EDHLL Division Rules

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EDHLL Coach-Pitch Division Game Rules

DEFENSIVE GAME PLAYS - FIELDING:

1) A team can field a maximum of 9 players on defense. These players must play in the standard regulation positions of pitcher, catcher, first, second and third bases, shortstop, left, center and right fields. Teams cannot reposition infielders in order to play with 2 or more pitcher positions. If a team cannot field 9 players, it is that team’s manager/coach decision which position(s) to leave open.

2) No team manager or coach is allowed on the field during game play. This includes affiliated team parent(s), any player parent(s), guardian(s), relative(s) or sibling(s). Exceptions:
A) One offensive team manager or coach takes the pitcher position along with one defensive team player. That manager or coach cannot field hit balls, except for personal safety. That manager or coach cannot instruct any base runners, only the batter. Exception: The manager or coach may instruct any base runners when he/she is the sole team manager or coach present at a game.
B) Each of the base-coach boxes may be occupied by one offensive team manager or coach who can only instruct base runners. Base coaches can only encourage batters.
C) To speed up play, one defensive team manager or coach is allowed behind the catcher to retrieve passed balls for the pitcher. This manager or coach cannot instruct any defensive players while on the field of play. All defensive team instruction is from the dugout. Exception: The manager or coach may instruct defensive players when he/she is the sole team manager or coach present at a game.

3) Each player must play at least one inning each during the game in an infield and outfield position. Each player must play a minimum of 2 defensive innings per game. No player can play any one position more than 2 innings per game. Switch dugout reserve players each inning until all players have met the above rule. If the manager or coach is the sole team manager or coach present, then use team parent(s) and player parent(s) to control players in the dugout from behind the dugout, not inside.

4) The catcher must wear all the protective gear while catching.

5) Double plays are allowed, but triple plays will not be allowed any time.

 

OFFENSIVE GAME PLAY - HITTING AND BASE RUNNING:

1) No player ever handles a bat without wearing a helmet, and unless in the batter’s box, and unless supervised by a manager or coach right next to that player!

2) All players present at each game are eligible to bat each inning. Innings end when the defensive team makes 3 outs or the team at bat scores 5 runs. If more than 5 runs score in an inning (e.g., 4 runs scored and a 2-run hit occurs), only 5 runs are counted.

3) Players at bat and on base must always wear helmets. No on-deck circle is used.

4) Bunting is not allowed. Any batted ball traveling less than 10 feet from home plate is foul.

5) Sliding is not allowed. Any runner that slides will automatically be ruled out. Warn all players of this rule before the game and during practices.

6) There are no strikeouts. One offensive team manager or coach pitches to their own team when that team is at bat. Each batter gets 5 pitches maximum to swing and hit the ball fair. If the 5th pitch is a foul ball, the batter gets one additional pitch. Regardless how good the batter is, if they miss the 5th or 6th pitch, set up the batting tee, and have the batter swing until the ball is hit into fair play. The manager or coach should pitch to batters while kneeling to improve batter success. To speed up play, keep an assembled batting tee near the home plate area for quick access and use when it is needed.

7) If the manager or coach pitching is hit by a fair ball, interference is called, the ball is ruled dead, and the batter hits again. The swing does not count against the 5 maximum pitch rules.

8) Stealing is not allowed. Base runners can not leave the base until a ball is hit. No base runner can advance once the ball is held by the adult pitcher or any player on defense. Base runners cannot advance on over-throws or passed balls by the catcher position.

9) Base runners cannot tag up and advance on caught fly balls.

10) The infield fly rule will not be used.

11) Extra base hits are allowed only when they are "clean" (i.e. – between outfield positions) and not the result of an error, deflection, overthrow, or dropped ball.

PITCHING:

1) See rule #2A on page 1 of this handout. No player pitching allowed.

2) The manager or coach of each team must understand and follow the five pitch rule

GENERAL:

1) Prior to starting any game, each team’s manager or coach should review and mutually agree to abide by all the game rules, and both by whom and how the rules will be enforced.

2) The time limit for games will be 1-1/2 hours. No new inning may start after the time limit expires. If the time limit expires in the middle of an inning, the inning will continue until the home team completes their batting turn.

3) Score may be kept and made known to the players during the game, but should not be emphasized or used in a taunting manner. No league win-loss standings will be kept. Learning baseball skills is the emphasis at this level of play.

4) Each team is issued new baseballs for game use. Game balls are MacGregor, Safe/Soft Level 5, or comparable hardness baseballs. This is the only game ball allowed. Each team supplies one new ball for each game, to total 2.

5) Game cancellations for weather or smog alerts are mutually agreed upon by the opposing managers or coaches. If both agree to cancel a game, both must inform all their respective team members including managers, coaches, players and player parents of the cancellation. Canceled games may or may not be rescheduled.