MOUNT PROSPECT PARK DISTRICT YOUTH BASEBALL
2016 RULES
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1.0 GENERAL
1.1 Mount Prospect Baseball rules are based on, but not limited to, the National Federation High School (NFHS) Baseball and Little League International Rule Books.
1.2 All participants in Mount Prospect Park District Youth Baseball shall be familiar with and adhere to the rules set down in this rulebook and rules approved/clarified by the Advisory Board and System Managers.
1.3 Ignorance of any or all of these rules shall not be considered an excuse for infraction. If a situation should arise which is not covered by any of the existing rules, the Advisory Board shall make a ruling or decision, and that ruling or decision shall be considered official.
1.4 Playing Time:
1.4.1 All rostered players must play a minimum of X defensive innings of 3 consecutive outs (in each inning) in a full, regular game (1/2 inning less if the Home team is ahead). In a game that is called after an official game (1/2 inning less if the Home team is ahead), all rostered players must have played at least 2 full defensive innings of 3 consecutive outs (in each inning). See appendices for league specific information on innings.
1.4.2 Penalty: Forfeiture NOTE: This does not apply to the player who:
1.4.2.1 Arrives after the first pitch of the 3rd inning
1.4.2.2 Leaves the game because of illness or injury
1.4.2.3 Who is attending only the resumption of suspended game having missed the original game Late Arrivals and Batting Order:
2.0 CONDUCT
2.1 All rules regarding conduct, except where specifically indicated, shall apply to all players, coaches and spectators. Managers and coaches are responsible for the conduct of its players as well as its spectators.
2.2 The following conduct is prohibited
2.2.1 Profanity
2.2.2 Gambling
2.2.3 Smoking
2.2.4 Consumption of alcoholic beverages
2.2.5 Unsportsmanlike conduct
2.3 Unsportsmanlike conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
2.3.1 Inciting, or trying to incite by word or sign, a demonstration by spectators.
2.3.2 Use language, which will in any manner, refer to or reflect upon opposing players, an Umpire, or any spectator.
2.3.3 Call “Time” or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make a pitcher commit a balk.
2.3.4 Carelessly throwing a bat, ball, glove or other equipment out of anger.
2.3.5 Defacing a baseball
2.3.6 Fighting or roughhousing
2.3.7 Arguing with an umpire
2.4 Team Managers, coaches and players must remain in the dugout or in the designated coach’s box. No person connected with the team may coach a pitcher or batter from behind the backstop. The area is described as an area within 20 feet of the backstop structure. If, after appropriate warning by the Umpire, any person who repeats the violation will result in one batter out call and will continue until those persons remove themselves from the area.
2.5 The Umpire shall have the authority to warn, eject or have removed from the field, any person violating rule 2.2. If warranted (a threat of harm), the Umpire may direct that that the police be called.
2.6 A player ejected shall not participate further in the game.
2.7 A manager or coach, at the umpire’s discretion, in lieu of ejection, may be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game. Such person shall only be allowed out of the dugout on onto the field at the request of the umpire for purposes of attending to an injured player. A manager or coach who violates this restriction shall be immediately ejected.
2.8 A manager or coach ejected shall not participate in the game and shall remove themselves from the dugout to the stands. If the conduct is severe enough, the manager or coach shall leave the vicinity of the field, up to an including being removed to the parking lot.
2.9 Spectators ejected shall leave the park which shall be interpreted to mean they shall removes themselves to the parking lot.
2.10 Any player, coach or spectator ejected from a game shall be subject to further disciplinary action by the Advisory Board or the Mt. Prospect Park District at their discretion. Such disciplinary action may result in further warnings or up to and including a suspension, the length of which is at the discretion of the reviewing body.
3.0 THE FIELD
3.1 Playability
3.1.1 A member of the Advisory Board or the League Director shall determine if a field is suitable for play.
3.1.2 In the event the field is determined to be unplayable, the respective managers shall be notified as soon as possible, at least one hour prior to game time, if possible.
