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INTERLEAGUE FASTPITCH LOCAL RULES AND GUIDELINES

2005 PLAYING SEASON

 

FARM LEAGUE LEVEL EAST DIVISION

Woodinville and Woodinville West Little Leagues

 

Playing Rules are those found in the 2005 Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules book provided by Little League Baseball, Inc.  The following is a list of local rule variations and options that will be used during the regular season at the Minor Modified Coach Pitch (“Farm”) level. 

 

1.             An eleven inch (11”) safety ball or incrediball will be used as a game ball. The recommended game ball should be fluorescent yellow/green (high vis) in color.  The white game ball will have white stitching.  Red, green, and other colored stitching may be used for practice, but not in games.

 

2.             There is no mandatory 10-run rule at this level for regular season or tournament play.

 

3.                    An inning is when 3 outs occur or a maximum of Five runs have been scored or the batting order has batted through in any inning, whichever occurs first. 

 

4.             (a) The entire roster will make up the batting order (i.e., the “bench-bat rule” applies).

 

(b) If a player misses a turn at bat due to leaving a game early, an out will NOT be recorded.

(Reminder:  An injured player who misses a turn at bat is not allowed to return to the game without a signed medical release.)

 

(c) A late arriving player may enter the game upon arrival at the bottom of the batting order

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5.             Minimum play rule is six defensive outs for each player. A player may enter and/or re-enter defensively in the game. Managers are encouraged to give all players equal playing time. No player should be on the bench two consecutive innings and all players should play infield and outfield.

 

6.             The time limit shall apply to all games, even if no following game is scheduled.

 

(a) No new full innings may begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the scheduled start of the game.  No new batter will come up to bat after 2 hours from the scheduled start of the game. 

 

(b) There is a Curfew for games played Sunday through Thursday while school is in session. No new innings may begin after 7:45 PM, and no new batter may come up to bat after 8:00PM.

 

Note: In early season games, darkness will often precede the time limits.  For safety reasons, coaches should agree to halt play as soon as darkness makes further play hazardous.  The ultimate decision for stopping a game belongs to the home plate umpire.  A called game ends at the moment the home plate umpire terminates play

 

(c) If a player is at bat when time expires, the player shall complete the at bat.

 

(d) The ultimate decision relative to stopping a game belongs to the home plate umpire. Coaches and umpires are encouraged to keep the game moving (by starting on time, limiting time between innings, limiting the number of warmup pitches, keeping one team’s catcher out to warm up the other team’s pitcher, dressing the catcher while on the bench, etc.) so that as many innings as possible may be completed prior to time running out.

 

(e) For games played at the Woodinville Complex, the Complex  time limit rules apply.

 

7.             A full game is six innings.  If a game is called (due to time limit, weather, curfew, etc.), a “regulation game” is four innings.  If a game is called before completion of a regulation game, but after one or more innings have been played, it will be considered suspended and will resume from the exact point where it left off.  If a game is called before one full inning has been played, it should be replayed from the beginning.

 

8.             Cones should be used on fields with dirt outfields, if available.  Cones may be used on fields with grass outfields.  Cones should be placed at 165 feet from home plate.  If cones are not placed, play proceeds as an open field (i.e., a ball rolling into the outfield is live and not subject to ground rule for passing beyond 165 feet).  If cones are not available, a chalk line may be substituted.  When games are being played simultaneously at both ends of an open field (e.g., Cottage Lake Elementary), cones must be used for safety reasons (e.g., so that outfielders on one team do not run onto the other field chasing a live ball and collide with other players or get hit by batted or thrown balls).

 

Note: Any live ball that continues beyond the cones is out of play (dead ball), even if touched by a player.

 

9.        PITCHING REGULATIONS ARE BASED ON DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND HALVES OF THE SEASON.  THESE RULES APPLY TO GAMES PLAYED ON OR BEFORE MAY 15th (EARLY SEASON RULES)

 

(a)     Manager/Coach (M/C) of the offensive team will pitch the entire game.

 

          (b) A player from the defensive team shall play at the pitcher’s position for fielding purposes.  Player shall remain completely within the pitching circle during pitches, and be even with, or behind, the line of the pitching rubber until the ball is put into play.  The player may choose which side to stand on.

 

          (c) M/C will pitch from within the drawn eight (8) foot radius pitcher‘s circle, which is centered about the pitcher’s plate, which is located 35 feet from home plate for Farm Division play.  Gloves may be worn by the Manager/Coach while pitching, however, all defensive fielding is to be done by the players only.  If a batted ball hits a M/C pitcher in fair territory, the ball is live and in play as if it had not hit the coach.

