2021 AMERICAN LEAGUE RULES

The rules of baseball will apply unless modified by the following rules listed below.

THE LEAGUE:

1. The American League is to accommodate participants that are currently in the 3rd or 4th grade.

2. Regular season. From April 12 through July 12, no player may play in any other baseball league while also playing in a De Pere Baseball Kelly Danen program. For example, a player may not participate in Kelly Danen and Allouez at the same time even if those programs play on different nights. If a player does play for two leagues during this time period, he will lose his eligibility to play in the De Pere Baseball Kelly Danen program immediately and no fees will be refunded.

3. Tournament teams.

a. Participation. From April 1 to August 1, no player may play on any other tournament team while also being a player on a De Pere Baseball tournament team. For example, a player may not participate in the 11U tournament team and a select tournament team at the same time even if those programs play in a different city or county. If a player joins another tournament team while on a De Pere Baseball tournament team, he will lose his eligibility to play in the De Pere Baseball tournament team programs immediately and no fees will be refunded.

b. Additional Training. Tournament team players are not required to participate in additional training outside of official De Pere baseball practices, scrimmages, training. If a player chooses to participate in additional training outside of official De Pere baseball activities, the player is responsible for all costs associated with such training.

c. Fundraising. All fundraising for De Pere Baseball and De Pere baseball players shall be the official fundraising of De Pere Baseball and will not be allowed for individual teams or players.

THE SCHEDULE:

1. The only changes in the league schedule will come from the organization. Teams not showing up for a scheduled game will forfeit game.

2. Rain outs maybe rescheduled at the discretion of the organization.

3. There will be a tournament at the end of the year.

4. No game shall begin after 8:45pm.

GAMEPLAY:

1. Time limit is as follows: • “Time” shall be determined as of the last out of the just-completed inning or half inning. • A regulation game is six innings, however no inning shall start after 1 hour 15 minutes. After the last out of the just-completed inning or half-inning, if the timer on the scoreboard reads “00,” it means time has run out on the game. If the timer does NOT read “00” then the next half-inning should start EVEN IF it means the team leading will bat. • There are no adjustments to the time limit for injuries or any other delay once the game has started. • In case of tie game after 6 innings, the game is complete and ends in a tie.

2. Audible thunder and lightning requires all play to stop for 30 minutes and for all participants to get in their cars.

3. Any game suspended will be resumed from the exact point at which it was suspended regardless of the number of innings played.

4. The infield fly rule does not apply.

5. All players will play in each game a minimum of 6 defensive outs. All substitutions must be in by the 3rd inning. If this cannot be done, the player involved shall start the following game and play until above requirement has been completed and then shall complete the requirements for the game now being played.

6. A maximum of four runs scored per inning per team shall apply, even in the last inning. If the team batting is down by more than four runs, they should still bat, as long as the time is not expired.

7. The first walk a pitcher gives up in an inning results in the batter going to first base. All subsequent walks given up by that pitcher in the same inning will result in a coach from the offensive team coming out and pitching to the batter. The pitcher should stand to the right or left side of the mound even with the pitching rubber, making sure that the pitcher has at least one foot on the dirt of the mound. The coach should stand either on the rubber or in the vicinity of the rubber. The ball count is dropped while the strike count remains. The umpire will call strikes and a batter may strike out looking or swinging.

8. Throwing of equipment and/or abusive or profane language by ANYONE will not be tolerated and shall be cause for removal from the game, playing area or league.

9. Adult coaches are permitted to coach the bases but there must be an adult in the dugout at all times while the game is being played. One coach is allowed in the outfield while on defense.

10. A coach may not leave the bench or dugout to confer with a player or umpire until receiving permission from an umpire.

11. The use of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in any form is prohibited at the park. 12. For all games played at Mulva Family Fields: No gum, sunflower seeds or sports drinks on Mulva Family Fields. You will also be responsible for cleaning up all seed shells if found not complying with this rule.

TEAMS:

1. All players must bat with free substitution.

2. Defense will consist of up to 10 players – which include 4 outfielders.

THE PLAYER:

1. Players must not wear watches, rings, pins, jewelry (including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings) or other metallic items. EXCEPTION would be items for medical conditions.

2. Casts may NOT be worn during games

3. All players must wear a protective cup.

4. Each team must field at least eight players to start a game. Failure to start with eight will result in a forfeit. Any player joining the game after your team has batted will be placed at the bottom of the batting order.

5. Courtesy runner for a catcher is allowed at anytime. Courtesy runner will be the player who made the last out. Courtesy runner will also be allowed for an injured player.

