Spring 2022 Minor 9-10U Rules
- Game Rules
- General
- We are Playing Real Baseball. We play based on Babe Ruth League Rules.
- We are Playing to Win.
- You should use the Regular Season to move players around and try out different Pitchers.
- Always Slide into Home ANYTIME there is a potential play. NO HEAD FIRST SLIDES INTO HOME. This will be an out with no warnings given.
- Any baserunner who intentionally collides with the Catcher will be automatically out.
- Batters need to get out of Batter’s Box when there is a Passed Ball with a runner on 3rd.
- Anyone under 18 coaching bases must wear a helmet.
- On deck circle to be used is the one behind the batter. If the batter is right handed, on deck batter uses 3rd base on deck circle. If batter is left handed, on deck batter uses 1st base on deck circle.
- Only coaches should address the umpires regarding rules and/or violations. If a parent witnesses a rules violation, please bring it to your coach’s attention so that they may discuss it with the umpire.
- Bats
- Bat Diameter Maximum is 2 5/8”
- Bat must be Stamped USA
- Babe Ruth USA Bat Rules
- Lineups
- All Players Bat
- Only 10 Players in the Field at a time
- First and Last name MUST be in Scorebook
- Pitching
- Maximum of 2 innings or 50 Pitches in one game.
- Maximum of 40 pitches to pitch the Following Day. You can throw 40 or fewer pitches on Thursday, and still pitch again on Friday.
- Spikes players are only allowed to pitch a combined 6 outs per game.
- Spikes players pitching days will be determined by their Spikes coach and their parent. This may be different for 9U Spikes and 10U Spikes. Parent has final say.
- Stealing Bases
- Once pitched ball crosses the plate, runners can advance.
- NO LEADING OFF.
- Home CAN NOT be stolen except on a passed ball. This includes the throwback to the pitcher. If the ball passes the pitcher, a runner on third can attempt to steal home. Any attempt to circumvent this rule by the fielding team will result in one warning, and then the runner being awarded home plate on subsequent offenses. This includes rolling the ball back to the pitcher, or other such attempts. The runner on third may advance if the catcher or pitcher throws the ball to any other base as well.
- Speed of Game
- Replace Catcher as Base Runner when there are 2 Outs. This is to speed up catcher getting ready. If you choose not to replace them because they are a fast runner, have a coach ready to warm up the pitcher, and someone in the dugout ready to help the catcher get into their equipment.
- Batters should always have one foot in the Batter’s Box.
- Please only give hitting instructions when a batter is on deck or in between innings.
- Team Managers
- Scoreboard
- Home Team is responsible for running scoreboard if we end up doing so.
- Scorebook
- Both Teams must keep the Scorebook. First and Last Names must be entered as their given name, and not nicknames or middle name if that’s what they go by.
- This is absolutely necessary for participation in the Cal Ripken tournament.
- Game Times
- Days to be determined based on number of teams in league. This rule page will be updated to reflect those days at that time. They will be some combination of Monday/Wednesday/Friday.
- 6:05pm Games
- First Pitch is at 6:05, but please tell Parents in All Communications that they should be there by 5:45 to properly warm-up.
- Each game will be 4 innings. Because this is a learning league, the home team will get to bat in the bottom of the 4th whether they are winning or not, and if they are losing, whether they can catch up or not. If game is tied at the end of 4 innings, it will end in a tie.
- Five (5) run limit per inning, all innings.