[ORG NAME] Youth Baseball — Tournament Rules & Regulations

2027 Season — Effective January 1, 2027 Version 1.0 · Last updated: [date]

The version of these rules published at [org website] has priority at all times. Printed copies, PDFs, and screenshots may be out of date. Individual event pages may carry amendments; where an event page conflicts with this document, the event page controls for that event only.

Default rulebook. Anything not specifically addressed here reverts to the NFHS baseball rulebook. Where NFHS is silent, the Official Baseball Rules (OBR/MLB) apply.

1. Purpose

[ORG NAME] exists to run competitive, fairly-matched youth baseball events with an emphasis on player development and arm health. Two commitments drive every rule in this document:

• Equal competition on an equal field. Teams are classified and seeded so that games are competitive, not lopsided.
• Player safety first. Pitch counts and required rest are strictly enforced at every event, with no exceptions for bracket play, championships, or "it's just one more inning."

2. Membership & Registration

1. Teams must hold a current [ORG NAME] membership to participate in any sanctioned event. The membership year runs August 1 – July 31.
2. Membership includes team liability and participant accident insurance covering all [ORG NAME] sanctioned events. (Confirm your carrier's actual coverage before publishing this sentence — see OPERATIONS.md §3.)
3. Every team must maintain a current online roster at [org website]. A team with no online roster at the start of an event is not eligible to play.
4. Event registration is separate from membership. A team is entered in an event only when the entry fee is paid in full and the event page shows the team as accepted.

3. Player Eligibility

3.1 Age determination

A player's division is determined by their age on April 30 of the current season. A player may play up an age division at any time, but may never play down.

3.2 Grade exemptions

1. A team may roster a maximum of three (3) grade-based exemptions.
2. An exempt player must be currently enrolled in the grade listed above for their division and must meet all other eligibility requirements.
3. Grade exemptions must be declared on the online roster before the event begins. Proof of enrollment (report card or school registration) must be available on request.

3.3 Proof of age

1. A player's full legal name must appear on the online roster exactly as it appears on their birth certificate. No nicknames, shortened names, or initials.
2. Coaches must be able to produce a government-issued birth certificate, passport, or equivalent ID showing date of birth within 15 minutes of a director's request.
3. Once a player's proof of age has been uploaded, reviewed, and approved by [ORG NAME], that player cannot be age-protested at any [ORG NAME] event.
4. Failure to produce documentation on request: the player is removed from the game until the document is provided.
5. If the team is batting 9, or 10 with an EH, and has an eligible substitute, the sub replaces the player with no penalty.
6. If the team is roster batting, the player's spot becomes an automatic out.

3.4 One team per weekend

A player is eligible only with the first team they play for in a given event weekend. Playing for a second team in the same weekend results in ejection of the player and forfeits for every team involved.

3.5 Illegal players

A player in violation of these rules is an illegal player. If discovered during, after, or following an event: the player and the head coach are ejected for the remainder of the event, the team is placed last in final standings, and the team forfeits all awards, prize money, and ranking points from the event. Additional penalties may apply.

4. Team & Roster Requirements

1. A roster may contain no more than 22 eligible players.
2. Every player who participates in an event must appear on the team's online roster at the time the event begins. Players cannot be added on the event start date without prior written approval of the tournament director.
3. The head coach/manager is responsible for the eligibility of every player on the roster. Adding ineligible players — intentionally or not — subjects the manager to suspension.
4. Roster protests are not permitted after a game has ended. A tournament director may protest a roster at any time before the event is finalized; a [ORG NAME] director may protest at any time, including after the event concludes.

4.1 Frozen rosters (championship events)

1. When a team earns a berth to a [ORG NAME] Championship event, its roster is frozen at the conclusion of the qualifying event.
2. A team may add a maximum of three (3) players to a frozen roster for the remainder of the season.
3. Rosters for championship events must be final 72 hours before the first pitch of the event. The system blocks additions inside that window.
4. A player removed from a frozen roster may not return to that roster for the remainder of the season.
5. A player may be frozen on only one team per age division.

