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2008 GENERAL LEAGUE RULES & BYLAWS
ROSTERS: Team rosters shall have no more than 15 players and 2 emergency players per team. Each player will have a different number on her shirt. Rosters will include: community names, age division, coach name and phone number, players’ names, date of birth, shirt numbers. Players must play in 5 of 10 scheduled league games in order to be eligible for tournament play. Rosters are due to league representatives by May meeting (exception: 14U divisions due before first game).
EMERGENCY PLAYER: An emergency player has been instituted to eliminate the cancellation of games due to not having enough rostered players. Emergency players may only be utilized when 10 or fewer players are available for 12U and 10U and 9 or fewer players are available for 14U. A maximum of two emergency players may be used in any one game. In order to be eligible as an emergency player during the regular season, the player must be a registered league player and cannot be registered as a player on another team in the same age division. During tournament games, the emergency player must be rostered as an emergency player. Players may be rostered on a maximum of two teams during tournament play – one as a regular player and one as an emergency player. To be eligible as a rostered emergency player, the player must have participated in the community’s fast pitch league (in a lower age division) or in the community’s slow pitch league (same age division or lower age division).
AGE DIVISIONS: Age divisions based on ASA rules
10U – A player born after December 31, 1996 is eligible
12U – A player born after December 31, 1994 is eligible
14U – A player born after December 31, 1992 is eligible
GAME TIME LIMITS: All games (including tournament and championship games) shall have a 75 minute time limit after which no new inning may start. The game clock time will begin at the scheduled time. Up to 15 minutes will be allowed before the team causing the delay will forfeit the game. Any time within the 15-minute window will reduce the game’s time limit. (i.e., If game begins 10 minutes late, game time limit is reduced to 65 minutes.) (Unless otherwise agreed by coaches and umpires or by home park rules).
SCHEDULED GAMES: If a scheduled game cannot be played for some reason, then the home team’s field manager will leave a message on the voice mail number no later than ninety (90) minutes prior to the scheduled start time of a game. In case of inclement weather, it is the responsibility of coaches and umpires to call the voice mail to be sure their game has been cancelled. If no message has been left regarding your game, then the game is to be played as scheduled. It is the responsibility of the directors from the involved communities to reschedule the game as soon as possible. Coaches will be notified by a director to confirm the makeup date. (Sunday makeup days are possible.) Weeknight games will begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 10U will play on Monday and Wednesday, 12U will play on Tuesday and Thursday, 14U will play on Monday and Wednesday.
PRACTICES: No more than four (4) practices and/or games per calendar week are allowed. If a team has a bye, then a practice may be substituted. Communities may require fewer practices than this due to facility restraints.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Players and coaches will conduct themselves with sportsmanship at all times. If a player is ejected for any reason, the team with this player will not forfeit the game. However, the team will record an out in that lineup position. The community board per their bylaws will handle discipline of the player and coaches. Any player or coach ejected may not participate in the next game. If a spectator is ejected, the spectator must leave the playing area.
PROTESTS: NO protests are allowed. Disputes should be settled by the umpires and the coaches at the time the call in question is made and in a sportsmanship like manner.
SPECIAL GROUND RULES: Any special ground rules will be explained to coaches and umpires before the game starts. No infield practice before games.
EQUIPMENT: All catchers must wear the required equipment per ASA rules. All bats must be ASA approved. The home team shall supply two game balls and an ASA umpire. Balls will be per ASA rules:
10U division will use optic yellow 11-inch
12U, 14U divisions will use optic yellow 12-inch
All helmets must have chinstraps and facemasks, per ASA.
SAFETY: All batters and baserunners must wear their helmets until they have left the playing field. One team warning will be issued after which, any subsequent violation will be cause for the offending player to be called out or, if the player has just scored, then the offending team will be issued an additional out.
No throwing of the bat will be allowed. One team warning will be issued after which, any subsequent violation will be cause for the offending player to be called out. If the bat hits any person, then the batter is automatically out without a warning. If the ball is hit fair, then a dead ball is called and any baserunners must return to the base occupied prior to the dead ball.
