TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Organization Partners

II. League Responsibilities

III. Player Eligibility Requirements

IV. General Conduct

V. Shortened, Rainout, or Postponed Games

VI. Substitution Rules

VII. Umpires

VIII. General League Rules

AGE SPECIFIC RULES

IX. 5-6 year old T-ball

X. 7-8 year old baseball

XI. 9-10 year old baseball

XII. 11-12 year old baseball

XIII. 13-14 year old baseball

XIV. 15-18 year old baseball

XV. 7-8 year old softball

XVI. 9-10 year old softball

XVII. 11-12 year old softball

XVIII. 13-14 year old softball

XIX. 15-18 year old softball

XX. Misconduct Policy

Coach, Player, Spectator Ejection Policy

Review/Protest/Rule Interpretation committee

Protests

Protest Form

Players, Parents, and Coaches Code of Conduct

XXI. Official Team Information

Medical Authorization Form

VI. SUBSTITUTION RULES

The following substitution options may be available to a coach, depending upon the division in which his or her team is playing. If the coach has an option, the coach must declare the option under which they are playing to the plate umpire prior to the commencement of the game as well as to the official score keeper. Once the coach announces the option and play commences, that team must continue to play the entire game under that option.

FREE DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION AND BATTING THE ROSTER

Each coach may substitute at the beginning of each half inning, any of his or her defensive players. That is any field position can be changed without having to report to the umpire. This does not mean that there will be changes in the batting order, once it has been given to the umpire. This rule does not apply to relief pitchers. It is recommended that no player shall remain on the bench for more than one defensive inning at a time.

An offensive player can only be substituted for due to injury or illness. If the player is removed from an offensive position for any injury or illness, he or she must sit out the remainder of the game. If the player is removed for injury or illness, no out will be credited when the player's name comes up in the batting order again, but they can not participate for the remainder of the game.

RE-ENTRY RULE

Any of the starting players may be withdrawn from a game and re-enter once and only once, including a player who was the designated hitter, provided such player occupies the same batting position when re-entering the line-up. A substitute who is withdrawn from the game may not re-enter. In the case of an injury to a runner, and there are no eligible substitutes left on the bench, the coach may use any player on the bench, but this player may not go into the field after the inning is over.

DESIGNATED HITTER

A designated hitter (DH) may be used for the pitcher's batting position only. The pitcher's position can be listed as the DH in the starting line-up. A DH, if used, must be selected prior to the start of the game and his name must be included on the line-up cards given to the umpires and official scorer. Failure to declare a DH precludes the use of a DH in that game. If a pinch hitter or pinch runner is used for the DH, that player becomes the new DH. The player who was the DH may re-enter as the DH under the re-entry rule. The role of the DH is terminated for the remainder of the game when the DH assumes a defensive position.

VII. UMPIRES

The home plate umpire will be the chief umpire. Umpires will be in complete charge of the game, and all rulings made by them will be final unless protested.

The recommended minimum age of the umpires (both plate and field) for each age division shall be as follows:

• 7-8 baseball and softball 13 years old
• 9-10, 11-12 baseball and softball 14 years old
• 13-14 baseball and softball 16 years old
• 15-16 baseball and softball 18 years old

Umpires will be provided by the league. When possible, a third umpire should be used for those age groups over 13 years old. Playoff umpires will be determined by the Umpire Coordinator.

The chief umpire will notify each head coach of the official starting time.

VIII. GENERAL LEAGUE RULES

The Northeast Baseball and Softball Association's league and tournament activities will generally be governed by current NBC rules for baseball and ASA rules for fast pitch softball with modifications contained herein.

Once schedules have been published, no changes can be made without the consent of the Age Division representatives, upon notification by the League Secretary.

PENALTY: FORFEITURE BY BOTH TEAMS.

Trophies will be awarded in three (3) places for all age groups.

The Board shall select a type of baseball and softball for use in league games. These types of balls shall be used for all league games. The following types of baseballs and softballs are the official balls recognized by the Northeast Baseball and Softball Association and must be used in all league games:

BASEBALLS

5-6 year old T-ball

7-8 year old baseball. RIF level 10 (any manufacture)

9-10 year old baseball High School Specifications (any manufacture)

11-12 year old baseball High School Specifications (any manufacture)

13-14 year old baseball High School Specifications (any manufacture)

15-18 year old baseball. High School Specifications (any manufacture)

SOFTBALLS

7-8 year old softball. RIF level 10-11" optic yellow softball (any manufacture)

9-10 year old softball. ASA approved .47 core 12"optic yellow (any manufacture)

11-12 year old softball. ASA approved .47 core 12"optic yellow (any manufacture)

13-14 year old softball. ASA approved .47 core 12"optic yellow (any manufacture)

15-18 year old softball. ASA approved .47 core 12"optic yellow (any manufacture)

Baseball bats are not allowed to be used in softball games and softball bats are not allowed to be used in baseball games. T-ball bats will be permitted in any baseball and softball game. T-ball bats are defined to include all baseball bats identified by the manufacturer as T-ball bats as well as those baseball bats known as bottle barrel bats (those bats which have an unchanging bat diameter for the majority length of the barrel).