5. Divisions & Classification

[ORG NAME] classifies teams by skill level so that pool play is competitive:

1. [ORG NAME] assigns and may reassign a team's classification at its sole discretion, based on results, roster, and event history.
2. Teams are pooled and seeded within their own division wherever the field allows.
3. If a division has four (4) or fewer teams at 13U and above, it may be combined with the division above it. Combined divisions are announced no later than the Wednesday before the event.
4. A team may play up a class or an age. A team may not play down in either.

6. The Playing Field

Rubber-to-plate is measured from the rear tip of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber (or coach's pitching plate).

Field dimensions are recommended. Host facilities vary; the dimensions in use at a given park are announced on the event page and are not protestable.

7. Uniforms & Equipment

7.1 Uniforms

1. Players must be in proper baseball attire with matching jerseys. Numbers of at least 4″ are recommended and must be unique within a team.
2. Uniform legality is decided by the director alone and is not protestable.

7.2 Safety equipment

1. All offensive players on the field of play — including bat boys/girls and any coach under 18 — must wear a double ear-flap helmet.
2. The catcher must wear a helmet with full ear and back-of-head protection, mask with throat protector, chest protector, shin guards, and a protective cup. This applies to any player receiving pitches, in games and in warmups, including a coach warming up a pitcher.
3. Metal cleats are prohibited in 12U and below. All divisions must additionally follow host facility rules, which may prohibit metal at any age.
4. A catcher's mitt is required at 9U and above.
5. If an umpire observes an equipment violation, the umpire directs it to be corrected before play resumes.

7.3 Bats

1. Bats must be smooth, round, and free of dents, cracks, rattles, or aftermarket alteration. Any bat that has been shaved, rolled, or otherwise altered is illegal and its use is grounds for ejection of the head coach.
2. Bats marked "T-Ball" are not legal in any coach pitch, machine pitch, or player pitch game.
3. [ORG NAME] adopts and enforces the current USSSA and USA Baseball banned/decertified bat lists. The controlling list is linked from the event page. Publish it and update it before every season — do not maintain a stale list in this document.

7.4 Illegal bat penalties

12U and below. The umpire removes the bat from the field and warns the manager. If discovered after a play in which the batter-runner reached base safely, the batter-runner is out, all other runners return to the last base legally occupied, and no run may score. Any out recorded on the play stands. Second offense: same penalty, plus the manager is removed from the field and may not manage for the remainder of the game.

13U and above. The batter is out and all runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. Any outs recorded on the play stand. A batter is deemed to have used an illegal bat by bringing it into the batter's box.

8. Game Rules

8.1 Home team

1. Pool play: coin flip at the plate meeting.
2. Bracket play: the higher seed is home team.
3. Championship game and any "if" game: coin flip.

8.2 Lineups & batting

1. The lineup must be declared at the plate meeting and exchanged with the opposing manager and plate umpire. A team may:
2. bat 9, or
3. bat 10 with an Extra Hitter (EH), or
4. roster bat (bat every present, uniformed player).
5. An unlimited number of EHs is permitted. An EH is treated as a defensive player for substitution purposes.
6. If roster batting, all players not among the nine defenders are extra hitters and may move freely on defense. Free defensive substitution; the batting order never changes.
7. Teams not roster batting must list eligible substitutes on the lineup card. A player on the online roster but not listed is still a legal substitute.
8. A team batting all present players with no listed substitutes is treated as roster batting unless the manager declares otherwise at the plate meeting.
9. Starters may withdraw and re-enter once, in their original batting position (non-roster- batting teams only). A player who has left the game and missed an at-bat may not return except under 8.4.
10. Designated hitter: permitted at 15U and above only. No DH at 14U and below. The DH must be declared pre-game, cannot be a starting defensive player, and the role terminates when the DH takes a defensive position or the player they bat for enters the game offensively.

8.3 Minimum players

1. A team may start and finish with eight (8) players, taking an out in the ninth spot.
2. A team starting with eight is automatically the visiting team.
3. If the lineup drops below eight for any reason, the game is suspended and ruled a forfeit by the director. It is not rescheduled. Umpires have no authority to declare a forfeit.
4. Once at nine or more: a team dropping below nine due to illness or injury records no out; a team dropping below nine for any other reason (ejection, departure) records an automatic out in that lineup spot unless an eligible substitute is available.

