RULES:Farm (kid pitch) league
Kempsville Recreation Association as a league is to promote and develop good sportsmanship, fair play, skill, ethics and to maintain the highest integrity among all teams and all individuals participating.
The basic concept of this league us to make the game safe, fun and interesting for our young players by using safe equipment and keeping their interest active in playing baseball. Some of the rules used for this league may be viewed as “untraditional baseball”, but at this age level, keeping all the kids safely involved in the game and preparing them for higher levels of competition is our main concern and goal. Failure for us to not provide the children with a safe environment and a league not built on fair play and sportsmanship opens the door for these youngsters to seek out other activities that provide them more fun. For this reason, these rules are in line with the Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation Virginia Beach Community Baseball League Bylaws with some minor modifications.
ELIGIBILITY
1) The minimum age is nine (9) years old as of May 1st, and the maximum age cannot be age eleven (11) years old prior to May 1st. (minimum age exemption is allowed with the approval of the Boy’s Athletic Directors approval)
2) Use of players not on official team roster will result in forfeiture for every game in which the ineligible player has played. A one game suspension of the coach will be imposed on the teams next game played.
3) Parents or Coaches found falsifying birth dates of players will be expelled from this league for a time to be determined by the KRA Board of Directors.
4) The KRA Board of Directors will review volunteer acceptance status.
5) A player must be attending school or be in an approved home study program.
EQUIPMENT
1) Baseball shoes – Shoes with metal cleats are prohibited. Rubber soled (tennis shoes) or rubber cleated shoes only.
2) Running and Batting Helmets – It is mandatory for each batter and runner to wear a head protector. This protector will cover both ears and temples. Any player intentionally discarding head gear will be declared out after the play is over (Judgement call by the umpire) Any player or parent requesting a face mask to be attached to the helmet will receive it. The coach is to notify the equipment manager of such requests.
3) Bats – Bats are to be no longer than 31” in length and 2 3/4 “ in diameter. The bats can be either wooden or aluminum and must be tape wrapped or have rubberized sleeves.
4) Pitchers Glove - The pitchers glove must be consistent in color including stitching, lacing,etc.. The glove cannot be white or gray. No pitcher is to wear sweatbands on wrist or wear a batting glove.
5) Catchers – Catchers must wear a protective safety helmet and mask, throat protector, chest protector and leg guards. Boys must also wear protective cups. If the umpire observes any violation of this rule, the violation must be corrected immediately. Game play will not commence until any violation is corrected.
6) Uniforms – Players must wear a uniform consistent with the players on the team. Any undershirt shall be identical to all players and of shade and color other than white. Both sleeves shall be of consistent length.
7) Jewelry – NO JEWELRY IS PERMITTED. Players must remove watches, rings, chains, ear rings or any other objects that may be hazardous. We suggest that players refrain from chewing gum or candy during the game.
8) KRA Furnished Equipment – Coaches will sign out all necessary equipment needed for the season. He/she will be responsible for it’s return immediately after the last game of the season.
OFFENSE
1) There will be a continuos batting order of all players in attendance. (see disciplinary rule for exception) The batting order cannot change. If a player bats out of order, the player will be called out. A player arriving after the start of the game will go to the end of the batting line-up and must be reported to the opposing team.
2) If a team has fewer players than required to start a game, an out will be called in the ninth batting slot.
3) Bunting is allowed.
4) Players must drop the bat. Failure to do so will result in an out. Each player is allowed one (1) warning per game.
5) Stealing is allowed after a pitched ball has broken the plane of home plate. When a pitcher is in possession of the ball and in contact with the pitching rubber, base runners shall not leave their bases. Violations will be dealt with as follows:
a) If a base runner leaves early and the ball is not hit in play, the base runner is returned to starting base.
b) If a base runner leaves early and the ball is hit into play in fair territory, play continues until the base runners have stopped. Violating player will be called out.
6) Tagging up is allowed on bases.
7) Dropped third strike is a live ball unless 1st base is occupied and there are less than two outs. If there are two outs, a dropped third strike is live whether 1st base is occupied or not.
8) A batter that is awarded 1st base on balls, is to go to 1st base and stop. No additional bases are to be awarded, or “stolen”.
9) When a team is at bat, only two (2) players are allowed to swing a bat. The batter and the batter “on deck”. The “on deck” area will be designated. This rule will be strictly enforced.
PLAYING FIELD
The distance between all bases will be 60 feet. The distance between the point of home plate and the front side of the pitcher’s rubber will be 46 feet.