 

          (d) M/C will throw a maximum of five (5) pitches.  Umpires will keep track of the total number of pitches thrown by the M/C.  Pitches are continued until one of two things happens: (1) the ball is put into play; or (2) the coach has thrown five pitches- whichever occurs first.  There will be no base on balls, no strikeouts, nor shall batters hit by a coach-pitched ball be awarded 1st base.

 

          (e)  If the ball has not been put into play after the allowable coach pitches, the batting tee will be used..  A player shall continue batting if a ball which is hit by the bat goes foul or travels less than 10‘ in fair territory (also considered as a “foul“).  A foul ball is determined by the umpire’s judgment and accompanied by a quick audible call.  If there is no call on a fair, but short hit, the ball is in play. 

 

10.     PITCHING REGULATIONS ARE BASED ON DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND HALVES OF THE SEASON.  BEGINNING MAY 15th LATE SEASON RULES CHANGE FROM THE EARLY SEASON RULES TO INCLUDE PLAYER PITCHING.

 

          (a) Manager/Coach (M/C) of the offensive team will pitch the entire game, EXCEPT, as described below.

    

          (b) Player pitchers from the defensive team will pitch the 3rd inning, and all subsequent innings.  Pitchers will pitch from the pitcher’s plate, located 35 (may move up to 30 feet if unable to reach from 35’) feet from home plate, and will throw a maximum of five (5) pitches.  Umpires will keep track of the total number of pitches thrown by the player pitcher and will call balls and strikes to aid player development..  Pitches are continued until: (1) the ball is put into play or (2) player pitcher has thrown five pitches whichever occurs first.  There will be no base on balls.  A player hit by a Player Pitched Ball will be awarded first base..

 

          (d) If the ball has not been hit into play after the allowable player pitches, the Manager/Coach of the offensive team may throw up to a  maximum of three (3) pitches . If the ball has not been hit into play the player will hit from the Tee.  There will be no walks; nor shall batters hit by a coach-pitched ball be awarded 1st base

 

11.      Both base coaches may be adults.  Any player coaches must wear helmets and must pay attention to the game and be accompanied by an adult..

 

12.           Managers and coaches are allowed beyond the foul line when visiting the pitcher.  When a manager or coach is granted time to confer with the pitcher, only the pitcher and catcher may speak with the coach.  All other players are to remain in their position on the field.

 

14.           No bunting or stealing permitted at this level.  Sliding is permitted.  A runner who fails to slide or avoid a defensive player waiting to make a tag shall be called out.  No head-first slides permitted.  A player who slides head-first shall be called out.

 

15.           Runners must remain in contact with their bases until a pitched ball crosses home plate.  A runner who leaves base early should be called out.  The pitch is declared “no pitch” and any action resulting from the ball being put into play is nullified.

 

16.           Nine defensive players shall take the field for the defensive team.  Infielders shall not crowd the batter, but rather play their normal positions.  Outfielders must start play approximately 20 feet behind the infield base lines.  This is to encourage players to learn the proper defensive positions.  Outfielders are permitted to cover the bases after the ball is put into play.

 

17.           Once the ball is put into play, runners are permitted to advance bases until the pitcher has possession of the ball within the pitching circle, or until the umpire calls “time.”  The umpire has discretion as to when to call time.  It is recommended that time be called when a defensive player has control of the ball in the infield in such a way that stops any runner from advancing, and when a ball thrown toward the pitcher in an attempt to get the ball to the pitcher in the circle passes through or near the pitching circle. The umpire has discretion as to whether the runner shall return to the last base or may advance to the next base when time is called.

 

a)       Overthrows: to encourage fielders to make a play, there should Not be any extra bases taken on overthrows

 

b)     On well hit balls out of the infield, batters are permitted to attempt extra bases.

 

18.           The infield fly rule is not in effect at this level.

 

19.           No protests are permitted at this level.

 

 20.          Standings and scores will not be kept by the league or the managers.

 

Other Rules:

 

21.           The home team is responsible for providing two game balls (one of which is new) and providing the home-plate umpire.  The visiting team may provide a field umpire.  Managers are encouraged to umpire games for other teams on a reciprocal basis when possible.

 

22.           If a game needs to be made up, or a suspended game needs to be completed, the home team is responsible for rescheduling the game. Since many leagues have fields available on Sundays, it is suggested that this be considered as a viable option for make-up games.  Teams should also consider playing make-up games during their practice times when other fields are not available.

 

23.           The home team is responsible for field preparation at elementary school, junior high, and Woodinville Complex fields.  Both teams are responsible for cleanup at all fields. All coaches will help wherever they can.

 

Important!  At school fields, both teams are responsible for cleaning up the field and emptying garbage cans if necessary.  Failure to do so may result in loss of use of field.

 

24.                 There shall No Batting Practice prior to games anywhere on the field with any type of ball.

25.                 For games played at the LL Complex, the Complex rules supersede these rules.