8.4 Late & arriving players

1. If the ninth player will arrive late, the manager must announce it at the plate meeting. An out is recorded in the ninth spot until the player arrives; on arrival the player is announced and inserted into the ninth spot and play continues normally.
2. Roster batting: players arriving after the start are added to the bottom of the order.
3. Batting 9 or 10: players arriving after the start are legal substitutes.

8.5 Courtesy runners

1. A courtesy runner may be used at any time for the pitcher or catcher of record only.
2. If batting 9 or 10, the courtesy runner must be a player not currently in the lineup.
3. If roster batting, the courtesy runner is the player who made the last recorded out.
4. A courtesy runner may run for only one player per inning.
5. Courtesy runners must appear on the online roster and should be listed on the lineup card.
6. Pinch running (a legal substitution for any other runner) is available only to teams batting 9 or 10. Roster-batting teams have no legal substitutes and therefore cannot pinch run.

8.6 Play & safety

1. Sliding. Runners are never required to slide. If a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal and directly into the base. On an imminent tag play the runner must slide or attempt to avoid contact; jumping over a fielder is not avoiding contact.
2. Malicious contact. No player may initiate malicious contact. Penalty: the runner is out and ejected. Umpire judgment governs, and the standard is intent — a violent collision is not automatically malicious. Umpires should be conservative in the younger divisions, where contact is often just a player who didn't slide.
3. Obstruction. If a defender is obstructing the runner, contact by the runner is not illegal unless malicious.
4. Blood rule. Any participant visibly bleeding must leave the field until bleeding stops and the wound is covered. No penalty for missed at-bats.
5. Field clearing. Players must leave the field immediately after the final out of a half inning. A manager who does not enforce this is removed from the field for the remainder of the game.

8.7 Pace of play

Each team has 90 seconds between half innings, timed from the moment the last defensive player (other than pitcher and catcher) leaves the field.

• Defense not ready: the umpire awards a ball to the batter, and another every 20 seconds thereafter.
• Offense not ready: the umpire awards a strike, and another every 20 seconds until the batter is in the box.

8.8 Other

1. A regulation game is six innings at 12U and below, seven innings at 13U and above, unless shortened by time limit, run rule, or field conditions.
2. An intentional walk is granted on request in all live-pitch divisions.
3. A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning requires that pitcher's removal from the mound (not the game).
4. A pitcher entering an inning or relieving is allowed eight warm-up pitches.
5. A pitcher removed from the mound may not return to the mound in that game, but may play any other position.

9. Time Limits, Run Rules & Ties

9.1 Time limits

• No new inning may begin after the time limit expires. The inning in progress is completed. If the home team leads and the time limit has expired at any point in the bottom half, the game ends immediately.
• Bracket and championship games may be played with no time limit at the director's discretion. This is announced on the event page before the event, not mid-tournament.
• Managers must confirm start time and time limit with the plate umpire at the plate meeting. The umpire's recorded start time is final and is not protestable.

9.2 Run rules (mercy)

The half-inning threshold applies: if the home team is ahead by the required margin, the game ends after the top of that inning (e.g. 2½, 3½, 4½ innings). If the home team run-rules the visiting team at any point, the game ends immediately.

Additionally, a game ends at any point one full inning is completed with a 20-run lead.

9.3 Run cap per inning (entry-level divisions)

Divisions where an inning run cap applies are listed on the event page. Where applied:

• Coach pitch, machine pitch: 7 runs or 3 outs per half inning.
• T-Ball, Rec/Metro: 5 runs or 3 outs per half inning.
• 9U–10U Division 3 pool play: 10-run limit per game differential for standings purposes.

9.4 Ties

• Pool play: a tie at the end of the time limit or inning limit stands as a tie.
• Bracket play: the Texas Tiebreaker is used. Each team begins its half inning with bases loaded and one out, using the three batters preceding the current batter as runners.

Example: if the #10 hitter is due up, the #7 hitter starts at third, #8 at second, and #9 at first.

