ONSLOW COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

12&UNDER RULES

Rule 1 - Eligibility and Participation 1.1 A play must not turn thirteen (13) years of age on or before 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 . A starter that has not had a time cannot be substituted. Stats may re-enter the game during or after the top of the 5th inning, if their substitute has also had a time at bat. This 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 the next two (2) games. 2nd offense Game head coach is suspended for the remainder of the season If shortened game, (time limit, weather, etc.) prevents a player from playing two inning 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 is as stated 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 lease 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 plan 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 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 remainder of the season. All offenses - forfeiture of game

1.6 Each team will consist of a maximum of 15 players. The minimum number of players per team will be determined by local District enrollment.

Rule 2 - Playing Field and Field Equipment

2.1 The distance between all bases shall be 60 feet. The distance from the rear tip of home plate to the nearer edge of the pitcher’s plate shall be 46 feet. Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department 12U

2.2 Home plate, bases, batter’s box, coaches’ boxes, etc. shall be in accordance with current National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFSHSA) regulations. The pitcher’s plate may either be regulation baseball size of official Little League size.

Rule 3 - Equipment

3.1 The ball shall be an official Little League baseball (McGregor or equivalent brand).

3.2 The bat shall be any official Little League or official baseball bat not more than 33 inches in length or more that 2 ¼ inches in diameter.

3.3 Catchers must wear all protective equipment in accordance with NFSHSA regulations.

3.4 Tennis shoes or molded rubber cleats must be worn.

3.5 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 scorekeeper 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 player 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 and Ending a Game

5.1 Games will be 6 in length or 1 hour and 30 minutes. No new inning will start after 1 hour and 25 minutes except in a tie game. Time will be kept by the home plate ’s watch. Starting time will be noted in the official scorebook. It is recommended that players and coaches arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to scheduled game time.

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 then may add the 9th player at the bottom of the line-up upon arrival. A team cannot continue to play 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 as losses and cannot be replayed.

5.2a Outs will not be accessed when teams can only field the minimum number of players at the start of a game when the absent player is due at bat. When players are ejected from the Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department 12U Baseball Rules

game and there are no other players eligible to replace them , then an will the accessed when the ejected player is due at bat.

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 form the line-up when the infraction is discovered by the umpires or opposing team.

5.4 headers may be played in extenuating circumstances.

5.5 In case of inclement weather, the losing team must have been at bat 4 innings to constitute a legal game.

5.6 If a team is ahead by 10 runs any time after the 4th inning, the game will be ended provided the losing team has had an equal number of times at bat.

5.7 In case of a tie in standing for any place, the place will be determined by consideration of head-to-head results. If1st 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) 5.8c Substitute for pitcher any time he is on base (not mandatory)

Rule 6 - Pitching

6.1 A pitcher may not in more than 7 innings per game or no more than a total of 12 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 he can pitch in a consecutive game.

6.3 One pitch constitutes and inning pitched.

6.4 A pitcher shall be considered ineligible if he makes 1 legal pitch after reaching the pitching limitations.

6.5 shall not be called.

Rule 7 - Batting

7.1 No batter will be allowed to advance to 1st base on a 3rd strike not properly handed by the catcher.

7.2 No (DH) is allowed.

7.3 A batter will not throw or sling his bat in a way that could potentially injure someone. Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department 12U Baseball Rules

PENALTY: 1st offense batter will receive a warning 2nd offense batter will be expelled from further participation in the game

Rule 8 -

8.1 A base runner must stay in contact with the base until the ball has reached home plate. PENATLY: Base runner is out.

8.2 A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher or pitcher when they are on base (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.

8.3 A base runner cannot steal home on either the pitcher or catcher. He may score on a , or overthrown ball by the catcher back to any fielder (including the pitcher), or any thrown by the catcher making an attempt to put out a base runner on 1dt, 2nd or 3rd base.

Rule 9 - Governing Bodies

9.1 The current National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA) rules will govern play in all districts where applicable, except where superseded by County rules. The playing rules governing the youth baseball/softball districts, as co-sponsored by the 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