rules 4

Objective of the Game
Definition of Terms
Game Preliminaries
Starting and Ending Games
Putting the Ball in Play
The Batter
The Runner
The Pitcher
The Umpire
The Official Scorer

4.00 - Starting and Ending the Game

4.01 - Prior to the established time to begin the game, the managers of the opposing teams shall follow the following routine in sequence:
(a) The home team manager shall give the batting order in duplicate to the official scorer;
(b) Next, the visiting team manager shall give the batting order in duplicate to the official scorer;
(c) The official scorer shall make certain that the original and duplicate copies are the same, then provide a copy of each batting order to the opposing manager. The original copy retained by the official scorer shall be the official batting order.
(d) As soon as the umpire-in-chief enters the playing field, the umpires are in charge of the playing field and from that moment have sole authority to determine when a game shall be called, halted, or resumed on account of weather or the conditions of the playing field.
4.02 - The players of the home team shall take their defensive positions, the first batter of the visiting team shall take position in the batter's box, the umpire shall call "Play," and the game shall start.
4.03 - When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be in fair territory.
(a) The catcher shall be stationed directly back of the plate. The catcher may leave that position at any time to catch a pitch or make a play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
· PENALTY: Balk (No Pitch).
(b) The pitcher, while in the act of delivering the ball to the batter, shall take the legal position.
(c) Except the pitcher and the catcher, any fielder may be stationed anywhere in fair territory.
(d) Except the batter, or runner attempting to score, no offensive player shall cross the catcher's lines when the ball is in play.
4.04 - The batting order shall be followed throughout the game unless a player is substituted for another. Substitutes must take the place of the replaced player's position in the batting order.
4.05 - (a) The offensive team shall station two base coaches on the field during its time at bat, one near first base and one near third base. Base coaches shall remain within the base coaches' boxes at all times and talk to members of their own team only. An offending base coach shall be removed from base coach's box.
(b) Base coaches on the baselines shall be:
(1) - Two (2) eligible players in uniform wearing protective helmets, or
(2) - One (1) eligible player in uniform wearing a protective helmet and one (1) adult team manager or team coach presenting a neat appearance including shirt, pants and shoes. (No metal or removable cleats are allowed), or
(3) - Two (2) adult team manager or coaches presenting a neat appearance, including shirt, pants and shoes. (No metal or removable cleats are allowed.)
· NOTE 1: If (2) above is chosen, the adult team manager or team coach shall choose either the first or third base coaches box at the beginning of the game and shall not change baselines during the game. Any conduct by any base coach considered in the umpires judgment to be unsportsmanlike or a deliberate attempt to delay the game shall result in: (a) if an adult, the immediate removal of the offender from the game and the playing field and its confines; (b) if a player, the immediate removal of the offender from the coaching box(es) for the remainder of the game. NO WARNING SHALL BE NECESSARY.
· NOTE 2: At least one adult coach must be in the dugout at all times possibly limiting the number of adult coaches allowed to coach on the baselines. In this event, at least one, or possibly two, eligible players in uniform, wearing a protective helmet, must be used as a coach on the baseline. Both base coaching boxes must be filled at all times when a team is on offense.
(c) A player who is removed from the game by his manager shall be eligible to be used as a coach.
(d) A team failing to field at least nine (9) players within fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled game time shall forfeit the game.
(e) Playing ineligible players or pitchers may result in forfeiture of games in which players participated illegally if protested by any of the league managers.
· NOTE: Read Rule 4:19.
4.06 - (a) No manager, coach or player, shall at any time, whether from the bench or the playing field or elsewhere:
· (1) Incite, or try to incite, by word or sign, a demonstration by spectators;
· (2) Use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect upon opposing players, manager, coach, an umpire, or spectators.
· (3) Reserved
· (4) Reserved
(b) No fielder shall take a position in the batters line of vision, with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent act in a manner to distract the batter.
· PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game.
4.07 - When a manager, coach or player is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. They may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled.
4.08 - When the occupants of a player's bench show violent disapproval of an umpire's decision, the umpire shall first give warning that such disapproval shall cease. If such action continues:
· PENALTY: The umpire shall order the offender out of the game and away from the spectator's area.
4.09 - How a Team Scores
(a) One run shall be scored each time a runner legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home base before three players are put out to end the inning.
· EXCEPTION: A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made: (1) by the batter-runner before touching first base; (2) by any runner being forced out; or (3) by a preceding runner who is declared out because that runner failed to touch one of the bases (appeal play).