Play continues until a complete inning ends with the score no longer tied.

10. Pitching Rules & Limitations

[ORG NAME] adopts MLB/USA Baseball Pitch Smart guidelines. These are strictly enforced at every event, in every game, including championships.

10.1 The three limits

Every pitcher is governed by three separate limits at all times. All three must be satisfied — whichever is reached first stops the pitcher.

1. Daily Max — the most pitches a player may throw in a single calendar day, across all games, regardless of rest.
2. Event Max — the most pitches a player may throw across the entire event, first pitch of the team's first game through the final out of its last, regardless of rest days inside the event.
3. Required rest — a pitcher who throws N pitches in a day must rest the number of days shown in that column before pitching again.

No exceptions for bracket play, elimination games, or championships.

Why the Event Max exists — the three-day weekend hole.

In a normal two-day event the rest table already caps a pitcher: to pitch on both days, they can throw at most 30 on day one (the 0-days-rest tier), so their weekend total is capped at 30 + daily max anyway. Anything over 30 on Saturday means zero on Sunday.

A three- or four-day event breaks that. On a Friday–Monday holiday weekend, a 13U pitcher can throw a full 95 on Friday, take the required rest Saturday and Sunday, and throw another 95 on Monday — 190 pitches in one event, every pitch of it legal under the rest table alone. Memorial Day and July 4th events are exactly where this happens, and they're also the events teams travel farthest for and are most tempted to push arms in.

The Event Max closes that hole. Each figure above is daily max + 30 — the same ceiling the rest table already implies for a two-day event, now enforced no matter how many days the event runs.

10.2 Additional limits

1. A pitcher may appear in a maximum of two games per day. Pitches available in game two equal the lower of (daily max − pitches thrown in game one) and (event max − pitches thrown so far in the event).
2. No pitcher may pitch in three games in a day, or on three consecutive days. A pitcher who has pitched two days in a row must rest the third day regardless of pitch count.
3. Pitches count toward the day on which they are thrown. If a suspended game resumes the next day, pitches thrown after resumption count toward the new day — but all of them count toward the event max.
4. Pitches thrown in a game later ruled a forfeit still count toward daily max, event max, and required rest.
5. Daily limits reset when the park closes for the night. Event limits do not reset until the team's participation in the event has ended.
6. A team playing in two events in the same weekend does not get a fresh event max. The required rest table governs across events, and a director may rule a player ineligible to pitch on that basis. (See also §3.4 — a player is eligible with only one team per weekend.)

10.3 Completing a batter ("Threshold" / "Frozen" / "Done")

1. A pitcher who reaches the daily max or event max mid-at-bat may finish that batter, provided the at-bat began below the limit.
2. A pitcher who crosses a rest threshold mid-at-bat may finish that batter with no additional rest penalty, provided the at-bat began below the threshold.

Example: a 12U pitcher starting a batter at 29 pitches and finishing at 34 still needs 0 days rest.

1. The three statuses an umpire may call:

1. The umpire announces the status aloud when it occurs. The coach is responsible for confirming pitcher status with the umpire when signing the game card. Pitch counts and pitcher eligibility are reviewed and locked at card signing.

10.3a Worked examples

11U pitcher, Saturday–Sunday event (daily 85 / event 115):

11U pitcher, same event, managed for two days:

13U pitcher, Friday–Monday holiday event (daily 95 / event 125) — the case the event max exists for:

13U pitcher, same holiday event, spread out:

10.4 Violations & penalties

1. It is each manager's duty to protest a suspected pitching violation by contacting the event director before the start of the offending team's next game.
2. A violation occurs when a pitcher delivers a pitch to the next batter after reaching any of the three limits — daily max, event max, or required rest — or, if the limit was reached at the end of an inning, when the pitcher toes the rubber to start a new inning.
3. Penalty: the pitcher is removed from the mound immediately on discovery. If the violation is blatant and obvious, the head coach is subject to ejection at the director's discretion. Repeat violations by the same program are grounds for suspension.