A courtesy runner will be allowed for a batter who has been injured in the course of play. The courtesy runner will be the player who recorded the last out.
If a play is being made at a base, then the baserunner must avoid unnecessary contact with the defensive player or the baserunner is out, subject to umpire discretion.
FIELDERS – 10U & 12U: Each team shall field ten (10) players, four (4) of which will be in the outfield grass. A game must be started with eight (8) players and the ninth and tenth players may be inserted at the bottom of the order at any time. However, the ninth position in the batting order will be an automatic out until such time that the ninth batter is inserted in the lineup. ***In case of injury or illness, a team can continue or finish a game with eight (8) players. The injured or ill player should be scratched from the lineup. In both cases the ninth position in the batting order will be an out until such time that the ninth player other than the injured or ill player is inserted into the lineup. The injured player is not an out unless the team’s batting order is reduced to eight batters. Each player will play a minimum of two innings in the field per game. There is free substitution of all players. (Subject to pitching rules.) Fielders must be in their proper position (infield or outfield) upon the pitch.
FIELDERS – 14U – Each team shall field nine (9) players, three (3) of which will be in the outfield. A team may play with eight (8) players, but will take an out in the 9th batting position. All other rules listed above are the same. Fielders must be in their proper position (infield or outfield) upon the pitch.
INFIELD FLY: There will be an infield fly rule for every division with exception of 10U.
REGULATION GAMES – 10U: Six (6) innings constitute a game, 5 1/2 if home team is ahead. A game is considered complete due to 15-run lead after 3 innings (2 1/2 if home team is ahead) or darkness, rain; 12-run lead after 4 innings (3 1/2 if home team ahead) or darkness, rain; 8-run lead after 5 innings (4 1/2 if home team is ahead) or darkness, rain. *An inning will consist of three outs or six runs for the first three innings. The last three innings will be three outs or 10 runs. Game time is limited to 75 minutes.
REGULATION GAMES – 12U, 14U: Seven (7) innings constitute a game, 6 1/2 if home team is ahead. A game is considered complete due to 15-run lead after 3 innings, 2 1/2 if home team is ahead or darkness, rain; 12-run lead after 4 innings, 3 1 /2 if home team is ahead or darkness, rain; 8-run lead after 5 innings, 4 1/2 if home team is ahead or darkness, rain.
TIEBREAKERS: Tie games will be played out per international tiebreaker. (Time limit or 8th inning, last batter to record an out in the previous inning will be placed on second base, 7th inning 10U.)
PITCHING RULES:
Pitching distance is 35 feet for 10U
Pitching distance is 40 feet for 12U, 14U
Pitchers can pitch a maximum of 4 innings per game for 10U. During Innings 1-3, no pitcher may record more than 6 outs or 2 innings. One pitch constitutes an inning.
Pitchers can pitch a maximum of 5 innings per game for 12U.
No pitching per inning per game limit for 14U.
One pitch in an inning constitutes an inning pitched.
A relief pitcher is eligible to re-enter in the game.
10U relief pitchers may re-enter to pitch. 3/8/2008
BATTING/STEALING RULES: Batters may bunt. All players are in the batting order for the entire game. Any player arriving late may be added at the bottom of the lineup. Players may steal after the pitcher releases the pitch.
10U may only steal one base at a time and may not steal home. 10U batters may not run on a dropped 3rd strike.
OTHER: The circle will be used in all age divisions. All baselines will be 60 feet.
LIGHTNING: ASA standard rules, park rules, or community rules may be utilized to determine game interruption caused by lightning.
ALL RULES NOT LISTED WILL BE GOVERNED BY ASA RULE/REGULATIONS.
Supplemental Rules for 10&Under
10&Under Tie Breaker Rule:
After the end of six innings, or completion of bottom of an inning due to time, the following will apply at the top of the following inning: The player recorded as the last batter will be placed at second base. The batter will start with a count of two balls and two strikes.
10&Under Stealing: 2006 Rules will apply.
No stealing of home; stealing of one base at a time.
Batter may not run on a dropped third strike.
Revised 3/8/08
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