PITCH COUNTS

Pitch counts are used to maintain a minimum safety measure for the league's pitchers.  Excessive use along with improper mechanical technique have been shown to be the primary causes for injury.  Pitchers are subject to limitations based upon their age and the number of pitches allowed per game.

• 9-10 Baseball.........................................65 pitches
• 11-12 Baseball.......................................75 pitches
• 13-14 Baseball.......................................85 pitches
• 15-18 Baseball.......................................95 pitches

The official pitch count is an accumulation of ALL pitches thrown to a batter.  Balls, strikes, foul tips, and pitched balls put into play MUST BE COUNTED.  The official game scorer (home team) is responsible for the count though each team may maintain a count for safety purposes.  Pitchers in excess of their allowed pitch count must be removed from the game.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Catchers - full catchers helmet (no skullcaps are allowed), facemask with throat protector, chest protector and shin guards (a protective cup is recommended).

Batters - Batting helmet, Bat shall be limited to no more than 2 ¾ inches in diameter at the thickest point on the barrel. 

BEGINNING 2011 SEASON

Bat length to weight differential, normally referred to as the "drop" should not exceed

• -13 for ages ten and under (-9 RECOMMENDED)
• -11 for twelve and under (-7 RECOMMENDED)
• -9 for 14 under baseball (-5 RECOMMENDED) 
• High school ages 15-18 will play with National High School Federation requirements of -3.  Bats identified as not compliant with the recommended drop ratio can be removed from the game.

Base runners - Batting helmet. Metal spikes allowed in 13 yr old baseball and above.

On-deck Batter - Batting helmet

Plate Umpire - Facemask with throat protector, chest protector and shin guards (a protective cup is recommended.)

Softball:

Catchers - full catchers helmet (no skullcaps are allowed), facemask with throat protector, chest protector and shin guards (a protective cup is recommended.)

Batters - Batting helmet with facemask

Base runners - Batting helmet with facemask

On-deck Batter - Batting helmet with facemask

Plate Umpire - Facemask with throat protector, chest protector and shin guards (a protective cup is recommended.)

PRE GAME INFIELD PRACTICE SCHEDULE

25 minutes prior to scheduled start time. Visitors infield practice

15 minutes prior to scheduled start time. Home team infield practice

5 minutes prior to schedule start time. Umpires\Coaches meeting

Teams to follow will be allowed infield practice with Visitors immediately taking the infield for ten minutes followed by Home Team for ten minutes at completion of the previous game.

All score books will be signed by the chief umpire after the game

Both coaches will meet with the chief umpire at home plate to go over ground rules, and exchange lineups.

The WINNING coach will be required to email/call the score of the game in to league officials by midnight the day following the game, or it will be recorded as a LOSS for both teams. This does not remove the responsibility of the Home Coach calling the postponements or rainouts.

Approved headgear must be worn at all times by all offensive players, outside of the dugout.

All players must have numbers on their shirts or uniform tops. No two players shall have the same number.

Each team may have only one offensive conference per inning. Umpires will caution the coach if a second one is called for and if the coach persists, the umpire may eject the coach from the game. Injury time-outs are not to be confused with offensive conferences.

A pitcher removed from that position for a relief pitcher might return to pitch again as long as it is in a different inning. It may not violate the substitution rule.

Any pitcher who hits 3 players during a game will be removed from the pitching position and cannot return to pitch again during that game. The official scorekeeper is to notify the umpire when three players have been hit by the same pitcher.

Six (6) warm-up pitches or 90 seconds between innings. 7-8 year old baseball and softball have 120 seconds.

No equipment shall be left on the playing field during the game (including foul territory).

The starting time must be noted in each score book at the direction of the chief umpire

All ages, pitchers must throw four intentional balls to walk a batter.

Steal cleats are not allowed in any age groups before age 13.

CRASH RULE

A fielder must be in possession of the ball to block a base.

