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House League - Rookie Ball Rules:
West Hill Baseball League
Rookie Ball Rules 2008
1) All games are scheduled to commence at 6:30 P.M. Sharp. No new inning will start after 8:00 P.M., dead at 8:15 P.M. There is no minimum number of players to play. All games should start on time with any new players added to the bottom of the line-up as they arrive.
2) No warm-ups will be allowed after 6:25 P.M.
3) It is the responsibility of all coaches, managers and players to be at the field in sufficient time to allow for enforcement of the above rules.
4) In the event that a team will be short players they can call up players from the next lower division. (T-Ball)
5) All games will be played to seven (7) innings and / or until a winner is declared. Four (4) complete innings shall constitute an official game. (3 ½ if the home team is winning)
6) Each team shall have a catcher, a 1st baseman, a 2nd baseman, a 3rd baseman, a shortstop, a left fielder, two (2) center fielders, a right fielder and two (2) pitchers.
7) The pitchers must be beside the pitching machine, outside the safety circle and within 1 (one) foot of their line beside the pitching machine. Only a pitcher may return the ball to the coach / parent helper with runners on base after the umpires has called “TIME”. Both pitchers must wear a batting helmet with a chin strap.
8) The umpire will have the final say as to the speed of the pitching machine. The pitching machine is generally set at thirty- five (35) miles per hour (mph), forty (40) max. The pitching machine can only be adjusted (height and speed) at the beginning of a new inning with the agreement of both coaches and the umpire.
9) All batters receive a minimum of five (5) strikes as called by the umpire. If the batter does not hit a fair ball by the fifth (5th) pitch he / she will be called out. UNLESS the last pitch results in a foul ball then the batter will receive another pitch unless the ball is caught.
(Standard baseball rules apply) Note: If a ball bounces in the dirt or is over the batters head the umpire will not count a strike unless the batter swings at the pitch.
10) Batters cannot walk and/or bunt (bunts are an automatic out).
11) Baserunners cannot lead off until the ball crosses the plate (Penalty: runner is out after 1 warning per team).
12) If a batted ball hits the pitching machine or the ball bucket; or crosses through the 8 foot circle, the ball is declared dead and the batter is awarded first (1st) base with the corresponding move of any base runners which are forced to move.
13) All players in the game must be properly dressed in official team shirts, pants, caps and running shoes or preferably baseball cleats. If a full uniform is not worn the player WILL NOT be allowed to play. The plastic cup type of athletic supporter is mandatory. And a JILL is mandatory for all female players. No jewelry / watches of any kind will be allowed to be worn by any players. The only exception to this rule would be a medic alert bracelet or necklace. Under no conditions will sandals be permitted on the playing field. This will apply to all coaching staff as well as players and umpires.
14) All players in the catcher’s position must wear a helmet, mask, shinguards, chest protector and athletic supporter (cup) at all times. Athletic supporter (cup) is mandatory in all positions of play in this and all divisions from here forward. A JILL is also mandatory for all female players as well.
15) All players at bat and while running the bases must wear proper batters helmets WITH CHINSTRAPS attached. Any player caught running the bases without a helmet strap will be called out by the umpire.
16) The home team is responsible for supplying a scorer and game balls. The winning team is responsible for turning in the completed score sheet to the league statistician so that the win can be recorded, within 48 hours of completion of game. Also both teams need to send a e-mail indicating which teams played, which field, the score, date and if there were any ejection or problems for each game played within 48 hours of completion to John McMillan the league statistician basesloaded27@rogers.com . Sheets can be dropped off at Heron Park Community Center at the information desk. Remember they close at 9:30pm nightly.
17) The name and number of each team, signature of both coaches, official scorer and both umpires (Name and Number) must be on all completed score sheets before the start of the game. Please have umpires sign the score sheet before the start of the game.
18) Coaches and managers are considered responsible for all equipment issued to them. All equipment including shirts, pants and caps must be considered as belonging to the West Hill Baseball League and should be returned if not needed.
19) Games not played because of inclement weather conditions will be rescheduled if time and schedule permit.
20) Scoring Points Win ----- two (2) points
Tie ----- one (1) point
Standings will be determined by points when all teams have played the same number of games or by percentage if an uneven amount of games have been played.
