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.
5th/6th GRADE SOFTBALL - SPECIFIC RULES
GAME PROCEDURES:
1. Field/Equipment
a. Ball Size: 12 inch official softball
b. Pitching Distance: 40 feet
c. Base Path Distance: 55 feet
2. 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.
3. There is a maximum of 4 runs scored or 3 outs per half inning.
4. The faster the game, the better the game and the more innings we play which is more competitive and fun. To help move the game along:
a. Please have the pitching coach going to the mound as soon as ball four is called.
b. Have someone behind umpire to retrieve balls.
c. Please have catchers in equipment and ready to start the innings.
d. Consider having the SS/2B back up throws from the catcher to the pitcher
BATTING/OFFENSE:
5. 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 arriving late shall be added at the end of the batting order.
6. Helmets – all batters and runners must wear protective helmets at all times.
7. Bunting is allowed.
8. No infield fly rule – a ball must be caught to be an out.
9. Stealing is not allowed
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
PITCHING:
13. This league is underhand fast pitch – coaches are required to pitch underhand.
14. Players pitch to the opposing team and coaches pitch to their own team.
15. Pitchers (and coach pitchers) are required to keep one foot on the rubber when starting the delivery to home plate.
16. Pitching rubber is 40 feet from home plate.
17. There will be a chalk circle around the pitching rubber. When the coach comes in to pitch to their team, the pitcher (player) must have one foot inside the circle and no closer to home plate than the coach pitcher.
18. If the player pitcher throws 4 called balls to a batter, the batter’s turn at bat will be completed by a coach pitcher. The coach pitcher will pitch a minimum of 1 pitch and no more than 3 pitches (unless the at bat is extended by a foul ball) depending on the batter’s strike count (if the count was 4-0 when the coach enters, the coach gets 3 pitches; if the count was 4-2, the coach gets 1 pitch). The player pitcher continues to play defense and resumes pitching with the next batter.
19. The batter cannot strike out on a foul ball.
20. If a batter is hit by a player pitcher, the batter will advance to 1st base. Bouncing/rolling pitch that hits batter is not considered a hit by pitch and the batter is not awarded first base. If a player is hit by a coach pitcher, it counts as a pitched ball.
21. Pitchers may only play a maximum of two innings per game. Innings can be played consecutively or non-consecutively (e.g., 1st and 3rd inning).
Defense:
22. 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, pitcher and catcher. All players are to play in the infield each game.
c. Outfield – all outfielders must be at least 15 feet deep in the grass.
d. Catchers – catching gear is worn by the catcher and is located in the equipment shed.
23. No player may play more than 2 innings of infield in a game, unless the game goes five innings. Coaches are encouraged to “flip the infields and outfields” each inning to the extent possible.
24. Coach in field – only one coach is allowed in the outfield while their team is playing defense – no coach allowed in the infield.
25. 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).
26. If one team has the game mathematically won, the winning coach is required to flip the regular infield players and outfield players.
Play stops
27. Play stops when an infielder prevents the lead runner from advancing to the next base or an out is made. Runners advance at their own peril.
Umpires:
28. We have official umpires calling balls and strikes.
29. Umpires will be aggressive in calling strikes – they do not want four balls.
30. There is no arguing with umpires.
Other:
31. Please encourage kids to swing the bat and not to take all pitches waiting on the coach to pitch. Let them be aggressive at the plate.
32. Failure to field eight (8) uniformed players at game time shall constitute a forfeit, but the teams are encouraged to scrimmage or pick up a player from another team to play an official game. The added player must play the outfield and bat last.
33. 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.
34. All equipment, including bats, must be kept behind the fence or in the dugout.
35. 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.
5th/6th GRADE
TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES
Home Team Responsibilities:
1. Game balls – located in the concession stand – get 2 new game balls for each game.
2. Scoreboard – Home team sets up and operates the scoreboard. The scoreboard operation panel is kept in concession stand. Home team is responsible for having a parent volunteer to keep score and announce for each game – have this lined up early to avoid delays.
3. Press box – children under 12 are NOT allowed in the press box – please make sure parents are aware of this. Please keep them off the dirt piles behind the green equipment building.
4. Amp and microphone – Field 8 is set up with speakers to announce lineups, play national anthem, Lord’s Prayer and play music in between innings. We are the only field to do this. If home team does not want to do this, let visiting team know ahead of time.
5. Lord’s Prayer – home team players say a prayer before the game (e.g., Lord’s Prayer or any prayer). It does not matter if it is one or four of the kids who says it.
6. Return the amp, microphone, and scoreboard to the concession stand after the game.
7. Turn off power at end of last game – lights and scoreboard (two different locations).