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 Rules |
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Amesbury Minor League Rules & Regulations
Article 1: General League Rules
OBJECTIVE:
The main focus of the Managers, Coaches and Parents is to teach the fundamental skills of baseball and provide all the players with an opportunity to learn all positions, skills, good sportsmanship, and the rules of the game in a safe, positive and fun environment. The League will consists of two divisions, Single A, ages 5 and 6, and Double A, ages 7 and 8. The common goal of both AML divisions is to HAVE FUN while learning about the game of baseball. In order to facilitate this, the following rules are provided:
EQUIPMENT:
Equipment must be T-Ball approved.
Metal cleats are not permitted.
Players must wear long pants. White baseball pants are encouraged, but not required.
All players on a team shall wear uniforms and caps supplied by the League.
All Coaches shall wear League supplied caps during all League functions.
The ball used must meet Tee-Ball specifications only League issued balls shall be used. (It shall weigh not less than 5 nor more than 5 1/4 ounces, and measure not less than 9 nor more than 9 1/4 inches in circumference).
The bat used must meet Tee-Ball specifications. It shall not be more than 27 inches in length, nor more than 2 1/4 inches in diameter. Colored bats are acceptable. All bats must be manufacturer's labeled Tee-Ball, T-Ball, Tee-Shot or T-Shot. (Exception to this rule shall apply for the Double A Division only, where Little League approved bats maybe used.) An illegal bat must be removed from the game. If, in the Coaches judgment, a bat is unsafe due to wear or any similar reason, it must be removed from the game.
GENERAL CONDUCT:
Only Amesbury Minor League players, coaches, assistants and parents under the direction of AML coaches are allowed in the playing area during games and practices.
Offensive team must have a coach at first and third base.
Base coaches will serve as umpires for their respective bases.
Defensive coach located in outfield will call second base.
Batting coach or pitching coach will call home if needed.
THE UMPIRES DECISION STANDS.
All coaches, assistant coaches and other volunteers will refrain from smoking in the playing area, dugouts, and immediate area during games and practices. Amesbury Minor League requests that parents and other spectators refrain from smoking in the area of league activities.
Amesbury Minor League is an instructional league and is dedicated to teaching children about the game of baseball in a fun and safe environment. AML coaches, regardless of team, will be working with, and encouraging all players during practices and games. Because AML is an instructional league, parental help during practices and games is welcomed and encouraged. Parents must follow the direction of the AML coaches if they wish to help. AML also asks that parents and other spectators provide positive support for the players and coaches on all teams during practices and games. Behavior by parents, spectators, coaches or players that is deemed unacceptable will not be tolerated. Individuals that pose a threat, or continue with negative behavior will be required to leave the area of AML games and practices. Continued offenses could result in being permanently barred from AML functions. Coaches have the option of stopping a game or practice until negative behavior stops, and if deemed necessary, can require offending individuals to vacate the area. Practices and games will not continue until offending individuals have vacated the area. If you witness any behavior you feel is detrimental to the league, players, officials, parents or other spectators, please bring it to the attention of a coach, or contact the league.
Article 2: Single A Division
AGE:
The SINGLE A DIVISION is traditional T-Ball and is geared towards introducing children ages 5 and 6 to the game of baseball in a non-competitive environment.
GAMES:
All games will last four innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes, whichever comes first. An inning constitutes each team batting through the order regardless of the number of outs made each inning. The batting order must be reversed each inning. With the exception of adding late arriving players, the batting order cannot change once the game begins.
FIELD OF PLAY:
Bases should be 50 feet apart.
FIELDERS:
Fielders must remain behind an imaginary arc 40 feet from home plate until the ball is hit.
Players will be positioned at pitcher, catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, (2) shortstops, and outfield.
There are no limits on the number of outfielders. Outfielders must be positioned at least three feet behind the infield.
Players must be rotated through each position.
The catcher must wear a helmet, mask, chest protector, and shin guards.