3.1.3 If a decision is not made regarding playability prior to one hour before game time, the decision shall be by agreement of the two managers.
3.1.4 If an agreement between the managers cannot be reached, the (Plate) Umpire (if two umpires) shall decide.
3.1.5 After the game begins, the (Plate) Umpire shall have sole jurisdiction to determine if a game can continue to be played.
3.2 Outfield fences: If a ball hit on a fly hits the yellow barrier on the top of the fence and rebounds back onto the field, the ball is live and is in play. If the ball hits the barrier and bounds over the fence, it shall be ruled a home run.
3.3 Bases and Pitcher’s Mound Distances: The following shall be observed
Level / Bases / Pitcher’s MoundBronco B / 60’ / 42’
Bronco A / 65’ / 46’
Majors / 70’ / 48’
Pony / 80’ / 54’
3.3.1 Pitcher’s Mound distances shall be measured from the front of the pitcher’s plate to the back corner of home plate.
3.4 Field Preparation
3.4.1 The Home Team shall be responsible for setting up the bases and lining the field prior to the game and setting up the scoreboard
3.4.2 The Visitors Team shall be responsible for taking down the field at the end of the game, removing trash, raking the field as necessary and turning the lights off, and taking down the scoreboard.
4.0 TEAMS
4.1 Each team shall field a minimum of 8 players to begin a game within 15 minutes of the designated starting time. If a team with the minimum number of players refuses to either take the field as home team or send a batter to the plate within 15 minutes, the umpire shall declare a forfeit, unless there are special circumstances which preclude such a declaration. (See Forfeits under Rule 12)
4.2 If a team is unable to field 8 players, additional players may be called up or brought down utilizing the policy in effect. (See Appendices)
4.3 If, after exhausting the call up procedure, a team is still unable to field 8 players, the game shall be forfeited.
5.0 STARTING THE GAME
5.1 Pre-game
5.1.1 Each team shall be allowed 20 minutes of infield/outfield practice beginning 50 minutes before game time. The team not practicing shall have its players and coaches either in the dugout or practicing outside the field off to the side
5.1.2 Ten (10) minutes prior to the start of a game the field shall be lined
5.1.3 Five (5) minutes prior to game time the managers and the umpire shall conduct a pre-game conference for the following purpose
5.1.3.1 Obtain game balls, one each to be provided by each team
5.1.3.2 Exchange lineups
5.1.3.3 Review ground rules of the field
5.1.3.4 Stress good sportsmanship and that all equipment is legal and that players are properly equipped (i.e. all male players are wearing a protective cup)
5.1.3.5 NOTE: Players arriving after lineups have been exchanged shall be inserted last in the batting order.
5.2 After the pregame is concluded, the home team shall take the field
5.3 Starting (and new) pitchers shall be allowed no more than eight (8) warmup pitches within one minute. After the first inning, returning pitchers shall be limited to five (5) within one minute. NOTE: IN ORDER TO MOVE THE GAME ALONG, UMPIRES WILL ENFORCE THIS RULE AND MAY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF WARM UP PITCHES ALLOWED.
5.4 In the event of an injury or cold weather, the umpire may allow more than the maximum, at their discretion.
5.5 The Umpire shall direct the home team pitcher to “Play Ball”.
5.6 If an Umpire does not arrive by game time, one of the Team Managers shall call the League Director to determine their status. Each Team Manager shall then designate a coach to Umpire from behind the mound, the designate from each team to alternate each half inning. Coaches shall Umpire and take a position behind their own pitcher, when their team is on the field.
6.0 PLAYING THE GAME
6.1 Game Length and Time Limits
6.1.1 The following table apply regarding to matters regarding number of innings and number of innings which constitute an official game. *Denotes if home team is leading. If the time limit is reached, the team batting shall finish its at bat, unless it is the bottom half of the inning and the home team is leading, and it is an official game.