10.5 Pitch count recording

1. The home team's book is official for pitch count unless the event page designates a scorekeeping app or an assigned scorer.
2. Both managers and the plate umpire must agree on and sign the pitch count on the game card at the conclusion of every game. An unsigned card waives all pitching protests for that game.
3. Pitch counts are entered into [scoring platform] before the team's next game.
4. Running event totals are the team's responsibility to track, and [ORG NAME] publishes them per pitcher in [scoring platform] after each game. A coach who cannot produce a pitcher's running event total on request may be barred from using that pitcher until it is reconciled.

11. Frequently Disputed Rules

These are the calls that generate the most arguments. They are printed here so managers and umpires read the same words.

1. First-and-third (yo-yo) move. With runners on first and third, the pitcher may disengage the rubber by stepping toward third. Having legally disengaged, the pitcher may then play on the runner going to second or the runner at third — and is not required to throw at all. No balk, provided the disengagement is properly executed. (NFHS 6-2-4)

2. Breaking up the double play. A runner may not hinder a fielder's opportunity to complete a double play. Contact is not required for interference to be called. For safety, runners must slide directly into second or peel out of the base path early. (NFHS 8-4-1h, 8-4-2b)

3. Batter interference. A batter may not hinder the catcher's throw or fielding by leaning over the plate, stepping out of the box, or otherwise obstructing the play. Contact is not required. (NFHS 7-3-5)

4. Balks — 9U and above. Balks are enforced at 9U and older with no warning, using OBR balk rules. A balk is a delayed dead ball: if the ball is put in play and all runners including the batter-runner advance at least one base, the balk is nullified; otherwise each runner is awarded one base after action ends. (OBR 6.02(a)) At 8U and below, balks are not called.

5. Dropped third strike. No advancement on a dropped third strike at 8U and below. Standard rules apply 9U and up.

6. Infield fly. Applies at 8U player pitch and above. Does not apply in coach pitch, machine pitch, or T-Ball.

12. Pool Play, Seeding & Tiebreakers

12.1 Format

Events use pool play followed by single-elimination bracket play, unless the event page states otherwise. Every team is guaranteed the number of games stated on the event page; weather policy in §13–14 governs when that guarantee cannot be met.

12.2 Seeding tiebreakers

Applied in order until the tie is broken:

1. Win-loss record (a tie counts as a half win and a half loss)
2. Head-to-head
3. Fewest runs allowed
4. Run differential — capped at ±8 per game, summed across pool games
5. Most runs scored
6. Coin flip

Three or more teams tied: head-to-head is skipped and the next criterion is applied. Once the tie is reduced to two teams, the sequence restarts from the top for those two teams.

This restart rule matters and is the single most common seeding argument in youth baseball. State it explicitly on the event page too.

12.3 Cross-pool seeding

When teams from different pools are compared, only the criteria above are used. Pools of unequal size are compared on winning percentage, not total wins.

13. Weather, Suspended & Incomplete Games

13.1 Official game

A game called for weather or hazardous conditions is an official game if:

• 7-inning games: 4 innings complete, or 3½ with the home team ahead.
• 6-inning games: 3 innings complete, or 2½ with the home team ahead.

13.2 Games called before official

1. If 3 or more innings have been completed and the director determines the game cannot be completed, the score reverts to the last completed inning.
2. If fewer than 3 innings have been completed, the result is decided by seed — the higher seed advances. In pool play, the game is recorded as a tie unless the director rules otherwise.
3. A game stopped by an event official before becoming official is a suspended game. Suspended games are rescheduled only if the schedule permits; that decision belongs to the director alone.

13.3 Director authority

The tournament director may, at any time and without protest:

• shorten time limits or innings,
• convert bracket play to pool-play standings,
• move games between fields or facilities,
• change start times with notice via [notification method], or
• declare an event complete based on standings at the point of stoppage.

Managers are responsible for monitoring [notification method] for schedule changes.

14. Refunds & Credits

This section is the one most likely to cost you money and goodwill in year one. Write it before you take a single entry fee, publish it on every event page, and never deviate from it verbally.

14.1 Withdrawal by a team

14.2 Weather

• Refunds are issued as credit by default, redeemable for [12] months at any [ORG NAME] event. Cash refunds are processed within [14] business days on request.
• A game is "played" once it becomes an official game under §13.1, or once it is stopped after any team has batted, whichever the director determines.
• Gate fees, insurance fees, and processing fees are non-refundable.

