Game Rules (Effective as of Fall 2024)

1. Batting team Parent pitches - the pitcher must stay within the Circle, and pitching distance from home plate should be reasonable based on the player (on the field right in front of the mound for average or older players; closer for younger/little players)
2. Fielding team Player Catches
3. Up to 7 pitches.   Can swing all 7 times. No hit = Out. (An additional pitch is allowed if foul ball hit on last pitch or the coach throws several really bad pitches.) 
4. 3 outs = end of half inning
5. Score keeping:  A maximum five run rule per half inning. In the case of a Home Run (in the park or over the fence), all runs count.
6. Game time: 75 minutes.  We do NOT play innings, we play to end of game time.
   1. If there is time remaining on the clock when the 3rd out is called, another inning will start. The umpire is the official time keeper, and will determine and advise when time has expired.  The coaches can at any time request time remaining from the Umpire.  At the end of 75 minutes...
      ...if home team is batting and ahead in score, game over; or
      ...if home team is batting and behind, they can finish the inning then game over; or
      ...if visitor is batting, game time will be extended to allow visitor to finish and home team to have last bat for that inning, then game over.
7. Every player bats and fields during the game, regardless of playing in the field or sitting out a half inning
8. No stealing or lead-off base running.
9. Maximum of 4 non-player personnel per team inside the fenced area at any time.  This includes siblings, friends, adults, and coaches.
   • On Defense: 2 adult coaches are allowed in the outfield grassy area only. All others should be in the dugout or standing on the concrete pad outside the dugout.  No adults should be near the offensive base coaches area. Effective Summer 2023, no adult coach or "helper" may play behind the Catcher - unless approved by the Director to enable speeding up the game. 
   • On Offense: The first and third base coaches are allowed only in the coach’s boxes, as well as one batting team coach to collect the bat after a player hits.  All others should be in the dugout or standing on the concrete pad outside the dugout.  
10. Catchers should be down in the Catcher position and get all balls pitched or hit foul in the catcher's area.
11. Coaches will be allowed to change pitchers, at any time.
12. All players present must be in the batting lineup, determined at the start of the game and followed during the game with no changes unless both team coaches agree.  A late player must be added at the end of the batting order, and bat when his turn comes up. 
13. Ball must travel 3 feet or it is a foul - the green area in front of the home plate area is the fair ball line.
14. If the ball hits the adult pitcher OR the ball bucket placed near the pitcher, the ball will become automatically dead and the batter will be awarded first base. Any runner that is forced to do so, will advance one base. If the coach intentionally let the ball hit himself, or moved the bucket into the path of the ball so as to cause the ball to hit the bucket, the batter will be called out and the coach warned. If there is a second occurrence, the coach will be ejected.
15. There is NO infield warm‐up before games. Warm‐ups should be in the outfield.Teams can play 9 or 10 players defensively but must have at least 4 outfielders if available. Outfielders must be in the grass behind the base line.
16. Defensive Player positions: The defensive player pitcher must stay behind the pitcher’s rubber until the ball is batted.  The 4 defensive infield players must be in the dirt or brown turf area until the ball is batted (exception on Field 4).  The 3-5 defensive outfield players must be in the grass until the ball is batted.
17. Overthrow Rule: In the case of an overthrow, for each overthrow, players can advance only 1 base.  (Example. Short stop over throws to First: Batter can advance to 2nd base, 2nd base runner to 3rd, and 3rd base runner to home.)​  Additional overthrows that occur during that live ball can result in a player continuing to advance a base (each overthrow = potential advancement at risk).
18. No fielder may cross the playing line until the ball is hit.
19. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and spectators. League officials have the option of removing any manager, coach, player, or spectator. Anyone ejected from a game must either leave the park entirely or remain in the parking lot for the remainder of that game and the next game.
20. All teams must be ready to play at game time or the late team will forfeit the game.
21. Only players listed on the official team roster will be eligible to play, unless approval is received from the Baseball Director.
22. (Effective starting Fall 2024) If a team has less than 9 players...
    • if a team has 8 or more, they must play a catcher. 
    • If they have 7 or less, they can go without a catcher so as to have 2 outfielders.  Teams are at a huge disadvantage not having a catcher; more so usually than having only 2 outfielders.  
    • In case of player shortages, fill-in players are allowed (to get to 10 players), during the season.   Fill-in players must be registered with the League for the season of play, not be older than the allowed age for that division, and must be wearing their team jersey, unless approved by the Director.  The opposing Coach must be made aware of a fill-in player situation.  Teams in this situation are allowed to go without a pitcher or a 2nd baseman - to have 3 in outfield.  Coaches are allowed to make adjustments with each batter if desired, based on batter's expected capabilities.
23. The ball is considered dead when the Fielding team Pitcher or the Batting team adult pitcher has control of the ball.  (Effective starting Fall 2024) The Batting team adult pitcher cannot intentionally move out of the way when the ball is thrown in his/her direction, in order to create the perception of an overthrow situation.
24. Any base runner touched by a live batted ball has committed interference and is out. The ball is dead. The batter-runner is awarded first base (unless he is the one touched by the batted ball), and other runners advance only if forced.