NORTH JACKSON YOUTH BASEBALL, INC.
SPECIFIC RULES FOR ALL LEAGUES
Along with General Rules for All Leagues, the following are specific local league rules. The following specific local league rules supplement the General Rules and take precedence where there is a conflict.
NOTE: These rules are “working” rules and can be amended by NJYB as needed and as the season progresses. The league Commissioners will be responsible for notifying all involved personnel of these changes. Try not to use or abuse these rules to impede the progress and temper of the game. Keep in mind the spirit in which they are written and apply them with the same spirit in mind. Often, common sense will solve all the problems that will arise.
FINAL NOTE: The ultimate rules of NJYB is to teach every kid the basic fundamentals of baseball, to participate fairly, to enjoy and love the game of baseball while instilling the true meaning of sportsmanship. Every kid is looking at each coach as a role model, and therefore, the actions of the coaches will forever be instilled in that kid’s mind regarding baseball. Act accordingly.
1st/2d GRADE COACH PITCH SOFTBALL SPECIFIC RULES
GAME PROCEDURES:
1. Field/Equipment
a. Ball Size 11 inch soft core softball or equivalent
b. Pitching Distance between safety arc and pitcher’s circle
c. Base Path Distance 45 feet
e. Safety arc ~20’ in front of home plate
f. Dead-ball arc ~10 feet in front of home plate
2. Fun is the first priority, but some structure needs to exist to teach these kids the very basics of catching, throwing, and batting. Encourage the kids to learn the fielding positions. Keep the kids from all rushing to get the ball, and encourage them to make the play at first or a force-out. If all of them rush the ball, somebody is going to get hurt, and they are going to have to be re-taught the next year.
3. A game consists of 6 innings, but no inning may start after 1 hour and 10 minutes of play. An inning starts at the moment the third out is made to end the prior inning. A game that is shortened due to time or weather becomes an official game after three innings or 2 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. Extra innings to break a tie score will not be played.
4. There is a maximum of 4 runs scored or 3 outs per half inning.
5. The faster the game, the better the game and the more innings we play which is more competitive and fun. Please try to keep the game moving quickly.
BATTING/OFFENSE:
6. Helmets – all batters and runners must wear protective helmets at all times.
7. An extended batting order shall be used. Each player is listed in the batting order, and she bats when her slots comes up. No changes in the batting order are allowed after the start of the game. Any player ariving late shall be added at the end of the batting order.
8. All games will be played with a coach pitcher. The coach pitcher cannot coach anyone other than the batter. He must pitch with an underhand motion standing no closer to home plate than the chalk line indicating the pitching area.
9. A batter gets three swinging strikes or a maximum of 7 pitches. Failure to swing at the seventh pitch shall constitute an out. If the seventh pitch is hit foul the batter is given an additional pitch. A batter cannot strike out on a fouled ball.
10. If a batted ball strikes the coach pitcher, the ball is dead and no pitch is charged. If the coach pitcher catches a batted ball or otherwise interferes with the defensive team’s opportunity to make a play on the ball, the batter shall be ruled out and all base runners return to the previous base.
11. Only the base coaches shall coach the base runners. No coach may assist, hold up, or otherwise touch any runner while the ball is in play. If a runner is touched by a coach, she shall be called out.
12. Bunting is NOT allowed.
13. Stealing and leading off are NOT allowed. No base runner may advance on a passed ball.
14. There is a maximum of 4 runs scored per inning. In no event can more than four runs be scored by a team during an inning, even if a home run is hit with runners on base after runs have already scored.
15. There are no pinch runners allowed, except in the case of injury. In the event of injury, the player committing the last out, either at bat or on the bases, shall be the pinch runner.
16. Girls are not required to slide. However, a runner shall be called out and removed from the game if she maliciously runs over a fielder who is holding the ball.
17. If a first or third base coach catches a foul ball that could have possibly been caught by a defensive player, the batter is out.
