2013 Spring Season Rules

A.    2013 AABC OFFICIAL HANDBOOK AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS” (WHITE BOOK):

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 1.       Balks – 8u-& -9u- : Balks will not be enforced for Spring Season.

                        10u-thru 15u Balks will be enforced

                       (SEE SECTION D BELOW FOR MLB’s BALK RULES)

 2.       Baseballs - Medium compression baseballs required.  Recommended ball is Diamond Baseballs

                           8u-12u ball is  DOL-1. ( may use Wilson LL-1 or Rawlings LL)

                           13u-15u ball is DOL – A or MVP ( may use Wilson Babe Ruth  or Rawlings Babe Ruth or higher

3.       FIELD DEMENTIONS : Bases – and Pitchers Mound

             BASES                8u:  play on a field with 60 foot bases

                                        9u & 10u  play on a field with 65 foot bases

                                       11u & 12u play on field with 70 foot bases

                                       13u -15u play on a field with 90 foot bases

                          Measure bases from  1st and 3rd to the back of home plate to the back of the base.

           PITCHERS MOUND

                                        8u:  will pitch from a 40 foot mound from the tip of home plate

                                9u & 10u:  will pitch from a 46 foot mound from the tip of home plate

                               11u & 12u: will pitch from a 50 foot 6 inch mound from the tip of home plate

                            13u thru 15u: will pitch from a 60 foot 6 inch mound from the tip of home plate

4.       Bats:  AABC Approved Bats are the only

             8u: Any Bat that has the BPF 1.15 Stamp and does not exceed 2 ¼ in barrel size             

             9u-12u: Any bat that has the following stamp BPF 1.15  unlimited weights and sized from 2 ¼ barrels to 2 ¾ barrels

            13u: Any bat that has the following stamp BPF 1.15  unlimited weights and sized from 2 5/8 barrel

          14u: Any bat that has the following stamp BBCOR 0.50  with a weight restriction of minus 3 ( -3) and a barrel of 2 5/8^th

          15u: Wood Bats only that are Collegiate or MLB approved ( Minus -3 and not to exceed 2 5/8 )

 5.       Dropped Third Strike –Does not apply for 8u or 9u but does apply for 10u thru 15u

  Dropped third strike rules apply, meaning that, upon a 3rd strike that is not caught directly by the catcher (e.g., on a bounce or off his equipment into his glove is not considered ‘directly’), the batter is permitted to run to 1st base if (i) 1st base is not occupied or (ii) there are 2 outs.  If the catcher attempts to throw the batter-runner out, the play at first base is a force play.

   6.       Infield Fly – Does not apply for 8u but will be called at all ages 9u -15u

Infield fly rule applies, with less than 2 outs and runners on at least 1st and 2nd base.  When the umpire declares a pop-up to be an infield fly, the batter is out, and base runners can no longer be forced out at the next base, only tagged out.  If the pop-up is caught and the runner does not return to the base in time, the play at their original base can be a force or tag play.  (SEE SECTION D BELOW FOR MLB’s INFIELD FLY RULES)

  7.       Scoring – 8u there is a 6 run per inning rule except for the last inning

                             9u -15u Unlimited scoring per inning. 

8.       Sliding –NEW RULES 2013:  

The rule now states that all plays must slide into a base when there is a play to be made. (THERE IS NO MORE SLIDE TO AVAID RULE) Head first sliding is allowed at all bases for all 9u – 16u teams. .

                                                                      B.  NJYB MODIFIED PLAYING RULES:  

10.    Hit Batsmen - No specified limit per pitcher, but coaches should exercise judgment with all players’ safety being the first priority. 

11.    Intentional Walks - Permitted, although the pitcher must throw all four balls, with the catcher positioned behind home plate at least until the ball is thrown

12.    Game Length – 8u thru 10u  will play Six ( 6)  innings.

                                     11u thru 15u will play Seven ( 7)  innings 

13.    Leading and Stealing (base running) –

                   8u: Runners can only lead once the ball has crossed the plate

                   9u thru 15u: No restrictions on leading or stealing follow the MLB Rule Book and permitted by AABC and NJABC.  Runners can advance at any time at their own risk including passed balls, wild pitches, errant throws back to the pitcher or errors made during the course of attempting to throw out a base runner who is already stealing.  Stealing home is permitted.  

