1. Pregame Practice, Field Preparation, and post-game cleanup

a. Home team (1st Base Dugout)

i. batting cage then field

ii. Line the field

iii. Clean up 1st base dugout and bleachers

b. Visiting team (3rd base dugout)

i. Field then batting cage

ii. Rake around bases and fill in any holes, including home plate

iii. Clean up 3rd base dugout and bleachers

2. Time Limit

a. AAA regular season games are 6 innings or 1 hour and 50 minutes, whichever comes first.

b. Once an inning has started, the inning must be completed (not a drop-dead timer). 

c. For tied regular season games, extra innings are allowed within the time limit of the game. If the time limit has been exceeded, then NO extra inning will beallowed.  

d. Playoff games will have no time limit, therefore there can be extra innings as playoff games cannot end in a tie. Playoff games will not end based on weather or darkness; they will be suspended based on the “Suspended Game” rule.

3. Extra Innings

a. Extra innings will follow the International Tiebreaker rule.  The last out of the previous inning will be placed at 2nd base to start the extra inning with no outs.

4. Minimum Players

a. Teams need a minimum of 8 players to start and finisha game.  For playoffs, teams need a minimum of 9 players to start a game and 8 to finish a game.  

b. For regular season games, AAA teams may borrow a player from an AA team (only if the AA player is not missing an AA game to make the substitution).  The substitute player must bat in the last spot in the lineup and must play in the outfield.  You may only borrow enough AA players to meet the minimum player requirements.  No AA substitutions will be allowed for the playoffs.

c. Teams unable to meet the minimum requirement at the start of the game will automatically forfeit.

i. In the event of a forfeit, teams can play a scrimmage game with no score to be kept.  The umpire will not be required to stay.  The official score of a forfeit will be 3-0.

5. Run Rules

a. Maximum of 5 runs in the 1st inning.

b. For 2nd-5th inning, maximum of 5 runs for the leading team.  If trailing, you can tie and go ahead by 5 runs.

c. 6th inning only there is no run limit.

6. Mercy Rule

a. 10-run rule in effect at completion of 4th inning.  If home team is ahead by 10 runs after top of 4thinning, game will end.  

b. If teams are still within time limit after mercy rule is in effect, teams can elect to continue to play unscored (and no umpire) until time limit has been reached.  Extended game will stop dead at time limit if mercy rule is in effect.

7. Bats

a. All bats must have marked with the new USA Baseball stamp. No T-Ball bats allowed.  The bats must also be no larger than 2-5/8" in diameter. Please note that bats marked with 1.15BPF stamp will no longer be allowed to be used.

b. If a player is found to be using an “illegal” bat during the at bat, the bat is removed and the at-bat for the player continues.  If the player has put the ball in play, in fair territory, and the bat is deemed illegal before the next batter has begun their at-bat, the batter-runner will be called out with runners returning to their original base.

8. Pitching

a. Coach Pitch

i. The adult pitcher must be at least 18 years old and one of the official coaches of the team designated at the draft.

ii. The adult pitcher must pitch from a distance between 30-40 feet and have one foot in contact with the rubber/chalk if at the 30’ (chalk line) or 40’ mark (rubber).  If pitching at a distance between the two marks, the adult pitcher must be in-line with the pitching rubber and home plate.

iii. The adult pitcher must pitch overhand.

iv. A batter will be allowed a maximum of 3 swings or 5 pitches per at bat (extended if 5thpitch is fouled off).  

1. Only the 5th pitch of an at bat can be deemed unhittable by the umpire.  This is a judgement call by the umpire and cannot be protested.  A pitch cannot be deemed unhittable if the batter swings.  

a. If the 5th pitch is deemed unhittable by the umpire, one additional pitch will be allowed.  If the batter does not swing at the additional pitch, the batter will be called out on strikes. 

v. The adult pitcher must pitch a “flat pitch”.  No “lobs” to the player’s bat will be allowed.  A pitch considered a lob will be at the umpire’s discretion and called a no-pitch. A lobbed pitch deemed no-pitch by the umpire will count towards the 5-pitch maximum per batter.  If the 5th pitch of the at bat is considered a no-pitch by the umpire, one additional pitch will be allowed (unless fouled off).  If the one additional pitch is ruled no-pitch by the umpire, the batter will be called out on strikes.

1. If the “lobbed” ball is put in play by the batter, and deemed a no-pitch by the umpire, it is simply a dead ball.  Runners will return to their original base and the at-bat will continue.

vi. The adult pitcher can only instruct the batter in the box.  Once the ball is in play, the adult pitchercannot instruct the baserunners.

1. 1st Penalty- a warning will be given by the umpire.  

2. 2nd Penalty- the adult pitcher will be restricted to the dugout and cannot continue to pitch for the remainder of that game.  

vii. Once the ball is in play, the adult player must avoid interference and exit the field to the closest sideline.  

1. A good rule of thumb is to take this opportunity to pick up the bat and move out of play.  

2. In the event of a bunt or a slowly hit groundball, the adult pitcher must take a knee to avoid interfering with the play.

a. Interference/Obstruction may be called for violation of this rule.

b. Interference/Obstruction penalty: the ball is immediately dead once interference is called by the umpire.  

i. In a force play situation, the lead runner will be called out. 

ii. If it is not a force play situation, the batter runner will be called out, the other runners cannot advance and will remain at their original base.  

