The current edition of the Babe Ruth League - Official Rules and Regulations and Official Playing Rules shall govern all play except, as added, amended, modified, waived or clarified by the Local Rules set forth below. These additional rules have been approved by the Windsor Baseball Board of Directors. Any conflicts or issues regarding play shall be raised to the Elected Board for resolution. Coaches are expected to be aware of and abide by the Official and Local Rules.
Key Regulations:
Balk: to read that every pitcher shall receive 1(one) warning
Adopted a pitch count method versus innings per week.
mound visits: 2nd visit in one inning, pitcher must be replaced
warming up of pitcher: 5 for existing; 8 for new
rescheduled games/forfeits:
NEW RULE 2014:
A right-handed pitcher may not make a pick off attempt by starting a throw to 3rd and then throwing to 1st.
General Information:
Field dimension: 70' base path, 50' pitching mound distance
Games are 6 innings or 2 hours
Free defensive substitution
Scores will be kept for end of season tournament seeding
Players may bunt, steal, run on dropped third strike
Balks will be called (warning in early season)
Batting lineup is full roster
Courtesy runner allowed for pitcher/catcher/injured player anytime
GAME TIMES AND LOCATIONS:
Games will be played at Keiser Park - Field B
During regular season play, no new inning may begin after 1 hr 50 minutes (110 minutes) from the official game start time
During playoff and tournament play, games will be played to their conclusion
A maximum of one (1) minutes will be allowed between innings for the team to take the field and for the pitcher to warm up unless a new pitcher is entering the game
Returning pitchers are allowed 5 warm-up pitches. New pitchers are allowed 8 warm-up pitches.
VISITING TEAM:
Uses the 1st base dugout
Takes infield/outfield first - thirty (30) minutes prior to the game time; 10 min,
Provides field prep volunteers/ Field prep includes chalking foul lines and batter's box.
Provides one (1) of the base umpires, if needed.
HOME TEAM:
Uses the 3rd base dugout
Takes infield/outfield second - twenty (20) minutes prior to the game time;10 min
Provides the official scorekeeper (not Coach) and keeps track of pitch count
Provides the field prep volunteer(s). Field prep includes prepping and chalking the field, foul lines and batter's boxes.
Provides game balls.
Provides one (1) of the base umpires, if needed.
THOSE PERMITTED ON THE FIELD/DUGOUT:
Players on the official rosters of the participating teams. ALL team roster changes (e.g. player injury, illness, resignation, release, etc) must be reported to the Player Agent IMMEDIATELY (within 24 hours of the first knowledge).
Only one (1) Coach and two (2) Asst. Coaches or 3 adults total, are allowed on the field or in the dugout, excluding the field prep volunteer(s) who is permitted on the field prior to the beginning of the game.
All Coaches and other assisting adults providing supervision for players must be approved by WBL
Umpires approved by WBL (special exception as needed for parent's recruited "on the spot")
Coaches must remain in the dugout or coaching box until time is called AND permission is granted by an Umpire to leave the dugout or coaching box.
No person, including parents and siblings (with the exception of scorekeeper) may be sitting or standing directly behind the dugout and/or engaging with any player in the dugout during a game.
League official
BASIC GAME RULES:
If player pitches one pitch, he may not move to Catcher and vice versa.
Score: scores are kept during regular and tournament games, however; this is still a developmental league in which scores should never be emphasized over player development
Runs: there is no run limit per inning. Mercy rule: 15 after 4 innings, 10 after 5 innings.
Balks: a pitcher will be allowed one (1) warning before a balk is enforced
Courtesy runner: courtesy runner can be used anytime for pitcher and catcher or injured player. Runner shall be the last batted out
Sliding: if a play on the base is imminent, runners should slide or seek to avoid contact. Jumping over a player is not considered an act of avoidance. At Home plate, a runner MUST slide. Failure to slide will be an automatic out and may result in the ejection of the player. All sliding rules and penalties are subject to the judgment of the Umpire(s).
Dropped 3rd strike: batter may advance to 1st if base is unoccupied; a runner attempting to steal second on that same pitch does not make 1st base 'unoccupied'
HEAD FIRST SLIDING is an automatic out except when returning to base on lead off/pick off attempt
Bats: bats may not exceed 33" or 2-1/4" diameter. There is no restriction on length to weight ratio.
On deck batters are permitted in specified 'circle' near dugout
PITCH COUNT:
11's and 12's: 85/game and 100/week.
10's 50/game and 75/week
Pitcher must have 2 calendar days rest between pitching assignments if:
20 pitches or less = may pitch next day
21-35 pitches = 1 day rest
35-50 pitches = 2 days rest
51 - more pitches = 3 days rest
Official scorekeeper will keep pitch count for both teams. A parent volunteer may be recruited for this task, if needed. Visiting team is encouraged to keep track of pitches as well.
If a pitcher hits 2 batters in one inning or 3 in a game, he must be replaced for a new pitcher.
PLAYING TIME:
Teams will bat through the entire roster. A Coach may change the batting order for each game. Late arriving players will be added to the bottom of the lineup. The Coach is responsible for notifying the scorekeeper of absences and late arrivals.
Each player will be entered and/or re-entered defensively in the game anytime provided that he/she meets the requirements of mandatory play. Note: if a player is injured, becomes ill or must leave the game site after the staart of the game, the teams will skip over thim/heer when his/her bat comes up in teh order without penalty. If the absent player returns, he/she is merely re-inserted into the original spot in the batting order.
Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of (6) defensive outs and bat through a continuous order for the entire game
UMPIRES:
Every effort is made to have 2 umpires supplied by the League for games
If no umpires are available, the Home team is responsible for providing the Home plate umpire and the Visiting team is responsible for providing the base umpire.
CONDUCT AND SPORTSMANSHIP:
All conversations with the Umpire will be conducted by the Coach and only after 'time out' is granted. All conversations must be done in a calm and respectful manner.
Verbal abuse of the umpire WILL NOT be tolerated.
Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, Asst. coaches and fans.