A base runner must slide (a base runner may make contact with a fielder as a "continuation of the slide," if in the judgment of the umpire, said contact is not excessive).

OR

(in the absence of a slide) A base runner must avoid contact with the fielder.

"CATCH-BLOCK-TAG/ SLIDE or AVOID CONTACT WITH THE FIELDER"

FIELDER NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL

A fielder NOT in possession of the ball and blocking a base, will be deemed to have OBSTRUCTED the base runner, if in the judgment of the umpire, the base runners progress was impeded to the extent that they did not reach a base they would have reached if the obstruction had not occurred or if the ball precedes the base runner and the base runner is tagged before they have obtained the base, if in the judgment of the umpire, the runner would have reached said base if they had not been obstructed or the fielder had not blocked the base without first obtaining possession of the ball. NOTE: If a fielder is not in possession of the ball and is blocking a base and the base runner deliberately collides with the fielder, the base runner will be called out.

INTERPRETATION: If the fielder does not have the ball in their possession, they can not block a base or impede the progress of a base runner. If they do, obstruction is going to be called.

FIELDER IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL

If a fielder is in possession of the ball and is blocking a base, the base runner has 4 options.

1. Slide

2. Avoid contact with the fielder

3. Try to go back to the previous base.

4. Give themselves up.

If a fielder is in possession of the ball and the base runner does not slide, they are required to avoid making contact with the fielder. In the absence of a slide and the base runner makes contact with the fielder, the base runner will be called out, regardless of a tag being made or if the base runner reaches a base before a tag is made on the base runner.

CRASH

If in the judgment of the Umpire, a base runner maliciously collides with a fielder (whether in possession of the ball or not), the base runner will be declared out, ejected and all other base runners will return to their original base.

AVOIDING A FIELDER

If a base runner runs more than 3 feet outside of the baseline to avoid being tagged, unless his/her actions is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball, said base runner is deemed to be in violation of rule 6.05 and/or 7.08(NBC) and 8.7(ASA) and will be declared out. However, if a base runner runs more than 3 feet outside of the baseline or runs more than 3 feet outside of the baseline to avoid contact with a fielder not in possession of the ball, the base runner shall not be considered to be in violation of the above rules and should not be declared out.

Players, fans, and/or coaches will not be allowed behind the catcher or backstop.

Only the players, bat person, and 2 offensive coaches per team will be allowed on the field of play (Exception: see 7-8 baseball and softball rules.)

In the interest of safety and proper conduct in the dugout, it will be strongly encouraged that each team assigns a "bench coach". this will be stressed in the 7 and 8 baseball and softball and 9 and 10 baseball and softball but it is recommended for all age groups.

Responsibilities for the bench coach are:

• Keep the players sitting on the bench in the dugout until it is their time to bat, be on deck and/or take the field.
• Prevent players from unsafe use of the equipment while in the dugout. No swinging of bats or tossing of balls.
• Control any taunting, name calling, language or any other un-sportsman like actions towards their own team mates and/or players on the opposing team.
• Help make sure the players gather their own equipment and pickup the dugout area before the next team enters the dugout.

LATE ARRIVALS OR ABSENT PLAYERS

A team must have at least seven (7) players and one adult no later than 15 minutes past the scheduled starting time or forfeit the game. In the event that a team does not have the required number of players (9) available at game time, said team will be considered as "playing short." Said team will be required to take an automatic out (location designated in the batting lineup at the discretion of the coach) for any and all players that the team is short, up to a maximum of two (2) lineup positions. In the event that a team begins a game with less than nine (9) players and a player or players arrives late, said players will be placed in the lineup designated as the automatic out. In the event that a team is playing two (2) players short, the location of a player arriving late and being inserted into the lineup will also be in the location of the designated out position.

If a team has the required number of players to begin a game, any late arriving players will be placed at the end of the batting lineup. Any player or players arriving after a game has began, may be placed in the lineup, regardless of whether the team has batted through their lineup or not. NOTE: The distinction of this rule applies to teams beginning games "playing short" and teams with the required number of players to begin (9).

Teams forfeiting three (3) games due to lack of sufficient number of players are dropped from trophy contention. Nine (9) positions will be batted. Failure to fill a batting position will result in an out being declared for that position each time it is due to bat unless player has been injured or becomes ill during the game creating the shortage.

All teams with uniforms shall comply with official baseball/softball rules regarding uniforms when on the playing field. No liquor, beer, or tobacco advertising will be allowed on the uniforms.

