Baseball Minors 10 Rules

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Minors 10 Baseball Rules of Conduct

Teaching and enforcing good sportsmanship, and abiding by the motto "Fun, Friendship and Fundamentals" must be the primary goal of all ESAA coaches.
All coaches must take responsibility for controlling the behavior of each of his players, as well as parents and fans. This extends to the display of good sportsmanship by coaches and players immediately after the game through the post-game handshakes.
Players, coaches and fans are not permitted behind the backstop while play is in progress.
Derisive comments (i.e., "jockeying" and "heckling") of umpires and opposing players is not permitted.
Umpires may EJECT coaches and players for unsportsmanlike conduct.
After one (1) warning, the umpire may ask a coach to remove an offending fan from the area or risk a forfeit.
All decisions of the umpire are FINAL. No protests or appeals are permitted.
!!! At any time a coach is removed from a game due to an ejection, the offending Coach will be suspended the next scheduled game. If another incident occurs the coach will be removed from Coaching for the Season. All cases will be reviewed by the Board to determine further actions!!!

Minors 10 Baseball Game Rules

All players must be in their assigned uniform (not a Thunder cap or Uniform), cap, shirt, jersey, and socks, if supplied with uniform).
Bats must be stamped with a USA Stamp or USSSA stamp. No softball bats, no wooden bats can be used. Any batter that enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat shall be called out immediately upon discovery (via appeal or umpire’s call). The batter may also be called out after his / her time at bat is complete so long as the illegal bat is discovered prior to the first pitch of the following batter. In this case the defense has the option of taking the penalty (an out) or the result of the play. If the penalty is taken then all runners shall return to their original bases.
Athletic supporters and cups must be worn.
No metal spikes are allowed.
For safety reasons, no player may wear jewelry of any kind.
Coaches must check the condition of all helmets and catcher's gear to be worn by their players and permit the players to use only undamaged equipment, including particularly, only helmets that contain all padding inserts. Any defective or broken equipment should be removed and returned to the Minor League Commissioner. If there is missing or broken safety equipment in that team's bag, the opposing team shall share its safety equipment with that team.
Each batter and base runner must wear a helmet. A base runner who removes his helmet while a game is in progress (ball in play and time not called) will receive one (1) warning. A second occurrence in the same game by the same player shall result in his being called "OUT".
The catcher must wear a full set of protective equipment. A catcher on base after two (2) outs may be replaced by a courtesy runner in order to allow him time to put on his equipment. The courtesy runner shall be the last player put out either as a batter or as a runner.
The umpire will issue a warning on the first THROWN BAT per team per game. The next time that a player throws a bat, the player will be declared "OUT".
Base runners must slide to avoid contact with the fielder on any play at a base or home. The runner may be called "OUT" at the umpire's discretion if a failure to slide causes a collision or otherwise affects the play. In order to encourage coaches to instruct their players to avoid impeding the progress of a runner, the umpire may award an extra base to any runner whose progress to or past a base is impeded by any interference or obstruction by a fielder not making a play on a ball, regardless of whether the runner would have reached the next base successfully, and even though the ruling requires runners ahead of the impeded runner to advance.
A batter "hit by a pitch" will be awarded 1st base, provided that in the judgment of the umpire the batter has made an effort to avoid the pitched ball.
If a pitcher hits three (3) batters in a game, he must be removed from the mound.
Pitchers may pitch no more than six (6) consecutive outs per game. If an inning ends due to the seven run rule (see RULE #30), the pitcher who is pitching at the end of that inning is charged with the out he pitched and any outs not used by the other team. Maximum 12 outs over 2 consecutive days and 18 outs per week
SUBSTITUTION RULES. Each player in attendance (unless injured or suspended by the commissioner) must be listed in the team batting order and take scheduled at-bats. Each player must play at least three innings on defense during the first five innings and four innings during a six inning or longer game. Maximum 3 innings at the same defensive position for each player, including extra innings. Failure to abide by this rule will lead to a forfeit being declared.
PARENTAL OBLIGATIONS. In order to avoid forfeits, parents must notify their player's manager as soon as possible whenever their child will be unable to play a scheduled game or will arrive late. If a player misses two games without having notified the manager, the manager may apply to the league commissioner for a replacement player to be taken from the waiting list. The Commissioner will attempt to reach and discuss the matter with the parents before taking action.
