Minor League

MINORS BASEBALL (MB) is a competitive division (i.e., scores are kept, results count in the standings, umpires call balls/strikes; a player pitches to a batter). 

RULES

GAME BASICS

1. The kids must have fun. 
2. Co-ed (girls and boys) teams. 
3. Beginners welcomed. 
4. Everyone plays. 
5. Score keeping is required. 
6. The batters count = every batter gets four balls which equal a walk and/or a batter gets three strikes which equals an out. 
7. Assigned League Umpires call balls/strikes and officially enforces rules. 
8. Appeals whether a base runner missed a base can only be made during live play with the exception that once a pitch is made to the next batter you can no longer appeal.
9. No video replays can be used from a fan, parent, and coach to decide a play.
10. Umpire judgment decisions are final.
11. Catcher’s interference means the batter gets first base regardless if the hitter hit the ball or not.  
12. Home team gets to choose their dugout side (e.g., right side/first base side or left side/third base side). 
13. The League assigns team schedules and field assignments.  
14. Playoffs occur at the end of the season. 
15. Coaches for both teams are responsible to supervise their team’s respective play. 
16. Prior to the start of a game, both the away and home team can take infield practice, i.e., this should be limited to 25 minutes for each team.
17. Five minutes prior to the game opposing coaches should meet at home plate to review any misc., items with the umpire and opposing coaches. Each coach should exchange his or her team’s batters lineup, which is the final once the game starts. That is the line up card should clearly state the players first and last name, uniform number, order in the batters lineup (starting with the number one to etc), and their field position (at least for the start of the game). Further, each team should point out who are the official assistant coaches for their team (so there is no confusion who is an official coach and who is parent).
18. Parents are not allowed to interfere with play and/or argue with the umpire.
19. Multiple player field substitutions can be used although players must remain in their respective batting order.
20. Substitutes must me acknowledged to the umpire and opposing coach.
21. Courtesy runners can be used solely for a catcher or an injured player.
22. Injured players must be removed from a game and the League desk should be immediately alerted.
23. A player pitches from the pitchers plate to the batter. .
24. Coaches for the team on the field may take positions in their dugout only. That is, coaches are not allowed near the opposing teams batters and/or umpire when the other team is batting.
25. Coaches for the team-batting can have one coach in the first base and/or third base coaches box. If a player is used that player must wear a helmet.
26. Three outs are allowed per half inning per batting team.
27. Six innings constitute a full game.
28. To speed up a game the change over between innings the pitcher warming up gets a maximum of six warm up pitches.
29. New pitchers substituted during a game get a maximum of eight pitches to warm up.
30. It is the responsibility of the home team coach to ensure everything is picked up after a game and/or rain delay, with the exception of the League field equipment e.g., backstop and etc.
31. The home team coach scorecard is the official score of the game. Hence, both the away and home coach should confirm runs between innings to pre-empt any disagreements as to what is the score.
32. The home team coach is responsible to turn in their signed scorecard to the home plate umpire after the game, so the umpire can submit the card to the League desk. Alternatively the home team coach should submit their games final score after the game to the League Desk promptly after the game.
33. Each coach is responsible for the behavior of his or her team’s fans behavior.
34. The strike zone will be from the "top of the lettering" (i.e. from about the underarm level) to the knees, based on the player's height while in a reasonable knees-bent stance.  If a player has a very small crouch stance strikes may be called at shoulder level.
35. Each game will last six innings, although no inning may start later than 25 minutes prior to the end of the scheduled playing session.  Once an inning is started it should be finished even if time runs slightly over.  Games are scheduled to begin one hour and a quarter after the scheduled start of the Minor league session.
36. Four completed innings will constitute a minimum regulation game for which the results will count.  If the home team is ahead after three and a half innings and the game is called, it shall be declared the winner.
