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Bethesda Chevy Chase , Inc.

11U Select Rules and Regulations

For the 2021-2022 Seasons

League Office Rules Committee Copies Available 40a Southlawn Court 40a Southlawn Court On the internet at Rockville, MD 20850 Rockville, MD 20850 www.bccbaseball.com Phone: 301-229-2724 [email protected]

BCC Baseball – 11U Select Rules – 2021/2022

Table of Contents B. Base Coaches...... 8 1. General ...... 3 C. Defensive Coaching ...... 8 A. Age ...... 3 7. Safety Protocols and Equipment Usage .. 8 B. Official Players ...... 3 A. ...... 8 C. Number of Players ...... 3 B. Helmets/Protective Cups ...... 8 D. Official Games/Time Limits ...... 3 C. Bat Limitations/Violations ...... 8 E. Official Schedule ...... 4 D. Equipment ...... 8 2. Pre-game: ...... 4 E. Cleats ...... 8 A. Line-Ups...... 4 F. Game Ball ...... 8 B. Specific Field ...... 4 G. Uniform ...... 9 C. Scoring the Game/ Game Sheets ...... 4 8. Thunder and Lightning ...... 9 D. Field Setup ...... 5 9. Other ...... 9 E. Limit...... 5 A. Hectoring ...... 9 F. Team Representative ...... 5 B. Warnings/Ejections ...... 9 3. During the Game (Player Requirements):5 C. Familiarity with Rules ...... 9 A. ...... 5 D. Disputes ...... 9 B. Offense ...... 5 10. COVID-19...... 10 C. Defense ...... 6 4. During the Game (/Batting) ...... 6 A. Bowling Over/ ...... 6 B. Leading ...... 6 C. Stealing Home ...... 7 D. Second Base Force Rule ...... 7 E. Dropped Third Strike ...... 7 F. Fly Rule ...... 7 G. Bunting ...... 7 H. Thrown Bat ...... 7 5. During the Game (Pitching) ...... 7 A. and Limitations 7 B. ...... 7 C. Curveballs...... 7 6. During the Game (Coaching) ...... 8 A. Criticizing Umpires ...... 8

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Except as specified below the normal Official game: 4 innings (3 1/2 if home team rules of shall is ahead) apply. The Commissioner of this BCC Baseball league shall have the right to Game Time: 2 hours (no new after modify and/or interpret these rules at any one hour and 45 minutes after scheduled time and in any situation that may arise, start time) in his or her sole and absolute discretion. Ideally, a regulation game shall consist of 1. General six innings or four innings if the game is called due to weather, darkness or the time A. Age limit described below (3 1/2 completed All players must be league-age 11. innings if the home team is ahead in the bottom of the fourth and the game is called). B. Official Players If the game is stopped before it becomes an All players must be officially registered and official game, the game will be suspended assigned by the League management. No and restarted (from the exact point it is one who is not registered, and whose name stopped). If an official game is stopped at does not appear on the official league roster, the end of a complete inning, the score may ever play in a League game, or practice stands. In the event of a tie, neither team with a team. Use of a non-registered/non- will be credited with a win or a loss. Official officially rostered player in a game will games stopped during an inning (top or cause a forfeit and suspension of the bottom) will revert to the score for the prior manager. Reach to the league office if complete inning and will not be suspended you need additional players. and restarted. If, at the discretion of the umpire, a team intentionally delays a game C. Number of Players which then causes a game to end prior to Each team must have at least eight (8) completion of an inning, the team causing players and if they cannot field such a team the intentional delay may be declared to after ten minutes of the scheduled start of have forfeited the game, at the discretion of the game, it will be considered a forfeit. (If the Commissioner. agreeable to both managers, a forfeited game may be played unofficially for Managers are responsible for scheduling the practice.) If at any time during a game, a completion of suspended or rained out team can only field seven (7) players for any games as quickly as possible and no later reason (e.g., injuries, players having to than two weeks after the originally leave, ejection of a player), the game shall scheduled game. Games should be made up be deemed forfeited by that team. during practice time. Failure to do so will result in both teams being charged with a An injured player who is unable to both play loss. in the field AND bat, is prohibited from playing at any time during a game, whether Suspended and restarted games will be batting, fielding or running the bases. subject to the pitching limitations contained in Section 5A of these Rules except that the D. Official Games/Time Limits restarted game shall be considered a new Full game: 6 innings game with respect to the daily pitching limitation.

