Northwest Baseball Association: League Rules

Saturday, November 10
League Rules
     
Northwest Baseball Rules 
Introduction
This document highlights the baseball rules for governing the NWBA baseball league play.  All divisions of play are affiliated with Nations Baseball and have adopted the Texas Nations Baseball rules and regulations. 
All of the NWBA divisions will reference these rules: 
1. This NWBA document (NWBA Rules exception)
2. Nations Baseball Rules 
Conduct
NWBA players, coaches, parents and fans are always expected to act in a courteous and sportsmanlike manner both on and off the fields.  Our coaches and parents are expected to teach our players by example.  All games will be conducted with honesty and a high degree of integrity.  The games will be played with the utmost respect for the game and for competition. 
The NWBA umpires have the authority to take whatever measure that they feel is necessary to maintain control over the games.  That includes dismissing or ejecting any player or coach from the field for unsportsmanlike behavior.  We will not tolerate any behavior considered detrimental to our players or our league. 
NWBA holds our managers responsible for maintaining control over their coaches, players and fans.  If managers do not, then they will be ejected from the game.
  • We will not permit foul or abusive language by anyone and under any circumstances.  In the event a coach or player is using foal language they will be removed from the game.
  • In the event a coach quits on his team he is not allowed to coach for the remainder of that season including playoffs. At the end of the season (including playoffs) the issue will be discussed further.
  • A coach caught cheating will be removed from his position for the remainder of the season including playoffs. At the end of the season (including playoffs)the issue will be discussed to decide if further actions are necessary.
Disciplinary Action
The NWBA Executive Board is committed to maintaining a positive and healthy environment for our players and their families.  Anyone refusing to comply with our rules will be considered for disciplinary action.  NWBA reserves the right to suspend, dismiss, or otherwise discipline any player, coach, parent, or guest whose conduct is considered detrimental to our players or our league. 
The Executive Board will investigate any game ejections and determine whether additional disciplinary action is required.  Any person subjected to additional disciplinary action will be given the right to a hearing before the board before the action is imposed.  If the action involves a player under the age of 18, his parent or guardian must be present.   
NWBA will impose any penalty that it deems fairly matches the severity of the offense.  Penalties may include but not be limited to the following: 
  • Written Warning - NWBA will provide a written warning and it will be referenced for future cases.  A more severe penalty will be applied for 2nd offense.
  • Suspension - The individual will be notified in writing that they have been suspended for all league play for a specified number of games. Remember also that we have a SUSPENSION POLICY. In the event a coach or parent is edjected from a game, they are removed from that game plus the next 2 games. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  • Dismissal - The individual will be notified in writing that they have been dismissed from all league activity for the remainder of the season.
  • Barred - The individual will be notified in writing that they have been barred from all NWBA league events for an indefinite period of time. 
Managers Duties
1.HOME TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHALKING THE FIELD BEFORE EACH GAME.
2. VISITING TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RAKING THE FIELD AFTER EACH GAME.
3. BOTH TEAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PICKING UP TRASH IN DUGOUTS AND STANDS.
FAILURE TO DO SO, WILL RESULT IN THE MANAGER BEING SUSPENDED FOR ONE GAME
METRO PRACTICE FIELDS:
Each teams manager must email Lisa at
lesparza13@yahoo.com to request a practice field, if a field is available you will be given a written confirmation. Without this written confirmation your team does not have a practice slot.
TEAMS ARE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE ON THE FIELDS AT DOSS PARK. HOWEVER, THEY ARE LIMITED AND EACH TEAM IS ENCOURAGED TO LOCATE THEIR OWN PLACE TO PRACTICE. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF PRACTICE TIME AT DOSS PARK.
TEAMS MUST RAKE THE FIELD AFTER EACH PRACTICE AND PICK UP ALL TRASH.
Please be aware that if this is not done that team will not be allowed to practice.
As of April 1st any player listed on a "select" team is not eligible for the South Zone tournament.
                                             General Field and Playing Rules
A.   There will be no batting practice allowed on the infield prior to games. 
B.   The Home Team will occupy the third base dugout and provides the official scorekeeper.  The Visiting team will operate the scoreboard. 
C.   All players must be properly dressed in a full team uniform.  Only 4 coaches allowed on the field or dugout. 
D.   Official Batting Line up
  • Managers will supply a copy of the line-up to the scorekeeper and the  opposing manager.
  • An official batting line up must include players name and number  
 

E. Game Balls

  • T-ball - The home team will provide one game ball
  • 7U-14U - both teams supply one game ball
 F. Playing Time Guidelines
  • Teams MUST bat their entire roster.  All players must bat before any player can bat again.
  • All players must play defensively a minimum of every other inning
  • Managers are allowed to substitute freely in the field.

 G.  Once a pitcher has been replaced on the mound, that pitcher cannot return to the mound for the remainder of that game. H. A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause the pitcher’s automatic removal from the mound (not the game). 

I.  Game Limits and Durations

  • T-ball - 5 innings or 1 hour 15 minutes
  • 7U-8U - 6 innings or 1 hour 15 minutes
  •  9U-12U- 6 innings or 1 hour 40 minutes
  • 13U-14U- 7 innings or 1 hour 40 minutes
  • An inning begins the moment the third out is made in the preceding inning.
  • No new innings will begin after the official game time expires.
  • There will be no “drop dead” time limit.
  • The last inning continues until a team is mathematically eliminated or the inning ends.
J. Run Limits
  • No team will be allowed to score more than 7 runs in any half inning - T-ball and Coach Pitch 7-8U
  • 9U-14U - 5 Runs per inning.
  • No Run Rules - Teams will play to the time limit.  Game will be called at 1:40 minutes if the losing team is mathematically eliminated.  If not, the inning will be completed.
 K. Game Schedules:
  • Game Schedules are randomly generated and must be played as scheduled.
  • Games will only be rescheduled for weather related issues or qualifying school events that prevent the team from fielding a team.  Managers are required to submit a request to the league coordinator 7 days prior to the game for consideration.
 L. Game Stoppage ( Due to lights, weather or hazardous conditions)
  • The game completion will be scheduled and play resumes from the same spot in the game(same score, same number of outs, pitchers and runners on base)
  • The game is considered complete if 4 innings completed or if home team is winning after 3 1/2 innings.
 M. Reporting Game Results and Pitching Information
  • All Managers are responsible for reporting scores and pitching information for their team
  • Scores and pitching must be reported within 48 hours or risk forfeiture.

