2021 - 2022 Hamilton Baseball 8U Rec Rules

1. Games shall be 6 innings in length.

2. Once game has started, the game will be played to regulation length, either innings or time. There is a 2 hour drop dead time limit, regardless of whether or not the game is the last game scheduled for the day.

3. No new inning shall start after 8:00pm before Memorial Day and 8:15pm after Memorial Day.

4. NO METAL CLEATS.  

5. Teams may start and finish with no less than 7 players.

6. All teams must bat their entire roster without alteration after the 1st inning.

7. If a player is taken off the roster due to injury or leaving early, the team incurs no penalty.  The batter is skipped without recording an out.

8. All players must play at least 2 defensive innings, and bat 1 time.

9. 10 players may be used defensively. 4 outfielders; no short fielders.  There is free substitution for all players.

10. There will be a maximum of 5 runs per inning, except for the last inning, which will be unlimited.

11. Courtesy runner for the catcher may be used with 2 outs by the player who last recorded an out.

12. No more than 2 Defensive Coaches will be permitted on the field of play and must stay in the outfield.

13. No more than 3 Offensive Coaches will be permitted on the field of play -- two in the coaches’ boxes, and one Coach Pitcher.

14. The player fielding the pitching position must be to the left or right and a little behind the pitching rubber.

15. All games preceding Memorial Day will be pitched from the pitching machine.  The batter is called out after failing to put the ball in play after 3 strikes or a total of 5 pitches from the machine.  However, if the 5th pitch is fouled off, the batter is not out. Pitching continues until the batter does not put the ball in play in fair or foul territory.

16. All games postceding Memorial Day will be primarily player pitched with back-up from pitching machine.

    1. At least Innings 1, 2 and 3 will be player-pitched.  Player pitching beyond first 3 innings will be at coaches’ discretion and will be agreed upon before game begins.  Any player-pitched inning will be player-pitched by both teams.

    2. A player will pitch no more than 2 innings; innings may be non-consecutive.

    3. No walks will be issued unless batter is struck by pitch.

    4. If Player pitches 4 balls, Player Pitcher retires and pitching machine is given 3 pitches.  The pitching machine inherits the strike count. The batter is out after failing to put the ball in play after 3 strikes or a total of 3 pitches from the machine.

    5. If Player pitches a full count, Player is given the opportunity to strike the batter out.  If Player pitches 4th ball, pitching machine is given 3 pitches.

    6. If the batter has 2 strikes and fouls the 3rd pitch from the machine, the batter is still alive.

    7. Hit Batsman rule: A Pitcher must be removed that hits 2 batters

17. A strike watched from the machine is counted as a pitch.  A strike watched from a Player Pitcher is counted as a strike.

18. The Coach Pitcher must stand behind the machine.  If the ball hits the pitching machine, generator, or the Coach Pitcher, the play is dead.  Batter and base runners are awarded one base.

19. Stopping a play: When the ball is in the control of the pitcher in the pitching circle and in the umpire’s judgment all play has ceased, the umpire will call time. The runners will be awarded the base if they are past the halfway mark.

20. Overthrow rule: If defense makes two consecutive overthrows during a play, play is dead.

21. A base runner hit by a fair-batted ball while on base or running will be called out.

22. Runners must remain in contact with the base until the ball is hit. No leading off bases.  No stealing. No stealing home.

23. Runners may slide. No head-first sliding. Runners must avoid contact on all close plays at all bases (based on umpire’s judgment).

24. There will not be an infield fly rule.

25. Teams must chase foul balls.

26. Ending play due to weather: A game that is called due to unsafe weather conditions will be stopped and not resumed.  Unsuitable conditions due to wind and/or rain are at the discretion of the umpire and the coaches. A game will be stopped and the park will be cleared in the event of a clap of thunder and/or sight of lightning.

27. Result of game called due to weather: If a game is called due to weather after the players have played four innings, the game is considered official or if home team is ahead after 3 ½ innings.

28. Teams are responsible for cleaning up dugouts and stands.

29. Any discrepancies in these rules will be left up to the judgment of Hamilton Baseball.

30. Base paths 60 feet; pitching distance 40 feet.

2021 - 2022 Hamilton Baseball 10U Rec Rules

1. Games shall be 6 innings in length.

2. Once game has started, the game will be played to regulation length, either innings or time. There is a 2 hour drop dead time limit, regardless of whether or not the game is the last game scheduled for the day.

3. No new inning shall start after 8:00pm before Memorial Day and 8:15pm after Memorial Day.

4. NO METAL CLEATS.

5. Teams may start and finish with no less than 8 players.

6. Any player arriving after the completion of the 2nd inning will not be allowed to play that game.

7. All teams must bat their entire roster without alteration after the 1st inning.

8. All players must play at least 2 defensive innings, and bat 1 time.

9. 9 players may be used defensively. No short fielders.  There is free substitution except for pitcher.

10. If a team started a game with 9 players, and a player is injured or ejected, an out will be recorded on that player’s next at bat only.

11. Courtesy runner for the catcher may be used with 2 outs by the player who last recorded an out.

12. Pitchers are allowed to pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game. Innings must be consecutive. If they pitch 2 innings or less, they require 1 days rest before they can pitch again. If they pitch more than 2 innings, they require 3 days rest before they may pitch again. 1 warm up pitch constitutes as an inning pitch.

13. Hit Batsman rule: A Pitcher must be removed who hits 2 batters in an inning, or 3 in a game.

14. There will be a maximum of 5 runs per inning, except for the last inning, which will be unlimited.

15. There will be a 10 run mercy rule after 3 ½ innings if home team is ahead, and 4 innings if visitors are ahead.

16. No leading off. Stealing is allowed after the ball crosses the plate. Penalty: The player will be called out by the umpire.

17. Overthrows, wild pitches, and passed balls are live unless they go out-of-play, except that a runner on 3rd base may not steal home on an overthrow from the catcher to the pitcher.  The only way a runner on 3rd base can steal home is if a play is made on him or at any base. If a runner on 2nd is stealing 3rd and the catcher overthrows the player covering 3rd, the runner may attempt to score.

18. There is a must-slide rule. No head-first sliding. Players must avoid malicious contact (umpire’s judgment). Runners must avoid contact on all close plays at all bases (based on umpire’s judgment).Players, who make malicious contact, will be ejected from this game.

19. The infield fly rule is in effect.

20. Teams are responsible for cleaning up dugouts and stands.

21. Any discrepancies in these rules will be left up to the judgment of Hamilton Baseball.

22. Base paths 60 feet; pitching distance 46 feet.