2023 CHICAGO 11U & 12U ALL-STAR BASEBALL RULES

1. PLAYING FIELD DIMENSIONS

Distance between bases: 70 ft. Pitching distance: 50 ft.

2. Field Rules – Lineup,

Batting Order and Substitutions

-a. Each team must field a minimum at the start of the game of eight players or forfeit. The team who has the required number of players may NOT make an accommodation on this point such that the teams will wait for opponent players, loan players or allow the opponent to play with fewer players. The game MAY and SHOULD be played if possible, but the team without 8 players will forfeit the game regardless of outcome. There will be no ghost outs.

-b. Call-ups of younger players from your league are permissible in advance or at game time to get to 8 or 9 players. The manager shall inform the opposing manager and umpire of the subject players.

-c. Intentional walks are allowed. Coaches can indicate the walk without the pitcher throwing any pitches or during an at bat.

-d. All players will bat in a continuous batting order unless injured, ill, or taken out for unsportsmanlike conduct.

-e. Any player arriving after the game has commenced will be placed in the LAST position in the batting order. The team manager has the responsibility of notifying the opposing manager immediately that a player has arrived and will be inserted in the batting order. A manager may not insert a player in the line up with the intent of him arriving by the time he is scheduled to bat or field. The starting lineup consists of only players present at the time the game starts.

-f. Teams must field a minimum of 8 players at all times but may field as many 9 players, regardless of how many players are fielded by the opponent. A team with 9 or fewer players must field all of their players.

-g. With 2 outs, pitcher or catcher may be substituted on base by the last player who made out.

3. Complete, Called, Extended, Cancelled or Suspended Games

-a. If weather or darkness interferes with play so that the game is ended by the umpire, it is a regulation/official game if 3 ½ innings have been played and the home team is winning or if 4 innings have been played and the visiting team is winning. If the game is tied after 4 full innings it is considered an official game and the result is a tie. If the game is called in the middle of an inning after the 4th inning, the score will revert to the prior complete inning if necessary.

-b. Games that are tied at the end of “regular play” (as described above) may play extra innings as time permits at the agreement of the umpire and managers. If the game is stopped for the reasons discussed due to darkness/weather/time, the game will be finished prior to the next scheduled game between the two teams or at another date set by the two managers by agreement or the commissioner if an agreement cannot be reached if it is less than 4 innings played.

-c. No game will be cancelled or rescheduled without the consent and approval of the League Commissioner.

4. General Playing Rules

-a. Last inning may be before the 6th if time constraints are in effect. Both managers and umpire must agree before the start of a new inning if this is the last inning due to nearing the 1hour 45 minute mark.

-b. The infield fly rule is in effect.

1. The rule applies only when there are fewer than two outs, and there is a force play at third base (i.e., there are runners at first and second base, or the bases are loaded). In these situations, if a fly ball is in fair play, and in the umpire's judgment it is catchable by an infielder with ordinary effort, the umpire shall call "infield fly", and the batter will be out regardless of whether the ball is actually caught in flight.

2. If the umpire does not call “infield fly”, the play shall not be assumed to be an infield fly.

3. If "infield fly" is called and the fly ball is caught, it is treated exactly as an ordinary fly ball; the batter is out, there is no force, and the runners must tag up.

4. If "infield fly" is called and the ball lands fair without being caught, the batter is still out, and there is no force, but the runners are not required to tag up.

5. In either case, the ball is live, and the runners may advance at the risk of being doubled- off if the ball is caught. -c. Drop Third Strike rule IS in effect. (No drop third strike if less than 2 outs and runner on first)

-d. Slaughter Rule: 12 runs after 4 innings (3 ½ if the home team is leading) or 10 runs after 5 innings.

5. Pitching Rules

-a. A pitcher may pitch in no more than 2 innings in 1 game. As soon as a pitcher delivers 1 pitch to a batter, the pitcher is considered as having pitched 1 full inning.

-b. Balks that occurs will be given a warning by the umpire unless a player is called out or prevented from advancing due to the balk, then a balk will be enforced and player will advance safely.

-c. If a pitcher hits 3 batters in a game, the manager or umpire must remove him from the mound.

-d. A pitcher who is withdrawn from the mound shall not be permitted to return as a pitcher in the same game.

