Updated

04/03/2024

We will follow all rules as defined in the Babe Ruth League Inc. Baseball Rules and Regulations. MSYBA is allowed under League regulations to modify or change rules to accommodate recreational league play.

MANAGERS AND COACHES
1. All managers must take the Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way Training Course. We request that assistant coaches (at least two per team) take the course.

1. https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/babe-ruth-league

2. Adults who have been fingerprinted or scheduled to be fingerprinted are the only people permitted to be on the field, in the dugouts or batting cages during practices and games.
3. One manager or coach must stay at the field/snack stand area until the snack stand is closed. This is for protection of our team moms and parents’ auxiliary that work to close the snack stand each night. It is usually dark when they finish so, please stay to ensure their safety.
4. In the event of inclement weather, the Field and Safety Manager will make the call if games are cancelled. This is the only person able to make the decision. This will be communicated to the division rep, and the division rep will then communicate to the other coaches. Once games are postponed, a new date and time will be assigned.
5. Games cannot be cancelled for reasons other than inclement weather unless the cancellation is approved by the MSYBA board.

TEAM ROSTER

1. Teams will field nine (9) players.
2. A team can play with eight players. The ninth batter in the lineup will be an automatic out. Players arriving late may be inserted at the end of the lineup without penalty. Forfeiture will result if only seven players are available.
3. Call-ups provides an option to the managers to ensure a complete team of nine (9) or more players and provide a learning experience for interested players preparing to move up to the next level. Managers must call the Rookie Division Rep when in need of a call-up player. The Rookie Division Rep will assign player(s) for the game.
4. Teams must bat their full roster in rotation.
5. Every player on a team roster must play minimum of 3 innings in the field.

HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS

1. One Umpire per game will be provided by the MSYBA.
2. Each team must provide at least one ball per game.
3. Winning team must e-mail, text or call-in game results to your division representative.
4. Minor division games will mainly be played at Nolan Field.
5. The home team will take the lead on the pre-game set-up (i.e., lining the field, raking). Both teams must share in the clean-up following the game (i.e., raking, filling the holes in infield and pitcher's mound, putting away the bases, closing all gates and removing all trash).

DEFINITION OF A GAME

1. A game will be comprised of six (6) innings unless the following occurs:
   1. A game is terminated, and 4 innings have been played (3 1/2 innings if the home team is leading)
   2. A game is terminated by the game time limit rule which is: a new inning may not begin after 1 hours and 45 minutes from the official start time which will be announced and monitored by the game umpire. The start of a new inning, for the purpose of this 1 hours and 45-minute rule, is defined as the last out of the previous inning. Therefore, if the last out of an inning is recorded before the 1 hours and 45-minute mark, the next inning is to be played although the first pitch of the new inning may not be delivered until after the 1 hours 45-minute mark.
2. A five-run maximum runs scored per inning is in place except for the 6th inning where unlimited runs can be scored. The 6th inning only is your unlimited inning.
3. 12 run Mercy Rule is in effect after four (4) innings (3 1/2 if the home team is leading). Coaches may elect to continue the game, but the prior results will stand. All pitching rules will be in effect for completed game.
4. Games that are suspended prior to one of these occurrences due to weather or darkness will be rescheduled and will resume at the point of suspension. Darkness will be determined by the umpire.
5. Games that are called before it has become a regulation game, but after 1 or more innings are played shall be resumed exactly where it has been left off.
6. A game that is called during an incomplete inning, however, it is long enough to be an official game goes back to the last fully completed inning unless home team is leading.
   
   

PITCH COUNT

1. Pitchers are regulated to 2 innings per game. No exceptions.
2. 10-year-old pitchers are held to a combined 3 innings.
3. Once a pitcher is removed, the pitcher may not pitch again in the same game.
4. An 8-year-old must pitch in each game prior to the 4th inning. They must pitch to at least 4 batters or one complete inning.
5. If a pitcher is taken out during warm up pitches before the inning is started, pitcher will not be charged an inning.
6. A manager may come out once in one inning to visit the pitcher. If the manager comes out a second time in same one inning, then the pitcher must be removed, this does not include an 8-year-old.
7. A manager may come out two times in a game to visit the same pitcher, but the third time the pitcher must be removed.
8. A pitcher that has hit three batters in one game must be removed.
9. A game that was called in one week and rescheduled to resume in the middle of the game a pitcher can pitch whatever allotted innings the pitcher has left in that new week, based on the rules above. However, a pitcher that was removed in the original game may not come back and pitch in the rescheduled game.
10. Pitcher may wear a batting glove on the non-pitching hand under the glove provided the batting glove is not white, grey, or yellow. No sweatbands allowed on wrists. No long white sleeve shirt under pitcher's jersey is allowed. No sunglasses allowed, except for prescription sunglasses.
11. All teams are required to maintain appropriate records to support pitcher's eligibility as described above.
12. No balks shall be called.

