Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department
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ONSLOW COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT 16&UNDER BASEBALL RULES RULE 1 – ELIGIBILITY & PARTICIPATION 1.1 A player must not turn seventeen (17) years of age prior to April 30 of the current season. 1.2 All players must play in each game as described here (except as noted below in 1.3 and 1.4) substitutes will enter the game to begin the top of the 3rd inning. A starter that has not had a time at bat cannot be substituted. Starters may re-enter the game during or after the top of the 5th inning, if their substitute has also had a time at bat. The rule is mandatory, and must be enforced by the scorekeeper and/or district officers and district coordinator. PENALTY: 1st offense – Game head coach is suspended for next 2 games. 2nd offense – Game head coach is suspended for the remainder of the season. If a shortened game, (time limit, weather, etc.) prevents a player from playing two innings on defense and getting at least 1 at bat, then that player(s) must start during the next game. This rule is mandatory and must be enforced by the scorekeeper and/or district officers and district coordinator. PENALTY: As above. 1.2a Manatory playing rules for the county allstar tournament are not in effect and the coach has the right to substitute as he or she deems necessary. 1.3 A player must play provided they have attended at least 50% of the practices the week prior to the game. It will be up to the coach’s discretion as to whether the player will play if the player has not attended 50% of the practices. Practice violations must be noted in the official scorebook before the start of the game. If practice violations are not noted or if the coach allows the player to participate; then the player must play as described in 1.2. Mandatory attendance records are to be maintained by coaches at all scheduled practice sessions. 1.4 When a coach plans on not playing a player for any reason not stated in Section 1.3 (i.e. illness, injury), the official scorekeeper and opposing coach MUST be notified before the game begins. If a player becomes ill or injured and it becomes apparent that the illness/injury will prevent the player from further participation, the coach should notify the official scorekeeper and opposing coach of the situation immediately. An eligible substitute will be allowed to enter the game. If there is no eligible substitute is available, the opposing coach will choose from the non-eligible players available. PENALTY: Failure to comply with this rule will result in Rule 1.2 going into effect. 1.5 Playing ineligible players shall result in forfeiture of all games in which the ineligible players participated. PENALTY: 1st offense – coach suspended for next game. 2nd offense – coach suspended for the remainder of the season. All offenses – forfeiture of games. 1.6 Each team will consist of a maximum of 15 players. The minimum number of players will be determined by total district enrollment. RULE 2 – PLAYING FIELD & EQUIPMENT 2.1 All field dimensions will be in accordance with NFSHSA rules. RULE 3 – EQUIPMENT 3.1 Catchers must wear all protective equipment in accordance with NFSHSA regulations. Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department 16U Baseball Rules 3.2 Steel cleats/spikes are allowed. 3.3 Batting head protectors (helmets covering both ears) must be worn in accordance with NFSHSA regulations (including youth coaches). RULE 4 – COACHING AND SUBSTITUTING 4.1 The responsibility of following all rules lies with the coaches of each team. However, the official score keeper shall notify a coach of violations whenever possible to prevent a violation and/or protested game. 4.2 Coaching on the field will be in accordance with NFSHSA regulations. It is strongly recommended that players not in the line-up be utilized as base coaches. Time in the coach’s box is not considered playing time. 4.3 Substitutions shall be in accordance with NFSHSA regulations. EXCEPTION: If a team has used all available substitutes and a player becomes injured/ill, then the opposing coach will pick a substitute to replace the injured/ill player. Substitutions will be made if there are available players to be picked. 4.3a After substitution players enter the game at the 3rd inning, original players are eligble to be a sub-runner. If no subs are left, any player from the bench is eligible to be a sub-runner RULE 5 – STARTING & ENDING A GAME 5.1 Games will be 7 innings in length or 2 hours. No new innings will start after 1 hour & 45 minutes except in a tie game. Time will be kept by the home plate umpire’s watch. Starting time will be noted in the official scorebook. It is recommended that players & coaches arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game. 5.2 Each team must start a game with 9 eligible players if 9 are present. Teams may begin a game with 8 players, and may then add the 9th player at the bottom of the line-up upon arrival. A team cannot continue to play with less than 8 players. Team failing to field at least 8 eligible players after 5 minutes past scheduled game time shall forfeit the game. Forfeits count as losses and cannot be replayed. 5.3 Protests on official’s judgment calls will not be considered. For protest procedure, refer to by-laws. 5.3a No protest of a game in which an ineligible pitcher participates will be allowed unless a coach refuses to remove the pitcher from the line-up when the infraction is discovered by the umpires or opposing team. 5.4 Double headers may be played in extenuating circumstances. 5.5 In case of inclement weather, the losing team must have been at bat 5 innings to constitute a legal game. 5.6 If a team is ahead by 10 runs any time after the 5th inning, the game will be ended provided the losing team has had an equal number of times at bat. 5.7 In cases of a tie in standings for any place, the place will be determined by consideration of head- to-head results. If 1st place head-to-head results are tied; the tie will be broken by 1 playoff game. If 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. place head-to-head results are tied; the tie will be broken by the toss of a coin. 5.8 Modified speed-up rule will be in effect: 5.8a Waive batter to first on intentional walk 5.8b Substitute for catcher when catcher is base runner (mandatory with 2 outs). 2 Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department 16U Baseball Rules 5.8c Substitute for pitcher any time he is on base (not mandatory). RULE 6 – PITCHING 6.1 A pitcher may not pitch in more than 9 innings per game or no more than a total of 14 innings in a calendar week. A calendar week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. 6.2 Any pitcher who pitches at least 4 innings in a game must have a minimum of 36 hours rest before they can pitch a consecutive game. 6.3 One pitch constitutes an inning pitched. 6.4 A pitcher shall be considered ineligible if he makes 1 legal pitch after reaching the pitching limitations. RULE 7 – BATTING 7.1 Batting shall be in accordance with NFSHSA rules, except as noted. 7.2 A bat shall not weigh numerically more than 3 ounces less than the length. For example, a bat that is 34 inches in length must weigh at least 31 ounces. Bat cannot exceed 2-5/8” in diameter and 34” in length. Only composite barrel bats certified and marked BBCOR .50 will be allowed. 7.3 No designated hitter (DH) is allowed. 7.4 A batter will not throw or sling his bat in a way that could potentially injure someone. PENALTY: 1st offense – batter will receive a warning. 2nd offense – batter will be expelled from game. RULE 8 – BASERUNNING 8.1 Base running shall be in accordance with NFSHSA rules. 8.2 A courtesy runner may be used for a catcher or a pitcher (required for catcher with 2 outs). A courtesy runner must be an eligible substitute. If an eligible substitute is not available, then the last player to have been put out will be the courtesy runner. RULE 9 – GOVERNING BODIES 9.1 The current Nation Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA) rules will govern play in all districts, except where superseded by local rules. The playing rules governing the youth baseball/softball districts, as co-sponsored by Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department, are supplements to the official high school rules. 9.2 The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department has authority in interpreting the foregoing rules and regulations. Revised January 2015 3 .