15. Umpires & Officials

1. All umpires working [ORG NAME] events must be registered with [ORG NAME] and carry current certification and background clearance.
2. Two umpires are assigned to each game at 9U and above where staffing permits; a minimum of one plate umpire is guaranteed.
3. Umpires have full authority over play on the field. Umpires do not have authority to: declare a forfeit, rule on roster or uniform legality, or waive pitching limits.
4. Unsportsmanlike conduct by spectators is handled through the manager: the umpire directs the manager of the offending team to correct it. If the manager fails to do so, the umpire summons the tournament director.
5. No coach, player, or parent may address an umpire between games or after the event. Complaints go to the tournament director in writing.

16. Protests

1. A protest must be lodged immediately, before the next pitch, by the manager to the plate umpire, who summons the tournament director. The game clock stops during a protest.
2. Protest fee: $100, cash, paid before the protest is heard. The fee is refunded if the protest is upheld.
3. Judgment calls cannot be protested. Protests are limited to misapplication of a rule, player eligibility, and pitching violations.
4. No protest may be made after the umpire has declared the game concluded. Roster protests are not permitted after a game ends.
5. The tournament director's ruling is final and not appealable on site.

17. Conduct, Ejections & Suspensions

17.1 Ejections

1. An ejected manager, coach, player, or trainer must take no further part in that game and must leave the field and dugout area — out of sight and sound of the playing field.
2. A manager ejected during a game is suspended for the remainder of that game and the team's next game.
3. A manager ejected after a game has concluded is suspended for the team's next three games.
4. An ejected player: if roster batting, that lineup spot becomes an out; if batting 9 or 10, an eligible substitute may replace them, otherwise the spot becomes an out.
5. Additional penalties beyond the automatic minimums are assessed by the director based on the conduct involved.

17.2 Suspension & dismissal

Grounds for suspension or dismissal from [ORG NAME] include:

• Unsportsmanlike conduct by any member, before, during, or after an event.
• Any verbal or physical attack on a participant, official, or director.
• Competing under an assumed name or fraudulent proof of age — this applies equally to any coach with prior knowledge of the violation.
• Any player receiving compensation for playing in a [ORG NAME] event.
• Payment failure that cannot be settled in a reasonable time.

A suspended member may not participate in any [ORG NAME] event in any capacity — player, coach, umpire, or director — until the suspension is lifted. A suspended or dismissed party may submit evidence on their behalf within 7 days of notification; [ORG NAME] will review within 30 days.

17.3 Noisemakers & music

Artificial noisemakers (air horns, cowbells, whistles) and amplified music are restricted at the discretion of the tournament or site director. Host facility rules always control.

17.4 Abuse & molestation policy

All coaches and staff must complete [background screening provider] screening and [SafeSport / abuse-prevention training] before the season. [ORG NAME] maintains a published Abuse & Molestation Policy; participation constitutes agreement to it. (Do not launch without this. See OPERATIONS.md §3.)