 14.    Substitutions (Re-Entry) – For NJABC/NJYB Spring, teams must have nine players in the field and at least nine players in the batting order throughout the duration of the game.  Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered once, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever in the lineup.  A substitute who is withdrawn may not re-enter the game.  In the event that a team cannot put nine players in the field at any point during the game, the game is stopped and considered a forfeit.  The following exceptions will be allowed during the NJYB regular season but NOT in the state tournament:   

a.            Batting Order - Teams can, if they choose, include all available players in their start-of-game batting order or bat nine in the batting order.  The decision to either include all available players or nine players must be finalized for each team (and not necessarily the same for both teams) before the start of the game.  The beginning-of-game batting order shall be followed throughout the game, except for players entering the order as substitutes.

b.           If a player shows up after the completion of the first inning he/she must be used as a substitution regardless if the Manger decided to bat his entire line up or 9 players.

Example: Away Team  decides to bat 9 players and Home Team decides to bat all of its players prior to the game starting. The game now has started and a player for team Home shows up in the middle of the first inning the manager/coach can add him to the end of his batting order only.  Now the first inning is completed and the game in in the 2^nd inning or beyond a player shows up for either team this player now becomes a substitute and the Manager / Coach will follow the substitute rule of switching players.

      c.       Substitutions – Teams that choose to include 9 in their starting batting order 1) must follow the Substitution (Re-Entry) rules described in Rule 14 above, 2) are allowed to use pinch hitters and pinch runners, but once a player starts the game or enters a spot in the batting order, they cannot bat in any other spot in the order, 3) will forfeit a game in the event that no eligible substitutes remain available to replace an ejected or injured player.  Teams that choose to include all players in their starting batting order 1) can freely make defensive substitutions for the duration of the game but the batting order must remain the same for the duration of the game, 2) will be charged an out in cases where a player that was in the original batting order is unable to play or is not at the field upon their turn to bat (no automatic out is charged to a team when it would be the last out of the game).   

c.        Pitching - A pitcher must be removed from pitching upon the second visit to the mound during an inning by his team’s manager and/or coaches.  Upon any removal of a pitcher, he may stay on or return to the field in another position, but is ineligible to pitch during the remainder of that game.  At AABC tournaments, the pitcher can return to the mound provided that the player was not taken out of the game and was not removed from pitching after the second trip to the mound by a coach. 

15.    Courtesy Runner -.  For NJYB regular season games, courtesy runner will be permitted for the pitcher and catcher when he is on base with 2 outs or, at the discretion of the umpire and managers, for an injured player on base.  The intention of a Courtesy runner is to speed the game up but a Manger does not have to use a coutesy runner.  In either case, the courtesy runner is the player who made the last out, whether as a batter or as a runner.   

16.    Dugout  -  Only the team’s players, manager, two coaches, and one scorekeeper are allowed in the dugout or dugout area and, if not on the field, players must remain in the dugout throughout the game unless temporarily allowed elsewhere by their coaches (with supervision).  Aside from 1st and 3rd base coaches, all must be in the dugout or in dead ball area during play.  Home teams have first choice of dugouts.  Managers, coaches, and players of both teams are responsible for cleaning up garbage and personal items left in their dugout area after their game. 

18.    Ground Rules - The umpire and one manager or coach from each team will discuss ground rules, any applicable curfews, and the league rules summarized in this document prior to the start of each game.  Do not assume that any umpire, even familiar ones, will know all of this league’s rules, such as fake bunts (in place for the fielders’ safety).  Have a copy of this document and the 2013 AABC Official Handbook (the “white book”) with you at each game.  During discussion of ground rules before the game, both teams’ managers and the umpire must discuss any applicable rules, such as mandatory ending time (due to subsequent games and/or town curfews) and, specifically, when any half-inning or full inning is no longer permitted to start. 

19.    Mercy Rule –

             8u- thru 10u for the Spring will use a 10 run Mercy Rule after 4 inning or 3 ½ if the home team is a head.

            11u thru 15  will follow the AABC White book and use a 8 run Mercy Rule after 5 innings or 4 ½ if the home team is a head

20.    Official Game – 8u -10u  Official game is 6 innings

                                      11u -15u    Officialgame is 7 innings                      

21.    Pitching Limits – ForSpring only we will use the following rule to ensure the safety of the players and team development      

                                    8u -10u there will be a 3 inning max per day.    