3. A batted ball that hits the adult pitcher is immediately dead.  The umpire shall declare it a no-pitch.  All runners will return to their original base at the time of the pitch.  

viii. The same adult pitcher must pitch the entire inning, unless an injury to the adult pitcher occurs.  Teams can change adult at the beginning of a new inning.

b. The defensive player playing the pitcher position shall be positioned behind and to either side of the adult pitcher.  The player must be within 4 feet of the imaginary line between home plate and 2nd base andcan play at a maximum distance of 42 feet from the back corner of home plate.  

9. Batting

a. Continuous batting

i. All players on team will be included in the batting lineup.  No one will sit out of the batting order.

ii. If a player arrives late, they will be inserted at the bottom of the lineup.

iii. If a player has to leave early due to sickness or injury, that position in the lineup will be skipped with no penalty.  If a player has to leave for any other reason, that position in the lineup will become an automatic out.

10. Bunting

a. Each player is allowed to bunt once per game.

b. Slashing (fake bunt then swinging) is not allowed. 

i. Violation: the batter will be immediately called out.  If the ball is put in play, the batter runner is automatically out and runners will return to their original base.

11. Player Positioning

a. Teams which start a game with less than 10 players must have all infield positions covered (including catcher).  All remaining fielders will play in the outfield.

b. Outfielders must be in the outfield grass when play begins.  

i. Outfielders may come into the infield to back up a play or cover a base vacated by a long play such as a run down or an overthrow.  An outfielder cannot cover a base on a force out play.

c. No shifts will be allowed.  Players will play in their traditional positions.  No short fielder will be allowed.

d. The defensive player playing the pitcher position shall be positioned behind and to either side of the adult pitcher.  The player must be within 4 feet of the imaginary line between home plate and 2nd base and can play at a maximum distance of 42 feet from the back corner of home plate.  

e. Infielders may “charge” once the batter squares around to bunt.

f. Infielders cannot be positioned closer than 30’ from home plate.

12. Player Substitutions

a. Free substitutions for all players.  No player may sit more than two innings in a 6-inning game.  No player may sit two innings consecutively.  In the event of an injury, both coaches must agree on the proper thing to do.

b. Players must play a minimum of two innings per game in the infield, except in the case of a safety hazard.  A safety hazard must be discussed with the commissioner, the player’s parent(s), and opposing coach prior to the start of a game.

c. Catcher position does not qualify as an infield position.

d. In the event of a shortened game (less than 6 innings), the infield inning minimum may not be met. It is up to the coaches to prioritize proper rotations to maximize infield opportunities for every player.

e. Infield rule is mandatory for regular season games only.

13. Base Runner/Fielder Contact

a. Players must try to avoid contact.  Umpires have full discretion to make correct interference/obstruction calls when contact occurs that affect the play.

14. Sliding

a. Headfirst sliding is only allowed to return to a base.

b. Sliding into 1st base is NOT allowed and the batter runner will be called out.

c. Runners must slide feet first for any potential play at Homeplate.

15. Courtesy Runner

a. Allowed only with two outs and only for the catcher of record. Courtesy runner must be the last batted out.  

16. Overthrows & Stopping Play

a. The defensive team must stop the effort of the runners to advance; however, runners may only advance one base on any batted ball that remains in the infield,unless an overthrow at first, second or third base occurs.

b. The umpire will not call “TIME” until the advancing runners safely reach the bases they are advancing to, the advancing runners are tagged out or the advancing runners return safely to the bases the advancing runners were attempting to advance from.

c.  If an overthrow occurs in the infield, each runner on base may move up a maximum of one base beyond the base they were advancing toward at the time the overthrow occurred.  

d. In the event of a batted ball to the outfield, runners may continue to advance at their own risk until such time as an infielder has possession of the ball on the infield.  Once an infielder has possession of the ball on the infield, the advancing runners can advance no further than the base they were attempting to advance to at the time the infielder gained possession of the ball, unless the infielder that took possession of the throw from the outfield attempts to make a play on an advancing runner and an overthrow occurs at first, second or third, in which case each runner on base may move up a maximum of one base beyond the base they were advancing toward at the time the overthrow occurred.  

e.  There will be no overthrows to home plate.

17. Plays at Home Plate 

a. The catcher must be the primary fielder on plays when the ball is thrown to the plate.  If the catcher is “cut off” by another fielder on a play at the plate, the runner will be called safe.  This is a judgement call by the umpire.  No appeals will be allowed.

18. Playoffs 

a. Higher seed is always the home team, except when the higher seed is coming from the loser’s bracket in the first championship game of the double-elimination tournament. In the event the losers’ bracket representative wins the first championship game of a double elimination tournament, the home team for the second championship game shall be determined by coin flip.

19. Ejections

a. Any coach or player that is ejected from a game for any reason, will be required to leave the facility immediately and will be suspended from the next game regardless of regular season or playoffs. Minimum number of players rule applies.

20. Coaches on the Field

a. Two defensive coaches allowed in the outfield.  They must remain in foul territory.

b. Two base coaches must remain in designated coaches’ box.

c. Manager can remain in front of dugout within arm’s length of the dugoutfence and cannot be closer to home plate than the edge of their respective dugout.

21. Coach/Parent/Spectator Rules

a. No parents, spectators, or assistant coaches are permitted to argue with the umpire; doing so will result in an ejection.  Only head coaches can discuss with the umpire(s).

i. Any discussion should occur away from players and spectators and in a respectful manner.

b. No parents in the dugout or on the field of play.

c. No siblings are allowed in the dugout or field of play.

d. No cursing, alcohol use, or tobacco products will be tolerated at MARA.