Rules update as of 4-21-2017

  • Buffalo Baseball Club Rules:

     

    Playing Rules not specifically covered herein shall follow the Official Rules of High School Baseball. The Field Supervisor also has the authority to administer rules as deemed appropriate for experience level at anytime

    Ejections

    • There is no place for unsportsmanlike conduct in youth sports. Our leagues are designed with the purpose of encouraging kids to be active and develop a knowledge base and love for sports. Calls and decisions may not go in favor of your team, but we ask you to be respectful of all players, spectators and sports officials. Please review the following:
    • Ejections by an umpire or a member of the sports staff will be final.
    • If you are ejected from a game, you are required to leave the complex immediately. (Must be outside the complex fence). You are allowed to wait in the parking lot for your player(s) Failure to leave the park in a timely manner, or continuing to cause a scene could result in further suspensions.
    • If ejected from a league game, you are done for the night at all complexes. If the action is severe in nature, as determined by the sports staff, suspensions are possible.
    • If ejected from a tournament game, it will be the Supervisor’s discretion on how many games will be missed. If the action is severe in nature, as determined by the sports staff, further action and suspensions could occur.
    • Multiple ejections could result in a longer suspension

     

    Equipment

    • All batting helmets must be double ear flapped.
    • Metal spikes or metal cleats will not be allowed.
    • All catchers will be required to wear protective gear. This includes helmet and mask, chest protector and shin guards. Play will continue while catchers are getting dressed, a coach will need to fill in.

     

    Courtesy Runners

    Courtesy runner rule: A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher and catcher only. The replacement runner must be the batter that made the last out, either from the current inning or the previous inning. Coach must let the official know who the runner will be. The player must be the pitcher or catcher for the next inning.

    Base Distance & Pitching Distance

    12u                  70′ bases       50′ Pitching Mound         75 MIN GAME (no inning starts after 70 mins)                   MAX RUNS ALLOWED PER INNING IS 5 RUNS

    10u                  65′ bases       46′ Pitching Mound         70 MIN GAME (no inning starts after 65 mins)                   MAX RUNS ALLOWED PER INNING IS 5 RUNS

    Coach Pitch     60′ bases     35′ Pitching Rubber          60 MIN GAME (no inning starts after 55 mins)           MAX RUNS ALLOWED PER INNING IS 5 RUNS

    Non Collision Rule

    “Non-Collision Rule” – when the ball is in the process of being caught by the fielder and is in close proximity of any base/plate and in the umpire’s discretion a play is eminent, it is the responsibility of the runner to avoid collision with the fielder either by sliding or avoiding the tag. The fielder cannot block a base or plate completely and must give access to a portion of the base or plate to the runner. If in the umpire’s discretion, the collision is deliberate or malicious the runner will be called out. If in the umpire’s discretion the collision is malicious, the player will be called out and ejected from the game. This is not a must slide rule but a non-collision rule. **In some cases contact will be unavoidable. In those cases, it shall be the decision of the umpire to rule as such.**

    Tie Games/Tie Breakers

    International tie breaker rules will take affect. This means that the last out for each team will begin at 2nd base at the start of each half inning.

    LEAGUE/TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP TIE BREAKERS: The baseball staff will determine league winners. If a two-way tie exists, the winner will be determined by head-to-head competition. If more than two teams are involved in a tie or a two-way tie can’t be determined, the winner will be determined using the following tie-breakers:

    • Head to head competition.
    • The teams shall be ranked according to the fewest runs allowed per game played.
    • If a tie still exists, the teams shall be ranked according to the most runs scored per game played.
    • If a tie still exists, by a coin toss

     

     

     

    Protests

    Protests will only be allowed on player eligibility. If a team wishes to protest, they must notify the umpire immediately. At the moment a protest is called, the protesting team must present a $100 check to the complex manager only. The team with the protested player has 24 hours to provide documentation that the player is legal. If the player is found to be illegal, the game will be declared a forfeit and the $100 check will be returned. If the protested player is found to be legal, the game will be considered official and the $100 check will not be refunded. For tournaments, proof of age is required to be on site to help in determining these issues.

    Umpire/Coach Interaction

    Umpires will only work directly with the coaches who are on the field during the game. Bench coaches are not to address the umpire. HEAD COACH MAY BE EJECTED FROM GAME DUE TO FANS BEHAVIOR

    Forfeits

    Game time is forfeit time. There is a 10 minute grace period for the first games of the evening. Games can begin with 7 players

    Cancelled Games

    Games that have been cancelled due to any reason may or may not be made up. Field Supervisor will decide when and if game will be played. Make up games may be on any day of the week except for Sunday. No games will be played on Sunday

    PITCHING REGULATIONS

    • Pitchers may only pitch 6 innings per week (Monday- Sunday)
    • Sunglasses are allowed to be worn while pitching, however, no reflective lenses may be used.
    • Pitchers will not be allowed to wear white sleeves or batting glove while on the mound.
    • One pitch to a batter counts as an inning pitched
    • If a pitcher is removed from pitching they cannot pitch again the same game

     

    Pitchers/Conferences

    • Two visits to the same pitcher during the GAMEand the pitcher will be removed.

     

    LEAGUE-SPECIFIC PLAYING RULES

    T-Ball

    Each team bats 3 times or 60 mins

    • RIF 10 Baseballs will be provided by the league
    • A neutral zone will be about 10 feet in front of home plate and a coach from the batting team will make any height adjustments for each batter.
    • The coach will set the ball on the tee and the batter will step into the batter’s box and swing when ready.
    • When the ball is at a base, the play is stopped.
    • All players will play defense. Coaches must have players representing the outfield positions standing within the grass area. All players may be placed on defense. The “extra players” will be placed in the outfield. 6 players are considered infield that includes pitcher and catcher.