21) Any player or coach ejected from the game by either umpire may be subject to further disciplinary action by the League Executive on receipt of a report from the umpire concerning the incident. In the event of a player or coach being ejected from the game, the umpire will make note on the official score-sheet and notify the Umpire in Chief as soon as is possible. Any player or coach ejected from the game will automatically be suspended for the next game. Furthermore, the disciplinary committee may extend the suspension at their discretion.
22) Any coach or player threatening an umpire with physical violence or making any threatening gestures will be ejected from the game and will face severe disciplinary action from the League Disciplinary Committee.
23) All players must be on the bench when not at bat or on deck. It shall be the coach’s responsibility to enforce this rule and if not obeyed, team players may be disciplined by the umpire at their discretion.
24) When a player throws his / her bat in the process of swinging at the ball, he / she will be warned by the umpire on the first occasion and the umpire will record the incident with the scorekeeper. On any succeeding incident of throwing the bat during the game the batter will automatically be called out by the umpire. This will be 1 warning per team.
25) Notwithstanding Rule #24, any player intentionally throwing the helmet or bat will be called out and warned and / or ejected from the game.
26) Should darkness or inclement weather come prior to the curfew, the umpire will, at his / her discretion, terminate the game and so note on the back of the game scoresheet giving the exact time the game was called and the reason. If the home team is losing at the time of the game being called, the score will revert back to the last completed inning. If the home team takes the lead in the inning that the game is called the present score will stand and the home team will win. (3 ½ innings with home team leading or 4 innings constitute a complete game.)
27) At all times the umpire, not the coaches, shall be the sole judge as to when and if the game should be called once the game has commenced. There will be a 15 minute rain delay if no lightning is present and then the umpire will decide if the game will continue. If there is lightning the game will cease immediately and all players, coaches, parents and umpires will leave the field immediately.
28) On a fielding play to either first (1st) or third (3rd) base, the ball shall be ruled dead
If it goes out of play past the imaginary line of the edge of the screening. This rule shall apply whether the fielder deflects the ball and / or whether it is thrown over his / her head. In this instance, the runner will get two (2) bases from the last base they occupied when the ball was pitched.
29) Any coach, manager, team helpers or players smoking on the playing field will be ejected from the game after one (1) warning. Smoking is not permitted within eye sight of the field. Remember children could have allergies and we don't want to have a reaction occur on the field. We want our children to be safe on the ball field.
30) The batting order must remain consistent and include a full roster submitted on a score sheet at game time. In house league, coaches are required to ensure that all players play and sit out equally. No player shall sit on the bench a second inning before each player has sat one inning. No player shall play the outfield a second time before each player has played it one inning unless of injury or request or discipline. An inning consists of 3 outs or 7 runs. Players must be rotated between infield and outfield. Failure to follow this rule will result in an automatic default of your game. There are no exceptions to this rule
31) The batting order must remain consistent and include a full roster submitted on the score sheet at game time.
32) Additions to the batting order due to late arrival of players will be allowed at any time but must be marked as late arrival and put at the bottom of batting order.
33) In the event of a shortage of players due to holidays or illness; players may be brought up from the next lower age (T-Ball) classification from the House League Division. Please call the convenor for help with this.
34) Each ½ inning will be complete after 3 outs are recorded or a maximum of 7 runs have scored. With the exception of the last inning (last inning must be declared before the beginning of the inning if time is running out before the 7th inning) which will be unlimited runs.
35) If there are any problems at any game for whatever reason then the Convenor should be contacted ASAP following the game but within 24 hours of game time. If there are any umpire issues please contact the Umpire-In-Chief with those issues ASAP.
BASE & PITCHING DISTANCES:
T-Ball Bases (55 feet) Pitching Distance (45 feet)
Rookie Bases (55 feet) Pitching Machine Distance (40 feet)
Mosquito Bases (65 feet) Pitching Distance (44 feet)
Pee Wee Bases (75 feet) Pitching Distance (50 feet)
Bantam Bases (90 feet) Pitching Distance (55 feet )
Midget Bases (90 feet) Pitching Distance (60 feet 6 inches)
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