6. Coaches and players must remain in the dugout while the game is being played.

7. A player or coach ejected from the game must leave the field and park. In addition they will be suspended for the next scheduled game they play. Repeated ejections or incidents, or if the player is a tournament team player and has an incident or is ejected while on that team, may result in the player being suspended for the remainder of the season. This could affect a player’s regular season team as well as the tournament team.

8. All players must wear a protective helmet when not in the dugout. First time a warning will be issued, second time removal from the game.

9. All players must stay in the dugout. There is NOT an on deck batter circle. Only 2 coaches, batter and runners are allowed in the playing area.

10. Any player listed on the lineup and is not available to bat at his turn will be considered an out unless injured. If a player is injured and misses a turn at bat, they will not be allowed to reenter the game. The lineup will collapse around that player without penalty, even if that leaves the team with 8 players.

11. All players must be in full uniform to play (hats, pants, jerseys and socks). 12. Uniform jerseys are to be tucked in at all times and hats worn.

13. Tournament team uniforms will be issued to players by De Pere Baseball and must be an approved De Pere Baseball uniform. Tournament teams may not wear alternative uniforms when playing as a De Pere Baseball tournament team.

14. Players may not wear metal spikes.

15. The bat shall be an unaltered regulation baseball (not softball) bat made of either wood or an approved alloy. No bats greater than 2 1/4 inches in diameter will be allowed. De Pere Baseball will allow players to use either 1.15BPF small barrel (2-1/4”) bats OR the new USA Baseball bats (2-5/8”) barrel, during league play. NO other big barrel bats will be allowed.

PITCHERS:

1. A player once removed as a pitcher may not pitch again in the same game.

2. A pitcher may pitch 2 innings in one game but not pitch more than 4 innings in a calendar week. One pitch thrown in an inning constitutes one (1) inning pitched. A calendar week is defined as Sunday through Saturday.

3. All pitchers will have to follow the pitching guidelines set by Pitch Smart USA. These pitch counts will include pitches thrown during league and tournament play.

Daily Max (Pitches in Game) Required Rest (Pitches)

Age 0 Days 1 Days 2 Days 3 Days 4 Days 9-10 75 1-20 21-35 36-50 51-65 66+ 11-12 85 1-20 21-35 36-50 51-65 66+

4. A pitcher will have four (4) warm-up pitches between innings and six (6) warm-up pitches for new pitchers.

5. A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause automatic removal of the pitcher.

6. The pitchers glove shall not be white or gray. No pitcher shall wear sweat bands on wrists. Long sleeves under jerseys cannot be white or gray in color.

7. Pitcher and catcher cannot switch position during an inning.

8. Pitchers are NOT allowed to pitch on 3 consecutive days. BATTER/RUNNER

1. Sliding is permitted but must be feet first while going to a base but may slide head first returning to a base. Any runner who intentionally “takes-out” a defensive player by not sliding or by any other flagrant way will be automatically out with possible ejection from the game. If said behavior of player continues disciplinary action to include being removed from the league may occur. When a runner is going to score and no play will be made on them, the catcher must keep out of the way and no slide is required. A runner will be called out for not sliding and taking out the catcher if there is a play at home plate. The rule is a judgement call by the umpire and the call is final.

2. Slug bunts, i.e., faking the bunt and taking a full swing is prohibited. If a batter slug bunts they shall be called out.

3. Fake tags by a defensive player at any base is not allowed. Team warning will occur. If the player(s) continue to do this they will be ejected.

4. The out at first base must be made on the white part of the base. The safety bag is for the runner.

5. If a runner leaves a base to soon, the team of said player shall receive one warning and then all future runners leaving early for that team shall be called out. The result of the pitch is a no pitch.

6. No leading off until the ball has reached home plate. The runner may steal second and third base but not home plate unless an overthrow occurs when running to/ back to third base. A runner may not steal home plate on a passed ball or wild pitch.

7. For games played at Mulva Family Fields runners are allowed to advance only 1 base on a passed ball.

8. With runners on 1st and 3rd and the defense attempts to throw out the runner trying to advance from 1st base, the runner at 3rd cannot advance home.

UMPIRE:

1. Each umpire has the authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules.

2. Each umpire has the authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager or fan for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language

3. Any umpire’s decision which involves judgement , such as but not limited to, whether a ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or ball or whether a runner is safe or out, is final.

4. If there is a reasonable doubt that any umpire’s decision may be in conflict with the rules, the coach may appeal the decision and ask for a correct ruling be made. Such appeal shall be made only to the umpire who made the protested decision. 5. If a different decision should be made on one play by different umpires, the umpire in chief shall call all the umpires into consultation with no managers or players present. After consultation, the umpire in chief shall determine which decision shall prevail. Play shall proceed after the final decision has been made.