-e. A starting or relief pitcher shall be allowed no more than 7 warm-up pitches. Pitchers continuing in subsequent innings shall be allowed no more than 4 warm-up pitches.

-f. One visit per pitcher per inning is allowed (visits prior to the first pitch of an inning shall not be counted as a visit). On the second visit, the pitcher must be removed. Any defensive conference between a coach and player(s) counts as a visit to the pitcher. A defensive visit for an injury, with the approval of the umpire, does not count as a visit.

6. Batting and Base Running Rules

-a. Bunting is permitted. Batters may not fake bunt and then swing away on the same pitch.

-b. Lead offs are permitted.

-c. If a walk occurs the batter awarded first base can choose to attempt to advance to second base if so desired unless the ball is out of play or time has been granted by umpire.

-d. Players must slide or avoid a collision at any base or will be called out.

-e. Headfirst slides are permitted at every base except for home.

-f. Stealing of second, third or home is permitted at any time.

-g. Players may take one base when the ball is thrown out of play. Balls thrown out of play (by judgment of the umpire) become dead balls (i.e., even if the player throws the ball back into play, the umpire will end the play and players will not take extra bases). Players may advance at their own discretion when an overthrow results in a ball being in play.

-h. You may not have more than 9 in the field at any time but you may bat more than 9 in the lineup if you so choose but it is not required. However, the amount of players in the batting lineup you start with must stay consistent through the game unless injury causes it to decrease.

7. Time Limit & Equipment

-a. No inning shall begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the scheduled start time.

-b. Rubber cleats or gym shoes only allowed on the Sheridan Park Fields, no metal spikes allowed.

-c. Please encourage all players to wear cups, catchers MUST wear a cup.

-d. Pitchers may not wear batting gloves or wrist jewelry on either hand. Pitchers may wear eyeglasses or sunglasses only if they are prescription lenses.

-e. Baseball bat policy: Only USA labeled or wooden bats are permitted. Throwing of the bat is discouraged. A team warning shall be given if the problem is chronic. After a warning has been issued, the offending player shall be called out on the next infraction. 8. Field Rules

-a. Regardless of the state of the dugout and field when you take the diamond, you are expected to leave it pristine.

-b. No food is allowed in dugouts ever. This includes gum and seeds. Sports drinks are acceptable.

-c. No fence hitting of hard balls. You may use whiffle/pickle balls.

-d. Dogs are never allowed on the field or in the dugout.

-e. Balls that clearly bounce over or roll under the fence in right field at Sheridan will be a ground rule triple.

-f. No swinging of Baseball bats in the on deck area of the Dugout. Players can be on deck outside of the dugout fence area, to the back of the batter who is at the plate.

9. Sportsmanship

-a. Disrespect to the umpire or the opposing team will not be tolerated from coaches or players

-b. No one is allowed to watch the game behind home plate area; this area is to remain clear during game play. Each team has the responsibility to inform their fans/parents/families to avoid watching the game from behind home plate.

-c. Managers are urged to show leadership. Managers only – are allowed to speak to an umpire to discuss a rule or other game matter. Managers will summon the opposing manager and calmly discuss the issue. Managers will instruct their coaches to remain in their dugout (or 1st or 3rd base for base coaches) during a manager/umpire discussion. Managers are responsible for keeping their coaches, players, and parents calm and respectful during a manager/umpire discussion.

-d. Balls and strikes may not be disputed

-e. No distracting noises during the pitcher’s wind-up. Vocal support for their team is allowed in the form of cheering and voicing encouragement.

-f. Each team’s manager will be responsible for control of the team’s fans. Verbal intimidation or questioning calls, criticizing players, etc. by team fans may result in an ejection.

-g. Profanity will not be tolerated by adults or players and may also result in ejection.

-h. Verbal intimidation of a player by an adult will not be tolerated. This includes indirect intimidation (e.g., “encouraging” batters by disparaging pitchers, encouraging base runners by disparaging fielders, etc.).

-i. Verbal intimidation of an umpire by any adult will not be tolerated. This includes parents from the stands.

-j. Umpires may eject managers, coaches, players or parents based on the above. No warning is necessary – i.e., any ejection is at the umpire’s discretion. It is the umpire’s option to remove a manager or coach who violates any of these rules or excessively challenges the umpire’s authority.