Home team is responsible for making sure the field is ready to play, such as getting equipment from shed, setting up pitching machine and bases
Visiting Team is responsible for putting away the above mentioned and dragging the field (unless a scheduled practice immediately follows)... please put equipment in the plastic barrels inside the shed - to prevent mouse damage
Games are 3 or 4 innings with a 1 hour 15 minute time limit. Play the 4th inning if both coaches agree and time allows
For the development of all players, rotate players to play all defensive positions throughout the course of the season. Keep records
Standard defensive positions is for 10 players in the field - all infield positions including pitcher and 4 outfielders
If you have more than 10 players at the game, rotate bench players
If you have 11 players, you have the option of playing 5 outfielders or allowing 1 player to rest
If you have 9 players, play all infield positions and 3 outfielders
If you have 8 players, play without a pitcher and with 3 outfielders
If you have 7 players, play without a pitcher and with 2 outfielders
Players should play in standard defensive alignment to learn proper positioning - no shifts or overloads
All players bat each inning
One batter in the on deck circle
Players should take practice swings on deck only, no swinging in or around dugout
Each batter will be allowed 6 pitches to put the ball in play
April/May/June exception to allow batter to keep batting if fouls off 6th pitch
No bunting
Last batter should stop at the appropriate base as if there are still batters coming to the plate afterwards, do not allow the batter to run all the way around to home.
Batted ball that hits the pitching machine or a coach is a dead ball, batter is awarded first base, advance runners one base
Thrown ball that hits the pitching machine or a coach is a dead ball, batter and runners are awarded next base
If a batter or runner is out on a play, they should return to the bench
No dropped 3rd strike rule
No lead offs or stealing
No advancement of bases on over thrown balls
No advancement of bases once the ball is in the infield area.
Batting team's coach will feed the pitching machine
Coaches are encouraged to be in the field on defense
Please clean up your dugouts after the games
Hold after game wrap ups outside the dugouts, to allow the next teams to get ready.
June Rules
All rules remain from previous rules with the following changes:
If defensive team gets 3 outs, clear runners from the bases
Continue to have all players bat each inning
Runners are allowed to take 1 extra base on an overthrow
This is on an overthrow only. It does not constitute permission to allow runners to take an extra base whenever possible.
On an outfield hit, players should stop advancing once ball is in the possession of an infielder. If base runner has not rounded a base then NO advancement to the next base can occur. If already rounding the base before throw occurs then advancement to the next base is allowed.
Clarification: If the outfielder is holding the ball, runners can continue to run until the ball is actually thrown. Runners should advance to the next base while the ball is in the air. If the fielding team makes a throw to a base attempting to throw out the runner, then overthrow rule applies. But the expectation is that coaches should understand and be able to gage whether or not the throw was an actual attempt to throw out the runner as opposed to just a throw into the infield. We don't want people taking extra bases just because outfielders' arms aren't that strong. Again, the reason for this is to teach smart base running skills.
During the month of June, start trying to coach defense from the dugout. It doesn't have to be the first week, but the goal is to have defensive coaches off the field entirely by the end of June.
July Rules
All rules remain from previous rules with the following changes:
Score will be kept
Maximum of 5 runs per inning for 1st 4 innings
Maximum of 10 runs for the 5th inning
Time limits still apply, 5th inning not guaranteed
If time limit is a factor, both coaches must agree the 4th inning will be final inning prior to beginning the 4th inning
If agreed, then 10 run maximum will apply to 4th inning
Any inning in which 10 run maximum agreed to will be final inning
There will be no extra innings for non-tournament play
6 pitches per batter (if the ball is not put in play after 6 pitches or the 6th pitch is hit foul, the batter is ruled out)
After 3 outs, half inning is over & teams switch regardless of number of batters
Play does not end until ball is in possession of an infielder who is physically in the infield
Runners may advance to next base if between bases
Same overthrow rules apply
Defensive coaches should be in the dugout
Maximum of 10 players playing defensive positions (infield positions +4 outfielders)
Tournament Rules
Umpires: They wear no gear, need no baseballs and do not call balls & strikes. They will feed the machine, call safe or out and fair or foul. The umpires have obviously not been doing Pinto games, so keep that in mind when interacting with them.
These are the rules provided to both coaches and umpires:
The ump feeding the machine should call home & third and left side foul line. The other ump should call first & second and right side foul line
5 innings - 75 minute time limit (No new inning shall start after 75 minutes)
10 run rule after 4 innings
If team is ahead by 10 runs or more after 4 innings, game is over
3 outs or 5 run max per inning
If extra innings are required, there is a 5 run maximum for all subsequent innings after the designated final inning
6 pitches per batter (if the ball is not put in play after 6 pitches or the 6th pitch is hit foul, the batter is ruled out)
If extra innings are required, there is a 3 pitch maximum
No bunting
No base stealing or lead offs
One base on overthrow, however multiple overthrows can allow more bases - (if overthrown 1st baseman tries to throw runner out at 2nd & overthrows 2nd, runner can advance to 3rd)
No Infield Fly rule
Play ends when ball is in possession of an infielder who is physically in the infield and not attempting to make additional plays on base runners
Runners may advance to next base if between bases
Same overthrow rules apply
Dead Ball if it hits machine, all base runners advance one base
No pitch if machine malfunctions
As determined by umpire only (e.g., ball bounces before the plate)
Make sure each ball used is pitching machine baseball, no real baseballs. When feeding pitching machine, hold the ball above the machine for 1 second to show the batter, then lower the ball & drop in.
There will be no charged out for short lineups.
If a team uses less than 10 players, these rules apply on which positions should be left vacant:
If 9 players, play all infield positions and 3 outfielders
If 8 players, play without a pitcher and with 3 outfielders
If 7 players, play without a pitcher and with 2 outfielders
If 6 players, play without a pitcher and with 1 outfielder
Standard fielding player positioning applies, no shifts or overloads
Maximum of 10 players playing defensive positions (infield positions +4 outfielders)