37. There will be a maximum of 10 players on the field at any onetime, a pitcher, catcher, four infielders, and four outfielders. Substitute the fielders to keep only 10 on at any one time but let fielders sitting out continue to bat when it is their turn.  A team must have at least seven players at game time (which is one hour and a quarter after the scheduled start of the Minor league session) to make the game official. A team with less than seven players will forfeit the game.  If both teams have less than seven they both are assessed a tie.  If a team has seven players at the start but the numbers subsequently diminish that team will be permitted to continue playing without a forfeit being declared.  If for any scheduled playing session, more than 2 Minor league games are forfeited due to a lack of players, then all games for the league shall be considered "rained-out" and any games played will be considered "friendlies" and not count in the standings.
38. No player in the Minor League may pitch more than THREE innings in a game including any game that involves extra innings.  The delivery of a single pitch constitutes pitching an inning.  A pitcher who hits three batters must be removed from pitching and cannot continue to pitch again in that game.
39. Each player must play at least THREE full innings in the field, assuming a complete game (except for injury or disciplinary reasons).  Players may be substituted during a game at any time the ball is dead.  Re-entry is possible for ALL players at any position, even if they have been previously removed from the field.
40. A third strike makes an out whether the catcher drops the ball or not.
41. The base runner may not advance on a wild pitch or a passed ball.
42. Any time a ball in play is overthrown and goes into dead territory, runners may advance one base.  If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner was more than halfway to a base at the time the ball entered the dead territory, the runner may be awarded one base in addition to the base to which the runner was advancing.  There shall be unlimited base advancement if the overthrow remains in live territory.  For the avoidance of doubt, a ball that gets caught in the backstop is "dead" and no further advancement is allowed.
43. Sliding is permitted at any base and is encouraged on any close play at second, third or home plate.  If a runner intentionally and maliciously runs into a defensive player, he will be called out on the play and ejected from the game.  The objective of this is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner for the obvious purpose of crashing into the defensive player.
44. Play ends and runners may not advance when the ball is in the pitcher's possession and he/she is within 5 feet of the rubber.  Runners between bases can advance at their own risk and are eligible to be thrown out regardless on what base they are heading for.  If the pitcher attempts to throw a runner out the ball becomes live again.
45. If a team is in a position to score at least six runs in their half of an inning before making three outs, all runs scored as part of the play in which the sixth run is scored will be counted.  Thus, the maximum number of runs, which can be scored in an inning, is nine.  Once the ball is dead following the play in which the sixth run is scored, that half of the inning is over and the batting team must take the field.  This rule does not apply in the last inning or extra innings only.
46. If there is a tie at the end of the 6 innings, play will continue until a team wins, with a limit of 8 innings.  No innings should start later than 25 minutes prior to the scheduled end of play.  If the teams remain tied under these conditions, the game will remain a tie.  The 6 run rule as specified above will not apply in extra innings.
47. The umpires shall provide two new baseballs for the game.  At the end of the game, each team should retrieve one of the game balls and add it to the equipment bag as a practice ball.
48. In the event of the absence or unavailability of an official league umpire, the managers should agree to an acceptable coach/ spectator umpiring arrangement.
49. The Minor League will have one division.  Standings will follow a traditional baseball format with wins/loses and percentage points determining position.  In the event two teams are tied the first tiebreaker will be head to head competition.  If three or more teams are tied the tiebreaker will be least amount of total runs allowed.  The next tiebreaker will be a coin flip.
50. All teams will participate in the playoffs. Seeding’s for the playoffs will be based upon the final, regular season standings.  The higher-seeded team will be the home team during any playoff game.  
51. The League Director will be the final authority on any dispute.
52. Rosters are set at the beginning of the season.  Any child wanting to join a team after the season has started must be referred to a league director.
53. Soliciting players to switch teams and players asking to be moved from one team or another is strictly prohibited. Please note, the minor’s director carefully considers player assignments at the start of the season, to ensure teams are balanced. If players are assigned to a team then players are allowed to switch teams later the balance of one team can have an dire effect on all teams. We ask parents to refrain from requesting players switching teams.
54. Players assignments and coaches assignments are made by the minors director.
55. The minor’s director makes the assignments of team names.

