ALLEN PARK ATHLETIC CLUB

9/10 Year Old Hardball Division Rules of 2012

OFFICIAL RULES OF PLAY:

All games will be played under the Michigan High School Athletic Association Baseball Rules adaptable to this age group with exception to the rules listed below.

1. START OF GAME:

The official starting time will be listed on the game schedule. The umpire will officially note the start of the game to both managers according to their means of tracking time.

The umpire will gather managers 5 minutes prior to the official start of game to review the ground rules. At that time both managers must have their batting order (with player’s last name and jersey number) ready to trade.

Practicing on the infield before a game is prohibited.

2. GAME DURATION:

A maximum of 6 innings will be played with a 2-hour time limit.

A maximum of 6 runs an inning per side will be allowed. Exception: If a team has 5 runs scored in a single inning and there are runners on base, they will be allowed to score until the play ends. Runs per inning will be kept for the sole purpose of maximum runs per inning rule. There are no season standings. A season-end tournament will be held.

No inning shall start 1 hour and 45 minutes from the official starting time. Exception: If a game is delayed due to weather conditions or absence of the home plate umpire, the official starting time will be accommodated for the time delayed. For this exception the maximum allowance shall not exceed 15 minutes. Under no other conditions shall a game be officially delayed.

3. NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Defensive Play:

The defensive playing field will consist of 10 players. Players in attendance will take the playing field with no player sitting more than 1 inning at a time.

Infield and outfield rotation between all players is mandatory. There will be a 2-inning infield position limit per player. Exception: Pitchers and catchers have exclusion from this rule. (See Pitching and Catching)

The borrowing of players is permitted to allow a team the minimum fielding requirements or to make the number of defensive players equal. The decision to borrow players should be made before game time between managers and only if the player(s) being borrowed agree. Under no circumstance will a player be forced to play for the opposing team.

If or when the borrowing team’s players arrive, the lending players may return to their team. Players returning to their team may be placed in the original batting order.

Offensive Play:

All players in attendance will be placed in a continuous batting order. All players arriving late will be placed at the bottom of the batting order. A player is defined late once the batting roster is handed out at the meeting with the umpires to go over the ground rules.

4. INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

An ineligible player is defined as any player NOT registered with APAC for that team.

5. FIELD DIMENSIONS

Pitching distance from mound to the back of home plate will be 46 feet.

Bases will be 60 feet apart.

 

6. SPECIAL RULES

A) Stealing is allowed after the pitch has crossed the plate.

B) The stealing of home is prohibited.

C) A runner must wait for the ball to cross the plate before leaving the base.

D) Intentional walking is prohibited.

E) Bunting is allowed.

F) When 1 runner is on base, and an attempt is made on that runner, if the ball is overthrown and stays in play, the runner may continue around the bases at their own risk all the way to home plate.

G) When 2 or more runners are on base, and an attempt is made on the lead runner if the ball is overthrown and stays in play, the lead runner and all runners behind can continue around the bases at their own risk all the way to home plate.

H) When 2 or more runners are on base, and an attempt is made on a runner other than the lead runner, the lead runner must stop or remain at third base.

7. VISITORS / HOME TEAM

The home and visiting team is listed on the game schedule. The visiting team must place the bases on the field. The home team must remove the bases from the field. Each team will furnish 1 new ball and 1 good ball to the umpire at ground rules before the game.

8. INCLEMENT WEATHER

Regular Season

A) Both teams must report to the playing field unless instructed otherwise by the manager or league director. Agreement between the umpire and managers will decide whether the game shall be played.

B) In the case of lighting, the players shall be removed immediately from the field, and play shall not resume until 15 minutes have transpired without any subsequent lighting.

C) A canceled game may be rescheduled. Managers must be in agreement on time and place. The home team manager will contact the umpire director for the rescheduling of the umpires.

9. EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS

Players must wear their team uniform (APAC issued hat and shirt) in all regularly scheduled games. Any type of pants or trousers may be worn.

Only Official regulation Little League bats may be used, or bats approved by league directors. Aluminum bats must have a maximum diameter of 2 ¼ inches.

No metal spikes allowed.

For the protection of the player, APAC recommends all boys wear a protective cup.

Catchers are required to wear full equipment: protective helmet, mask, throat guard, chest protector, shin guards, and cup.

All batters, base runners, and player coaches are required to wear a protective helmet with earflaps.

Any violation of this rule will draw a warning. A second warning will result in an automatic expulsion from the game.

10. SUBSTITUTION

Defensive free substitution in the field will be allowed. Players previously removed from the game can return to the game in later innings. Substitutions have no bearing on the continuous batting order.

11. PITCHING

A pitcher is allowed a maximum of 3 innings per game in any order. 1 pitch constitutes an inning pitched. A relief pitcher must pitch to one batter until that batter is out or on base. No curve balls allowed. First offense will draw a NO PITCH from the umpire; any thereafter will be called a ball. A manager will be permitted a maximum of two conferences with each pitcher during the game. On the third conference the pitcher must be removed and cannot return to pitch during the game. However, if removed before the third conference, the same pitcher can return to pitch in later innings. There are no balks.


12. CATCHER

A catcher is allowed a maximum of 3 innings per game in any order. 1 catch constitutes an inning.

Catchers are required to wear full equipment: protective helmet, mask, throat guard, chest protector, shin guards, and cup.

12. DROPPED THIRD STRIKE

On a dropped third strike, the batter is automatically out. The catcher does not have to tag or throw the batter out at first base.

13. INFIELD FLY RULE

The infield fly rule will be in effect.

14. COACHING BOX

Managers or coaches are allowed in the coaching boxes. If a player is helping coach, he must wear a protective helmet.

15. SLIDING

Any time a runner is coming into a base with a fielder waiting for him with the ball, the runner must slide. Any infraction of this rule will result in the runner being called out on the play. If in the umpire’s judgment, there was a malicious attempt to injure a player, the player causing the injury will be automatically ejected from the game and will not be allowed to attend the next game.

16. UMPIRES

The umpires are in complete charge of the game. Their decisions are final. Baseball rules state that only an umpire’s interpretation of a rule can be questioned, not his judgment on a play.

The Director of Umpires, who shall be appointed by the APAC Board of Directors, will assign umpires.

Managers shall not intimidate the umpires. Two violations of this rule will constitute disciplinary action by the Board. Flagrant violations will be dealt with immediately.

17. BEHAVIOR

After 1 team warning, players throwing any equipment shall be removed from the game immediately by either the Umpire or the Manager.

Players, managers, or coaches removed from a game by the umpire must sit out the next scheduled game. Suspended participants will not attend the following game. A second removal will be up for review by the board to take any further necessary action.

18. MANAGERS

Managers are responsible for the actions of their coaches and spectators. A manager will be warned once by the umpire to control his coaches, players, and/or fans. If in the umpire’s judgment the unsportsmanlike actions continue, the umpire has the authority to call the game off.

 

Revised 4/22/2008