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In accordance with the League’s contract 2. Pre-game: with the umpires, no new inning shall begin Players should be at the field at least 15 1 hour 45 minutes after the scheduled start minutes before the game is scheduled in time of the game and the game shall not order to begin the game on time. extend beyond 2 hours in total. Coaches and umpires are therefore encouraged to make A. Line-Ups sure that games start on time. If the game is At the start of each game, the managers of not completed with-in the 2-hour time limit, each team shall exchange a written batting the above rules apply. order (line-up). (See Section 3A) No For purposes of determining whether there is substitution is allowed in the line-up once the game has begun although a player may enough time to start a new inning, the actual start of a new inning shall be deemed the be passed over if unavailable due to injury, time at which the third out to end the prior sickness or legitimate need to leave the inning occurs. In other words, the third out game. A player arriving after the start of the for the home team immediately triggers the games shall be inserted at the end of the next inning. line-up.

In order for teams that are tied at the end of NOTE: Due to COVID-19, game line-ups six innings to play an extra inning, the extra may be shared via email or text message inning must start prior to 1 hour and 30 prior to the beginning of the game. minutes from the start of the game. Otherwise, the game will be recorded as a B. Specific Field Ground Rules tie. Not withstanding the above restriction, Prior to the game, the managers shall agree the umpires have the discretion to let the to necessary and reasonable ground rules teams play the extra inning as long as the (i.e. having to do with field conditions) not extra inning starts prior to 1 hour and 45 inconsistent with these rules, including minutes. This rule shall not apply during the agreement as to areas that are "out of play". playoffs. The ability to set ground rules does not permit the managers to waive or modify E. Official Schedule these "rules and regulations". Managers The League expects that all managers, shall be responsible for keeping spectators, players, and parents should be entitled to players, equipment and other objects out of rely upon the official schedule of games sent areas that are deemed to be "in play" in order to prevent interference with players, out by the League Office. As a result, managers are expected to have their teams thrown balls, etc. In particular, all bats, prepared to play at the time/date/place helmets and other equipment shall be indicated on the official League schedule. maintained behind a backstop or other fence Therefore, it is generally NOT appropriate (if available) to prevent interference with the for a manager to rearrange games in game. derogation of the official League schedule. Where games must be postponed due to C. Scoring the Game/ Game Sheets adverse weather, managers are expected to Each team manager will be responsible for make best efforts to arrange suitable scoring the game and maintaining time/date/place to make the game up appropriate scorebook records. The home including practice time. team book will be the official book of the game. Each team will be required to

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complete and sign an official Game Sheet, Bat Safety Rule. The Team Representative the form of which will be provided to each shall be involved in the pregame meeting at team Manager by the Commissioner. The home plate with the coaches and umpires (in winning team is required to submit, via leagues that use umpires). Unless no other email, the completed Game Sheet (signed or adult is available, the head coach and confirmed via email by the Managers of assistant coach should not be deemed the both teams) to the Commissioner no later Team Representative. It is strongly advised than the first Tuesday following the by BCC Baseball that the Team applicable Friday and Sunday games. Representative be someone other than one of Failure to submit the Game Reports on a the base coaches, due to their duties as timely basis will result in a forfeit by both Coach. teams and may result in disciplinary action at the discretion of the Commissioner. 3. During the Game (Player D. Field Setup Requirements): Managers shall insure that the basepaths are In 11U Select, there are certain requirements 70 feet in length and that the distance for offense and defense that need to be met between the front side of the 's plate for fair play. Managers are strongly ("rubber") and the rear point of home plate encouraged to allow players to play more is no closer than 50 feet. If an existing than one infield position over the course of a permanent rubber is in place at the field at a game or throughout the season. distance less than 50 feet which interferes with the ’ delivery, the rubber shall A. Batting Order be moved farther from the plate to the All players must bat in the predetermined minimum distance that no longer interferes order of the line-up which consists of every with the pitchers’ delivery. player in attendance.

E. Run Limit B. Offense In order to allow for full games to be played Each team shall use a "continuous" batting and to minimize lopsided, uncompetitive order rather than a nine-player batting order. games, the following Mercy Rule shall As a result, each player is in the offense at apply, replacing the former “5-run rule.” A all times, batting in accordance with the game shall be terminated by the umpire if, manager's written pre-game line-up after four and a half (4.5) innings, the run consisting of every player available for the differential reaches or exceeds fifteen (15) game. A player who must miss a time runs, providing that the trailing team has had because of injury or illness sustained once an equal or greater number of times at bat as the game begins is passed over to the next that of the leading team. scheduled batter. A player arriving after the start of a game shall be inserted at the end of F. Team Representative the batting order. Prior to every game, each team must identify A team may, but is not required to, an adult (likely a parent) as that team’s substitute a courtesy runner for the catcher “Team Representative” for that particular with two outs. The batter who made the game. The Team Representative will be most recent out shall be the courtesy runner. responsible for enforcing player safety rules, with an emphasis on compliance with the