                                   11u-15u there will be a 4 inning max per day

22.     Postponements/Rainouts/Suspended Games - In the event of inclement weather, if fields are not already closed by the host town, the teams’ managers may decide to reschedule the game for a later date.  Rescheduled games must be reported to the league commissioner.  Prior to the game’s first pitch, the home team has discretion as to the playability of the field.  Afterwards, the umpire has discretion.  During any occurrence of lightning or thunder, games must be suspended and all children and adults must retreat to their cars or a nearby building until the umpire determines that playing conditions are appropriate.  Safety should always be considered first.  In the event a game is not played to completion, the two teams’ managers should decide how to proceed, if at all, and there is no requirement that the game be continued at a later date.  However, see “Official Game” (Rule 22 above) and “State Tournament Eligibility” (Rule 41 below) regarding incomplete game implications on state tournament eligibility.

 23.    Pre-Game Practice - Host teams should allow visiting teams ample time (at least 15 minutes) and space for fielding practice before the start of the game.  Visiting teams hoping to take batting and fielding practice should contact the host team in advance to confirm field availability.

24.    Shoes - Players are encouraged to wear cleats if not sneakers may be worn but not suggested

                            8u-12u Cleats must be rubber or plastic spikes

                             13u -15u Metal spikes are permitted. 

25.    Umpires - Assigned by each home team. 

      1. UMPIRES NEED TO BE CARDED –

NJYB uses RED UMPIRES  TO SCHEDULE A CARDED UMPIRE, CALL MIKE CHATMAN AT 973-461-9745.

8u -10u : 1 umpire is used and teams spilt the fees not to exceed $60

11u -15u: 2 Umpires are used and each team will play 1 umpire not to exceed $60

If no umpire arrives by game time, both managers must agree for the game to be played with a substitute umpire, in which case the game will be considered a regular season game.  Under no circumstances should the umpire be a relative of a child playing in that game.  Home team is responsible for getting the umpires but fees will be split between both teams.  

Umpires will be arranged by the  home team and both teams will split the fees.

C. OTHER RULES: 

27. Eligibility Rule ( Age Cut-Off )

May 1^st is used to determine the age cut

A play may not turn the follow age before 1 May to qualify for a specific age see cut offs below

16u May 1^st 1995 may 16 on or after May 1^st

15u May 1^st 1996 may 15 on or after May 1^st

14u May 1^st 1997 may 14 on or after May 1^st

13u May 1^st 1998 may 13 on or after May 1^st

12u May 1^st 1999 may 12 on or after May 1^st11u May 1^st 2000 may 11 on or after May 1^st

10u May 1^st 2001 may 10 on or after May 1^st

9u May 1^st 2002 may 9 on or after May 1^st

8u May 1^st 2003 may 8 on or after May 1^st

7u May 1^st 2004 may 7 on or after May 1^st.

28.  Birth Certificates/Team Rosters  -  Legible copies (not originals) of valid birth certificates and copies of team rosters must be present and in the position of the Manger

29.    Schedules – The league will have schedules posted on the web site NJYB.net    

30.    Home Team - Established by the schedule distributed by the league commissioner prior to the season, regardless of the eventual site of the game.  The home team is responsible (i) for timely distribution of directions to their field, (ii) for the field’s condition, (iii) to supply umpires, and (iv) to supply at least two new baseballs.  Home teams are also responsible for notifying visiting teams in advance of any unusual circumstances regarding their fields (e.g., the absence of nearby bathrooms, grandstands, etc.). DIRECTIONS TO YOUR FIELDS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE LEAGUE COMMISSIONER (IF THEY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR) SO THAT THEY CAN BE POSTED TO THE WEBSITE. 

31.   Expenses - During the regular season home teams supply baseballs and umpires( umpires fees are split). . 

32.    Game Scores / Website - Retained strictly by each team’s scorekeeper.  The winning team is responsible for reporting the game results.  Game results should be reported by email to newjerseyyouthbaseball@yahoo.com or texted to 201-674-4533

 33.    Standings – Standings will be maintained during the regular season.  The top 4 teams will qualify for the NJYB Spring Play-offs. The Play-offs will be a single elimination tournament

34.  Insurance - Teams must provide insurance coverage for all of its players.  Copies (not originals) of confirmation of team insurance coverage must be provided prior to participation in first scheduled game

34. Rosters - Rosters must be submitted prior to their first game and a team may have up to 18  players on their roster.  . Rosters will be submitted will all players information and players signatures to the league director prior to the first game 

 35.    Point System used for Standings

The NJYB point system used to determine the standings was designed to ensure all teams keep their obligation to maintaining their schedules

In the event of weather or any unforeseen situation the NJYB Director may see fit to waive taking away points for games not played..