18. Coach Pitch Rules (6U–8U)

1. Defense: nine or ten players. With ten, four must play outfield, positioned two to each side of a line from home through second base. Six infielders: 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, catcher, and a middle infielder who must start inside the pitching circle, no closer to home than the pitching rubber. No infield shifts — infielders start at the generally accepted position. Outfielders may not start a play in the infield, and vice versa.
2. Minimum 8 players to start and finish, taking an out for the ninth. Below eight = forfeit.
3. Pitching plate 40 feet from the tip of home. The coach-pitcher must be in contact with the rubber at release and must deliver overhand from a standing position.
4. Pitching circle: 12–18 feet in diameter with the rubber at center. The player-pitcher may not leave the circle until the ball is hit. First violation — offense chooses the result of the play or a no-pitch. Second by the same player — removed from the position for the inning. Third — removed from the position for the game.
5. Safety arc: 30 feet from the back tip of home, first-base line to third-base line. Fielders stay beyond the arc until the ball is hit. Where no arc is marked, fielders must remain behind a line 3 feet in front of the pitching rubber.
6. Each batter gets six pitches or three strikes. A foul ball on the sixth pitch extends the at-bat until the batter puts the ball in play or fails to make contact.
7. 7 runs or 3 outs per half inning. (5 in Rec/Metro.)
8. All teams roster bat, with free defensive substitution and a fixed batting order.
9. The catcher must be in the catcher's box, no more than 4 feet behind the plate, in the catching position, providing a target — and must be fully and legally equipped. A catcher's mitt is recommended, not required.
10. There are no: walks, hit-by-pitch awards, infield fly, stealing, bunting, or intentional walks. A bunt or half-swing is a foul ball — batters must take a full swing.
11. Runners may not leave the base until the pitch crosses the front edge of home plate. A runner leaving early is out and the pitch is a no-pitch. This is an appeal play.
12. Batted ball hits the coach-pitcher: foul ball if unintentional. If the umpire judges the contact intentional, or the coach catches the ball, the batter is out and no runner advances.
13. The coach-pitcher must leave the field immediately when the ball is batted fair, moving away from the direction of the ball. Failure to do so may be ruled interference.
14. The coach-pitcher may not coach — verbally or physically, to anyone — while in the pitching position. One warning; any further violation removes them as pitcher for the game.
15. Courtesy runner for the catcher only, and it is mandatory with two outs.
16. Umpires call time after every play, declaring the ball dead once all three are true: the lead runner has stopped advancing, an infielder has possession in the infield, and no play is imminent. The defense does not have to request time.

19. Machine Pitch Rules (6U–8U)

Coach pitch rules apply except as modified below.

1. Machine set at 46 feet, front of machine, on a line toward second base.
2. Speed: 6U–7U 34–38 mph; 8U 40–44 mph. The machine is set by the umpire or site staff and is not protestable.
3. Safety box: 5 feet to each side of and behind the machine. The player-pitcher may not cross this mark until the ball is batted.
4. 30-foot safety arc from the back tip of home, first-base line to third-base line.
5. Six pitches or three strikes per batter; foul ball on the sixth extends the at-bat.
6. A fair batted ball striking the machine is a dead ball, ruled a single. All runners advance one base from their original position.
7. 7 runs or 3 outs per half inning.
8. Roster batting, free defensive substitution, fixed order.
9. No walks, infield fly, stealing, or intentional walks. Bunting: one bunt per inning permitted per team.
10. Runners may not leave the base until the pitch crosses the front of home plate; early = out, no pitch.
11. Courtesy runner for the catcher only.

20. T-Ball Rules (4U–6U)

1. Five innings. Maximum 5 runs or 3 outs per half inning.
2. Defense: six infielders (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, catcher, middle infielder) and four outfielders. The middle infielder starts inside the 12–18 foot pitching circle, no closer than the rubber. No infielder may start a play in front of a line drawn from 5 feet in front of first and third, intersecting at a point 63′7″ from the tip of home.
3. A catcher is not required, but a team without one may field only 9 defenders — it may not move that player elsewhere. The catcher plays behind home plate at any distance.
4. Nine players to start. A team may finish with eight due to injury.
5. 15-foot fair-ball arc and 30-foot safety arc from the back tip of home.
6. Center of the pitching area is 40 feet from the back point of home. The player-pitcher may not leave the pitching area until the ball is hit.
7. Three swings to put the ball in play fair, or the batter is out.
8. Roster batting, free defensive substitution, fixed order.
9. No infield fly, stealing, bunting, or intentional walks. A bunt or half-swing is a foul.
10. A runner leaving the base before the ball is hit is out — no appeal required.
11. One defensive coach is allowed in the outfield and must coach from there (two at 4U and 5U). Defensive coaches may not enter the infield except by umpire permission or for injury. A thrown ball striking a defensive coach is a live ball; play continues.
12. Overthrows: the batter or runner may advance one base only, at risk of being put out. On a second overthrow the ball is dead and one base is awarded. A batter-runner may not score on an overthrow — they must stop at third. Preceding runners may be forced ahead by the award.
13. Time and the halfway rule. Time is called once the lead runner stops or all runners stop. At 4U–5U, a ball returned to the pitching circle is considered controlled and time is called on arrival. Any runner more than halfway to the next base is awarded it; any runner not halfway returns. Preceding runners have priority — a trailing runner past halfway cannot force a preceding runner who is not.
14. Players may not roll the ball when making a play; it must be thrown. The pitcher may not make an unassisted out at first, including a tag — the ball must be thrown to another fielder.
15. At 4U–5U outfielders may run into the infield to make a play. At 6U outfielders must throw the ball to an infielder.
16. Courtesy runner for the catcher of record only, mandatory with two outs.
17. Ties: if tied after 5 innings with time remaining, play up to two additional innings under normal rules. If still tied after 7, place the last recorded out on second base and begin each half inning with two outs, continuing until time expires or a winner is determined.