6.1.2 The game clock shall begin when the home team pitcher has completed their last warm-up pitch.
6.1.3 In the event the game is stopped due to darkness, rain, lightning or any other reason which in the Umpire’s judgment interferes with continued play, if play is stopped after an official game has been reached and each team has had an equal number of at bats, the leading team shall be the winner. If either team has not completed its full at bat the game shall revert to the last complete inning and the team leading at that point shall be declared the winning team, unless the home team has taken the lead. If the home team has tied the score in the bottom of the inning, the game shall be suspended.
6.1.4 Resumption of Suspended or Protested Games: The League Director, who will notify the League Umpire-in-Chief and both Managers, shall schedule the resumption of a suspended or protested game. The Protest Board will stipulate the point in a protest game at which play shall resume. A suspended game shall resume at the point where the game was suspended.
6.1.5 To participate in the resumption of a suspended game or a protested game, a player need not have been present at the original game. Eligible players shall be governed by the rules of substitution as though no time had elapsed between the protest and the replay.
Level / Innings / Official GameBronco B / 6 / 4 (*3-1/2)
Bronco A / 6 / 4 (*3-1/2)
Bronco Majors / 6 / 4 (*3-1/2)
Pony / 7 / 5 (*4-1/2)
6.1.6 The following table shall apply to time limits
Level / No inning to begin afterBroncos / 2 hrs.
Pony / 2 hrs., 15 min
6.2 It is the responsibility of the Manager of the Home team to notify the League Director if a game is called before it is a completed game.
6.3 Mercy rule: the following will apply to the levels as below. If a team is winning by the designated number of runs at the end of the designated number of innings, the team leading shall be declared the winner.
Level / Runs/innings / Runs/inningsBronco B / 12/4 / 10/5
Bronco A / 12/4 / 10/5
Majors / 12/4 / 10/5
Pony / 12/4 / 10/5, 8/6
6.4 Rainouts and suspended games: the league will reschedule at the earliest time.
6.5 Night Games
6.5.1 Bronco level: If there is a game to be played under the lights, no inning shall begin after 7:45 pm. Bronco games shall finish at 8:00 pm. Lights are to be off no later than 10:30 pm.
6.5.2 Pony level: the same rules that apply to Bronco level games shall apply to the Pony level with the following exception. The previous game shall be over at 8:15 pm. Pony games shall begin no later than 8:25 pm and the lights shall be off by 10:45 pm.
6.6 Equipment: the following table shall be used regarding bat limits (tentative 2017 rule change)
Level / Length(in) / Diameter (in) / DropBronco B / 33 / 2-1/4 / No limit (-12)
Bronco A / 33 / 2-1/4 / No limit (-12)
Majors / 33 / 2-5/8 (2-1/4) / No limit (-12)
Pony / 33 / 2-5/8 / No limit (-8)
6.7 All male players shall wear a protective cup.
6.8 All catchers shall wear a full mask when warming up a pitcher in a crouch position
7.0 PITCHING
7.1 Pitching limits: the following table shall apply to game and weekly pitching limits(innings):
Level / Game / WeekBronco B / 2 / 5
Bronco A / 2 / 6
Majors / 3 / 8
Pony / 4 / 10
7.1.1 The pitching week begins at 12:01 am on Monday and concludes at 12:00 (midnight) on Sunday.
7.1.2 Minimum 1 day rest rule: A pitcher may pitch the maximum number of innings on one day but must have one full day of rest before pitching again. Example: In the Majors, a pitcher may pitch 3 innings on day 1 and may not pitch again until day 3.
7.2 No return: A pitcher removed as pitcher shall not be permitted to reenter as pitcher.
7.3 A pitcher who hits two batters in one inning or three batters in a game shall be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.
7.4 Pitchers shall not deface the ball by rubbing with any foreign substance. If the defaced ball is pitched and comes to the attention of the umpire, it shall treated like a balk. Additionally, the pitcher shall be ejected from the game.