USE OF MINORS 9 LEAGUE PLAYERS. A team manager may recruit up to three (3) Minors 9 League players as may be necessary to avoid forfeit (see RULE #37), and only if such player(s) are not scheduled to play for their own teams at the same time. If nine or fewer rostered Minors 10 League player are present, they all must play defense and bat for the entire game. If nine or fewer rostered Minors 10 League players are present, the team may use the MINORS 9 League player(s) to fill the remaining fielding positions but only in the outfield and may bat up to 10 batters but only at the end of the order. The replacement Intermediate League players may NOT be substituted freely among themselves BUT ONLY into the OUTFIELD fielding positions and the END OF 10-man batting order. Individual players may be called up only once during the regular season. No callups are allowed in the playoffs unless approved by the league commissioner. If a team is unable to field enough players, the coaches must find a mutually agreeable makeup date. If the coaches can not agree on a date, one will be set by the commissioner and decisions of the commissioner are final.GROUND AND GAME RULES
Unless otherwise stated herein, all customary baseball rules shall apply.
Ground rules will be reviewed by the umpire and one member of each coaching staff before each game.
Bases are set at 65 (sixty five) feet
The pitcher's rubber is Forty Six (46) feet from home plate.
Bunting is permitted. ABSOLUTELY NO FAKE BUNT AND SWING AWAY, BATTER IS OUT AUTOMATICALLY, COACH WILL BE EJECTED ON SECOND OFFENSE. This is a safety issue and will be enforced at all levels
The "infield fly" rule applies.
Balks will not be enforced Up to June 1st, Balks will be a warning with instruction to the coaches and the pitchers. A runner will not be called out on a balked pick off move, and will not advance. After June 1st the league will transition into a two balk warning for a pitcher.
The "dropped third strike" rule does not apply.
NO intentional walks!! If the umpire believes that the pitcher is not making a genuine effort to pitch strikes to a particular batter, he may award the batter an extra base.
Leadoffs are permitted Base runners may steal 2nd and 3rd base, but may not steal home. Runners my advance from 2nd to 3rd, but not from 3rd to home on an overthrow made on a steal attempt. Runners straying past 3rd base on any "steal" play may be put out on a tag play and may not reach "safety" by continuing safely to home. Pick off moves to 3rd are still consider a wall play. Runners cannot advance on a pick off move only try to return safely to third. No advancement on overthrown pick off play.
Runners may score on an overthrow that occurs as a continuous part of a play that starts with a batted ball.
No delayed steals are allowed. Once a pitcher receives the ball and touches the rubber, play is considered dead and runners may advance no further. Any base runner in motion at that time will proceed at his own risk and may be thrown out by the pitcher, even if he has "killed" the ball. If the umpire determines that the runners had been continuing their advance without hesitation before the ball was "killed", they may stay at that base. Otherwise, and even if the pitcher unsuccessfully plays on them after "fielding" the ball, they shall be returned to the prior base.
SLAUGHTER RULE. A team leading by ten (10) or more runs at the conclusion of the 5th inning (4 1/2 for home team) will be declared the winner and the score is official at that point.
A maximum of seven (7) runs may score in any inning from the first through fifth inning. Play stops as soon as that 7th run crosses home plate. There is no run limit in the 6th or any extra inning. There is no maxium runs per inning in the playoffs.
EQUIPMENT
The home team must supply two (2) new game balls and set the field. The home team will keep both game balls, regardless of which team wins the game.
Failure by a team playing the last game at that diamond that day to return the bases to the storage box will result in a forfeit loss being charged to the offending team. No losing team will receive credit for such forfeit victory. Any equipment, such as catcher's mitt, catcher's equipment or helmets, that is missing when the coach packs the team's equipment bag must be reported immediately to the Commissioner. SCHEDULING AND REPORTING
PRE-GAME PRACTICE. The home team is entitled to first use of the field for pre-game practice but must yield to the visiting team 15 minutes before game time. If another game finishes less than 30 minutes before the subject game, then use of the field for pre-game practice should be split evenly. Home team takes down field at end of day game and Visiting team will rake field.
GAME LENGTH. All games will be six (6) innings. A game called due to weather conditions or darkness will be considered an official game after four (4) innings (or 3-1/2 if the home team is leading) unless the score is tied. (For tie games, see RULE #35). No 1/2 inning should begin after sundown. Safety of the players shall take precedence over the manager's competitive instincts to play. During the regular season, no new inning shall begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the first pitch of the game. Coaches and the umpire should agree on the exact starting time of the game. If a regular season game ends in a tie it stands as a tie. There are no time limits on playoff games, they are played until a winner is declared.
TIE GAMES. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, one additional inning may be played, if in the opinion of the umpire, an additional inning can be completed before darkness or ten (10) minutes before the next scheduled game on that diamond. Otherwise, or if the score remains tied at the end of the additional inning, the game will be recorded as a tie and each team will be credited with 1/2 win and 1/2 loss. (Playoff positions will be determined by winning percentages). The three (3) inning limit on pitching will apply to extra inning games.