21. Optional Local Rule Sets

These may be adopted by a specific event and, if so, are stated on that event's page.

21.1 9U Modified Stealing

1. All standard rules apply except base stealing. Bases remain at 65 feet.
2. A 10-foot mark is placed off first, second, and third.
3. A runner may take a lead but may not cross the 10-foot mark until the ball crosses the plate. The runner may steal once the ball crosses the plate.
4. If a runner gets a running start before the ball crosses the plate: the runner returns to the base; if put out on the play, the runner is out; if the ball is put in play, the runner advances only if forced; on a passed ball or wild pitch, the runner need not return.
5. If the pitcher attempts a pickoff, the runner may advance on the play.

Why: it lets young pitchers learn to hold runners and catchers learn to throw them out — the runner still has to cover 65 feet — without the game becoming a track meet.

21.2 8U Player Pitch (closed bases)

1. Nine defenders with three outfielders. Infield fly applies.
2. Closed bases: no leadoffs until the ball crosses the plate. Runners must remain on base while the pitcher is in the pitching position and the catcher is in the catching position.
3. A runner leaving early is returned to the last base occupied unless put out — not an appealable play. If forced, the runner advances one base behind the batter-runner. If the ball is put in play, the defense may take the play or return runners and the batter.
4. No balks are called.
5. No advancement on a dropped third strike.
6. A runner may not steal home. A runner may score from third only if batted or forced home.

21.3 6U Modified Coach Pitch

1. Pitching rubber at 36 feet. Coach must be in contact with the rubber at release and deliver overhand while standing.
2. Outfielders must throw the ball into the infield to make a play; they may not run in to record a force or tag.
3. The batter receives 4 pitches. After 4, the batter chooses one more pitch or one swing from a tee. Failing to put the ball legally in play = out. From the tee, the ball must pass the 15-foot arc. Once the batter elects the extra pitch, they may not switch to the tee, even after fouling it off; a foul on that pitch extends the at-bat.
4. Ties follow the T-Ball tie procedure (§20.17).

Appendix A — Plate Meeting Checklist

Umpires must confirm all of the following before the first pitch, out loud, with both managers:

• [ ] Coin flip / home team confirmed
• [ ] Start time and time limit stated and agreed
• [ ] Lineups exchanged; roster batting vs. batting 9/10 declared
• [ ] Late player announced, if any
• [ ] Ground rules for the specific field
• [ ] Pitch count keeper identified; official book confirmed
• [ ] Any pitcher entering the game already carrying day or event totals — declared by the coach
• [ ] Courtesy runner rules confirmed for this division
• [ ] Sportsmanship expectation stated to both managers

Appendix B — Post-Game Card

The game is not final until the card is signed. Do not let a manager leave without signing.

• [ ] Final score, by inning
• [ ] Each pitcher used, with pitches this game, day-to-date, and event-to-date
• [ ] Any pitcher marked Threshold, Frozen, or Done — stated aloud and initialed
• [ ] Ejections, with a one-line factual description
• [ ] Both managers' and plate umpire's signatures

A signed card waives all pitching and lineup protests for that game.

© 2027 [ORG NAME]. This document is original to [ORG NAME]. Rules are derived from and compatible with NFHS, OBR, USA Baseball Pitch Smart, and USSSA bat certification standards.