2007 Athens Sandlot Baseball Local Rules

10U/Minors Division- Board Approved

Rev.4/12/07

 

General:  These are the regular season rules that have been agreed upon by the Athens Sandlot Baseball League Board. Little League rules will be in effect, except as noted by these local rules. (Athens Sandlot Baseball League (ASBL) is not affiliated with Little League Baseball)

 

Age Guidelines: 9 & 10 year olds, as determined by the age of the player on or before April 30 of this year. An experienced 8 year old may request to play in this division but must score in the top 33% of this division on skills evaluation day to be eligible for consideration. An 8 year old playing in this division may be eligible for the all-star team as well as the all-star team from his/her age division, but may only be on one all-star teams’ roster.

 

Officials: The umpire is in charge of the game, and will handle all appeals on the field. Only the head coach may address the umpire to resolve any questions. In the event the umpire cannot resolve a situation, the Minors Commissioner can be called upon to do so. The head coach is responsible for the conduct of his/her players, spectators, and coaches. In the tradition of baseball, “chatter” is encouraged, however, negative chatter or team “chant songs” are not permitted. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. The umpire may give a warning, but can, at any time, eject any coach, player, or spectator. Profanity is not tolerated and may result in immediate ejection from the park.

 

I. Start & End of the Game:

A. Line up cards. Each coach shall prepare a team line up card to include:

Batting line up

Starting pitcher

Members of the team that may be arriving late and may play

Coaches names. (No more than 4 coaches may be used during games.)

B. Pre-Game Warm ups, line ups, line up cards and protocol:

20 minutes prior to the start time: Visitor team warm ups

10 minutes prior to the start time: Home team warm ups

5 minutes prior to the start time: Line up cards delivered to the chief umpire.

Failure to finish a team warm up is not an excuse to delay the on-time start the game.

 On-field pre-game warm-ups may be altered or disallowed due to games running behind schedule, weather, or darkness.

First pitch: Official start time shall be called by the umpire.

C. If a team cannot field 8 players within 10 minutes of the scheduled start of the game, the ASBL Board has determined this team shall forfeit the game. A team may play with 8 players and the opposing team shall supply a defensive player that is deep in the batting order for that inning, (or from the bench when possible) to fill in the 9th position (outfield), so the game may be played. This “loaned” player will still bat for his/her team. A forfeit game may be played with less than 8 players, however, the score will not count, and the only item that will be recorded in the official score book will be “innings pitched.”

D. The City of Athens will notify ASBL if the field is not available for use because of field conditions. If the City has approved the field for use but the weather or field conditions are poor, the team coaches must both agree the field is acceptable. Once the game is turned over to the Chief Umpire, only the Chief Umpire may end a game for weather, darkness or time.

E. Games will be 6 innings. Ties to be resolved in extra innings. A game is official after 4 complete innings (3 1/2 if home team is winning).

F. No new inning shall begin after 1 hour, 30 minutes from the official start time of the game, or within 20 minutes of sunset. Sunset times will be posted weekly.

 

2007 ASBL 10U Local Rules                                                                                      Page 1 of 4

 

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I .Start & End of Game: cont.-

              G.  Mercy Rule: A 10 run differential anytime after 4 completed innings (3 ½ if the home team

                         is ahead). The game is declared complete, the leading team is awarded a win, and the only

                         item that will be recorded in the official score book from this point on will be “innings

                         pitched”. At this time the defensive team will insert any players that haven’t fulfilled their

                         minimum playing time. The offensive team must insert all players that have not batted,

                         and they will bat, in succession, until each player has batted. Once this has been achieved,

                         the teams will switch offense/defense and likewise fulfill their respective minimum

                    playing requirements.

H.  There is no time limit on any game that does not interfere with the start of another       

      game.

 

II.  Scorekeeping:

A. The home team shall be responsible for keeping the official score book. First pitch time shall be noted as called by the umpire.

B. The official scorekeeper is to record the names of the umpires.

C. All score books are to include the record of all pitchers and the number of innings pitched.

D. Both teams are to confirm the score at the end of each half inning with the umpire.

E. The umpire will turn in the Game Summary Sheet to the concession stand after the game. The

            umpire and both coaches must sign the summary sheet.

III.       Pitching:

A. The umpire shall issue a warning to any pitcher and the coaches of both teams if the pitcher hits 2 batters in one inning. Coaches shall notify the Chief Umpire if they have such a concern. Hitting three batters in one inning or after hitting four batters in the game, or if in the opinion of the Chief Umpire the pitcher does not have adequate control, the pitcher may be removed even if it means more than 5 pitchers will be used in the game.

B. Pitcher Limits: Maximum 3 innings total per game, not to exceed 4 innings total per day when playing doubleheaders. Any appearance in an inning counts as an entire inning, whether it’s one pitch or 3 outs. Scorekeepers shall notify the Chief Umpire of any pitch limits being exceeded and the Chief Umpire shall notify the Minors Commissioner of any suspected abuses of this rule.