 N. Teams MUST leave the dugout and bleachers free from trash.  We are all           volunteers - please be respectful!!!      

O. Any team unable to field the minimum 5 players will forfeit the game.

  • A forfeit will be recorded as 1-0 win.
 

P. Only the acting team manager has the authority to question or have           discussions with the umpires.  Coaches or players may enter questions through their team manager. 

Q. Fans can cheer for their players, but cannot cheer against other teams’ players 

R. Only NWBA personnel can alter the playing fields.   

S.  Protests will not be allowed

  • There will be no protests in T-ball
  • Managers will not be allowed to protest the umpires judgment call
 

T-BALL GENERAL RULES
  1. The pitcher must maintain one foot on the pitching rubber until the batter hits the ball. 
  2. The batting coach places the Tee on home plate
  3. The batting coach removes the tee from home plate once the ball is hit.
  4. The batter is granted 3 swings to hit the ball and will get unlimited swings if he fouls the ball on the 3rd swing.
  5. The batter will be warned if the ball gets knocked off the tee. A swing is recorded on the second offense.
  6. No bunting.  A batter must take a full swing.
  7. A ball is considered fair if it travels 10 feet from home plate.
  8. A swing miss, or ball not traveling 10 feet on the 3rd swing is an out.
  9. Runners can only advance 2 bases on an overthrown ball into foul territory.
  10. Base runners must return to the previous base if time is called and if the base runner has not yet advanced beyond the half distance to the next base.
  11. The pitcher is not allowed to make an unassisted out at first base when the ball is fielded within the circle of the pitchers mound.  The runner is safe if this occurs.
  12. There is no infield fly rule in t-ball
  13. No stealing or leading off the base.  Runners must maintain contact with the base until the ball is hit.
  14. Big Barrel bats are not allowed in t-ball
  15. There will be one umpire per game
  16. Time out is called when any fielder throws the ball to a player on the mound or the ball passes through the circle of the pitchers mound regardless of whether it is caught or not.
  17. It is not considered a throw to the mound when a player throws or runs across the mound in an attempt to make a play on a base runner.
  18. Play is stopped when progression of the lead runner makes no further attempt to advance.

 7U-8U COACH PITCH GENERAL RULES 

Each batter will be allowed 6 pitches, if the batter fouls the 6th pitch, he will be allowed to continue batting until he does not make contact or puts the ball in play.

  • A fair batted ball hitting a coach pitcher will be declared a foul ball if in the umpires judgment the coach pitcher was intentional.
  • Umpires will call “time” after each play and declare the ball dead.  Time will be called as soon as the lead runner is not attempting to advance.
  • All teams must roster bat and use 10 players in the field. Teams can begin a game with 9 but must have one player must be a pitcher.
  • There will be no base on balls, Base awards for hit batter, infield fly rule, base stealing or bunting.
  • Runners may not leave their base until the ball crosses home plate.  Runners leaving early may be declared out.
  • A coach pitcher is prohibited from coaching while in the pitcher position either physically or verbally.
  • Big Barrel bats are allowed.

9U-14U Rules
  • When a pitcher takes his position at the beginning of each inning, or when a new pitcher comes into the game, he will be permitted 8 warm up pitches.
  • Stealing home is allowed:
If the runner from home is running toward home plate attempting to steal or is participating in a squeeze play, the following apply;
      1. The batter has 2 options,
take the pitch or attempt to bunt the pitch. 
PENALTY - failure to do so, will result in the following
1. Batter is called out
2. All runners return to their bases,
3. The third base coach is ejected from the game.
Note:  With the bases loaded and 3 balls 2 strikes on the batter, coaches please have your players run towards the 3rd base dugout and not sprint towards home.  This is not a squeeze play if the batter swings the bat.
  • No Slashing: - If a batter squares to bunt and then swings at the pitch with or without runners on base, the batter is out and the runners go back to their bases.  The 3rd base coach is given a warning.
  • No player shall initiate malicious contact.  The question of malicious contact is an umpire judgment.  The player initiating malicious contact shall be removed from the game.   The umpire determines intent and is the sole judge of this. 
  • The defensive team may give an intentional walk by having the catcher or coach request.  This may be done before pitching to the batter or on any ball or strike count.
  • Big Barrel Bats are allowed
  • No pick up players are allowed
  • Base runners are allowed to lead off and steal bases in divisions 9 and up
  • Base runners can steal home
  • No head first slides allowed
  • Balks are called:  9/10 - Each pitcher will be given 3 warnings 
   11/12- one warning
   13/14 - No warnings
?         A runner can run on a dropped 3rd strike
PITCHING LIMITS:
9/10 YEAR OLDS - 18 OUTS IN A DAY - 27 OUTS FOR THE WEEK.
11/12 YEAR OLDS - 18 OUTS IN A DAY - 30 OUTS FOR THE WEEK.
13/14 YEAR OLDS - 21 OUTS IN A DAY - 33 OUTS FOR THE WEEK.

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