     

    Coach Pitch

    Max 5 innings or 60 min (No inning starts after 55 Min)

    A maximum of 10 players are allowed to play defense. Coaches must have players representing the outfield positions stand in the outfield grass and there should be no more than 6 infielders. Catchers and pitchers are considered infielders.

    • Each inning will last until 3 outs are made or 5 runs are scored.
    • Baseballs will be provided by the league
    • No Stealing, no bunting, and no infield fly rule will be in effect for all coach pitch leagues.
    • Each batter will receive a maximum of 5 pitches.  If the last pitch by the coach is hit foul, the batter will get another pitch
    • This league will use a continuous batting order, with all players present listed in the batting order. In the event that a player arrives late, he/she shall be added to the bottom of the lineup. If a player must leave the game for any reason other than ejection, the player’s position in the batting order will be skipped with no out being charged. Should a player be ejected from the game, an out will be charged each time his/her position comes up in the batting order.
    • The coach shall pitch to his/her own players. The coach may pitch overhand or underhand. The coach may defend themselves if the ball is hit directly at them. If a coach pitcher is hit with the ball, the ball is still considered live and play will continue.
    • A coach from the batting team may stand behind the catcher to speed the game up by returning a pitch from the pitching coach. No coach will be allowed in the outfield.
    • The defensive team will have a “Pitcher”. This player will stand with at least one foot in the pitching circle around the mound. The player may move out of the circle once play has begun.
    • Players are permitted to leave the base when the ball crosses home plate. If the ball is not hit, the player must immediately return to their base.
    • The ball will be dead or play is over when: the fielders must stop the runner before the play is considered over. Once the coach pitcher has touched the baseball, the play is over. The batter or base runner will be called out if there is any adult interference.

     

     

    Modified Pitch Rule Exceptions

    All players begin with 9U player pitch rules. There are NO WALKS. When 4 balls are called on the batter, coach pitch rules will apply.

    A batter hit by the player pitcher will be awarded first base. A batter hit by the coach pitcher will not and the ball will become dead.

    • Stealing is not allowed in Modified when the coach is pitching. Players may steal against a player pitcher once the ball has crossed home plate. Runner may not steal home unless there has been a play made on him at 3rd base
    • When the coach is pitching, coach pitch rules will be in effect.
    • Coaches pitch to their batters and must pitch with one foot touching mound. Any release is acceptable. The fielder must stay beside the coach pitcher.
    • The maximum # of pitches from the coach is 4 minus the # of strikes called. (Example: 2 strikes, then 2 pitches only and if the players swing at the 1st pitch and misses, then this is the 3rd strike.). If the adult pitcher fields the ball the player is declared out. If the last pitch by the coach is hit foul, the batter is out.

     

     

     

     

    10u Player Pitch

    Max 6 innings or 70 MIN GAME (no inning starts after 65 mins)

    Each inning will last until 3 outs are made or 5 runs are scored

    • Baseballs will be provided by the league
    • There will be no stealing UNTIL AFTER the ball has crossed home plate. Runner may not steal home unless there has been a play made on him at 3rd base. If a base runner leaves early, play continues but the base runner is declared out. This is not a dead ball situation.
    • All batting line-ups must be turned in no later than 5 minutes before the game is set to begin. This league will use a continuous batting order, with all players present listed in the batting order. In the event that a player arrives late, he/she shall be added to the bottom of the lineup. If a player must leave the game for any reason other than ejection, the player’s position in the batting order will be skipped with no out being charged. Should a player be ejected from the game, an out will be charged each time his/her position comes up in the batting order.
    • Team can bat with 8 players with no out taken, Teams with 7 players must take an out before the leadoff hitter bats again.
    • Max of 9 players will be used on defense and all players WILLbe placed in the batting order. If a player must leave for any reason, his/her position in the lineup will be an out. Except for Injury unless total players drop to 7 players then 1 out must be taken at that players place in the order
    • There is no hidden ball play allowed in our leagues. The ball becomes dead.
    • Infield fly rule will be in effect for all player pitch divisions: A fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
    • 5 warm up pitches are allowed per inning. New pitchers will be granted 5 warm up pitches. To progress the games please warm up pitchers outside the fence before taking the mound.
    • The Balk rule is not in effect
    • Batter is declared out on a dropped third strike.

     

     

     

     

    12u Player pitch

    Max 6 innings or 75 MIN GAME (no inning starts after 70 mins)

    Each inning will last until 3 outs are made or 5 runs are scored

    Regular High School Baseball Rules with the following exception:

    • Baseballs will be provided by the league
    • All batting line-ups must be turned in no later than 5 minutes before the game is set to begin. If a player is in the batting order, but not present for their at bat, that position will be declared an out. If that player is present for their next at bat, they will be allowed to bat. Player’s uniform number and name must be listed on lineup card.
    • Team can bat with 8 players with no out taken, Teams with 7 players must take an out before the leadoff hitter bats again.
    • Game time is forfeit time. There is a 10 minute grace period for the first games of the evening. Games will begin with 7 players.
    • Max of 9 players will be used on defense and all players WILLbe placed in the batting order. If a player must leave for any reason, his/her position in the lineup will be an out. Except for Injury unless total players drop to 7 players then 1 out must be taken at that players place in the order.
    • Infield fly rule will be in effect : A fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
    • 6 warm up pitches are allowed per inning. New pitchers will be granted 6 warm up pitches. To progress the games please warm up pitchers outside the fence before taking the mound.