Ocee Park Athletic Association

9/10 LeagueRules

All recreation league play shall be governed by the current Official Major League Baseball Rules, modified by the current Dizzy Dean Official Rules Book, modified by the current Ocee Park Athletic Association (OPAA). Exceptions as provided below, Dizzy Dean and MLB rules shall apply and may NOT be modified by agreement between the managers and/or league representative. Any suggested modifications should be presented in writing to the OPAA Board of Directors for consideration.

General:

  1. Only players who are registered in the Ocee baseball program are eligible to play.
  1. An official regulation game shall consist of 6 inning games. Time allowed in a game is one hour and thirty minutes (1:30). There shall be one additional inning of play if the score is even if time has not expired and both teams have had an equal opportunity with the same number of innings at bat. An official game for 6 inning games is defined as 4 complete innings (or 3-1/2 innings if home team is ahead). If a game is started and is called for any reason (i.e. weather) prior to being an official game as described above, the game will start over from the beginning at the rescheduled time. If the game is called after it is an official game but the inning must be completed to declare a winner then the game will resume at the point of the delay.
  1. A new inning begins at the instant that the last out is made in the previous inning.
  2. Run Limits - An inning is over after three outs, or five runs
  3. Mathematical Elimination - A game shall be called whenever a team has been mathematically eliminated from the possibility of at least tying the game in the last regulation inning. Mathematical Elimination replaces the Dizzy Dean slaughter rules.
  4. The head coach must attend the plate meeting at the beginning of the game. The official start time will be declared at the end of this plate meeting.
  5. Drop third strike is not in play.
  6. Balks will not be enforced, umpires can and should provide instruction to a player pitcher so they understand the balk.
  7. Unlimited defensive substitutions are allowed but all teams will bat in a continuous batting order.
  8. Bats must have a certified USABat Stamp and be YBBCOR certified and the barrel may not be larger than 2 5/8 inches.
  9. Prior to each game it is the coach’s responsibility to line up all player’s bats outside the dugout leaning against the fence for inspection by the umpire. Any bats without the USA Bat stamp are not permitted to be in the dugout for game play.
  10. If a player comes to bat with a non-USA Bat and puts a ball in the play that player will be called out and all runners will be returned to their original position. The coach and player will be given a warning at this time. If a second violation occurs for the same team whether it be with the same player or a different player that coach will be ejected from the game and subject to further suspension pending review from the Baseball Committee. If the same player violates this rule twice that player will be ejected from the game.
  11. Helmets must have a non-glare surface and cannot be mirror-like in nature. The chrome and mirror-like finishes will not be legal in Recreation or Select league play.
  12. If a player arrives late to a game they are to be inserted into the lineup at the bottom of the batting order. All other playing time rules apply.
  13. If a player leaves a game due to injury, illness or other reason no penalty will be assessed to team (i.e. no out given at the players turn to bat).

Defense:

  1. No player shall be omitted from the defensive lineup in two innings until everyone on the team has been omitted from the defensive lineup in one inning. No player shall be omitted from the defensive lineup in any two consecutive innings. This includes substitute players.
  2. A player who starts an inning in the defensive lineup shall complete the inning in the defensive lineup, unless prevented from continuing by injury or illness. Exception: Pitchers, in leagues employing player pitchers, may be removed from the game after completing pitching to one batter.
  3. Two defensive coaches are allowed on the field outside the dugouts.
  4. The catcher must wear proper protective catching equipment and use a catcher’s mitt. Required equipment: Helmet with mask and dangling throat guard or hockey style mask, chest protector and leg guards. Male catchers must wear a cup.
  5. Defense: Every player must play at least one inning in the infield, (includes catcher), prior to the conclusion of the 4th inning. The only exception to this rule is if prior agreement between both the manager and parent(s) has been made for the safety of the player, and the opposing manager shall be notified at the plate meeting.