36. NJYB INJURY RULE :

           A)  If a Coach decides to bat only 9 players and a player literally gets hurt and cannot continue and the Coach has used all his substitution players available the Coach may re-insert a sub so the game does not end on forfeit. 

           B) If a Coaches decides to bat all his available players and a player literally gets hurt the players spot in the lineup will be skipped over and not recorded as a out

37. Player Ejection Rule:

           A) If a coach used all his players and a player is ejected and the team has no more subs that team will forfeit regardless of the score. .

         B) If a Coach choses to bat all his players and a player is EJECTED each time that spot come up it will be recorded as an OUT

38.  If a team forfeits' a game: If a Team cancels a game with 24 hours prior to their scheduled game time or fails to show up that Team will forfeit the game and be responsible for paying the umpire fees. The forfeiting team will have 24 hours to arraign payment to the umpires. No game will be played or counted towards standings until the fees are paid.   

ADDENDUM – CERTAIN IMPORTANT MAJOR LEAGUE RULES 

Balk – (Rule 5.09) – The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base when a balk is committed.  (Rule 8.05) – If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when (a) the pitcher while touching his plate (rubber), makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery; (b) the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints (fakes) a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw; (c) the pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base; (d) the pitcher, while touching his plate, throw or feints (fakes) a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play; (e) the pitcher makes an illegal pitch; (f) the pitcher delivers the ball to the batter while not facing the batter; (g) the pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate; (h) the pitcher unnecessarily delays the game, (i) the pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher’s plate or, while off the plate, he feints (fakes) a pitch, (j) the pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch or in throwing to a base; (k) the pitcher, while touching his plate, accidentally or intentionally drops the ball; (l) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher’s box; (m) the pitcher delivers the pitch from the Set Position without coming to a stop. 

Infield Fly Rule - (Rule 2.00) – An Infield Fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) , which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third 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.  When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners.  If the ball is near the base lines, the umpire should declare “Infield Fly, if fair.  The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on a fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any fly ball. Rule 6.05 (e) -.The batter is out when an Infield Fly is declared.  Rule 6.05 (l) – The batter is out when an infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and second and third base occupied before two are out.  The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original bases.  In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly rule applies. 

Offensive Interference – (Rule 2.00) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.  If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference unless otherwise provided by these rules. Rule 6.05(m) - A preceding runner , in the umpire’s judgment, intentionally interferes with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play (for double plays at second).  Rule 7.08 (b) – Any runner is out when he intentionally interferes with a thrown ball or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball.  Rule 7.09 – It is interference by a batter or a runner when a) after a third strike he hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball, b) he intentionally deflects the course of a foul ball in any manner, c) before two are out, with a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder in making a play at home, the runner is out, d) any member or members of the offensive team stand or gather around any base to which a runner is advancing to confuse, hinder or add to the difficulty of the fielders.  Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate or teammates, e) any batter or runner who has just been put out hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner.  Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate, f) if, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent of breaking up a double play, the ball is dead.  The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call the batter-runner out because of the action of his teammate.  In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action of a runner, g) if, in the judgment of the umpire, a batter-runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent of breaking up a double play, the ball is dead; the umpire shall call the batter-runner out for interference and shall also call the runner who had Advanced closest to the home plate regardless where the double play might have been possible. In no event may bases be run because of such interference, h) in the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving first base or third base, i) with a runner on third base, the base coach leaves his box and acts in any manner to draw a throw by a fielder, j) in running the last half of the distance from home base to the first base while the ball is being fielded to the first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the 3 ft line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line and, in the umpire’s judgment, interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base or attempting to field a batted ball, k) he fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball, provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming into contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball, (l) a fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder.  If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball.  In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball.  If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed the play, then the runner shall be called out for interference.  PENALLY FOR INTERFERENCE: the runner is out and the ball is dead.   

Obstruction – Rule 7.06 – when obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal “Obstruction”.  A) If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire’s judgment, if there had been no obstruction.  The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction.  Any preceding runners, forced to advance by the award of bases as the penalty for obstruction, shall advance without liability to be put out, b) if no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the play shall proceed until no further action is possible.  The umpire shall then call time and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction. (Rule 7.06(b) – when the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner advances beyond the base which, in the umpire’s judgment, he would have been awarded because of being obstructed, he does so at his own peril and may be tagged out.  This is a judgment call.  NOTE: the catcher, without the ball in his possession has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner, and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding or when he already has the ball in his hand.