(b) When the winning run is scored in the last half inning of a regulation game, or in the last half of an extra inning, as the result of a base on balls, hit batter, or any other play with the bases full which forces the runner on third to advance, the umpire shall not declare the game ended until the runner forced to advance from third has touched home base and the batter-runner has touched first base.
4.10(a) - It shall be a regulation game when:
· (1) Both teams have completed six innings, and the visiting team has scored more runs than the home team.
· (2) The home team has scored more runs after five innings than the visiting team has scored in six innings.
· (3) The home team scores the winning run in the last half of the sixth inning before the third out. If a batter in the last half of the final inning of a game hits a home run and the ball goes out of play, all runners on base and the batter shall be entitled to score, but all bases shall be touched in order.
· (4) After the end of six innings with the score tied, play is continued until one team has scored more runs than the other in an equal number of innings. If the home team scores the winning run before the third out in any extra inning, the game shall be ended.
o (5) EXCEPTION: When a team is ten (10) runs ahead after three (3) complete innings of play and the game is called because of darkness, rain or any other cause, it shall be a legal game and the team ahead shall be the winner.
· (6) Games shortened by reason of curfew, rain, or other acts of God shall be regulation games provided both teams have batted four times, or in the case of the home team when it is leading, three times.
· (7) [Local League Option] Games shortened by reason of curfew, rain, or other acts of God before they have become regulation games shall be resumed from the point of termination.
· (8) A local league may use a time limit for regular season games to determine a regulation game so long as both teams have had an equal number of times at bat.
o EXCEPTION: In the event a game is called because of a time limit, with the home team leading, it will not be necessary for the last half of the inning in progress when the time limit expires to be played.
· (9) Ten-Run Rule - [Local League Option] A game shall be considered a regulation game when a team is ahead by ten (10) runs after both teams have batted four times, or in the case of the home team when it is leading, three times. Pitchers shall only be charged for innings actually pitched.
o NOTE: THE VISITING TEAM WILL BE DECLARED THE WINNER OF A GAME UNDER THE TEN-RUN RULE PROVISION ONLY IF THE HOME TEAM HAS HAD AN EQUAL NUMBER OF TIMES AT BAT.
· 4.10(b) - It is a regulation tie game when:
· (1) The score is even after four or more complete innings.
· (2) After three and one-half or more innings, the home team is at bat and has scored enough runs to make the score even and the game is called.
· (3) Tie games shall be replayed from the beginning or from the exact point of termination at the discretion of the local league. Pitchers shall be subject to regular eligibility rules, and under no condition shall they pitch in more innings than allowed by Regulation VII.
o NOTE: This rule does not give a pitcher extra eligibility of innings because he did not possibly use up his eligible innings in the week in which the original tie game was stopped.
· (4) Any game which does not meet any of the conditions noted above shall be declared no contest and shall be replayed from the beginning.
o NOTE: Refer to Rule 4.10(c) below for exception.
4.10(c) - League championships decided by one game shall be played to a conclusion, regardless of the score or inning, unless the game is shortened because one team is ahead by 10 runs after it has become a regulation game or the team behind wishes to concede. If the game is suspended for any other reason, it shall be completed at the earliest possible date and shall be played from the point of termination.
4.11 - The score of a regulation game is the total number of runs scored by each team at the moment the game ends.
(a) The game ends when the visiting team completes its half of the sixth inning if the home team is ahead.
(b) The game ends when the sixth inning is completed, if the visiting team is ahead.
(c) If the home team scores the winning run in its half of the sixth inning (or its half of an extra inning after a tie), the game ends immediately when the winning iun is scored.
· EXCEPTION: If the last batter in a game hits a home run out of the playing field, the batter-runners on base are permitted to score, in accordance with the base-running rules, and the game ends when the batter-runner touches home plate.
· APPROVED RULING: The batter hits a home run out of the playing field to win the game in the last half of the sixth or an extra inning, but is called out for passing a preceding runner. The game ends immediately when the winning run is scored.
(d) A called game ends at the moment the umpire terminates play.
· EXCEPTION: If the game is called during an uncompleted inning, the local league shall determine whether to complete the game at a later time; or end the game at the end of the last previous completed inning in each of the following situations:
· (1) The visiting team scores one or more runs to tie the score in the uncompleted inning, and the home team does not score in the uncompleted inning.
· (2) The visiting team scores one or more runs to take the lead in the uncompleted inning, and the home team does not tie the score or retake the lead in the uncompleted inning.
