2011

North Bergen Little League Baseball

Game Rules

(modified April 17)

 

North Bergen Little League is governed by the rules set forth by Little League Baseball Incorporated with the following modifications.

 

1.0 GENERAL RULES

 

1A. Home and Away

 

When meeting for the 1st time a coin flip determines who is home and away. 

 

After the first time the teams rotate. If you meet for the 3RD time you flip again.

 

1A1. The home team shall have the first base dugout.

 

1B. Forfeit

On game day, if a team has 7 players or less, the game is forfeited.

 

A game is officially forfeited after 20 minutes from game time schedule.

 

1B1. If a team does not have at least 8 players by game time, the game is in the top of the 2nd inning and the team that is short players is losing 2-0 (added March 2011).

 

1C. Time Limit

There will be a 2 hour time limit for each game. The Umpire or scorekeeper will announce start time of each game. Within 15 to 20 minutes the umpire will make teams aware of time limit approaching.

 

Majors Only - No new inning may commence at or after 1 hour and 55 minutes of game play.

 

Minors Only - No new inning may commence at or after 1 hour and 45 minutes of game play.

 

If the game is tied and is an official game (4 complete innings) the game shall be recorded as a tie.

 

If the game is tied and is not an official game (less than 4 complete inning) the game shall resume at point of interruption.  Game shall only be played if regular season schedule permits and/or if game has impact on standings.

 

1D. Five Run Rule for Minors ONLY

Once a team has scored its 5th run in the inning the inning is over. Any runs score after the 5th run as a result of a hit does not count.

 

Exceptions:

In the last inning only, last inning defined as the 6th inning and beyond or the last inning declared by the umpire, 3 outs or the whole line up batting will constitute the end of an inning (added May 26, 2009).

 

A home run hit over the fence all runs count, no matter what inning (added March 2011).

 

1E. Extra Hitter (EH)

 

A team may use more than one EH.

 

EH will be allowed in the major League.  Any player on your Roster can start as an EH. 

 

A player may only play as an EH 3 times in a given season.

 

An EH must play 3 consecutive outs on the field.

 

1F. Minors Only – 4th Outfielder

         A 4th outfielder MUST be used to play on the field if a team has at least 10 players available.  The 4th outfielder MUST play the same Depth as the regular outfields (left, center and right fielders).

         The 4th outfielder CANNOT be used as a 5th infielder or play a shorter distance than the regular outfielders.

 

1G. Substitution Rules (modified 2010)

 

Every Player on your roster must get one at bat and play two full innings in the field. The innings on the field DOES NOT have to be consecutive innings. 

 

All substitutions must be completed by the fourth inning.

 

FAILURE to adhere to substitution rules will result in the suspension of the team manager for the next scheduled game and possible game forfeiture at the discretion of the board for a second offense.

 

1H. Bunt and Slash

As soon as the pitcher is ready to pitch on the mound, a batter may NOT square to bunt then pull his bat back to swing away on a given pitch.  By Doing so the batter will be called OUT. 

 

1I. Courtesy Runner for catcher and pitcher (added March 2011)

 

A courtesy runner is allowed for the runner and/or pitcher with LESS than 2 outs.  It is MANDATORY for catcher, optional for pitcher.

               

1ia: courtesy runner MUST be a player not in the current line up. If no bench player(s) are available then it is the last batter out in the line up. 

 

1J. Standings Tie Breaker (added 06/12/09)

1 -  Head to Head

2 -  Least Runs given up against the team you are tied with

3 -  Better division record

4 -  Which team beat the best team (record wise)

                  4a- division first then league wise

5 - Least runs allowed in division

6 - Least runs allowed in all games

7 - Coin toss

 

1K. Rainouts

Rained out games will be made up as soon as scheduling permits.

If a rained out game does not factor into the determination of a division title it may not be made up if timing does not permit.

 

1L. Equipment and Uniforms

 

With the exception of the baseball cap, all equipment and uniforms are the property of North Bergen Baseball and is to be returned at the season’s conclusion. 

 

Team managers are responsible for the care and collection of uniforms and equipment.

 

2.0 PITCHING RULES FOR MINORS AND MAJORS

 

DEFINITION OF CALENDAR WEEK

         Pitchers are allowed to pitch 6 innings per week.  The week begins Monday and runs through Sunday.

 

2A. Pitcher / Catcher

 

MAJORS ONLY -No Player can Pitch or Catch in the same game.

         example 1: if a player pitches in a game he/she could not have played the position of catcher in the beginning or during the game.

         example 2: if a player catches in a game he/she could not have played the position of a pitcher in the beginning or during the game.