PITCHERS
\1) A pitcher will not be allowed to pitch more than (3) innings per game. If a player pitches to one batter, he has pitched a full inning for the purpose of the three (3) -inning rules for pitchers.
2) A pitcher must be replaced on the coach’s second trip to the pitching mound in any one inning.
3) If a pitcher is taken out of the game, he/she cannot pitch again that inning.
4) A pitcher must be replaced for that inning, if he/she hits two (2) batters. Th player may return to the pitching position the next inning. However, if he/she hits two (2) more batters in one inning, he/she must be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.
5) The umpire will determine if a batter was hit due to the pitcher’s action, or because the batter did not actively avoid contact with the ball.
6) During the end of season tournament only, the pitcher is allowed to pitch four (4) innings per game.
7) The catcher may approach the pitcher on two (2) occasions per inning, not counting the coaches trips to the mound.
COACHES
1) Coaches are responsible for ensuring that all their players meet the age requirements.
2) It is the coaches’ responsibility to maintain proper sportsmanship and conduct among his/her team, fans, and parents at all times.
3) Coaches are responsible for designating a team parent for snack and drinks after a game.
4) Teams who have the first game of the day are responsible for field set up and teams who have the last game of the day are responsible for retiring the bases to the concession stand..
5) Any coach who knowingly plays an overage player is in violation of the rules and shall be suspended for a minimum of one (1) game. The extended length of the suspension, possibly indefinitely, will be determined by the KRA board of directors.
6) Coaches and parents are prohibited from smoking within the confines of the playing area either during practices or games. No alcohol is permitted on city or league premises. Profanity will not be permitted on or around the game site. Violators will be removed and are subject to dismissal from this league.
7) Coaches are not to make comments to opposing players that would be deemed as negative. Coaches violating this rule are subject to ejection from the game.
DISIPLINARY RULE
THIS RULE IS TO BE ENFORCED AT THE COACH’S DISCRETION
All players are expected to attend scheduled practices. Because it is in the best interest of players that do attend practices, and as a matter of fairness, players that do not attend any of the scheduled practices during the week prior to a game may be benched for that game.(EX. 2 practices scheduled and none attended) If the player shows up on game day after missing that weeks scheduled practices, the coach has the discretion to bench that player. If the player is to be benched, the coach MUST notify the opposing coach of this circumstance prior to the start of the game. Once the batting order has been set, the number of players in the batting order stays the same for the whole game, except in cases of injury, etc. In the case that this rule is put into effect by a coach, the three (3) inning rule for player playing time is not in effect for that identified player. This rule is not in effect for players attending at least half of the practices scheduled for the week.
SPEED-UP RULES WILL BE IN EFFECT
1. Pitchers will take only five (5) warm-up pitches between innings.
2. After each out, the ball must be returned to the pitcher before the next batter steps into the batters box.
3. Only one offensive time-out per inning will be granted by the umpire
4. The catcher will keep his catcher’s gear on, except mask, at the completion of each inning, unless he is to be the number one, two, or three batter.
5. With two (2) outs and either the pitcher or catcher on base, it is mandatory to have a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher. The courtesy runner must not be any of the next four batters.
6. There will be no hidden ball tricks or anything to encourage a delay. Umpires will inform players to put the ball into play immediately and make every effort to keep the game moving.
GENERAL RULES
1) Each team will be limited to twelve (12) players or less.
2) Teams will exchange player rosters prior to each game.
3) All players must play at least three (3) innings in the field based on a complete six (6) inning game.
4) A fielding team will consist of nine (9) players of which three (3) must be played in the outfield beyond the normal configuration of the infield. Teams may play with eight (8) players. In the event one team has seven (7) or fewer players, the game will be forfeited. The coaches may choose to play the game by loan of players from the opposing team. In the event this occurs, the forfeit will stand. Continuing the game is in the best interest of the players and is supported by the league.
5) Games will consist of six (6) innings with a time limit of two (2) hours. No inning will start if the time of two (2) hours has been reached. However, any inning started must be completed except by agreement of opposing coaches.
6) The official scorer (home team) will log in the scorebook the official time the game starts. This time will come from the umpire.
7) A team may score a maximum of (6) runs in their half of an inning. After the sixth run is scored, the team at bat must take the field/outfield.
8) There will be a ten (10) run rule in effect during the last inning of the game. After the tenth run is scored, the team at bat must take the field/outfield.
9) All players may be freely substituted during a game. Any player leaving the game may return to the game and play in any position with the exception of pitchers who must follow the three (3) inning rule as applied to their pitching duties only.