4.12 - Reserved
4.13 - Reserved
4.14 - The umpire-in-chief shall order the playing field lights turned on whenever in such umpire's opinion darkness makes further play in daylight hazardous.
4.15 - A game may be forfeited to the opposing team by the umpire-in-chief of the game in progress when a team:
(a) Being upon the field, refuses to start play within 10 minutes after the appointed hour for beginning the game, unless such delay, in the umpires judgment, is unavoidable;
(b) Refuses to continue play unless game was terminated by the umpire;
(c) Fails to resume play, after game was halted by the umpire, within one minute after the umpire has called "Play";
(d) Fails to obey within a reasonable time the umpire's order to remove a player from the game;
(e) After warning by the umpire, willfully and persistently violates any rules of the game.
(f) Employs tactics designed to delay, shorten or extend the game.
· NOTE: Any team which attempts to intentionally allow the opposing team to score in order to extend the game so that it may comply with the player participation requirement in 3.03(d)(1) or (d)(2) (or Tournament Rule IX(A) shall forfeit the game.
(g) - Reserved
4.16 - Reserved
4.17 - (a) A team failing to field at least nine (9) players within fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled game time shall forfeit the game.
(b) A game in progress shall be forfeited to the opposing team when either team is unable or refuses to place nine players on the field.
4.18 - Forfeited games shall be so recorded in the score book and the book signed by the umpire-in-chief. A written report stating the reason for the forfeiture shall be sent to the league president within 24 hours, but failure of the umpire to file this report shall not affect the forfeiture.
4.19 - Protests
(a) A protest which involves an umpires judgment shall not be accepted.
(b) Only the team manager or the acting team manager shall be entitled to file a protest to these rules and regulations, which apply to the 9-10 and 11-12 age divisions.
(c) The only legal protest shall be one which involves a violation of playing rules or the use of an ineligible player or an illegal pitcher.
(d) The protesting manager on a play situation shall notify the umpire he is protesting before another pitch is thrown. The umpire shall announce that the game is being played under protest, but failure of the umpire to make this announcement shall not affect the validity of the protest. The protest shall be considered only if it is placed in writing by team manager or acting team manager and submitted to the local league president within forty-eight (48) hours from the completion of the game.
(e) A protest on the grounds of ineligibility of a player shall be filed with the local league president within forty-eight (48) hours after the completion of the game. The decision as to whether the game, or games, shall be forfeited or replayed, in the event the protest is upheld, shall be left to the discretion of the local governing body.
· NOTE 1: Only the game or games protested shall be considered, and all protests of this nature shall be made within forty-eight (48) hours. An illegal substitution is one in violation of playing rules and includes the improper use of a pitcher. Section (D) applies to illegal substitutions and Section (E) to ineligibility of a player.
For the purpose of this rule, an ineligible player shall be a player who is not eligible to participate in the league because gf age, boundary requirements or other reasons and is not to be confused with illegal substitutions.
· NOTE 2: AFTER THE COMPLETION OF A GAME, THERE SHALL BE NO PROTEST REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A PROTEST ON ELIGIBILITY OR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ONE INNING PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT. A game shall not be considered as complete until opposing managers have an opportunity to make a protest on a game-ending play or failure to comply with the one-inning participation requirement. Fifteen minutes shall be considered sufficient time for the fulfillment of this rule.
(f) Any protest in local league play shall be ruled upon by the governing body at the local league level and there shall be no appeal of the leagues final decision with the following exception:
o (1) If the manager of the team ruled against has evidence that the protest decision is in conflict with Dixie Youth Baseball, Inc., official rules and regulations, he may file a written appeal of the protest decision to the district director. Such appeal must be filed within forty-eight (48) hours from the time that a final written decision is issued by the local leagues governing body.
o (2) A valid appeal of a protest decision by a local league's governing body must include: i) A check in the amount of $10.00, payable to the district director. If the original protest decision is upheld, the funds will be deposited in the district operating fund. If the appeal is upheld, the check will be returned to the appealing manager; ii) a copy of the leagues written decision from the local protest committee chairman or league president which details the protest situation and the league's reasons for its decision; and iii) a complete explanation from the appealing manager as to what specific Dixie Youth rule or regulation was violated and/or misinterpreted.
o (3) The district director, with the approval of the state director, shall have the authority to overrule any local league protest decision if it is in conflict with Dixie Youth Baseball, Inc., rules and regulations.
o (4) Only the state director shall have the authority to contact the Commissioner for an official interpretation if the state director deems it necessary or advisable to do so.