Baseball Minors 9 Rules

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Minors 9 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 coaches.
All coaches must take the responsibility for controlling the behavior of his/her players, as well as the parents and fans. This extends to the display of good sportsmanship by coaches and players immediately after the game through post-game handshakes.
Players and coaches are not permitted behind the backstop while the game 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 playing area (i.e. field and/or stands) 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 9 Baseball Game Rules

All players must be in uniform (cap, shirt, jersey, and socks, if supplied with uniform).
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, 9 outs over two consecutive days, and 15 outs Sunday to Sunday. 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. If he enters during an inning he may pitch for those outs in that inning, the next complete inning, and until he gets his 6th out in the third inning.A player can not pitch 3 outs in one inning be removed and comeback to pitch 3 outs in a later inning. Innings must be consecutive. Outs and Innings are not cumulative per game they are consecutive. Once a pitcher is removed as a pitcher that player can no longer pitch in that game.
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. Failure to abide by this rule will lead to a forfeit being declared. Each player may play a position for a maximum of 2 innings a game, even if the game goes extra innings.
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 INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE PLAYERS. A team may recruit up to three (3) Intermediate 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 rostered Minor League player are present, they all must play defense and bat for the entire game. No coach shall request callups unless there is a reasonable chance they will not have 9 players present. Callups may be rotated in after rostered players have played three innings and should bat the entire game at the end of the order. If eight or fewer rostered Minor League players are present, the team may use the Intermediate League player(s) to fill the remaining fielding positions (outfield only) and may bat up to 10 batters (callups must bat after all rostered players). The replacement Intermediate League players may be substituted freely among themselves into the outfield and the at the end of 10-man batting order. 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 sixty (60) feet apart.
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.
pitcher's rubber is forty-four (44) feet from home plate.
Bunting is permitted.
The "infield fly" rule applies.
Balks are not called.
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 NOT permitted. A runner must maintain contact with the base until the ball either crosses the plate or is hit. If the runner leaves early on a successful steal, he shall return to his base and receive a warning. If he leaves early on a ball hit in fair territory, he may be penalized one base at the umpire's discretion even if that results in the batter having to return to the preceding base and he shall receive a warning. If his leaving early allowed him to reach base on a play against him, such as a force out, and the umpire believes that affected the play, he may be called out. Once any member of a team has been issued a warning, each runner called for leaving early thereafter shall be called "OUT".
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.
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 six (6) runs may score in any inning from the first through fifth inning. Play stops as soon as that 6th 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.
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.
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 two (2) 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.
The championship game will be held at the annual picnic at Wildwood 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. Unless its a travel 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.