C. Pitch Counts: Pitch counts shall be maintained by a coach and the scorekeepers. The higher of the counts shall be recorded in the official score book.

Suggested maximum pitch counts/game:    April       May/June

                                                                                                       65                 85

A pitcher should not start a new inning if he/she is within 2 pitches of the maximum. Exceeding the pitch count during an inning does not require the removal of the pitcher.

             D. A pitcher can re-enter once during a game.

             E. A pitcher can only start every 3rd game.

             F. Curve balls and sliders are considered illegal pitches and shall be called a ball.

    Fastballs and change-ups are the only pitches permissible at this level. Umpire shall first

    issue a warning to the pitcher and coach of the offending team before enforcing penalty.

             G. Balks: There will be no penalty for a balk, the pitch will not count. The pitcher should be

                  made aware of the infraction and correct it.

 

IV. Batting:

A. The ASBL Board has ruled all players present and eligible shall get at least 1 at bat per game and teams will utilize a continuous batting order. Rule suspended for tournament play.

B. The ASBL Board has determined the strike zone to be at least one ball width wider, and taller

             than the NLL strike zone in order to encourage batters to swing at the pitches. In general

             this means any pitch from the shoulders to the knees and one ball width on either side of

             the plate will be called a strike.

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IV. Batting:-cont.

 

C. A late arriving player must be added to the end of the batting order. A player who does not bat

                 due to any reason other than injury or sickness, may be forced to take an out at the

                 discretion of the umpire.

D. Run Rule: There is a “6-9” run limit per inning per team. No player may bat after 6

                  runs have scored in an inning. example: If a team has scored 5 runs, the bases

                  are loaded, and the batter hits a triple to clear the bases- all 3 runs would

                  count, giving them 8 runs for that inning. The umpire shall call time when the

                  forward progress of the lead runner is stopped, ending the play. All runners

                  that cross the plate before forward progress is stopped will count as a score

                  as in a 3rd out scenario.

                  Note- Mercy Rule applies, see I. G.

 

V.  Fielding:

A. Maximum of 10 players are allowed on the field on defense. Only six players are allowed 

        in the infield. The outfielders must play at least 15 feet in the outfield grass at the start of 

        the pitch.

                 B. The Athens Sandlot Board has determined that minimum defensive play for each player

                        shall be six (6) defensive outs per six inning game. Compliance with this local rule is on

                        an honor system only. HOWEVER, managers suspected of not complying will be closely

                        scrutinized and if found delinquent shall be subject to discipline by the Board, which may

                        include forfeiture of subject game(s).

                C. Each team shall assign a coach to insure the catcher is ready at the end of the inning with a

                        cup, mask/helmet and catchers glove and be ready to take the field. If there are 2 outs and

                        the catcher is on base, you should use a bench player, if available, or the last player that

                        made an out, as a pinch runner, in order to get the catcher ready.

                D. The infield fly rule is in effect. “A fair fly ball that could be caught with ordinary effort by

                        an infielder, when 1st & 2nd, or 1st, 2nd, & 3rd bases are occupied with less than 2 outs.”

                        Batter is out. Runners may advance at their own risk.

 

VI. Running:

A.  No base stealing will be allowed due to bad throws back to the pitcher. No stealing  home

         will be allowed even on a passed ball, unless a defensive player attempts to make a play

         on a runner.

B.   During a play initiated by a batted ball, the play is over when forward progress stops and

         no further advance of any runner is allowed once the defensive team controls the ball in

         front of the lead runner and forces the runner at (or to retreat to) an unoccupied base. An

         error on the return throw to the pitcher does not allow runners to advance. Forward

         progress is a judgment call by the umpire.

                C. Slide or Avoid Rule: On any play on a runner at 2nd, 3rd, or home, for the purpose of

avoiding collisions, the runner must slide or otherwise avoid contact with the fielder. Any collisions will result in the runner being called out and the ball will be dead.

                 D. If there are 2 outs and the catcher is on base, you should use a bench player, when

     available, or the last player that made an out, as a pinch runner in order to get the catcher

    ready.

E.In the event of an injury, the ball is dead, the runners receive the base they are

                 headed to.

 

 

 

 

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VII.     Substitutions: Coaches shall notify the Chief Umpire of:

-All pitcher changes

-Arrival of late players who will be put entered into the line up (end of line up only).

-Any injured or sick player that is being removed from the line up.

 

VIII.    Home Team:

A.  The schedule will determine home team and the home team shall occupy the 3rd

          base dugout.

B.   The home team shall drag the playing field and fill in any divots around the pitchers rubber, bases, etc., after the game as well as remove and or replace any rain tarps for the pitcher’s mound and home plate areas.

 

IX.       Uniforms:

                 A.  Complete uniforms must be worn, as supplied by Athens Sandlot Baseball. Hats must

             be worn facing forward, shirts must be tucked in. No modifications of uniforms are

              allowed- example: cutting off sleeves, adding names, etc.

     B.  Coaches and umpires will wear Sandlot League shirts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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