The pitcher shall wear a helmet during play.
BATTING:
All batters must wear a batting helmet.
Batters must hit off the “T”.
All batters hit. No strikeouts or walks.
A ball must travel 10 feet from home plate and remain within the baselines to be considered a hit. Balls knocked into foul territory by defensive players are considered a hit. If a ball travels beyond first or third base, then goes into foul territory, it is considered a hit.
With the exception of the batter, all players for the batting team must remain within the bench area. On-deck batters and the handling of bats are not permitted.
Loose bats and other equipment must be removed from the field of play.
Play must stop and instructions given to batters that accidentally throw a bat while batting.
BASE RUNNING:
All Base runners must wear a helmet.
Batters and base runners are limited to two bases (at most) on infield hits. Batters and base runners can take as many bases as possible on balls hit into the outfield, but cannot advance once the ball is thrown back into the infield. Base coaches need to direct base runners. If a runner is between bases when the ball comes back into the infield, they can advance to the next base at their own peril.
No leading or stealing.
There is no advancement on an overthrow.
SCORING:
Scores are not kept at this level.
Article 3: Double A Division
AGE:
The DOUBLE A DIVISION is instructional baseball and is geared towards getting children ages 7 and 8 ready to move into little league. Games are played in a semi-competitive environment.
GAMES:
Regardless of the score, all games will last six innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes, whichever comes first. Each team will get three outs or nine batters per inning, whichever comes first. With the exception of adding late arriving players, the batting order cannot change once the game begins. There will be no ending of the game in the bottom half of an inning if the home team is ahead. If time has expired, the home team shall complete its at bat.
FIELD OF PLAY:
Bases must be 55 feet apart. The batter’s box must be three feet by four feet.
FIELDERS:
Fielders must remain behind an imaginary arc 40 feet from home plate until the ball is hit.
Players will be positioned at pitcher, catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, (2) shortstops, and outfield.
There are no limits on the number of outfielders. Outfielders must be positioned at least three feet behind the infield.
Players must be rotated through each position.
The catcher must wear a helmet, mask, chest protector, and shin guards.
The helmet for the pitcher is optional at the Double A Division level.
BATTING:
All batters must wear a batting helmet.
During an at bat, a batter can hit from the “T” or use the coach pitch option. There will be no switching between the two during the at bat.
Each batter will get three strikes and then their out. The batter must swing and clearly miss the ball for the third strike.
The batter must remain within the batter’s box when swinging at the ball. If the batter hits the ball while outside of the batter’s box, it will be considered a foul.
When hitting off the “T”, a ball must travel 10 feet from home plate and remain within the baselines to be considered a hit. If a batter is using the “T” and the ball does not travel 10 feet when hit, it is considered a foul. Balls knocked into foul territory by defensive players are considered a hit. If a ball travels beyond first or third base, then goes into foul territory, it is considered a hit.
With the exception of the batter, all players for the batting team must remain within the bench area. On-deck batters and the handling of bats are not permitted.
Loose bats and other equipment must be removed from the field of play.
Play must stop and instructions given to batters that accidentally throw a bat while batting.
BASE RUNNING:
All Base runners must wear a helmet.
Batters and base runners are limited to two bases (at most) on infield hits. Batters and base runners can take as many bases as possible on balls hit into the outfield, but cannot advance once the ball is thrown back into the infield. Base coaches need to direct base runners. If a runner is between bases when the ball comes back into the infield, they can advance to the next base at their own peril.
No stealing.
The base runners must stay in contact with the base until the pitched ball reaches the batter.
There is no advancement on an overthrow.
SCORING:
The team with the most runs after six innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes wins the game. If the score is tied after six innings or 1 hour and thirty minutes, each team is awarded a tie.
Article 4: Amendments
Section 1 - These League Rules may be amended only by a 2/3 vote of the voting members present at a legal meeting of the Board of Directors, as defined in the By-Laws.
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