GENERAL RULES

• Age Bracket: 6-8 year olds (Click Here for league age requirements & guidelines)
• Recommended Max Team Size: 11 Players
• Field Size: 40/60
• Pre-Game Warm-Up: Both teams shall share infield and outfield space prior to the game for the purpose of warm-up. No batting practice should occur at home plate.
• Game Length: 5-6 Innings, 105 Minute Limit. No new inning to start after 90 minutes of play.
• Ball Requirements: Rawling Cal Ripken. The home team supplies 2 game balls and has back-ups ready.
• Bat Requirements: USA Baseball Marking, 2 5/8" Barrel Maximum. (Click Here for bat rules)
• Helmet Requirements: All batters and base runners are required to wear proper batting helmets that are in acceptable condition (no cracks, missing padding, etc.).
• Scoring:  Score is kept, and league standings are also kept. 
• Umpires: Coaches are umpires with the coach closest to the play having the call at that base. The coach pitcher for the batting team will call balls and strikes.
• Time-Outs: Managers and coaches cannot freeze plays, but can call a time-out any time after a play is over to instruct a player.

• Coaches should not be pitching at the Double A level, pitching machines will be provided and should be used to help with player development.

OFFENSIVE RULES

Coaching

• The offensive team should have coaches at first and third base, a coach pitcher, and a coach or parent to manage the bench and on-deck circle (if available). Any “coach” under the age of 18 must wear a helmet while on the field.
• The coach pitcher shall attempt to remove themselves from fair territory after a ball has been hit in play. If a batted ball hits the pitching coach or machine on the field of play, the ball will be played as a dead ball.

Batting

• When a team is at bat, only one player is allowed to be in the fenced on-deck area. There must be a coach monitoring the on-deck area or it is not allowed to be used. The player must wear a batting helmet while in the on-deck area. The remaining players not on-deck, batting, or on the bases should be on the bench. Only the batter and the batter on-deck should be holding a bat.
• All players will be placed in the active lineup. (i.e.., if a team has 11 players, all 11 players will be in the lineup and bat). Batters will bat, in order, until either 3 outs are made by the fielding team, or 4 runs are scored by the batting team. Batters will remain in a set line up order for the duration of the game. The next inning will start with the next batter in the lineup. There is no guarantee that every player will bat each inning, and it is possible that players may bat more than once in an inning.
• There is no limit on runs scored in the 6th inning (or declared final inning). If the last inning seems to be getting out of control with a team up by 10 or more runs, the batting team should consider stopping their at-bat as a sign of good sportsmanship.
• Bunting is permitted with KID Pitching only. 
• Batters may advance as many bases as a hit allows.

• Throwing the bat after the ball is hit is not allowed. After the first infraction the player shall receive a verbal warning. After the second occurrence, the player can be called out; however, coaches should use discretion when determining. Players should be encouraged to drop their bat and run when any ball is batted or when a ball is put into play by a coach. Players should be strongly discouraged from throwing their bat or any other equipment.

Base Running

• Leading off is not permitted. No base runner may leave the base until the ball is hit into play or past the batter (If stealing 3rd). One warning will be given. After the warning, he/she will be out on the second occurrence.
• A player may attempt to steal third base from second base at his/her own risk, only during kid pitch (can’t steal if using pitching machine or coach pitch). A player can’t leave or lead from the base until the pitch is past the batter/plate. The base runner stealing 3rd may NOT advance to home on an overthrow or error during a steal attempt.
• Runners may advance 1 base on an overthrow. If a runner is attempting to get multiple bases on a ball hit to the outfield, before the ball is touched by the infielder, in the infield, if the runner has rounded the base, they may continue to the next base, there is no “halfway rule”.
• Runners may only score from 3rd base by being batted in or walked in. They may not score from 3rd on an overthrow of any kind to any base.
• When the ball is secured and held by an infielder (in the infield) the play will be called dead. Runners who have not already started in motion to the next base will remain on their current base.
• Proper base running needs to be taught at this level. All standard baseball rules should be applied so the players can learn the game. 
  
• A pinch runner is allowed for a player who will be catching in the following ½ inning.
• Sliding is is taught at this level. Players will be encouraged to slide when appropriate and to avoid contact with a defensive player.

DEFENSIVE RULES

Coaching

• Up to two coaches/managers are permitted on the field with the defensive team. They must remain behind the outfielders. They are NOT permitted to touch the ball or the players in the field to assist them. If a batted ball cannot be avoided, and hits a coach, the ball shall be played as a dead ball.

Fielding

• Teams must field all 10 positions, including 4 outfields and a catcher. An outfielder may be (borrowed) from the opposing team if a team does not have enough players. Teams with more than 9 players should manage substitutions and “playing time” in a fair and equitable fashion. A player should not sit out more than 2 innings a game.
• The catcher must wear full gear (including cup) and should use the catcher’s mitt. 
  
• Outfielders must play at least 5 yards past the infield edge.
• Infield Fly Rule is not in effect.

Pitching

• The offensive team provides a coach pitch that calls balls and strikes and operates pitching machine when 4 balls are thrown, or the batter is hit by a pitch.
• Kid pitch and called strikes will be in effect starting with the first game of the season. The kid pitcher will throw until three strikes, four balls, the batter hits the ball into play, or the batter is hit by the pitch. If a kid pitcher hits a batter, the batter has the option to take 1st base or continue his/her at bat with the pitching machine (coach assisted). If they continue at bat, the pitch count will reset. He/she can then either hit a ball into play or strike out, due to 3 strikes. The pitching coach will call strikes (both swinging and looking).
• If a pitcher hits three (3) batters in an inning, the machine will finish pitching the inning and a new pitcher must come in in the next inning.
• The player pitcher will stand to the side of the coach pitcher when pitching machine is being operated. If the batter hits the machine or coach, it will be a “dead ball”.
• The first three innings will be kid pitch, and last three innings will be machine operated with coach assistance. This rule is intended to assist with development of our players, the speed of play, and for assisting teams that may not have enough pitchers. If agreed upon by both managers, additional innings of kid pitch can be allowed if the game is moving along in a timely manner, and the manager has additional kid pitchers to use.
• No more than two (2) innings per game is allowed for any pitcher, and a max of 6 innings per week. A pitcher does not have to pitch their two innings consecutively. (i.e.., They may pitch in inning 1 and return and pitch in inning 5. However, if a pitcher is removed mid inning, they cannot return later in the game to pitch again. One pitch or more pitches in any inning is considered an inning pitched. If there are not enough pitchers to complete the game, notify the other Manager prior to the start of the inning (if possible) then proceed to coach pitch to complete the game. The other team can continue to use kid pitch if there are enough kid pitchers still available.
• Pitchers may throw no more than 6 warm up pitches for the first inning they are pitching. If they pitch a second inning, they can only throw a total of 4 warm up pitches.
• The pitch count will start at 0-0 for each batter.
• Intentional Walks are not permitted and Drop Third Strike is not in effect.
• A Balk will not be called.
• Coaches may identify certain players who are machine pitch only. This must be done before the game and discussed by both managers.