 

MINORS ONLY(added 04/08/10) - (following Little League International Rule)

 

Regulation VI – PITCHERS in the Baseball Rule Book has been amended to read, in part:

(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. Exception: Any player, who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game, is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day. An inning is officially started when the umpire puts the ball in play at the beginning of each half inning.

 

 

2B. Intentional Walk

 

The same player may only be intentionally walked one time per game.

 

2C. Illegal Pitcher

A pitcher that does not adhere to the rules shall not be allowed to pitch the next 2 games.

 

2D. Removing a Pitcher

 

Once a pitcher has been removed from the mound the pitcher may not return in the game as a pitcher.

 

2E. Majors Only

A pitcher may only pitch 3 innings or 65 pitches per game for the first 3 games of the regular season, whichever comes first.

After the 3rd game of the regular season, a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 4 innings or 85 pitches per game, whichever comes first.

Pitchers must have 1 calendar days rest after 3 innings pitched and 1 day per inning beyond three innings pitched.  For example:

                     3 innings pitched 1 days rest

                     4 innings pitched 2 days rest

                      5 innings pitched 3 days rest

                      6 innings pitched 4 days rest

 

*Exception to this rule:

Pitchers will be allowed to pitch six innings in a game if they are pitching a no-hitter; This exception is at the discretion of the team manager.  If the pitcher has not allowed a hit in the first three full innings, the pitcher is allowed to continue pitching.  Once a hit is surrendered, the pitcher must be removed from the mound immediately. A HIT OR ERROR WILL BE JUDGED BY THE UMPIRE(s).

 

2F. Minors Only  (modified 04/08/2011)

 

A pitcher may not pitch more than  3 innings per game or 75 pitches, which ever comes first (added to clarify 04/08/11)

 

A pitcher may not pitch NO MORE THAN  six innings per week with the following  stipulation:

               

A pitcher who is used to pitch up to 3 innings or 75 pitches in 1 game cannot pitch NO MORE than 2 innings in the next game within the same calendar week.  There is no particular order on how you allot the innings to the same pitcher within the same calendar week.

       example: You have 3 games in 1 week, game 1 pitcher A pitches 1 innings, game 2 you use pitcher A to pitch 3 innings, in game 3 you can only use pitcher A to pitch no more than 2 innings.

 

The no-hitter rule exception does not apply to the Minor League.

 

 

3. PLAY OFF RULES FOR MINORS AND MAJORS

 

3A. Playoff Format

 

  Home and Away is determined by finish in regular season standings.

          The first 4 teams of each division will make the playoffs.

          The first 2 rounds of the playoffs are single elimination.

 

  3B. Round 1 (1 Game Elimination)

 The 1st place team will play the 4th place team in their division, the 2nd place team                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

           Winners will advance to play each other in the second round. 

 

3C. Round 2 (1 Game Elimination)

                    

           The winners within their division in the 1st round will play each.

 

3D. CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (1 Game Elimination)

 

 

4. COACHES/PLAYERS CONDUCT

 Coaches are expected to set the example for player conduct.  Coaches and players must  

 refrain using obscene or abusive language at all times including practice and games. 

 Umpires may reserve the right to eject a player or coach if they use foul language during a     

 game.

 

 Absolutely NO SMOKING and/or ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES are within the facility.

 Coaches are responsible to have parents abide by the Parent Conduct Agreement the  

 Parent(s) signed.

 

 

5. COACH AND PLAYER SUSPENSION

 

 Players or coaches ejected from a game will be subject to a one game suspension.

 

 A suspended coach is not allowed in the dug out or playing field nor is the suspended coach                                   

     to have contact with his/her players or coaches throughout the duration of the game in which

     he/she is suspended for.  Failure to meet these criteria will result in an additional game 

     suspension AND the coach or managers team may receive a forfeit at the boards discretion.

 

 A suspended player must attend the game he is suspended for in the dug out and in full

     uniform.  Failure to meet these criteria will result in an additional game suspension.

 

   A manager must notify the opposing manager and the score keeper in advance of the game                  

    if a player is suspended.

 

   Any manager may suspend a player for valid disciplinary reasons with the approval of the 

   League President.

 

   Suspended individuals have the right to an appeal.  All appeals must be submitted in writing

   to the league president for review by executive board members.

 

North Bergen Youth Baseball reserves the right to enact a three strikes you are out policy when it comes to behavioral incidents.  On the third strike a player, coach or manager will be banned from participating in North Bergen Youth Baseball.  Reinstatement will only be considered if the banned individual supplies written proof of the successful completion of an anger management course.  Even then, reinstatement of the individual is subject to the discretion of the League Executive Board.