A League is 6, 7 and 8 year olds

FOX CHAPEL AREA ATHLETIC ALLIANCE

FCAAA

2010

“A” DIVISION BASEBALL RULES

(6, 7 AND 8 YEAR OLDS)

Any player eligible for “A” Division can play in the next higher division.  Playing up a division is at the sole discretion of the manager, except for 9 year old players who’s parents require their child to play in “A” Division.  Such a request will be brought before the FCAAA for a Decision.  The main criterion will be safety of the player.   An 8 year old player may be on the roster in both the 9 and 10 year old league and in the 6, 7 and 8 year old league.  The player must be on the roster on both teams and play for both teams.  This rule does not affect the ability of “AA” teams to call up 8 year old players in emergencies when the “AA” team does not have enough players (less than nine) to field a team.  This applies only to 8 year olds.   All rules must be followed.  Failure to follow these rules could result in forfeiture of a game.

Official Little League rules apply with the following exceptions:

1.            Eleven players on the field - five of these players must be in the outfield in the form of an arc.  No rover allowed.  An outfielder is not allowed to make a direct put out at a base.  He/she must throw the ball to an infielder who then makes the attempted put out.

2.            Nine players are the minimum number players a team can have in order to play a game.  If a team has twelve players ready to play, all twelve can play.  If a team has 13 or more players, rule #1 applies.

3.            Player must play at least 3 innings per game in the field.  Coaches are encouraged to give each player as much varied and appropriate experience as possible.

4.            All players on a team will bat in a continuous order in each game.  The Manager should select the batting order for the team for each game.  Players arriving after start of game must be added to the end of the batting order.  The Manager must keep a batting order and an inning score for the purposes of establishing when five runs have scored.  The Manager, however, does not have to keep the opposing team’s lineup or formal score book.

5.            Umpires will be provided by the home team’s organization, i.e. volunteers, Pony League players, etc.

6.            Managers or coaches will pitch to their own team.  Pitching does not have to be from the pitching mound.

7.            There will be a limit of ten pitches per batter.  If the batter does not hit the ball, the next batter will bat and an out is declared (no walks permitted).  If the ball is fouled on the tenth pitch, then the batter gets another pitch.  It is important that coaches and managers respect and enforce this rule to keep each game fair and moving. At the option of the pitching team, a T may be brought out so that every child can hit the ball.

8.            Player must stay on base until ball is hit by the batter.

9.            Stealing is not permitted.

10.            Managers and/or coaches of the defensive team are permitted on field at any and all times.

11.            The player who is playing the defensive position of pitcher is not permitted to stand any closer than the adult pitcher.  Fielders must stay behind the pitcher’s mound until the ball is hit.

12.            The game shall terminate at the end of 6 innings.

13.            There is a 5 run rule.  This means the inning is over once the batting team reaches 5 runs (even if the team has no outs at the time).  This rule applies even in the 6th inning.  If home team is behind by more than 5 runs, and conditions allow for continuation of play, then the home team shall bat in the 6th inning (5 run rule still applies).

14.            Bunting is not allowed.

15.            By March 1^st, registrants for each organization should be submitted to the FCAAA Secretary for insurance purposes by age category per organization. By April 1^st, team rosters should be submitted to the FCAAA.  Any changes thereafter must come before the Board.

16.            Managers may reschedule and play rainouts with joint agreement.  It is not mandatory to make up rainouts.

17.            The home team is responsible for tying down the bases and putting hash marks half way between the bases.  These hash marks are to determine when the base runner(s) may advance to the next base on a throw back to the infield.  The base runner must return to the prior base if he/she has not passed the hash mark when the thrown ball crosses the imaginary line between the bases.

18.            A team can have a minimum of 10 players on their roster.  Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Board.

19.            Game starting time will be 6:15 PM.  Home team manager makes decision as to rainout prior to the game by no later than 4:30 pm unless rain begins after 4:30 pm he is responsible for calling the other manager.  If the game is not called by 4:30 pm and telephone contact cannot be made, then both managers must appear at the field with a playing team.  Once the game is commenced, it should be called for weather or darkness by the home team manager.

20.            On an errant throw by an infielder or a subsequent errant play by the receiving infielder that travels beyond the field of play, no base runner (including the batter) may advance beyond the base to which he is going.  The ball is dead when it eludes the receiving infielder and travels beyond the field of play.

21.            Any manager or coach involved in oral arguments and/or fighting during or after a game will be subject to discipline by the Board on a case-by-case basis.

22.            The game should not be delayed while the catcher is putting on his equipment.  A coach for the fielding team shall catch until the catcher is ready to do so.

23.            Umpires have the right to remove unruly spectators from the game, interpreted as “the sight and sound of the field.”   Failure to leave in a timely manner may result in forfeiture of the game by the spectator’s team.

PHILOSOPHY: “A” Division is a developmental, instructional division and the rules should encourage the fielding player to attempt the proper throw.  The Board would like to eliminate children circling the bases on multiple overthrows and to eliminate coaches and   parents arguing about what defines the infield and about how many bases are awarded an overthrow.

EXAMPLE 1:

NO ONE ON BASE

Ball is hit to the shortstop who fields it cleanly and throws to first.  The ball hits the first baseman’s glove and rolls down the first base line.  Per Rule 20, the ball is dead and the runner stays at first.

EXAMPLE 2:

RUNNERS ON FIRST AND SECOND

Ball hit to the shortstop who cleanly fields it and throws to third.  The ball goes over the third baseman’s head and rolls out of play.  Per Rule 20, the ball is dead and the runners must stay at third, second and first.

EXAMPLE 3:

RUNNERS ON FIRST

Ball hit hard to the third baseman.  Ball goes through his legs into left field.  Play continues; Rule 20 does not apply because the ball was not fielded by the infielder.  The left fielder chases down the ball and throws to the shortstop in shallow left field.  The runner from first is rounding third.  The shortstop throws to the pitcher.  If the runner is             beyond the hash mark between third and home when the shortstop’s throw passes an imaginary line connecting second and third, the runner may advance to home per Rule 17.