2007 Athens Sandlot Baseball Local Rules 12U/Majors Division - Board Approved 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: 11 & 12 year olds, as determined by the age of the player on or before April 30 of this year. An experienced 10 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. A 10 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 Majors 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: 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, 45 minutes from the official start time of the game, or within 20 minutes of sunset. Sunset times will be posted weekly. 2007 ASBL 12U Local Rules Page 1 of 3 **************************************************************** I. Start& End of Game: cont. G. Mercy Rule: A 10 run differential 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 thatwill be recorded in the official score book from this point on will be "innings pitched". Atthis time the defensive team will insert any players that haven’t fulfilled their minimumplaying time. The offensive team must insert all players that have not batted, and theywill bat, in succession, until each player has batted. Once this has been achieved, the teams will switch offense/defense and likewise fulfill the 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 scorebook. 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 scorebooks 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 aconcern. 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 Majors 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 maximum 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. Chief Umpires shall first issue a warning to the pitcher and coach of the offending team before a penalty is enforced. IV. Batting: A. The ASBL Board has ruled all players present and eligible shall get at least 1 at bat per game 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. C. A player re-entering the lineup must re-enter in the same spot in the batting order. Exception: In the event a void is created in the batting order due to the loss of a player (injury, etc.) a coach may re-enter a player to fill the void if no bench players are available. 2007 ASBL 12U Local Rules Page 2 of 3 ****************************************************************************** V. Fielding: A. The Athens Sandlot Board has determined that minimum defensive play for each playershall 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). B. 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, when available, or the last player  that made an out, as a pinch runner, in order to get the catcher ready. C. Infield Fly rule is in effect. VI. Running: A. Slide or Avoid Rule: On any play on a runner at 2nd, 3rd, or home, for the purpose ofavoiding 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. B. 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. C. "Pinch" runners: A player not in the lineup may be used at any time to pinch run for another player. This will not count toward the players’ minimum playing time. D. In the event of an injury, the ball is dead, the runners receive the base they are headed to. 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 are allowed- example: cutting off sleeves, adding names, etc. B. Coaches will wear Sandlot League shirts.                       2007 ASBL 12U Local Rules Page 3 of 3