MINOR SPECIFIC RULES

1. General Rules – except where explicitly modified by these rules, Major League Baseball Rules and Official Cal Ripken Baseball Rules and Regulations will be followed.

2. Age – Minor League players must be either nine (9) or ten (10) years old on or before April 30^th of the playing year for the spring season and either eight (8) or nine (9) years old for the fall season. A player may be asked to produce a copy of his/her birth certificate before the start of league play if there is any question about his/her age.

3. Umpires – The league will arrange to have (2) umpires present for all scheduled games. And umpires will be rescheduled for games that are cancelled due to weather.

4. Lineups/Pitching – the coaches will exchange lineup cards prior to the start of every game. Follow Pitch Smart guidelines below.  Games in which an ineligible pitcher is used shall be declared forfeited by the offending team.

5. Baseballs – each coach shall provide the umpire with one (1) new baseball and one (1) good used baseball prior to the start of the game.

6. Official Game – A minimum of seven (7) players will be required to start and continue a game. Less than seven players will constitute a forfeiture of the game. Each team will have no more than fifteen (15) minutes past the game starting time to field a team. After that time, the offending team will forfeit the game by a 6-0 score. If both teams forfeit, the game may be rescheduled at the discretion of the league commissioner.

GAME TIME LIMITS

6 innings with 1 hour 50 mins drop-dead limit. NO new innings to begin after 1 hour 30 mins.

7. Length of Game – a game will consist of six (6) innings with a 1-hour 50-minute drop dead time limit. If the home team is ahead entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the game is complete. No inning may start after one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes from the time the game began, nor fifteen (10) minutes before the start of a following game, unless a delay is encountered due to weather.  Extra innings in case of a tie will be allowed as long as the time limit rule is not exceeded. The official starting time shall be the originally scheduled start time or 10 minutes after the end of the preceding game, whichever is later. Games rained out prior to four (4) complete innings or three and one half (3 1/2) innings if the home team is ahead, will be rescheduled as a new game.

8. 5-Run Rule (Minor B Only) – in innings 1-5, a team's turn at bat ends at the earlier of three (3) defensive putouts, or five (5) offensive runs scored, or the 1 hour 50 minute drop dead time limit is reached.

In innings 6+ (or the last inning of the game, i.e.. 1 hour 30 Minutes is reached), there is no limit on the number of runs scored and a team's turn at bat ends when the defense has made three (3) putouts or the 1 hour 50 minute drop dead time is reached.

9. 10-Run Rule (FALL Season Minor A Only) – in innings 1-5, a team's turn at bat ends at the earlier of three (3) defensive putouts, or Ten (10) offensive runs scored, or the 1 hour 50 minute drop dead time limit is reached.

In innings 6+ (or the last inning of the game, i.e. 1 hour 30 Minutes is reached), there is no limit on the number of runs scored and a team's turn at bat ends when the defense has made three (3) putouts or the 1 hour 50 minute drop dead time is reached.

10. 10-Run Rule Mercy Rule – a game may be terminated once it becomes a regulation game if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs and each team has had equal turns at bat or the home team is leading. Termination is solely at the option of the trailing team's head coach.

11. Tie Games – in order for a game to be declared a tie game by the umpire, it must be a regulation game (at least four (4) complete innings must have been played). Extra innings may be played as long as the time limit rule is not violated. 

12. Continuous Batting Order – a continuous batting order will be used, and all players attending a game must take their regular turn at bat during the game. The batting order will remain fixed during the game, with defensive fielding assignments having no effect on the batting order. Late arrivals will enter the batting order at the bottom of the lineup card. Should a player leave the game (e.g., due to injury), all players below that player in the batting order will move up one slot and maintain the same batting order. If the player who left the game returns and is re-inserted into the game, he/she must enter into the same batting position as he/she originally occupied, with the players below him/her in the batting order moving down one slot into their original positions in the batting order. If a batter leaves the game due to injury, the next batter in the lineup starts with a 0-0 count. No player may change positions in the batting order during a game. Any player who bats out of turn (receives one pitch) is automatically out, and all base runners must return to the bases they occupied before the offending batter came to the plate, provided a defensive coach or player calls time out and appeals the player batting out of turn prior to the next batter receiving one pitch. Without such appeal, the result of the out-of-turn at-bat stands.

12a.  Continuous Batting Order Late Arrival Option 1 - For a player(s) who is arriving late the coach may add the player(s) to the batting order and if that player(s) turn at bat happens before his arrival he will be declared “out” by the umpire.  Assuming the player shows up before his next turn at bat then he will bat as normal.  The player will be declared out for any missed plate appearances. 