TIE BREAKERS

In the event of a tie by two or more teams for a position in league standings, the following criteria shall be used in the order documented to determine final league standings.

• Head to head competition
• Runs allowed
• Runs scored
• Coin flip

All league rules prescribed by the current NBC Rules for baseball and by the current ASA rules for fast pitch softball shall be further modified with regard to the playing field to conform to the actual conditions existing at each field. In the event the League chooses to use a portable pitching mound, it shall be a minimum of 6" high, 7ft wide, and 7 ft. long with appropriately tapered sides, front, and back. All backstop and fence distances shall be modified to conform to the space available at each playing field.

A player or coach who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment has been administered. If medical care or treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would not have to leave the game and time can be added back to the game clock at the umpires discretion. The length of time that is considered reasonable is umpire judgment. The re-entry rule would apply to players. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform, it must be changed before that individual participates again.

Players and umpires are not to wear jewelry (except for watches for umpires) on the field of play. This rule is intended to reduce the risk of injury, reduce unnecessary distractions, and reduce game time lost by hunting for lost jewelry.

The NBC Rule Book, Rule 3.04, specifically discourages the use of courtesy runners. No courtesy runners will be allowed.

(Non-Rainout) Requests to reschedule games must be made at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled date and time of the game(s). Requests must meet the following requirements.

• A team must have less than 7 players available
• Or conflicting extra-curricular school activities. May (ONLY)

Requests to reschedule a game or games, WILL NOT be considered for the following reasons:

• To allow the team to participate in a non-League tournament.
• To allow the team members to participate in another sport activity.
• To allow the team members to attend a camp.
• Or, if Head Coach and or Assistant Coach are not available for the game.

On any overthrow that enters dead ball territory, the ball is declared dead and the award shall be determined by the common rule of ONE base on an overthrow originating from the mound, TWO bases on throws originating in the field of play.

XX. MISCONDUCT POLICY

COACH, PLAYER, SPECTATOR EJECTION POLICY

Any ejection against a coach, player, or spectator will require that person leave the playing facility, which is defined as the playing field, bleacher/spectator area and immediate commons area. Ejected person must leave the playing facility within one (1) minute and have no further contact with anyone associated with the game. Ejections for misconduct result in an automatic one game suspension.

Any coach, player, or spectator that verbally abuses any league official, employee, or volunteer after an ejection may be required to serve additional game suspensions at the discretion of the league.

Any coach, player, or spectator that physically assaults any league official, employee, or volunteer will be suspended from all league activities for life. In addition, law enforcement will be called and the league will prosecute to the full extent of the law.

REVIEW/PROTEST/RULE INTERPRETATION COMMITTEE

The Review/Protest/Rule Interpretation Committee will consist of a minimum one (1) representative from each age division. In the event of an even number of representatives, either the League President, and/or League Administrator may sit on the committee. However, the President and or other administrator may not vote on any matter except in order to break a tie vote. In the event a representative can not fulfill their responsibility, they may appoint a representative to serve in their place.

The committee may review any situation deemed necessary and/or prudent to the overall function of the league as a whole. This shall include, but not limited to: A complaint filed by a parent alleging abuse of a player, inappropriate conduct/language at a league function, and ejections.

PROTESTS.

Only decisions on interpretation of rules may be protested and not decisions of judgment.

The Head Coach or other certified assistant(s) must protest a game and their name must appear on the league roster form.

The protesting coach must make his/her intentions clear at the time of the disagreement to the umpires and opposing coach. At the point of protest the number and position of runners, count on the batter , number of outs, and official time must be noted in both score books and signed by both coaches.

A $50 protest fee must be given to the umpire at the completion of the protested game. Checks should be made payable to the Northeast Baseball and Softball Association.

The protest form must be filed with a league official, within 48 hours after the completion of the game.

Umpires must forward within 24 hours a letter relating the circumstances of the protest, and protest fee collected from the coach to a league official.

Time expired during the protest while the game is in progress will not be included in the allotted game time.

The Review/Protest/Rule interpretation committee as described above will be convened and review the facts of the protest. The committee members may decide upon its own procedures, including whether or not to interview additional persons in attendance believed to have pertinent information.

The Review/Protest/Rule interpretation committee must rule on each protest within 48 hours after receiving it. The majority vote of the committee is sufficient to decide a protest and coaches will be contacted of the results at conclusion of the review.

In all cases decisions will be final.

All money will be returned to the protesting coach if the protest is upheld. If the protest is denied the money will be deposited in the league treasury.