Brentwood Civitan Youth Baseball

8U Draft - Coach Pitch Rules

(Revised March 1, 2013)

I)TEAMS AND THE SCHEDULE

A)REGULAR SEASON

  1. If there are more than 10 teams the League is divided into two divisions – American and National
  2. Teams are selected via league draft. Each team may protect 3 players before the draft.
  3. Draft order is determined by power rankings based on league evaluation system.
  4. Draft will be done in a snake format
  5. Each team will play the same number of games. (Usually 12-16 games)
  6. A regular season champion will be decided based on Win-Loss records.
  7. Tie breaker is based on Head to Head, Division record, Run Differential
  8. Each team must have a required minimum of eight (8) players to begin a scheduled game. Players arriving late must be inserted at the end of the line-up. If your team has only 8 players, the 9th batter is an automatic out. If you have 9 or more players no penalty. THIS RULE ISNOT IN EFFECT DURING FALL LEAGUE PLAY.
  9. 15 minute grace period for a team’s eighth player to arrive (or to obtain the eighth player).
  10. Substitution is allowed if the team has less than 10 players. If the team has 10 players the team can NOT have a substitute.
  11. Substitutes must be from a current registered Civitan League (T-ball or 7 machine pitch).
  12. Substitute must be from a lower draft round of the player he is replacing.
  13. Substitutes must bat last and play in the outfield.
  14. No substitute can bat ahead of any regular team member.
  15. Head Coaches must be notified in advance regarding substitutes and have approval from the League President or Commissioner before the sub can play.
  16. Substitutes must wear their team uniform and NOT the uniform of the team that they are subbing for.
  17. A minimum of three (3) complete innings is required for an official score.
  18. The home team is the first team on the schedule and occupies the 3rd base dugout.
  19. Before the game shall start each team should have a short warm-up period. If time permits, the visiting team shall take infield 10 minutes prior to the start of the game. The home team will take infield 5 minutes prior to the start of the game.
  20. The umpire will keep the official time. After the first pitch the umpire will notify both coaches of the time. This is the official start time of the game. Both scorekeepers should note this time.
  21. The official length of the game will be 5 innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes after the official start time. A new inning will not start after 1 hour and 5 minutes. (Measured to the second. In other words, 1 hour 5 minutes and 1 second means a new inning may not begin.) After 1 hour, the umpire will notify both coaches of time.
  22. The official scorer is the Home team unless designated otherwise by both coaches.
  23. The HOME team will not complete the last inning of the game if the number of runs needed to win is greater than the number of at-bats the team is allowed.
  24. Tie game - if at the end of regulation (time or innings) and the score of the game is tied, then the game is official and will be recorded as a tie.
  25. Cancelled games and practices will be rescheduled on the decision of the League President.

B)POST SEASON

  1. A Single Elimination League Tournament will begin after the regular season
  2. All Teams will be seeded according to Regular Season Record and tie breaker rules.
  3. If Applicable - The winner of the League Championship Game will be seed #1 and the runner-up will be seeded #2 in the tournament.
  4. If at the end of regulation and the game is a tie, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined. Rule IA-18 is NOT in effect.
  5. All Post Season Games will be 5 innings (no time limit) Run rule still apples.
  6. Approval from the Commissioner and the League Presidents is required to form an all-star or Travel-Select Team.
  7. Substitutes are NOT permitted in the League Championship Game and Post Season Play. You must play with the players you have.

II) DEFENSIVE PLAY

A)POSITION and NUMBER OF PLAYERS

  1. The complete team roster will be positioned on the field for each inning.
  2. No more than six defensive players may occupy the designated infield area.
  3. EACH TEAM ON DEFENSE WILL FIELD 10 PLAYERS CONSISTING OF THE REGULAR SIX INFIELD (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, CATCHER AND PITCHER) AND 4 OUTFIELDERS Defensive players can be freely substituted. no player, unless injuried, should sit out more than two innings per game.
  4. The pitcher must have 1 foot on the line of the pitching circle. pitcher must wear a helmet.
  5. Outfielders must be positioned at least 30 feet from the infield base path (90 feet from home Plate) before each pitch. There is a painted arc in the outfield where outfielders must be positioned behind this line until the ball is hit.
  6. Defensive players cannot interfere with base runners advancing to the next base unless they have possession of the ball. Any contact accidental or not that impedes the runner will be ruled as interference. Defensive players who stand in the running lane or on a base and are NOT attempting to make a defensive play while a runner is advancing should be called for interference. AN interference call awards the base runner the base he was attempting to obtain.
  7. All catchers must wear protective gear including the following: full-use dual earflap catcher’s helmet, mask, chest protector, shin guards and protective cup.

B)STOPPING PLAY

  1. When any of the six infielders exhibits control of the ball in the infield, base runners must stop at the next base they are advancing towards. If an Overthrow occurs at First Base that runner must stop at First Base, however all other runners may advance ONLY one base at their own risk. An Overthrow to any other base (not first base) all runners may advance ONLY one base at their own risk. Only one overthrow may happen per play.
  2. If an outfielder is NOT able to control the ball the above rule does not take effect. If an outfielder has the ball all runners may advance at their own risk until an infielder gets control the ball and one of the above rules will then be applied. This will promote and teach the players to throw to the infielders - i.e. Cut-off man or players near a base.
  3. Each Team has one time out per game that can be used while hitting or playing defense. The Coach must be granted the time out by the umpire.