12b.  Continuous Batting Order Late Arrival Option 2 – For a player(s) who is arriving late the coach may add the “late” player to the end of his batting order and if that player(s) does not show up before his turn at bat the coach can elect to scratch that player from the lineup.  In this case that batter will NOT be declared “out”.  However, that player(s) will be ineligible to enter the game as a hitter.  Note: A continuous batting order that’s been submitted to the umpire may only be changed in the case of an injured player.

13. Defense – the defensive fielding positions will include the regular six (6) infielders plus three (3) outfield positions (a total of nine (9) players on the field).

14. Playing Time – each player may not sit out more than three (3) innings per game in the field defensively and will not sit out more than two (2) consecutive innings in a game. A player may NOT occupy the same defensive position on the field for more than 2 innings. Each player must play at least one inning at an infield position. Exceptions would be for disciplinary reasons or injury.

15. INFIELD Playing Time – each player must play in the Infield within the first three innings.

16. Re-Entry Rule – the re-entry rule will be used for all defensive field positions except the pitcher. A non-pitching player may be entered into, removed from, or removed to, any defensive position at any time during the game, and as often as the coach chooses.  For pitcher re-entry follow Cal Ripken rules.

17a. Minor B Blue Flame pitching machine. – Each batter will get 5 pitches.  The umpire will call balls and strikes. No walks with the machine pitch.  A strike out happens with 3 called strikes by the umpire or when 5 pitches happen and a batter has not put the ball in play.  If a batted ball hits the Blue Flame pitching machine, then it is a foul ball.  If the batter fouls off the last pitch, they get another pitch.

17b. Minor B Blue Flame pitching Machine – Blue flame pitching machine should start at setting #8 between 40 - 46ft with a goal of 40 – 43 mph.  However, we know that not all of the machines perform the same and there are inconsistencies.  Coaches can use discretion if a given machine is clearly throwing slower or faster than ‘average’ at the recommended settings.

18. Minor B Kid Pitch Plan –Halfway through the season open up kid pitch for the first 2 innings and then finish the game with the Blue Flame pitching machine.

18a. Minor B Kid Pitch Plan – Halfway through season start with closed bases and after a couple more games move to modified open (can’t take off until ball crosses the plate) for both kid pitch and Blue Flame pitching machine.

19. Coaches – No coaches on the field of play except 1^st and 3^rd base coaches.  For Minor B, the coach running the Blue Flame pitching machine is allowed on the field.

20. Pitch Smart – Pitch Smart tracking will be used to keep track of how many pitches a pitcher throws in a game.  You can sign off on other team’s pitch tracking or score sheet.  It is important for each team to set workload limits for their pitchers to limit the likelihood of pitching with fatigue.  Research has shown that pitch counts are more accurate and effective means of doing so.  See required rest recommendation below.

Age	Daily Max	0 Days Rest	1 Day Rest	2 Days Rest	3 Days Rest	4 Days Rest
	Pitches in Game
7 – 8	50	1 -20	21 - 35	36 - 50	N/A	N/A
9 - 10	75	1 -20	21 - 35	36 - 50	51 - 65	66 - 75

21. Special Pitching Rules

a. No intentional walks.

b. No pitcher may throw any type of pitch other than a Fast ball or change up.

c. Balk: The only illegal pitch that will be called is when a pitcher starts their delivery towards home plate but does not deliver the ball. If this happens, an illegal pitch will be called, and a warning will be given to the pitcher.  If there are no lead off’s a Balk will not be called in a game.  Coach should still provide instruction to the player so they learn the proper way.

d. The pitcher’s mound will be placed 46 feet from home plate.

e. A pitcher may only throw 50 pitches, 2 innings in a game, or (6) outs in a game, whichever comes first.

f. Select Team pitchers may only throw 35 pitches in a game if pitching in a regular season game on a Thursday before a Select Team tournament.

g. A pitcher may not pitch in two consecutive games in a week in the regular season.  If there is a third game in a week period, the pitcher may pitch in the first and third games as long as Days Rest guidelines in Pitch Smart are followed.  A week period is Sunday thru Saturday.
h. Pitching rules for North Wake playoff tournaments are guided by pitch smart and the “2 Inning Rule”, but a pitcher is allowed to pitch in consecutive games.
i. Minor B Only – A pitcher may only throw 50 pitches.  No 6-out limit, since there only 2 innings being pitched in a Minor B game.

22. Mound Visits – a coach may make one trip to the mound per inning per pitcher. On the second trip to the mound in the same inning for the same pitcher, the pitcher must be removed from the game as a pitcher. At that point he/she becomes a non-pitching player and may occupy any other defensive position on the field. When a coach goes to the mound, all players must remain at their positions unless summoned to the mound by the coach. Only the players summoned may come to the mound.

