CRAMERTONPARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

MACHINE PITCH LEAGUE

REGULATIONS AND RULES

ARTICLE I

A.NAME

  1. THE NAME OF THIS ORGANIZATION SHALL BE THE CRAMERTON YOUTH COACH PITCH LEAGUE.

ARTICLE II.

A.GENERAL PURPOSE

  1. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INTRODUCE THE YOUTH TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BASEBALL; TO BRING OUR YOUTH CLOSER TOGETHER THROUGH THE MEANS OF A COMMON INTEREST IN SPORTSMANSHIP, FAIR PLAY, AND FELLOWSHIP; TO IMPART TO THE GAME, ELEMENTS OF SAFETY, SANITY, AND INTELLIGENT SUPERVISION; TO KEEP THE WELFARE OF THE YOUTH FIRST AND FOREMOST AT ALL TIMES

B.SPECIFIC PURPOSE

  1. TO PROVIDE A SAFE, HEALTHFUL OUTLET FOR THE ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE YOUTH AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
  2. TO TEACH THE PLAYER THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL.
  3. TO TEACH SPORTSMANSHIP, TEAMWORK, LOYALITY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ABIDING BY THE RULES
  4. TO ENCOURAGE SAFE PLAY AND FUN ATMOSPHERE

ARTICLE III.

A.GOVERNMENT

  1. THE DIRECTION OF THE LEAGUE SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CRAMERTONPARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.
  2. THE SUPERVISION OF THE GAMES WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILTY OF COACH, THEIR ASSISTANTS, UMPIRE, AND SITE SUPERVISOR.

ARTICLE IV.

COACHING ETHICS

  1. COACHES SHALL REALIZE THAT HIS/HER BEHAVIOR IS AN EXAMPLE TO MANY CHILDREN
  2. COACHES SHALL CONDUCT THEMSELVES AND THEIR TEAMS IN SPORTSMANSHIP MANNER
  3. COACHES USING PROFANITY ON THE PLAYING FIELD WILL BE SUSPENDED
  4. COACHES SHOULD NOT CRITICIZE OPPOSING PLAYERS BY WORDS OR GESTURES
  5. COACHES SHALL CONDUCT THEMSELVES AS LADIES AND GENTLEMAN AT ALL TIMES

MACHINE PITCH RULES

PLAYING RULES

  1. Pitching Circle: There will be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge set at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.
  2. Pitching Machine: The front leg(s) shall be set at a distance of forty-six (46) feet from the rear point of home plate.
  3. Recommended pitching machine speeds: 36mph-42mph. League will set machine on setting (8) to start season.
  4. Ten (10) defensive players will play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth outfielder may not assume an infield position. All outfielders must stay behind the infield.
  5. The defensive player listed as pitcher cannot leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit. Penalty: first offense-warning. Second offense: Removal of player from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.
  6. Defensive coaches are not allowed on the field of play and must coach from the dugout.
  7. The infield Fly Rule is not in effect at any time.
  8. The batting order shall constitute all players on the team roster at the beginning of the game. Late arrivals shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. All players on the roster shall bat before returning to the top of the batting order.
  1. Teams may start a game with nine (9) players. The tenth position in the batting order will be declared an out each time at bat. A tenth player and all subsequent players may be added to the batting order as soon as they become available.
  1. Teams may use free substitution on defense but the batting order must remain the same.

J. NO BUNTING. PENALTY ‐ dead ball, strike is called on the batter and base runners return to original base. (Bunt or bunt attempt with 2 strikes, batter will be

called out.)

Slashing, (fake bunting) is not allowed. PENALTY – dead ball, strike on the batter.

  1. Each batter will receive a maximum of five (5) pitches. If the ball has not been hit into play, the batter is out.

L. If the batter fouls the 5th pitch, batter will receive pitches as long as batter continues to foul the pitch.

M.Nointentional walks.

  1. Runners may not lead-off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate.
  2. A courtesy runner for catcher of record only the previous inning may be used. The courtesy runner shall be the player that made the previous out. If no outs have been recorded in the game, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base.
  3. A team may score a maximum of seven (7) runs per inning, including the last inning or record three outs.
  4. Umpires will call “time” after every play and declared the ball dead. “Time” should be called as soon as the lead runner is not attempting to advance. ‘Time” does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule.
  5. Umpires can call no pitch if machine throws wild pitch.
  6. When a batted ball hits the pitching machine, the ball is dead, the batter is awarded first base and all runners advance one base.
  7. Game Length: Will be 6 innings or 1 hour which ever comes first.
  8. Mercy Rule: 15 runs after the 4th inning and 8 Runs after the 5th inning.