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C. Defense shall never block the plate while Each player must play three (3) defensive awaiting a throw by kneeling on or around innings in the field during the first five (5) the plate, thereby leaving a runner no access innings of the game. This is to ensure to the plate in a slide. Catchers should players are afforded adequate defensive remain standing while awaiting a throw, playing time during games where a team thus leaving space for a sliding runner to does not take the field for six innings (due to touch the plate between or around the time limit, darkness, etc.). Defensively, a catcher's legs. Violation of this rule will, at player may be removed from the game and the umpire’s discretion, result in the runner be reinserted any number of times thereafter being called . for another defensive player in order to accumulate his/her three innings in the field Catchers shall never block the plate while (but players always retain their original spot awaiting a throw by kneeling on or around in the batting order). the plate, thereby leaving a runner no access to the plate in a slide. Catchers should 4. During the Game (Base remain standing while awaiting a throw, thus leaving space for a sliding runner to Running/Batting) touch the plate be-tween or around the A. Bowling Over/Interference catcher's legs. Violations of this rule will, at At no time and under no circumstances may the umpire’s discretion, result in the runner a runner either "bowl over" a defensive being called safe. player in pursuit of a base or slide headfirst into a base. Sliding may only be done "feet All defensive players are responsible for first" at any base unless a player is returning providing base runners sufficient access to to a base to avoid being picked off. Any the bases as they advance. Defensive player sliding headfirst into a base shall be fielders may not stand on a base or directly ruled out. in the base path of a runner when there is not a reasonable prospect of a defensive play on Except in the case of a runner avoiding a the runner. Violations of this rule may be pick-off as discussed in Subsection B below, deemed defensive interference by the a base runner may never slide headfirst into umpire. a base. Sliding may only be done "feet first" at any base. Any player sliding head-first Managers are directed to familiarize their into a base shall be ruled out. players with the protective purpose and application of this rule before games are Also, whenever there is a reasonable played. prospect of a defensive play at home plate the runner must attempt to slide rather than B. Leading run through the plate. However, if the A base runner may lead off the base and catcher has moved up the third base line may steal at any time. (Pitchers ought to be with the ball or to receive the throw, the taught what a is, how to hold runners, runner may try to evade the tag and does not and how to pitch from the stretch etc.). A have to slide. A runner who violates any runner leading off a base may dive back portion of this rule is automatically deemed headfirst to that same base to avoid a pick- "out". So too, at no time may a defensive off attempt by the pitcher or catcher without player purposefully "bowl over" a base violating the general rule requiring feet first runner in pursuit of a or thrown ball. slides. A runner going back to a base (e.g.,

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overrunning a base and then going back) G. Bunting during a play may also dive headfirst into Bunting is permitted. that base. However, that runner may not dive headfirst into any other base to which H. Thrown Bat he may advance either on a stealing attempt Each team will receive one warning by the or when otherwise running the base paths. Umpire to the batter and manager for a Any player sliding headfirst into a base shall thrown bat by a batter after which any batter be ruled out. on that team who throws a bat will be deemed “out” by the Umpire. Managers are directed to familiarize their players with the protective purpose and 5. During the Game (Pitching) application of this rule before games are played. A. Innings and Limitations A player that pitches in a game may not be C. Stealing Home removed from the pitcher position and A base runner may steal home. A batter is subsequently reinserted as pitcher anytime obligated to make reasonable efforts to get throughout the remainder of the game. For out of the batter's box so as not to obstruct more detailed pitching rules and regulations, the defensive players' efforts to tag the please see the BCC Baseball Pitching runner attempting to steal home. Regulations, which are incorporated into these rules. D. Second Base Force Slide Rule A baserunner advancing to second base on a Games in which an ineligible pitcher has (where there is a possible play at been used as specified in the above second base) must either slide or give up the limitations shall be declared forfeited. out. The determination as to whether a play was made (or could have been made) at B. Balks second by the defense will be at the The balk rule applies. Each pitcher shall be discretion of the umpire. Failure by the offered one warning before being penalized baserunner to slide on a force at second (or for balking. otherwise give up the out at second by moving out of the way of the ball in play) C. Curveballs may result in an interference call by the No pitcher shall deliberately throw a umpire and an “out” for the runner curveball. Any pitch that the umpire deems advancing to second base AND the to be a breaking pitch (in the umpire’s sole baserunner advancing to first base. discretion) shall be deemed a “balk” (if there are runners on base) and a “ball” for the E. Dropped Third Strike batter. If the pitcher then throws another The batter may advance to first on a dropped at any time during the "third strike" if first base is open (normal remainder of the game, that pitcher shall be apply). removed as pitcher and the game report shall reflect such removal. F. The infield fly rule is in effect.