DEFENSE/FIELDING:
18. Positions – all players are to play in the infield and outfield as evenly as possible.
a. All players play in the field – no one in the dugout when playing defense.
b. Infield – only standard infielders are allowed – first, second, shortstop, third, and pitcher; All players are to play in the infield each game if feasible.
c. Outfield – all remaining players are in the outfield and must be at least 15 feet deep in the grass.
d. Catchers – no catcher
19. A chalk/paint line (safety arc) will be drawn approximately 20 feet in front of home plate from the first base line to the third base line. Infielders must start each play standing behind this line.
20. A chalk/paint line should be drawn between the infield and the outfield fence from the left field foul line to the right field foul line, 15 feet behind the infield. Outfielders must start each play either standing on or behind this line. If no line is in place, all outfielders must remain at least 15 feet behind the infield prior to every pitch.
21. The player/pitcher shall be required to wear a helmet with a facemask at all times. The required head and face protection shall be provided by NJYB.
22. The player/pitcher must keep one foot in the pitcher’s mound dirt or circle until the ball is hit.
23. There is no infield fly rule. The ball must be caught to record an out.
24. If one team has the game mathematically won, the winning coach is required to flip the regular infield players and outfield players.
25. Coach in field – only one coach is allowed in the outfield while their team is playing defense – no coach allowed in the infield.
26. Overthrows – On any play made at any base and there is an overthrow – the runner may advance at her own risk one base only (regardless the number of overthrows).
PLAY STOPS:
27. On a ball hit to the outfield, play continues until the ball is returned to the infield dirt crossing the baseline, either by being thrown by the outfielder or run back into the infield by the outfielder. At the umpire’s discretion, he may allow play to continue if an infielder retrieves the thrown ball and is making a play on the base runner, or if the outfielder runs the ball into the infield and attempts to make a play.
28. On a batted ball that does not leave the infield, play continues until the ball is under the control of the defensive player and no play is being attempted.
29. Once the play is declared dead by the umpire, base runners will adhere to the “half-way” rule: if you are halfway, you move forward to the next base; if you are not halfway, you return to the base behind you.
OTHER:
30. Snacks/Tickets – It has been league standard for parents to rotate buying tickets for kids after each game. This benefits our concessions and makes it easier on parents. Kids love it.
31. Only coaches and players are allowed in the dugouts or on the field. The team at bat must have only the batter, the on-deck batter, the pitching coach, and the first and third base coaches out of the dugout. The first and third base coaches must remain in the coaching boxes and the on-deck batter shall stand near the dugout behind the batter. The team in the field shall have only the ten players and the fielding coach located in deep center field.
32. All equipment, including bats, must be kept behind the fence or in the dugout.
33. A coach cannot call time and go onto the field to talk to the players more than once an inning or twice in one game. Under no circumstances shall any team delay the game unnecessarily. The umpire may forfeit the game to the non-violating team after repeated delays and at least one warning.
North Jackson Youth Softball
Conduct Rules
1. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are not allowed at the ball parks. Any coach or parent found to be in possession of, or under the influence of, alcoholic beverages will be asked to leave the park by the umpire, commissioner, or other NJYB official. Any coach who violates this rule shall be suspended by the Commissioner.
2. Any player, coach parent, or other spectator heard booing or using profanity will be asked to leave the park by the umpire, commissioner, or other NJYB official. Any coach who uses profanity during practices or games shall be suspended by the Commissioner.
3. Any player who throws a bat, helmet, glove or other equipment in anger, or who displays any other unsportsmanlike conduct may be removed from the game at the discretion of the umpire. An ejected player’s spot in the batting order shall be ruled an out each subsequent time.
4. After one warning per team per game, a batter who slings a bat during her swing may be called out at the discretion of the umpire
5. No one may question the judgment call of an umpire, but a clarification of a rule may be sought.
6. Calling out at a batter to distract her is prohibited. This applies to opposing players, coaches, and spectators. If this occurs, the batter may be rewarded an extra strike at the discretion of the umpire.
7. Coaches are not allowed to talk to the umpires from the dugout, or to intimidate or criticize the umpires in any way. Violation of this rule can result in expulsion from the game and thereby the forfeiture of said game. The Commissioner shall have the authority to suspend said coach for subsequent games or for the season.