Notes on Rules

Regulation VI – Baseball Pitchers

• Threshold now applies to number of pitches thrown then move to catcher (40 pitches)
• Threshold now applies to number of pitches thrown then pitch in a 2nd game that day for Jr. and Sr. (30 pitches)
  
  

Regulation VI – Softball Pitchers

• A pitcher can return to pitch once per inning as long as they stay in the game
• Minors can use as many pitchers as they want - Majors can only use 5 pitchers per game
  
  

Rule 1 – Objectives of the Game

• Add-on devices to bats are Prohibited
• No pine tar or any other adhesive anywhere on the bat
  
  

Rule 2 - Definitions

• Appeals 7.10
• Balk 8.05
• Base Coach 4.05
• Base on Balls 8.04 and Regulation VI
  • Majors and Minors are the only divisions you don’t have to throw the pitch
• Battery – Pitcher and Catcher
• Batting Order 6.07
• Bench or Dugout 3.17
• Bunt – Make the right call – a Bunt is NOT a swing. We use the term “Slap Bunt” in softball which is a swing and not a Bunt. Bunting foul with 2 strikes is considered an out. In softball, a slap bunt foul with 2 strikes is a foul ball.
  • Baseball you must move the bat towards the ball to be called an attempt. If the bat stays stationary, it’s not considered an attempt.
  • Softball you must move the bat back or it’s considered an attempt. If the bat stays stationary, it’s considered an attempt.
• Catch – You must have possession, control, and then transfer (voluntary release).
• Dead Ball Area 5.09
• Foul Tip 6.06 – this is not a foul ball
• Illegal Batted Ball 6.06
• Infield Fly 7.08
• Must have a force out at 3rd
  • Must have less than 2 outs
  • Must have an apex to the batted ball
  • Can (not could, not will) be caught with ordinary effort
• Inning 4.04 and 5.07
  • Minors must have 5-run limit, 3 outs, or once thru the batting order for a half inning
  • Locally you can use more runs but not less runs per inning
• Interference 7.09
• Obstruction 7.06
• Retouch 7.10
• Strike Zone 2.0
• Runner 7.01
  • 7.06 – When a runner is stealing home and the catcher jumps out in from of the plate to catch the ball, call a balk on the pitcher and award the batter 1st base on catcher interference
  • 7.08 Hurdling is legal if it’s not malicious
  • Softball – There is no “Look Back” rule. Runners are entitled to 1 stop, then they must decide to go back or go forward. They get 3 seconds once the pitcher has the ball and enters the circle if a play is not being made on them.
    
    

Rule 3 – Game Preliminaries

• Substitutions – Regular season is now the same as Tournament Play. Starter must go back in the same position in the batting order.
• UIC is responsible for the condition of the field during regular season. Tournament Director is responsible during Tournament Play.
  
  

Rule 4 – Starting and Ending the Game

• 4.10 - 15 run rule is optional during regular season
  • If a time limit is used for Major and above divisions, you must have a minimum number of innings played – even if it goes past the time limit
• 4.15 - Game may be forfeited by the UIC (UIC must be 18 or older) if:
  • Team refuses to start play within 10 minutes
  • Team refuses to play at all
  • Team fails to resume play within 1 minute
  • Team fails to obey umpire to remove a player from the game
  • Team willfully and persistently violates the rules
  • Team is using tactics to delay, shorten, or make a travesty of the game
• 4.19 – Protest
  • Only violation or interpretation of the rules
  • Cannot protest Umpire judgement
  • Manager or acting manager is the only one who can protest
  • Must be done before the next play
  • Both the manager and umpire must submit a report within 24 hrs. to the DA
  • Minor Division – league may adopt to resolve before the next play
  • TEE BALL – THERE ARE NO PROTEST IN TEE BALL, PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!
    
    

Rule 5 – Putting the ball in play

Rule 6 – The Batter

• 6.07 – B O O (Batting Out of Order)
  • Keys:
    • Who batted
    • Who was supposed to bat
    • When was it appealed
       Who’s up next
• 6.08 – Entitled to 1st base
  • Intentional Walk (Majors and Minors only) – must announce before 1 pitch is thrown to the batter
• 6.09 – Batter becomes a runner
  • Uncaught 3rd strike
    
    

Rule 7 – The Runner

Rule 8 – The Pitcher – Softball

• 8.06 – Visits (1 per inning, 2 per game) (Minor’s 2 per inning, 3 per game)
  
  

Rule 8 – The Pitcher – Baseball

• 8.02 - Pitcher can come to their mouth or lips while on the mound, just not on the rubber
• 8.06 – Visits (1 per inning, 2 per game) (Minor’s 2 per inning, 3 per game)