Offense:

  1. No leading off. Base-runners may take a secondary lead and/or steal once the ball crosses homeplate.
  2. Stealing home on passed balls or on the catcher’s throw back to the pitcher or another playeris allowed.
  3. Swing bunts or fake bunt swings are not allowed. A batter may not show bunt and then pull the bat back and take a full swing (Butcher Boy). If the umpire determines that the batter did any of these, the batter will be called out. The batter may show bunt and then pull the bat back, but he may not swing.
  4. Bunting is allowed.
  5. All base runners must slide feet first into all bases including home plate unless returning to a base. Head first slides are illegal and the runner will be call out.
  6. Going over the top of the fielder (in possession of the ball) who is not lying on the ground, such as hurdling, jumping feet first, and diving is dangerous and, therefore, is illegal. The act of obstruction does not negate the runner's responsibility to avoid a fielder legally. The runner must slide or avoid the player, legally. Jumping over is not a legal slide. The runner will be called out and the team receives a team warning. On the second team violation, the player is ejected.
  7. On deck batters are permitted
  8. On offense, coaches are permitted in the first and third base coaching boxes.
  9. All batters and base runners shall wear a batting helmet with a C-flap or a face cage.
  10. Courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher of record can be used at any time (last batted out).

Pitching Rules:

  • Any player who toes the rubber and takes a warm up pitch to begin an inning will be the pitcher of record for that inning and must face a batter to completion before he can be substituted for.
  • A pitcher may pitch a maximum of 8 innings per week. A week is from Sunday to Saturday.
  • One day - 0 –3 innings no rest needed
  • One day - over 3 innings 48 hrs of rest is needed. Pitches Monday, eligible to pitch Thursday
  • One day max is 7 innings
  • Head coaches are required to email the league commissioner and the other league coaches after every game to let them know how many innings their pitcher threw.
  • Intentional walks are allowed, the pitcher will be required to throw the 4 pitches and the ball is in play.
  • Any pitcher playing in the same game may return to the mound one time
  • A pitcher that hits a second batter in the same inning, an official visit to the mound by the coach is required. If the pitcher hits a third batter in the same inning a second visit from the coach is required and the removal of the pitcher from the mound is Mandatory.
  • INTENTIONAL VIOLATION OF THE PITCHING RULES WILL LEAD TOA ONE GAME SUSPENSION OF THE HEAD COACH.

End of the Season Tournament

  • Rules as stated above will be used for tournament play with the exception of the tie. No ties will be allowed during tournament play. A game will continue until a winner has been determined based on regular baseball rules.
  • The tie-breaker for play-off competition is 1) overall record/win percentage, 2) head-to-head, 3) coin toss.
  • A game must be completed in its entirety until either the time limit, inning maximum or mathematical elimination is reached.
  • During end of the season tournaments, pitch limit rules change to the following: pitchers can pitch no more than seven innings in (2) consecutive play-off games.

Rules violations:

  • Any violation of rules are subject to disciplinary action up to and including warning, forfeiture of game(s), suspension of player(s) or coach(es) and/or dismissal from the league. Due to the many variations of possible infractions and/or violations, subsequent disciplinary actions will be considered on a case by case basis by the OPAA BOD.

Protest:

  • A coach may file a protest with the league within 12 hours of completion of the game being protested. Only errors in the interpretation of the rules can be the object of a protest; judgment calls, such as the calling of balls and strikes, or calling a base runner safe or out, cannot be protested. The head coach must immediately inform the umpires of his intention to protest their ruling, and file a formal request for review with the league Recreation Coordinator within a twelve (12) hours. The league will then rule on whether the umpires erred, and if the disputed action affected the outcome of the game. If the protest is upheld, the game is replayed from the point of the disputed ruling.

Conduct and Sportsmanship

It is the Head Coach’s responsibility to manage and control their teams and to lead by example.

  • Inappropriate, obscene, or abusive language or behavior may result in a player, coach, parent, or spectator being ejected from the game/park. This includes arguing with umpires and un-sportsman like conduct.
  • All umpires and OPAA board members have the authority to eject anyone violating the conduct rules.
  • Any player, coach, parent, or spectator ejected from a game must leave the field immediately and are not allowed to stay near the field or sit in the stands, but are allowed to wait in the parking lot if needed.
  • Physical contact or violence involving a player, coach, or parent will result in automatic ejection from the game, a one game automatic suspension, and possible suspension from the league.
  • If a player demonstrates actions which are detrimental and or abusive to the team, the player will be suspended from the team immediately and will not participate in any games or practices until the suspension is reviewed by OPAA Vice President of Baseball.
  • Any player, coach or parent ejections will lead to an immediate suspension. Length of suspension or possible termination of OPAA membership will be determined by the Baseball Committee of the B.O.D. within 36 hours of the incident. Other infractions of the code of conduct and sportsmanship expectations may be subject to this discipline as well.

OPAA may revise/alter rules at any time during a season if needed to enhance the program

Questions concerning the Rules should be directed to the OPAA Board.

February 28, 2018