23. Ineligible Pitchers – any game in which an ineligible pitcher is used (throws one (1) pitch) shall be declared forfeited to the non-offending team. The opposing coach must make appeal to the umpire during the game or to the League Commissioner within 48 hours of the conclusion of the game.

24. Foul Third Strike – the batter is not out on a foul tip unless the catcher catches the foul tip for a third strike.

25a. Dropped Third Strikes when using Pitching Machine – the batter may NOT advance to first base on a dropped third strike.

25b. Dropped Third Strike when a Pitcher is on the Mound – the batter may advance to first base on a dropped third strike if either the base is unoccupied at the time of the pitch w/ less than two outs, or when there are two outs, regardless of runners on base.

26. Throwing the Bat – throwing or slinging the bat is prohibited and the batter is out. However, the umpire may first issue one warning per team, in which case the play stands. If the batter is called out, no base runner may advance.
27 Leadoffs/Stealing – the goal of this league is to develop more high-quality catchers and pitchers and the rules below are intended to help facilitate that goal.

a. No runner leadoffs are allowed until the ball has passed home plate.

b. Delayed Stealing is allowed, base runners must remain on base until the ball crosses home plate.

c. If the player leaves the base too early the umpire should send the player back to the base he left.

d. Minor B Only – No stealing when using the blue flame pitching machine.

28. Courtesy Runners – if the catcher or pitcher of record (the player who was at the position during the last pitch thrown by his/her team while on defense) is on base with two (2) outs, the last player to have been put out may be substituted (although substitution is not mandatory) as a runner. If pinch-run for, that player must catch or pitch, as applicable, in the subsequent defensive half-inning.

29. Protests – to be valid, any protest must be announced to the umpire and opposing coach immediately at the time of the dispute. Written notice and detailed explanation of the protest must be turned in to the League Commissioner within 24 hours. No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment calls by the umpire.

30. Scorebooks – scorebooks must be accurate and complete. The home team is responsible for keeping the official scorebook. Scorekeepers should confer with each other during the game to ensure compatibility of records. Coaches are to check the scorebook after each game.

31. Discipline – a player may be withheld from a game for team discipline reasons if the League Commissioner is notified and agrees as to the reason. Parents must be notified in advance of the game.  The League Commissioner, with approval from the NWCBA President or Vice President, may impose a suspension on any head coach, assistant coach, player or parent/fan for unsportsmanlike-like conduct or the failure to abide by the rules above. The suspension for the first violation is two (2) games; for the second violation, ten (10) games; and for the third violation, permanent expulsion from the league.  Additionally, any player or coach ejected from a game will be subject to the following penalties:

·       Coach – first offense will result in disqualification from that game and his/her team's next game; a second offense will result in disqualification for the remainder of the season.

·       Player – first offense will result in disqualification from that game and his/her team's next game; any subsequent offenses will result in disqualification from that game and his/her team's next three (3) games.

32. Replacement Players – if a player moves from the area or is injured, he/she may be replaced. The Commissioner's decision to choose replacement players is final. An injured player, upon recovery, may rejoin the team provided that the total number of players does not exceed the player limit. There will be no outs issued for a sick or injured player. Adding substitute players will not be allowed under any circumstances.

33. CALL Up List – Create a list of the top ranked Minor B players from evaluations for playing in Minor A games when teams have less than 9 players.

34. Overthrows (Minor B only) – when a ball is in the fence line, maximum of 2 bases on an overthrow.

35. Base running (Minor B Only) – on balls hit to the outfield, runners can move up bases until the ball is in possession of an infielder that is in the infield dirt (baseline area and in).  Has to be an infielder in possession of the ball.

 

End-of-Season Tournament – following the completion of the Spring or Fall seasons, there may be a league tournament in which all teams will compete.

     Minor Playoff Rules:

1. Championship Game

a. No new inning after 1 hour and 45 minutes.

b. No Drop-dead time.

2. Non-Championship Game

a. No new inning after 1 Hour and 30 minutes.

b. No drop-dead time.

3. Playoff Game Tie breaker after time is up and inning is completed.

a. Each team shall begin their offensive half of the inning with the bases loaded and one out.

1. The last hitter from the team’s prior offensive inning shall go to 1^st base, the hitter before him shall go to 2^nd base, and the hitter before him shall go to 3^rd base.

b. This rule shall be used for each inning from this point forward until a winning team can be declared.

c. Teams may NOT use a courtesy runner when the game is being contested under tie-breaker rules.