10) The Home team will occupy the first base bench and be annotated on the schedule on the left (first).
11) Players must remain on the bench while not playing in the field, at bat, or in the on deck circle. It is the responsibility of the coach(s) to enforce this rule.
12) No one other than coaches, players, or team scorekeeper is allowed into the dugout during game play. This is to ensure the safety of players and spectators.
13) There will be no intentional walks.
14) The home team scorebooks of both visiting teams must be filled out with players’ names and uniform number. The home team is designated as the official scorer, but it is recommended that the visiting team keep an accurate book as well. In the event of a protest, if sufficient information is not kept by both teams, the protest will be denied.
15) The winning team is responsible for calling the commissioner with the winning score.
16) When runners are on base and the ball is overthrown, runners my advance safely one base if the ball is not in fair territory. If the ball is overthrown and it is in “fair” territory, runners may advance at their own risk.
17) Games with a tie score are official providing at least four (4) innings have been played. Unofficial games will be replayed.
18) Players warming up the pitcher must wear a catchers mask at all times.
19) There is no infield fly rule. A fly ball must be caught in the air. All runners may advance at their own risk.
20) When in the field, the defensive team is not allowed to “chatter” at batters. Likewise, coaches are not to make comments to opposing players that would be deemed as negative.
ADDITION OF PLAYERS
In the event of any team not having a full complete roster of players, the following rules shall apply:
a) Shortage of players – As players come forth, they shall be assigned to the team that would have had next draft choice.
b) Attrition – A waiting list will be held by the league commissioner in the event of a player loss. The next player on the list will be assigned to fill the vacancy.
RAIN GAMES
1) When rain forces a game to be terminated and four (4) innings have been completed, the game is considered officially complete. (If the home team is ahead after 31/2 innings, the game will be considered complete.) The official score will be that of the last completed inning.
2) If the four (4) innings were not completed, the game will resume from the point that the game was terminated. The score books should contain outs, players on base, player at bat, strike/ball count on the batter, players in the field, and what position players were playing at the time of game termination. The game will resume with all defensive players in the same position being played at time of termination and the offensive team will return the same base runners to the base as if the game had never been terminated. If there was a batter at bat at the time of termination, that same batter will resume his/her at bat with the same ball and strike count they had at the time of game termination. The batting orders for both teams will be the same as when the game was terminated.
3) If the game was terminated and only one and a half innings has been completed, the entire game will be replayed.
PROTESTS
Coaches protesting must immediately notify the umpire at the time of the infraction and it will be announced that the game is being played under protest. The scorer will note on the books the following: The inning, the exact time, players on base, batter, balls, strikes etc.
THE GAME MUST CONTINUE. The coach must file the protest in writing with the commissioner of the league within 48 hours of occurrence, and the commissioner must forward the protest to the KRA President within 24 hours after receiving the protest. The protest will be heard of a panel of three (3) individuals to make a determination on the merit of the protest. THE DECISION OF THIS PANEL IS FINAL. Every effort will be made to have the decision on the protest before the next scheduled game.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
1) Any player or coach ejected from the game by an official for fighting shall be automatically suspended for the next two (2) league games to be played by their team. No official notice of this suspension shall be necessary. The head official will notify the league Commissioner of the suspension. In the event that a player of coach deviates from this ruling, it will constitute a forfeit and the team not at fault will be receive credit for a win. Additionally, the player of coach who deviated from this rule will be suspended an additional game to played by their team.
2) Any player or coach ejected from the game by an official for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be automatically be suspended for the next two (2) league games to be played by their team. No official notice of this suspension shall be necessary. The head official will notify the league Commissioner of the suspension. In the event that a player of coach deviates from this ruling, it will constitute a forfeit and the team not at fault will be receive credit for a win. Additionally, the player of coach who deviated from this rule will be suspended an additional game to played by their team.
3) Any player, coach or spectator guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct toward an official on city property will be subject to suspension.
4) Any player, coach or spectator guilty of striking an official in any manner on city property during or after the game shall be suspended indefinitely from participating in any league sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department in accordance with Community League Parks and Recreation Department bylaws.
The following are examples of unsportsmanlike conduct:
a) Boo’s, hisses, and jeers and other taunts targeted at any team.
b) Any intentional acts that may cause injury to another player.
c) Any arguing, loud or animated discussion that projects unfavorably on the spirit of sportsmanship.
d) Any use of foul, vile, or profane language or gestures on or within the immediate vicinity of the playing field.
For this and other documents of help to Kempsville Parents visit us on the web at:
http://www.KRAsports.com
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