Rain-outs

1. THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND COMFORT OF OUR PLAYERS AND UMPIRES ARE THE PRIMARY FACTORS IN DETERMINING WHEN TO CALL A GAME.
2. (a) Rain-outs before the start of play will be called by consensus of the LBA commissioners and posted on the LBA website.
3. (b) In the case that fields need to be cleared because of rain either during practice or after the games have begun then:
4. (1) The commissioners will agree by consensus after a maximum of 15 minutes to either:
5. Call an end of play for the day;
6. Allow for an additional 15 minutes wait because of possible improving conditions.
7. (c) After a maximum 30 minutes of interrupted play, the games will be called.
8. (d) In the case of (b)(1)(i) above, if any game has completed 4 innings, that shall be called a completed game.  If the home team is ahead, and batting in the bottom of the 4th when a game is called, that is also a completed game. 

Double Header Weekends

9. For doubleheader weekends (like this Saturday and Monday) pitchers are limited to how many innings they can pitch. For example, per pitcher: 
10. 3 innings pitched Saturday, then he/she cannot pitch on Monday. 
11. 2 innings pitched on Saturday, then he/she can pitch 2 innings on Monday. 
12. 1 inning pitched on Saturday, then he/she can pitch 3 innings on Monday. 
13. 0 innings pitched on Saturday, then he/she can pitch 3 innings on Monday. 

EQUIPMENT

a.    Players must wear their assigned uniforms (team hat and top) cleaned at all times when playing. 

b.    No metal cleats. Molded rubber (baseball or soccer) cleats only can be used. (See graphic at the bottom of the page). 

c.    Only preapproved bases by the League can be used for games.

d.    Bats that are League approved are allowed (e.g., aluminum, wooden, or composite). Refer to our bat guide.

e.    Players are encouraged to wear baseball pants or long pants and they should refrain from wearing shorts (as sliding may occur which can cause injuries).

f.     Helmets (assigned or approved by the League) can only be used. Helmets must be worn at all times by the batting team and base runners.

g.    Catchers must wear equipment assigned or approved by the League at all time when fielding their position e.g., helmet, catchers mask, catchers glove, throat guard, chest protector, shin guards, and protector cup.

h.    Any equipment worn by a player that is a distraction or is broken becomes a health and safety risk e.g., undershirt, faulty equipment or etc., should not be worn. If so, the League reserves the right to request the player to remove the item or replace it.

FIELD DIMENSIONS

a.    40 feet is the distance from pitchers plate to home plate.

b.    60 feet is the distance from one base to another.

c.    No one is allowed behind the backstop.

FIELDING RULES

a.    Batting helmets must be worn by the team at bat i.e., both hitters and base runners when on the field. 

b.    No players are allowed to coach first or third base i.e., only coaches. 

c.    No bunting. 

d.    No infield fly rule. 

e.    No stealing. 

f.     No leadoffs.

g.    No intentional passes to batter to first base.

h.    Only one batter allowed in the on deck circle at one time. 

i.      All players not on the field or at bat during a game must remain in their assigned dugout. 

j.      At the start of a game each coach should name his or her batting lineup. 

k.    Each teams batters should only bat in the order as denoted in their teams batting order. If a player is substituted or he or she remains in the batting order in the same place at bat. 

l.      Players that arrive late must take the last place in the batting order i.e., coaches cannot rearrange the batting order once the game begins with this sole exception. 

m.   No one is allowed behind the backstop.

n.    Players not batting or fielding must remain in their dugout during a game, unless permitted to by their coach.

o.    Fielders must wear baseball gloves.

p.    There may be more than nine players on the field ie maximum ten.

q.    All fielders must be within the fair lines when the ball it pitched with the exception of the catcher.

r.     The closest a fielder can be to the batters is parallel to a pitcher/pitchers plate.

s.    Batters are not allowed to throw a bat after they hit or swing a bat.

NOTE: If there are any disputes or questions you should refer to the Minors Division Commissioner, League Desk and/or Head Umpire.