown in foul territory the base runner will be entitled to one base on the over-throw. There shall be unlimited base advancement if the overthrow remains in fair territory. A ball that slips under the backstop (in our case a common occurrence because of make-shift backstops) is "dead" and no further advancement is allowed.

•  Play stops and the ball is dead when the ball is in the pitcher's possession and the pitcher is within 5 feet of the pitching rubber. When this occurs, runners between bases are judged by the umpire to have reached half way to the next base, or not. If the runner is less than half way, then she must return to the previous base; if the runner is more than half way, then she may advance to the next base.

•  If there is a play at any base, the runner cannot run into the fielder in an attempt to knock the ball loose. Sliding is not permitted. A runner attempting to knock the ball loose on sliding will be called out.

•  Six Run Rule : If a team is in a position to score at least six runs in their half of an inning before making three outs, all runs scored as part of the play in which the sixth run is scored will be counted. Thus, the maximum number of runs which can theoretically be scored in an innings is nine. Once the ball is dead following the play in which the sixth run is scored, that half of the inning is over and the batting team must take the field. This rule does not apply in the last inning (which may not be the 6 th ) or to extra innings.

•  If there is a tie at the end of the 6 innings, play will continue until a team wins, with a limit of 8 innings. No innings after 6 th inning may start later than 25 minutes before scheduled end of the game. If the team remain tied under these conditions, the game will remain a tie. The six run rule as specified above will not apply in extra innings. All pitchers may also pitch no more than one extra inning.

•  The umpires shall provide two new baseballs for the game. At the end of the game, each team should retrieve one of the game balls and add it to the equipment bag as a practice ball.

•  In the event of the absence or unavailability of an official league umpire, the head coaches should agree to an acceptable umpiring arrangement using a coach, parent or spectator of appropriate age.

•  The home team is responsible for keeping the official score of runs scored each inning. The home team shall be decided by a coin flip prior to the beginning of the game. At the conclusion of the game, the home team should provide a score sheet, signed by each of the head coaches, to the League Director for use in maintaining league standings. Managers should check scores after each inning to ensure that the final score will be agreed.

•  Standings will be based on Wins, Losses and Games Back. In the event teams are tied at the end of the season the first tiebreaker will be head to head competition. The second tiebreaker will be least number of runs given up. The third will be a coin flip. To discourage teams running up scores total runs scored will not be included as a means to determine league standings.

•  Any spectator not participating as a coach, scorekeeper or umpire who disrupts the normal progression of the game, will be warned once by the umpire. The parent will be reported by the manager to the League Commissioner. A second occurrence may result in the player of associated with the offending spectator being dismissed from the LBA.

•  It is the responsibility of each manager to maintain an orderly atmosphere among his players in the dugout. No "heckling" of the opposing team is allowed. Infractions may result in suspension of those involved.

•  The LBA League Director will be the final authority on any dispute.

•  Play-offs will be held among the four teams in the league - first round play-offs will be team four against team one and team three against team two, and the second round will be the winners against the winners and the losers against the losers.

•  Rosters are set at the beginning of the season. Any child wanting to join a team after the season has started must be referred to a league director. The league will determine which team the player will be assigned to.

•  In the event of rain the decision to cancel, or suspend play will be that of the league directors. Once a game is called all games in that league will stop.

•  On deck batters are responsible for clearing the bats from the home plate area..

•  Thrown bats deemed to be unsafe or dangerous by the umpire. In such an occurrence, each team shall have one warning per game. Subsequent thrown bats, deemed to be unsafe or dangerous by the umpire, will result in the batter being called out.

•  No swinging of bats except by the player currently at bat and the on-deck hitter and within the confines of the on-deck circle. No other players or spectators may hold or swing a bat during the game.

•  Junior Girls . The base coaches may be either coaches or players of the team at bat.

•  Senior Girls . The base coaches should be players of the team at bat.

•  In each scheduled three hour session the first 1:15 will be practice with the teams sharing the diamond. Games shall commence promptly 1:15 into the session.