BATTING

1. All players will bat in continuous lineup.
2. A batter shall be called out when failing to bat in his/her proper turn, on appeal. Note: A batter batting out of turn can step out of the batter's box any time in the count to let the proper batter bat. The proper batter will assume the count at that time. See Babe Ruth League, Inc. Rules (6.07 BATTING OUT OF TURN).
3. A batter who leaves the game due to injury will be skipped in the lineup without penalty if there are nine players remaining in the lineup.
4. Throwing the bat after two warnings will constitute an out by the batter. Runs will score based on the outcome of the hit unless it is a 3^rd out. Note: If a batter hits a player or umpire prior to his final warning, the batter may be called out at the discretion of the umpire.

BASE RUNNING

1. Stealing of all bases is legal once the ball crosses the plate.
2. Runners must either slide or veer into 2nd, 3rd, or home if a play is imminent. Failure to do so will result in, at the umpire's discretion, an out call and possible ejection from the game.
3. When a base runner leaves a base before the ball crosses home plate and the batter does not hit the ball, runner can continue. If that runner is tagged out, the out stands. If the runner reaches base safely, the runner must go back to the original base.
4. In the same scenario above and the batter hits the ball, the play is live. If the offending runner is out the play stands. If the runner is safe, all base runners must go back one base. If first base is occupied the that offending runner will be called out. No runners will be allowed to score if an offending runner left the base early. For example: If bases are loaded, the 2nd base runner leaves the bag early and the batter hits the ball to score two runs, none of the runs scored. The players that have crossed the plate will not count as runs and will not count as outs. All other players will stay on base.
5. If a runner misses home plate and makes no attempt to come back to home plate before getting into the dugout that runner forfeits the chance to tag home plate and the catcher can appeal for an out at home plate.
6. If a runner passes another runner in going around the bases that runner will be called out.
7. If two runners occupy the same base the trailing runner can be tagged out. The preceding runner is entitled to the base.
8. Stealing home is prohibited until April 22^nd. Steal definition: runner takes off from 3rd prior to the pitch or on a pass ball/wild pitch. Runners may advance to each base but not to home. This changes after the April 22^nd date. Overthrows to the pitcher, runners may not advance till April 22^nd date.
9. Pass balls and overthrows, runners may go, except for the runner on 3rd base, rule opens on April 22^nd.
10. No delayed steals.
11. Time may be called by the umpire or defensive team once the lead runner stops at any base. Intent here is to discourage the cat and mouse game at 3rd base and speed up the games.
    
    

FIELDING

1. Infield fly rule is not in affect. Drop third strike is not in effect.
2. If the catcher hits the batter’s bat with his/her glove during a pitch, the batter will be awarded the base for interference and runners on base will advance one base.
3. Obstruction is the act of interfering with a runner without having the ball in one's possession. If a defensive player blocks the base or baseline clearly without possession of the ball obstruction shall be called. Penalty is one extra base awarded to the runner.
4. A fielder cannot use his cap, hat, mask, etc. to field the ball. The runner will be awarded a base if this happens.

CONDUCT

1. See the parent code of conduct, constitution, and by-laws of the Maple Shade Baseball Association.
2. Any issues on the field should be immediately reported to the division rep and a board member to be discussed within 24 hours of the infraction.
3. Managers, coaches, and parents ejected from a game must leave the premises.

DETERMINING THE STANDINGS AND WINNER AT THE END OF THE SEASON

1. Two points for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for loss.
2. In the event of a tie, the first tie breaker will be head-to-head, then average runs allowed per game, tie breaker is a coin flip. In the case of a forfeit (e.g., a team does not show up), the winner will be credited a win with the final score of 5-0.
3. Playoffs and Championship games format will be determined by the board prior to the end of the regular season.
4. Rules for Playoffs and Championship games may differ from the above rules.

NEW BAT RULES

1. USA BASEBALL marked bats only!
2. Wood bats are allowed if the USA mark is there.
3. NO BBCOR BATS

PENALTY

1. If the illegal bat is discovered prior to a batter completing his "at bat" the bat is simply removed from play and the "at bat" continues. A player who uses an illegal bat or non-conforming barrel dimension and hits a fair ball will be ruled out. No advancement on the bases will be allowed, and any outs during the play shall stand. This is an appeal play. The "at bat" will be considered legal once a pitch is thrown to the next batter.
2. Any bat discovered prior to the game that does not conform to the above rule shall be directed to be removed immediately and not be allowed for use during the game.

Please, have fun and remember, this is for OUR KIDS not us!!!!!