C)ENDING THE INNING

  1. The defense will retire upon achieving three outs or a 7-run Max. Whatever occurs first.

D) COACHES

  1. The defensive team may have TWO coaches on the fieldto instruct and provide POSITIVE reinforcement to his team. Coaches should be positioned in the outfield grass behind the second baseman and shortstop. On the field coaching is very productive but it must not interfere with the play and flow of the game.
  2. The designated on-field defensive coaches must not interfere in the play nor is he allowed to stop the game.
  3. Only the umpires will be allowed to stop the game with “Time-Out.”
  4. Designated on-field offensive coaches – 1st base coach, 3rd base coach, Pitching Coach, Dugout coach

III)OFFENSIVE PLAY

A)HITTING

  1. In an inning, each side will hit until the completion of three outs, or 7-run Max, whichever occurs first. All players present must be in the hitting line up.
  2. Each batter will be allowed 5 pitches or 3 strikes (whichever comes first). If 5th pitch is hit foul the batter will get another pitch. The ruling of the umpire will be final.
  3. Bunting is not permitted
  4. No infield Fly Rule
  5. For each batter, failure to hit one of the five pitches will result in 1 out.
  6. A player at bat will not be called out for stepping onto home plate.
  7. If a batter throws the bat, the first offense will be a warning to the player and the coaches. This should be noted by the official scorekeeper. The second offense by the same player will be an out. The scorekeeper shall notify the umpire.
  8. If a batted ball hits the pitching coach, the ball is dead. THE PITCH COUNT GOES BACK TO ZERO.
  9. Base runners cannot interfere with the defense attempting to field a batted ball even if the runner is in the running lane. The base runner must avoid the defender and allow the defense to make the play. There are no "safety zones" on the field. The offense must vacate all space necessary for a fielder to make a play. You cannot have interference unless somebody is making a play. A play is a throw, attempted throw, or attempted tag of a runner or of a base for a force out.
  10. First Base – Double Safety base. If there is a play at first base the runner is required to run to the orange bag. IF in the event of a collision at first base and the runner does not run to the orange bag the runner will be called for interference and called out. In the event of a collision and the runner steps on the orange base; it is defensive interference and the runner is ruled safe. If a batter is running to first base and at anytime the defense is standing on the orange bag the umpire can call INTERFERENCE if he feels that the defense impeded the speed of the runner.
  11. A team may use a courtesy runner for the catcher if he is on base when there are two outs. The runner must be the player that made the last batted out.
  12. the coach, pitching (CP) can not verbally or physically coach while in the pitching position. CP must make every effort to avoid interfering with the play once the ball is hit. CP should move off the field of play if possible. if a line drive hits the CP the ball is dead and the at bat starts over with a zero pitch count. The CP must throw over hand and be approximatly 40 FT from the hitters. There will be a Chalk Cirlce for the Pitching area. ThE coach must have one foot in the circle.
  13. A full-use, double earflap batting helmet must be worn by every players while in the on-deck circle, when at bat, and/or on base
  14. Offensive Coaches 1st base and 3rd base only (coach pitcher). No other coaches should be on the field of play. Only 4 coaches allowed in the dugout

B)BASE-RUNNING

  1. Runners may advance to when the ball is in play.
  2. The ball will remain in play until the umpire calls time under the stopping play rule.
  3. When the umpire’s ruling “time” ends a play, the runner may advance or return to the base.
  4. Defensive players may not block the runner’s base path and must allow the runner access to the base (remember these players are 7 & 8, please use common sense).
  5. HOME PLATE COLLISION RULE: with the play at home, the runner may not slide headfirst or run into the catcher who has possession of the ball. The catcher is required to allow access to the base and not block the base-path without possession of the ball. The runner is required to go back, go around, and attempt another method of reaching the plate.
  6. If the runner is off the base and comes into contact with a HIT ball, the umpire will call the ball dead and the runner out, except if the runner is in foul territory.
  7. The base runner must remain on base until the ball is hit. No Leading off the base.
  8. No base stealing.
  9. The batter cannot advance to 2nd base on overthrows to 1st base. All other runners may advance one base at their own risk. On overthrows to any other base all runners may advance only one base. Only one overthrow may happen per play. (See Stopping Play Rule)
  10. TWO runners cannot occupy the same base at the same time. IF both runners are tagged out by the defense while occupying the same base the trailing (or following) runner is called OUT and the lead runner is safe at that base.
  11. Run Rule - 15 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 innings, Home team will always get last at bat if they are behind in the game

IV)EQUIPMENT

  1. Bats must be no larger than 2-1/4” in diameter, no longer than 33 inches in length, BPF of 1.15 and must say “Approved for Little League,” Dixie Youth, USSSA, or Pony League on the bat. Can be made of composite, aluminum, or a combination of both. Big barrel bats are NOT permitted.
  2. Metal Spikes are not permitted
  3. Civitan will provide shin guards, chest protector, and catcher’s mask. For Hygiene reasons, each player should have their own individual batting helmets.

V)CONDUCT

  1. Coaches are expected to provide the example of proper behavior of players & involved parents.
  2. NO CONFRONTATION with league umpires by coaches or parents will be tolerated. Any such reported incident will result in review and possible sanction by the commissioner and league presidents.
  3. Coaches and parents exhibiting any behavior considered inappropriate will be contacted for immediate consultation by the League Presidents and, if warranted, will be sanctioned by Civitan Youth Board, the Commissioner, and the League President.
  4. League Presidents will exert their authority to eject coaches from the Ball Park and/or forfeit games in response to inappropriate behavior by coaches or parents.

VI)ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

  1. The Civitan Youth, Inc. has final review and decision of all matters.
  2. The league president and/or the commissioner will receive and review all requests, inquiries, and complaints.
  3. Coaches must pass a background check and pass the Babe Ruth Baseball Certification to be eligible to be a head or assistant coach. Coaches cannot participate in practice or games until both the background and baseball certification has been passed. No Exceptions