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6. During the Game (Coaching) to swing a bat is the on-deck batter per the rule), the team violating the rule shall be A. Criticizing Umpires issued one team warning by the umpire. Managers and coaches shall refrain from Following the team warning, any player on criticizing an umpire and from making the team that has been warned who violates anticipatory ball/strike, safe/out or fair/foul the Bat Safety Rule, will be ejected for the "calls" of plays to intimidate or influence the remainder of the game. The Bat Safety Rule umpire, and shall take reasonable action and this penalty system will be strictly with their players, parents and fans of the enforced and thus compliance with the rule team to secure their cooperation with this shall be the primary responsibility of the rule. Upon receipt of a complaint from an Team Representative. umpire or from an opposing manager regarding compliance with this rule by B. Helmets/Protective Cups coaches, players, parents or fans, a manager Protective helmets shall be worn by all shall ask the offending individual associated players on deck, at bat, while base running with his/her team to comply or to leave the and in the coaches’ box, during practice and vicinity of the field. at games. BCC Baseball strongly recommends that ALL players wear a B. Base Coaches protective cup and coaches are strongly Adults may serve as base coaches at first encouraged to re-quire their players to wear and third and are encouraged to do so. protective cups.

C. Defensive Coaching C. Bat Limitations/Violations Managers and coaches shall conduct their Refer to BCC Regulations – defensive coaching from the vicinity of their 2021. team's bench. Coaches shall not stand on or coach from the opposing team's side of the D. Catcher Equipment field. Any player playing catcher or warming up a pitcher at home plate shall wear a catcher's 7. Safety Protocols and mask and helmet. A throat protector is Equipment Usage considered part of the catcher's mask. All catchers, during games or practice, shall A. Batting wear a protective cup and well-fitting Where there is no safe (fenced-off) on-deck protective gear such as a chest protector and batting location, the on-deck batter shall leg protectors. only be permitted to swing a bat while standing on the field between the (or E. Cleats the bench) and home plate on the side of the Metal cleats or spikes are not permitted to be field facing the back side of the batter at the worn by any player. plate (e.g., with a right-handed batter at the plate, the on-deck batter will stand on the F. Game Ball third-base side of the field). No other player The official game ball for 11U Select is an is permitted to swing a bat, including the official regulation hardball. batter in the hole.

If any player on a team violates the bat safety rule (where the only player permitted

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G. Uniform is not considered unsportsmanlike conduct, While on the field during a game, players if in the opinion of the umpire, a bat are required to wear the official League inadvertently slips out of a batter's grip uniform, which at a minimum consists of while swinging at a pitch. In such case the League-issued hat and shirt. batter should be warned and may be called out for repeated occurrences if the umpire 8. Thunder and Lightning feels that the safety of others is jeopardized. At the first instance of lightning or thunder The League shall review any instance where Managers shall halt the game and remove a player, coach, parent or manager is their teams from the field to the security of ejected, and the BCC Baseball Leadership cars or buildings that offer appropriate Committee shall determine the extent of any protection. If field conditions permit and ensuing suspension. Notwithstanding the where otherwise reasonable, consistent with above review process, any player, coach, protection of the players and others in manager or parent ejection shall result in an attendance, the game may resume 15 automatic one-game suspension, with a minutes after the last instance of lightning or longer suspension at the discretion of the thunder. Section 1E still applies. BCC Baseball Leadership Committee.

9. Other C. Familiarity with Rules A. Hectoring All managers are expected to be fully Managers shall not permit their players, fans familiar with these Rules and to carefully or parents to purposely hector or distract the instruct their coaches and players on these opponent's players, either directly by Rules. Managers are also expected to bring comment or indirectly by the playing of the Rules to the game and to go over them music, singing, chanting or excessive with the umpires before the game to cheering, even if ostensibly for your own maximize efficient and orderly batter. Upon the opposing manager's administration of the game. complaint in this regard, a manager shall take action to terminate the distracting D. Disputes behavior of his/her team. Any disputes over the Rules or judgment calls by the umpires shall be conducted in a B. Warnings/Ejections brief, calm and dignified manner. If While an umpire is not required to give a satisfaction is not obtained after such effort, warning before ejecting a player, manager or the manager should simply note an appeal of coach for egregious unsportsmanlike the situation to the umpire and continue the behavior such as intentionally throwing or game in a sportsmanlike manner. Appeals kicking bats or helmets, arguing with shall be filed after the game with Select umpires, hectoring, etc., upon the first Commissioner. Incorrect interpretation of instance of such behavior each team, not just rules is a basis for protesting a game. the infringing individual, will be given a Judgement of umpires regarding “safe/out” warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. After or “ball/strike” calls or any other judgement such warning to the team, the umpire may calls are not a basis for protesting the result order any infringing player, manager, or of a game. coach to be removed from the game for the next instance of unsportsmanlike conduct. It

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10. COVID-19 All players, coaches, and families are required to follow the most up to date COVID protocols sent out by the League Office prior to the beginning of the season.

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