RAINOUT AND SUSPENDED GAMES. All games must be played as scheduled unless weather conditions interfere. A game can be postponed only because of unplayable field conditions. The Commissioner may determine that all games on a particular day will be canceled. Once a game has started, if it is postponed by inclement weather before it is an official game, it will be a suspended game and resumed from the point it stopped.
Lightning rule: The 30 minute rule will be utilized when lightning is sited or thunder is heard. All on field activity shall be automatically suspended for a minimum of 30 minutes and participants shall seek appropriate shelter. An assessment of conditions is to be made after the 30 minute wait period. On field activity shall resume when it is reasonably determined that additional threatening weather is not imminent. If lightning is sited or thunder after the 30 minute count, the 30 minute count shall be restarted. Games are resumed at the point at which play was postponed. If the game needs to be rescheduled, it will be resumed at the point at which play was postponed.
MAKEUP DATES. The home team manager shall notify the Commissioner of any postponed or suspended game. The Commissioner will reschedule the game on the first available Friday or Sunday, or grouped on a convenient makeup date with other rainouts. The Commissioner will notify the chief umpire of those dates. If a game is suspended due to darkness and only an inning is left to be played, it may be rescheduled to be played before another scheduled weekday or Saturday game.
FORFEITS. If a team is unable to field a minimum of eight (8) rostered or Rule 15 replacement players to begin a game or seven (7) to begin an inning, a forfeit will be declared and the win shall go to the team able to field a team. If both teams forfeit, each shall be charged with a loss. Forfeit time will be fifteen minutes after the scheduled starting time. The teams can play an unofficial practice game utilizing the professional umpire with the short-handed team borrowing players from the other team or from among age-eligible spectators.
GAME RESULTS. The winning team shall enter the results on the ESAABB.ORG website within 24 hours of completion. If for some reason that is not possible, the Commissioner should be given the final score of the game within 24 hours of completion. Any game for which the score is not reported in a timely manner will be considered a tie. The standings during the regular season will be determined by winning percentage. These standings will be used to seed the teams for playoffs.
Pitching Rules
A pitcher can pitch no more than 6 outs in one game, 12 outs in two consecutive games and 18 outs per week. A week starts and ends on Sunday night.
For example, if a pitcher pitches 5 outs one day he is eligible to pitch 7 outs the next day, for a total of 12 outs over two consecutive days.
A pitcher can pitch no more than 6 outs in 24 hours or 12 in 2 consecutive days, this would happen mostly, but not limited to Friday night/Saturday day/afternoon.
A pitcher who pitches 2 consecutive days must rest the 3rd day regardless of the total outs pitched during the previous 2 days.
A pitcher can pitch no more than 18 outs in a 7 day period. (Mon. thru Sun)
A pitcher cannot return to pitch once he is pulled out.
******All pitching totals must be put into the computer within 24 hours of the game or before the start of your next game, whichever comes first.******
The penalty for violating the pitching rules for a 1st time offense is a 1 game suspension for the head coach. A second violation is a 1 game suspension for the pitcher and a 2 game suspension for the coach. A 3rd violation leads to an indefinite suspension of the head coach.
A pitcher who hits a 3rd batter in a game has to be removed from that game immediately.
The championship game will be held at the annual picnic at Edgebrook Park, the time is TBD. RAIN DATE WILL BE THE FOLLOWING DAY. This will be a winner-take-all game. The home team will be the team coming out of the winner's bracket.
CONCUSSION PROTOCOL FOR ESAA. IF A PLAYER IS STRUCK IN THE HEAD IN ANY FASHION WHILE IN THE ACTIONS OF THE GAME. OUR UMPIRES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REMOVE THE AFFECTED PLAYER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT CONTEST.

IT IS THE PARENTS OF THE AFFECTED PLAYER DECISION TO LET PLAYER RESUME PLAY AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED TEAM EVENT.
HAVE FUN!

Travel Baseball Player Concession Rule:

If a house league player is also participating on an ESAA-sponsored travel baseball team, the player will be allowed the following concessions when scheduling conflicts arise:

1. First and foremost, when establishing the house league schedule, ESAA will make a reasonable effort to avoid conflicts.

2. Practice conflicts – travel player will be allowed to choose between travel and house practices

3. Regular season game conflicts – travel player will be allowed to choose between travel and house games; however, travel player cannot miss more than two house league games due to travel game conflicts

4. Playoff game conflicts – travel player will not be allowed to choose between travel and house games; travel player must play in house league playoff game

5. The house league commissioner has the authority to reschedule games to avoid conflicts between house and travel games

6. In the spirit of cooperation, communication between house league and travel coaches is encouraged to best deal with each conflict.