All games will start promptly at their designated times.  Teams will be allowed a 10 minute grace period to field a minimum of seven players for the game.

All games will last no more than 2 hours from designated start time.  No new inning will start after 1 hour 45 minute of game time.  At the 1 hour 45 minute mark any inning currently being played will be completed, unless the umpire calls the game.  In this case the score will revert back to the last completed inning.

The umpire will make the final decision on calling a game.  For example, darkness or field conditions.  When a game is called, the official score will revert back to the score at the end of the last complete inning.

A game is complete if 3 innings are played when the home team is ahead, or 4 innings are played and the home team is behind.

After the 4th inning, if a team is ahead by more than 14 runs the game will be called.

The maximum amount of runs a team can score in one inning is 5.  Once this is reached the inning is over and the batting team takes the field.

If an official umpire is not present, the home team will supply the home plate umpire and the visiting team will supply the base umpire.

THE 3RD BASE DUGOUT IS THE HOME TEAM DUGOUT.

The home team will provide the official scorer.

The home team will provide the scoreboard operator.

The home team will provide 2 game balls.

The home team will give the umpire a HYA/Cal Ripken check.  Checks will be provided for all coaches for each of their home games.

Games will be rescheduled for rainouts and in other cases where both coaches agree to the need to reschedule the game.  There will be no suspended games.

Games that are not made up during the regular season will result in a loss for both teams.

Batters: No stepping out of the batter’s box between pitches (must keep one foot in the batter’s box).

Pitchers: You will be allowed 5 warm up pitches (if same pitcher) and 8 pitches (if new pitcher) between innings.

Official CAL RIPKEN Rules will apply with the following exceptions:

1.      The batting order must be continuous. All players present for the game shall occupy an active spot in the batting order whether they plan a position in the field.  Players who arrive late will be asserted at the end of the lineup.

2.      No player shall sit out more than two defensive innings in a regular six inning game.  Every player must play a minimum of four innings in a regular six inning game.  Coaches should avoid having a player sit out two consecutive innings.  Positioning of all players is at the discretion of the coach and must take into account the safety of the player at all times.

3.      It is strongly recommended that players are allowed to play different positions in the field and batting line ups should change week to week.

4.      Extra innings are allowed to break a tie as long as time permits within the 2 hour limit.

5.      Except in the case of pitchers, coaches are allowed free substitution.  This means a player may be taken out of a fielding position and then later re-inserted into the same or different fielding position.  Once removed from the game as a pitcher, players are not allowed to reenter the game as a pitcher but may reenter at any time at any other defensive position.

6.  Failure to field 7 uniformed players within the grace period will result in a forfeit.

7. The coach must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his age group as noted below, the pitcher may remain in the game at another position.

8. Pitch count limits are as follows:

11-12    85 pitches per game

9-10      75 pitches per game

 7-8        50 pitches per game

Pitching rest requirements:

61 or more pitches in a day, three calendar days of rest

41-60 pitches in a day, two calendar days of rest

21-40 pitches in a day, one calendar day of rest

1-20 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest

Example: If a pitcher throws 22 pitches on Monday, he cannot pitch again until Wednesday.  If a pitcher throws 72 pitches on Friday, he cannot pitch again until Tuesday.

A pitcher who reaches his maximum during a batter is allowed to finish facing the batter until the batter either: reaches base, is put out, or the third out is made to complete the inning.

9.      The head coach must keep the pitch count and provide when requested by either the opposing coach or the umpire.

10.  Pitchers may not throw curve balls or any type of breaking pitch.

11.  Coaches must not provide any instruction on how to throw these pitches.

12.  Balks will not be allowed but an instructional warning will be issued.

13.  A pitcher who hits two batters in the same inning or three batters in the same game must be removed as a pitcher for the rest of the game.

14.  A coach or assistant coach is allowed one visit to the mound for any one pitcher during any one inning.  A second visit to the mound in the same inning for the same pitcher must result in a pitching change.

15.  Stealing and bunting will be allowed.  Head first sliding is not allowed except while attempting to retreat to a base.  The batter will not slide into first base.  Either slide will result in an automatic out.  A runner attempting to steal must wait until the ball passes home plate.

16.  Any runner who leaves early on an attempted steal can be advanced by a hit to the next open base but cannot score a run on an ensuing hit.  If the hit is an extra base hit or home run, the runner who left early will be forced to run home but the run will not count in the official score.  If the umpire rules the runner left early on a safe steal, the runner will go back to the original base he was stealing from.

17.  The batter is not allowed to run on a dropped third strike but the base runner may advance at their own peril.

18.  Delayed steal of home is not allowed.  The runner cannot steal home when the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher.  However double steals are allowed.

19.  Runners may not advance on over throws from the catcher to second or third base.

20.  A runner from 3rd base is the only runner allowed to advance home on a passed ball.  AAA is limited to 2 runners per inning allowed to score on passed balls or attempted steals.

21.  Any runner who is attempting to reach second, third, or home MUST slide if it is a close play.  If the play is close and the runner does not slide, it will be an automatic out.  The umpire will decide when to invoke this rule.

22.  Catchers are not allowed to fully block home plate when a runner is attempting to score.  The catcher must leave a clear path to the plate large enough to allow the runner’s foot access to the plate.   Failure to do so will result in a safe call.

23.  If a batter gets hit by a ball that hits the ground first, they are awarded first base unless they make no effort to avoid the pitch.

24.  Fielders shall not use fake tags designed to slow down a base runner.

25.  The infield fly rule will be in effect.

26.  Base coaches must be players or coaches.

27.  All youth base coaches must wear a helmet in the coaches box

28.  All catchers must wear a protective cup.  It is suggested all players wear a protective cup.

29.  Only official Little League approved bats can be used. (See Approved Bat List)

30.  Any player or coach who is ejected from a game by an umpire will be suspended for one game.  A second ejection will result in suspension from the current season and a hearing of the Cal Ripken board of directors will be held to determine if suspension from all HYA activities will result.

31.  Coaches must support umpires at all times.  Discussions with the umpire are part of the game but violent, abusive, or loud criticism must be avoided.  Umpires will report any abuse to the HYA/Cal Ripken President.

32. If spectators engage in such activity, the coach should ask the person(s) to stop their behavior.  If the behavior persists, the umpire is entitled to halt play and ask the coach to request that person(s) involved leave the area.  If they do not leave, then the game may be declared a forfeit at the discretion of the umpire.

33.  ALL EQUIPMENT must be kept inside the dugout area at all times.  Bats must not be left in foul territory.

34.  At no time are on deck batters allowed to swing a bat in the normal batting circle or anywhere else.  All players must wear batting helmets when not in the dugout.

35.  All game scores and pitching records of that day’s game should be reported by both teams to the league coordinator within 24 hours of the game. 

EACH TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING TRASH FORM THE DUGOUTS AND SURROUNDING AREAS. 

THE HOME TEAM SHOULD RAKE THE DIAMOND AND LINE THE FIELD 15 MINUTES BEFORE EACH GAME.